XCAS Roleplay

[Loonie]

<<ALLRIGHT YOU'Z MUGS! Now we have such a terrific setting in the form of our latest story that I'll release Jacko's lobsters onto your hides if you don't post at least once over in this forum Check the latest story in the latest Saga for the setting. Now here are the rules coming from Mouse. You can physically hurt the phantasy things (like Shinji) but you can't hurt physically other "real" guys (like Fleche, Ong, Kacur,...). If you want to go to some other place like a beach then you are transported there away from the other guys and are alone there with whatever other things you might've imagined (like girls in bikinis, ect.). This is it people. You can have anything you like. You choose. Go ahead. Make the Faust Devil's Pact. Enjoy :devil: Oh but there is this small print of course which says that you get beaten up by redneck gits every now and then for some information. >>

 

Martin shook his head again as he was back in NAO. This was all just too confusing, even for him, and he had to sit down on a chair behind a table so as to get his thoughts straight. He slowly sat down and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling in the process and making sure that all of this was not just a dream. As the air slowly departed his lungs and finnaly left them completely he opened his eyes to see the same picture as before.

 

Wiendhoven was sitting opposite of Jackson and was listening to his infamous "Yo momma" jokes, apparently laughing so hard that he was beginning to cry slightly from the ordeal. Cyriacus was still enjoying his sea food and simply tucking into it like there was no tommorow, forgetting all manners as well. Ghost was gone for some reason though and Martin didn't quite remember exactly why that was, the images of him being towed away by the two Ascadians being suppressed in the back of his mind, though he did know that they WERE there. And Fleche was there with Shinji, her long lost love, now reunited and in his arms whilst Martin was watching the two kiss passionately.

 

Martin now realized something interesting. Everyone was doing something they always liked by now except for himself. For some reason he himself still wasn't doing anything he liked. Was it because he just didn't know what he really would like to do? No.....that wasn't it. Something was inside him. A deep desire that only a few people charished and he now began to realize what it was, the psionic programs already working to bring it into his reality.

 

Soon there they were right beside him in NAO. Cripples. Deformed people, who were moving around the place with only one leg or only half an arm up to their elbow. They were spastically shuffling all across the room, desperately trying to get somewhere whilst having their limbs flail around the air as they tried so hard to get somewhere.

 

And then in front of Martin appeared a single humanoid being, not a male or female, and yet somehow Martin knew it was in fact human. It didn't have any eyes, any mouth, any nose, just a bright humanoid energy which was dark and black, yet with a gray patch at the point where its heart would normally be. Now Martin's wish could come true. He reluctantly moved forwards, still afraid that the creature would just slap him or tell him to get lost. After coming within an arms lenghts he finnaly let go of his fears and gave the entity a big hug, gripping it with all the strength he had, yet doing so in a caring manner. The being's heart slowly began turning white as its body began going gray. It was holding Martin as well with both of its arms in the kindest of ways that the love-deprived Psionisist had ever experienced. As Martin enjoyed and treasured this moment he was noticing the cripples around the place again and sincerely wished their limbs to return so that they could be absolved from their horror. And miracolusly their limbs grew back again and the cripples were no more, replaced by happy people which were almost going mad with joy, jumping up and down, hugging each other whilst expressing their gratitude to Martin through their facial expressions. He felt like he was finnaly a part of this world and that he could now at last give joy and love to others. He felt so connected and he smiled as he had never before in his entire life.

 

But then, just as the being's colour turned almost completely white, he looked behind it and saw another scene. He saw Terra now being carried by Shinji, twirling around as if he was doing a waltz with her in his arms. He looked at the two of them at that moment and observed them closely, also since he was lured by the prospect of watching other people be happy, especially Terra who was so bitter until now. Her smile was something Martin had never before seen. It looked so divine and so pure to him that he couldn't help but shed a tear of happiness for her. Shinji looked happy too but still.........was he? Martin knew 100% that Terra WAS happy, but when he compared Shinji to the previous cripples he felt the same thing about them. They were happy and yet they weren't..........*HAPPY*. Just....something...He then looked at their eyes. And as he did so he was horrified! He pushed off the being that he was previously holding and wished the whole thing had never EVER HAPPENED. He began screaming in terror! His one dream! So close to being real! Yet it was NOT REAL. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN. THE EYES WERE JUST.........BLANK!!!!!

