|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:30 pm
"Heh..." Briareos chuckled, watching her carefully. Time really hadn't taken its toll physically on Deunan, perhaps a few more caulloses from life on the road yet he was pleased that nothing had been forgotten in the transfer from one body to another. "I suppose, maybe im getting soft in my old age." Jokingly patting her shoulder, the large brute waited till she finally released him from her grasp....noting that it was a little longer than usual.
..Why did that make him feel a sense of unease?
No matter, beer was calling his name.
As he started down the hall, he couldn't help but toss his back to give her a stare which completely read '...what?' before shaking his head and tapping a finger on his metal 'brow'. Despite it all..Deunan was still a girl, afterall.
Honestly he wasn't going to go there, since his lectures would go on deaf ears.
After descending the stairs and moving over to the bar, Briareos set his elbows on the counter while the bartender gave him a nervous look for his earlier display. "Two pitchers of draft." Blunt and to the point, how he always was. Once he was handed the pitchers he handed one to Deunan and proceeded to the front desk where he laid down some cash for the service clerk. "I'd like room 5 for the night...and there is something extra for the non registering service...." Briareos, even without eyes gave him a long stare till the man nodded, slipping the extra bill into his pocket and handing over a key. "Is that all, Sir?" He inquired, "Where is your laundry room?" "Just down the hall, to the left on the first floor, can't miss it."
Pleased, he turned and tossed the key to Deunan, taking a gulp of the pitcher through a small slot which had opened while he drank. While not often his organic tissues still needed some sustinance that his mechanical body could not provide. "I hope you caught that Deunan, you can dry your clothes there." He spoke, walking up the stairs.
Meanwhile....he still had to figure out what the next step was. Not really thinking past finding Deunan in the long run.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:00 pm
Deunan rolled her eyes. Old, her a**. If he was old, she was right behind him--okay, maybe he had seven or so years for a head start...but she wasn't getting any younger, either. And wouldn't you know it? Aging wouldn't affect him much, if at all, anymore. Wasn't that just a kick in the a**? Half-smiling at the thought, Deunan trailed after him a few steps, shrugging when he turned back to her before catching up in a couple strides.
She hung back a pace as Briareos ordered the beer, watching the reactions he gained from other people. Accepting the pitcher, she asked for a glass after, picking it up with a quick, wry nod of thanks, turning away immediately after to catch up to the cyborg. Hanging back again at the desk, she tilted her head and watched silently, hand flashing up to catch the key, though her eyes were set upon her partner. Curiosity just wouldn't die, it seemed...but she did catch the bit about the laundry room.
Yeah, yeah, I got it." She responded, a frown tugging at her lips before she shrugged. She didn't exactly want to borrow anything while she waited for her clothes to dry...but there was a towel in the room still, if all else failed. She'd figure something out.
Taking the stairs two at a time brought her up on his heels quickly before they walked down the stretch of hall, back to the room. She'd managed to pick the lock the first time, but the key was definitely handy. With a simple twist the door was open. '...probably should have just squared up about the room in the morning. He can't have that much money left, either.' Deunan thought, bumping the door wide open and having a quick glance around. Habits. The old ones died hard...but they kept them alive, at least.
Lights flicked on. Something to talk about. Something that didn't directly deal with them...or with what happened, and how things were now.
"Lot of interesting rumours about this place. Aliens, "Spartans", Artificial Intelligence...and the list goes on." she said, tilting her head and leaning against a wall. Seems they had the same idea, in a roundabout way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:36 am
Once Deunan took lead, Briareos hung back and put his back against the wall, nearly reaching for his concealed pistol before it clued in that they wern't on duty right now....and the likelihood that someone had snuck into the room during the ten minutes they were gone near impossible. Besides, he would have heard them from down the hall with his enhanced hearing...the benefits of being a bioroid.
It seemed he wasn't alone, as he noticed the quick room clearing glance Deunan had given. Habits did die hard.
