Gabby really didn't trust these people, but it was better to get out of here and worry about that later. It's not like she was in any position to leave by herself. She let out a small sigh and mumbled under her breath, "I really don't like this." before making way toward the woman who had saved them.
The woman, Rebecca, shrugged at Oleandar's laughter. Anybody who cared to examine her neck would see the proof that she was a Machineman: a smiley face, with one eye replaced by a gear.
"Eh, well, it kinda depends on what you mean by 'Der Fels.' D'ya mean the prison? 'Cause you guys, hopefully, won't see the inside of that. D'ya mean Der Fels, the island in the middle of ass-end nowhere? In that case, make yourself at home, because you're staying here for a long time."
Rebecca peeked out of the barricade once more. "Damn, he's late."
As the Machinemen gathered behind the APC, it was clear that whatever ambush had been sprung on the Der Fels army had been a temporary measure at best. The soldiers were regrouping, preparing for a final push. If one listened hard enough, the rumble of tank treads could be heard.
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka fics"It's easy. Only Harvester ships get on and off this island. Everything else gets blown to hell. You can't sneak aboard a Harvester ship, because the uniform exposes the neck, so good luck impersonating anybody, and because they're familiar with every inch of their ships, which means you can't hide. A plane won't work either, because they'll just shoot your ass out of the sky once they realize that you're a Machineman. You gotta realize something. Once you step onto Der Fels, you don't get out. Even if you're not in the prison you stay on the island."
The sound of the reinforcements rumbled closer. "Don't worry, though, because fighting a tank isn't part of the plan."
edited 16th Dec '11 7:12:20 PM by Chubert
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka fics"So true escape really is impossible." Michael said, lowering his cloaking field. "I suspected as much. So, if you know you can't escape, exactly what is it you intend to accomplish here? Don't tell me you did all this," he gestured at the burning APC, "just because you could."
There was a crunching, rolling noise in the distance. Just around the corner probably. Michael focused his left eye on the concrete barrier, checking for any significant heat signatures. And boy howdy did he find one. It was large. It was hot. It was a tank. Shit. Michael re-cloaked, opting to stay hidden from the lumbering metal beast. If things went down the way they had back there, backing off was by far his best bet against a tank.
edited 16th Dec '11 11:22:17 PM by KSPAM
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial"No. Uh, there's a plan. Eeeeeverything's going according to plan. Yup," Rebecca muttered. Opening up a channel on her two-way, she said, "Jeremiah, where are you?"
"My apologies. I've been busy evacuating the rest of our men. I will arrive momentarily."
With a loud boom, cracks appeared in the surface of the artificial island's concrete. With the screech of metal upon metal, an APC that had formerly been bearing down upon the dock was abruptly launched into the air before slamming against a building with a loud thud. Moments later, it exploded.
Two figures could be made out sprinting towards the Machinemen, hiding under the veil of confusion that had been thrown over the enemy forces. One was tall, with large, broad shoulders. The other man stood ramrod straight, even when running away from the explosion.
The two men ducked behind the APC that the rest of the Machinemen were hiding behind. Up-close, anybody who looked could see that the shorter man's right hand had been converted into machinery. In the center of his palm, a large cavity glowed with a red light.
"Finally here, Jeremiah," Rebecca said.
Jeremiah ignored her. He spoke to the other man, saying, "Jacob, we have company. Deal with it."
The larger man nodded before poking his head out of cover. Wires burst out of his hands, wrapping themselves around several soldiers who had previously been advancing on the Machinemen's position. With a quick burst of electricity, they were writhing on the ground.
"Rebecca, the distraction."
"On it." Reaching around behind her head, Rebecca removed a small chip from the base of her neck and placed it inconspicuously by the ground. With a hum, eleven identical holographic projections of the Machinemen appeared.
“Come on!” the fake Jeremiah shouted. “To the sewers!”
The projections began sprinting away from the real Machinemen’s position. Reacting immediately, the soldiers surrounding the Machinemen let loose a spray of bullets and began chasing after the projections.
Jeremiah smiled. “And now,” he said, the cavity in his hand beginning to glow white, “the plan is complete.”
As he brought his hand forwards, the cavity in his palm flashed. A portal opened up in the fabric of reality.
Finally, Jeremiah turned to the people that he had rescued/abducted. “Ladies, gentlemen, this is your freedom. Get in.”
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka ficsWhen the Machinemen walked through the portal, they emerged from a vault door into a round conference room. Behind them, another door was placed next to the one they had went through. This one had several rusted chains dangling over it.
The conference room was brightly lit. Television screens took up one half of the circular wall. Running parallel to the wall was a semicircular table that was placed opposite of the television screens. The table clearly seated far more people than the eight escaped prisoners. The room was windowless; bright strips of light running up and down the ceiling illuminated the entire room. Two hallways with sliding doors led the way out of the conference room. Several Machinemen could be seen loitering by the doors, silently observing the newcomers.
"Please, take a seat," Jeremiah said, emerging from the portal after everybody had walked through. "There is much that needs to be discussed."
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka ficsOkay. Oleander never doubted what he was seeing, as he existed within a perpetual state of resistant, lucid, sobriety. Therefore, this was an actual portal through reality. Interesting. He stepped through. Into a conference room. To him, this actually felt more surreal than the portal. Oleander did as he was told and took a seat.
Everything finally hit Erik hard. The adrenaline from the fight had long worn off, and all the... all the everything that had happened, the new room... It flooded his mind. Instantly his head seared with pain: his vision began to blur and his head began to spin. He barely heard the voice that told him to sit; everything sounded muted.
He staggered slightly, leaning back against a wall. His hand went to his head immediately; his eyes shut tight.
"Just... Just give me a minute..." he muttered, weakly.
Michael too sat, having decided that following the yellow brick road was better than being crushed under tank treads. He noticed the drug peddler, Oleander, pestering Erik. What a parasite. Leading good men to ruin just to turn a profit. Something wrong with those kinds of people. Something wrong.
He turned his attention to the table, and addressed its members. "Alright, considering we've just been forcibly recruited into a revolution, I'd say you owe us some answers. Why don't we start with who you are? Or if you don't like that, perhaps why you felt it necessary to throw Der Fels into total chaos? Would you prefer to tell me just what it is you're trying to accomplish with this?"
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serialLeo nearly dropped his jaw in awe. The vault doors, the massive amount of televisions that could be used for monitoring... something, the lack of windows. If I had something like this when they came for me, I'd have held them off. That was the past, though. Figuring he was pretty much a dead man if he tried to leave this place, he took a seat. He hadn't completely abandoned trying to outwit the others, though, as he made sure to put as many chumps as possible between him and the walking meth lab, who was already trying to peddle his product to someone. No way am I going to let him mind control me. I'm nobody's pawn. I need to make sure he isn't near my water or food. But what if they put something in my food and water? I guess I can't eat. I can't sleep with them near. But maybe they know that, and they just want me weakened so they can brainwash me. But they might have thought of that, and could just put mind control gas... in... the... vents....
If anyone was paying attention, they would see him looking nervously as he tried to hold his breath and breathe through his hand.

That woman... by the looks of things, she or one of her compatriots had dealt a rather decisive blow to an APC. Michael made a little mental note. Stay the fuck away from them.
He approached, but kept himself cloaked, retracting his legs to reduce movement noise.
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial