Parting with Vix was saddening to say the least, they were good people and we would certainly miss their company again. Silver however seemed more…focused on the task at hand; Damnsel wanted his audience in Culdina and he seemed intent on bringing it. I…wasn’t so sure myself, I still didn’t trust Damnsel, she seemed to sullen to be considered a very good friend to carry around, but her attraction to Silver was close and quite truthful towards Silver; having spent longer periods of time then I have with him. Maybe Silver was right, maybe I am just jealous of Damnsel, maybe I am just wanting this wolf all for myself and not have another female bothering me with it….but…but I cant bear bringing myself to tell Silver how I feel for him.
“Are you alright?” Came his soft spoken voice “you seem…tense”
“Oh!” I exclaim as I flail a bit “no no, I'm good, I'm just…well just thinking”
Silver eyes me for a moment, looking back at the horizon, sighing “Well…you do seem deep in thought, your never this quiet when we wander…I thought maybe something was bothering you….maybe about Damnsel?”
I blush again “no…that’s not it!” I said half heatedly, but Silver knew, he did say anything after, but he knew, he knew too well how I was feeling about Damnsel.
We made our way to the outer limits of Culdina, it wasn’t as large as Yeilds, more rural then urban, but it still housed a decent sized settlement within the mountain valley it resided within. Many settlements that were protected by natural barriers were smaller, they tend to be less developed because of the trouble it takes to deliver supplies, so many of these settlements remained small and less fortified then major ones. Still, people came because they were safer, they weren’t as toxin and the land around was rather fertile, despite still being blasted to pieces, some farmers were able to grow a few crops to keep the village alive by selling them. The nearer we came, the more we felt…comfortable; it’s an odd feeling to become comfortable in such a small place. It was easy to see why Damnsel wanted us to meet her here, the land was rather peaceful, scavengers wouldn’t be a problem here…at least we hoped not.
Passing the front gate, we ended up in the main square, hustle and bustle fill around us.
“Wow!” I exclaim, clapping my hands together as I gaze around seeing all the people “it’s so lively”
“You don’t see this sort of thing in any other settlements; these small towns tend to be the most prospecting despite their size.” Silver noted as we walked into the square. People didn’t seem to bother with us, a few looks, a few mutters, but nothing worth raising a fist.
“Now…were did we have to meet her?” I ask in a rather stuck-up attitude, Silver gives a rather silent stare as he looks at one of the nearby cafes…he sighs and points ahead
“I believe she is there” he says and begins to walk towards it. I huff, cross my arms and follow, not wanting to meet Damnsel again.
The café was small, rather well furnished despite everything being wood. Silver had already found Damnsel at the far corner table, sitting near her as she waved me over. I growl, take a seat across from her. Silver seemed in high spirits with her as they had been talking amongst themselves, a laugh or two escaped
“So…” I butt in “Tell me about you two?”
Damnsel blinked, smirking as she eased forward in her seat towards me “Ohh a curious kitten? Certainly I will tell you”
I growl again
“Silver and I had worked together before you could even walk…you could say I was the predecessor to you”
“What do you mean “predecessor to me? I was built separately!”
Damnsel shakes a finger “True…I read the file upon you, but it seems your creator was responsible for my project too, he designed me before he designed you…its funny…how he had to go behind the company bac-“
I slugged her…right there, I didn’t think, just acted, and slammed my fist right into her face sending her tumbling over the chair.
“DON’T EVER TALK ABOUT MY CREATOR LIKE THAT!” I shout, pouncing over the table and tackling Damnsel, with all that wolf senses, she lacked decent close combat, and now she would pay. As I raise my fist, I felt a sudden grip of immense strength as Silver yanked me off by my paw
“Enough!” he barks, his voice deep but very frightening as he helps Damnsel up with the other paw
“If you to don’t get along, then prey I do not become agitated by your childish games any further…we are all on the same team, now stop fighting or I shall do more then just stop you!” His eyes glowed deep red, both me and Damnsel whimpered, ears lowered and slunk back into our seats.
Everyone stared at us…at Silver, it was hard to simply denounce that wolf’s presence and sheer power now, and everyone seemed…on edge. After moments of awkward silence, Damnsel coughed
“Well…the reason I asked for you to come is because I know what your mission is…and want to help”
“Oh…why, so you can get closer to Silver?” I remark, getting a rather serious glare from Silver
“As…much as that is true, it is not the case” She sighed, fidgeted almost as if something was on edge with her
“For months I have hunted many terrible people, killed warlords of Scavenger tribes, made many enemies….but I am not a fighter and I know many have already begun to track me…so…I request to go with you for my own safety….which is why I am glad you came.”
For a moment I felt sad for Damnsel, her words…were truthful; she meant every bit of it, and who wouldn’t be. She could be considered a vigilant that made a lot of nasty people mad with her.
“Already…I know a large Scavenger gang is hunting me, I made them certainly mad with me because of how much I’ve done to them”
“Such as?” I ask
“Transport ambushes, assassinations, I even worked with other mercenaries to take down many facilities and convoys they had. We did…a lot of damage to them.”
I can’t help but smirk, she was tough, quite resourceful too, not easy so simply attack a scavenger convoy so easily, even harder to piss em off.
I sigh, Silver looks at me, and in return I nod “Well…as much as I would like to see you pay for your crimes…we both see you as someone who can help us, and besides, you got some serious ovaries if you can successfully piss of a Scavenger tribe.” Damnsel seemed to raise a brow missing the commentary given to her…I shrug
“Girl, you got a lot to learn, but we will help you” Silver nods in compliance Damnsel smiled, and clasped her hands together
“Thank you two very m-“ she was interrupted by a sudden bang as the door to the café was blow past, inches from the table we sat at
“LISTEN UP!” boomed voice as many footsteps echoed behind us. Three men entered, clad in armor that represented warriors of ancient times, their cloaks covering most of their body. They were anthro’s many of them varying species, but all well built and large. The one in the lead, a blue fox, took out a data pad and pressed it.
“That’s them” Damnsel whispered “They are from the tribe I have been attacking”
“By order of Empress Nintarie Gironen Anciet, we are here to claim the one who has commit acts of transgression against tribe An’chiu, by her order, she is to be handed over. Anyone who refuses shall be exterminated…save yourselves the trouble of death and present her to us!” he said. Silver growled, he eased low to grab his weapon under the table, but Damnsel nudged him, not wanting him to start
“I am here” She said softly, stepping forward. I blinked, was she nuts!