Stepping into the room behind her he noted the small couch and single bed, and a table with two chairs. Off to the side was the bathroom, where he noticed through the whole room there was no clothes to be seen. Had she not brought spares? Then again, Deunan while enjoying her comforts was well known for skipping on clothes or other comfort items in turn for more amunition.
"Are you still wearing your wet clothes?" It was hard to tell from the dark material of their swat uniforms if they were wet or not, but he assumed so, and shook his head. "Do you need something while they dry? I still have some of my old clothes in my sack?"
Really...she hadn't changed.
Taking another long swing of the pitcher, he set it down on the side table before cocking his head to the side curiously. Spartans? AI? Aliens? He'd been here for at least two days but he'd mostly kept to his maps and leads, only using the basics and spending the rest of the time outside on recon as he updated any discrepancies the map and the terrain held.
"What such rumors are these? Is this really such a diverse shop? I've seen a few interesting characters but nothing too out there as the ones you've described. "
As if already assuming the answer that would only come with being with the same person for years, he began to unbutton his long sleeved shirt till he bore his metal chest and dark navy 'skin'. He figured he would at least wait for an answer before heading back down stairs to get his ruck sack from the closet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:39 am
Sheepish, Deunan shrugged. "Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea. I'm not really in the mood to run around naked if I want them dry."
It had been a good idea at the time. Travel light and fast. No items to potentially slow her down if she got tagged with trouble. Might have been a rash decision...but then, that was something she did flawlessly, it seemed.
She couldn't help but laugh and slump, flat-backed, against the wall, tone turning teasing. "Tunnel vision, Briareos. Seems nothing aside from a full-out assault on you or around you would make you look anywhere else but at what you're doing." She had a good chuckle at that. "Rumors fly in nearby places. The last place I was...they were all-too-eager to share their knowledge. Battles with the Gods, apparently, too. The aliens are called Sangheili. Supposed to have some sort of peace-treaty with the Spartans...and they have the AI. Figured I could check it out."
Tilting her head slowly, she eyed him a moment. It was hardly surprising his body would be the same in colour...bit it was different. She bit the inside of her mouth thoughtfully.
"Turns out I had seen you outside." Funny how that worked. If she'd just walked in the front, half of it wouldn't have happened. Then again...it was interesting. Perhaps she wouldn't have believed him any other way. '...not likely~ Things would have fallen into place either way.' And it was true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:53 am
"Its nothing I haven't seen before..." Briareos chuckled lowly, tilting his head to eye her for a moment. Clearly remembering the rookie night where the new recruits had the sargeants attack them with mustard gas in the bunks, where most had to strip to their undergarments and escape the room if they didn't want to suffer for the next three hours with a sore throat and stinging eyes. "I can't remember if you were there, but I do recall a certian few privates decided to sleep in the buff rather than in their work out gear like everyone else. I don't think I knew you then other than by last name.."
Tapping his chin thoughtfully, he stood and tossed his shirt to Deunan as he moved to the door.
"I'll be right back."
It really didn't take him long to mosey his way down the stairs and towards the storage closet where he'd stashed his ruck sack...not that it contained anything of importance so he hadn't cared if it remained out of sight for a while. It seemed the inhabitants of the shop really didn't mind as they had their own lives and problems to deal with.
Returning to the room as he shut the door behind him, the bag was set on the table as he rummaged through the contents, pulling out his old sweats and tossing it her way as well. "I think that will do, The shirt will be too big but the pants are tailored to my old body so the string should keep them up."
Sitting down on one of the chairs he pulled his bag to the ground and zipped it back up. The beer forgotten for the time being.
"Thats why we make such a great team now, isn't it?"
"Are they a threat? I'm surprised that ESWAT hasn't brought anything up, its not like you see them in the city..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:16 am
The cyborg's partner rolled her eyes, good naturedly now, considering it was a pretty amusing memory. "Fun times, those. Teach us not to sleep, hey?"
