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Post by takewithfood on Aug 4, 2009 18:09:32 GMT -5
"Into The Breech"
Part 3 It figures: One single car of gun-toting goons in Baybridge and LCN is all over it. Some might say that if Heather Mills and her ilk had any idea just how much of that goes on in Hersh every day, they'd have fifty camera crews in the projects. But the cold truth is that they do know. Even if they don't know the specifics, even if they don't know just how bad it really is, the citizens of Liberation know the violence in the Hersh projects is bad enough that you want to stay away. Even fearless Heather Mills knows to keep her distance. But not everyone has a choice. Low income housing is hard to find even in Kingsway, and it seems that the divisions between the middle and lower class is getting wider and wider every day. Angel Johnson had a choice, once, and she chose Hersh. She chose the drugs and the gangs and the thrills that come with them. And when that life turned sour and seemed to be coming to an end, she got a second choice. She chose Hersh again, but in a very different way. And so here she is, hitting the streets packing a pistol and a half dozen throwing knives, just trying to make a difference. She's only a few blocks from her apartment when she comes across the first signs of trouble: a young man - barely a teenager, actually - is splayed out on the sidewalk, bleeding a big pool of blood from his midsection. A dozen shell casings and fresh tire marks tell the familiar story of a drive-by. At first, Angel can't even tell if she recognizes him, or if he's even still alive; she'd have to take a closer look.. * * * * * Not far away, Ami is hitting the streets as well. She's barely on her front sidewalk for two seconds before a black SUV roars past her - young men and women in strangely baggy clothing (isn't that uncomfortable? what strange technology keeps their pants from falling down?) hang out the side windows, hooting and hollering. Several of them carry weapons - primitive Earth weapons (Earthlings are yet to advance beyond projectile weapon technology, but they show promise), but still potentially deadly, even to an unwary Iofenarian. Half-way down the block, the SUV comes to a screeching halt. There is some commotion inside the vehicle, and then it appears to turn around... and head right back for her... |
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Post by honestiago on Aug 4, 2009 22:43:49 GMT -5
Jesus #*@&in' Christ...Does this sh*t EVER stop?
Angel caught herself. I don't talk like that anymore, she thought. Like Gil says, the way you present yourself. Almost in reflex, she pulled her piece, c**ked it, and cased the area.
Foul, thug language...That ain't me anymore, she said to herself firmly, as she surveyed the terrain. It was like days of old. The same adrenaline rush. She didn't like it -- it reminded her too much of what she'd been...
Still, better to be safe than-
Dead. He's probably dead. Or soon to be, she decided. But, then, she, too was "dead" for a time, wasn't she? And as long as there is life...
She crossed over to him, looked him over quickly. One eye on the boy, one "inner eye" pinging the environment. Worse comes to worse, we'll find out who did this, she decided. And send them a g-----n'ed message.
*******
H 2/2
E: 15/15
A1: 2 stones INT; inspect the youth for signs of life
A2 : 3 stones RC, +2 Sense Combat, shifted to DEFENSE (ready to fire if threatened).
DEF: 5 stones, +1 Kevlar
MODS:
-Psychic Sonar 4 (pinging targets at range 2)
-Enhanced Vision 2 (auras [for what that's worth]).
H 2/2
E: 10/15
RECOVERY: 4
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Post by ShortStuff on Aug 5, 2009 15:30:13 GMT -5
Lining up on the sidewalk, the four Amis were a quite a sight.
After all, how often does one get to see identical quadruplets?
And that’s exactly what Ami was trying to pass as, here.
She had researched the topic on the “internet”, a vast network spanning almost the whole planet, functioning as a massive source for information, entertainment and more, accessible by what seemed to be everyone;
Identical quadruplets were known among the human race.
The Iofenerian refugee was quite thankful for that, since it provided her with an opportunity to utilize at least some of her abilities without running into uncomfortable questions she couldn’t answer.
As of now, no one had even bothered asking. Whenever she had shown herself with one or more of her other selves, all the humans did was staring.
It was an understandable reaction, since identical twins were rare, and trip- or quadruplets even more so. Also, Ami had found out that she came rather close to what apparently was the ideal of beauty among the majority of this planet’s population. At least according to the internet, which provided an astonishingly large amount of imagery, both animated and still, especially of human women, solely for the purpose of looking at and rejoicing in them.
