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Post by V on Aug 13, 2008 19:25:03 GMT -5
Carmen stared in horror. The boy she was standing beside, not two minutes ago, was now slowly turning inside out. Her almond shaped eyes began to tear up, and she felt herself gagging. The sight itself was digusting...but it was all too sad. She kind of liked the guy, he was always jumping around. He was also so young, too. A transmission from Flask came in. "God damn it. Loss of one person is bad enough...but two..." He went silent for a moment. "Alright...we can't let this slow us down. We need to continue with the mission..." "They'll rip us to shred..." Carmen mumbled. "In an open space like that..." "Not necessarily. While you were fighting, I took a scan of one of your enemies. They are a great machine...but they all of their flaws. I've identified three weaknesses that can used to your advantage." "Tell us Flask." "Well..one, is that they cannot attack with their cloaking device on. The power they need to deliver a devastating blow is redirected from 80% of the rest of the body to that one arm, which includes the stealth generator. So, they aren't exactly the perfect stealth killers" The broadcast was channeled through all the radios, so all SFOD members were listening to this. "Found that out by scanning one in action. The second flaw. I found where the cloaking generator is located. Your operative Michelle actually helped me on this one. It is located on the backside of them, right where our shoulder blade would be. The device itself is very fragile, since a nine millimeter bullet rendered it useless. The third one...is that their arms, although the mechanism used to deliver the attack is extremely strong...the connectors don't seem strong at all. This is only a theory...I have evidence that it is true, except for the fact Jacob was able to sever one from the enemy."
Despite all the knew info, Carmen was still not feeling too safe. "Keep your sound radar on, Carmen. I'll be able to give you warning of anymore hostiles like that." "..Roger..." "Alright. Waste no more time there. A helicopter is on the way to pick you up. Extraction point is the top of the parking structure we dropped Delta off at. The way back, will require you to use the fire escape. In the far corner of the testing room."
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Carmen faced Michelle...her eyes were as teared up as hers...but she was so thankful she was still alive. Carmen quickly wrapped her arms around the blond for a brief hug, before quickly withdrawing. "I am so happy that you are still alive." The group was getting ready to depart...seemed they all wanted to get out of here. They retrieved the dog tags of the two downed members, and did their best not to look at the bodies. The left through the door to the testing room. James volunteered to ascend first, and began to climb the rungs Carmen watched him go higher...and higher...until he disappeared into the opening in the ceiling. It was silent for a few minutes...he must have been checking the room. Then... "CLEAR!" he shouted below. The rest of the team began their ascent. When Carmen came up...she saw James standing still. "James?" She knew he wasn't one to stay in one spot for long...let alone in one position. Then a second later...he broke from his trance, falling back into her. "James!" "D-Did you see that?" "See what?" "It was...was a girl." Carmen's eyes widened. She shook her head to his question...but she knew what he had saw.
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James was indeed frightened by these hostiles. The boy and the other man were done in so quick. He was lucky...for one was about to do the same to him, had not Michelle been there. Flask gave all the extraction orders...and it was time to move on. Avoiding the bodies, they proceeded into the test area. The escape ladder lead to the floor above. No one else seemed to want to go first. So...he decided to. He made his way to the front, took a deep breath, and started up the rungs. When he reached the top..he was behind the fire escape door. He slowly pulled it open...and revealing a lit cubicle farm. Alone, he began to check the room. Examined every cubicle...and the area outside. It appeared to be clear. Now falling ceiling tiles. "Clear!" He shouted to the group below. When he turned back around...he saw a little girl...red dress...pale skin, black hair. "Woah...what in the...." The little girl looked up at him. Her eyes were just black. She looked absolutely terrifying. Slowly...she began to walk his way. James did not say anything...he couldn't. He didn't move...he couldn't. Completely paralyzed by fear. When she was no more than three feet, she began to evaporate. He snapped from his trance, falling back into someone; Carmen. "James!" She said. "D-Did you see that?" "See what?" "It was a girl.." She only shook her head. -Christ...- he though. -I must be seeing things then...-
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 14, 2008 1:24:05 GMT -5
"Crazy, but that's how it goes Millions of people living as foes Maybe, it's not too late To learn how to love And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing Life's a bitter shame I'm going off the rails on a crazy train"~Ozzy Osbourne, Crazy Train
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"Michelle, In Spetsnaz, we were trained to not feel remorse. In America, We are taught to deal with it later. Please, move on. The sooner we leave, the less people have to die." The woman closed her eyes, and sluggishly turned away. By the time the two got to the exit, James had already started up the ladder. Alexei did not object, He just wanted everyone up and out as soon as possible. "Clear!" "Finally, we can gat out of here," the Russian half-heartedly mused. "Yah gut daht rayt." "Go ahead, I'll tail." Aleaxei sighed. One by one, they scaled the ladder. Alexei stood at the foot and watched the entrances. His eyes gravitated towards the staging area. The little red light was blinking again, but it was pulsing faster. "Sir!" Schuur called from inside the next floor. "We're all here." "One moment." Alexei looked at the light again, and couldn't tear his eyes away from it. The window shuttered. He looked that way again, with his gun at the ready. The window crashed open, leaving a dusting of pearlescent dust and knife-like shards of glass strewn about. Through the dust, small footprints got placed, and handprints, like a child was crawling through the glass. They were headed right for him. then, just before the edge of the field, they stopped. Two more footprints at the edge, as whoever was moving towards Alexei stood up. Alexei backed away, very slowly. once he felt the cold metal of the ladder behind him, he turned around to mount it. It dissolved, into ash, wherever he touched! A man dressed in full combat gear walked out of the corner of his eye. he didn't fire, though he seemed to have a gun. As he neared, the ladder got eaten away faster, until He came face to face with a confused Alexei. It walked on, and as it passed the Russian, it felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. He couldn't breathe and his chest hurt, and the man was gone. the door to the staging area was open slightly, and swaying on uneven hinges. Alexei looked back at the ladder, and climbed what was left, though he had to jump slightly. Once up with the rest of the rest of his team, he proceeded like nothing had happened, even though the canvas-walled cubicles were all smoldering.
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"Sir, we're up." Molly chimed once she gave Michelle a helping hand. Everyone was talking about leaving. She looked down at the floor below, opting to not talk about it until everyone was back home. the commander jumped for a higher set of rungs and pulled himself up, acting oblivious to the footholds below him. Once he was up, everyone started moving forward. they systematically worked their way through every cell, checking it for the dead, the living, and the ones that were to be killed. Molly took another branch off the main artery and checked a few larger cubicles. "Remember: Security are to be treated as hostile, employees are NOT expendable!" She called. Someone was whimpering under the desk she was next to, far into the heart of the mass of cells. She checked that her safety was off and moved around the corner. A skinny man, with a pretty good pasty-white tan and matching hair, was crouching under the deck with his head between his legs. "We got a breather here!" She extended her arm. the man looked up and nervously accepted Molly's offer for help. He stood not too much taller than herself, but dressed in a loud, fuschia Hawaiian t-shirt and tan slacks. On his face were huge, black framed Horn-Rimmed glasses, not unlike, uhh... that sponge in the kid's show wears sometimes, that her little cousin likes to watch. "h-who a-are you?" He questioned. "We're the ones saving your ass. Are you hurt?" "No, i'm not." "Who are you?" "I'm.... here..." he reached into a breast pocket and pulled out a small badge. "You are Henry A. Valentine, Head of OmniGen IT, Laboratory division. You'll work. Follow me." "What do you mean 'i'll work'?" "By order of the United States Govornment, you are under arrest and in My team's control in order to guarantee your safety, as well as aide us in our missions relating to your place of work, especially that of which you have intimate knowledge of. Clear enough?" "No!" "Sir! can you take this?" "Yes, yes," the Russian called from his search area. Molly hissed, "Hands behind your back." Henry complied. Molly secured him at the wrists with a black zip tie, and trading spaced with Svensky, continued towards the door in the far end of the room, and the many, many cubicle farms past that.