Needless to say, she hadn't been one of the ones to sleep in the nude. That sort of thing just didn't appeal then...but really, it didn't appeal now, either. Another habit.
Tilting her head, she leaned off the wall to clutch the shirt. It only took the click of the door to have her set down the pitcher and glass and start shucking out of the suit. Belts set on a chair, along with anything that wasn't fit to be dried, just as it wouldn't have been fit to wash. As it was she'd just finished buttoning up the shirt, stepping out and away from the pile of damp clothing when he came in. While she couldn't say it smelled like him, it was comforting. Over-sized and baggy, true...and she felt like a shrimp, even more true...but that worked for her.
She gave him a lopsided grin as he came back in, scooping the clothing to be dried and holding it against her hip. She caught the pants handily enough, dumping the clothing on top of the belts she'd piled upon the chair, slipping them on and pulling the string tight, then looping it in a quick knot so they'd stay put.
"The best, of course." She quipped, rearranging her stuff so she could sit on the opposite chair and lean back. Deunan thought about it a moment, bringing a leg up to have her heel pressed to the edge of the seat as a brace. "Hard to say. From what I've heard, it doesn't sound like they venture terribly far from this place, aside form the homes they stay in... We could always do some digging, I guess. What do you think, now that you've got your head out of the maps?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:48 pm
"Of course, privates don't get the priviledge of sleep. Heck, most of the sargeants still didn't get much of it on those courses." Briareos mused, those were indeed the days, where he could still feel his rough callouses on his skin, could feel instead of detect the heat from the barrel of his rifle. Where he could wipe the sweat from a hard day's work off his brow and feel the long gone ache of his muscles.
In no time at all Deunan had gotten dressed once more, it was strange to see her in his clothes, but he decided to just not think about it. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully he pondered the full extent of her words, indeed that maybe they had all congressed her but what made them stay? What was it about this little noodle shop in the middle of no where that housed such a diverse population? Certianly the food might be worth having, but to set up residence in this valley?
"Digging hmmm....You don't plan to return to ESWAT right away?"
Perhaps it was nothing, but even though Briareos relished at the idea of a mini vacation of sorts...he had some concern that his or even her sudden departure without going through the right paperwork and chain of command was going to lead them into some trouble. Yet he'd been feeling much of that way since he'd taken that first step away from the building.
When one's life had been devoted strictly to military from a young age it just felt so wrong to betray it in the blink of an eye.
Even though each time he looked at Deunan, he knew it was worth it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:47 pm
They'd be in trouble regardless of whether they went back now or later. Still, Deunan sighed. Of course it wasn't 'right' to just jump ship, even if for a slightly longer period than what they'd already been away. But then, she had no set time to go back to ESWAT. She had fulfilled her primary objective - finding Briareos - but...
"I'm sure they could handle themselves for a little longer." Deunan said, shrugging. "Though if you're worried about paperwork and reprimands, we can head out and skip the digging..?"
...paperwork. Ugh. How she was not looking forwards to that. Give her Combat Cyborgs...or hell, even tanks, any day. Deunan tipped her head back, thinking, before sitting upright and pouring the beer into her glass, carefully tipping it to its side, setting the pitcher down afterwards.
"Well...guess I should go toss these in the drier." Before they end up a stiff and crinkled mess. Not that it really mattered, but if there was a drier, she'd best use it. Lightly popping off the chair, she scooped up her clothes, holding them beneath her arm, glass of beer in her other hand...but not before clipping her belt with the rig for her gun around her waist.
'...old habits.' There was amusement there.
Old habits kept them both alive. It was better than intuition at some points.
"...coming with, or are you going to stay attached to the chair?" She tilted her head, hiding an impish look. Not that anything was going to happen...but hell, they'd probably both feel better to keep close. It had been a long time, after all. A long search. It felt like ages...and it felt odd, as if maybe she fell over somewhere and this wasn't exactly reality...but some skewed distorted version that only a concussed mind could create...though it was unlikely it had happened.