“Ah…so your whiteout…the assassin, funny, I was expecting you to be a man, no woman would be so vile in her work.”
I could tell Damnsel bit her tongue on that one, even I did…what was this bastard’s deal, I felt rage build in me, but Silver rested a paw on my shoulder
“Just wait…they have surrounded this place, too many innocent will die if we fight”
“So!?” I remark back “Damnsel will be treated far worse when they are done with her!”
Silver sighed “We wait for them to leave, and then we move”
I tensed up, I couldn’t just watch this, but Silver had a point, too many innocent people would be caught in the crossfire, but there was another reason. As the fox tugged Damnsel outside, I could see a tank, turret aimed right at the café. We wouldn’t have even stood a chance if that thing picked us out and fired.
Once the convoy was gone, Silver rose and left the café. I was puzzled, I never seen Silver so calm and controlled about a situation like this, usually if he acted this way, he had something planned. As I followed him outside, he drew his cannon from his back and aimed…after a few moments the defining boom of the weapon shattered and within an instant the rear of the tank exploded in a ball of fire. The vehicle lurched as secondary explosion rocked it back and forth, but…that was quickly responded to by the two forward transports turning and aiming their weapons at us. Turrets lined with fire arms of various types kept their sights on me, but…and this is coming from someone who has been with this wolf for awhile…never seen him move so fast! Silver quickly jetted atop the first transport, cannon at point blank, and fired directly into it. The vehicle seemed to lurch up and then split as the powerful gun ripped through the center of it.
Suddenly a single blast of energy struck Silver from behind, it cut right through the armor and already I could see the damage, wires, gears, synthetic components began to shutter as fluid dripped from the wound…its…hard…just moments before he was so triumphant now…a hole in his upper chest. He stumbled, turning to see who shot…and it was there, that blue fox from before, his right arm now a cannon.
“Down boy” he said, grinning as Silver fell forward
“NO!” was all I could say before Scavengers surrounded me, but I didn’t fight…I…felt so weak; tumbling to the ground as everything went black.
I awoke to find myself hanging in a cell, Silver…at the floor, his hole somewhat patched, but his systems offline. I couldn’t see the glow in his eyes and all I could do was whimper.
“Well...look who’s awake” spoke a rather sly voice. I look up to see the blue fox from before. He had his arms crossed as he stared at us behind the bars
“You’re the trouble-maker’s assistants eh? Well…that’s all fine and dandy. more people tp serve for her crime!” He smiled…already I disliked this guy, as he looked at me, he smirked “Your beauty is remarkable, but that alone should be of little help, the empress was not pleased by you assisting Whiteout after all she has done”
“She is a friend” I muttered “and we take care of our friends”
The fox laughs “Hah…well…look where its got you, you best try to get some rest...who knows, maybe this will be your last night to live…” he laughs again and walks out, leaving me to wonder just what evils await us tomorrow.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Silver and Natalia - Hunter prt.3
The silence of a city is a hunting thing, desolate, almost mystical, but it’s that mystical feeling that brings about fear and worry. I can’t explain it properly, but I felt…scared around here. Prior to us embarking deeper into this city from the Convoy, we had been able to draw Mike and Vix inside without any more suppressive fire from Whiteout. Mike’s wound, though deep, was actually not as bad as first thought; Whiteout had landed a non-leather shoulder shot, hitting at the flesh below the shoulder, usually were little pain could be felt. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t as if Mike would simply get up and walk from that, but I can guarantee it didn’t hurt as much as it could have been.
Once we left, Silver noted that there may be something afoot here, Whiteout could have easily killed Mike, yet it seemed that the assassin had other plans; non-lethal shots are a very unusual circumstance for this kind of situation.
We had left the Convoy and made our way into the side-streets of the once proud city of Yeilds. Everything seemed…so open, so empty. Anything of value was looted, any material not bolted down was salvaged for scrap; there was a faint smell of death in the air.
“Almost one million people use to live here. Yeilds was the most prosperous and developed city in this region before the collapse” Silver muttered as we made our way through an abandoned school. I could swear that the sound of children playing still lingered, their bodies long since gone, but the spirits…..it got rather creepy.
The streets were oddly quiet, I soon realized that we haven’t even taken shots form whiteout; Silver knew it too, and soon we would be able to test it. Outside the school building was an open field, no cover for at least a block before reaching the row of ruin structures across from it.
For a long moment, Silver studied the opening…he didn’t like it
“Too exposed” he muttered “if the assassin had been waiting for a clear shot, he won’t get any clearer than that” he added. I sighed “Well there isn’t any other way?”
The wolf shook his head “Sadly that is the only route I can detect that will get us deeper into the city.”
Our target, or were are target was believed to be, was in a tall structure in the financial district, it overlooked a good range of the city and a level shot with the road we arrived in. Getting there was the problem, for the last hour of walking, we came under zero fire from whiteout, so now, with this open field, and it would test if we were lucky…or just really good at hiding.
The courtyard ahead was a square dirt field, surrounded by a concrete walkway, each side with 3 benches. There were no trees, no grass, just emptiness. Silver eased out first, not far just enough to poke his front to check…nothing. He moved further, going into the walkway just before the open field…an eerie silence rose around him as he moved further still, just to the edge of the concrete path and the dirt. He stood there, in plain view now, eyes gazing about the high-rises around him, catching a large building in the distance that went high up into the sky.
“That’s our target” he says pointing to the building. He then ushers me forward, no one had taken a shot, so it seems we were safe…or whiteout was just waiting.
“I…I don’t know” I admit I was scared, Silver was a robot, maybe whiteout knew that, maybe they were waiting for the weak fleshy thing to come. I sighed, creeping slowly under the careful eye of Silver. I was tense, my movements very cautious; each step I would stop and scan around before moving further until I eventually got behind a bench and ducked. I counted 4 times Whiteout could have clocked me, but none had ever touched me, in fact, not a single round came. Again, I felt that something wasn’t right, but my thoughts were quickly put down as I saw Silver walk into the center of the field
“You see me whiteout?” he calls “Then shoot me” he extended his arms, opening his full body to the sniper…but…nothing came, after several tense minutes I watched in awe at Silvers bravery…or sheer stupidity. After that tense moment I came up behind him
“What they hell are you doing?” I exclaim, grabbing him and pulling him back
“I think the sniper wishes not to kill us”:
“Well duh!” I reply “had several clear shots at me and nothing…maybe he moved?”
