Sanctuaryforall1
Pyrrha Nikos Lives On
Eve/Evolution
code by Stardust Galaxy
-
This section is for roleplays only.
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Fandom Belle Reve Means "Sweet Dreams" // Suicide Squad RP // RP Thread
- Thread starter Aviator
- Start date
code by Stardust Galaxy
BuggaBoo
Skull💀Duggery~!!
Ahvelina
Debriefing. Sitting on a chair in her cell...
"Notti! Sis!! I see you, Naughty-Girl!!" the big inked woman cheerfully cried as she waved up high a tattooed hand. The other hand would press against puckered lips before blowing an exagerrated kiss towards the diminutive blue-headed agent.
But no. It did not play out like that.
"Nnn... Iiiii... suuue, nnnngallll..." she mumbled behind her muzzle. Ahvelina raised her hand to said muzzle and wiped at it futilely, hand waving weakly afterwards, looking nothing like a blown kiss.
There was no response from her Sibling so her attention immediately turned beside to the someone that was blabbering away. Her fuzzy gaze fell away from her little sister and swung over to the cell right next door. It was the gimpy, shrimpy boy. Ewwww... he was looking at her like... like that. Ewwww... Wait. Wut? Did he say something about 'Red cookies...?' Or was that 'Jigglies'? Oh! He was talking about Victorine's boobs?! Ewww... what a perv-- meh. Who was she to judge; those things stuck out so far off her body it could poke your eyes out.
For whatever reason, Ahvi was pantomiming the thoughts rolling out in her head. A small laugh trickled away as she made a lewd squeezing motion in front of herself then closed her eyes and pressed tattooed fingers into her lids. Hazel eyes snapped open, one hand now pointed directly at Nova Red. A glint shone within those circlets as the other hand slid a thumb across her throat.
Suddenly the room lit up with a flash of bright blue.
Ahvelina gasped loudly. Her head snapped backwards as if she had been hit by a charging rhino. The big woman fell off her chair and crumpled into a ball on the floor, her eyes burning golden bright.
She was not prepared for 'Azure's Call'; lil' sis Notti had openied up a channel for inter-squad comms.
'AP-B1MTG-AHM1 "FireFlight."' her mind responded involuntarily to the non-vocal roll call. In the here and now, screaming tears of frustration threatened to fall from her eyes; she swore to never call herself by a serial ever again.
The sheer force of spiritual energy, unknown for years until now, overwhelmed her but that's not what felled her. No, it was the images. All the detailed images of them. All of them. And all the burning shame. And all the buried guilt.
'This is FireFlight. Aerial Prime, squad, on me. Undersiders, Vagrant, ready your squad for full extraction. FiendBreakers, Ice Queen, stand down, fall back, rendezvous at the Line. This is the moment we been waiting for... It all ends, Siblings. Right here. Right now.'
It was as if she was a passenger seated in her memory, watching, listening to herself call out, only a single hitch in her voice betraying her bravado. The smell of sweat permeated the intensity of this memory; she was nervous as hell. Then came that scene that burned into her mind forever; no longer faded and yellowed it was. Bright as day it unfurled; it was what brought them all together. And the very one that tore them all apart.
Below her, she watched as they fled like rats, panicked, little bodies darting away in all directions. Every single one of them below was screaming; each child knew their fate was sealed.
In the here and now, on the cold floor, behind that hated muzzle, she mouthed those famous last words...
'For freedom, for us, for good.'
So then commenced the slaughter of their bonds.
Golden eyes snuffed out of existence as Ahvelina dove into darkness, swimming her way through the accusing murkiness clawing at her, allowing herself to be swallowed whole by denial once more.
Shine, Nova Red, Pixie, Wither and Deluge.
That really was her wasn't it? Yeah, that muzzle, that orange jumpsuit, those tattoos, those huge muscles, that long raven hair... all the years in between. That big inked woman could be anyone really. But no. Those hazel eyes betrayed that facade. Nouvelle would know those eyes even if she found the glinting pair washed up alone upon the shores of Hell. There was no hiding it from her; that was her Sibling.
"Ahmi..."
The words barely escaped her lips let alone her throat. A rough swallow, a shakey breath, a biting sting in the bridge of her nose. Nouvelle was going to lose it right here, right now. A tidal wave of mixed emotions and yellowed memories flooded her mind and senses. One small brown hand held the back of a chair in a futile attempt to support her buckling knees, the other clutched tight the fabric upon her chest as if she could hold and steady her exploding heart.
"No... I shouldn't... I can't. I just can't do it..." she whispered into the Aether.
But she had to know. She had to 'feel' it out, connect with her sister, be 'with' her once more. The spirits around her were swimming up a torrential storm, begging, demanding this conduit to do it, 'feel' and feed them that repressed emotion they desperately craved.
Azure exploded from her eyes, lighting up the room.
"Yo, Shiny, whachu doin, man? Whoa. Wait. Uhhhhmmm... you don't look right...? Ey, que pasa, chica-chica? Ta buenas? You need to sit down, man. Shine...? Eyo, dios mio! Nouvelle!"
Pixie rushed forward and caught her bff before she crumbled and smashed her head off the corner of the unyielding oak meeting table. Arms around her, hands desperately clutching at the blue uniform, the lithe Latina held the diminutive Latina awkwardly yet still upright. Shine's head lolled back, body limp. blue hair dangling wildly, glasses askew across her brown face.
"Shine!" Nova yelped and in a single leap, she was beside both her friends, pale face even paler as she helped Pixie support their fainted bff. "Motorin', just what the actual eff in the face happened to her? It's that goddamn'd off-terran, ain't it?!"
Blue eyes switched from wide concern to narrowed inferno as one of hands lit up an angry hot red. She was going to light up the albino alien; one hole burned through its head, another right through its wretched heart--
"--Amiga, tranquila. Dude, it wasn't the off-terran. Nova-- Vix!! Easy, easy... we don't know whose fault, 'kay? We gonna find out who but first, like right now, we need to help Nou-Nou. Eyo, look at me... She just fainted. It's okay... chida, chica-chica..? "
Pixie held Nova's cheek and gently pulled so that the blonde would face her. The fire in Nova's blue eyes dulled a bit as she stared into the depths of those big dark ones. A single nod the blonde relinquished, but still... if that BOR subject was responsible... "Alright. Alrighty, darlin' it's cool. It's cool. *sigh*
"Trainee! Wither, help Pixie get SCA Shine to infirmary. Please."
"On it yesterday, SCA Nova Red," Always the good soldier, Wither hurried over in an instant. One arm slid under her SCA trainers leg, the other supported her back. A quick 3-count then she and Pixie lifted Shine up. A look of concern skewed her features, forehead tenderly pressed up against Shine's temple, lips brushed softly into her blue hair. "You gonna be okay, Nouvelle. We gonna take care of you."
Wither then pulled back, whistled and nodded her head towards the big eyed, albino alien, "You be good, Thumper. We'll draw together later, 'kay? Buuuunies, right...! Alright, see ya. Be good, kiddo..."
Several heartbeats longer Nova stared as the pair carried Shine out the door.
A deep breath. Then a sideways glance she tossed the barking albino alien. A wicked smile curled up at the corners of her mouth. Awwww too bad. This little thing had been left alone by its loving caretaker. Too bad. There was no hint of a giggle as white teeth flashed. No, that was not a smile. It was a promise. Victorine LaFontaine would 'take care' of it now. Poor, poor defenseless little 'Thumper...'
At the doorway, Trainee Deluge poked his nose into the situation, calling for his twin to explain what had happened. Hazel eyes glanced inside debriefing and made eye contact with Nova. Both nodded at each other. But he could not help but feel his skin crawl with unease. Within the blue eyes of his trainer he saw a roiling, tumultuous flammable ichor. It looked exactly like how he always pictured it to be. For whatever reason, Nova Red had a look in her eyes like that of a murder-intent, psychotic ex-girlfriend.
An instant before he turned, his eyes popped wide. Slack-jawed and pale, he stared a heartbeat longer. Behind those red beams of the cell, there he was. Colour drained back into his face, teeth clenched tightly. Yeah. In that orange jumpsuit still with that goofy, floppy sandy hair and still sporting that stupid 80s pornstar 'stache, was the one and only Charger. A scowl barreled downward over intense hazel eyes. It was now or never.
"Pay back time..."
Deluge slammed the doors shut and chased after his sister, eyes burning an iridescent green wildfire.
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Sanctuaryforall1
Pyrrha Nikos Lives On
Cersei Hallows
code by Stardust Galaxy
Ashy_OCdesigns
One Thousand Club
So, this was the Warden, huh? She had been the subject of many rumors from the inmates, especially regarding her reputation. However, it was important to know that none of those rumors mattered to Keeley, especially because the meeting had started. He paid attention, because they were together, and was she bringing out a PowerPoint? That was certainly the last thing he'd expected. What would a big boss like her need a PowerPoint for? Well, he soon found out, and that direction was not the direction he'd been thinking of, so in hindsight, the PowerPoint was great. If he'd tried to explain the situation the Warden presented, he'd need a PowerPoint also. The other bright side aside from breaking the monotony was that Nova Red began to stop laughing, as pissing off the Warden would be a bad idea. It was like saying a yo mama joke to your own mother, and besides, he was glad Nova Red had the wisdom to stop laughing while the Warden had the floor.
“Kryptonians have descended upon Earth. As you can imagine given these images they do not share the same beliefs of Superman and view humanity as territory ripe for the taking..." As the Warden showed the pictures, Keeley's face began to morph into that of confusion, and his face of confusion was a cross between that of smelling a skunk, just been recently possessed and constipation. However, if you had asked what he was so confused about, and he had replied to your question, it probably wouldn't have been the fact that there were aliens flying around. He knew that powers existed, so why shouldn't aliens? It made quite a bit of sense actually. The two things that confused him were a) Why Earth? Humanity had been screwing it up for years, and it was polluted. Plus, Earthlings were quite stubborn when they wanted to be. b) Why strike now? Why not in the past, or in the future? Did the aliens need that long to prepare? As he began to think about it, he began to mouth to himself. His friends knew about his habit, but what about everyone else? Not many people knew he muttered unconsciously when he was thinking, as muttering helped him put his thoughts together.
“Luckily for us, there is a supply of assets the enemy isn’t aware of yet and ones we intend to use.” Keeley had an instinct, he somehow knew what the next word was going to be, even before they were said. "You." The warden went on to talk about how each inmate had special skills, and how there would be a chance to have a reduced sentence. The promise of a reduced sentence was one Keeley was unsure of. After a few years of being in prison, he didn't think he'd adjust to life outside prison very well. The selfish instincts you gained in prison would be hard to reverse, especially if you'd been in prison for quite a while and/or it was maximum security. He knew he was likely going to be cannon fodder, but still, it was a decision that Keeley didn't want to make. He was glad that they, the inmates had been given a few minutes to deliberate. He was even more unsure about the guards, what would they get in return if they were to fight? Hell, both sides had their allure, and their hellishness. He couldn't decide, so peer pressure would. If other inmates said yes, then he would as well. If not, then that was fine as well. His eyes glanced quickly from inmate to inmate, gauging their reactions.
“Kryptonians have descended upon Earth. As you can imagine given these images they do not share the same beliefs of Superman and view humanity as territory ripe for the taking..." As the Warden showed the pictures, Keeley's face began to morph into that of confusion, and his face of confusion was a cross between that of smelling a skunk, just been recently possessed and constipation. However, if you had asked what he was so confused about, and he had replied to your question, it probably wouldn't have been the fact that there were aliens flying around. He knew that powers existed, so why shouldn't aliens? It made quite a bit of sense actually. The two things that confused him were a) Why Earth? Humanity had been screwing it up for years, and it was polluted. Plus, Earthlings were quite stubborn when they wanted to be. b) Why strike now? Why not in the past, or in the future? Did the aliens need that long to prepare? As he began to think about it, he began to mouth to himself. His friends knew about his habit, but what about everyone else? Not many people knew he muttered unconsciously when he was thinking, as muttering helped him put his thoughts together.
“Luckily for us, there is a supply of assets the enemy isn’t aware of yet and ones we intend to use.” Keeley had an instinct, he somehow knew what the next word was going to be, even before they were said. "You." The warden went on to talk about how each inmate had special skills, and how there would be a chance to have a reduced sentence. The promise of a reduced sentence was one Keeley was unsure of. After a few years of being in prison, he didn't think he'd adjust to life outside prison very well. The selfish instincts you gained in prison would be hard to reverse, especially if you'd been in prison for quite a while and/or it was maximum security. He knew he was likely going to be cannon fodder, but still, it was a decision that Keeley didn't want to make. He was glad that they, the inmates had been given a few minutes to deliberate. He was even more unsure about the guards, what would they get in return if they were to fight? Hell, both sides had their allure, and their hellishness. He couldn't decide, so peer pressure would. If other inmates said yes, then he would as well. If not, then that was fine as well. His eyes glanced quickly from inmate to inmate, gauging their reactions.
ISHTAR
life is like a dream for the dead
tw: dissociation, disorientation, drug side effects
WILLIAM BLACKBURN / BILLY THE BLIGHT
The dim glow of the holographic cell illuminated Billy's twisted grin. His dark thoughts swirled like a tempest, fueled by the prospect of being unleashed upon the very people he despised. The promise of freedom was secondary; what truly enticed him was the opportunity for revenge, a chance to set loose his horde of pestilence upon a world that had wronged him.
His hands, scarred and calloused, moved in rhythmic patterns, orchestrating an imaginary symphony of chaos. Billy reveled in the idea of humanity succumbing to his swarm, a poetic retribution for the isolation and torment he had endured.
The notion of being a weapon against the Kryptonian invaders was an unexpected twist, a role he hadn't imagined for himself. Yet, in this macabre ballet of emotions, the prospect of becoming a harbinger of destruction appealed to the darkest corners of his shattered soul.
As the room pondered the weight of the warden's proposal, Billy remained lost in his own malevolent fantasies, unaware of the potential consequences or the intricate web of power and control being woven around him.
Soon....
DR. ELARA STERLING / NEXA
As the warden presented the inmates with the proposition to become weapons against the Kryptonian invaders, Elara's gaze was distant, lost in the maelstrom of her thoughts.
In the confines of her cell, memories of Zod invaded her thoughts. Visions painted by Nexa's whispers swirled within the labyrinth of her mind. The images became drawings in her journal, hauntingly vivid. She felt the weight of the impending invasion, the gravity of the threat that loomed over Earth.
The memories of that harrowing day flooded Elara's mind as she sat within the cold concrete confines of her cell. Guards storming her cell, snatching away her journal — a repository of visions NEXA shared — sent shivers down her spine. The Warden, relentless in her pursuit of information, sought to unravel the mystery behind her visions. The torturous interrogations that followed, the pain and anguish inflicted upon Elara's body and mind until NEXA took control to protect her host from death's door. NEXA's defiance in the face of torment lingered vividly in Elara's memories. The entity, unyielding and immortal, refused to bend to the will of those who sought to exploit its cosmic knowledge.