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Michelle was first to be waiting on the far end of the room, next to a green, steel door. It was very cool to the touch, still. "Your team, michelle, should recognize this room pretty well. The door on your left leads right to the parking garage." "Yeah..." She pushed the door open, after asking Flask who would be waiting. She screeched, and everyone ran towards her. Michelle's arm was extended, and a shaking finger was pointing to the ground. Lying in a pool of dried blood was two blackened skeletons. Someone kicked one of their legs, and it fell to dust. "Fuck!" Svensky yelled. "I left two guys to keep our extraction point clear!" "Remember who they were?" Michelle asked, sheepishly. "Uhh... Ramsey, and.... McBride." "They don't have dogtags?" Flask questioned. "No, the tags are gone." Taking care to step around the pool of dried blood, Michelle shoved against the heavy emergency door and pushed it open. The sun was bright, and heat was radiating off the asphalt. Three trucks were pulled up, with their backs open. From one of them, a guy called "FedEx! We're always on time!" Svensky verified that all the drivers were drivers, and not crazy suicide bombers. Michelle looked for one with two empty seats, and sat in one, Motioning over Carmen with the arm not being used to pull herself into the large black truck. "Going home..." Michelle sighed. "I almost wish I wasn't. Half the team.... gone." She didn't cry. one the wall opposite her, in old black letters, a simple print read "Coffin."
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Post by V on Aug 14, 2008 3:45:13 GMT -5
Carmen had never seen an actual skeleton before...and it was not a good feeling at all. She stared at them in fear. What could have cause it? Not even flamethrowers could burn through a body so clean, and quickly. These men appeared to not have even left their post. She didn't even notice the trucks pulling up...the sight was that overwhelming to her. "Come on, Carmen!" James shoved her from behind, and she landed right beside one of those skeletons. Her eyes went wide, staring into the sockets. She then felt her collar being grabbed...by James once again. "God damn it, woman. You need someone to do everything for you? They're just bleached bones!" She felt herself being lifted into the back of the truck. Shaking the images from her head, she saw Michelle patting the empty seat beside her. A smile formed on her lips...a small one, but still a smile. She took the seat, and dropped the rifle at her feet. The doors were closed, and the truck sped off. Carmen looked over at Michelle. -I'm so happy she made it!- she cheered in her head, then looked to her belt, the MO disk case. She took out the one she had encrypted the top secret file onto. "This is what all those people died for..." she said to herself. "I hope it was worth it." The truck was turning left and right...must be leaving the parking structure. Suddenly, there was a familiar jingle. A new broadcast. "This is Ernie from LVPR. The police roadblocks are opening up, a little, but armed guards are keep all civilians a minimum of three hundred feet away. But! From where I stand, I can see three SWAT-like APCs leaving through the clearing. The authorities have said that anyone intentionally getting within 300 feet of those vehicles after having left the barricade will be arrested. Fellow citizens...I advise you stay back." Beyond the armored walls, Carmen could hear the civilians and police shouting at one another. The radio form the APC was chattering. A clear transmission came from the police. "Your leaving the combat area. We can't hold civilians back from you anymore, but we warned them not to otherwise." "That's good enough." Flask said. Then he seemed to talk to the team. "Good work, guys...you're almost home, and in store for some well-deserved R&R." He paused for a moment. "Listen...I know losing a lot of friends is tough...but...well, just remember. The one you have lost didn't die in vain. And you'll always the ones you still have to lift your spirits up. I...I planned a celebration for us all in a couple days. Civilian clothing, it will be fun." "Sure hope so..." Carmen mumbled, replacing the MO disk into it's case. She looked to her left, being able to see out the windshield. The crew area was open to it. They were in a residential area now...several apartment buildings. All the lights were off. It was about dawn, so they were still likely the only vehicle on the road. "The sunrise is beautiful..." she said out loud, smiling. "I'm so happy I'll be alive to see another. In France...I was never able to catch the sunrise. And here in America, I was up to early, and too busy to ever catch it." She saw James up in the passenger seat. He was joking with the driver. He looked happy. It was the first time she'd seen him smile in a while. She pulled her helmet, and kevlar mask off, letting the team see her face for the first time in a while. "I can't wait to get back..." She said smiling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James shook his head. The sight of the skeletons was not something he was fond of. He tried to move forward, but bumped into Carmen. He gave her a little shove. "Come on, Carmen!" He sighed as she fell to the ground, and he bent down to pick up her collar. "God damn it, woman. You need someone to do everything for you? They're just bleached bones!" Although he said they were bleached bones...he knew they were living breathing men not a few hours ago. He helped Carmen into the back of the truck. Once everyone was in, he closed the doors, and ran to the passenger side of the truck, pulling the door open, and taking his seat. He greeted the driver. "Alright, hows it going? Had fun waiting? Haha. Let's move out. Sick of this place." The driver nodded, and soon the truck pulled into gear, exiting out the parking structure. "I tell you. Back in England, No crazy people go around eating scientists...then again...we don' have anything like this. Biomechanical soldiers! Wow." He turned back to his team in the crew area. They were all seated...looks like lost in their own thoughts. The IT, Henry was on the floor...looks like he passed out from exhaustion. "God...I'm so happy to be out of there...'ey...what's all this then?" The truck was slipping by the police barricades. Flashing of cameras, and reporters with mics pestering the police. A radio broadcast filled them in on what was going on. "Psh. The media. I thought this mission was to be covert. Guess word got out somehow..." The truck was soon leaving the combat area..and the entered the residential area. "You know...I wonder how many people are looking at us from those apartments right now." He said to the driver. "Eh...they're all probably sleeping still. That our recovering from their retirement losses. It is Vegas." The driver responded. They both chuckled. The sunrise is really nice. Heh...never thought I'd say that." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The truck continued down the street...then all of a sudden...a collision, and a strong one. It knocked all the team to the ground, and caused James to lose his helmet. "THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" James shouted. Looking out all the windows, and the mirrors. He caught side of a Black bank armored truck. "The hell?" The bank truck pulled up along side the APC, and made another nudge to have it lose course. This time, James caught sight of the driver. Valerio's men. "Shit! How did they get to us!" The driver floor the gas, and put both hands on the wheel. "Hold on...this might get bumpy. The driver made a sharp turn to the left, almost knocking the APC over, and into a local park. The bank truck, couldn't make such a sharp turn, and thus had to slow down, gaining some distance from the APC. The APC easily went around the playground equipment...thankfully, no one was here. The bank truck..however, not as maneuverable slammed and destroyed nearly every thing in the playground; swingset, slide, etc. The front of the bank truck greatly damage...but they continue pursuit. "Crap...you better think of something man...they're gaining." The SFOD HQ was but a few block away. But the driver knew that Valerio's men could not get the location. "We're going to take a detour." The driver said, and turned for the local marina. This was going to be a risky maneuver. The black bank truck kept following. The driver seemed to be heading straight for the water. When it was roughly fifty feet from the edge, the driver made a very sharp turn. The APC began tipping, and James grabbed his seat belt. But the driver turned against the tip...and it started to balance out again. The black bank truck...unable to stop in time...and unable to turn so sharp...plunged into the marina, sinking rather quickly. James and the driver sighed in relief. "Damn you're crazy!" He told him, and started to laugh. "We...we are alive though! So it is good..." The driver guided the truck back onto the road, and ten minutes later, arrived at SFOD HQ.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 14, 2008 5:11:21 GMT -5
