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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 9, 2012 18:03:03 GMT -5
*I shrug, looking out into the desert and mentally running along the highways in that direction* Not particularly. Wolfblood's more directly west. North-northwest like that is just the desert, and eventually the mountains. Nothing that stands out. Could be the gesture is the important thing, though, not the direction. You said there was a line that fit? A phantom leading you, or such?
*Then another thought occurs to me, and I make a face* You said there were exactly one hundred bodies here, and the song mentioned a thousand. Whatever the message is, it's fairly unclear. You don't suppose... they're going to start adding up the casualties?
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 9, 2012 18:13:37 GMT -5
*I reach for my radio* Volume, get out here. It's safe. I need your opinion on something. *I look back to Vico.* If I'm right, then that may be the case. Look around for more clues. If you see anything not directly related to decomposition, you let me know. *I look back up at the propped up corpses.* What are you trying to tell us? *I notice his shirt is open and I tug at it. It reveals an American Widow etched into his chest, and stakes put through the hearts of the five propped up.* Well... that must've hurt.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 9, 2012 18:21:04 GMT -5
*I wince when I see the stakes and carvings, then back up and start circling around the hill. Each pass takes me farther from the pile, watching the ground. Other than a lot of footprints and three cartridges (only three? After firing 190 bullets? Someone knows how to tidy up...) I'm not finding anything.*
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Post by Volume Virus on Aug 9, 2012 20:06:33 GMT -5
*I step out of the car and instantly gag. It takes me a few minutes to be able to even get to the heap. I taste bile. It's not a good taste.* Explain to me why I'm not somewhere nice-smelling right now.
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 9, 2012 22:10:07 GMT -5
You wanted to come along. Be useful. *I take off the shirt of the corpse with the mask and expose the American Widow.* A phantom to lead them, one hundred bodies out of a thousand, and two shots to the back of the head. They're using MCR lyrics. The spider confirms it.
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Post by Volume Virus on Aug 9, 2012 22:18:35 GMT -5
I didn't think that coming along would involve so many bodies. That's one hundred and three today alone. *I hold my nose and continue speaking. Somehow, breathing through my mouth isn't helping.* Well, what do you want me to say? This is ridiculously assholish for even Killjoys and, let's face it, we can be assholes. That guy's pointing where he's pointing, so I assume there's another death village that way behind the cacti. But are you sure there's more? I think there's a song that talks about a hundred bodies piled up, not a thousand. *I realize that I sound a bit like a jerk right after I close my mouth.* Er...I could also have heard it wrong.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 12, 2012 2:03:35 GMT -5
*Returning to the top of the hill, I hand the cartridges to IA.* That's it. Whoever did this cleaned up their trail; whatever message they're leaving is right here and nowhere else. Look, this is pretty out of hand. You and Volume can keep poking around the corpses all you want, but I'm going back to the city. I'll call in help, get a patrol out here to identify these people and get them burials. *I start backing down the hill as I go* I'll delay it, though, give you two plenty of time to clear out. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.
*This isn't my kind of problem. We're in over our heads here, and I'm not one to let circumstances like that continue for any longer than necessary. No, the clean, safe city is the place for me, and for anyone with a rational head on their shoulders."
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Post by Volume Virus on Aug 12, 2012 9:48:17 GMT -5
Lucky you. Bring back something that doesn't smell like death for me? *I sigh. His eyes were uncovered the whole way here; theorhetically, he could find his way back. I wish I had never gone to the city in the first place.* Don't suppose you'd give us enough time to move our location, would you?
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 12, 2012 15:14:26 GMT -5
*I take my cane and stop Vico from moving forward.* No, Vico. You're not going anywhere. If you call in a patrol, you can call them in from here, then you and I can lead them. You are staying here with us. I respect you, but the only reason you're still alive is because we are doing this investigation. If you truly want to leave, I'll give you ten seconds. After that, you're just another face in white. *I walk in front of him and stare him down.* Now, you can either stay here, and help us to figure out what's happening to /our/ people, or you can be a bloody coward and walk off, praying that I don't put a bullet between your shoulder blades. These murders are happening to civilians. I'm not asking you to care about /my/ people. I'm telling you to start giving a shit about our species. If I'm right, and this is a part of something bigger, we stand to lose a lot more than just a few settlements. *I stab my finger in to his chest.* Now what are you going to do?
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 12, 2012 23:03:27 GMT -5
*I freeze when he sticks the cane out in front of me, remembering Doctor When's comment that it was a functional gun as well.* If I call in a patrol from here they'll take you and Volume in as suspects, no questions asked. And they won't let you go, either, because even if you're cleared of this, I'm sure you both have rap sheets a mile long. You know that full well. You also know I /am/ a bloody coward, and I'm not afraid to admit it.
*I look him straight in the face, but then sigh* But if you're serious about shooting me...
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 12, 2012 23:11:24 GMT -5
Of course I'm serious about shooting you, Vico. Do I look like someone who would joke around? *I set the cane down.* If you called in a patrol, disguising ourselves would be fairly simple, Vico. Fact is, we need back up. Takes a lot more than a couple of people to set something like this up. I don't know about you, but I don't think you want to take on more than five people without any back up. The least you can do is ask if there's been any other settlements gone silent lately.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 13, 2012 0:04:58 GMT -5
Yes, you look like a rodeo clown. *My hands are at my sides, and I look somewhat longingly towards the city.* There's no point asking around. I'd have heard something, or they'd have sent a patrol, or - *then my radio crackles to life, and I look up at the sky in exasperation at my own bad luck as I hear the static-filled voice.*
This is draculoid 317, reporting in with draculoid 565 from Zone 3. We've got a - a situation here. I don't... I don't know what - it's a massacre, there are bodies just - just - *The static cuts off for a moment, and when the transmission resumes it's a different man talking.* This is draculoid 565 reporting. I'm calling in a civilian killing, looks to be eighty or ninety casualties. No signs of the perpetrators, but backup would be appreciated. I'm sending our coordinates with this message. Any agents in the area, please respond. 565 over.
*I look at IA.* You want me to answer that. *It's not a question.*
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 13, 2012 0:11:46 GMT -5
Well, no shit. That's our site. Get the coordinates, we're heading out. *I start walking towards the car, and then turn back.* Stay close. Get too far, and you're in optimal range for a shotgun blast.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Aug 13, 2012 10:56:08 GMT -5
Getting possessive, are we? You know, overly controlling relationships are unhealthy. *I don't put much enthusiasm into the jest, though, and unclip my radio from my belt a moment later.*
*rb* This is Alexander Ludovico, responding to draculoid 565. Your coordinates have been received. I'm on my way. Vico over.
*I get a confirmation soon after, and start back down towards the car without checking that Volume and Aftermath are following. Distance or no, I don't think he'll do anything as long as I'm cooperating.*
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Post by Incendiary Aftermath on Aug 13, 2012 23:58:30 GMT -5
*I cock the gun to check that it works, and partially to intimidate Vico as he walks off. I follow after him and motion for Volume to follow.* Whatever's going on, it's not going to be easy, Vol. I suggest you skip a meal before our next investigation.
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Yes, I'm still running - sort of. But it is lonely out here. Haven't seen anyone else for a while.
//