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Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1051: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:19:11 AM

I'm not a cop anymore. Sanderson told himself. I'm not. Still, nonchalant references to killing people. Maybe it was safer in the cargo cars.

And if you feel safer in your tin skin, there's quickly much less of the train to feel safer in, he chided himself, and took the offered hand. Firm grip, no effort to assert dominance with a squeeze. The material of his glove was soft and semi-porous, almost a foam despite the tight fit. "A pleasure."

Sanderson turned his head fractionally to regard Tomas. "No, I suspect I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. Monsters in the skin of men as a concept is familiar to me as well, but if your friend," a quick gesture of the free hand towards Kokabiel, "is anything to go by, my experience is not entirely applicable. He seems...less homicidal than the not-as-it-looks I am accustomed to."

Nous restons ici.
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1052: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:21:48 AM

[Car 5]

"Woof woof," said Tamara sarcastically. "I don't get it much either, but it works. Don't ask me how, because I don't know where to start." She slowly turned back into her human form. "If you knew how it worked, you could make billions in my world, but..." She sighed.

Tamara paused and glanced back at Zachariah's body. "So, what're we gonna do about him? I'd suggest throwing him out the window, but it looks like we're at a station, so that would draw attention. Should we just stick him in a compartment until the train gets moving again and hope nobody notices?"

KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1053: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:26:27 AM

[Car 5]

Alice said, "you could turn back into a wolf and eat him!"

Isaac groaned. "Alice, I think Tamara draws the line at cannibalism..."

"Technically," Alice said, as if she were a teacher lecturing a dim student, "it doesn't count as cannibalism, per se, if you're not human yourself."

Isaac sighed, shook his head, and said, "yeah. Let's stuff him in a compartment for now." Then he looked around and added, "shit, anyone see where that big U.N. dude got to?"

SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1054: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:29:02 AM

Angelus chokes and slides down in his seat. The energy around him intensifies and his clothes begin to smoke.

He sits up. "Hello." His voice is mostly the same, just much more raspy. "I was wondering when he was going to let me take over. Well, he didn't really let me this time, but he's a pushover when he gets some alcohol in his system. But I'll let him back in eventually, I promise.

"I created the universe. My universe, I mean. It was fun."

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1055: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:35:41 AM

[Car 5]

"I think it's cannibalism," said Tamara. "And even if I didn't, there's still the matter of food poisoning. He's raw. And then there are the bones and other stuff I don't want to eat. Like the stomach and the acid inside."

Tamara grabbed Zachariah's corpse under the armpits and dragged him into the nearest compartment. She closed the curtains and door. "There. That should do it." She glanced down at the floor and frowned. "Anyone got a towel or something for the blood?"

She looked around the hall for the UN guy. "Uh, no, I didn't see where he went. Is that a bad thing?"

ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#1056: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:39:48 AM

[Dining Car]

Baila rolled her eyes, finally stopping trying to scratch Irving more in favor of answering Kokabiel.

<Well, you know, he thinks if I tell you secrets or anything you're going to end up bleeding him dry to try to see what I mean. He doesn't have enough blood in him right now to make a full and proper gate, though, so that's not a problem. See how he wobbles?> Baila shifted, and Irving was indeed wobbly, though it was hard to tell if it was from the vodka or from something else. <Yep, look at him.>

"You are a bad kitty!" Irving just kept saying, "A very, very bad kitty." Though he did look sick by then.

edited 28th Jan '12 11:40:47 AM by ohsointocats

KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1057: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:51:57 AM

[Dining Car]

Tomas looked extremely concerned now. "Are you okay, Irving?" he asked. "Maybe you should rest."

Then to Sanderson he said, "oh, yes, and don't worry about my friend here. He's harmless, if a bit... dour."

<That does seem adviseable,> Kokabiel said. Then speaking to only Irving and Baila, he added, <and if you should chance upon a foul-mouthed biochemist and a psychotic midget upon your travels, best you not mention the nature of your blood. They might get... inquisitive. But fear not, I would not see you harmed simply to sate my curiosity.> But he was curious, and said, as much thinking to himself as speaking to Irving and Baila, <blood... hmm, yes, my kin need strong emotions... blood is a good catalyst, though... or at least, the psychological effect of spilling blood. I imagine the link is more direct in your case, though.>

Tomas then heard Angelus — or what was within him — speak. Oh shit. He said, "uh, Kokabiel..."

<It is not a creature of Unreason, or at least not one I know of. Although the creation of a universe puts it above my Master...> Kokabiel addressed the being speaking through Angelus and said, <the creation of a universe? Hmm... I would not have anticipated such a creature being compatible with a mortal mind. Or are you merely a shaped fragment of a greater whole?>

[Car 5]

Alice shrugged and said, "fine, fine. You have no sense of adventure! Though I suppose if you turned into a really big vulture then waited for the body to digest, you'd be fine..."