Michelle lifted herself off the hard vinyl seats and stumbled out of the back, still a bit dazed from the maneuvers the driver tried to kill them with. Once inside the concrete structure, she peeled off her combat uniform and, folded, put is all on the table beside her. She walked around the compound in her underwear, a simple white tank top and a pair of gym shorts. Filtering into a main hallway, she stowed her combat gear and found her civilian clothes right where they her left, in a small group lockers built in to the living room. She slipped into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and promptly flopped down on her bunk. Being a live-in compound had it's perks, and she took advantage of them by sleeping right then and there. When she awoke, she did so slowly, cherishing every moment of half-consciousness. In a daze she raised her hand and slapped the bed above her, signaling its owner to ready up. What she found was an empty mattress. Reality came back to her, then, and in the middle of stretching not unlike a cat, she fell back to her pillow. With far less enthusiasm, she rotated her body, and slipped off the bed. In the far corner of the room, James was sitting. "Good morning, James..." Michelle sighed, before shuffling out into the living area. Jacob and Alexei were watching a ping-pong tournament on ESPN 2, And Molly seemed completely involved in loading, unloading, cleaning, dismantling, and reassembling her rifle, as many times as it took for the ping-pong to stop. She looked up and greeted the other woman with a meek "hullo," before returning to her job at hand. "I'd... uhh... I'd like my arm redressed. I think it'd be best to do this now, while we have access to real medial equipment." "Oh, alright. here, lemme go down there and prep." Michelle waited, until, over an inter-building PA, Michelle was called. She headed downstairs, and entering a large white room that spelled of bleach, shivered at how much this reminded her of that dream. Michelle stood there in a green smock, alongside an older man with a beard and a balding head. "Well, lets see," the balding man, Doctor Mac, the live-in medic, said. Michelle stuck her wrapped arm on the table, and smiled nervously. "You did this, Schuur? I'm impressed. Outstanding, even. You say the medic died?" "Yeah," Molly replied. "It's wrapped a bit tightly, but the final at med school was easier than this." Mac pulled out a pair of small scissors, just like Molly's, and removed the bandage. Even though it had happened only a few hours ago, scar tissue had begun to form nearer to the wrist, where the damage was greatest. "You were left-handed, right?" Michelle shook her head "no", as she winced in slight pain as the gauze pulled away from the tender flesh. He put more of that viscous gel down, before wrapping it back up in crisp white fabric. She thanked the duo and headed back towards the living area, and past it, back to the bunk room. She sat on her bed and took out an old Rubik's Cube, agreeing with Molly that it's best to bide time until the tourney's over.
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Post by V on Aug 15, 2008 1:38:07 GMT -5
Carmen was relived, overjoyed to be back at the HQ. She slept well that..morning, didn't even remove her combat gear. Seemed a lot of the others were finding sleep priority over comfort. Hour later, she awoke normally, a great sleep. She was so comfortable, she laid their maybe another ten minutes, before hauling herself out of that bed. She slowly made her way to the woman's crew locker, and began to undress. On the door of her locker...she'd taped a picture of her family. She smiled seeing all their faces, and stroked the photo with her finger. "I'm going to visit you today..." she told it. Unzipping her kevlar vest, she stuffed that into the back. She unstrapped all her pads, and simply threw them in, not caring at all about organization. Her kevlar pants, she did fold and placed inside. She closed her equipment lockers, and approached her own.Inside, were a few changes she brought for her days her. She lived here more than her actual home. She slipped on a white T-shirt, put a purple jean coat over that, blue jeans, and sky blue converse sneakers. She did a visitors check out, and found her car in the garage. She was excited as she pulled out of the parking structure. She was going to see her family for the first time in a while. She drove down the road. Maybe half an hour later, she arrived at a nice blue and grey house, one story, with a Mercedes hatchback in the driveway. Her husband was home. She found her house key..inserted it into the knob, and opened the door. There were four people in the living room. Her two kids were in the living room watching tv, her husband was reading the newspaper, and her mother was making something in the kitchen. Simultaneously...they all looked at her. "Carmen!" "Mon petite chou!" "Mommy!" All of them charged her, tearing, embracing. They welcomed her with a nice meal, and some stories of what the kids did at school. Then, her husband called her into their room. "Carmen..." he began. "I...well..." "Yes?" "I wish you to change your career..." "WHAT?! Chris! You know I made a commitment, and oath to this country." "You're not even from this country, Carmen! Don't die for it!" Her mouth dropped. "What does that mean?! I AM part of this country! I have every right to fight for it! I love it here more than I could ever love France!" "The kids worry about you everyday! Your mother worries about you everyday! I worry about you every single fucking day!" "I---I...RRGH!" She stormed out of the room. "Mommy!" her son cried, wanting a hug. She looked at him, her eyes full of tears. She gave him a long embrace. "M-Mommy has to go now." The boy erupted into tears. "But...You just got back!!!" "I know baby, I know...I was only allowed a couple hours...but mommy will be back in two days...you'll see. And Mommy will take you to get ice cream..and...and go the park..." She could keep her sentences clear..sobbing in between words. Her daughter joined in. "Come back soon, mom..." the teenage girl said. "I will, dear..." She looked at her mom. The mother nodded her head, and gave her a quick embrace. "Tu retourne rapidment?" "Je suis essayez..." She looked to her bedroom. Her husband stood with his arms crossed. "Good bye." She told him, and stormed off. Her car engine roared to life, and she sobbed all the way back to the station. She stayed in her car for another maybe half an hour, before regaining her bearings. She slowly shuffled into the building, keeping her head down. "Hey Carmen!" "How's it going, Hu?" Several people greeted her, but she did not answer. She simply went back to the crew area. She saw Alexei and Jacob were still watching the ping pong tournament, cheering and jeering. James had taken to the computer...playing some kind of shooting game. The box beside him read the word "F.E.A.R". That must have been the game. She flopped on her assigned bed, and took her journal from her drawer. She took the pen out and began writing.
