It was all so tiresome.
After leaving the powerhouse, all Elizabeth did was wander aimlessly. She didn't know where she was going, and she didn't care. All she wanted to do was get as far away from the powerhouse as she could. Eventually, she made her way over to a runway, which had a weird looking gate thingy at the other end of it. That was probably what Doctor Whoever was talking about whenever he said something about the containment gates.
When she finally stopped walking, she set her bags down on the airstrip, whipped out her sleeping bag, removed her shoes, and crawled right in. Sure, it wasn't late, and sure, she wasn't particularly tired, but Elizabeth didn't know what else to do. Her mind felt foggy. So, she just laid there on the cold concrete of the airstrip until she got tired and fell asleep.
Now, nearly eight hours after that moment, she still hadn't moved. She was wide awake, and she had been for a few hours, but she could not will herself to get up and do anything. She had already listened to the announcement, but hearing the man describe how she'd shot her girlfriend still didn't make it any more real. She also never did apologize to Reinette about toeing her ankle like a whore back on the ship, but it was too late for that now. She'd been subsumed by something, whatever that meant.
Hearing about the various creatures, and how the weird Chimera thing that ate their professors got a kill yesterday, reminded her that she probably shouldn't be sitting in one place, but she didn't care. The sleeping bag provided a wonderful cocoon against the cold air. It was a protective shell around her. So she didn't move. She just sat there waiting. Waiting for what? She didn't know.
Elsewhere Palace
open
Moderator: SOTF U Staff
Tck, tck, tck, tapped the end of the makeshift cane, assumingly some sort of pipework an inch or two wide torn off a wall due to the metallic smothness and hollowness, as Lucas Anholt walked along some sort of road. He fucking hated using one, but he wasn't getting anywhere just running around blindly. He had to just swallow his pride if he was gonna get through this.
He made it through the first night somehow, but there was no real telling what time it actually was. It was maybe somewhat more warm now, but it was fucking cold and the sun's warmth was pretty much absent so for all he knew it could be any time. He exhausted the buttons and the raised words on each and all but disassembled the PDA itself but the only source of audio he could find were for the announcement itself.
Tck, tck, tck.
Some fucking help that thing was. He might as well've just crawled in a hole and wait for the sweet embrace of hypothermia to turn him into one of those character ice cream treats with the fucked up gumball eyes. Or worse, let one of the... nevermind. No.
Tck, tck, tck.
He didn't know why he kept walking forward, but sometimes that was all you had. "There was always hope." That was what Dr. Kirkwood always tried to pound into him like he was an anvil.
Tck, tck, tck.
Fucking liar. He didn't get it. No one did.
Tck, tck, t-
Something soft caved in against the end of the pipe. Lucas stopped dead in his tracks and pulled back quick, pipe in hand but still pointed down.
"Someone there?" he asked in a stern tone, the beating of his heart drowning out the chill in the air and the gentle chorus of electricity singing from somewhere far off but too close for safety.
He made it through the first night somehow, but there was no real telling what time it actually was. It was maybe somewhat more warm now, but it was fucking cold and the sun's warmth was pretty much absent so for all he knew it could be any time. He exhausted the buttons and the raised words on each and all but disassembled the PDA itself but the only source of audio he could find were for the announcement itself.
Tck, tck, tck.
Some fucking help that thing was. He might as well've just crawled in a hole and wait for the sweet embrace of hypothermia to turn him into one of those character ice cream treats with the fucked up gumball eyes. Or worse, let one of the... nevermind. No.
Tck, tck, tck.
He didn't know why he kept walking forward, but sometimes that was all you had. "There was always hope." That was what Dr. Kirkwood always tried to pound into him like he was an anvil.
Tck, tck, tck.
Fucking liar. He didn't get it. No one did.
Tck, tck, t-
Something soft caved in against the end of the pipe. Lucas stopped dead in his tracks and pulled back quick, pipe in hand but still pointed down.
"Someone there?" he asked in a stern tone, the beating of his heart drowning out the chill in the air and the gentle chorus of electricity singing from somewhere far off but too close for safety.
Carl lit the Newport resting between his lips. Nicotine was always a good alternative to sleep, and he needed it now more than ever. When Chevy and him eventually stopped running, they set up a small camp, took 2-hour watches each, back and forth back and forth. Just in case they were followed. Just in case Reinette wanted to show up again. Even on his sleep breaks, Carl didn't find any rest. He was used to it by now. He'd been on enough deployments to know he probably wouldn't sleep until day three or four at the earliest, when exhaustion hit him hardest.
It also didn't help that it was cold as shit. Yeah, he'd done cold weather training in Norway, but truth be told he'd take a 9-month vacation to the sandbox again than suffer a Russian winter for a month.