 

He cried his soul out as he went to the floor, banging it with his palm in the process and not having the strength to even speak. He then looked up after he had recovered briefly and watched again the happy couple. Terra's shining eyes triggered a feeling inside him. There was the thing that he could help out at! There was what he SHOULD'VE been helping out, where he should've been putting all of his energy. Not into phantasies without any soul but in living beings that truly do have feelings. But he couldn't help his X-Com friends out if...........

 

His brain now remembered what had happened to Ghost. It began to flashback and now he realized that soon everyone, including Terra, would suffer the same. Unless they got out of here, out of this fantasy that could not be maintained forever. He knew it would be only seconds before the two Ascadians detected his thoughts and he frantically began imprinting this memory of what was truly "real" into his brain. He would not forget. HE CANNOT ALLOW HIMSELF TO FORGET!

 

<<there we go. TAG EVERYONE!!! >>

[Atz]

With a slight giggel at the handsome x-com cadette's joke, Atzel took an other sip of wine from the crystal glas... she had forgotten his name, but he must be new, like herself. She looked around the redecorated messhall. Everyone was here. The commander, talking to the slightly strange glasses wearing man in the corner, Ong Ong,Cyriacus and Felche, frollicing with an slightly older, scarred gentleman, and .... Kacur. He seemed slighly distressed, but she had never seen him completly at ease, so she couldn't tell if something was wrong... but then he dropped to his knees and cried out in terror, she put her glass down and moved toward him as fast as her evening gown allowed her.

 

"Lt. Kacur, are you alright, sir?"

[Caster13]

Terra stopped dancing with Shinji when she heard Kacur scream out and drop to his knees. She looked at him over Shinji's shoulders and as Kacur simply griefed some how. For some one or some thing.

 

A crack of reality suddenly appeared throughout the entire world. Terra looked back towards Shinji, "You're dead."

[Loonie]

<<DING! Rewind selector. >>

 

At that moment all of the three that had become unsatisfied with the program for one reason or another had their psionic receptors deactivated. The three looked around themselves, noticing that in their room the others were still happily watching the psionic receptors just as two Ascadians once again entered the room, one of them rapidly unstrapping Atzel from her seat and taking her away towards the direction to which Ghost had been towed away.

 

In the meantime the other Ascadian looked over the other two who were conscious. Martin knew what this place was, but he also knew what will happen when they would both get knocked back into the psionic receptors. The memory of this place will be somehow repressed into the back of their minds. But if he could interrupt his and the team's sessions often enough like this, then there could be so many memories of waking up in this room that these psionic dream machines wouldn't be able to function properly anymore. Mainly because the team would have so many memories of waking up in this place that they would realize and remember that their dreams are manufactured by these devices. The Ascadian grunted slightly before knocking Kacur right back into dreamland, with Fleche following closely behind.

 

<<Heh, okay Atzel. Now you can also post a good roleplay of a normal torture scene The others hopefully get the scene. The memories of anyone being "woken up" are immediately repressed so you don't remember right away that this was designed by the gits. The more you indulge in your dream the more you forget this is all a setup. Which are you going to chose?..... the dream? Meh....losers >>

[Atz]

Atzel blinks groggily and disorientedly as the two API members pulls her to her feet and starts dragging her towards one of the less subtel looking interogation devices... a simpel X shaped tabel.

Realisation hit her like a jackhammer between the eyes.

With a shriek and a stream of curses and insults she kicked furiusly, twisting and struggeling in her captors grip, managing to get a lucky hit one one of the "doctors", knocking the wind out of him. In the struggel, one of the guards put his hand over her face.. only to let out a suprised yell of pain as she bit down on one of his fingers... but he managed to pull lose and slapped her backhanded over the face, splitting her lip.

 

Spitting a gob of blood in his face as a retort might have seemed like a very good idea at the time, but the punch in the stumach completely knocked the wind out of her and the guards could easily strap her down onto the tabel.

 

"Urghhh" she moaned and coughed. Licking her bleeding lip she mumbles "Look... I dont know anything... I'm just a pilot. A private, at that."

 

The Ascidians did not seem to be understanding... or listening, for that matter, their full concentration on the arrey of instruments next to the table, mercifully out of her sight.