Silver shook his head “No…I don’t think so, there is little places here for suitable vantage points.
We stood there, this got rather confusing, why had whiteout engaged us at our convoy, but not now…something wasn’t right, but our thoughts were quickly silenced again, this time by a revving motor and the sudden crash of the wall furthest from us. From the dust roared a heavily armoured truck.
“Scavengers!” was the call both me and Silver shouted as I duck behind the nearest bench for cover. Silver, already engaged with his heavy weapons laid fire upon the van with little effect. Soon several scavengers piled out, armed with an assortment of guns. Like those before, they wore makeshift armour plating, hid their faces behind mask with cloth covering their bodies. It was then Whiteout made himself known, firing two clear shots into the heads of the Scavenger drivers, killing them instantly through the only vulnerable spot on the truck; the windows. The scavengers were quite bewildered, some kept shooting at us, and others began to peck the few buildings around us. It seems whiteout was on our side…for now. I wasn’t too keen on why at this point; I just kept shooting along with Silver.
The battle went quick; Scavengers were no match for us, as well as a sniper hidden beyond. When everything subsided, we quickly made our move to the buildings
“It seems Whiteout hasn’t moved as thought, he supported us during the conflict from the same vantage point.” Silver said slinging his heavy machine gun to his back as I nod
“Yeah…I'm surprised he did.” I was concerned, why was he helping us now?
The financial district…if the city of Yeilds was something, the financial district was like heaven, during the past it was a sprawling business sector, many people made a lot of money here, success and power was ripe. Nothing more than a derelict zone, the tall and powerful structures now littered with debris, some even falling from the perilous heights they once were built up from. The only remaining building, and the one holding the sniper, was one tower that rose high into the sky.
“100 floors, the sniper is located on the 100th” Silver said his scanners easily able to pinpoint the targets location”
“100 floors…wow, how did he get there?” I say, gazing upwards towards the massive structure “it’s…insane”
“Power causes people to build big to prove it” Silver replied “that is why they built this; the largest and richest people were here…”
“…and yet now look at it” I add as we enter the building.
99 floors later, we stop, we aren’t tired, but something has been bugging me and Silver for the past 98 floors; no traps, no sensors, nothing. This sniper had completely left his position open to any intrusion from below. Was he that precise in his skill that no one would even get to the building, or was there something else? The questions continued to mound as to the whole ordeal. I went first, slowly creeping up the last flight of stairs to the large door marked 100 in bright yellow letters, fading steadily as erosion took the paint of bit by bit. Taking one side of the door, Silver aimed down in front of it, tensing, and weapons ready. I gently touch the handle, seeing if there were any extra weight, a possible sensor or body trap, sliding down the handle and the crack I clear the door, nothing…not even a simple trip wire. We stepped inside scanning our sectors and getting the entire room in view. The room itself was empty…except for the sole figure propped on their stomach, sniper extended over an open wall down at the convoy. We stepped forward, weapons aimed and ready as the figure tilts their head.
“So you came” they spoke in a feminine voice “good…you sure took your sweet time…its…good to know your friends are alright”
She slowly stood up, easing her rifle up with her and then laying it against the wall before turning slowly,
“Its…good to see you Silver” she said with her soft tone voice.
“Damnsel” Silver replied “I figure it was you”
Damnsel as she was called was a white wolf; she stood around my height of 6 feet tall, and like me, was built rather well…especially in the chest area. She wore a black skin suit beneath an armour piece on her chest, shoulders and ankles. She smiled
“I was waiting for you…sure took your time” she said, her blank, white eyes glowing slightly as she turned to me “and you must be Natalia?”
I nod in sheer awestruck at this…this female was the sniper that had shot mike, cleared two scavengers in the head inside an armoured truck, and was able to cause so much trouble for anyone passing her. I admit I was impressed…but…it was still something else.
“Yeah…I'm Natalia….so your Damnsel…and how do you know Silver…and me?”
Damnsel smiled “take a seat child….Silver and I go back longer before you were even created. I was, like him…a genetic experiment. We went on many operations together, and had been assigned during the early years before the collapse to defend this area…it seems however that the usefulness and riches behind this are long since extinguished.” She paused “I did however venture away once I realized it was futile, and learnt many new things about this world” she turned to the window
“I had…missed you, so when I heard of your sudden return and exploits, I had to find you, but…I was only one girl…and I had no real way of doing so”
“So you staid here and hoped I would come?”
She shook her head “I knew your kind heart would help those you see, and when I heard of those two exploits in sending refugees through Scavenger territory and this city, I knew soon enough you would come”
“How long have you waited?” I asked
“Several years….I…lost count”
She turns back to us “but now that you are here…I am happy” she walks over to Silver, gently easing close and….hugging him. I growl…I don’t want this girl on my tuff with Silver
“I see…I make your friend rather uneasy” Damnsel suddenly notes turning to me “well…I will not waste your time then” she stepped back
“Why don’t you come with us?” Silver noted “I’m sure Natalia will understand how useful your skills are” Silver looked at me, I wanted to rebuttal, say I didn’t want this bitch with us, but….I felt I couldn’t, maybe it was me being selfish, but something with girls like this didn’t…feel right. Maybe Silver was right, her skills were useful…but not now. Damnsel seemed to figure this; her expression was at first upset, but turned understanding. She turned away and walked to retrieve her weapon
“Well…my task here is not complete, I cannot leave just yet, but…when you do, find me at the settlement of Culdina, and I shall wait for you there”
--
“You seemed rather…uptight about Damnsel” Silver asked as we began to trek back from the building. Damnsel had told us a shortcut and we were making good time back to the Convoy. I blushed a bit at the question “well…I…just don’t like her, being with you so long its hard to figure that there were any other Genetic experiments that looked….” I stopped
“So good?” He finished, I blush redder
“HEY! I’m not implying anything with that! Just saying I don’t trust her!” I huff hard, Silver seemed to keep something else in mind, he chuckled a bit
“She isn’t that bad…I worked with her, she is very skilled”
“but aren’t you the sniper of us?” I ask
Silver shakes his head “I’m…heavy weapons specialized, Damnsel is markswoman specialized, I do snipe for you, but she is far superior. I had seen her skills first hand, and now, with what we have seen, so have you.”