Still, it was a relief to see the sunrise again. It was the little victories that counted. There was something else that Carl would consider a victory, too. A little bit of knowledge on the situation. They were near the airstrip, and near the airstrip was the little airport the Jay-Aches were smoking and joking at. He saw two little dots patrolling the rooftop, he wouldn't have noticed them but the way the morning light turned out, they'd silhouetted themselves. Couldn't tell any more than that, but he had a good idea who they were, and the little hamster wheel in his head was moving. He didn't have the tools to take them on, yet, but a guy can dream for a bit. Couldn't get much closer though, those- tower thingys were in the way, and Carl didn't dare get any closer to inspect what they were about. He didn't want to look any sketchier than usual either; if he could see them, they could definitely see him.
So here he was, enjoying the taste of lung cancer with a hint of the smell of his favorite brand of smokes that he'd long gone nose blind to. He saw some more movement in the distance, reflexively reaching for his coat pocket, before stopping. Wasn't Reinette, and whoever they were didn't seem to notice them. He only recognized who they were when he saw them-him poking around with his cane.
"Awww-" It wasn't funny. It was terrible. It was incredibly fucked up. Carl still found himself choking back a snicker disguised as a cough. It was an unfortunate reaction branded within him from a different time, one used as a coping mechanism from long ago to deal with harsher times he'd never thought he'd return to.
"No fuckin' way... Chev; look." Carl pointed in the distance at the blind kid. Again, nothing funny about this. Well, it was a little bit; it was more proof that Dr.Sicko's bullshit spiel was just that; bullshit.
"That's fucked."
... Carl tried his best to hide his smirk. Wasn't funny. Was not funny. He bit the inside of his cheek. This was not funny, this was something tragic and awful and-
"We better go help him out." He only omitted the part where he would've said 'before he walks into the barrier and gets electrocuted or something' because then he would've burst out laughing. It wasn't funny. It wasn't about the situation itself, it was the audacity. Carl forced himself to think back to last night, and he went stone faced.
"Let's go."
It also didn't help that it was cold as shit. Yeah, he'd done cold weather training in Norway, but truth be told he'd take a 9-month vacation to the sandbox again than suffer a Russian winter for a month.
Still, it was a relief to see the sunrise again. It was the little victories that counted. There was something else that Carl would consider a victory, too. A little bit of knowledge on the situation. They were near the airstrip, and near the airstrip was the little airport the Jay-Aches were smoking and joking at. He saw two little dots patrolling the rooftop, he wouldn't have noticed them but the way the morning light turned out, they'd silhouetted themselves. Couldn't tell any more than that, but he had a good idea who they were, and the little hamster wheel in his head was moving. He didn't have the tools to take them on, yet, but a guy can dream for a bit. Couldn't get much closer though, those- tower thingys were in the way, and Carl didn't dare get any closer to inspect what they were about. He didn't want to look any sketchier than usual either; if he could see them, they could definitely see him.
So here he was, enjoying the taste of lung cancer with a hint of the smell of his favorite brand of smokes that he'd long gone nose blind to. He saw some more movement in the distance, reflexively reaching for his coat pocket, before stopping. Wasn't Reinette, and whoever they were didn't seem to notice them. He only recognized who they were when he saw them-him poking around with his cane.
"Awww-" It wasn't funny. It was terrible. It was incredibly fucked up. Carl still found himself choking back a snicker disguised as a cough. It was an unfortunate reaction branded within him from a different time, one used as a coping mechanism from long ago to deal with harsher times he'd never thought he'd return to.
"No fuckin' way... Chev; look." Carl pointed in the distance at the blind kid. Again, nothing funny about this. Well, it was a little bit; it was more proof that Dr.Sicko's bullshit spiel was just that; bullshit.
"That's fucked."
... Carl tried his best to hide his smirk. Wasn't funny. Was not funny. He bit the inside of his cheek. This was not funny, this was something tragic and awful and-
"We better go help him out." He only omitted the part where he would've said 'before he walks into the barrier and gets electrocuted or something' because then he would've burst out laughing. It wasn't funny. It wasn't about the situation itself, it was the audacity. Carl forced himself to think back to last night, and he went stone faced.
"Let's go."
Catche thinks my squirrel is Fisk so here's my daily reminder that he is not.
(Chevy continued from the Union Office)
Chevy didn't want to sleep, but he needed the energy. Carl came up with the idea to do sleep sights in the rest of the night, trading the gun to make sure they weren't jumped by anything. He wondered if Reinette, or it was still "Reinette", was stalking them. Chevy didn't even sleep that well in the night. The temperatures were cold when the two of them were outdoors and their spirits were steadily draining. There was a white brush of snow on Chevy's eyebrows and his developing beard from the endurance out in the snowy wastes.
The current comfort Chevy had was the morning sun. It was still cold, but compared to the horrors in the night, he didn't have to worry about being caught off guard in the darkness by any creature that was out to kill the two men. Carl happened to have a pack of cigarettes on him, but Chevy was in no mood to smoke. Hell, he wanted to smoke one, but he didn't do drugs. Getting smoke in his lungs can be reserved after he figured out a way to kill all the worms and polar bears on this forsaken island.