 

"Hear" she said, a bit stronger now as she had regained the full use of her lungs "I dont know anything that you dont already know, let me out of this thing!"

 

The Ascidians kept on ignoring her. Either they didn't care or they didn't understand... eitherway it didnt make any sense. The white robed one picked up a curved bladed tool, very much alike a sickel. Atzel cried out, squeesing her eyes shut as he lunged at her with it... only to find that he had just cut her uniform open. The rest of the ascidians chuckled silently and chatted idly, as if they were discussing the outcome of yestedays ball game.

The doctor took one of her firm pale breasts in his hand and said something to his companions, whom laughed heartily.

 

Revoltion welled up inside of her from the creature's offeding touch, as well as anger. Where they making fun of her very anatomy? How dare they, the damn hairy monkeys...

Her train of thought was brutally interupted as the creature drove his fist into the bodypart in question, sharp and hard, forcing her to bite her lip hard, making it bleed even more, not to cry out. The blond haired freaks laughed loudly at her as tears welled up in her eyes, both from pain and rage.

 

The good doctor then picked up what to Atzel's horror was an instrument quite like a hacksaw and with a professional look on his face placed it against her collar bone, putting a hand on her shoulder to push it down.

The first stroke just sliced the skin and Atzel grithed her teeth in pain.

The second bit into the bone.

Her agoniced cry split the silence like a ripsaw... her heels drumming against the table as her body twisted spasticly... but the straps holding her down made it impossible to move even an inch.

By the tenth stroke, her plees for mercy had turned into nothing but a stream of gibbrish, mixed with sobs and cries of agony.

By the time the toothed blade had cut through four quarters of the bone, the user jerked it free with a disappointed look on his face as his victim had fainted from the pain.

 

(Yuck... I made myself sick writing that. I'm going to go have a lay down and think happy thoughts for a while )

[Caster13]

Terra found herself in a simple room. A living room from the looks of it. There was a TV, a couch, a bookshelf and even a computer on a nearby desk. A wide open window let in a stream of bright sunlight. She was sitting on the couch, sitting comfortably in her beige short shorts and a simple light green tank top. In her lap, a copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was opened up, a book from nearly half a century ago. This book was actually made out of pages. Properly cut pieces of paper glued and fitted together to make a real, authentic book. She read.

 

She read, flipping one page after another, taking in the text, images of wizards and witches and magic were conjured in her imagination. Than Martin came in through a door, holding a book himself, from the looks of it, it was a Terry Prachet fantasy novel. Terra looked up at him and smiled meekly as he sat down beside her. She repositioned herself, shifting her body weight to lean against Martin as he opened up his book and began to read.

 

Reality flickered and shifted shapes, colours and dimensions. Within a split second it returned to normal again. Terra and Martin continued to sit on the couch, in the cozy living room seemingly unaware that the world collapsed for a slight second before righting itself using some freak loophole in the laws of physics.

 

The two continued to read to themselves contently.

[Loonie]

Just for a moment there Martin had a wierd kind of relapse. Of something he should be remembering but just didn't register inside him. It was begging him to refresh that memory and act on it with all of his will, but somehow the memory just couldn't be found.

 

"Bah" Martin thought to himself. There were tonnes of such superstitions he had every day and so far almost none of them turned out important. Besides the book he was holding looked rather interesting, especially since it was one of the "true" books like Terra was reading as well. "The Truth" it was called. There was something important in that title Martin thought, though he couldn't place his finger on it. Still his mind didn't give it that much second thought about it and he began reading it. As he continued listing through the pages he came upon the word "eyes" once.

 

Martin then shook his head a bit and didn't quite know what came over him, but that urge he felt at the beginning suddenly increased again for some reason. He was getting rather angry at his brain for doing this to him and was determined to continue reading the book. Then he once again came upon the word "eyes". Now Martin put the book down on his lap and stared blankly into the air. "I wonder..." he spoke as he slowly looked towards Terra's eyes. As he set his vision onto them it suddenly came back to him and he began remembering the details. "Disrupt people here and convince them that all of this is a dream. Got it" he thought to himself. But a nasty thought came across him that told him that at any moment now the Ascadians would detect his thoughts and would disconnect him before he could do anything.