September 20, 2010 I visited my family again for the first time in a while. I hadn't seen them in so long. I will never forget the look o their faces when they saw me walk through that door. My son, Pierre, made the junior soccer team. He's number six on the red team. I hear they didn't make finals...better luck next time, kiddo. I worry for him though. He's only six years old. The loss of his mother would be devastating. Maybe this career is wrong for me... My daughter, Kimberly. She's failing Geometry. I wish I could be there to help her. She refuses to ask Chris for help...and my mother is not very good at it. She wish for me to help her...I know it. But..I'm never there for her. I wish I could be though. My mother, Yvette. She wishes I would not do this career either...she think I'll die. I might be agreeing with her at this point. And finally...my husband, Chris. He was so happy when he saw...but he takes me into my room...to yell at me. My Eyes are even tearing up right now! Saying I'm no American! I'll show him! I am an American...I'll keep fighting for this country! Carmen sniffled, wiped her eyes, and closed the brown book.
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Tomorrow came...the company picnic. Everyone who participated in the Omnigen raid and survived was there...even Flask. The event took place in a nice park near the base...not the one the driver had lead the bank truck through of course. Carmen was wearing the same attire she had the night before. James came in a nice button up shirt, tan slacks, and nice brown loafers. It was seeing them all like this, and not in combat gear. They were all joking with each other...and this seemed like the first time Alexei and James got along. Carmen was alone against a tree with a water bottle. Her mind was still on what her husband had said. "I wish I could just tell someone..." Her eyes scanned for Michelle.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 15, 2008 2:38:52 GMT -5
Molly looked out a small window, and watched a car rev up and drive out of the parking lot. Still being in the infirmary, she had no idea who it could have been. "You really think I did a good job, Doc?" "Yeah. You did a far better job than I expected from the real medic, even." "But people died..." "You say that like you can stop it." "I could have, but I didn't try hard enough!" "No, Schuur. You can't." Molly stood up from the stood she was standing on fast enough that it toppled over. "Yes. I could have. But I failed." "Please don't, Schuur. You can't stop the Reaper, so why be afraid of him?" "I can, though. That is what my job is!" with that, she left for the living area. Taking her old seat back, she continued to study her rifle, until Jacob shouted and threw his arms in the air, splashing her with the water bottle that used to be in his hand. She talked him down, and left to the locker room for another change of clothes. She came back, feeling nice and dry in a black tank top and denim shorts, and made room for herself on the couch. Korea was a point ahead America, and the game was nearly over. She was getting into the game until James told them to calm down, at which point she really got into the game, with an impish grin on her face. Soon after Korea's victory, the announcers signed off and the french-fry eating contest came to be. Mesmerized, and maybe a bit frightened, Molly watched the men engorge themselves to no end. She was awoken when the door slammed, and a very frantic Carmen rushed through the room and closed herself in the sleeping area. Molly slowly left the couch, telling Jacob he could move back over, and approached the door. She knocked lightly on the wall beside the enterance. "Carmen? Carmen?"
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Michelle arrived late to the get-together, as usual, driving her blue-green sedan with a few dents in the front quarter panel. Everyone was already paired off and talking until the real festivities started. Alexei and James were trading jokes, and when Michelle walked by, she had heard twenty different ways to kill a blonde with a comical effect. With sarcastic disappointment, she tapped her foot and shook her head., which made Alexei burst out laughing, spilling his drink on the ground below him. She continued to to walk on, greeting people she knew, and meekly saying "Hi" to those she didn't, even that IT guy they found was standing under a gazebo with a Coke. She looked towards the cooler, grabbed a can of soda with her good hand, and scouted for a good place to sit. Alone, under a tree at the far end of the party, sat Carmen. She jogged through the people and sat down under the tree, at first sighing, then asking her to help open the can of Pepsi. "Look at that? Molly and Jeremy are dancing... some horrible frankenstein dance from the late eighties." Some New Wave band was playing over the large speakers around the party area. "And I don't think i've ever seen Alexei smile before now. Why aren't you out there, having fun? huh?" Jacob pushed Alexei out of the way and began doing a surprisingly good Robot, who got served with Alexei break-dancing, who in turn got served from someone else doing something that belonged... on a DDR pad. Michelle let her shoulder-length blonde hair down, though it was in a bun that took a little less than an hour to perfect.
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After showing Jacob what real dancing looked like, Alexei retreated to the refreshment table, and took a few things from the veggie trey. "Flask! Pleasure to actually see you!" "Same. So, uhh... About that mission..." "No, I know. Please. I came here to take my mind off of that atrocity," he saw a couple people sitting too far away from the party to be right. "I'll be right back, Flask. We can talk about something light." When he arrived, the two girls, Michelle and the one from echo, were sitting side by side. "ladies! The party's over here! Come! join us!" he extended an open hand to the two.
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Post by V on Aug 15, 2008 4:06:15 GMT -5
James was enjoying himself very much. He was so happy he even decided to have fun with his "rival". "You ever wonder why they sterilize the needle before a lethal injection?" James asked the Russian. He seemed to shrug. "Only in America." They said in unison, and began to laugh. Dance contest was imminent, and all the men joined in. Jacob was up first, and did an impressive robot. He however was shown up by the break dancing Russian. Then some person they didn't know danced as knew it before walking. It was James' turn. He raised his arm, and it changed the song to Daft punk's "Better faster stronger" song. Though had no markings on his body...he pulled off the dance very well. However..the award still went to The guy they still didn't know. Then..it was karaoke time. "In the name of love!!! Before you break my heart!" One of the people who went first was singing horribly off key...although, he was likely doing it on intention. Quickly booed off, James hopped on next, and grabbed the microphone. "You know how many of your good songs were done by people from the UK? That's right! Like of them! But now..I'm gonna do a song by an American artist!" The song from Journey, Don't stop believing began to play. "Just a small town girl! Living in a lonely world! Took the midnight train going anywhere!" He was an okay singer..although, like everyone, he was up there to make an idiot of himself. "Don't stop! Believing! Hold on to that feeling!" He got into character, making fits, diving across the stage on his knees. Eventually though...his turn was up, and he left with an applause. He looked to Alexei. "Beat that!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carmen was so happy to see Michelle, and she took a seat next to her. She only nodded at all the comments she was saying about the party...and then hse asked why she wasn't down there enjoying herself. That's when she fell into her, embracing her. She was clearly sobbing. "L-Last night, I left to visit my family..." she began. "And my husband told me...this is not the right job for me. A-nd now that I think more on it. I think he might be right. My son is only six. My daughter is fifteen. They're too young to lose their mother...I almost died in that operation..." She sniffled, and wiped her eyes. "I'm just so unsure of what to do, you know...Molly came to see what happened to me last night. I told her. She said I should do what I believe is right...I don't even know what I want! It's just so overwhelming!" She released from her embrace. "I just need a friend right now..." She would listen to what she would have to say. Minutes after that, that's when Alexei came up...and invited them to the party. Carmen knew this day was supposed to about fun...and it probably meant they were going to be thrown into something no worse than 'nam in a day or two. She forced a smile, grabbed the Russian's hand and helped herself. She signaled Michelle to do the same, and they joined the party. It was the karaoke session...and James was doing the Journey song. When he was done, Carmen felt a little better. She wanted to do one. "Michelle! Let us do one together! The pointer sisters song, 'I'm so excited!' It will be fun!" She seemed a bit enthusiastic, but was much happier than before atleast. "Please?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The red Ducati motorbike coolly slid on the sidewalk, and the rider kicked down the stand. He removed his helmet, revealing the clean shaven man,with short brown hair. Wearing a black leather coat, and blue jeans. He was happy to join in the party. He met up with that girl from Delta..the one named Molly. "You think you can beat me in a dance-off? Haha, girl it's on!" Jeremy was pretty losuy dancer..but Molly seemed no better...atleast everyone else was doing there own thing to be paying attention.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 15, 2008 5:13:24 GMT -5
"Beat that!" "Are you sure, little man?" Alexei mused. Luckily, he, like everyone, lost most of his accent when he sang. He took off his dress shirt, and revealed a sleeveless shirt, when added to his jeans made him look overwhelmingly 80's American. He shook his hair out, and climbed on to stage. The small crowd chuckled as he walked up to the microphone, and after choosing a song, began to tap his foot. Once the music started, he started dancing, and what an atrocity it was. "Young man, there's a place you can go. I said, young man, when you're short on your dough. You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find Many ways to have a good time. It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a!" Eventually, the entire crowd was participating! Alexei was hopping around stage like he just did a line, and everything was good. It's just too bad he didn't have his uniform. Getting off the stage was harder than getting on it, as after the spectacle, everyone wanted a part of the fun. He clapped James on the back. "Beat it." he simply said, before walking off. Flask was standing right where Alexei left him, so he went in that direction and tried to talk him into it to. "No, Alexei. Please." "Aww, come on! you sent me through hell and back! More than once!" "Don't hold that over me." "I can't help it! You're short!" "Fine! I'll do it! but, first... " Flask grazed across the foods one last time. "You know what song you should do?" "No, but I know you're going to tell me." "Oh, uh, what's that one... 'Who Are You'! Yeah! When I left Russia, in my town, that was still pretty new to our store." Flask rolled his eyes and dove into the frey.