...okay, so maybe she just didn't want to be apart from him.
...something wrong with that..? She thought not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:44 pm
"Mhn. Its not that i'm worried about..." Briareos let his voice trail off, but perhaps against his better judgement he rose; the floorboards creeking under his weight as it was apparent they hadn't held a very large bioroid fox before. He could tell Deunan did not wish to go back right away, indeed his and probably her's had been a long journey.
It wasn't like ESWAT was generous with their breaks, since some worldly crisis always seemed to pop up whenever he put in for vacation time.
Walking past her but not before smacking her back lightly with his hand he continued to open the door and look back of her with a tilt of his head in a cheeky mannor. "Who knows, maybe if we bring back something worthwhile we'll get promotions. I could be satisfied with team lead." Scrating his metal chin, he waited for her to pass before heading out into the hall.
"I've seen some weird s**t here though...did you know there are gods and goddess's here? Im not sure if I believe it, but apparently they're some sort of diety. Could you imagine if the city learned of it? Chaos, i'm sure."
Religion didn't seem to be the issue here though, and that was what he found most strange. As if they were just gods of things, rather than the ones back home...Briareos dare not approach them though...just incase.
Last thing he wanted was to get smited or something. Since he wasn't sure even his armor could save him from some divine wrath.
"So what kind of digging should we do, research, survey, undercover? Not that i'd be too good at it..." He joked, a chuckle vibrating through his metal body. "We'll need some supplies for documentation, since you know how the cheif loves our verbal reports..." If he could have smirked, he would have had a big one right on his face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:44 pm
It was a relief, Deunan thought, to know that despite the fact that Briareos was what could only be deemed as a cyborg now...he'd lost nothing by way of personality and habits. The slap to her back was both familiar and reassuring. She shook her head in quiet laughter.
"That would depend largely on what we bring in." She retorted, nudging her elbow against his side as she stepped past, pivoting on her heel to wait for him to shut the door. What he said next only confirmed the rumors she had heard. "Gods and Goddesses..? So it is true, then..? ...yes, best to not let that get too far. All hell would break loose."
Their trek down the hall was easy, and she turned as they reached the main floor, heading down the hall that would take them to the small laundry room. Stuffing the clothes inside and even a softener sheet to go with, she twisted the dials and soon had the machine humming.
"Well, with all the rumors about these other guys here, I don't think you'd have too much difficulty."
A wry smirk accompanied that. Not that she knew that the Sangheili were huge as well...but Briareos's stature now...well, he wasn't a kid.
"Otherwise...I don't know what kind of information we could get by plain and simple research. Despite how popular this place seems to be... Well, I don't know if there would be anything to find. I guess our best bet, even though I loathe saying it...would be for surveys... Documents and paperwork. My favourite."
Leering at him, she hopped up onto the top of the drier, swinging her legs a couple times before sitting still. Her tone, of course, had been laced heavily with sarcasm. ...well, she was the one that didn't want to just hop-to and make her way back to ESWAT. ...and if there was something amiss here...they'd need to know about it.
Allowing herself a moment's smirk, she tilted her head. Oh, imagine the possibilities. Of course, it was just cruel to imagine putting pink on her partner and telling him to go mingle...but it was amusing nonetheless. A random thought popped into her head, making her snicker silently. '...lamppost..? What?' That was even worse. But it was so absurd it was funny. Clearing her head with a shake, she leaned forwards, elbow resting against her knee, chin propped on the heel of her palm.
"Could do undercover if we really wanted to. Not everyone is going to be bottled up, I'd imagine. What do you think?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:01 am
"Mhmm...im sure then not even ESWAT could handle something on that caliber." Briareos mentioned, following Deunan as she reached the laundry room; once inside leanding against the wall beside the door with his arms crossed over his chest. It was hard to think that there were creatures around that stood at this mechanical height. While only 6'2 in his anthromorphic stance before the operation; he now stood nearly 8ft when upright. It wasn't his height naturally, but jut imagine for those that grew that big.