As she and Isaac helped Tamara moved the body, Isaac explained, "with Zach dead, that crazy dickhead is gonna be after me and Alice next. You already know we ain't on his Christmas list, after all. Hell, he'll probably aim for you to boot, for 'helping us'. I mean, we talkin' about a terrorist organization. Well funded, well connected... we're talking more Bond villainy than al-Qaeda. But shit, at the end of the day he's still working for an organization seeking total world domination. You gonna trust a group like that?"

Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1058: Jan 28th 2012 at 11:59:51 AM

And I had to get on the train with the Antichrist. As a rule, Sanderson did not enjoy being comforted by proximity to a weapon. This was the first he'd been comforted by proximity to a weapon he couldn't carry in his hands, and that was a whole other level of not enjoyable.

Still, the situation was not entirely outside his experience, familiar enough that he didn't immediately draw a gun and start shooting. No matter the fact that the very familiarity of it suggested that was a wise course of action.

A step back from Angelus seemed wise in any case. "Would that be fun for you exclusively, or was it more of a general thing?"

Nous restons ici.
SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1059: Jan 28th 2012 at 12:10:57 PM

"Building things is lots of fun. I also helped sow discord among the fleshlings, which is what my brothers and sisters were doing before I ate them, but that was more of a side project." Angelus drums his fingers on the table. "I am an elder Manifestation, meaning I'm really a force of nature. Most of me is actually in the air around you. My contract with this fleshling is special. It has very high stakes compared to those of my lesser fellows. If I weren't such a nice person, he would be in flames."

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#1060: Jan 28th 2012 at 12:11:57 PM

Irving took a seat at one of the chairs, still holding Baila in his arms.

<Yes, well,> said Baila, <I've honestly never seen anyone try to open the gates of Hell because of simple curiosity. One does not simply open them. It's a lot more difficult than it looks.> This was supposed to be what Irving was worried about, people trying to open them without a permit, but then again, someone trying to open them out of simple curiosity could be just as painful and fatal as someone actually doing so, so of course Irving thought he had a stake in this.

"Baila," Irving warned, "You should really, really learn how to shut up."

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1061: Jan 28th 2012 at 12:17:02 PM

[Car 5]

"Not really," said Tamara, "but one way or another, I'm not going to be sticking around here much longer. I've got to get back to my own universe. There's more where Zachariah came from. I don't think any more are going to be coming over here, but there's still trouble where I come from, and I want to set it right."

She sighed and leaned against the wall. "Although I don't how," she muttered. "Shaurei is more than a force of nature; if he found magnetism to be inconvenient, he could eliminate it from a certain area. But I'm sure we'll find a way." Surprisingly, she didn't sound unconvinced.

"But anyway," she said, "I hope things go well for you. You might possibly be class-A assholes, but..." She nodded towards the door. "You helped. Thanks."

KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1062: Jan 28th 2012 at 12:56:06 PM

[Car 5 —> Dining Car]

With a cheery grin, Alice said, "thanks! It was fun! Murder always is! Except when it isn't, of course..."

Isaac, more hesitantly, added, "er, yeah. Thanks... shame you can't stick 'round. Could use a hand like you against our own demonic incursions 'n' shit. But I know how it is — gotta look after your own first. No hard feelings."

Isaac then turned down to Alice and said, "aight, we need to get to that dining car before that Corvine maniac decides to unperson our asses." As they left, Isaac yelled back, "hey, Tamara, wanna come with, or you got shit to do?"

[Dining Car]

Kokabiel looked over at Baila and said, <indeed. Your eagerness to speak to me could have gone quite ill had I wished harm upon you or your friend.>

Tomas stared at Angelus in growing horror. "Uh... well. Hmm... er..."

Kokabiel looked over at Tomas, and taking pity on him, decided to distract Angelus. <Might I ask of the nature of your origins? To my knowledge, all that lies between universes is the seething morass of Unreason. But a creature of Unreason cannot create. Corrupt, yes. Destroy, very definitely. But not create. So from whence do you come?>

Tomas decided to let Kokabiel speak to the horror, and instead, turned to Sanderson and said, "so, what is it you do? I'm a freelance journalist, and..." he stopped, decided not to give Kokabiel's job description, and instead finished, "well, I'd like to know who I'm dealing with. No offense. It helps, though."

SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1063: Jan 28th 2012 at 1:15:49 PM

"I don't know how I formed. Lesser Manifestations are born from dead souls and energy in the air, so I would infer that some great calamity took place shortly before my birth, fueling my being with fresh souls and energy. Enough were left over for the other elders, too. But that calamity didn't leave a single trace, so that's pure speculation. Scholars obsess over me, which is quite flattering." Angelus snaps his fingers and several bottles of vodka appear on the table. "Don't worry. I can hold my liquor better than he can. It takes several hundred years for me to get drunk."

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1064: Jan 28th 2012 at 1:23:41 PM

Sanderson took a moment to consider how to phrase the answer. "Company troubleshooter." Truthful enough. "The shooter part of that is occasionally more literal than that phrase normally suggests, but nonviolent means are usually preferred as cheaper." His eyes, however, never strayed far from Angelus.

Disguised models don't do that. That I know. "Or they were. Open warfare benefits no one and upsets everyone, but some people like to stretch the definition of covert." The manifestation of matter from nothing by Angelus, or was it Not-Angelus?, was actually a comfort of sorts. The enemies he was used to definitely couldn't do that.

"And I suspect your friend or friends," nobody seemed completely comfortable with whatever Angelus or Not-Angelus was doing or simply was, "job descriptions wouldn't make much sense to me, so I won't ask."

Nous restons ici.
KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1065: Jan 28th 2012 at 1:57:26 PM

[Dining Car]

Tomas' eyes went wide at the description, and he now seemed almost as nervous of Sanderson as he was of Angelus. "Company... troubleshooter...?" God above, not another one. "Er... uh, what company?"

Kokabiel, meanwhile considered the not-Angelus. <Ah, yes, born within a deterministic universe... no doubt bound by at least some of its rules, then, if only the ones regarding the illusion of linear temporal progression, singularity information loss, and the inevitability of Sheol. Intriguing.> He cocked his head a bit and added, <but souls usually find their way to Sheol or Unreason without a body to be attached to — enduring beyond is... impossible. If I had a human shape, I'd write down the equations... unless... yes, different universes, different laws...>

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1066: Jan 28th 2012 at 2:32:16 PM

[Car 5]

Tamara said back, "Hey, the only thing I had to do has been killed. I'm free as a bird; might as well take the time to relax."

She walked back to the dining car with them. "I kinda thought that'd be a little harder. Zachariah was, like, Shaurei's number two, but I guess he's no big man without lots of protection and influence."

Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1067: Jan 28th 2012 at 2:47:31 PM

"Gulf and Bradley." An automatic answer, not a considered one. The direct opposite of how he'd explained.

Sanderson was adapting, if not exactly comfortable. He also hadn't shown any sign that he was overheating yet despite the more normal temperatures inside the train and his heavy clothing. "And I don't go looking for it. I only play with a home turf advantage." A lie depending on how hard you squinted. He'd definitely worked out of town this last time and was on his way home again, but he'd done his work for a subsidiary. "Or, for that matter, go starting fights or looking for people in need of troubleshooting. Only deal with an existing situation. That's pretty explicit in the contract."

Nous restons ici.
KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1068: Jan 28th 2012 at 3:00:34 PM

[Car 5]

Tomas seemed only slightly relieved. "Well, that's... I haven't heard of them, but at least they're not..." he stopped, and spotted Alice and Isaac entering. He leaned in and whispered, "at least they're not Western Amalgamated Agrichemical. Those two," he glanced surreptitiously at Alice and Isaac, "work for that company. Pure trouble." Then, returning to his usual volume, Tomas continued, "so, what does this 'Gulf and Bradley' company do?"

Alice and Isaac continued to make their way to the bar, until Alice sniffed the air. "Is that...?" she turned to Kokabiel and said, "hey, look, it's Birdbrain!" She walked a bit closer, but made a point to avoid getting within reach of Kokabiel's beak. Not only did his form have a powerful bite, but its penchant for rotten meat would make for a foul wound. Kokabiel, being unable to communicate telepathically with Alice, simply hissed at her.

"Alice," Isaac warned. "Do not taunt the abomination from beyond time and space."

Alice gave a disappointed sigh, said, "you're no fun," and returned to the bar, where they considered whether or not to prod the sleeping bartender.

edited 28th Jan '12 3:02:59 PM by KillerClowns

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1069: Jan 28th 2012 at 3:36:01 PM

[Dining car]

Tamara blinked at the vulture — how had a vulture gotten on here, anyway? — and blinked at Isaac. Abomination beyond time and space? Admittedly, not all of them were megalomaniacal, but it couldn't hurt to check.

She coughed at Isaac and said, "I'm assuming, based on the way you two treat it, that the abomination beyond time and space in the form of a vulture is not an enemy. Am I right? Because, based on what we've been doing, you could tell me about this."