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"Michelle! Let us do one together! The pointer sisters song, 'I'm so excited!' It will be fun! Please?" "Why 'Please'? I'd do that in a heartbeat!" She sounded far more excited than Carmen. Michelle grabbed Carmen's elbow and dragged her up the steps to the stage. They both approached the mic and sang. Michelle realized what this song was about a few stanzas in, and blushed a fiery red from then on. She smiled all the way through, though. "That... was... great!" Michelle exclaimed as the duo headed away from the stage. "But... I think we need to talk about.... your... family... fight now. Listen, I know it's a downer, but I think we do. I know you love them, your family, I mean. Do you like your job? It's obvious you can't have both, so I guess you have to choose one. We'll still have fun," Michelle raised her bad arm and gave a look that said "just not this much." "Do you have pictures of 'em, Carmen?"
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Henry was loitering in the crowd, trying to find his way to the cooler with the drinks, when A guy came on, and sang about how he was his own Grandpa. He burst out laughing when he saw that huge Russian guy blocking the exit off the stage. A man with a Wisconsin accent approached him. "Excuse me, sir?" "Yes?" said Henry. "Hello, I'm Flask. I led the SFOD. you may remember them?" "Yes." "Well, we need to have a word with you, at the HQ, immediately. You can sit on a seat, this time!" the Wisconsinite mused. "Oh goody!" They got in the black van and drove away. "Heya." henry said, less than enthusiastically, to the other two people in the van. That woman with black hair that found him, and a man that he hadn't seen before. "Hey." "Hi." They both looked as confused as he was. "Why did he ask you two here?" "He said I knew some information he needed." The other man said. "Just wanted me along for the ride. I guess, in case one of you get less than agreeable?" The two men laughed nervously. Suddenly, the van made a hard right, causing Henry to fall into the woman's lap. She didn't care about the close encounter as much as the direction they were driving.
Flask stepped down from the stage laughing, and walked over to Alexei no calmer. "Hey!" "Flask, that song was horrible." "I know, isn't it? Hey, where's our man of the hour?" "Henry? Haven't seen him since I got here." "Hmm."
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Post by V on Aug 16, 2008 5:58:22 GMT -5
"Yes...in my equipment locker. I-I'm not ready to decide right now..." Carmen sat on one of the tables, brought her legs up and hugged them, resting her chin on her knees. "I truly love this job. I probably couldn't live with anything less exciting. I wouldn't make it a day behind a desk...." she reached into her brown purse, and pulled out the little brown book that was her journal. "Then again...maybe they are worth it, to give up this job." She flipped the page to her most recent log, and told Michelle to read it. While she did, Carmen searched her wallet, which had a French flag on the front of it's black leather face flap, for photos. She had a couple of her daughter, one of her husband, and one of her son. They were taken some time ago however. She presented them to Michelle, simply handing her wallet and showing the fold out picture area. She sighed, and looked up at the sky. "You know, I've lost track of all of them since I was recommended to SFOD. My daughter has had a couple boyfriends...my son had a couple cavities. Mom even went home a few times in my absence, and I never said bye once." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James was cracking up, by the time Alexei finished, "You sure did, buddy. My god. I can't believe you actually did that." The men forced Flask up there to sing, and man did they boo him. When Flask finished, James thought of something. Then... ""ey! Why is it just soda? what are we? 20?! Where's the booze, man?! Eventually...the rest of the men caught on and began chanting. "Booze! Booze! Booze!" Flask sighed and shook his head. "We'll get the booze here...after we hear from Henry...now, where is he?" They was chatter among the people. "This is odd..." No one has seen him all day. He called SFOD's location division. "Yes...Valentine...like the holiday. ID code is 67432." "Sir, we have him heading southbound at about 64 miles an hour." "What?! That guy tried to escape! Rrgh..." "Hold on, sir We're picking up two other transmitters." "What? We didn't arrest anyone else!" "They aren't from "ankle buddies"...they're from transmitters placed inside SFOD vests. You have two operatives with him." "What?! Can you tell me who they are?" "give me a moment...uhhh...Raymond Kulinsky and Molly Shuur." "Those two have no reason to need Henry...either the three of them were kidnapped, or they were plotting against us...either way, we're going to need to pursue." Flask blew an air horn. "Guys! We have an emergency! The man, Henry Valentine, was to be contained, but he is no longer. GPS has tracked him heading south. I'm going to assemble the members who had retrieved him in the first place, to go after him, by airlift. They are all hereby ordered to return to HQ, suit up,and report to the helipad. "This includes Alexei Svensky, Michelle Romano, Carmen Hu, James Gage, Jeremy Hyacinth, and Jacob Hamaica...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A groan came from James. "The fuck? Why us! Ugh...I thought this was to be a day of relaxing...." Angrily, he approachied his car, and drove off to the HQ Carmen quirked her lips, and looked at Michelle. "guess I have to do my job right now though..." she said, taking her wallet and journal back. She gave her friend a quick hug. "See you in the equipment room." before she too left for her car. Jeremy wasn't at all too happy either. However, a man of few words, he cursed silently, mounted his motorbike and headed back to the HQ. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they all arrived, Flask horded them into the crew room before they could dress out. "Listen...I know you all expected a day of relaxing...and it really did pain me to take it away from you. But, the matter of WHY it had to be you was...because Molly Shuur had also been with Henry. It leads me to two thing. Either she wants him for a ransom, or they were both kidnapped. Molly doesn't seem like a person who would ever do the first one...so I'm assuming it's reason two. I'm sending you all in, because you all know Molly...and perhaps, would be driven to do your best to save her. i'll make this up to you somehow...but for now, suit up. The helicopter will arrive shortly. He dismissed the team, and check with the GPS. "Looks like...they're back in the...Omnigen district...shit...they won't be happy to see that place again.