The debriefing room was filled with the weight of a decision, and Elara found herself torn between the darkness of her past and the uncertain future laid out before her. The offer of freedom, even if temporary, tugged at the edges of her consciousness. But freedom came with a price, and Elara couldn't shake the haunting memories of experiments, suppressants, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that had led to her current entanglement with NEXA.
As the room buzzed with contemplation, Elara felt a sense of dread and anticipation intertwining within her. Elara felt the cosmic entity within her remain silent, observing the unfolding drama with an enigmatic detachment.
As Eve entered the room, a radiant smile lighting up her features, Elara felt a sudden surge of warmth in the otherwise sterile environment. It was as if the sun had pierced through the clouds, casting a comforting light on everything it touched. The smile that graced Elara's lips in response was involuntary, a natural reaction to the presence of someone who held a special place in her heart.
NEXA, always perceptive, whispered Eve's name in tones that resonated with warmth and understanding. The cosmic entity seemed privy to Elara's feelings, even those she tried to keep hidden behind a veil of denial.
With Eve and Caio by her side, Elara felt an unshakable sense of strength. It was as if their presence could embolden her to conquer any challenge the world might throw her way.
NULL
Null shifted seamlessly from the warm Southern charm to a demeanor starkly different. The geniality that once colored his interactions now gave way to a cold, calculative gaze. Clad in the aura of a tech genius, he gripped his high-tech rifle with a resolute firmness.
As the mutants filed into the room, his eyes assessed each one, the delineation between law and lawlessness etched in his demeanor. The inmates, once seen as adversaries, were now viewed through a lens of utility. The clear line he drew marked them as tools, expendable in the impending battle against Zod.
His thoughts, a tempest of mixed emotions, danced beneath the surface of that composed exterior. The internal conflict, however, did little to disrupt the stoic facade Null presented. In a world where alliances shifted like sand, he accepted the grim reality that, for now, these criminals were nothing more than a means to an end.
Null shook his head as he observed Ahvelina, now sedated and lost in a drugged stupor. Drool escaped her lips as incoherent mumbles tumbled out, a far cry from the person he once knew. There was an unexpected pang of sympathy for her, seeing Ahvelina reduced to this state.
In the somber reflection, Null couldn't help but contemplate the twists of fate. If she managed to navigate through the impending challenges, there was a chance for her sentence to be curtailed, an opportunity for early freedom. Yet, deep down, he acknowledged that following rules wasn't exactly Ahvelina's forte. Her defiance, and her unique rhythm, marked her as someone who danced to the beat of her own drum. Null wondered, amidst the chaos that awaited them, if she could find a way to turn the odds in her favor.
Suddenly, the room was bathed in a vivid flash of bright blue.
In the aftermath of the flash, Ahvelina tumbled off her chair, collapsing into a crumpled heap on the floor. Her eyes, now ablaze with a golden intensity, betrayed a struggle within.
Null sighed, his gaze cold yet tinged with a measure of sympathy as he observed the once formidable woman reduced to this pitiful state. The transformation invoked a deeper sense of pity. As Ahvelina lay on the floor, seemingly lost in her internal tumult, Null gestured for VOID to assist him. With a combination of care and efficiency, they helped her back into the chair, taking precautions to secure her with straps, preventing any further falls.
VOID
VOID glided into the debriefing room, an embodiment of shadow and silent efficiency. Finding a dark corner, she positioned herself where she could observe the proceedings, always slightly to the side of her Captain. VOID wasn't just a guard; she was something more, an instrument of deadly precision under the direct command of the Captain and the Warden herself.
Once a participant in the clandestine machinations of a cold war against world governments, VOID had seamlessly transitioned into her new role. She had become the Warden's prized assassin, a finely honed blade in the service of authority. Accepting her position as a tool to be wielded, VOID's watchful gaze dissected every nuance in the room. Any misstep, any breath out of place, did not escape her lethal attention. She was the vigilant shadow in the darkness, ready to strike if anyone dared to challenge the authority of the Captain or the Warden.
Devoid of any visible emotion, VOID assisted Null in settling the Gunmother back into her chair. The act wasn't driven by personal desire or satisfaction; instead, it was rooted in loyalty. As partners in the complex dance of their duties, NULL and VOID were bound by a shared history and a commitment to watching each other's backs.
They exchanged a knowing glance, an unspoken understanding passing between them, communicating volumes without uttering a single word. With a shared purpose, they positioned themselves beside the Gunmother.
WILLIAM BLACKBURN / BILLY THE BLIGHT
His hands, scarred and calloused, moved in rhythmic patterns, orchestrating an imaginary symphony of chaos. Billy reveled in the idea of humanity succumbing to his swarm, a poetic retribution for the isolation and torment he had endured.
The notion of being a weapon against the Kryptonian invaders was an unexpected twist, a role he hadn't imagined for himself. Yet, in this macabre ballet of emotions, the prospect of becoming a harbinger of destruction appealed to the darkest corners of his shattered soul.
As the room pondered the weight of the warden's proposal, Billy remained lost in his own malevolent fantasies, unaware of the potential consequences or the intricate web of power and control being woven around him.
Soon....
DR. ELARA STERLING / NEXA
In the confines of her cell, memories of Zod invaded her thoughts. Visions painted by Nexa's whispers swirled within the labyrinth of her mind. The images became drawings in her journal, hauntingly vivid. She felt the weight of the impending invasion, the gravity of the threat that loomed over Earth.
The memories of that harrowing day flooded Elara's mind as she sat within the cold concrete confines of her cell. Guards storming her cell, snatching away her journal — a repository of visions NEXA shared — sent shivers down her spine. The Warden, relentless in her pursuit of information, sought to unravel the mystery behind her visions. The torturous interrogations that followed, the pain and anguish inflicted upon Elara's body and mind until NEXA took control to protect her host from death's door. NEXA's defiance in the face of torment lingered vividly in Elara's memories. The entity, unyielding and immortal, refused to bend to the will of those who sought to exploit its cosmic knowledge.
The debriefing room was filled with the weight of a decision, and Elara found herself torn between the darkness of her past and the uncertain future laid out before her. The offer of freedom, even if temporary, tugged at the edges of her consciousness. But freedom came with a price, and Elara couldn't shake the haunting memories of experiments, suppressants, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that had led to her current entanglement with NEXA.
As the room buzzed with contemplation, Elara felt a sense of dread and anticipation intertwining within her. Elara felt the cosmic entity within her remain silent, observing the unfolding drama with an enigmatic detachment.
As Eve entered the room, a radiant smile lighting up her features, Elara felt a sudden surge of warmth in the otherwise sterile environment. It was as if the sun had pierced through the clouds, casting a comforting light on everything it touched. The smile that graced Elara's lips in response was involuntary, a natural reaction to the presence of someone who held a special place in her heart.
NEXA, always perceptive, whispered Eve's name in tones that resonated with warmth and understanding. The cosmic entity seemed privy to Elara's feelings, even those she tried to keep hidden behind a veil of denial.
With Eve and Caio by her side, Elara felt an unshakable sense of strength. It was as if their presence could embolden her to conquer any challenge the world might throw her way.
NULL
As the mutants filed into the room, his eyes assessed each one, the delineation between law and lawlessness etched in his demeanor. The inmates, once seen as adversaries, were now viewed through a lens of utility. The clear line he drew marked them as tools, expendable in the impending battle against Zod.
His thoughts, a tempest of mixed emotions, danced beneath the surface of that composed exterior. The internal conflict, however, did little to disrupt the stoic facade Null presented. In a world where alliances shifted like sand, he accepted the grim reality that, for now, these criminals were nothing more than a means to an end.
Null shook his head as he observed Ahvelina, now sedated and lost in a drugged stupor. Drool escaped her lips as incoherent mumbles tumbled out, a far cry from the person he once knew. There was an unexpected pang of sympathy for her, seeing Ahvelina reduced to this state.
In the somber reflection, Null couldn't help but contemplate the twists of fate. If she managed to navigate through the impending challenges, there was a chance for her sentence to be curtailed, an opportunity for early freedom. Yet, deep down, he acknowledged that following rules wasn't exactly Ahvelina's forte. Her defiance, and her unique rhythm, marked her as someone who danced to the beat of her own drum. Null wondered, amidst the chaos that awaited them, if she could find a way to turn the odds in her favor.
Suddenly, the room was bathed in a vivid flash of bright blue.
In the aftermath of the flash, Ahvelina tumbled off her chair, collapsing into a crumpled heap on the floor. Her eyes, now ablaze with a golden intensity, betrayed a struggle within.
Null sighed, his gaze cold yet tinged with a measure of sympathy as he observed the once formidable woman reduced to this pitiful state. The transformation invoked a deeper sense of pity. As Ahvelina lay on the floor, seemingly lost in her internal tumult, Null gestured for VOID to assist him. With a combination of care and efficiency, they helped her back into the chair, taking precautions to secure her with straps, preventing any further falls.
VOID
Once a participant in the clandestine machinations of a cold war against world governments, VOID had seamlessly transitioned into her new role. She had become the Warden's prized assassin, a finely honed blade in the service of authority. Accepting her position as a tool to be wielded, VOID's watchful gaze dissected every nuance in the room. Any misstep, any breath out of place, did not escape her lethal attention. She was the vigilant shadow in the darkness, ready to strike if anyone dared to challenge the authority of the Captain or the Warden.
Devoid of any visible emotion, VOID assisted Null in settling the Gunmother back into her chair. The act wasn't driven by personal desire or satisfaction; instead, it was rooted in loyalty. As partners in the complex dance of their duties, NULL and VOID were bound by a shared history and a commitment to watching each other's backs.
They exchanged a knowing glance, an unspoken understanding passing between them, communicating volumes without uttering a single word. With a shared purpose, they positioned themselves beside the Gunmother.
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Sanctuaryforall1
Pyrrha Nikos Lives On
Tamzin
code by Stardust Galaxy
Steve Jobs
Died of ligma
BAI YUAN YUE
© reveriee
Aviator
are you laughing at my brother?
Caio McCarthy // “Whiplash” // Age 26 // Inmate // Getaway Driver // Brazilian-American
A very literal alias, Caio thought as he shielded his eyes from the blinding light. The light swirled and eddied like mist, and then abruptly cut out all at once. With it, Shine swayed and dropped to the floor, a marionette with cut strings. Markina let out a shrill note and materialized to the fallen woman’s side. Caio scoffed internally. From his brief, icy interaction with Markina, he’d be lucky if she displayed half as much urgency if it were his well-being at stake. Shine lay in an unmoving pile as the heavy metal doors opened again and regurgitated a familiar figure that made Caio’s stomach knot. The handsome woman in the ultramarine dress. The warden, if that really was her title and not bullshit made up to seem impressive. No inmate knew the warden’s true identity. But Caio was starting to feel as though this elegant creature, whom he’d glimpsed twice in one day but never before, was really a harbinger of misfortune, more demon than woman, and a third sighting of her would beget disastrous consequences.
Awkwardly, the warden had made to enter the room at the same time that Markina and company were trying to exit with a seemingly unconscious Shine, head lolling and arms slung over her helpers’ shoulders. A silent standoff for the door took place in which the warden blocked the entrance for half a heartbeat, gazing impassively at her ailing agent. Then, in a belated occurrence, as if she were a dark goddess unused to yielding to mortals, she stepped away from the door frame so that the makeshift paramedics team could exit. The warden watched them go down the hall for a few beats but said nothing, no inquiry of concern passing her lips. She just stood, head cocked, like a spectator watching a disappointing act at the fair.
Looking utterly unfazed by the encounter, the warden proceeded into the conference room again. As if cued by her arrival, the whole wall behind her blinked with three-dimensional color. Golden hexagons radiated from the center of the wall and started moving outward, as if the entire wall were a screen awakening from a long slumber, displaying mesmerizing shapes as it booted up. The screen pulsed bright gold and dimmed to a warm amber, as if it were a living, breathing thing. And then, when it finally loaded, it emitted a four-note chime of triumph. The honeycomb disappeared, replaced by an image that showed a city in shambles. Metal and glass and stone reduced to smoking rubble, cars halved beneath the weight of toppled buildings. Small outcroppings of flame dotted the destruction.
In an uninflected voice that made Caio feel as if he were listening to wind whoosh through an endless tunnel, the warden spoke. Detached statistics and words that sounded as if they should have been uttered in a history class in reference to a devastating war that had happened long ago. Except for the fact that the warden was speaking in present tense. No one reacted immediately, and Caio scanned the room to see how the others were taking this news. Narrated in such a cool, collected voice, it was hard to rationalize that the end of the world was happening here and now. He locked eyes with Eve, one row of cells ahead of him and several to the right. Kryptonians? he mouthed at her, knowing that she would have an answer.
Aliens, moved her lips in response. Caio had always had good vision, but he still felt pride at reading her response correctly from such a distance.
Ah, he replied. His curiosity sated, he let the conversation drop, since there was no way to exchange overly elaborate sentences.
The warden had continued to drone on, and now, as if all her previous words had been a buildup for a big reveal like the finale of a magic show, she paused. A strange spark lit her eyes. Caio, who had been cataloging all her looks from the moment he’d stepped into her plush velvet office, associated this one with greed. It was the same way those dark orbs had fastened on him when she’d proposed her offer for him to spy on the other inmates. To what purpose? Caio had initially asked. He had a feeling that this meeting had a dual meaning to him individually.
And then the other shoe dropped. Just as she’d done in summoning Caio to her office, the warden didn’t reach out to other people unless she wanted something from them. Expected something, as the steel nails in her voice brooked no disagreement. Unsurprisingly, she was breaking this news to a handful of Belle Reve inmates only because she wanted them to act as Earth’s front lines against the invading Kryptonians. She wanted to use them. With a pang, Caio thought of the dispassionate way that the warden had gazed upon Shine as they’d escorted her from the room. She used her own underlings as pawns, those who were willfully in her employ. So what did that say for how she would treat prisoners whose lives she considered inconsequential? And the inmates in this room comprised only a small fraction of Belle Reve’s population. The warden had only informed them of the invasion because she had something to gain from it. Did that mean that the vast majority of inmates who weren’t present would perish suddenly and without explanation, victims of an apocalypse they never even knew was coming?