He was able to make out the monitoring station in the distance. There was some sort of weird fence around it. Chevy couldn't use the term fence. It was a series of pylons set up around. A strange barrier, but Chevy suspected that there was more to it.
Chevy briefly looked at the PDA that was strapped to his arm again. There was something new on it. Chevy never had the time to fiddle around with it, but there was a notification now on the screen, made apparent because Chevy had saw the blinking red light on the device. An announcement? Chevy wanted to ask Carl, but his attention was focused elsewhere.
Then he saw him. There was a blind guy wandering around.
Chevy remembered something. There was a blind guy on the ship with the others. Chevy even encountered him during that awkward encounter with his ex at the cafeteria.
How the hell did he survive? Carl was already moving towards him. Chevy followed behind him without a single word.
He wasn't going to let another person die.
Chevy didn't want to sleep, but he needed the energy. Carl came up with the idea to do sleep sights in the rest of the night, trading the gun to make sure they weren't jumped by anything. He wondered if Reinette, or it was still "Reinette", was stalking them. Chevy didn't even sleep that well in the night. The temperatures were cold when the two of them were outdoors and their spirits were steadily draining. There was a white brush of snow on Chevy's eyebrows and his developing beard from the endurance out in the snowy wastes.
The current comfort Chevy had was the morning sun. It was still cold, but compared to the horrors in the night, he didn't have to worry about being caught off guard in the darkness by any creature that was out to kill the two men. Carl happened to have a pack of cigarettes on him, but Chevy was in no mood to smoke. Hell, he wanted to smoke one, but he didn't do drugs. Getting smoke in his lungs can be reserved after he figured out a way to kill all the worms and polar bears on this forsaken island.
He was able to make out the monitoring station in the distance. There was some sort of weird fence around it. Chevy couldn't use the term fence. It was a series of pylons set up around. A strange barrier, but Chevy suspected that there was more to it.
Chevy briefly looked at the PDA that was strapped to his arm again. There was something new on it. Chevy never had the time to fiddle around with it, but there was a notification now on the screen, made apparent because Chevy had saw the blinking red light on the device. An announcement? Chevy wanted to ask Carl, but his attention was focused elsewhere.
Then he saw him. There was a blind guy wandering around.
Chevy remembered something. There was a blind guy on the ship with the others. Chevy even encountered him during that awkward encounter with his ex at the cafeteria.
How the hell did he survive? Carl was already moving towards him. Chevy followed behind him without a single word.
He wasn't going to let another person die.
It's so hard when your on your own
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
Tck tck tck tck. The sound kept coming and coming. It traveled through her eardrums and rattled around in her brain.
She wasn't sure if it was real.
Tck tck tck tck. There it was again. Tck tck tck tck. It just kept coming, without end and without fail.
Was she losing it? Was that the clock ticking down to her death? Was-
"Ow!"
The tck stopped as something solid jabbed her in the shoulder. She swung around.
"What the fu-"
"Oh."
It was Lucas.
Elizabeth gulped loudly. He was one of the last people she wanted to see right now. In fact, really only one person could outmatch him on Elizabeth's 'does not want to see right now' list. Of all the people...
She just stared at Lucas, not really sure what to say. While she was looking in his direction, she noticed two man-sized shapes heading towards them.
"Wh- Lucas! Behind you!"
Her eyes focused in on the two humans coming towards them. Her eyes squinted, allowing her to make out a vague face and their general forms. One of them looked like a buff Ned Flanders. The other...
No.
No fucking way.
"Motherfucker..."
She wasn't sure if it was real.
Tck tck tck tck. There it was again. Tck tck tck tck. It just kept coming, without end and without fail.
Was she losing it? Was that the clock ticking down to her death? Was-
"Ow!"
The tck stopped as something solid jabbed her in the shoulder. She swung around.
"What the fu-"
"Oh."
It was Lucas.
Elizabeth gulped loudly. He was one of the last people she wanted to see right now. In fact, really only one person could outmatch him on Elizabeth's 'does not want to see right now' list. Of all the people...
She just stared at Lucas, not really sure what to say. While she was looking in his direction, she noticed two man-sized shapes heading towards them.
"Wh- Lucas! Behind you!"
Her eyes focused in on the two humans coming towards them. Her eyes squinted, allowing her to make out a vague face and their general forms. One of them looked like a buff Ned Flanders. The other...
No.
No fucking way.
"Motherfucker..."