She didn't bother going for her gun; bullets wouldn't do anything against it. Well, they might, but if it wasn't hostile, a fusillade of lead to the face wasn't the best greeting.

KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1070: Jan 28th 2012 at 3:47:31 PM

[Dining car]

"Define enemy," Alice said. "He doesn't like us, and we don't like him. But 'enemy' isn't quite how I'd say it."

To Tamara, Kokabiel said, <certainly, if that deranged woman,> he glared at Alice, <gets near me, I will remove her hand. But I have no reason to oppose you, and have a great fondness for the human race in general so, unless you're as crazed as Alice, there is no reason for us to fight.> He gave a nod and said, <I am Kokabiel. A pleasure to meet you.>

edited 28th Jan '12 3:48:17 PM by KillerClowns

Night The future of warfare in UC. from Jaburo Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
The future of warfare in UC.
#1071: Jan 28th 2012 at 3:50:48 PM

Sanderson shrugged. "It would unfortunately be easier to list the things Gulf and Bradley doesn't do. Conglomerate, holding company for dozens of others in a bunch of industries. Military equipment, construction, infrastructure, vehicles, home appliances. I think there's a film division in there somewhere, too." Easy to talk about G&B, long familiarity. "They're relatively benign as such entities go."

The newcomers to the dining came in for scrutiny as well. Anytime somebody reacted to a company like that, there was an open question as to whether he'd been employed against that company's interests at some point. Granted he dealt in megacorps more than focused companies, but everybody took their shot eventually. Some things tempted too greatly.

Sanderson thought he smelled cordite. Either the newcomers were carrying or had been around, very close, to a recently fired gun. And taunting what they described as an abomination from beyond space and time. Did corporate leadership end up selecting for sociopathy somehow? It seemed disturbingly likely based on his experience. He glanced back at Tomas and reflected that the number of possible threats was getting too high to watch them all. "Are they always so...cavalier?"

Nous restons ici.
TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#1072: Jan 28th 2012 at 4:07:58 PM

[Dining car]

Tamara nodded. "Tamara Peterson. Likewise."

She picked through her mind to find the right questions. Even in her own universe, she wouldn't be sure what to ask. Here? The possibilities were magnified infinitely.

"If we fought," she said, "I'm sure you would win. I mean, you're probably zillions of years old, and I'm barely seventy-five. I don't even know what you're capable of." She paused and frowned, thinking. If Kokabiel had said something like that, maybe his avatar limited him in some way. Who said things had to work the same in every universe? "Unless that form restricts your powers or something," she added.

SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1073: Jan 28th 2012 at 4:10:09 PM

More fleshlings have arrived. Angelus coughs several times and rubs his head.

"Dreadfully sorry about that," he says, his voice back to normal. "Did I kill anyone? And who might you all be? My name is Angelus."

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#1074: Jan 28th 2012 at 4:18:26 PM

[Dining Car]

Before Tomas could reply, Alice merrily said, "yep! Happy-go-lucky sociopathic midget for hire, that's me!" She flashed Sanderson a cheery pair of thumbs-up, then casually added, "well, 'cept without the 'for hire' part, got a long-term contract with ol' Sigmund. But 'for hire' makes it sound cooler."

Isaac smiled fondly and said, "you crack me up, little buddy."

Tomas sighed wearily, his head falling into his open palm, and he said, "does that answer your question?"

Kokabiel shook his head and explained to Tamara, <this form is not truly my own — I am merely 'hitching a ride' on an altogether ordinary vulture, with which I have a symbiotic relationship. I will leave it after I deliver it to a place it would find satisfactory, within its natural range, but I have no powers beyond telepathy and those my host possesses.> He decided against pointing out that telepathy was a very powerful one indeed, especially given how many mind-shattering memories he could, in an emergency, force into a target's mind. He suspected Tamara would take it as a threat or attempt to assert dominance, which would be very rude. <And before you ask, such a relationship is impossible with sentient organisms. But vultures do not fear loss of free will, particularly not if it means plentiful food.>

Tomas turned to Angelus and said, "oh, hey, you're not possessed anymore. Er... those are Isaac and Alice."

Alice cheerfully said, "we hurt people for fun and profit!"

Isaac added, "and science. Can't forget science."

edited 28th Jan '12 4:19:20 PM by KillerClowns

SnowyFoxes Drummer Boy from Club Room Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: I know
Drummer Boy
#1075: Jan 28th 2012 at 4:22:30 PM

"... ah."

Angelus keeps himself from reaching for his gun. People like these two are part of the reason why Father wants to destroy the human race.

"Again, sorry about earlier. He's quite a show-off." He blinks at the vodka bottles in front of him. "Oh dear. How did these get here?"

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!

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