I growl a bit “Well…I still don’t care, so she’s got a good sniping skill, so she has attuned senses, so she has bigger boobs than me…” I stop eyes wide and go bright red
“I…didn’t just say that!?”
Silver nods “So…its jealousy of her form”
“GAHHH!” I yell hard falling to the group “FINE!!! She looks prettier than me, THAT’S WHY I DON’T LIKE HER!”
I whimper a bit on the ground, pounding a fist into the dirt, but a few moments later I felt myself lifted up into Silvers arms. I fidget, blush brightly as I look at him
“Form is nothing to what the heart holds…Nat, you have a pure heart and that’s all I care for you to have” he carries me the rest of the way, I cant help but feel warm and fuzzy with him…like this…so…safe.
--
“Well….I thank you two for that” Vix remarked as the Convoy finally reached the settlement in the city center, it was a relatively quiet trip after Whiteout was “Dispatched” according to Silver, he didn’t mention who are what she was, only that they “removed” her from their worry, which was enough for Vix and Mike to be pleased about, convoys could go through easier now without the worry of a mad sniper killing people.
“How is Mike?” Silver asks, Vix smirks
“He’s fine…a bit sore, but that comes with the territory, he thanks you for helping him, and I thank you for getting my own butt out of the fire”
She sighs “When…I saw Mike go down, I felt we would end here, but…but you seemed to get me to my senses, and I thank you” Vix bowed before Silver as the wolf smiles “No need Vix…It was an honour to assist you.”
“Are you planning on staying?” Vix asks
I shake my head “We have places to go, and its best we get going on our own mission”
Vix nods, she turns away for a moment, calling to someone and then back “well…your free to get supplies here…but before you do go, take this” A figure she had called to came rushing up, he was pulling a cart with a large rifle atop it as well as an SMG.
“This is the Black Widow, a very powerful Anti-material sniper rifle…we found it awhile back but it cant be used by any normal creature, its too big and heavy to carry around, but seeing you wield those heavy guns of your own, we thought it would serve you better Silver.” Vix then turns to me “as for you Nat, we got you a pair of Rapier SMG’s, they are a bit old, but they are one of the most durable weapons around, I’m sure you will see much use with them”
I bow “Thank you Vix, we will not forget this”
With weapons in hand, we say our last few goodbyes and part…our mission was still to stop this creature, but…with Damnsel’s request to find her in Culdina, Silver and I had to make a quick detour there, who knows what she had in mind.
Once we left, Silver noted that there may be something afoot here, Whiteout could have easily killed Mike, yet it seemed that the assassin had other plans; non-lethal shots are a very unusual circumstance for this kind of situation.
We had left the Convoy and made our way into the side-streets of the once proud city of Yeilds. Everything seemed…so open, so empty. Anything of value was looted, any material not bolted down was salvaged for scrap; there was a faint smell of death in the air.
“Almost one million people use to live here. Yeilds was the most prosperous and developed city in this region before the collapse” Silver muttered as we made our way through an abandoned school. I could swear that the sound of children playing still lingered, their bodies long since gone, but the spirits…..it got rather creepy.
The streets were oddly quiet, I soon realized that we haven’t even taken shots form whiteout; Silver knew it too, and soon we would be able to test it. Outside the school building was an open field, no cover for at least a block before reaching the row of ruin structures across from it.
For a long moment, Silver studied the opening…he didn’t like it
“Too exposed” he muttered “if the assassin had been waiting for a clear shot, he won’t get any clearer than that” he added. I sighed “Well there isn’t any other way?”
The wolf shook his head “Sadly that is the only route I can detect that will get us deeper into the city.”
Our target, or were are target was believed to be, was in a tall structure in the financial district, it overlooked a good range of the city and a level shot with the road we arrived in. Getting there was the problem, for the last hour of walking, we came under zero fire from whiteout, so now, with this open field, and it would test if we were lucky…or just really good at hiding.
The courtyard ahead was a square dirt field, surrounded by a concrete walkway, each side with 3 benches. There were no trees, no grass, just emptiness. Silver eased out first, not far just enough to poke his front to check…nothing. He moved further, going into the walkway just before the open field…an eerie silence rose around him as he moved further still, just to the edge of the concrete path and the dirt. He stood there, in plain view now, eyes gazing about the high-rises around him, catching a large building in the distance that went high up into the sky.
“That’s our target” he says pointing to the building. He then ushers me forward, no one had taken a shot, so it seems we were safe…or whiteout was just waiting.
“I…I don’t know” I admit I was scared, Silver was a robot, maybe whiteout knew that, maybe they were waiting for the weak fleshy thing to come. I sighed, creeping slowly under the careful eye of Silver. I was tense, my movements very cautious; each step I would stop and scan around before moving further until I eventually got behind a bench and ducked. I counted 4 times Whiteout could have clocked me, but none had ever touched me, in fact, not a single round came. Again, I felt that something wasn’t right, but my thoughts were quickly put down as I saw Silver walk into the center of the field
“You see me whiteout?” he calls “Then shoot me” he extended his arms, opening his full body to the sniper…but…nothing came, after several tense minutes I watched in awe at Silvers bravery…or sheer stupidity. After that tense moment I came up behind him
“What they hell are you doing?” I exclaim, grabbing him and pulling him back
“I think the sniper wishes not to kill us”:
“Well duh!” I reply “had several clear shots at me and nothing…maybe he moved?”
Silver shook his head “No…I don’t think so, there is little places here for suitable vantage points.
We stood there, this got rather confusing, why had whiteout engaged us at our convoy, but not now…something wasn’t right, but our thoughts were quickly silenced again, this time by a revving motor and the sudden crash of the wall furthest from us. From the dust roared a heavily armoured truck.