-
Applesintime
- Posts: 836
- Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:57 am
- Team Affiliation: Ben's Crabs
((Charlie Vandermeyer continued from Beasts All Over the Shop))
It'd been a relatively quiet day! For Charlie, anyway. The helpful little recording she'd played (because she kinda wanted to hear another voice after hiding in the woods all day and night praying to whatever god there was that one of the creepy Resident Evil things didn't come and eat her) had informed her that for five other people, it had not been a very good day. Really bad, in fact. Two of the monsters had got someone, and there'd been two murderers. Charlie had bumped into one of them, saw the shotgun he'd killed poor Thad with, which just made things even worse.
But now it was another horrible shitty day, and Charlie had set out exploring. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care. She just... needed to find someone. Someone who wasn't that maniac talking about how he was gonna cut people's heads off. And eventually, she saw it. A strip of concrete that kinda looked like a makeshift airport. Or, uh, wherever you landed planes at that wasn't an airport. Charlie didn't know shit, she was a Navy girl not a Chair Force laze-about.
More importantly, there were people. Like, three or four of them. Sure, one of them might be a murderer, but Charlie was confident that they woulda started killing people there, and they all looked kinda alive, except for one in, uh — Charlie squinted — one of the sleeping bags? Even still, she could see movement. There was still a lil' worry in her brain that they'd all start shooting each other as soon as Charlie made herself know.
But, fuck it! She needed someone to talk to.
"Hey! You guys friendly?" Charlie shouted at the group from about what musta been fifty meters away. Enough that some civvie with a gun wouldn't find it so easy to shoot at her and that she could just haul ass if things went wrong. Hopefully things wouldn't go wrong, but knowing her current luck the Chimera would pop out from behind her like a Scooby Doo cartoon and eat her whole.
Just to check, she glanced behind her. No Chimera.
It'd been a relatively quiet day! For Charlie, anyway. The helpful little recording she'd played (because she kinda wanted to hear another voice after hiding in the woods all day and night praying to whatever god there was that one of the creepy Resident Evil things didn't come and eat her) had informed her that for five other people, it had not been a very good day. Really bad, in fact. Two of the monsters had got someone, and there'd been two murderers. Charlie had bumped into one of them, saw the shotgun he'd killed poor Thad with, which just made things even worse.
But now it was another horrible shitty day, and Charlie had set out exploring. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care. She just... needed to find someone. Someone who wasn't that maniac talking about how he was gonna cut people's heads off. And eventually, she saw it. A strip of concrete that kinda looked like a makeshift airport. Or, uh, wherever you landed planes at that wasn't an airport. Charlie didn't know shit, she was a Navy girl not a Chair Force laze-about.
More importantly, there were people. Like, three or four of them. Sure, one of them might be a murderer, but Charlie was confident that they woulda started killing people there, and they all looked kinda alive, except for one in, uh — Charlie squinted — one of the sleeping bags? Even still, she could see movement. There was still a lil' worry in her brain that they'd all start shooting each other as soon as Charlie made herself know.
But, fuck it! She needed someone to talk to.
"Hey! You guys friendly?" Charlie shouted at the group from about what musta been fifty meters away. Enough that some civvie with a gun wouldn't find it so easy to shoot at her and that she could just haul ass if things went wrong. Hopefully things wouldn't go wrong, but knowing her current luck the Chimera would pop out from behind her like a Scooby Doo cartoon and eat her whole.
Just to check, she glanced behind her. No Chimera.
Elizabeth.
Lucas flinched at that voice that carried a mile away that he never got used to. It was bad enough to run into someone you didn't particularly like, but to double that he'd run into a literal murderer if that voice call in the morning wasn't a complete farce.
Then again, monsters. Though, Lucas couldn't stop shaking off the feeling that all of this was somehow an extremely elaborate prank at his expense.
Anyway, yeah. Elizabeth.
He took a step back, unsure of what to say himself. At least until she told him to look out behind him in combination with someone else shouting at him, causing him to swivel in place as if that'd do him any good.
All the good that did him was causing him to trip over his own foot on presumably a patch of ice, sending him smacking down to the earth on his lower back with a thud along with his pipe thing.
Lucas flinched at that voice that carried a mile away that he never got used to. It was bad enough to run into someone you didn't particularly like, but to double that he'd run into a literal murderer if that voice call in the morning wasn't a complete farce.
Then again, monsters. Though, Lucas couldn't stop shaking off the feeling that all of this was somehow an extremely elaborate prank at his expense.
Anyway, yeah. Elizabeth.
He took a step back, unsure of what to say himself. At least until she told him to look out behind him in combination with someone else shouting at him, causing him to swivel in place as if that'd do him any good.
All the good that did him was causing him to trip over his own foot on presumably a patch of ice, sending him smacking down to the earth on his lower back with a thud along with his pipe thing.
Carl turned away from... Everyone, covering his mouth like he tried to cough. Deep breaths, deep breaths. He bit inside his cheek and thought about Reinette, and went back to being stone faced. In the distance, he saw someone else approaching, asking if they were friendly. They were. He recognized Charlie. She was the one trying to join the navy, and Carl had given her some advice, that's mostly in the vein of "lower your expectations, you get what you put into it, and hang around positive influences". He made sure to do his best not to scare her off, he had his own bad experiences but at the end of the day it all changes based on your command and the people you're around. Conversations for a better time, not in this shit game.