At the end of the warden’s presentation, the screen faded to black, powering down with a low hum. White light refilled the room, but it was no match for the silence that had descended. It reminded Caio of when a storm is about to break, the clouds piling up, the air so thick with electricity that it’s difficult to breathe. During its reign, he thought of Giselle, the neurotic mother he’d estranged; of Tia Claudia and his six cousins and their modest townhouse in Brasilia; of Nehemiah, his pet bearded dragon who scuttled around his glass terrarium in pursuit of crickets. Were they already dead? And if not, was there any hope of saving them from imminent demise? Caio’s throat tightened the way that it might when he dearly craved a cigarette. He was glad for the interruption, for it warded off his rising panic.
A high-pitched, petulant exclamation like a small child baying for ice cream shattered the silence. Everyone’s heads whipped in unison toward the center of the grid of cells, where Bai Yuan Yue, the vampire, was held. She had her head thrown back as she announced the terms of her service, as if the cry for more had originated from the very bottom of her soul. If vampires even had those. Ninety-nine percent? Caio thought, admiring the girl’s spunk but knowing she’d be a fool to honestly expect that. Maybe the warden would meet them halfway at fifty percent, and that would be a stretch. Caio got the impression that the warden wasn’t one for making compromises, especially with those she considered beneath her. So, everyone, more or less.
Knowing that Bai Yuan Yue’s brazen bargaining would open the floodgates for everyone else to do the same, Caio spoke while he still had half a chance of being heard. “Negotiating rewards is pointless if we’re given an impossible task,” he said coolly. The Warden’s eyes jumped to him like black lightning, and Caio lifted his chin, holding her gaze. “Essentially, ma’am, you’re asking us to fight off an army of Supermans, right? Sons of bitches who can shoot lasers out of their eyes, lift cars in one hand, and fly faster than most jet planes. If so, I’mma need you to explain something to me.” The ocean of eyes had swiveled from Yue to Caio, and he did his best not to wither under its scrutiny. He hated attention, especially that of metahuman entities who could probably smash him to a pulp without lifting a figure. Perhaps that was ironic for someone who used to be famous. “How do you expect us to kill these Kryptonians? I mean, clearly you wouldn’t be appealing to us if you still had other lines of defense. The military, NATO, homeland security, the Justice League, cults of secret assassins who have been killing since they were big enough to hold a weapon. How do you expect us to succeed where more… professional individuals have failed?”
Jigajig
Senior Member
Levina
Location: Belle Reve Debriefing Room
Interactions: N/A
Location: Belle Reve Debriefing Room
Interactions: N/A
Levina stood still, her watchful gaze casting over the inmates that had been gatherd within the debriefing room. An imposing figure she stood tall, hands clasped behind her as the Warden finally made her apperance. As soon as she entered the room, Levina was there stood by her side, about a foot away from her to the left. All the inmates were contained within their cells of course but Levina knew how dangerous each and every one of them was. She would not take any risks when it came to the wellbeing of the warden or indeed her fellow guards. Her eyes flitted between each individual inside the room, her gaze lingering on each and every one of them for a good ten seconds before moving onto the next. The faintest of sighs esccaped her lips when some of the inmates "acted" up somewhat however she stood firm like a statue. Even when a blinding light filled the room she stood close to the Warden, her eyes lingering upon Shine, she stood there unmoving.
When the wall behind her sprung into life, it was only then she allowed herself to glance at the screen, her eyes fixating on the images that were displayed. Total and utter destruction.. “Kryptonians have descended upon Earth.” Those five words sent a chill down the spine of Levina. She had a "friendly" sparring match with a Kryptonian, Clark Kent AKA Superman a few years back. He had been a... formidable sparring partner.. and he was just one man. If an army of Kryptonians as here.. A frown slowly creased upon her brow as thoughts ran through her mind. Already her mind was racing on how to stop the oncoming slaughter.
Levina was herself in all practicality a God. She had lived many lifetimes and had come across many a powerful foe. Now she was facing an army of them.. An unstoppable force VS a unmoveable object. Even though it was truly daunting task, one that would would make any sane person blanch in fear Levina did something unthinkable... she smiled.. She couldn't help herself. A small smile spread upon her lips as the thrill of facing powerful foes entered her mind. She had longed for a worthy adversary and now she had one. Well more than one, a whole freaking army of them.. and so therein lay an interesting question. How much Kryptonite did they have.... and would her suit need some "adjustments"
Her train of thought however was suddenly broken by a voice. The vampire, Bai Yuan Yue spoke up, making demands? Blood... Ninety Nine percent?! Levina took two steps forward now standing right next to the Warden, her eyes gazing down at Bai Yuan Yue. She did not need to say anything. Her mere demenour, aura, presence radiated her mood. Levina of course would say nothing, letting the Warden answer, for she was the one who held these people's lives in her palms. If the Warden allowed it then it would be done naturally and if not well.
Levina's gaze shifted just as quickly when another inmate spoke up. Caio McCarthy AKA Whiplash. He rose valid points. Ones that Levina could answer but she held back, to see if the Warden would take that call. Her hands still clasped behind her back her eyes flitted between the two.
Gears
Slowly, No Rapidly Going Insane
Eddie Gears
Eddie crouched on the roof of a warehouse in Gotham City, fiddling with the controls of his rifle before taking a drink from his flask. Due to his inability to consume or interact with water, he was forced to drink a lab made substitute, changed down to the atoms so he could survive drinking it. It was considerably difficult to live when water burned, but he found ways, using dehydrated food and testing everything he interacted with. Just one drop could either cause immense pain or sometimes worse.
After stowing the bottle and affixing his mask, Eddie raised his rifle, viewing his target through the scope. A minor criminal, but he had caused some trouble recently. He could end it now, put a bullet between his eyes and a few of the hired guns that where watching the transport of the shipment of narcotics. He had a clear shot, perfect conditions and his modified bullets wouldn’t be affected by the minor wind. After a second, he quickly pulled the trigger.
His body was thrown back with the impact, the guards panicking as they went to their wounded leader. He had missed, a defective bullet likely. He sighed and slid the rifle through a portal he kept nearby for a quick escape, selecting a custom rifle, it hadn’t been tested but he was confident in his own work.
He quickly jumped down to the ground, firing at the nearest guard before ducking behind cover as the hired guns returned fire. He waited a moment, quickly opening a small window behind the guards. It took a second to figure out, but he could theoretically use this odd point of view to try and take them out, pointing his rifle out of the side and firing at an advancing enemy, missing when he realized his perception was flipped.
It was already too late, bullets spraying past him as he dove behind his safety, now exposed to the other four men. He fired at the nearest one, quickly making a stable portal between him And the others, the glass like surface cracking against the force of bullets before shattering, shards of a window into a random location falling to the ground as Eddie felt a bullet hit his jacket, though luckily caught in the Kevlar he wore. He couldn’t take more, so this would have to be quick, reaching for another mag, but with his abilities drained, he couldn’t reload his rifle, throwing it aside as he ran behind the shipping container.
The bullets stopped once he ran behind it, reloading the cargo was precious enough for the men to cease fire, meaning either they wanted the contents for themselves or there was a higher up, going against his intel.
He quickly fumbled with the latch, hearing the guards call out before he slammed it shut, locking it from the inside. He pulled a flashlight from his bag, searching the contents. There where narcotics and firearms of course, something he was half for as he grabbed a pistol and some ammo, but he paused when he saw what was in the back.
Plugged into several portable generators, was a human stasis pod, the vague shape of a humanoid inside. He knew this crime syndic had been experimenting on missing persons for some time, perhaps it wasn’t too late to stop the horrible experiments.
Eddie opened the door, finding a woman, still frozen from the effects of the freezer, but was dismayed to see the horrific cybernetic implants that her tormentors had installed, more machine than human. After a second, Eddie sighed and lifted the pistol to her head.
He had seen what the implants did to people, twisting their minds and leaving a shell of what once was, this was a mercy. Still, a part of him felt merciful toward whoever this once was, before she was turned into this.
Around thirty minutes later, Eddie walked into the room, dismayed to see blood on his uniform before he affixed his mask. He had considered skipping the meeting, but after eliminating his target he had nothing better to do, being sure his suit was secure before sitting down, not even wanting to excuse himself for being late.
Gears
Slowly, No Rapidly Going Insane
Wraith
Wraith sat in one corner of his cell, feeling the hard cot that was given for him to sleep. He didn’t need sleep, or the food they had tried to give him when he first arrived, or even the psychiatrist they insisted he interview. The room was constantly flooded with light, with his abilities linked to the shadows. He didn’t do much in his cell, just planning and pacing.
The fools that had incarcerated him didn’t expect a thing, allowing him to gather information on both the outside world and those who inhabited the prison. His system was simple, using one prisoners ability to disrupt electrical fields in order to receive any news gained by a telepath, along with sending any questions on the last update. This system worked, with his daily psychological evaluations and any other times he was moved. The imbeciles had spent a while to try and figure out the sudden absence of light, few able to even notice the slight millisecond, but that was all he needed to get a small note with all of the latest information written in small print.
This time was different, nothing new was going on, and extra guards had arrived. Usually two escorted him to his sessions with Doctor Greene. This time, seven guards arrived, one carrying the infuriating device they had created to keep him from escaping, a mobile spotlight that made his rotting skin crawl, shrinking away at the sight of it, even if it wasn’t turned on. Each guard had the usual equipment: a rifle, a flashlight, and Nine-Bangers. They immediately cuffed his hands, before leading him forward, the searchlight toting guard taking up the back while two where in front and behind him.
As he walked, he passed a trolley, another two guards making sure the intern who pushed it didn’t stop. Wraith stopped as he felt a familiar feeling, grinning as he stared at the covered trolly. His weapons and uniform were likely in there, he could already feel them. His blade, a weapon with an origin even he didn’t know, though it was clearly a medieval period longsword, based on his research.
Along with it was his revolvers, a gift from his previous master- their aim true. He thought as he followed the guards orders to proceed, before remembering a rumor he had heard- something about prisoners being used for the more dangerous missions that so-called heroes wouldn’t or couldn’t go to.
He was leaving this hell hole, even if it was for a day- he would find a way to avoid returning.
Sanctuaryforall1
Pyrrha Nikos Lives On
Sidon
code by Stardust Galaxy
Gears
Slowly, No Rapidly Going Insane
Nicole Bolshevik
Nicole Bolshevik, or Chemical as she went by day one side of the double cell, staring at the window as the security camera passed, before quickly reaching under the cot, between the mattress until she found the random assortment of objects.
“You know that’s not gonna work Nic.” Natalia said while lying on top of the second bunk, closely monitoring the guards movement. “Like you don’t plan our escape, besides- with those stupid cuffs they put on you we need to get a bit more creative.” Nicole said, referring to the manacles the encompassed Natalia’s hands, keeping her from turning the walls into an explosive able to be triggered by a snap of her fingers or sending their cots through the door at breakneck speeds. She ignored her sister as she began mixing the objects, taking in the odd textures and smells that they gave off.
While Natalia had a more powerful form of alchemy, not needing potions for the few reactions she could force, Nicole had both the freedom of a limitless amount of concoctions to create and the ability to substitute any ingredients she was missing.
She had gathered several seemingly useless objects over time, using her limited abilities to prepare one of her favorite solutions, an explosive liquid that could allow their escape. She had substituted some of the plaster she had carved from the wall for gunpowder, adding a paper clip instead of the usual iron shell that would envelop the mixture to create an effective grenade, just needing a heat source- having grabbed a bit of ash. She had never stretched her abilities this far, usually substituting one minor ingredient, not all of them, including the base object and tools.
“Shit, two guards on their way- something’s up, they never come by here around here.” Natalia said as she jumped down and helped Nicole hide the objects, making sure they were properly concealed before the guards arrived. “Morning gents, any chance the courts have finally decided to repeal our sentence?” Nicole said as she leaned on the glass, smirking. She recognized one of the guards, a hard bastard, but she could tell the other was new- perfect.
“To the back of the cell, face the wall and don’t try anything Nic.” The guard said, Natalia obediently following the order, even though she was already cuffed. As per her psychiatrists request, she was able to wear her mask, but whenever she was moved or returned to the cell, it was inspected in case any contraband had been concealed.
She removed the mask, carelessly handing it to the new guard, chuckling a bit when he almost dropped it while the other made sure her restraints where in place, acting more like gloves than actual cuffs, the thin layer of alloys enough to stop her from using her ability. She watched him carefully disassemble the helmet and search for any oddities before reassemble and return the helmet, Natalia not saying a thing, meanwhile her sister continued to drone on while asking the guard where they where going.
“Line up, and no more questions. I would rather my job instead of satiating your curiosity.” The guard plainly said before escorting the pair through the halls. Natalia passed through the complex silently, her sister continued asking questions and being a general nuisance, not even noticing as the rest of their belongings where carted past them. Natalia didn’t stop her pace as they passed the collection of objects, unsure if this meant they were going to be executed or something else.
BuggaBoo
Skull💀Duggery~!!
PART 1
The sound of her heart was that of an undending machinegun firing away. Her breath was shallow and shakey but Agent Delta marched ahead of her entourage, chin lowered and undeterred by anything that dared to bar her from reaching her destination. Behind her several of her VPAs pushed and flanked a large orange flatbed trolly with several blipping metal crates stacked one upon the other in neat, crisp edged columns.
The only time she had paused was when she spied the EMTs wheeling the stretcher down the hallways with her blue-headed friend lying upon it. Simple curt questions she had asked, answers re-affirmed by Pixie and the Trainee. Before letting the EMTs continue on into Infirmary, she briefly went over the cargo in the metal crates with Pixie. When done, she had taken a deep breath and finally regained her composure.
One last heartbeat she paused. Agent D lowered down at the side of the stretcher, placed a gloved hand onto Shine's hand and squeezed. A small prayer she had mouthed from behind her masked helm then she let go.
The fervish march resumed.
"Alright. All VPAs stop, drop and Listen up. Team, this is Agent Delta on the comms. We are so tight on the DL right now the Warden could only hope to smell the stank from your ass as we continue up in here. So let me be clear. What I'm about to tell you is absolute truth. I would not make this up nor lie about it.
"As all of you know, it has come down the pipe that rumours of full scale invasion have been all but confirmed. No jokes. We will soon be moving status to the equivalent of DEFCON 1. The endtimes war is upon us. We are at the gates of Hell and we are going to shut them tight. All lockdown procedures in FULL will be in effect on the Warden's go.
"That means no ins and outs. ZERO. Get this into your skulls; full lockdown means locked up in the Jungle with all the Savage Beasts at their mental and emotional limits. And no one wants to be locked up and just sit there in a cage, trapped and feeling like all that's left to do is just wait and die.
It's coming for us. All of us. That feeling is going to include all you yahoos. Believe that.
We all come from trash backgrounds and we all have our reasons for trying to be better than we were before; better so that we can leave the BS behind and lead a better life. We all take responsibility for that BS and that's honourable. I'm not taking that away from you. I'm proud of you and I know all the ish you've taken to just be here. You've never stopped believing in yourself. And neither have I. Listen, from the bottom of this wretched black heart; I am sooooooo godamn'd proud and grateful you served your best under me.