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Carmen felt she had only just put on her civilian clothes...and now she was jumping back into her combat gear.Michelle was the only other in there with her. "Michelle!" she called her over, and pointed out the picture on her locker. "This is my favorite photo of my family...it has them all there...with me, too. I hope what happened isn't serious...I hope those words I said to my husband won't be my last..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James was whispering curses, as he suited up...Jeremy was no different. "God, friggin Omnigen. Why the hell did they need to get their firrgin projects stolen...ugh!" He forced his pads on angrily. "I hope we're going somewhere that won't b as hostile as that stupid omnigen building...
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 16, 2008 7:51:17 GMT -5
"Just when you think that you're in control, just when you think that you've got a hold, just when you get on a roll, here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again. Oh, here it goes again. I should have known, should have known, should have known again, but here it goes again. Oh, here it goes again." ~OK Go, Here It Goes Again
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"This includes Alexei Svensky, Michelle Romano, Carmen Hu, James Gage, Jeremy Hyacinth, and Jacob Hamaica...." "Fuck it!" cursed Alexei, as brought his fist down against the table he was standing over. "What went wrong this time? Stupid fucking Americans. In Spetsnaz, this would have never happened!" He climbed into a tall, blue truck with "HEMI" plastered everywhere from a previous owner, and drove away, following the growing line of pissed off partygoers. Like a giant snake, the cavalcade twisted and turned down the same streets until they all ended up in front of the HQ. In the equipment room, Everyone seemed equally pissed about the ordeal, except for Little Jacob, who looked forward to using that Impailer one last time. Sick bastard. "...i'll make this up to you somehow...but for now, suit up. The helicopter will arrive shortly." "Will there be booze there?" Alexei half-heartedly interrogated.
The Russian shielded his eyes as a large, single-rotor chopper,touched down, kicking up wind, and dust. Alexei looked through the nearly all-plexiglass cockpit for the pilot to give a "thumbs-up", and the co-pilot to open the rear doors. Clad in black and grays, they matched the exterior of the chopper almost perfectly. The rear doors, a section of windowed wall that slid away, barely beyond the fuselage, revealing plastic and vinyl seats, pre-moistened with America's finest ass sweat. Alexei took a step forward, and was the first to scale the three-foot step into his seat. The co-pilot helped everyone else in, and shut the door. Inside, the vibration of the rotors, picking speed back up, was maddening, but it was sound-insulated fairly well. "Now, I'm sure you ladies know how to use a seat belt?" the Copilot questioned, before returning to his seat. Alexei propped himself up with his rifle and looked out the window all the way there.
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"This is my favorite photo of my family...it has them all there...with me, too." "Oh, yeah. Those pictures were kinda old. You know, your daughter looks so much like you..." "I hope what happened isn't serious...I hope those words I said to my husband won't be my last..." Michelle blew a couple strands of hair away from her face, and put her arms around the other woman's shoulders. "Everything'll be fine. I promise! Things like this always just, kinda, fall into place." the chopper landed, and just as everyone else, she climbed in and found a seat fast enough to be sitting by the time they were airborne. The pilot reported "Approaching destination," and Michelle looked down. Below them was a little gray building that looked like run-down apartments. Just beside it, a slightly taller building stood, where they were descending. Michelle made sure her mask and helmet were on good enough and shook Carmen's shoulder in reassurance. still 20-some feet in the air, Jacob opened the sliding door and attached a rope to the chopper, letting it dangle above the roof. "Go go go!" three-by-three, they attached two more ropes from that side and slid down.
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Molly sighed and looked around. The two other men were doing the same thing; waiting for something to happen. She felt the van's speed drop, and finally stop. "Sir, where are we?" "You'll know it when you see it." replied the Wisconsin accent. The man in the passenger seat stood up slowly, and walked through the small opening to the enclosure where Molly, Henry, and the third man sat. We looked at the trio, then pulled out a handful of large zip-ties. The driver pulled out a gun. Unarmed and in a powerless position, all three captives looked in terror at the turn of events. The man in back, starting with Molly, and working his way around, bound the three, starting with their ankles, and then tying their hands behind their back. "Wha- Wha- what's going on here?" Molly managed to choke out. "Shut up." "Hey! What the hell are you doing?" "Henry Valentine? You'll be good, too." With newly bound captives, the van continued on, until they pulled onto the freeway, and picked up speed. The man in the passenger seat stood up again, and after narrowly escaping falling, revealed a plastic bag, from Wal-Mart. He put it over Molly's head. White... bright lights... screaming.... then, darkness. echoes.
Her eyes opened slowly, unadjusted to the bright lights that surrounded her. She shut them, and yelped, but slowly regained vision as her eyes adjusted. The room was bright, with artificial light. She fought against her bindings, but she was stuck to a metallic folding chair. The two men beside her moaned as they awoke. "Hehe. Wakey wakey! Oh, come now! Why so down? We're having a party!" "Valerio." Molly spit, recognizing his voice from the radio interference. "Oh! How precious!" the voice came from behind her. She turned around, but was greeted with more focussed lamps. She felt like she was baking. "Come now, honey! We're just.. just gonna play a game, is all! Haha!" "W-W-What kind of game?" Henry asked. "Now, now now! Where's the fun in, heehee, that? NO! No no! This will be fun! Tell me, does it seem hot in here?" Molly realized she had begun sweating. the lamps, not unlike the kind you'd see on a nightshift construction zone, were heating them all up. "Oh, it's just me, then! Haha... If you don't mind, I'm going to turn the, hehe, heat.... up." The lights got more intense. "SO! How's everyone's day day been, Hmm?" "Shitty." the third man hissed. "oh, that's too bad! Ha! Maybe our game will... cheer... you... up?" "Exactly when does this 'game' start?" Molly said, with an act of calmness. "Why, my.... lovely lady.... we're playing... right..... now." cold steel ran up her cheek; it wasn't sharp. there was a clicking sound behind her, and a small amount of black dust fell into her lap. "These.... these aren't blanks. No. I... I like games... don't you? Wouldn't you love to play?" "What are you going to do to us!!!" Henry cried, breaking out in tears. "SHUT UP! Now.. this is my game... Does it seem hot in here?" the lights got brighter again. Molly couldn't stand the searing heat. The chair was beginning to be scalding hot to the touch. "You... HA! All get to guess what you, you're here for. It's an easy game! In my hand is a gun, and, haHA! Molly knows, that... hee... it's, eeheehee! It's loaded. Every time you answer wrong, I.... OH, haha! I, hehe, I pull the trigger! there's two empty shells for every, HA! For every five bullets. They'll fall out of the... heee... chamber. No harm, no foul, right? HA! I.. don't know where they are, either!" The lights got brighter again. "So, heee.... You first, heh? HA! So, hee, why... why.. why--HAHAAAA! Why did I bring you here? "I--I--I don't know!" it sounded like Henry. Clocks, oh, clock is ticking!" "Be-be-because--" "OH! Time's up! haha! And here i pull the trigger... and... OH what a shame!" a shell scraped along the metal barrel and fell to the ground. "Why are you, oh hee! Here?" "I worked on... I did the coding.... that makes those soldier's.... their armor work!" "OH! you did? Congat--heehee! Goood job, with those.... But, you're wrong." A loud pop as the bullet exited the chamber. "Oh damn... I only... he! Only, haha! On-- Hee! Got the foot! I missed! So sorry..." Footsteps. "So, why are you here?" Molly heard it from directly behind her. Something wet touched her cheek and slid up to her temple.