"Yeah, we're uhh friendly! Just checking to make sure everyone's alright!"
He turned back around to Lucas and sleeping bag. He wasn't sure how the blind guy would react if he just tried to pull him to his feet so he instead decided to just ask.
"Hey man, need a hand?"
"Yeah, we're uhh friendly! Just checking to make sure everyone's alright!"
He turned back around to Lucas and sleeping bag. He wasn't sure how the blind guy would react if he just tried to pull him to his feet so he instead decided to just ask.
"Hey man, need a hand?"
Catche thinks my squirrel is Fisk so here's my daily reminder that he is not.
"We're friendly here! We swear!" Chevy joined in onto Carl's talk that the two men were friendly. There was a woman there who seemed to be friendly, though Chevy didn't know her. Carl was trying to help up the blind guy who fell onto the icy ground.
"You're alright? Didn't expect to see more people he-" Chevy froze when he locked eyes across from both Lucas and Charlie towards a woman in the distance who was nearby.
Recognizing the outfit, it didn't take long for Chevy to realize that his ex-girlfriend is nearby.
Oh god oh god oh god
It was much awkward seeing Rodney being stuck on the same island as Chevy. He didn't really know what Elizabeth would do, but her face was still a welcoming sight.
"Elizabeth?" Chevy called out for her. He didn't know how he can get on Elizabeth's good side, but Chevy needed all the help he can get.
"You're alright? Didn't expect to see more people he-" Chevy froze when he locked eyes across from both Lucas and Charlie towards a woman in the distance who was nearby.
Recognizing the outfit, it didn't take long for Chevy to realize that his ex-girlfriend is nearby.
Oh god oh god oh god
It was much awkward seeing Rodney being stuck on the same island as Chevy. He didn't really know what Elizabeth would do, but her face was still a welcoming sight.
"Elizabeth?" Chevy called out for her. He didn't know how he can get on Elizabeth's good side, but Chevy needed all the help he can get.
It's so hard when your on your own
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
"Chevy... hi."
As if Lucas being here wasn't awkward enough, one of her many exes just had to appear as well. More, than ever, Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to crawl back into her sleeping bag and pretend like nothing was going on, which is exactly what she did.
Well, she only partially completed her task. when she turned around to not look at Lucas and Chevy anymore, she instead got an eyeful of someone else's shoes. Right, there had been a female voice that called out to them earlier, and it's probably who buff Flanders was talking to when he got over here. Elizabeth looked up-
Oh.
It was Charlie.
She'd never really interacted with her before but...
Elizabeth blushed a little bit.
"Hi."
Immediately, the cognitive dissonance flared up in her brain. Images of Daniella's mutilated face pounced on her like that one beast that they showed in the demo, interspersed with PJ's horror and the echo of the gunshot, all rattling around in her brain at once. She shuddered.
And yet, the blush didn't disappear. She swiveled her head back down to Charlie's feet.
"Hi," she said, in a much smaller voice.
As if Lucas being here wasn't awkward enough, one of her many exes just had to appear as well. More, than ever, Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to crawl back into her sleeping bag and pretend like nothing was going on, which is exactly what she did.
Well, she only partially completed her task. when she turned around to not look at Lucas and Chevy anymore, she instead got an eyeful of someone else's shoes. Right, there had been a female voice that called out to them earlier, and it's probably who buff Flanders was talking to when he got over here. Elizabeth looked up-
Oh.
It was Charlie.
She'd never really interacted with her before but...
Elizabeth blushed a little bit.
"Hi."
Immediately, the cognitive dissonance flared up in her brain. Images of Daniella's mutilated face pounced on her like that one beast that they showed in the demo, interspersed with PJ's horror and the echo of the gunshot, all rattling around in her brain at once. She shuddered.
And yet, the blush didn't disappear. She swiveled her head back down to Charlie's feet.
"Hi," she said, in a much smaller voice.
-
Applesintime
- Posts: 836
- Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:57 am
- Team Affiliation: Ben's Crabs
OK! So, there was the blind dude to start with, Luke or Lucas or something - Charlie hadn't really chatted to him much, he seemed kinda bitter and assholey so she just stayed with the people who had more appealing vibes - and she did feel sorry for him. Like, what a fucking streak of bad luck, huh? Watching him totally wipe out on his ass, though? Kinda funny, even if she wasn't gonna laugh. It was just something that reminded her of back at campus, y'know? Sliding around during the winter and trying not to fall with all the ice? Good times. It did make jogging a lil' tough but after the one time she slipped and sprained her ankle Charlie figured out where to put her feet.