"That said... Now it's time to disappoint me. And its okay if you do. I get it. Believe that.
"Listen up, if lockdown is getting your panties in a twist cuz you just shat yerself then get the eff outta my sight! NOW.
"Man, you come back here begging for entry I will put one hole in your heart and another in your head and kill you where you stand! But, yo, if you leave, think nothing less of you. I ain't mad. Just disappointed. Best of luck, bitches. You have a 120second window. Ready... Mark. Now GTFO and never look back.
"Those still here, I knew you was real Ones. Much respect and all love cuz we gonna go down altogether as it always been. We gonna be back-to-back, swinging and swearing, daring the goddamn'd devil himself to takes us down to Hell! Don't he know who we are?! That lyin' forked tongue bitch ain't nothin! Amirite?! NOTHIN!!!
"Now. All in, VPAs... sing it loud n' proud, for the last time just like the first time, you Cysts!!:
"As ONE We Will Overcome!!
"Hell, yeah. That's right. Now get yer skulls on right, stay icy and let's do what we do best.
"Agent Delta out."
Mr. Lion stood there, an apprehensive look upon his face as he glanced upward from one large flanking VPA to the other. The poor little fella couldn't tell if he was being guarded for his own safety or being guarded as if he was going to run away. He forced a smile and the pair of VPAs merely stood tall. A trio of VPAs including the diminutive Assist Lambda, 2nd in command to Agent D, held both their hands to their heads, chins down, listening intently.
Suddenly one of the VPAs beside Mr. Lion broke away from their post and bolted down the hallway, another right after them hot at their heels. If Anders did not know any better he could have sworn their were fleeing!
Two other VPAs jumped into action. They stood abreast facing the deserters; one powering up some kind of pink, crackling energy at their chest, another levelling a weapon that looked more like a rocket launcher than a rifle.
"HOLD FIRE!! J! K! Stand down, you two!" VPA Lambda cried as she leapt in between the pair. In mid-air the little, hooded VPA became a blur of motion, stretching and snarling. When she landed, she had been replaced. In her stead, upon all fours, stood a gigantic, growling 1001 pound tiger. The car sized cat blocked the pair of aggressive VPAs from their sights.
"I said quit it. I mean it! Now. Stand down, you two! Besides they have a good 90 seconds left anyways..."
Mr. Lion pressed up so hard against the wall one would think that he was part of the wall. Wiry hands trembled so badly, he could barely hold onto the tablet and the dossiers.
"As ONE We Will Overcome!!" cried out the VPAs in unison. Then the giant striped beast turned its head to the frail-looking legal liason, wild amber eyes glowering. It licked its chops. Anders shrieked.
"Easy now. No one gonna get shot, right? Heeeey... you okay, Mr. Lion...?"
The tiger sounded exactly like how he thought a majestic, giant predatory jungle cat would sound, if such a thing could talk. Wait. The tiger was talking.
"You are talking..." obviously, Mr. Lion stated the obvious. Amber eyes narrowed. Then the huge shaggy thing padded towards him; its face was legit at his chest height. And as if his body could shrink further into the wall, he attempted to shrink into it.
Its breath was hot and its voice reverberated in the hollows of his chest. "Of course, I'm talking. Hahahahah... Mr. Lion. It's me, goofy. Assistant L. I'm just shifted. Waaaait... you scared of me? Think I'll bite your face off or something...?"
A lone eyebrow raised over amber eyes, an almost human look of coyness glinting therein.
Lambda feigned snapping at Mr. Lion, "RAWR!"
Anders squealed like a pig, arms shooting straight up, sending papers and tablet flying like confetti. The remaining VPAs burst with laughter. The tiger laughed with them. And slowly but surely, Anders face regained colour and he began to laugh with them.
Then he did the unthinkable. He succumbed to impulse.
Lambda stopped laughing and found that the spot behind her ears was being scratched. Yeeeeeahhhh... that spot. Amber eyes narrowed, rolling upwards in absolute euphoric response.
Mr. Lion used both hands now to scratch behind each of the tiger's big triangle ears. The sound the tiger made was something not unlike purring. Soon enough, Lambda found her neck and hide being stroked gently and with great affection by multiple hands; the remaining VPAs had all succumbed to impulse and joined in. At first she felt weirded out. But she shook it off, relented and leaned into the strokes upon her huge stirped body. Then came the hugs. She got it. She understood.
This was sanity. It was.
Things were spinning out of control at breakneck speed. The world was being invaded by armies of Superman-type off-terrans. And yet, here they were, prisoners working as reformed sociopaths making sure the caged psychopaths would not take over the asylum. But no matter the side of the cage, they were all locked up here, conscripted into making a final stand vs. inevitable doom. It felt more like they were here in Belle Reve canned just like sardines, just waiting for the can-opener to find them and the owner of said can-opener to rip into them, rending them into nothing more but small bloody chunks of meat. Just the mere notion of the gravity of the situation could be enough to drive you crazy. I mean, they almost shot down their own friends dead on the spot for merely fleeing but merely countable heartbeats ago. So what else could you do to keep it together?
What else but find comfort and solace knowing that your last happy moment alive was that time in the concrete hallway when you knelt down in that scattered pile of white papers and hugged a tiger, stroking her fur as she purred, the thrum of her heartbeat pacing softly in time with yours. It made no sense, but neither did the world right now.
And so this was sanity. It was. Because it was what made it all for real.
Agent Delta arrived, took one look and stopped dead on the spot.
"Okaaaaay... What in the actual bestiality train are you pervs up to...? Alright, you touchy-feely yahoos. Enough... Get offa her."
One by one, they were all turning on her.
It wasn't enough that Null rushed over to that black-hair bitch's side but Void too?! Slowly, the lithe blonde wriggled in her seat then finally rose to get a better look. Increduity spread across her face like a wicked outbreak. They were picking that black-haired bitch up. Gently! As if that black-hair bitch was their tender loving child! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!! Did that black-haired bitch hug them back?! What the actual eff in the face was that? NO, her eyes were not deceiving her, cuz Null and Void basically coddled that black-haired bitch reassuringly as they strapped that black-haired bitch in nice and snug so that the black-haired bitch wouldn't fall and break that ugly face with a nose too big and cancerous freckles that that black-haired bitch never covered up with sunscreen nor foundation by expert advice from a sexy, beautiful and one-of-a-king impeccable skinned blonde social-media darling!!
When did Jamal or Amina ever do that for Victorine huh? When did they ever pick her up and hug her and make sure that poor, poor, lil' ol' Vixxi did not fall over all alone and break her immaculate and cover girl worthy face huh? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!! What the actual eff in the face?! Why are they there outside that black-haired bitch's cell standing like that? You ain't that black-haired bitch's Speckers and sure as hell you ain't that black-haired bitch's parents?! Why are you still helicoptering over that black-haired bitch and not hovering around meeeeeeee?!
It was all that black-haired bitch's fault. Blue eyes were trembling neath an infernal scowl, teeth clenched so tight even internal agony could not scream its way out. Both pale hands trembled as one washed the other; it was all she could do to keep it together. A lifetime ago, multiple media outlets had reported the explosion that wiped out the upper half of the Titan's tower was a direct terror attack by a suspected conglomerate of supervillains attempting to break the resolve of the superheroic team and their allies. What would those same media outlets report if an entire prison and its neigbouring buildings were nothing but ground zero for a nuclear weapon sized crater?
What did it matter anyways? A quick blue eyed glance at the seats immdieately around her told her everything. They were empty. They had all turned on her. They had all left her alone. Yeah, nuking this place was the best remedy alright. Easy. She would make the excuse to see upon Shine--
The thought of her bubbly little bluebell bestie was enough to give her pause and shelter within the eye of the churning death storm of rage tearing up everything inside her. And it was enough time for the presence of the Warden and her commanding voice to take over and smother the immediate thoughts of murderous red. For now.
Across the multiple giant OLED screens she watched with glee as the images confirmed her curiosity about the insane amounts of buzzing in her pocket. That rumbling rivalled the intensity of vibrations made by those things she hid deep within her underwear drawer. She even had to push the slider to mute everything; her phone would just not stop going off! But there in full 8k glory were the glorious images of it all coming down and all coming apart. Like avenging angels Kryptonians and their machines flooded the skylines descending upon the mortal sinners of earth. Vix could only hope that Texas got the worst of it and that Austin already had its heart ripped out, broken and begging for mercy. She would have to ring up some special folks, collect on some favours and find out just how badly Sector XTC had been hit. Undoubtedly the Kryptonians would have targeted such demonic and evil, child-breaking facilities and their wicked armaments and torture devices? Those answers would have to wait. For right now, she was reliving her moments a lifetime ago when she was on the other side of the cage, behind those red beams as a part of all of this... recruitment.
That's right. The lithe blonde with the 'Charming Assets' didn't start off as a Specker guard; a Specialty Case Agent in Belle Reve. No, she started off in Belle Reve just like them; she started off as a Counter Asset. Yes, that's right. Agent Nova Red kicked off her career here with a Ker-bloody-Splat-BOOM!!!
Victorine Lafontaine was the sole survivor of a Suicide Squad.
(*Giggles* echoing till it fades to black...)
Agent Delta and Her VPA Entourage
In the Hallways on the way to Debriefing...
The sound of her heart was that of an undending machinegun firing away. Her breath was shallow and shakey but Agent Delta marched ahead of her entourage, chin lowered and undeterred by anything that dared to bar her from reaching her destination. Behind her several of her VPAs pushed and flanked a large orange flatbed trolly with several blipping metal crates stacked one upon the other in neat, crisp edged columns.
The only time she had paused was when she spied the EMTs wheeling the stretcher down the hallways with her blue-headed friend lying upon it. Simple curt questions she had asked, answers re-affirmed by Pixie and the Trainee. Before letting the EMTs continue on into Infirmary, she briefly went over the cargo in the metal crates with Pixie. When done, she had taken a deep breath and finally regained her composure.
One last heartbeat she paused. Agent D lowered down at the side of the stretcher, placed a gloved hand onto Shine's hand and squeezed. A small prayer she had mouthed from behind her masked helm then she let go.
The fervish march resumed.
"Alright. All VPAs stop, drop and Listen up. Team, this is Agent Delta on the comms. We are so tight on the DL right now the Warden could only hope to smell the stank from your ass as we continue up in here. So let me be clear. What I'm about to tell you is absolute truth. I would not make this up nor lie about it.
"As all of you know, it has come down the pipe that rumours of full scale invasion have been all but confirmed. No jokes. We will soon be moving status to the equivalent of DEFCON 1. The endtimes war is upon us. We are at the gates of Hell and we are going to shut them tight. All lockdown procedures in FULL will be in effect on the Warden's go.
"That means no ins and outs. ZERO. Get this into your skulls; full lockdown means locked up in the Jungle with all the Savage Beasts at their mental and emotional limits. And no one wants to be locked up and just sit there in a cage, trapped and feeling like all that's left to do is just wait and die.
It's coming for us. All of us. That feeling is going to include all you yahoos. Believe that.
We all come from trash backgrounds and we all have our reasons for trying to be better than we were before; better so that we can leave the BS behind and lead a better life. We all take responsibility for that BS and that's honourable. I'm not taking that away from you. I'm proud of you and I know all the ish you've taken to just be here. You've never stopped believing in yourself. And neither have I. Listen, from the bottom of this wretched black heart; I am sooooooo godamn'd proud and grateful you served your best under me.
"That said... Now it's time to disappoint me. And its okay if you do. I get it. Believe that.
"Listen up, if lockdown is getting your panties in a twist cuz you just shat yerself then get the eff outta my sight! NOW.
"Man, you come back here begging for entry I will put one hole in your heart and another in your head and kill you where you stand! But, yo, if you leave, think nothing less of you. I ain't mad. Just disappointed. Best of luck, bitches. You have a 120second window. Ready... Mark. Now GTFO and never look back.
"Those still here, I knew you was real Ones. Much respect and all love cuz we gonna go down altogether as it always been. We gonna be back-to-back, swinging and swearing, daring the goddamn'd devil himself to takes us down to Hell! Don't he know who we are?! That lyin' forked tongue bitch ain't nothin! Amirite?! NOTHIN!!!
"Now. All in, VPAs... sing it loud n' proud, for the last time just like the first time, you Cysts!!:
"As ONE We Will Overcome!!
"Hell, yeah. That's right. Now get yer skulls on right, stay icy and let's do what we do best.
"Agent Delta out."
Mr. Lion, Assistant L and Even More VPAs.
Just outside the double doors to Debriefing...
Mr. Lion stood there, an apprehensive look upon his face as he glanced upward from one large flanking VPA to the other. The poor little fella couldn't tell if he was being guarded for his own safety or being guarded as if he was going to run away. He forced a smile and the pair of VPAs merely stood tall. A trio of VPAs including the diminutive Assist Lambda, 2nd in command to Agent D, held both their hands to their heads, chins down, listening intently.
Suddenly one of the VPAs beside Mr. Lion broke away from their post and bolted down the hallway, another right after them hot at their heels. If Anders did not know any better he could have sworn their were fleeing!
Two other VPAs jumped into action. They stood abreast facing the deserters; one powering up some kind of pink, crackling energy at their chest, another levelling a weapon that looked more like a rocket launcher than a rifle.
"HOLD FIRE!! J! K! Stand down, you two!" VPA Lambda cried as she leapt in between the pair. In mid-air the little, hooded VPA became a blur of motion, stretching and snarling. When she landed, she had been replaced. In her stead, upon all fours, stood a gigantic, growling 1001 pound tiger. The car sized cat blocked the pair of aggressive VPAs from their sights.
"I said quit it. I mean it! Now. Stand down, you two! Besides they have a good 90 seconds left anyways..."
Mr. Lion pressed up so hard against the wall one would think that he was part of the wall. Wiry hands trembled so badly, he could barely hold onto the tablet and the dossiers.
"As ONE We Will Overcome!!" cried out the VPAs in unison. Then the giant striped beast turned its head to the frail-looking legal liason, wild amber eyes glowering. It licked its chops. Anders shrieked.
"Easy now. No one gonna get shot, right? Heeeey... you okay, Mr. Lion...?"
The tiger sounded exactly like how he thought a majestic, giant predatory jungle cat would sound, if such a thing could talk. Wait. The tiger was talking.
"You are talking..." obviously, Mr. Lion stated the obvious. Amber eyes narrowed. Then the huge shaggy thing padded towards him; its face was legit at his chest height. And as if his body could shrink further into the wall, he attempted to shrink into it.
Its breath was hot and its voice reverberated in the hollows of his chest. "Of course, I'm talking. Hahahahah... Mr. Lion. It's me, goofy. Assistant L. I'm just shifted. Waaaait... you scared of me? Think I'll bite your face off or something...?"