It was making him a bit uncomfortable to think about it as he tapped his arm with a pawtip to the trained eye. If there were more of them then him, well....needless to say a few of them would dismantle him in no time. "We'll leave it out. No need to swarm this place with followers and riots if the information goes public." It seemed to peaceful here to allow such a thing to happen.
As she jumped into one of the machines he watched, the bioriod smirked in his mind as he knew of his partner's utter disdain for anything paperwork related. Documentation wasn't her forte, that was for sure, since it seemed logical that once something is taken care of that why would you need to review on it?
Something was bugging him though.
"What do you suppose our story be? It would have to be pretty foolproof, i've also heard there are things called AI's. Much like the robots back in the city but these ones have in essence the personalities of former foxes and are unlimited in their capabilities and not used for simple purposes like assembly and self driven cars. We might need to stay away from them, seeing as I have ports for information databanks that could be wiped. "Speaking of which...." The bioroid spoke, patting his pockets of his hands till he felt the metal between the fabric; going into his pocket and producing a key. It wasn't big, but is was forged from hard steel. Pulling himself from the wall he walked the few steps to Deunan and grabbed her paw and put the key safely inside.
"Essentially...its my emergency kill switch. There is a lot of information stored on me that could kill millions of foxes back at Gaia, ESWAT, and you if someone got that information. This body is more powerful than our mobile suits...and it cannot go to anyone. If need be, you need to shut me down before that happens...the key goes here..." Tilting his head up and to the side, sure enough under his 'jawbone' was a keyhole, the link which would turn off his system; for good. Placing his paws on either side of her legs on the drier and looked her stern in the eyes with his optics, serious. "Don't hesitate Deunan, if it happens. I'd rather die than have myself turn on you without being able to controll it. I'd rather be safe than sorry if we're going to be around those than can controll and corrupt technology.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:59 pm
Deunan nodded. Leaving out some details...well, it was for the best. Deunan raised her gaze as he continued on. Their story? ...that would pose problems. Especially considering...well, everything. And even moreso because he was apparently linked up to Gaia. She bit the inside of her lip a moment, brows furrowing the slightest bit, until her paw was grabbed and a key placed within.
...Emergency Kill Switch...
Deunan's eyes shot up, paw not yet closing as the full weight of his words crashed upon her like a tonne of bricks. The key seemed too heavy. Unwilling, she closed her paw around the key, gripping it tightly. The responsibility was heavy...but the act of trust spoke volumes.
...don't hesitate...
Could she really not? She supposed, if it came down to it, is there was absolutely no choice, she would. And she'd make sure it was done. But it didn't make the weight any easier to bear. She was "trapped" literally and figuratively. It made her uncomfortable...but in a way, she instinctively knew there was nobody else...nobody else he'd rather have to hold such a task. She watched and made note of the key slot, still firmly gripping the piece of metal in her paw. One thing was for sure, she wouldn't let it go. Nor would she take it lightly.
It was unusual, looking at the optics instead of his familiar eyes, but, it didn't make it any less serious. Taking a steadying breath, she nodded, expression somber and just as straight as his would have been.
"I understand, Briareos." Her words were measured, soft. "...but I hope it never comes down to it. ...Ever."
"What are partners for, anyway..?" She mumbled with a half-smile. 'Everything.' That was the simple answer. And for them, well, it was as true as it got.
She paused, just a moment, soft blue eyes searching. "Suppose top of the list would be obtaining allies. Find out if any one of them are not...well, it'd be good to have some on our side instead of whatever other sides there are."
If there was a chance they could have one or two of them as allies...especially a reliable AI or two...she might not have to use the key. Oh, she would if it came down to it. The last thing she wanted was to have someone else in control over her partner. It might not sit well, but...she would do it.