Then there was uh, Chevy. He was doing something about peace, which kinda put their jobs at odds, what with Charlie being one of the gals in control of a submarine weighing several thousand tons and carrying enough armaments to sink an aircraft carrier. Well, that's if she got an attack sub. She could get one of the nuke ones, which would be even more spicy and fun! But yeah, she was a war gal and he was a peace dude.
Carl was there, which was cool as shit! He was the former crayon dude, and they'd talked about serving before. His knee was kinda fucked, Charlie remembered, but he still knew how to use a gun, so hey, he was probably the safest guy here to be around.
And then there was Elizabeth. She had, uh, killed someone. That someone was her former girlfriend. This was also in front of their boyfriend, so they were a poly couple. Given the whole 'shot your girlfriend' thing, Charlie was a little wary now she recognised who she was. But Carl was here, and she trusted he'd do something if Elizabeth was hostile. So she let herself relax. The blushing like a bottom on Twitter was kinda weird, but she'd take it over the weird fucking dude who called her cute. At least she swung that way.
"Hey guys." A little out of breath, she jogged over to the group. Lucas was already being helped up, so all Charlie could do was stand there, look cute and make snarky comments. "So, we competing to see who can pole vault the highest over the fence?" Her gaze lingered on Elizabeth just for a second.
Like, uh, she appreciated it but what was with people hitting on her in the middle of the death island?
Then there was uh, Chevy. He was doing something about peace, which kinda put their jobs at odds, what with Charlie being one of the gals in control of a submarine weighing several thousand tons and carrying enough armaments to sink an aircraft carrier. Well, that's if she got an attack sub. She could get one of the nuke ones, which would be even more spicy and fun! But yeah, she was a war gal and he was a peace dude.
Carl was there, which was cool as shit! He was the former crayon dude, and they'd talked about serving before. His knee was kinda fucked, Charlie remembered, but he still knew how to use a gun, so hey, he was probably the safest guy here to be around.
And then there was Elizabeth. She had, uh, killed someone. That someone was her former girlfriend. This was also in front of their boyfriend, so they were a poly couple. Given the whole 'shot your girlfriend' thing, Charlie was a little wary now she recognised who she was. But Carl was here, and she trusted he'd do something if Elizabeth was hostile. So she let herself relax. The blushing like a bottom on Twitter was kinda weird, but she'd take it over the weird fucking dude who called her cute. At least she swung that way.
"Hey guys." A little out of breath, she jogged over to the group. Lucas was already being helped up, so all Charlie could do was stand there, look cute and make snarky comments. "So, we competing to see who can pole vault the highest over the fence?" Her gaze lingered on Elizabeth just for a second.
Like, uh, she appreciated it but what was with people hitting on her in the middle of the death island?
Ugh. Here we go. Someone approached Lucas like an ambulance chaser, asking if he needed a hand. Lucas frowned and mocked the question under his breath before swatting his hand at the air.
"I'm not a cripple," he spat from his mouth as he haphazardly groped his hands along the ground and fished for the pole before pushing himself back up on his feet, the winter chill stinging his exposed hands and face all the way.
...Shit. He just realized his fucking hat fell off, too. He crouched down, intentionally this time, and tried to grope around, but could only find asphalt and snow.
He stopped and snorted like a dragon a few times, the frustration dying his next words. "Can someone please hand me my hat?"
Electric fence or death game or not, he needed that fucking hat back.
"I'm not a cripple," he spat from his mouth as he haphazardly groped his hands along the ground and fished for the pole before pushing himself back up on his feet, the winter chill stinging his exposed hands and face all the way.
...Shit. He just realized his fucking hat fell off, too. He crouched down, intentionally this time, and tried to grope around, but could only find asphalt and snow.
He stopped and snorted like a dragon a few times, the frustration dying his next words. "Can someone please hand me my hat?"
Electric fence or death game or not, he needed that fucking hat back.
Not funny, not funny, not funny, not funny-
Carl sighed, thankful Lucas couldn't see his face. He didn't blame the guy for his behavior, shit sucked; hell he'd probably be the same way had it happened to him; but still, the Lt. Dan routine wasn't needed when your life actively was in danger. At some point you'd have to suck it up and accept help when it comes to you, especially in times like these.
Carl's eyes turned towards the hat and some other things that fell out of his bag. Oh come on-
Gunny Kowalski would've been angry about this, but Carl understood. Maybe gunny would've too knowing Lucas was blind but- a pair of grenades. He knelt down by them, grabbing both of them along with the hat. Poor guy needed something to defend himself with, and those things were nothing but a danger around him; but better that than nothing. However;
Carl needed something with actual firepower to take on one of those monsters they had to deal with. He pocketed one; hoping nobody would've noticed. He felt; well honestly, he felt absolutely disgusted with himself for it; this was one of those things where if he saw someone else doing it, he'd have chewed them out on the spot; hell he didn't blame anyone for doing it to him if they saw it. Problem was that he needed it; he was hunting, and Lucas had no place on the battlefield and to be completely blunt; nobody here did; but-
Excuses, excuses.