A lone eyebrow raised over amber eyes, an almost human look of coyness glinting therein.
Lambda feigned snapping at Mr. Lion, "RAWR!"
Anders squealed like a pig, arms shooting straight up, sending papers and tablet flying like confetti. The remaining VPAs burst with laughter. The tiger laughed with them. And slowly but surely, Anders face regained colour and he began to laugh with them.
Then he did the unthinkable. He succumbed to impulse.
Lambda stopped laughing and found that the spot behind her ears was being scratched. Yeeeeeahhhh... that spot. Amber eyes narrowed, rolling upwards in absolute euphoric response.
Mr. Lion used both hands now to scratch behind each of the tiger's big triangle ears. The sound the tiger made was something not unlike purring. Soon enough, Lambda found her neck and hide being stroked gently and with great affection by multiple hands; the remaining VPAs had all succumbed to impulse and joined in. At first she felt weirded out. But she shook it off, relented and leaned into the strokes upon her huge stirped body. Then came the hugs. She got it. She understood.
This was sanity. It was.
Things were spinning out of control at breakneck speed. The world was being invaded by armies of Superman-type off-terrans. And yet, here they were, prisoners working as reformed sociopaths making sure the caged psychopaths would not take over the asylum. But no matter the side of the cage, they were all locked up here, conscripted into making a final stand vs. inevitable doom. It felt more like they were here in Belle Reve canned just like sardines, just waiting for the can-opener to find them and the owner of said can-opener to rip into them, rending them into nothing more but small bloody chunks of meat. Just the mere notion of the gravity of the situation could be enough to drive you crazy. I mean, they almost shot down their own friends dead on the spot for merely fleeing but merely countable heartbeats ago. So what else could you do to keep it together?
What else but find comfort and solace knowing that your last happy moment alive was that time in the concrete hallway when you knelt down in that scattered pile of white papers and hugged a tiger, stroking her fur as she purred, the thrum of her heartbeat pacing softly in time with yours. It made no sense, but neither did the world right now.
And so this was sanity. It was. Because it was what made it all for real.
Agent Delta arrived, took one look and stopped dead on the spot.
"Okaaaaay... What in the actual bestiality train are you pervs up to...? Alright, you touchy-feely yahoos. Enough... Get offa her."
Nova Red
Sitting at the giant oak table. Alone...
One by one, they were all turning on her.
It wasn't enough that Null rushed over to that black-hair bitch's side but Void too?! Slowly, the lithe blonde wriggled in her seat then finally rose to get a better look. Increduity spread across her face like a wicked outbreak. They were picking that black-haired bitch up. Gently! As if that black-hair bitch was their tender loving child! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!! Did that black-haired bitch hug them back?! What the actual eff in the face was that? NO, her eyes were not deceiving her, cuz Null and Void basically coddled that black-haired bitch reassuringly as they strapped that black-haired bitch in nice and snug so that the black-haired bitch wouldn't fall and break that ugly face with a nose too big and cancerous freckles that that black-haired bitch never covered up with sunscreen nor foundation by expert advice from a sexy, beautiful and one-of-a-king impeccable skinned blonde social-media darling!!
When did Jamal or Amina ever do that for Victorine huh? When did they ever pick her up and hug her and make sure that poor, poor, lil' ol' Vixxi did not fall over all alone and break her immaculate and cover girl worthy face huh? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!! What the actual eff in the face?! Why are they there outside that black-haired bitch's cell standing like that? You ain't that black-haired bitch's Speckers and sure as hell you ain't that black-haired bitch's parents?! Why are you still helicoptering over that black-haired bitch and not hovering around meeeeeeee?!
It was all that black-haired bitch's fault. Blue eyes were trembling neath an infernal scowl, teeth clenched so tight even internal agony could not scream its way out. Both pale hands trembled as one washed the other; it was all she could do to keep it together. A lifetime ago, multiple media outlets had reported the explosion that wiped out the upper half of the Titan's tower was a direct terror attack by a suspected conglomerate of supervillains attempting to break the resolve of the superheroic team and their allies. What would those same media outlets report if an entire prison and its neigbouring buildings were nothing but ground zero for a nuclear weapon sized crater?
What did it matter anyways? A quick blue eyed glance at the seats immdieately around her told her everything. They were empty. They had all turned on her. They had all left her alone. Yeah, nuking this place was the best remedy alright. Easy. She would make the excuse to see upon Shine--
The thought of her bubbly little bluebell bestie was enough to give her pause and shelter within the eye of the churning death storm of rage tearing up everything inside her. And it was enough time for the presence of the Warden and her commanding voice to take over and smother the immediate thoughts of murderous red. For now.
Across the multiple giant OLED screens she watched with glee as the images confirmed her curiosity about the insane amounts of buzzing in her pocket. That rumbling rivalled the intensity of vibrations made by those things she hid deep within her underwear drawer. She even had to push the slider to mute everything; her phone would just not stop going off! But there in full 8k glory were the glorious images of it all coming down and all coming apart. Like avenging angels Kryptonians and their machines flooded the skylines descending upon the mortal sinners of earth. Vix could only hope that Texas got the worst of it and that Austin already had its heart ripped out, broken and begging for mercy. She would have to ring up some special folks, collect on some favours and find out just how badly Sector XTC had been hit. Undoubtedly the Kryptonians would have targeted such demonic and evil, child-breaking facilities and their wicked armaments and torture devices? Those answers would have to wait. For right now, she was reliving her moments a lifetime ago when she was on the other side of the cage, behind those red beams as a part of all of this... recruitment.
That's right. The lithe blonde with the 'Charming Assets' didn't start off as a Specker guard; a Specialty Case Agent in Belle Reve. No, she started off in Belle Reve just like them; she started off as a Counter Asset. Yes, that's right. Agent Nova Red kicked off her career here with a Ker-bloody-Splat-BOOM!!!
Victorine Lafontaine was the sole survivor of a Suicide Squad.
(*Giggles* echoing till it fades to black...)
BuggaBoo
Skull💀Duggery~!!
PART 2
There were so many inmates in Debriefing that they actually outnumbered the guards in here. Well, that certainly changed the moment the Warden buzzed Mr. Lion, Agent D and her VPA team in to join them. Only a trio remained outside the doors to play hallway sentries.
Mr. Lion had regathered his previously scattered dossiers and his tablet from the hallway floor and now laid them neatly out upon the oak table and took a seat. 7 heavily armed and enhanced armoured VPAs spread out across the area where Hollows was presiding. As each marched into position, each bestowed a crisp and respectful salute to the dark haired enigmatic Warden. Executive VPAs; Assist L and Assist V flanked their team leader, Agent D. The trio stood in front of the giant oak table, orange trolley parked just off to the side. The three stood stolidly together, forward facing as they too saluted the Warden.
Yet through all the formalities, they gave no such respects nor even the least bit of acknowlegement to the newest edition to the Warden's hand picked roster; Maelstrom. Hell to the effin' no would they even consider her their 'Captain.'
Truth be told, Agent Delta had actually pushed for Sidon to get the nod as right hand to Warden. The hope was that Delta could have had some sway in that decision. Warden and the VPA lead once were contacts, allies even that put their necks on the line for each other as they traded secrets for their respective organizations during those time spent inside the wars in the shadows. Back then, Warden-- Neith, was CIA and Delta-- Turbulence was a high ranking HIVE operative. Funny how they found themselves aligned with similar interests yet again this time serving the same org. But that familiarity had not been enough to tip the scales to get ol' Manty Panties the position he rightfully deserved.
Yes, rallying for the literal old guard was encouraged by their leader, but still, all those VPAs under her vehemently supported Sidon and gave him their vote. But things had changed and Nika felt that Cersei had given into the pressure to make a political decision; it was best to have an adored superheroic off-terran as a familiar and well-loved 'face' for such an infamous establishment like BR.
I mean, who was this magical, water man called 'Manta Ray' compared to 'Maelstrom, Goddess of Valorium!!': a tall powerhouse, imposing figure and marketable alien with a suave persona and pleasant speaking mannerisms?
Well, for those that knew, he was the heart and soul of the SCA Core. Not particularly marketable yet more importantly, he was well respected by each and every single one of her VPAs not to mention most General Corrections Officers spoke well of him. Even that pedo-perv Gecko, Novak had to get off his high horse and take a knee... or else Delta and some of her super friends would have to crack his caps and make him kneel.
Unlike the SCAs, the VPAs job wasn't to be all peaceful and friendly like to maintain peace in the cage. No, they were here to be efficient and keep things in status quo-- as much as it could satisfy Cersei at any rate. Some even considered the VPA troupe to be Warden's leashed attack dogs. So no. Hell no, they did not have to pay lip service to, nor hide that they gave less than zero effs for the presence of Maelstrom.
And so when Renegade started running off at the mouth and the Thundering Beanstalk Off-terran did the equivalent of absolute diddly squat about it, Agent D took the chance to show her up.
A polite half-bow. "Warden Hollows, Agent D respectfully asks to have the floor...?"
A polite nod of acceptance. A devlish glint in her dark eyes and a smirk behind the masked helm.
"Yo. Bloodbag. You want somthing? Here. Catch." Delta held up a device and pressed a button. The shock itself should have been enough to loosen the vamps bowels and knock her down several pegs. If still not floored, Delta would hit the button again for the vamp to 'catch' another jolt of body searing pain. "Now be a good lil girl. Sit down, shut up and wait your turn."
She holstered the device and pointed a finger at the other inmate that ran their mouth. Oh, lucky, lucky him. This pasty wimp was one of Cersei's hand picked to get a secret hall pass right? Fine. She'd take it easy on him. Delta shadowboxed a pair of jabs in his direction. Small explosions sounded out and the loose-hanging orange cloth from his armpit would have twin penny-sized holes burned innocuously right thourgh it. But the accompanying shock wave would feel as if an angry gorilla jabbed their thumb deep into his ribs and armpit all at once.
Maybe a bruise but not even close to breaking the Warden's little chosen one Counter Asset toy. "Listen up, Numbie. You don't get to talk yet. Keep it in your pants. If you keep flapping your arrogance in Warden's face again, I blast you below the belt next... "
Once satisfied with the result, she turned to Lion, nodded and motioned for her 2nd and 3rd in command by her side. All 3 flanked Agent D as she began to open the first set of flashing, square metal crates.
"Mr. Lion, you have the floor," she announced as she and her VPAs gingerly pulled out the shiny, flashing contents out and laid them carefully onto the table.
"Ahem. Ja. Welcome and thank you all, including all inmates, for attending. I am Mr. Anders Lowe, Mr. Lion to some, and I am legal representation and liason for Belle Reve," the poor, poor man's face was devoid of colour and his voice was strained, high-pitched and crackling. There was even a shine of perspiration on his brow, "now if you direct your eyes to the table, you will see what look like metal circles. These are actually what Belle Reve calls 'Inmate Behaviourial Inhibitor and Conditioning Remote Monitor Devices.' Mouthful no? Let's just call them Inhibitors going forward, ja? Now. As you can see, most of you are wearing such devices around your necks.
"So then, upon agreement to participate as a Counter Asset in this time of crisis, you will wear these specialized Inhibitors to confirm that yes, you indeed have agreed to participate and agree to the terms laid out by Warden Cersei Hollows. As legal liason, I will be witness to each individual inmate's agreement denoted by the inmate accepting and wearing the inhibitor device. I will then be signing the legalities that will bind you to contract.
"So yes, you may so choose or not, but you will have a chance to voice concern. Yet please be reasonable.
"For now, you will be alotted two verbal instances. One statement. One question. That is all you get to interact with Warden at this juncture.
"Anything you stated or requested previously is not documented in any minutes nor a/v records. So going forward, once myself and the accompanying guards are at your cell, you may state one remark and and ask one question for the Warden to answer. Again it is not mandatory to voice concern...
"Once you accept the conditions to deal with this time of crisis, your cell will open, only then will you have the opportunity to voice concerns. Once done, you will be put into stasis. Your Inhibitor will then be placed around your neck and set into place. Do not try to remove it. Doing so voids all contractual protections allotted to you and BR representation will takes next steps necessary to deal with the situation on a case by case basis on the fly. Please also not that the Inhibitor will be fused into your spine and attempting to remove it without proper authority will result in a fatal detonation.
"More to come once we get past this preliminary agreement phase...
"We will start in a clockwise direction as soon as one last matter is taken care of.
"Agent Delta. Floor is yours."
By now, Mr. Lion was red in the face and beads of sweat would be wiped from his forehead by his handkerchief from his homeland. Wiry hands would be trembling but a small satisfied nod he would give himself. Assist L turned her masked visage to him and nodded a few times in approval. Anders could not help but sense a smile from behind the VPAs helmet and tried to hide his own smile and bright pink heating up his cheeks. .
"Thank you, Mr. Lion.
"Alright, settle down, settle down... All inmates at ease.
"Attention all SCAs; would you please make your way to your allotted Specialty Cases. We will be commencing soon so please first check up on your wards. Maybe they need you as an emotional support animal or maybe they just need another good zap. Please check upon them. As of now, we still need to make sure all inmates present understand the situation in full. Assistant Lambda, make your way to me now."
Yes, there was talk that the new 'Captain' could speak any language, but this was another chance to show up the good 'Captain' goddess. Delta and Lambda marched right in front of Maelstrom to get to Tamzin's cell.
"Hey, hey Pookie... how's a girl doin'? Can you help us with something please. I think you'll like this. See the albino off-Terran in the see through casket? Well, she's new. And she's just a baby, I been told. And she's really scared. Did you want to meet her?
We don't know her real name, but everyone has been calling her; 'Thumper'. Hahahah... yeah cuz she keeps kicking the casket walls and she like bunnies. Like 'Thumper' in that baby deer cartoon movie. We give her cookies but I don't know if that's what she eats.
So whaddya say, Pookie? Will you help us communicate what's happening to Thumper? Please?"
The diminutive Lambda nodded encouragingly and stepped forward, "You can share cookies with her too if ya like hahahahah. It's all good. Hi! I'm Assistant Lambda. So I can shift into a rabbit too...? If that helps but I mean… but that might be over promising things and kinda... I don't know... giving false expectations or lying to her? I don't know."
Agent D and Assist L bestowed a single affirming nod at each other. Both were actually being nice to the Morillian and asking politely. In fact, most if not all the guards liked the petit psychic energy-shifting alien. She was so low maintenance and always cheery despite her situation; some had even joked that they would even let her wander around without and inhibitor collar. And often a lot of lonely guards seemed to chat her up. Well it also helped that she was really easy on the eyes too.
The similar sized Lambda reached out a hand to loop around Tamzins arm, "So whaddya say? Will you help us? Please?"
If Pookie was willing, the VPA would bring the her over to make contact with Thumper, the new albino alien.