Bumping her heel lightly against the drier, she tilted her head. Okay, stupid question time. "Are they all optical, these sensors?" Raising her hand, she gestured to the five sensors that were visible, curious as to the ins and outs of what he'd become, as it was quite different, appearance-wise. Four of the five she'd noted flickered, but the large sensor in front didn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:25 pm
It was a subject that hadn't sat well with Briareos when he'd been learning about the body they'd essentially transplanted him in. It wasn't like he was a fleshling, that when he was overrun he'd be killed. No real big deal asides from the obvious...yet now it was completely different. He could be hacked into, he could get a virus, or now that he'd discovered...he could be invaded by an AI. The last thing he wanted was to be surpressed back into his memory banks and be helpless to watch as he killed his partner, his everything.
Looking down at her knees as they both seemed to sit and process what it meant to each of them, the controll of life for Deunan and the trust of his to her...he too felt the volumes of growth their relationship had taken from when they were first assigned together by her father. At first he'd thought it was nothing but a babysitting pairing since Briareos was head of his division....but along the way discovered it was for their own benefits. He'd opened up, she'd calmed...and they grew.
"Not that I hope for it myself...but I know you're the only one who would know my limits...and when it was time to let go." He'd thought long and hard about who should hold the key, once he'd discovered Deunan had not been seen since the blast that took his body...his thoughts lingered to Hitomi, but she too would not understand his limits, or the drive of spirit. Briareos decided in the end that no one was suited for it, that is...untill the one person he trusted returned into his life once more. It was an obvious choice, and one he'd make a thousand times over.
He thought about the seriousness of her words, and without thinking said exactly what she'd been thinking....since the same word had run through his mind instantly. "Everything, thats what."
Thankfully the mood had changed as his optics shifted to try and look in on itself with no avail. It did however warm his heart that Deunan wanted to know about him, about his new body...like the key had to her, this spoke volumes to him.
"In a way. There four are used as eyes, allows me to see a full 180 infront of me. Equpit with night vision lenses of course. This large one I was told is a nose....it detects any harmful gases in the air but it also is my inner eye....it displays a screen to me with all sorts of data and numbers and such. Helps me make sure my body is running smoothly and I don't stretch my limits..." Briareos stood upright, scratching his head as the room filled with a silence other than the hum of the drier.
"Not all of me is gone, but its like living inside our mobile suits. Except I know i'll never be getting out of mine." Perhaps he could have gone into a body much like Hitomi...but during his limited time alive it was decided he'd be put into the experimental hecatonchires body armor...and now being the only survivor of the transplant; he knew he'd never be able to get out of it now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:51 pm
Their shared silence was a tad uncomfortable, but it allowed them to have the information sink in, for her, at least. Briefly, she wondered how much time she might ever have to decide whether or not Briareos could hold the AI off long enough, so that if it was the only choice she had, she'd be able to shut him down. That was depressing and stressful. She didn't need to think about it right this moment; she would probably think about it constantly within the next few days anyway. Why bother to hound herself now?
Deunan was hardly surprised that they were still so in-tune in thought, even after all the time they'd spent away from one another. Glancing up, half a smile upon her lips, she nodded. Everything indeed.
Four readily-visible eyes and a 'nose', hm? His words brought her thought process up short, and a slightly ironic, remorseful smile sketched itself across her lips for a fleeting moment.
"A lot like ESWAT itself. You can always go deeper, even in over your head...but there's no getting out."
She knew they wouldn't be able to stay here forever...she didn't plan on attempting such a feat, or running. Running wouldn't help. She didn't want to run; she didn't completely mind it. It was a chance to do what she was good at, get paid, and continue living. It was something she was comfortable with. But still her curiosity nibbled at the edges of her attention. "What else can you tell me about your new body, Briareos..?"
It was good to have something to focus on, something to learn. Part of her tucked the information away, should she ever need to use the key she clutched in her hand, but otherwise, it was pure, genuine curiosity; a need to know all she could find out about her partner's physical form he was now, for a lack of a better term, in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