“Scavengers!” was the call both me and Silver shouted as I duck behind the nearest bench for cover. Silver, already engaged with his heavy weapons laid fire upon the van with little effect. Soon several scavengers piled out, armed with an assortment of guns. Like those before, they wore makeshift armour plating, hid their faces behind mask with cloth covering their bodies. It was then Whiteout made himself known, firing two clear shots into the heads of the Scavenger drivers, killing them instantly through the only vulnerable spot on the truck; the windows. The scavengers were quite bewildered, some kept shooting at us, and others began to peck the few buildings around us. It seems whiteout was on our side…for now. I wasn’t too keen on why at this point; I just kept shooting along with Silver.
The battle went quick; Scavengers were no match for us, as well as a sniper hidden beyond. When everything subsided, we quickly made our move to the buildings
“It seems Whiteout hasn’t moved as thought, he supported us during the conflict from the same vantage point.” Silver said slinging his heavy machine gun to his back as I nod
“Yeah…I'm surprised he did.” I was concerned, why was he helping us now?
The financial district…if the city of Yeilds was something, the financial district was like heaven, during the past it was a sprawling business sector, many people made a lot of money here, success and power was ripe. Nothing more than a derelict zone, the tall and powerful structures now littered with debris, some even falling from the perilous heights they once were built up from. The only remaining building, and the one holding the sniper, was one tower that rose high into the sky.
“100 floors, the sniper is located on the 100th” Silver said his scanners easily able to pinpoint the targets location”
“100 floors…wow, how did he get there?” I say, gazing upwards towards the massive structure “it’s…insane”
“Power causes people to build big to prove it” Silver replied “that is why they built this; the largest and richest people were here…”
“…and yet now look at it” I add as we enter the building.
99 floors later, we stop, we aren’t tired, but something has been bugging me and Silver for the past 98 floors; no traps, no sensors, nothing. This sniper had completely left his position open to any intrusion from below. Was he that precise in his skill that no one would even get to the building, or was there something else? The questions continued to mound as to the whole ordeal. I went first, slowly creeping up the last flight of stairs to the large door marked 100 in bright yellow letters, fading steadily as erosion took the paint of bit by bit. Taking one side of the door, Silver aimed down in front of it, tensing, and weapons ready. I gently touch the handle, seeing if there were any extra weight, a possible sensor or body trap, sliding down the handle and the crack I clear the door, nothing…not even a simple trip wire. We stepped inside scanning our sectors and getting the entire room in view. The room itself was empty…except for the sole figure propped on their stomach, sniper extended over an open wall down at the convoy. We stepped forward, weapons aimed and ready as the figure tilts their head.
“So you came” they spoke in a feminine voice “good…you sure took your sweet time…its…good to know your friends are alright”
She slowly stood up, easing her rifle up with her and then laying it against the wall before turning slowly,
“Its…good to see you Silver” she said with her soft tone voice.
“Damnsel” Silver replied “I figure it was you”
Damnsel as she was called was a white wolf; she stood around my height of 6 feet tall, and like me, was built rather well…especially in the chest area. She wore a black skin suit beneath an armour piece on her chest, shoulders and ankles. She smiled
“I was waiting for you…sure took your time” she said, her blank, white eyes glowing slightly as she turned to me “and you must be Natalia?”
I nod in sheer awestruck at this…this female was the sniper that had shot mike, cleared two scavengers in the head inside an armoured truck, and was able to cause so much trouble for anyone passing her. I admit I was impressed…but…it was still something else.
“Yeah…I'm Natalia….so your Damnsel…and how do you know Silver…and me?”
Damnsel smiled “take a seat child….Silver and I go back longer before you were even created. I was, like him…a genetic experiment. We went on many operations together, and had been assigned during the early years before the collapse to defend this area…it seems however that the usefulness and riches behind this are long since extinguished.” She paused “I did however venture away once I realized it was futile, and learnt many new things about this world” she turned to the window
“I had…missed you, so when I heard of your sudden return and exploits, I had to find you, but…I was only one girl…and I had no real way of doing so”
“So you staid here and hoped I would come?”
She shook her head “I knew your kind heart would help those you see, and when I heard of those two exploits in sending refugees through Scavenger territory and this city, I knew soon enough you would come”
“How long have you waited?” I asked
“Several years….I…lost count”
She turns back to us “but now that you are here…I am happy” she walks over to Silver, gently easing close and….hugging him. I growl…I don’t want this girl on my tuff with Silver
“I see…I make your friend rather uneasy” Damnsel suddenly notes turning to me “well…I will not waste your time then” she stepped back
“Why don’t you come with us?” Silver noted “I’m sure Natalia will understand how useful your skills are” Silver looked at me, I wanted to rebuttal, say I didn’t want this bitch with us, but….I felt I couldn’t, maybe it was me being selfish, but something with girls like this didn’t…feel right. Maybe Silver was right, her skills were useful…but not now. Damnsel seemed to figure this; her expression was at first upset, but turned understanding. She turned away and walked to retrieve her weapon
“Well…my task here is not complete, I cannot leave just yet, but…when you do, find me at the settlement of Culdina, and I shall wait for you there”
--
“You seemed rather…uptight about Damnsel” Silver asked as we began to trek back from the building. Damnsel had told us a shortcut and we were making good time back to the Convoy. I blushed a bit at the question “well…I…just don’t like her, being with you so long its hard to figure that there were any other Genetic experiments that looked….” I stopped
“So good?” He finished, I blush redder
“HEY! I’m not implying anything with that! Just saying I don’t trust her!” I huff hard, Silver seemed to keep something else in mind, he chuckled a bit
“She isn’t that bad…I worked with her, she is very skilled”
“but aren’t you the sniper of us?” I ask
Silver shakes his head “I’m…heavy weapons specialized, Damnsel is markswoman specialized, I do snipe for you, but she is far superior. I had seen her skills first hand, and now, with what we have seen, so have you.”
I growl a bit “Well…I still don’t care, so she’s got a good sniping skill, so she has attuned senses, so she has bigger boobs than me…” I stop eyes wide and go bright red
“I…didn’t just say that!?”
Silver nods “So…its jealousy of her form”
“GAHHH!” I yell hard falling to the group “FINE!!! She looks prettier than me, THAT’S WHY I DON’T LIKE HER!”