"AH!" Molly shrieked as she raised her head. the van wasn't speeding down the freeway, but pulling up in front of a short, gray building. "Shut the hell up!" came from the front. "Inside! hurry!"
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Post by V on Aug 20, 2008 1:56:18 GMT -5
Carmen was always happy to hear Michelle's voice. It always lifted her spirits. She rappelled down right after her friend, boots hitting the ground. "Roof clear!" Some shouted, before the chopper flew off. Flask cut in with a transmission. "The transmitters are on the ground floor, which is three floors below you. Make your way to the bottom. However...it looks like a conglomeration of people on the second floor, but they aren't Valerio's men. Find out who they are. If they decide to get in your way, you are authorized to use lethal force. We need Henry back at all costs." "Understood." James kicked open the door, and they filed in. "Stairway is on the other side of this level. There should be signs posted showing where they should be." Flask added. The team quickly say a sign directing them to the staircase. This building was old, and abandoned, so they doubted the elevators even worked. What surprised them most was the lack of inhabitants. Valerio's men would probably be all over this place if Valerio cared about the target enough. So far, all they've seen were rats. Carmen hated the sight of them, and squealed every time one scurried by. That's how the team could tell. "Stairway insight." James reported. Moving ahead of the group. All their flashlights were on. Was pretty dark inside. Approaching the second floor. "Roger. The group of people are a couple halls ahead. I'd imagine they'd have some form of lighting, so look for that." The detachment advanced down the hall...then the turned right. At the end of this hall...they could see a brightly lit room. It looked like a game room, pool tables and dart boards could be seen in the light. "They must have turned the electricity back on to this one room." Flask said. "Alright, find out who they are. Be careful, as always." "Roger..." The group began forward. They could hear laughing..and lingo they weren't used to hearing. "Yo dog. See if you cap that sucka with one shot." One of them was coming into the door way...and he saw the team. "OH SHIT! It's the heat!" the black man shouted, and ran back in. "The fuck? Hell no! We a'int losing this spot to some pigs! They can suck on my nine!" "Get heated! We gonna ice these muthafuckers."
Flask cut in. "Shit, get to cover guys. Looks like we stumbled into a street gang hideout." There were several rooms to take cover in...most didn't even have a door anymore. The team broke off and took cover in different ones. Carmen tagged along with Michelle, taking cover inside one off the left, two room lengths away from the game room. it's be the first one the gangsters would encounter if they advanced. They could hear them shouting. "Come out pigs! We a'int no push over gangstas. We're OGs!" Flask was laughing. "Wow what a blockhead. These guys are brandishing nines millimeters. They don't even have military training. You can take these guys. "Svensky, get a grenade out there." Carmen remained silent, clutching her rifle. She heard a pin drop, and watched the grenade rolls past the door. Seconds later, there was an explosion, and shouting from the enemy. "Fuck! They had a grenade! The pigs don't got that shit!" "Well these guys do! Quit running your mouth and shoot!" Gunfire from the enemy went off...even though nothing was in the hall. Trying to navigate would be suicide right now. They kept their fire up for about ten seconds...then they all stopped to reload. Big mistake all firing at once there. The team waited for their second chance. When it came, Carmen rolled out first, and began firing forward. She managed to hit two of them, killing one, but only injuring the other. "SHIT! These guys ain't pigs! They are all organized and shit!" "Like a strike team!" Two gangster pulled the injured man away, while one stood to fire at the team. Unfortunately, his gun jammed, in which Jeremy quickly took care of him with a shot from his rifle. "James...finish the off. They're huddled into the back corner of the room. Grenade will finish it." "Roger." From his belt, he detached a frag grenade, pulled the pin, and rolled it inside. "FUCK!!" One of the gangsters shouted, before it exploding...taking them all out in an explosion of flame and body parts. "Picture clear...continue with the mission." They found the stairs to the bottom floor without trouble, and proceeded down. "Directly down the hall, in the room at the end!" Flask said anxiously. The team advanced quickly, opening the room at the end of the hall. Inside...they found a dead gangster. Around his wrist was the transmitter that was around Henry's ankle. In his hand was a note. Carmen picked it out, and read. "You'll need to try harder than..." she read from the paper. "And below...its read 5946780....signed Valerio..." "Shit..." Flask only said. "What do these numbers mean..." Carmen mumbled, handing the note over to whoever wanted to read it. "Maybe...it's a code?"
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 20, 2008 3:04:45 GMT -5
Michelle was third to enter the room on the bottom floor. When Carmen made her way through, she followed fairly close, and was sure to point out any rodents that would cross their path. Every time Carmen squealed, Michelle couldn't help but to jump a little, too. "You'll need to try harder than..." she read from the paper. "And below...its read 5946780....signed Valerio..." "Shit..." Flask only said. "What do these numbers mean..." Carmen mumbled, "Maybe...it's a code?" "Hmm..." Michelle put her hand to her chin in thought, then pulled out a cell phone. "Seven numbers, right? Let's just hope if it is a phone, it's local." She pressed the buttons, each tone echoing in the barren room. Once it started ringing, she pressed a button for speakerphone and held it out. "The number you are trying to call cannot be completed as dialed--" Michelle closed the phone. "Any other ideas?" "Area code?" Alexei posed. "No, too many numbers. Maybe... maybe, like a barcode? Or... Oh, I don't know!" Michelle walked away, exasperated, and sat against the back wall.
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Alexei looked at the ankle tracer wrapped around the gangster's arm. he input a small code, mumbling it as he set the digital readouts. "four, nine, six, six." with a small click, the anklet came free, and he slipped it of the dead man's arm. Once the piece of scribbled-on notecard made it's way to him, he stood, confused. "in Spetsnaz, we used numbers as code. But as far as I'm concerned, this says "a cluster". Flask, do you have any ideas?" Alexei asked. "Well, I don't." "Maybe, like math? Like, all of those added is 39? Or, maybe it's supposed to be read like 'five-million nine-hundred forty-six seven-hundred eighty?" "I'll run the numbers. Any idea where they could have gone?" "No. what about Molly? Could you trace her phone? I remember her having a cell phone at the party." "I tried that, but it's either off, or broken." "Well, fuck." "Could they have left anywhere you can see?" "Window's closed, door's locked. Unless the bastard can fly, he came out the same way he got in." "We would have seen him, then, right?" "Well, obviously not. unless he..." Svensky stopped, as he saw a window in the next door building, open. The window adjacent to it was closed, but not locked. "Maybe I just found an exit." "Where's it go?" "Next door." "Thermal imaging shows no signs of life." "Oh well. maybe another clue is in there?" He climbed the gap, and landed in a dingy yellow kitchenette. On the floor was most of a cell phone, and another anklet. Svensky picked up the tracer curiously. the lock/unlock mechanism was broken. He shook it, and the small screen protecting the digital film fall out, along with another notecard. Scribbled, in frantic handwriting, "help me", and in more hurried scribble, though this was a little loopier and feminine, "help us". below it: "breadcrumbs don't work. 36 9 115 10" "Crap... more numbers. Flask... anything yet?"