He'll let Lucas know later on. Carl stood up, pushing down on his knee with a pop, then pushing into his lower back with another pop. Shit, he just about had no place on the battlefield either... He handed back the grenade and the hat to Lucas. "Here you go, dude." He saw Reinette while looking at him, and the humor of the situation disappeared once more. Carl was furious; they shouldn't be here. He'd give anything to give Dr.Sicko a piece of his mind; mostly by blowing it out with a 7.62, but that rat bastard was too good for even that.
He turned back around to Charlie.
"Mmm... Sorta. Me and Chevy saw someone heading towards it; figured we'd tag along, write some angry phrases on posterboards, protest until we leave or something." He glanced back up past the barriers, remembering those shapes he saw. Glanced back at Charlie.
"Honestly, we saw some bad shit go down last night, we're just trying to find people; safety in numbers. We tried to set up a safe zone at the mining union building or whatever it was; fuckin' got attacked by a bunch of metal snakes." He didn't want to call them worms; it'd sound too silly to emphasize how dangerous they were. "There were swarms of them. They got Reinette..."
He glanced over at Chevy and Elizabeth. Lucas. Back to Charlie.
"I hope you guys had better luck than we did..."
Carl sighed, thankful Lucas couldn't see his face. He didn't blame the guy for his behavior, shit sucked; hell he'd probably be the same way had it happened to him; but still, the Lt. Dan routine wasn't needed when your life actively was in danger. At some point you'd have to suck it up and accept help when it comes to you, especially in times like these.
Carl's eyes turned towards the hat and some other things that fell out of his bag. Oh come on-
Gunny Kowalski would've been angry about this, but Carl understood. Maybe gunny would've too knowing Lucas was blind but- a pair of grenades. He knelt down by them, grabbing both of them along with the hat. Poor guy needed something to defend himself with, and those things were nothing but a danger around him; but better that than nothing. However;
Carl needed something with actual firepower to take on one of those monsters they had to deal with. He pocketed one; hoping nobody would've noticed. He felt; well honestly, he felt absolutely disgusted with himself for it; this was one of those things where if he saw someone else doing it, he'd have chewed them out on the spot; hell he didn't blame anyone for doing it to him if they saw it. Problem was that he needed it; he was hunting, and Lucas had no place on the battlefield and to be completely blunt; nobody here did; but-
Excuses, excuses.
He'll let Lucas know later on. Carl stood up, pushing down on his knee with a pop, then pushing into his lower back with another pop. Shit, he just about had no place on the battlefield either... He handed back the grenade and the hat to Lucas. "Here you go, dude." He saw Reinette while looking at him, and the humor of the situation disappeared once more. Carl was furious; they shouldn't be here. He'd give anything to give Dr.Sicko a piece of his mind; mostly by blowing it out with a 7.62, but that rat bastard was too good for even that.
He turned back around to Charlie.
"Mmm... Sorta. Me and Chevy saw someone heading towards it; figured we'd tag along, write some angry phrases on posterboards, protest until we leave or something." He glanced back up past the barriers, remembering those shapes he saw. Glanced back at Charlie.
"Honestly, we saw some bad shit go down last night, we're just trying to find people; safety in numbers. We tried to set up a safe zone at the mining union building or whatever it was; fuckin' got attacked by a bunch of metal snakes." He didn't want to call them worms; it'd sound too silly to emphasize how dangerous they were. "There were swarms of them. They got Reinette..."
He glanced over at Chevy and Elizabeth. Lucas. Back to Charlie.
"I hope you guys had better luck than we did..."
Catche thinks my squirrel is Fisk so here's my daily reminder that he is not.
The reunion with his ex Elizabeth was awkward. Honestly, what was he even supposed to do? Their relationship was non-existent, but Chevy needed allies bad. Why did he gone crawling to Elizabeth? He was the only person he recognized out of everyone else. They had history. Good and bad history from a strained relationship, but history, nevertheless.
Another friendly chick came by to greet with Elizabeth. Another Army-type person from the looks of it. Charlie mentioned something about the fence, which Chevy flashed a look over to the strange pylons surrounding the Monitoring Station. "We can't do much with trying to hop a fence. Or rather a lack of a fence, unless there is one." Chevy mentioned to Charlie. He didn't like the looks of the barrier around the station. There was some sort of catch, he knew it. What happened if he went through the fence? Would he get blasted to bits by those mercenary assholes? They had weapons, but they weren't something that can take down some experienced thugs.
Carl was already helping up the blind guy from the ground after he fell. Carl was beginning to mention about the events of last night, as much as Chevy hated thinking about what happened. Chevy had to speak up to get the point straight to Elizabeth, Lucas, and Charlie.