Nova watched as the VPAs invaded the room, hovering around the mysterious orange trolley with the blipping metal crates on them stack in crisp colomns.
Their presence was a welcome addition; the guards now outnumbered the inmates. Not that she felt threatened by the inmates, rather it just seemed a 'better look' to have this many in Debriefing like how cops swarmed a crime scene. For some reason, over populating the room with her people gave a sense that Moo-cowsei Warden actually was in control of the situation in a time of crisis.
Delta and Nova had history together from back when Victorine worked for LexCorp as a repo/collector type operative. But it was at work where Delta paid her back. Victorine's time as a Counter Asset needed to be scrubbed from the inmate populace and General Correctional Officers minds. So Agent D was set to task to have her goon squad stomp out all rumours and talk with extreme prejudice; there was a time when 'accidents' for both the Beasts and Geckos in BR were at an all time high. Whispers and murmurs did not need to get out and spread regarding how Victorine made it out as sole survivor of her batch of Counter Assets.
The blonde watched as Agent D and Mr. Lion did their thing and ran their mouths for what seemed like hours. Lion was nothing more than a mouthpiece and a blood sucking lawyer for Hollows. He really was deserved of his nick; PussyFur. What's it called when you are lower on the totem pole than a beta male? Oh yeah, irrelevant. This guy could shrivel up and die and the world wouldn't even bother with a shrug and just move on.
But the more and more she watched how self-important and scenery chewing Agent D became as she went along, the more and more she began to despise the VPA. So. She thinks that just because she is good friends with Nouvelle that she can just act as if poor lil' ol' Vixxi meant nothing to her after poor lil' ol' Vixxi save her loser merc as time and again back then?
Ohhhh... I just don't know her like how Nou-Nou knows her! Ohhhhh... I just don't know how sweet and funny she can be! Ooooohhhh... I just dont know how to have a good time around her so I'm not invited? Again.
So that how it is...? Nika was sneakily trying to steal Nouvelle away from her and replace her as Nouvelle's new bestie? Hah. Victorine is too smart to be fooled by the games Agent D was playing. Oh and now she's some kinda Warden favourite little girl? Why didn't poor lil' ol' Vixxi get that kinda attention from the Warden huh? Were they just all too jealous of her beauty, allure and charm that they had to do a smear campaign against her?
Oh, how right she was; they were all turning on her. One by one, they were going to leave her alone. All alone. And it all started when that black-haired bitch came back into her life. No, forced their way back into it. It was all that black-haired bitches fault!!
Oh, now would you look at that... Warden's favourite little girl was requesting-- no, demanding that all Specker's go see their Speccas as if Warden's favourite little girl had some kinda power over her. Power over Nova Red...? Over my dead body... or actually... over yours. Try it. See how much power you have over me. You just a single use rocket. I am a goddamn'd STAR. You should worship me like a Sun Goddess. And so you will kneel before me...
Victorine balled both hands into white knuckled fists. As if an angellic choir reached down from heaven only to sing for her, the sound of a musical off-terran voice burst her murderous bubble. Pookie was talking. And just like when she chatted up the alien ray of sunshine, her heart calmed and she was reminded of the joys of when Vixxi was little, piggy-tailed and barefoot; just little kids playing in the mud with her sister and brother, back when love meant love. When it was unconditional...
A slow closing of foolish blue eyes, a small sardonic laugh, a bit of a head flowing blonde shake. Then she continued on to her Specialty Case's cell. She cold shouldered Void and Null as she strode past Ahvelinas cell, pausing momentarily to see what had happened to Brazilian dead-mob boss's son. A smirk. She would bet money that this Numbie would the first to die out there. If she was in charge of this little suicide run, abso-positively would she force the squad to lose the dead weight.
That thought settled her even more and so she stifled a giggle and moved on to a beacon of light. If there was one person here who she knew to not turn on her, she could rely on Kenna. That was the hope.
"Now listen up, Bazzie... I don't need to hear no problems, okay, sucky-time face...?'' <<~Message begins. Thoughts on situation, not much time...~>>
Nova leaned in as far as she dared towards the pulsating red beams, "I can't help you make it out there in the world, so you best get in with some good friends. Figure it out..." <<~Do you need me to connect you with allies or contacts. List/Let me know... ~>>
Arms folded, she turned away and stared nonchalantly at the monitor above the Warden, "You better play nice too. Like I said; I can't help you. "
<<~Still on your side. List/Let me know what your plans are now... ~>>
No sooner had the lithe blonde finished her last remark, when Agent Delta initiated commencement of the prelim phase and moved as pack alpha, 2 VPAs in tow, Mr. PussyFur scuttling along in the rear, hands full with manilla folders and a tablet.
Nova could see the strategy. VPA X was there to use their time manipulation power to hold the inmate in stasis to keep them inplace while another would install the Inhibitor. And if it went south, the VPA could hold the inmate until they were dealt with. She wasn't too sure but she believed that they had a short window since VPA X's power was only stable in short bursts. VPA J was handling the collars. They were bio-electricity manipulators that would allow for the collar to be installed seamlessly into the inmates nervous system (Vixxi found their pink hued power emanations rather quaint and just toooooo cute). And if it went south, VPA J could stun the inmate as a back up means. Agent D was there just to provide and immediate and present danger and a strong arm for the inmate to comply.
She supposed that using Null and Void would be just as, if not more effective, but what Nova Red failed to realize was the reason for not involving the infamous duo. Warden Hollows was employing 'good cop/ bad cop' strategies.
The VPAs were tools that represented an oppressive force, over bearing and ovelording over the inmates. The SCAs were there as reps for BR, however, these would be the lesser of the two evils and perhaps a budding ground for Stockholm Syndrome. What better way to initiate comradery than to paint the one side that stays 'more evil' than the other side that will accompany them and work with them out there in the field despite power disparity? No sense in using a more effective Null and Void to do the bad cop dirty work when they would prove to be better served as good cop out there in the wild.
Besides most inmates knew that the VPAs hid their identities so as to not be outed as super-villains in a previous life. A lot of inmates saw this as breaking an unwritten code and others thought it was downright cowardly. Nova herself, she didn't care either way, the only good thing about VPAs was that she could use them to manipulate her status amongst the populace in the BR cage. Having Agent D indebted to her had worked like a charm. So far.
Blue eyes watched cooly, resting upon the collars that Assistant VPA J held. They clinked together, looped neatly around their armoured arms like some kind of chromed up blipping, bracelets and bangles meant for cyberpunk fashion week. One in particular she kept an eye on. It was the one meant for Ahvelina; it was the one with markings D1-D8 on it.
A single deep breath she took as the pack of VPAs and PussyFur stalked then surrounded the first cell of the first inmate to be initiated truly as a Counter Asset. The red beams sizzled out of existence. There was no barrier between them now.
Victorine Lafontaine exhaled, yet her heart still raced like wild horses stampeding towards the precipice. It was for real now. They were all stepping past the threshold and crossing the point of no return.
Agent Delta and Her VPA Entourage
Swarming the Floor In Debriefing...
There were so many inmates in Debriefing that they actually outnumbered the guards in here. Well, that certainly changed the moment the Warden buzzed Mr. Lion, Agent D and her VPA team in to join them. Only a trio remained outside the doors to play hallway sentries.
Mr. Lion had regathered his previously scattered dossiers and his tablet from the hallway floor and now laid them neatly out upon the oak table and took a seat. 7 heavily armed and enhanced armoured VPAs spread out across the area where Hollows was presiding. As each marched into position, each bestowed a crisp and respectful salute to the dark haired enigmatic Warden. Executive VPAs; Assist L and Assist V flanked their team leader, Agent D. The trio stood in front of the giant oak table, orange trolley parked just off to the side. The three stood stolidly together, forward facing as they too saluted the Warden.
Yet through all the formalities, they gave no such respects nor even the least bit of acknowlegement to the newest edition to the Warden's hand picked roster; Maelstrom. Hell to the effin' no would they even consider her their 'Captain.'
Truth be told, Agent Delta had actually pushed for Sidon to get the nod as right hand to Warden. The hope was that Delta could have had some sway in that decision. Warden and the VPA lead once were contacts, allies even that put their necks on the line for each other as they traded secrets for their respective organizations during those time spent inside the wars in the shadows. Back then, Warden-- Neith, was CIA and Delta-- Turbulence was a high ranking HIVE operative. Funny how they found themselves aligned with similar interests yet again this time serving the same org. But that familiarity had not been enough to tip the scales to get ol' Manty Panties the position he rightfully deserved.
Yes, rallying for the literal old guard was encouraged by their leader, but still, all those VPAs under her vehemently supported Sidon and gave him their vote. But things had changed and Nika felt that Cersei had given into the pressure to make a political decision; it was best to have an adored superheroic off-terran as a familiar and well-loved 'face' for such an infamous establishment like BR.
I mean, who was this magical, water man called 'Manta Ray' compared to 'Maelstrom, Goddess of Valorium!!': a tall powerhouse, imposing figure and marketable alien with a suave persona and pleasant speaking mannerisms?
Well, for those that knew, he was the heart and soul of the SCA Core. Not particularly marketable yet more importantly, he was well respected by each and every single one of her VPAs not to mention most General Corrections Officers spoke well of him. Even that pedo-perv Gecko, Novak had to get off his high horse and take a knee... or else Delta and some of her super friends would have to crack his caps and make him kneel.
Unlike the SCAs, the VPAs job wasn't to be all peaceful and friendly like to maintain peace in the cage. No, they were here to be efficient and keep things in status quo-- as much as it could satisfy Cersei at any rate. Some even considered the VPA troupe to be Warden's leashed attack dogs. So no. Hell no, they did not have to pay lip service to, nor hide that they gave less than zero effs for the presence of Maelstrom.
And so when Renegade started running off at the mouth and the Thundering Beanstalk Off-terran did the equivalent of absolute diddly squat about it, Agent D took the chance to show her up.
A polite half-bow. "Warden Hollows, Agent D respectfully asks to have the floor...?"
A polite nod of acceptance. A devlish glint in her dark eyes and a smirk behind the masked helm.
"Yo. Bloodbag. You want somthing? Here. Catch." Delta held up a device and pressed a button. The shock itself should have been enough to loosen the vamps bowels and knock her down several pegs. If still not floored, Delta would hit the button again for the vamp to 'catch' another jolt of body searing pain. "Now be a good lil girl. Sit down, shut up and wait your turn."
She holstered the device and pointed a finger at the other inmate that ran their mouth. Oh, lucky, lucky him. This pasty wimp was one of Cersei's hand picked to get a secret hall pass right? Fine. She'd take it easy on him. Delta shadowboxed a pair of jabs in his direction. Small explosions sounded out and the loose-hanging orange cloth from his armpit would have twin penny-sized holes burned innocuously right thourgh it. But the accompanying shock wave would feel as if an angry gorilla jabbed their thumb deep into his ribs and armpit all at once.
Maybe a bruise but not even close to breaking the Warden's little chosen one Counter Asset toy. "Listen up, Numbie. You don't get to talk yet. Keep it in your pants. If you keep flapping your arrogance in Warden's face again, I blast you below the belt next... "
Once satisfied with the result, she turned to Lion, nodded and motioned for her 2nd and 3rd in command by her side. All 3 flanked Agent D as she began to open the first set of flashing, square metal crates.
"Mr. Lion, you have the floor," she announced as she and her VPAs gingerly pulled out the shiny, flashing contents out and laid them carefully onto the table.
Mr. Lion
Leading the Talk in Debriefing Trying Not to Sweat...
"Ahem. Ja. Welcome and thank you all, including all inmates, for attending. I am Mr. Anders Lowe, Mr. Lion to some, and I am legal representation and liason for Belle Reve," the poor, poor man's face was devoid of colour and his voice was strained, high-pitched and crackling. There was even a shine of perspiration on his brow, "now if you direct your eyes to the table, you will see what look like metal circles. These are actually what Belle Reve calls 'Inmate Behaviourial Inhibitor and Conditioning Remote Monitor Devices.' Mouthful no? Let's just call them Inhibitors going forward, ja? Now. As you can see, most of you are wearing such devices around your necks.
"So then, upon agreement to participate as a Counter Asset in this time of crisis, you will wear these specialized Inhibitors to confirm that yes, you indeed have agreed to participate and agree to the terms laid out by Warden Cersei Hollows. As legal liason, I will be witness to each individual inmate's agreement denoted by the inmate accepting and wearing the inhibitor device. I will then be signing the legalities that will bind you to contract.
"So yes, you may so choose or not, but you will have a chance to voice concern. Yet please be reasonable.
"For now, you will be alotted two verbal instances. One statement. One question. That is all you get to interact with Warden at this juncture.
"Anything you stated or requested previously is not documented in any minutes nor a/v records. So going forward, once myself and the accompanying guards are at your cell, you may state one remark and and ask one question for the Warden to answer. Again it is not mandatory to voice concern...
"Once you accept the conditions to deal with this time of crisis, your cell will open, only then will you have the opportunity to voice concerns. Once done, you will be put into stasis. Your Inhibitor will then be placed around your neck and set into place. Do not try to remove it. Doing so voids all contractual protections allotted to you and BR representation will takes next steps necessary to deal with the situation on a case by case basis on the fly. Please also not that the Inhibitor will be fused into your spine and attempting to remove it without proper authority will result in a fatal detonation.
"More to come once we get past this preliminary agreement phase...
"We will start in a clockwise direction as soon as one last matter is taken care of.
"Agent Delta. Floor is yours."
By now, Mr. Lion was red in the face and beads of sweat would be wiped from his forehead by his handkerchief from his homeland. Wiry hands would be trembling but a small satisfied nod he would give himself. Assist L turned her masked visage to him and nodded a few times in approval. Anders could not help but sense a smile from behind the VPAs helmet and tried to hide his own smile and bright pink heating up his cheeks. .
Agent D, and Assistant L
Initiating First Contact Between 2 Off-Terran Species...
"Thank you, Mr. Lion.
"Alright, settle down, settle down... All inmates at ease.
"Attention all SCAs; would you please make your way to your allotted Specialty Cases. We will be commencing soon so please first check up on your wards. Maybe they need you as an emotional support animal or maybe they just need another good zap. Please check upon them. As of now, we still need to make sure all inmates present understand the situation in full. Assistant Lambda, make your way to me now."
Yes, there was talk that the new 'Captain' could speak any language, but this was another chance to show up the good 'Captain' goddess. Delta and Lambda marched right in front of Maelstrom to get to Tamzin's cell.
"Hey, hey Pookie... how's a girl doin'? Can you help us with something please. I think you'll like this. See the albino off-Terran in the see through casket? Well, she's new. And she's just a baby, I been told. And she's really scared. Did you want to meet her?