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Post by V on Aug 22, 2008 21:59:14 GMT -5
The team was extracted, and sent back to HQ. Without the tracer,s tracking them down would be difficult. However...the clues left by Valerio were going to be studied, and hopefully deciphered. The efforts were under way...and the team was allowed to roam free...but would be on call, so they couldn't do anything to do deep, with family especially. Carmen looked very distraught, had her hands cupped over her eyes, quietly sobbing. She'd told her family she would be coming back for her weekly two days back home. But while "being on call" she wasn't allowed to. She reached into her locker, and took her phone, then dialed a number. "Hello?" A man on the other line said. "Chris...." "Carmen!" He sounded so happy. "How are you feeling?" "Terrible..." "what's wrong, honey?" "You...you're gonna need to tell the kids, that I can't come back tomorrow..." "What?! Why?" "I'm "on call"...." "Fuck! Damn it, Carmen...we were all so happy, couldn't wait for tomorrow!" "I'm sorry..it's just...my job, my commitment..." "Yeah, yeah, sure. Just call me back when you are off call." And her husband hung up. Carmen's eyes were flooding, and she quietly closed the phone, and put it back. "I love you, too honey..." she responded to the "I love you" he never said. She faced around, and say another person there. Quickly wiping her eyes, she turned to leave...but the voice caught her. "Carmen?" It was Michelle. "What's wrong?" She moved to her equipment locker....Michelle was standing near it. "Just called my husband to tell him about the orders...and that I wasn't coming home...he wasn't too happy." Carmen began to strip down, starting with her armor pads. "I really just want to go somewhere to just let loose...like a bar maybe..." She then took off the kevlar gear, until she was just in her tank top and lower undergarment. She faced Michelle once more, it seemed like she was pondering all she had told her. Carmen wrapped her arms around her, and buried her face into her arm. "I'm so happy you're willing to lis---listen to me..." she was starting to tear up again. "I-I probably couldn't get through this alone." She raised her head. Michelle's was about level with hers. Carmen wasn't sure what was going through her head, but the net moment, she found herself locking lips with this other woman...and what was worse...she felt that it was not wrong. She wondered what Michelle would think of her now...
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James was with a few of the other men trying to decipher this puzzle. "God I hate puzzles..." he mumbled. "The numbers could be anything. A time...a date...a location...but atleast we can rule phone number out..." "How can we tell if these numbers on the two notes are related...and what could that breadcrumbs thing mean?" Jeremy added.
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Post by Turn 360 and walk away on Aug 23, 2008 0:25:48 GMT -5
"Just called my husband to tell him about the orders...and that I wasn't coming home...he wasn't too happy. I really just want to go somewhere to just let loose...like a bar maybe..." Michelle tossed aside her tank top, " I'm so happy you're willing to lis---listen to me..." she was starting to tear up again. "I-I probably couldn't get through this alone." As Carmen reached for her arm, Michelle couldn't help but run her hand through the other woman's hair. "It'll be fine, remember? Everything always works out if you work for it." Carmen looked at her, letting her tears run down her cheeks. Michelle put her hand under the other woman's cheek and wiped away the tears. "Come on now. Let's get dressed and go out. You could use a R and R, and i know a great place, not too fa--" Carmen drew Michelle's head towards hers, and brought their lips together. Michelle leapt back, face blushing firey red. "Uhh.... yeah, I... uhh... I gotta go. Pick you up? tell me... uhh.... when..." Michelle put on whatever she could, which happened to be some dirty jeans and the tank top. Walking as fast as she could, without looking too suspicious. Once out in the relative ease of the living area, she sat down in the middle of the couch and watched whatever the boys had left on. Lucky her... "World's Strongest Logger XXIV." She watched the hulking Canadians hurl tree stumps down-field, and ran through the events that had transpired. Any more, she wasn't sure exactly what happened.
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"The numbers could be anything. A time...a date...a location...but atleast we can rule phone number out..." "How can we tell if these numbers on the two notes are related...and what could that breadcrumbs thing mean?" Alexei rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. "I don't know. Maybe some sort of ... I like the date idea." Jacob was next to contribute. "Hah ahbout ahn ahduhs, mon? Ah knah thehr be ah Fahve-nehnteh-foorth Nihnth streht. Ah use tah leeve neeah thah." "No. the spaces wouldn't be there, then. The spaces are there for a reason." "I remember, in my old job, when I first come to America. Err, came. I had to work in this warehouse. They had this program, on the computer. It was called... called Access? Microsoft Access? Yes! But, anyways, I remember it used numbers, like this, to use instead of dates and times." "Ah, mon! Yah be un't suhmthan!" Alexei rushed to the computer, bathing in riches from his breakthrough. he found his way to the program, and once opened, he tried to remember how to work it. "Read me the first one." He typed it in. "It means twelve AM, midnight, time. But, for a date... it doesn't work. And the second one doesn't work for anything." he left back to the group, now with one question answered, and one-hundred new questions. "Shit..."
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Post by V on Aug 27, 2008 0:43:58 GMT -5
Carmen stood dazed for a couple minutes, not noticing Michelle had left until she snapped out of it. Seems Michelle didn't take that very well. Carmen herself was wondering why she did that in the first place. She was worried this would dent her relationship with her. Hugging was something friends did all the time...kissing, not so much...unless you were in France. And Carmen, although French, was not in France. Maybe she just needed to let her affection out...seeing as her husband was never too happy with her. She decided to dress in a pink and white striped colored shirt for females, tan pants, and her vibrant cyan sneakers. She did her hair into a little bun, and left the locker room. When she arrived into the crew area, she saw Michelle was there watching grown men throw tree stumps. Carmen tried to pretend what happened in the locker room didn't...seemed Michelle was, too. "Hey...you ready? You should probably drive, you know where to go, haha."Carmen tossed her the keys to her black Ford Expedition. In the parking garage, they found her car, and were off to the little place Michelle knew about. "Haha, I get like fourteen to the gallon on this thing. I should probably get a new one." Maybe fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a building illuminated in neon lights. "Malibu club? Oh god...we are going to be hounded by single men." They went inside...where there were several stools for drinking, some pool tables, dartboards, Foosball, and other bar games. They took a seat at one of the stools. The bartender came up and asked what they'd like to drink. Carmen shook her head. "Nothing for me..." She studied the pool tables. "That looks fun." She told her friend. "Do you know how to play? I do not..." "Really? I can teach you!" "Huh?" Before she could say anything, the blond dragged her over to an empty table, and told Carmen to set up the triangle formation. She watched as Michelle took a poolstick, and began her shot, while she did, she began explaining how to shoot and what not. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James hit his hands on the table. "Damn this! So many number codes!" He left for the crew room. The tv was on, the last of the loggers were up. But! it was time for a short break. He watched, as it was a Garmin GPS commercial. Then his eyes went wide, as his mind let up. "GPS...maybe, coordinates!" James ran back into the room, with his new idea. "Guys..maybe the smaller number is coordinates!" He ran to his computer, and went to google earth. "Coordinate code...what was the adress we were dropped off at?" Flask gave it to him. "Okay...36 degrees..." he hit a block. "Damn it, which way though..." He looked at the other men. "You guys wanna contribute?"
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