So, with all four of them dressed in the same dark blue and black clothes, wearing the same white bandana and generally looking exactly alike, simultaneously producing a bright red lollipop from their pockets, unwrapping it and starting to enjoy it’s sugary goodness, the “sisters” did a very good job appearing to be extraordinarily in-sync identical siblings.
”<They are coming back.>”
Ami commented on the turning car
”<Since they haven’t attacked yet, I doubt they will do so now when not provoked. Perhaps violence won’t be necessary.>”
”<What should I do instead? Ask them nicely to stop rioting? That will not work.>”
One of her other selves spoke out her concerns.
”<It will not hurt to try. And if they do not comply, chances are good that I will surprise them.>”
#3 chipped in, with #2 replying:
”<Unless they just come back for a better line of fire. I need to be on my guard!>”
”Speak English!”
the last Ami spoke up
”And stop talking like I am you. We are not alone.”
There was a moment of silence before the other three agreed in unison:
”Yo!”
Ami #4 sighed
”Why am I missing Mario for this?”
Action1 (all4): 5 stones into Agility/Acrobatics, shifted to defense to dodge, should the people in the car decide to start shooting
Defense: 5 from Acrobatics, +4 Reflexive Dodge
Modifiers: Enhanced Senses 3, Mental Defense 3
H: 3/3 (all4)
E: 20/25 (all4)
R: 5
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Post by takewithfood on Aug 9, 2009 10:49:19 GMT -5
The big SUV rolls back towards where the Amis are standing, then comes to a stop. A young man wearing a green Liberation Generals baseball cap turned sideways leans out of the passenger window and leers at Ami. Two other young men in the back seat, also notably wearing green, grin at her as well, while the sole female occupant pokes her head and shoulders out of the sunroof to keep watch. "Daaaamn, girl," says sideways-hat guy as he makes a show of looking the Ami dupes up and down, "if Ida known there was four fine honeys such as yoselfs hangin round in these parts, Ida taken this block over long ago!" He gestures casually with a firearm in one hand - Ami recognizes it as a model they call an "Uzi" in those televised entertainment programs. When he smiles, several of his teeth appear to be made out of metal. "Name's Stickee - that's with two 'e's, now, don't be fooled by imitators. And you ladies are..?" * * * * * As Angel approaches the wounded teen's prone body, she can't help but see his aura: a ghastly red mix of anger, fear, and other unpleasant emotions. Turning her attentions to the physical realm, Angel finds that the young man is still alive, but he has a very serious gunshot wound to the abdomen and he's bleeding steadily. There's no telling how bad the damage really is without getting him to a hospital - it may not even be safe to move him. She doesn't recognize him. He's white (and getting paler by the minute), and maybe fifteen, sixteen at most. The navy bandana lying beside him is probably his, and if so, he's probably in a gang. Navy could indicate any of a half dozen different gangs known to operate in this area. His eyelids seem heavy but he forces them open and tries to focus his eyes on Angel. Slowly, he lifts a hand and places it on Angel's arm. "Hi.." he says faintly. "I.. think I got shot.." |
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Post by honestiago on Aug 9, 2009 12:43:23 GMT -5
"Hi.." he says faintly. "I.. think I got shot.."
Oh, Jesus... This was bad. Angel felt helpless. All those years in the gangs, and all she ever learned was how to take life, not save it.
Hand in there, she said. Everything's gonna be all right...everything's gonna be...
How many times had she heard THOSE words uttered? Over the bodies of fallen friends, of enemies, in the movies. Don't worry, it'll be all right...
But it WOULDN'T be all right. The kid was going to die, unless she did something.
Hang in there, she said again, and she grabbed his bandana, balled it up, and pushed it against the wound. With her free hand, she withdrew her cel phone, and hit 911. You hang in there, man, she said yet again. Help's on the way.
As she waited for an answer, she cased the area for parked cars. Worst case scenario, she'd have to jack a car and get this guy to the nearest hospital herself. She scanned the area, as always, pay attention to her "pings" for any indications of hostility.
****
H 2/2
E: 14/15
A1: 2 STR to apply pressure to the wound
A2: 3 stones GANG SKILLS to pick a car easy to break into and hotwire.