We don't know her real name, but everyone has been calling her; 'Thumper'. Hahahah... yeah cuz she keeps kicking the casket walls and she like bunnies. Like 'Thumper' in that baby deer cartoon movie. We give her cookies but I don't know if that's what she eats.
So whaddya say, Pookie? Will you help us communicate what's happening to Thumper? Please?"
The diminutive Lambda nodded encouragingly and stepped forward, "You can share cookies with her too if ya like hahahahah. It's all good. Hi! I'm Assistant Lambda. So I can shift into a rabbit too...? If that helps but I mean… but that might be over promising things and kinda... I don't know... giving false expectations or lying to her? I don't know."
Agent D and Assist L bestowed a single affirming nod at each other. Both were actually being nice to the Morillian and asking politely. In fact, most if not all the guards liked the petit psychic energy-shifting alien. She was so low maintenance and always cheery despite her situation; some had even joked that they would even let her wander around without and inhibitor collar. And often a lot of lonely guards seemed to chat her up. Well it also helped that she was really easy on the eyes too.
The similar sized Lambda reached out a hand to loop around Tamzins arm, "So whaddya say? Will you help us? Please?"
If Pookie was willing, the VPA would bring the her over to make contact with Thumper, the new albino alien.
Nova Red
Sitting at the giant oak table. Still Alone...
Nova watched as the VPAs invaded the room, hovering around the mysterious orange trolley with the blipping metal crates on them stack in crisp colomns.
Their presence was a welcome addition; the guards now outnumbered the inmates. Not that she felt threatened by the inmates, rather it just seemed a 'better look' to have this many in Debriefing like how cops swarmed a crime scene. For some reason, over populating the room with her people gave a sense that Moo-cowsei Warden actually was in control of the situation in a time of crisis.
Delta and Nova had history together from back when Victorine worked for LexCorp as a repo/collector type operative. But it was at work where Delta paid her back. Victorine's time as a Counter Asset needed to be scrubbed from the inmate populace and General Correctional Officers minds. So Agent D was set to task to have her goon squad stomp out all rumours and talk with extreme prejudice; there was a time when 'accidents' for both the Beasts and Geckos in BR were at an all time high. Whispers and murmurs did not need to get out and spread regarding how Victorine made it out as sole survivor of her batch of Counter Assets.
The blonde watched as Agent D and Mr. Lion did their thing and ran their mouths for what seemed like hours. Lion was nothing more than a mouthpiece and a blood sucking lawyer for Hollows. He really was deserved of his nick; PussyFur. What's it called when you are lower on the totem pole than a beta male? Oh yeah, irrelevant. This guy could shrivel up and die and the world wouldn't even bother with a shrug and just move on.
But the more and more she watched how self-important and scenery chewing Agent D became as she went along, the more and more she began to despise the VPA. So. She thinks that just because she is good friends with Nouvelle that she can just act as if poor lil' ol' Vixxi meant nothing to her after poor lil' ol' Vixxi save her loser merc as time and again back then?
Ohhhh... I just don't know her like how Nou-Nou knows her! Ohhhhh... I just don't know how sweet and funny she can be! Ooooohhhh... I just dont know how to have a good time around her so I'm not invited? Again.
So that how it is...? Nika was sneakily trying to steal Nouvelle away from her and replace her as Nouvelle's new bestie? Hah. Victorine is too smart to be fooled by the games Agent D was playing. Oh and now she's some kinda Warden favourite little girl? Why didn't poor lil' ol' Vixxi get that kinda attention from the Warden huh? Were they just all too jealous of her beauty, allure and charm that they had to do a smear campaign against her?
Oh, how right she was; they were all turning on her. One by one, they were going to leave her alone. All alone. And it all started when that black-haired bitch came back into her life. No, forced their way back into it. It was all that black-haired bitches fault!!
Oh, now would you look at that... Warden's favourite little girl was requesting-- no, demanding that all Specker's go see their Speccas as if Warden's favourite little girl had some kinda power over her. Power over Nova Red...? Over my dead body... or actually... over yours. Try it. See how much power you have over me. You just a single use rocket. I am a goddamn'd STAR. You should worship me like a Sun Goddess. And so you will kneel before me...
Victorine balled both hands into white knuckled fists. As if an angellic choir reached down from heaven only to sing for her, the sound of a musical off-terran voice burst her murderous bubble. Pookie was talking. And just like when she chatted up the alien ray of sunshine, her heart calmed and she was reminded of the joys of when Vixxi was little, piggy-tailed and barefoot; just little kids playing in the mud with her sister and brother, back when love meant love. When it was unconditional...
A slow closing of foolish blue eyes, a small sardonic laugh, a bit of a head flowing blonde shake. Then she continued on to her Specialty Case's cell. She cold shouldered Void and Null as she strode past Ahvelinas cell, pausing momentarily to see what had happened to Brazilian dead-mob boss's son. A smirk. She would bet money that this Numbie would the first to die out there. If she was in charge of this little suicide run, abso-positively would she force the squad to lose the dead weight.
That thought settled her even more and so she stifled a giggle and moved on to a beacon of light. If there was one person here who she knew to not turn on her, she could rely on Kenna. That was the hope.
"Now listen up, Bazzie... I don't need to hear no problems, okay, sucky-time face...?'' <<~Message begins. Thoughts on situation, not much time...~>>
Nova leaned in as far as she dared towards the pulsating red beams, "I can't help you make it out there in the world, so you best get in with some good friends. Figure it out..." <<~Do you need me to connect you with allies or contacts. List/Let me know... ~>>
Arms folded, she turned away and stared nonchalantly at the monitor above the Warden, "You better play nice too. Like I said; I can't help you. "
<<~Still on your side. List/Let me know what your plans are now... ~>>
No sooner had the lithe blonde finished her last remark, when Agent Delta initiated commencement of the prelim phase and moved as pack alpha, 2 VPAs in tow, Mr. PussyFur scuttling along in the rear, hands full with manilla folders and a tablet.
Nova could see the strategy. VPA X was there to use their time manipulation power to hold the inmate in stasis to keep them inplace while another would install the Inhibitor. And if it went south, the VPA could hold the inmate until they were dealt with. She wasn't too sure but she believed that they had a short window since VPA X's power was only stable in short bursts. VPA J was handling the collars. They were bio-electricity manipulators that would allow for the collar to be installed seamlessly into the inmates nervous system (Vixxi found their pink hued power emanations rather quaint and just toooooo cute). And if it went south, VPA J could stun the inmate as a back up means. Agent D was there just to provide and immediate and present danger and a strong arm for the inmate to comply.
She supposed that using Null and Void would be just as, if not more effective, but what Nova Red failed to realize was the reason for not involving the infamous duo. Warden Hollows was employing 'good cop/ bad cop' strategies.
The VPAs were tools that represented an oppressive force, over bearing and ovelording over the inmates. The SCAs were there as reps for BR, however, these would be the lesser of the two evils and perhaps a budding ground for Stockholm Syndrome. What better way to initiate comradery than to paint the one side that stays 'more evil' than the other side that will accompany them and work with them out there in the field despite power disparity? No sense in using a more effective Null and Void to do the bad cop dirty work when they would prove to be better served as good cop out there in the wild.
Besides most inmates knew that the VPAs hid their identities so as to not be outed as super-villains in a previous life. A lot of inmates saw this as breaking an unwritten code and others thought it was downright cowardly. Nova herself, she didn't care either way, the only good thing about VPAs was that she could use them to manipulate her status amongst the populace in the BR cage. Having Agent D indebted to her had worked like a charm. So far.
Blue eyes watched cooly, resting upon the collars that Assistant VPA J held. They clinked together, looped neatly around their armoured arms like some kind of chromed up blipping, bracelets and bangles meant for cyberpunk fashion week. One in particular she kept an eye on. It was the one meant for Ahvelina; it was the one with markings D1-D8 on it.
A single deep breath she took as the pack of VPAs and PussyFur stalked then surrounded the first cell of the first inmate to be initiated truly as a Counter Asset. The red beams sizzled out of existence. There was no barrier between them now.
Victorine Lafontaine exhaled, yet her heart still raced like wild horses stampeding towards the precipice. It was for real now. They were all stepping past the threshold and crossing the point of no return.
Ashy_OCdesigns
One Thousand Club
Keeley stood up, or at least, he crouched as to avoid hitting his head. He'd been looking at Yue with something resembling disbelief. His eyes said everything he didn't: are you insane? That's the dumbest thing I've seen before. Crossing a warden, no matter who was in charge, was a bad idea. If other people were making demands, he might as well too. He was lost in thought, trying to come up with a plan the Warden would agree to. However, he knew that they would still receive certain things in order to make the inmates docile. The thoughts played across his face, and some people might've wondered how he got away with scams when the thoughts on his face were currently clear as day. Well, that was easy,he stuck to what was technically or near the truth sometimes. Also, he could be a pretty good liar and the thoughts imprinted on his face applied mostly when he was thinking, or felt a very strong emotion.
He thought of it, and wondered if the Warden would agree. He looked at his friends for any support, and stated his request. "Excuse me,but I want one thing, and one thing only. Could you... potentially make the visits with Dr.Allister stop for all of us?" It was noted that Keeley didn't say pills, and that was because he didn't know if the Warden would say yes. He did state the second request more quietly, and then sat back down. He was still unsure if he wanted to say yes, though. Wait for his friends to say yes, if not the majority. Otherwise he was out. Also, the reason he had included everyone in his request: it wasn't hard to figure out that the man annoyed everyone, or at least, the inmates.
More guards trooped in, and until then, Keeley hadn't realized that the inmates outnumbered the guards, and now the numbers were switched. Most of them he had no clue who they were, including the guy who made a speech. Said speech was about the repercussions of joining the mission. Besides, legal representation, seriously? The slight annoyance increased when the neck thingies were brought out. He wondered what this insurance would do, and he didn't go to quite at ease. In fact, in spite of his previous thoughts, he didn't enjoy seeing the vampire, who had made long demands, get shocked. Almost no inmate, Keeley thought, should suffer. Especially when some people were worse both here and in the outside world. He leaned his head back, although not enough to put it against the cell walls. He didn't even know if the walls would shock him.
Keeley had another thought as well, what about the prison's defense? That would push Keeley towards joining the mission. He might have been on the fence now, but Bella Reve was like a shack: miserable living conditions, but it was as close to home as you were gonna get for awhile. You might as well defend it, or you wouldn't have a home at all, and that would suck. He didn't say much more, though, but just listened.
He thought of it, and wondered if the Warden would agree. He looked at his friends for any support, and stated his request. "Excuse me,but I want one thing, and one thing only. Could you... potentially make the visits with Dr.Allister stop for all of us?" It was noted that Keeley didn't say pills, and that was because he didn't know if the Warden would say yes. He did state the second request more quietly, and then sat back down. He was still unsure if he wanted to say yes, though. Wait for his friends to say yes, if not the majority. Otherwise he was out. Also, the reason he had included everyone in his request: it wasn't hard to figure out that the man annoyed everyone, or at least, the inmates.
More guards trooped in, and until then, Keeley hadn't realized that the inmates outnumbered the guards, and now the numbers were switched. Most of them he had no clue who they were, including the guy who made a speech. Said speech was about the repercussions of joining the mission. Besides, legal representation, seriously? The slight annoyance increased when the neck thingies were brought out. He wondered what this insurance would do, and he didn't go to quite at ease. In fact, in spite of his previous thoughts, he didn't enjoy seeing the vampire, who had made long demands, get shocked. Almost no inmate, Keeley thought, should suffer. Especially when some people were worse both here and in the outside world. He leaned his head back, although not enough to put it against the cell walls. He didn't even know if the walls would shock him.
Keeley had another thought as well, what about the prison's defense? That would push Keeley towards joining the mission. He might have been on the fence now, but Bella Reve was like a shack: miserable living conditions, but it was as close to home as you were gonna get for awhile. You might as well defend it, or you wouldn't have a home at all, and that would suck. He didn't say much more, though, but just listened.
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Gears
Slowly, No Rapidly Going Insane
Nicole Bolshevik
Nicole listened carefully, turning to Natalia for her opinion on the matter. The pair never did anything without the other, a bit of a rule they had. Natalia shrugged, obviously deep in thought. Nicole was about to speak when her sister glared at her, knowing where this was going. “So what exactly are we getting out of this- me and my sis are already here on a life sentence- and making us work with him should account for something.” Nicole said, ignoring her sister as she rolled her eyes.
She gestured toward Mania, having recognized the uniform he always wore, though she could see a few modifications. Mania had managed to capture the pair during one of their biggest heists, the theft of an entire museums riches. They had nearly got away, dousing the asshole in her modified fear toxin. That part confused her, she had made a strong batch, trapping him in a glass box full of the stuff for hours. He would be in a padded cell from Scarecrows formula- and she didn’t make mistakes. She may ask him later, genuinely curious.
“I’d like some reassurances, mostly that he won’t put me in the dirt and that this will be worth our time- alchemists are hard to find after all.” She said, eyeing him for a reaction, but the mask betrayed nothing. She wondered who he was, she knew he was as mad as a hatter, but could somehow keep it together enough to keep this gig.
Wraith
Had it really been that long? Wraith had expected one of the countless inhuman life forms to invade this hellhole, but kryptonians were an issue. Wraith knew that these were a threat, even to him. Most of the time, Wraith would try and join forces with the winning forces, offer his knowledge and advice for the opposing party, but kryptonians are hard to negotiate with. Wraith had no way to get on their good side at least for now. “Might as well.” He muttered. “I doubt your device will kill me, but I believe I have no choice- count me in.”
Natalia Bolshevik
Natalia sighed as she heard her sister talk, already afraid her demands may have ruined the opportunity to potentially escape. Natalia cut off her sister. “Apologies for my sister, but she does bring a good point. One of your guards has a history with us, and how do we know he won’t leave us high and dry the second we are done dealing with your problems.” She said, staring at the glass in her cell. The material was plated, but if she got her hands free she could easily get through it with a bit of molecular manipulation, maybe making it more malleable.
Like her sister, Natalia took note of their archenemies appearance, deciding to find out later. She knew him being along would be an issue, with him knowing the pairs tricks and strategies, likely an ability. She had seen him fight and saw elements from various heroes and villains, wondering if she could use that to her advantage.
Gears
Slowly, No Rapidly Going Insane
Private Joseph Pershing
This shit was supposed to be easy work- Intel said they had no idea we where coming…
Joe stared through the window, watching the landscape pass by the aircraft as they flew toward the rendezvous point. Two other teams and the land surveyors would arrive, the plane would take out their exhausted troops and leave Joseph and the rest of Rangers Team Delta-21, or Desert Rats as most of the others called them. The team were primarily surveying and scouting operators, and with the pending invasion, everything would need to be noted, no variables left out of the equation when the main team arrived.
The twenty-six team of rangers spread out on the AC-130, or Linda as Clint, their pilot called her. Clint was the regular pilot, one of the best. The speakers Clint had installed crackled for a moment before his voice came through. “This is your captain speaking, we are almost at the airfield- anyone ready to kick some alien ass? If not, we have some parachutes next to the Abraham’s the commander made me bring along.” Joseph tensed, hearing something out here. Sitting next to him was his Ex, Kate. They had broke up recently, but due to the fact that they were on the same team they decided to be friendly.
“Relax Joe, just some turbulence.” She teased, leaning back in her seat after she was satisfied with mocking his fear of heights. Joe didn’t care, he was fine with staring out the window and pretending he was in the outskirts of the city, a place more similar to his old home than the metropolis that was beginning to overtake the landscape, he wasn’t a fan of the name but at least they where generally safe inside the aircraft. He trusted Clint to get them there in one piece. “You really think thems is like that Superman?” Rook said grimly. “Don’t know what they would want with a tank- those things will tear right-“
Disaster usually took place in a matter of second, maybe minutes- sometimes it had a time stamp. A timed bomb, intercepted enemy orders- these things could be anticipated, people could prepare for this- send in the bomb squad, spring a trap. Usually one could see these things coming- a feeling in the air or some detail buried in the mission report. A Kryptonian laser pierced through the side of Linda, the concentrated energy glowing green as it went through Rook. Joe shielded his eyes from the blast, the roar of air and smell of smoke overwhelming his sensors. The heat instantly cauterized the wound, so at least there wasn’t too much gore. Most of the blood had sprayed his armor, making him glad that he was wearing his mask.
Joe took a breath as the rest of the crew panicked, not hearing his CO, Clarrise yell something at him. He could tell he wasn’t wounded that bad, likely sharapnel. Poor Rook, hopefully he hadn’t felt any pain. The shock wore off after a second. Rambo and Wire were trying to prep the chutes on the tank and detach it. Garcia and Richard’s had barely managed to get the doors opened. He could tell Rook wasn’t the only one dead or dying, a few others had been hit by energy weapons, some fell- hopefully they had their chutes on.
Joseph got to his feet, picking up his rifle and bag before stumbling toward the doors. Everything was still a bit quiet, he could hear a ringing. He wasn’t a medic, but he could tell something was wrong. “Joe- what the hell are you doing, this bird is going down; We. Need. To. Leave.” Kate said before shoving the chute into his arms. Joe performed on autopilot, barely acknowledging the chaos as the plane started to fall. Once he was satisfied he stepped toward the doors. He covered his eyes as the sun blinded him. Two alien craft hovered alongside the craft, firing smaller weapons on it. He could hear more men fall with grunts and screams- he and Kate where the last ones on board. “Joe- we need to leave, I don’t know if some Kryptonian shit is fucking with your mind- but we have to go.”
Joe nodded, stepping on the edge along with Kate. “In three- One, Two, Thr-“ Kate was cut off when another of those concentrated lasers struck the underbelly- Alien bastard saw this as sport, firing on the doomed men. Joe panicked as he fell out of the aircraft, not seeing where Kate was. The Tank had made it out, but the problem was that it was hurtling towards him, the chute was stuck, along with his. Joe struggled with the chute as it fell closer, the desert camo they hadn’t gotten a chance to paint over getting clearer with detail. After a second, Joe tugged on the chute and he was suddenly lifted a few feet up, just enough that he was safe from being crushed. A sudden shot shook him from his feeling of safety, the parachutes drag was too much, if the Kryptonians were a decent enough shot they could easily turn him to dust.
Joseph couldn’t sever the chute, being smashed into the pavement below wouldn’t be much better. Joseph tried to think of anything, his rifle couldn’t do anything to the space craft, but maybe the tank could. Joe didn’t have much experience, but he was desperate. Joe tried to increase his drag, feeling the heat of a laser, they were getting closer. Joseph managed to reach the roof after a few attempts, fumbling with the hatch for a second before piling into the cockpit. Now he was a bigger target so he wouldn’t have much time. He loaded the shell into the barrel before heading to the controls. He could see green every begun to emit from the spacecrafts cannons, uttering a silent prayer before firing.
If there was a god, he was in a good mood- the missile tore through the craft, dispersing energy around the crash as debris fell into the streets. Joe leaned back after a second, he could still hear the rushing air as gravity pulled him closer to the ground. Joseph could just give up, his chances were little, but he had to get home. Joe opened the hatch, grabbing another chute before jumping. The other craft would hopefully concentrate on the tank, so he had a chance.
Ashy_OCdesigns
One Thousand Club
'How long must I wait here?' Nikto, or Zero as he was known to the black market, was standing in Bella Reve, waiting, with a multitude of crates behind him and holding one in his arms. His angular face was noticeably beaded with sweat, which was perfectly understandable, as the crate was quite heavy, especially if Nikto had been holding the crate continuously for quite some time. His arms were actually dying right now, his arms already red from Zero briefly considered dropping his merchandise if nobody showed up soon, but he resisted, as damaging merchandise was a bad idea. Instead, the man set down the box without a sound, and he began to pace. The Warden was never late, never, and yet she was keeping him waiting. That's why he wasn't as irritated as he could've been because the Warden was quite the reliable business partner. Even so, it was clear that something was keeping her, but what could it be. Even odder, there were usually more guards around than there were right now. He began to lug the boxes by himself, when some person he'd never seen before ran up to him. This person was young and looked like he'd been running for some time. The guard also looked quite confused, having never seen Nikto before, either. Still, the stranger helped Nikto move his crates, more out of the way of the main walkway, only to see that Nikto was moving in the opposite direction. Nikto had delivered supplies for quite some time now, not a guard, but not an inmate, either. He knew what to do by now.
"Where is the Warden?" He asks as he and the guard continue to move crates, as he still doesn't know her name. After all, she knows him as Zero, and they continue to call each other by codenames. However, Nikto cannot bring himself to cast off his old name, and so he keeps it. He finds moving crates go by much faster when people help him out, and the guard responds to his question as they finish moving the crates of various supplies Bella Reve might need.
"The debriefing room," The guard tells him, and Nikto gestures for the guard to lead the way. He's never been very far into the prison, but there's a first time for everything. The hallways all look the same, though: foreboding, and intimidating. He guessed the debriefing room was for the guards only, and for emergencies only, nothing else. He and the unnamed guard were making good pace, almost a slow jog. The message was clear: hurry it up, the meeting is important. As such, the trip down the hallway had turned into a jog, the singular die clacking in his clothes. Whenever people asked, Nikto made the excuse that the die was a family token ( outright lie) and he had it for a long time (the complete truth). Thankfully, the jog was ending, Nikto saw, and the door was ajar. He opened it, and there was the Warden, giving a presentation.
Nikto didn't shake the Warden's hand, as per normal, but instead tried to listen. Nikto was also glancing around the room, and to his surprise, there were a few people in cells of some sort, orange jumpsuits all around. His guess about the guards only room had been wrong, inaccurate. Oddly for a presentation, the speaker was silent, gazing cooly at the occupants in the room, particularly at a few of them. He wondered if they had made unreasonable deals, pissed her off, and/or just was not in a great mood and these three made it worse. Especially the inmate who some were looking at with a look of exasperation.
"Excuse me," He ventured. "But could someone explain what is happening to me?" Nikto needed to know if he could be useful or not, even as he looked at the pictures. There was destruction in each and every one of them. He also noted another man, especially the collars in his hands. The inmates were eying said collars with: A)Fear. B) Annoyance. C)All of the above. As of now, Nikto was option B, as well as confused and a little apprehensive.Something very big was going on, and he had waltzed right into it.
"Where is the Warden?" He asks as he and the guard continue to move crates, as he still doesn't know her name. After all, she knows him as Zero, and they continue to call each other by codenames. However, Nikto cannot bring himself to cast off his old name, and so he keeps it. He finds moving crates go by much faster when people help him out, and the guard responds to his question as they finish moving the crates of various supplies Bella Reve might need.
"The debriefing room," The guard tells him, and Nikto gestures for the guard to lead the way. He's never been very far into the prison, but there's a first time for everything. The hallways all look the same, though: foreboding, and intimidating. He guessed the debriefing room was for the guards only, and for emergencies only, nothing else. He and the unnamed guard were making good pace, almost a slow jog. The message was clear: hurry it up, the meeting is important. As such, the trip down the hallway had turned into a jog, the singular die clacking in his clothes. Whenever people asked, Nikto made the excuse that the die was a family token ( outright lie) and he had it for a long time (the complete truth). Thankfully, the jog was ending, Nikto saw, and the door was ajar. He opened it, and there was the Warden, giving a presentation.
Nikto didn't shake the Warden's hand, as per normal, but instead tried to listen. Nikto was also glancing around the room, and to his surprise, there were a few people in cells of some sort, orange jumpsuits all around. His guess about the guards only room had been wrong, inaccurate. Oddly for a presentation, the speaker was silent, gazing cooly at the occupants in the room, particularly at a few of them. He wondered if they had made unreasonable deals, pissed her off, and/or just was not in a great mood and these three made it worse. Especially the inmate who some were looking at with a look of exasperation.
"Excuse me," He ventured. "But could someone explain what is happening to me?" Nikto needed to know if he could be useful or not, even as he looked at the pictures. There was destruction in each and every one of them. He also noted another man, especially the collars in his hands. The inmates were eying said collars with: A)Fear. B) Annoyance. C)All of the above. As of now, Nikto was option B, as well as confused and a little apprehensive.Something very big was going on, and he had waltzed right into it.
Aviator
are you laughing at my brother?
Caio McCarthy // “Whiplash” // Age 26 // Inmate // Getaway Driver // Brazilian-American
Caio had been trying to catch the Warden’s eye to decipher some flash of recognition, fondness, disdain. Anything to prove that their clandestine conversation in the plush velvet office had really happened and wasn’t a fever dream. A tremulous pause followed in the wake of his question, just as had been the case after the vampire said her piece. The Warden seemed to take a newfound interest in the thin gold chain she wore around her neck, rubbing it between her perfectly manicured thumb and forefinger, making it clear that she wouldn’t deign to answer either question. An imperious clearing of the throat, not from her. From the helmeted head of the black-clad retinue that had stormed the room. When asking if she could take the floor, Agent D’s voice took on a syrupy, saccharine quality, and Caio got the impression that she was batting long lashes beneath that opaque black visor.
Like a snake slipping from one skin into another, her demeanor shifted instantaneously as she rounded on the outspoken inmates, first Yuan Yue and then Caio. They crumpled in quick succession, Delta reprimanding them brutally but quickly, as if she had a tight schedule to keep. Pain blazed through Caio’s shoulder and down his left side, but it paled in comparison to the indignant storm pounding inside him. Oh yeah? he thought hotly. If I’m so insignificant, then clearly you don’t need this Numbie to fight your war against the aliens. He had half a mind to say as much, but Caio was practical. He knew the only thing talking back would accomplish was a sizzling hole blasted through his chest. Five months of Belle Reve’s cock-and-bull had taught him when he was toeing the line between regular misery and outright death. Instead he comforted himself by imagining the horrible, hopeful tortures that the Kryptonians would inflict on Agent D in the likely event of humankind’s demise. He’d once heard a theory that aliens abducted humans to use as delectable peace offerings for the massive aquatic beasts that prowled their oceans.
Caio was breathing deeply, trying to calm the boiling blood that threatened to spill over into apoplectic, helpless rage, when Delta relinquished the floor. Taking her place was a short man with wild hair, heavy brows, and an even heavier mustache that rested upon his upper lip like a fat, dead mouse. Having only ever been acquainted with Belle Reve’s hired muscle, Caio did not know this man’s name or function to the prison. Not knowing these sorts of things bothered him. Made him feel incompetent, because information was his game, his form of currency for under-the-table favors. From where he was ensconced in the back corner of the room, Caio could see the sweat beading on the man’s ruddy face, and if he were at the horse track, he’d wager a handsome sum of money on the hunch that this stranger was also a Numbie.
The man introduced himself as Mr. Lion, a nickname that Caio found ironic because his demeanor, like his mustache, resembled a mouse more than anything. But unlike his mustache, Mr. Lion’s demeanor was not that of a dead mouse. Rather, he was a mouse that had been backed into a corner, ready to feel the cat’s claws, his teeth gnawing anxiously into his lower lip and foot bouncing with nervous fervor. I hope you trip. I really hope you trip over your own damn feet, Caio thought as the man began to pace. But his mirth vanished the second that Mr. Lion raised a metal circle for all to see, introducing the device as an “Inhibitor,” a name that sounded misleadingly… mundane for something with such malicious power. As a Numbie—as Agent D was so fond of pointing out—it had never been necessary for Caio to wear a collar before; he had no powers to inhibit. But from Mr. Lion’s implications, it sounded as though any- and everyone who consented to the Warden’s terms would don one. But the fun didn’t end there. At the specific sequence of words the Inhibitor will be fused into your spine, Caio’s blood ran cold. Half a lifetime ago, he’d been a professional athlete. His body had been a machine worth an annual salary of a little over a million. And now they were planning to tinker with that body?
Previously, he’d wondered whether Tia Claudia, Uncle Romolo, and his six cousins were still alive, and if they were, maybe, just maybe he’d sign up for this death squad if it increased their likelihood—however small—of staying that way. But now? Now that a mandatory surgery that may result in fatal detonation was part of the package? Caio’s back teeth snapped together as he felt his insides churn and his resolve wither. He was no hero. Well, that much was obvious, given his indefinite residence in the world’s most secure prison. More specifically, he was a car thief. A bank robber. Washed-up D-list former celebrity. Careless killer of the only person in the world he had ever truly loved. Unlike most of Belle Reve’s denizens, he was nothing extraordinary. And he was not cut out to be humankind’s last hope.
As Mr. Lion finished his announcement and vacated the floor, several VPAs circulated the room, eyeing the inmates as if trying to get a feel for who would take the deal and who would decline. Caio caught the eye of one and inclined his head. Beckoned with a hand. He knew he should have been able to tell them apart, but when all their monikers were a single letter, it was hard to remember who was which letter. He thought it was VPA J whom he’d flagged down. Or maybe VPA X. That was the one with the glowing pink armful of collars, yeah?
“I honestly dunno how much of an asset I would be to your squad, and if y’all might have an easier go of it without me,” Caio said candidly. For some reason, he found it much easier to be straight with the VPAs than the SCAs or Numbie guards. Perhaps it had something to do with their murky pasts; Caio had gleaned from Zheng that most VPAs were former criminals who had been suckered into working with the “good” guys, if those existed. Whatever the case, empathy was possible with the VPAs in limited bursts, a novel phenomenon. “I need some time to think it over, but I can think much faster with the aid of a cigarette. Do you have a light?”
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