I whimper a bit on the ground, pounding a fist into the dirt, but a few moments later I felt myself lifted up into Silvers arms. I fidget, blush brightly as I look at him
“Form is nothing to what the heart holds…Nat, you have a pure heart and that’s all I care for you to have” he carries me the rest of the way, I cant help but feel warm and fuzzy with him…like this…so…safe.
--
“Well….I thank you two for that” Vix remarked as the Convoy finally reached the settlement in the city center, it was a relatively quiet trip after Whiteout was “Dispatched” according to Silver, he didn’t mention who are what she was, only that they “removed” her from their worry, which was enough for Vix and Mike to be pleased about, convoys could go through easier now without the worry of a mad sniper killing people.
“How is Mike?” Silver asks, Vix smirks
“He’s fine…a bit sore, but that comes with the territory, he thanks you for helping him, and I thank you for getting my own butt out of the fire”
She sighs “When…I saw Mike go down, I felt we would end here, but…but you seemed to get me to my senses, and I thank you” Vix bowed before Silver as the wolf smiles “No need Vix…It was an honour to assist you.”
“Are you planning on staying?” Vix asks
I shake my head “We have places to go, and its best we get going on our own mission”
Vix nods, she turns away for a moment, calling to someone and then back “well…your free to get supplies here…but before you do go, take this” A figure she had called to came rushing up, he was pulling a cart with a large rifle atop it as well as an SMG.
“This is the Black Widow, a very powerful Anti-material sniper rifle…we found it awhile back but it cant be used by any normal creature, its too big and heavy to carry around, but seeing you wield those heavy guns of your own, we thought it would serve you better Silver.” Vix then turns to me “as for you Nat, we got you a pair of Rapier SMG’s, they are a bit old, but they are one of the most durable weapons around, I’m sure you will see much use with them”
I bow “Thank you Vix, we will not forget this”
With weapons in hand, we say our last few goodbyes and part…our mission was still to stop this creature, but…with Damnsel’s request to find her in Culdina, Silver and I had to make a quick detour there, who knows what she had in mind.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Silver and Natalia - Hunter prt.2
With the Scavengers gone, the least we could do was escort the convoy to the settlement. According to Vix, there were actually quite a few operational colonies around this wasteland. The one they where heading towards probably the last fully operational city-like colony, a great place to find more information and equipment for our own quest. Silver walked alongside the convoy, being too large to fit into the few reaming trucks, and, according to Vix, wanted his big guns on flaking security. Silver obliged without incident, though something about how he did it pecked at Vix, those two had an issue slowly growing between them.
The convoy moved on slowly afterward, no Scavengers bothered us from there to the final settlement with enough gas and food for all of us. Small compared to other settlements, it served more as a checkpoint than an actual established colony. Several small buildings litter around a large lot were gas pumps fuel any vehicles that needed the gas…and had the funds. Surprisingly enough, Vix was able to pay it all.
“C’mon, lets get a drink” she ushered towards me as I blinked for a moment, I was never really keen on “a drink”, it was new to me. As a cyborg, I didn’t need any sort of nutriment…
“I don’t…drink” I muttered, trying to not pull myself into that sort of situation, yet Vix seemed…unmoved
‘Ah com on!” she exclaimed “Everyone lives only once!” she grabbed my arm and began to tug me towards the bar, I whimpered, honestly I was scared of how strong and determined Vix was. I watched Silver standing near the truck but was unable to signal him. I sighed as I was pulled into the bar.
“So…why do you hang out with him?” Vix asked as she took me to the bar, I couldn’t figure out why she wanted to know this, maybe the curiosity
“Why do you ask?” I reply, finding it to be the only answer I could come up with
“well….you don’t seem to relate to Silver at all, your…more understanding, you seem to care more too” She added, signaling a drink from the bartender, after a few moments, two glasses of…something was served before us. Vix drank it quickly, but…I just stared at it, I wasn’t sure if I should or should.
“Really?” I ask, trying to ignore the drink
“Yeah” Vix mutters back whipping her lips with the back of her hand before she asks for a refill which she quickly drunk down, smacking her lips “good stuff”
“Well…” I begin, pawing at the glass a few times “I guess because I feel he is capable of so much, yet needs…guidance”
Vix gave me a rather curious glare “Guidance?” She asked “more like a brain, he’s so…well…ignorant”
"Hes not ignorant!” I retaliate, rather fiercely “he’s a very smart creature, he’s….just not all there, how would you feel if you lost everything and couldn’t feel the pain!”
By this point, I was standing, my claw dug into the table and the few patrons all staring at me
“Whoa…chill sister before you cause a problem” Vix sighed and propped me down “Look…I didn’t mean it in a bad way, its just…Silver seems cold, he doesn’t seem to appeal to any sense of good will, and from what I saw, only cares for the mission.”
“Well…it shows what you know, I’m sure once we keep going you will understand.”
There seemed to be a hint of upset between me and Vix, but she huffed it off and knocked back her third…or was it fourth…drink.
“Well…whatever, we need his guns so we can make it to Yeilds”
“Yeilds?” Came a voice from the nearby booth, a frazzled human, wearing makeshift parts of armor with a strange hat walks over
“Your going to Yeilds?” he asks, his breath laden with tar from smoking, I gag, Vix glares
“Yeah…what it to you?” she asks, easing to her thigh were her gun was
“Well…hey…don’t mean any trouble there miss, just wanted to warn you that going there isn’t the best idea now”
Vix blinked “what do you mean “not the best idea”? it’s the only useful settlement around”
The man sighed “Look…I don’t know what you heard, but recently, there’s been this assassin stalking the city ruins around Yeilds, sniping Scavengers, and seeing as how your trucks are decked out like them, I doubt you will get through”
Vix huffs “Yeah right, we got through a score of Scavengers to get here, what’s one assassin?”