MODS:
-Psychic Sonar 4 (pinging targets at range 2)
-Enhanced Vision 2 (auras)
H 2/2
E: 9/15
RECOVERY: 4
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Post by ShortStuff on Aug 13, 2009 10:37:08 GMT -5
The Amis tilted their heads.
Still having a bit of trouble with the spoken language, it took a moment until everything what 'Stickee' said was processed.
"Ami."
"Mel."
"Lisa."
"Pia."
The four said, introducing themselves with the names Ami had her original name converted into when she was first confronted with the need of having several of them for her several selves.
"So, Sticky with two 'e's, who are your friends?"
"And what are you doing here?"
"Because this is our block."
"And we think you should all go home and stay there until this whole riot is over. 'kay?"
Still on their guard, the 'sisters' didn't move much besides pushing their lollipops from one corner of their mouths to the other.
Action1 (all4): 5 stones into Agility/Acrobatics, shifted to defense
Defense: 5 from Acrobatics, +4 Reflexive Dodge
Modifiers: Enhanced Senses 3, Mental Defense 3
H: 3/3 (all4)
E: 20/25 (all4)
R: 5
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Post by takewithfood on Aug 13, 2009 12:48:58 GMT -5
'Stickee' snorts and laughs, showing more of his strange metallic teeth. "Yo block? Yo block!? Get off dat B.S., girl.. the Hoodz is gone! We rolled up an ran the bustas outta town. This be Ice Kings turf now, sweet thang. Best you get used to it." * * * * * Angel's phone dials. As it rings, she pings her surroundings, but senses no movement but her own. Somewhere in the distance she can hear more gunfire. The lack of sirens is eerie. The phone keeps ringing. And ringing. And ringing. The boy's navy bandana turns dark as it soaks up his blood. He blinks slowly. His grip against Angel's arm feels weak. Bandana or not, the pool of blood on the sidewalk still grows; the wound must go right through his thin body. Telling the boy that everything would be 'alright' had felt like a lie, so she told him instead that help was on the way - but that proves to be a lie, too. Still no answer on the phone. More gunfire in the distance. Is it her imagination, or is it getting closer? Still no answer. He blinks again, but struggles to open his eyes. His eyelids flutter, then suddenly go still; his grip on Angel's arm goes slack. Now she can hear a vehicle approaching from the north, and fast. The phone keeps ringing. |
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Post by honestiago on Aug 13, 2009 14:31:26 GMT -5
Another day in the 'hood...
That's what Angel used to think, 'til she knew better. This jungle mentality has GOT to stop, $&#^@ Another day, another young man. Too many of 'em goin' down to the drugs and bullets.
She put away the phone. No use in trying now. Now it was all about survival. She still knew how to do THAT.
She c**ked her pistol and surveyed the environment. Better get stealthy quick. Like Vapor.
Someone was coming. She didn't know who. Maybe she didn't want to know. Nuthin' for the boy now. She kept rationalizing it. She'd done what she could. And that was nothing...
It all seemed to be about nothing. But that's the way it is when hope dies. She'll be damned if she was gonna die with it. In the breadth of a heartbeat, she went from Angel of Mercy, to Avenging Angel, her senses enhanced, her bullets ready to launch.
***
H 2/2
E: 13/15
A1: INT 2 + Sonar: locate a safe place, an alleyway, somewhere to keep outa sight
A2: Speed 2 + AGL 2 to get there and hide
H 2/2
E: 7/15
RECOVERY: 4
MODS:
-Psychic Sonar 4
-Enhanced Vision 2 (auras)
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Post by ShortStuff on Aug 18, 2009 9:13:37 GMT -5
Dumbstruck, the 'sisters' stared at Stickee, before huddling together.
Bits of the whispered conversation could be heard;
"..did he say?"
"..cartoon bunnies.."
"Not that Buster, stupid!"
"..defeated their enemies.."
"..just pawn their butts.."
A few moments later, the quadruplets broke their huddle and lined up again.
Ami looked at Stickee again and said:
"We decided to ask you guys one more time to go home. Please don't make us make you."
Action1 (all4): 5 stones into Agility/Acrobatics, shifted to defense
Defense: 5 from Acrobatics, +4 Reflexive Dodge
Modifiers: Enhanced Senses 3, Mental Defense 3
H: 3/3 (all4)
E: 20/25 (all4)
R: 5
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