"Carl's right about last night. We thought we had only mutated polar bears to deal with, but..." Chevy paused, knowing Reinette was there on his mind. "We got ambushed by something. Whatever they are, they did something to Reinette. We know she's dead, but we're trying to kill everything that the lab coat prick is throwing down at us." Chevy stated the goal that Chevy and Carl were going for.
"We're taking down the monsters on this island. We were trying to get some firepower to do so, too." Chevy wondered if the others would understand.
Another friendly chick came by to greet with Elizabeth. Another Army-type person from the looks of it. Charlie mentioned something about the fence, which Chevy flashed a look over to the strange pylons surrounding the Monitoring Station. "We can't do much with trying to hop a fence. Or rather a lack of a fence, unless there is one." Chevy mentioned to Charlie. He didn't like the looks of the barrier around the station. There was some sort of catch, he knew it. What happened if he went through the fence? Would he get blasted to bits by those mercenary assholes? They had weapons, but they weren't something that can take down some experienced thugs.
Carl was already helping up the blind guy from the ground after he fell. Carl was beginning to mention about the events of last night, as much as Chevy hated thinking about what happened. Chevy had to speak up to get the point straight to Elizabeth, Lucas, and Charlie.
"Carl's right about last night. We thought we had only mutated polar bears to deal with, but..." Chevy paused, knowing Reinette was there on his mind. "We got ambushed by something. Whatever they are, they did something to Reinette. We know she's dead, but we're trying to kill everything that the lab coat prick is throwing down at us." Chevy stated the goal that Chevy and Carl were going for.
"We're taking down the monsters on this island. We were trying to get some firepower to do so, too." Chevy wondered if the others would understand.
It's so hard when your on your own
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
You might fall into the Forbidden Zone
Atop the Monitoring Station’s roof, a breath emerged from the mesh screen covering a battlement-like structure.
Danya sighed, and adjusted the rifle against his shoulder. They had a space heater up here, but it was still far too cold for any sort of comfort.
“Severn.”
His colleague sat up from his chair, folding the book that he was reading into his lap as he did so. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.
“What?”
“He’s not gonna make it.”
“You taking the piss?”
“Yeah. I mean, no. Whole group of them showed up. Stopped him a couple meters out.”
Severn shook his head, and re-lit a cigarette he produced from a nearby ashtray, improvised out of the bottom half of a can of Rip It.
“Bollocks. We’re never gonna see what those things do.”
Danya shrugged, scanning the rest of the group in the crosshairs of his rifle.
“Ehh, you never know. One of them was sleeping just - out in the open, earlier. Maybe they’ll get desperate, make a run for it. I could see it.”
Tapping his comrade on the shoulder, Severn sat down next to him and looked through his own spotting scope.
“I’m starting to get fuckin’ desperate.”
Severn passed the cigarette to Danya as he looked through the scope. The other mercenary sat back, taking the opportunity to rub his eyes, and take a puff of the cigarette.
“Christ. The blind lad had grenades. You think those pylons are rated for explosives?”
Danya shrugged. “I could not tell you. I’ll ask Gardner when we go back down.”
“Manual says there’s three in play. Grunt’s got one now, at least.”
“Oo-rah.” Danya replied, in his best imitation of a Marine.
Cigarette smoke and chuckling continued to rise from the roof of the Monitoring station, carried across the airfield on the cold arctic wind.
Danya sighed, and adjusted the rifle against his shoulder. They had a space heater up here, but it was still far too cold for any sort of comfort.
“Severn.”
His colleague sat up from his chair, folding the book that he was reading into his lap as he did so. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.
“What?”
“He’s not gonna make it.”
“You taking the piss?”
“Yeah. I mean, no. Whole group of them showed up. Stopped him a couple meters out.”
Severn shook his head, and re-lit a cigarette he produced from a nearby ashtray, improvised out of the bottom half of a can of Rip It.
“Bollocks. We’re never gonna see what those things do.”
Danya shrugged, scanning the rest of the group in the crosshairs of his rifle.
“Ehh, you never know. One of them was sleeping just - out in the open, earlier. Maybe they’ll get desperate, make a run for it. I could see it.”
Tapping his comrade on the shoulder, Severn sat down next to him and looked through his own spotting scope.
“I’m starting to get fuckin’ desperate.”
Severn passed the cigarette to Danya as he looked through the scope. The other mercenary sat back, taking the opportunity to rub his eyes, and take a puff of the cigarette.
“Christ. The blind lad had grenades. You think those pylons are rated for explosives?”
Danya shrugged. “I could not tell you. I’ll ask Gardner when we go back down.”
“Manual says there’s three in play. Grunt’s got one now, at least.”
“Oo-rah.” Danya replied, in his best imitation of a Marine.
Cigarette smoke and chuckling continued to rise from the roof of the Monitoring station, carried across the airfield on the cold arctic wind.