The man seemed to look serious “’Aint no ordinary assassin, this ones a pro, a sniper and from what I ‘ear, ‘aint one to let people slip by either, efficient, deadly, and very accurate. Whole convoys whipped out by one guy”
Vix seemed not to care, but…I felt this man was thinking the best of us, and I felt scared…
“Whats the name of this assassin?” I ask
The man turns “Plenty names for em, though, only one is true….Whiteout…”
“Whiteout?” Vix asks
“Yeah…from what I hear, the assassin is blind, yet can still see much better than anyone of us could, that’s what makes em dangerous, you cant fool em. That’s why they call em Whiteout, because no matter the condition or distractions, always seems to focus on its target”
“gee…like tunnel vision from hell” Vix mutters as she looks at me “Well, its there we got to go, so were going”
I gaze at Vix, despite the patrons rambling about the dangers; she just seemed to shrug it off, eventually leaving the bar (after paying of course).
We found Silver talking with Mike, between them they were speaking about various weapons and equipment they came across, Mike had just began speaking about armoured suits he saw and noted on how sophisticated Silver’s was
“It’s not a suit though, it is my body” the wolf replied
“Still it’s fascinating” he mutters, stroking the arm plating. Silver sighed, turning to see me and Vix approach “Well, were going”
“How was the bar?” Silver asks
“Eventful” I reply “Though…I worry about were where going”
“Why?” Silver asks, a concern hint in his voice
“Oh its not much” Vix adds “apparently there is this assassin-”
“Whiteout?” Silver says
It was silent
“How…do you know?” Vix and I say together
“Its in my files…Whiteout was part of my creators company…another genetic experiment”
“Another one?”
Silver nods “Something even I don’t know about”
Another pang of worry strikes me as I turn to Vix, for a split second…she seemed afraid, but she hid it well
“Experiment or not, we still gotta go, and those people are counting on us” She notions to the refugees who were with them, for awhile I never spoke with them, many human, some anthro’s like Vix, it was an unusual bunch, all so weak and afraid…touching really.
Still, it was taken by Vix and Mike to bring them to their destination, and it was our job to help, so after a few last checks, we were on our way.
--
The drive towards Yeilds felt…different this time around. The once warming atmosphere of chatting with Vix and Mike like before was dissipated, even Vix seemed more concealed and silent than usual, was the story of Whiteout being a genetic experiment assassin true, what chance did a normal anthro have against that!? Actually, little….ever since the collapse, animals began to morph into human like creatures or Anthro’s, and during the struggles that followed, many became far better in combat and technology then actual humans, many were prized for this, sometimes even feared. Mike and Vix were no different, skilled soldiers simply holding their claim as such. Genetic Experiments or robots like me and Silver are a cut above normal anthros, they are more refined in their abilities as combatants, and sometimes even as researchers. Genetic creatures are feared for their abilities, technology long since lost after the collapse.
Suddenly the convoy lurched to a halt, before it stood a rather large blockade. The driver looked confused as Vix hustled to the front
“It’s a trap” She muttered “Were in Whiteouts turf now” she said, her voice completely changed, serious. I gulped, she sounded completely different than normal. “Well if that’s true, I’m sure Whiteout is holding steady watching now” Mike noted as Silver eased up and out of the truck
“HEY!” Vix shouted “Where you going!?”
Silver didn’t answer, he slowly stepped out into the open, walking right up to the barricade, he studied it for a moment as Vix suddenly ran out behind him, she began to tug him
“Get back in here!” she shouts pulling Silver back, only to be stopped by him lurching and covering her as a shot ripped through the air, deflecting against his armour. Vix yelped, cowering under his big arm as the bullet narrowly hit her
“Move…back inside” he says softly slowly walking towards the truck. Yet things got worse, Mike got out, instinct to protect Vix, only to end up getting shot in the arm
The bat yelped in pain as the round struck his shoulder, causing him to flop to the ground. I jumped out next, yanking Mike behind the truck as a round narrowly missed me, it cracked in the air and ricocheted off the truck’s armour.
“Shit shit shit!” Vix exclaims suddenly crumpling to her knees and holding her head, her eyes seemed glazed as Mikes body lay on the ground, blood in the shoulder. I was trying hard to yank the round, but it had gone deep, real deep.
“Medic!” I shouted instinctively, yet no one came. Silver kept trying to drag Vix back to the transport, the kitsune seemed to be dead weight
“m-my fault” she muttered “mike was hit”
Silver eased Vix with Mike “help him” he said as he turned to the building
“Nat…with me”
“But…” I mutter, pointing at Mike
“We need to take down that assassin” he barked “lets go!” he says gazing at the bat “He will live, but we need to deal with that sniper”
For a moment, timed stopped, Vix looked at Silver, hands lowering as she looked back at Mike
“Do it then…for me” she whispers as she begins to work on Mikes wound
The convoy moved on slowly afterward, no Scavengers bothered us from there to the final settlement with enough gas and food for all of us. Small compared to other settlements, it served more as a checkpoint than an actual established colony. Several small buildings litter around a large lot were gas pumps fuel any vehicles that needed the gas…and had the funds. Surprisingly enough, Vix was able to pay it all.
“C’mon, lets get a drink” she ushered towards me as I blinked for a moment, I was never really keen on “a drink”, it was new to me. As a cyborg, I didn’t need any sort of nutriment…
“I don’t…drink” I muttered, trying to not pull myself into that sort of situation, yet Vix seemed…unmoved
‘Ah com on!” she exclaimed “Everyone lives only once!” she grabbed my arm and began to tug me towards the bar, I whimpered, honestly I was scared of how strong and determined Vix was. I watched Silver standing near the truck but was unable to signal him. I sighed as I was pulled into the bar.
“So…why do you hang out with him?” Vix asked as she took me to the bar, I couldn’t figure out why she wanted to know this, maybe the curiosity
“Why do you ask?” I reply, finding it to be the only answer I could come up with
“well….you don’t seem to relate to Silver at all, your…more understanding, you seem to care more too” She added, signaling a drink from the bartender, after a few moments, two glasses of…something was served before us. Vix drank it quickly, but…I just stared at it, I wasn’t sure if I should or should.
“Really?” I ask, trying to ignore the drink
“Yeah” Vix mutters back whipping her lips with the back of her hand before she asks for a refill which she quickly drunk down, smacking her lips “good stuff”
“Well…” I begin, pawing at the glass a few times “I guess because I feel he is capable of so much, yet needs…guidance”
Vix gave me a rather curious glare “Guidance?” She asked “more like a brain, he’s so…well…ignorant”
"Hes not ignorant!” I retaliate, rather fiercely “he’s a very smart creature, he’s….just not all there, how would you feel if you lost everything and couldn’t feel the pain!”
