|
Post by Max Griffiths on Aug 23, 2011 17:12:07 GMT -5
*The bolt of electricity strikes the nearly invisible trail of ethyl ether leading under the door and into the building, and as I holster my gun and step back, I see the flames through the windows. They race white-clad forms down halls and across rooms, and they win. I don't leave until the entire building is consumed, along with all but the two employees who managed to escape. The guards are powerless, and although the fire response team arrives five minutes after the blaze begins, the sparks have already blown onto the structures on either side. In the dry desert heat, they go up like matchsticks.* *I walk away down the alley when the first of the searchers begin spreading out to find me. I get back to the desert and keep walking, but instead of the sand and scrub I see the beautiful lights of the fire, burning away more than the laboratory and the Better Living Industries employees.*
*I don't think about Red or the bowling alley at all that night*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Aug 24, 2011 18:43:43 GMT -5
*I sleep in the open, and when I wake up the next morning the first thing I see is the haze of black smoke drifting in the air above the now distant town. I realize I'm hungry, and set off to find something to eat, and a car.*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Aug 28, 2011 1:59:05 GMT -5
*The days and nights that follow quickly become blurred. I have vague images of taking a car, of burning down a house, of encountering a patrol of draculoids and shooting them all. After that last one, upon realizing my gun was set to stun I tied the men up and left them at the side of the highway.*
*If I had given any thought to my condition, I would have recognized a kind of regression; I said very little, acted on whims, and often forgot events immediatly after they occurred. But if I had noticed, I would not have cared.*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 1, 2011 19:34:29 GMT -5
*I have to start being more careful after another day or so. Apparently the units have been warned, because several times I'm recognized and have to take evasive action. I don't mind, really. It's still easy enough for me to get the food and water I need. I keep driving aimlessly.*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 3, 2011 19:07:26 GMT -5
*I stumble upon a safehouse and park the car out of sight automatically. I may not work for Better Living any more, but that doesn't mean I should turn a blind eye to killjoy activity. No one here to ask them questions, I think, without connecting the thought to Red. I circle to the back of the building, staying below the level of the boarded-up windows. Using a thick beam of leftover wood, I block the back door before returning to the front of the house. I hear voices from inside, and faint music. There aren't many killjoys, probably three, unless some are asleep. I knock on the door to be polite, and the talking ceases before one of them approaches and asks who it is. I consider answering but can't think of a witty response, so I just kick the door open instead.*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 3, 2011 22:52:28 GMT -5
*The killjoys are quick on the uptake, I'll give them that. The first one keeps his feet and even ducks my shot, and I have to keep moving because the other two are shooting now as well. Even so, I stun one and disable another before a fourth stumbles out of a back room. That one runs for the back door, and finding it blocked, joins the fight*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 3, 2011 23:43:30 GMT -5
*I duck a swing from the closer killjoy and move in low, shoving the barrel of my gun against his side and pulling the trigger. The last one gets the jump on me, though, smashing something against the back of my head. I wasn't giving her enough attention, forgetting for the moment that I didn't have backup. I stagger slightly, but keep my balance and spin around, catching her off guard with my speed. I knock the fragments of a glass bottle out of her grasp with one hand, bringing the stock of my gun down on her head with the other. Another blow, and she stops moving.* *The front door slams behind me and I realize only three killjoys are in the room, but I don't bother following the runner. My interest in the activity faded as soon as I felt a trickle of blood run through my hair, beneath my mask, and now I just want to secure the remaining killjoys and leave.*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 5, 2011 21:28:35 GMT -5
*After using zipties on the ankles and wrists of the killjoys, I tie them each to a leg of the heavy wooden table in one of the front rooms. It's well built and sturdy, obviously an antique from before the wars. I stand for a moment, considering them. The whole exercise seems rather pointless, and I decide to send a transmission on the BLI airwaves so someone will come pick them up. I retreat to my car, where I can see the building in case the fourth killjoy radios and brings help* *rb Secure BLI Personnel Channel* Requesting pickup, 3 killjoys ready for collection. *I send my coordinates, then sit back and watch the house*
|
|
|
Post by Jonathon Orwell on Sept 5, 2011 21:40:38 GMT -5
(from page 12 of A Brave New World)
*We approach the area that Max sent us. I cautiously step out, gun in hand, pointed towards the ground. Outside the building looks fairly vacant.* A few of you check around back. You three- come with me. *I peek through the front door and do not see anyone there. Except that is for the three killjoys tied to a table. I watch as the others untie them from the table and move them to the back of the van. I file away any observations I have of them for later and quickly check the other rooms for any lurkers.*
|
|
Rachel Mahoney
BLInd Kid
split in two and never quite whole
Posts: 427
|
Post by Rachel Mahoney on Sept 5, 2011 22:28:57 GMT -5
*I quietly follow Orwell with my gun at the ready. My hands are shaking from on odd combination of adrenaline and a little fear, but I try to keep my composure steady*
|
|
|
Post by Max Griffiths on Sept 5, 2011 23:03:51 GMT -5
*I watch silently as the BLI vehicles arrive, realizing that it's too late for me to drive away without attracting notice. It shouldn't matter much, though. Despite the encounters I've had so far, no units have actively attempted to follow me. I have the key in the ignition when I see Orwell leave a van and enter the house, and change my mind about starting the car. He wouldn't be one to let me leave easily. I draw my gun and get out of the car, taking care to close the door quietly, and start watching for dracs who might sweep the area*
|
|
|
Post by Jonathon Orwell on Sept 5, 2011 23:23:40 GMT -5
Empty. *All the rooms are clear. We check all the closets and any nooks or crannies and do not find a thing. I am disappointed that Max was still not here. I follow my team outside to the van. They are loading the unconscious killjoys into the back of the van. I turn around to close the door to the building but happen to look down and see bootprints. I follow them with my eye and it leads away from any of unit.* Looks like we have a spectator. *I point at the footprints that leads someway off to a outcropping of tall shrubs and trees in the distance.*
|
|
Rachel Mahoney
BLInd Kid
split in two and never quite whole
Posts: 427
|
Post by Rachel Mahoney on Sept 5, 2011 23:26:35 GMT -5
*I look to where Orwell is pointing and see the footprints. I then look back at Orwell to see if that's an order to follow them*
|
|
|
Post by Jonathon Orwell on Sept 5, 2011 23:29:08 GMT -5
*I see Miss Mahoney look at me and nod. I keep my gun in a defensive position and begin walking up the hill towards the outcropping.* We will distract them. While we do that I want a few of you to go around and get him from behind. Do not think of him as a coworker. Just remember all the times in combat where he shot you.
|
|
Rachel Mahoney
BLInd Kid
split in two and never quite whole
Posts: 427
|
Post by Rachel Mahoney on Sept 5, 2011 23:31:27 GMT -5
*I follow Orwell up the hill, I keep looking around to detect any movement and keep my hand on my gun*
|
|