By this point, I was standing, my claw dug into the table and the few patrons all staring at me
“Whoa…chill sister before you cause a problem” Vix sighed and propped me down “Look…I didn’t mean it in a bad way, its just…Silver seems cold, he doesn’t seem to appeal to any sense of good will, and from what I saw, only cares for the mission.”
“Well…it shows what you know, I’m sure once we keep going you will understand.”
There seemed to be a hint of upset between me and Vix, but she huffed it off and knocked back her third…or was it fourth…drink.
“Well…whatever, we need his guns so we can make it to Yeilds”
“Yeilds?” Came a voice from the nearby booth, a frazzled human, wearing makeshift parts of armor with a strange hat walks over
“Your going to Yeilds?” he asks, his breath laden with tar from smoking, I gag, Vix glares
“Yeah…what it to you?” she asks, easing to her thigh were her gun was
“Well…hey…don’t mean any trouble there miss, just wanted to warn you that going there isn’t the best idea now”
Vix blinked “what do you mean “not the best idea”? it’s the only useful settlement around”
The man sighed “Look…I don’t know what you heard, but recently, there’s been this assassin stalking the city ruins around Yeilds, sniping Scavengers, and seeing as how your trucks are decked out like them, I doubt you will get through”
Vix huffs “Yeah right, we got through a score of Scavengers to get here, what’s one assassin?”
The man seemed to look serious “’Aint no ordinary assassin, this ones a pro, a sniper and from what I ‘ear, ‘aint one to let people slip by either, efficient, deadly, and very accurate. Whole convoys whipped out by one guy”
Vix seemed not to care, but…I felt this man was thinking the best of us, and I felt scared…
“Whats the name of this assassin?” I ask
The man turns “Plenty names for em, though, only one is true….Whiteout…”
“Whiteout?” Vix asks
“Yeah…from what I hear, the assassin is blind, yet can still see much better than anyone of us could, that’s what makes em dangerous, you cant fool em. That’s why they call em Whiteout, because no matter the condition or distractions, always seems to focus on its target”
“gee…like tunnel vision from hell” Vix mutters as she looks at me “Well, its there we got to go, so were going”
I gaze at Vix, despite the patrons rambling about the dangers; she just seemed to shrug it off, eventually leaving the bar (after paying of course).
We found Silver talking with Mike, between them they were speaking about various weapons and equipment they came across, Mike had just began speaking about armoured suits he saw and noted on how sophisticated Silver’s was
“It’s not a suit though, it is my body” the wolf replied
“Still it’s fascinating” he mutters, stroking the arm plating. Silver sighed, turning to see me and Vix approach “Well, were going”
“How was the bar?” Silver asks
“Eventful” I reply “Though…I worry about were where going”
“Why?” Silver asks, a concern hint in his voice
“Oh its not much” Vix adds “apparently there is this assassin-”
“Whiteout?” Silver says
It was silent
“How…do you know?” Vix and I say together
“Its in my files…Whiteout was part of my creators company…another genetic experiment”
“Another one?”
Silver nods “Something even I don’t know about”
Another pang of worry strikes me as I turn to Vix, for a split second…she seemed afraid, but she hid it well
“Experiment or not, we still gotta go, and those people are counting on us” She notions to the refugees who were with them, for awhile I never spoke with them, many human, some anthro’s like Vix, it was an unusual bunch, all so weak and afraid…touching really.
Still, it was taken by Vix and Mike to bring them to their destination, and it was our job to help, so after a few last checks, we were on our way.
--
The drive towards Yeilds felt…different this time around. The once warming atmosphere of chatting with Vix and Mike like before was dissipated, even Vix seemed more concealed and silent than usual, was the story of Whiteout being a genetic experiment assassin true, what chance did a normal anthro have against that!? Actually, little….ever since the collapse, animals began to morph into human like creatures or Anthro’s, and during the struggles that followed, many became far better in combat and technology then actual humans, many were prized for this, sometimes even feared. Mike and Vix were no different, skilled soldiers simply holding their claim as such. Genetic Experiments or robots like me and Silver are a cut above normal anthros, they are more refined in their abilities as combatants, and sometimes even as researchers. Genetic creatures are feared for their abilities, technology long since lost after the collapse.
Suddenly the convoy lurched to a halt, before it stood a rather large blockade. The driver looked confused as Vix hustled to the front
“It’s a trap” She muttered “Were in Whiteouts turf now” she said, her voice completely changed, serious. I gulped, she sounded completely different than normal. “Well if that’s true, I’m sure Whiteout is holding steady watching now” Mike noted as Silver eased up and out of the truck
“HEY!” Vix shouted “Where you going!?”
Silver didn’t answer, he slowly stepped out into the open, walking right up to the barricade, he studied it for a moment as Vix suddenly ran out behind him, she began to tug him
“Get back in here!” she shouts pulling Silver back, only to be stopped by him lurching and covering her as a shot ripped through the air, deflecting against his armour. Vix yelped, cowering under his big arm as the bullet narrowly hit her
“Move…back inside” he says softly slowly walking towards the truck. Yet things got worse, Mike got out, instinct to protect Vix, only to end up getting shot in the arm
The bat yelped in pain as the round struck his shoulder, causing him to flop to the ground. I jumped out next, yanking Mike behind the truck as a round narrowly missed me, it cracked in the air and ricocheted off the truck’s armour.
“Shit shit shit!” Vix exclaims suddenly crumpling to her knees and holding her head, her eyes seemed glazed as Mikes body lay on the ground, blood in the shoulder. I was trying hard to yank the round, but it had gone deep, real deep.
“Medic!” I shouted instinctively, yet no one came. Silver kept trying to drag Vix back to the transport, the kitsune seemed to be dead weight
“m-my fault” she muttered “mike was hit”
Silver eased Vix with Mike “help him” he said as he turned to the building
“Nat…with me”
“But…” I mutter, pointing at Mike
“We need to take down that assassin” he barked “lets go!” he says gazing at the bat “He will live, but we need to deal with that sniper”
For a moment, timed stopped, Vix looked at Silver, hands lowering as she looked back at Mike
“Do it then…for me” she whispers as she begins to work on Mikes wound
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