 

But as he waited for a few seconds nothing happened. He was wondering what could've happened. Perhaps they were elswhere now and not supervising the team? Whatever the reason he now had to snap the rest of the people out of this trance before the controllers came back. But how? The only way to do that was to convince their minds, it was of no use disrupting them physically. He decided to start with the person the nearest to him:

 

"Terra, do you think there are any paperback or hardback books that were brought with us on the Patton?" he said as he motioned with his head towards the two books. "And even if they had been how could they have survived the Patton's first destruction?"

[Caster13]

"Hey," Terra muttered in response to Martin quietly. "You're right."

 

BZZRT!

 

A completel hollow darkness surrounded Terra's mind suddenly. The sound of footsteps and her heart beating could be heard. An explosion came at her from the right. She turned to face the sound with her rifle raised.

 

Decked out fully in her suit, Terra spotted two sectoids coming at her with plasma rifles. She dropped to one knee and began to open fire, watching with confidence and success as the sectoids' heads were torn up by bullets. She smiled as they dropped dead and stood up to move out.

 

There were more bugs out there. There was a fire burning, and another sectoid appeared from it, slightly burned and daze, Terra quickly rushed it, knocking it down with the butt of her rifle than unloaded a few rounds into its prone body.

 

Other X-Com soldiers began to appear, along with more aliens. Mutons and snakemen and even a sectopod appeared, all battling it out with each other. The entire scene was completely chaotic carnage.

 

What a rush! Terra thought to herself.

[Ghost]

<<rewinding a little, ending roughly where Atzel gets dragged into the room>>

 

Coming from the peaceful dream world Ghost was still a bit dazed as he was dragged off to the 'cubicle' on the side of the room. By the time he had fully regained conciousness he was sitting in a chair, arms and legs securely attached to the chair, and a tight strap keeping his chest and head against the chair as well. He was unable to move, unable to even turn his head. All he could see was something that looked like a window, a window behind which he saw what could only be the cubicle they saw from the 'psi-trance' room. In that room he saw the two bulky Ascadians idly standing guard at the entrance. In his own room, he didn't really see much at all besides the window. He struggled a little, trying to break the clamps holding him down, but to no avail.

 

"Try as you might, I'm afraid that even you will not be able to break these constraints Lieutenant Schmerjchanikov. Or should I say Ghost? They are reinforced with Feronium", a voice in near perfect english spoke to him, though the voice did not sound entirely human.

At the mention of his name Ghost tried to turn his head towards the Ascadian unable to repress his surprise. How did this Ascadian know his name? It's not like it's a secret, but still they would have needed to do thorough research to know the names and ranks of the X-Com troopers.

"Oh come now, don't look at me so surprised. We have been monitoring your operations for some time now. That is how we were able to locate and attack your precious Patton, as well as capture you and your team. There are a few things we want to know from you though. One of which being the location of your base. The infamous "Nova Alpha Omega". You can spare yourself, and your team a lot of pain if you cooperate with us and just tell us what we want to know, because I guarantee you. We will find out, one way or the other."

 

As the Ascadian talked to him, Ghost paid less and less attention to his words. When the Ascadian was finally done talking he turned his eyes at the Ascadian, looking him straight in the eyes with a faint grin.

"You have obviously not researched us long enough then if you expect me to tell you that information under any circumstance." Ghost grinned a bit more defiantly at the Ascadian, and then closed his eyes, as if the Ascadian didn't matter anymore.

 

"Very well then, it shall be as you choose. I will be here if you want to tell me anything."

As the interrogator stepped back, another Ascadian stepped forward, dressed somewhat like a doctor. He had something like a syringe in his hand, which he stuck into Ghost's arm as if he were stabbing it in a random piece of meat. As the fluid from the syringe spread through his arm and body he felt a light warm glow, where-ever the fluid went. Actually it didn't feel so bad at all... then the warmth began to increase however, turning slowly into a slightly burning sensation, still heating up, and feeling as if his body was being engulfed in flames. On the background of the pain he could hear the voice of the interrogator speaking to him, "You know that we can make the pain stop, if only you tell us what we want to know."

Ghost did not answer this, pain surging through every part of his body. He would not have been surprised if any of his body parts would have spontaneously combusted. But they didn't. After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only about an hour, the pain slowly subsided... possibly because it wore off, or maybe they wanted to try another way of torture...

 

"Your resilience is quite commendable, but if you think this was all you are severely mistaken. We have more... advanced means at our disposal. However those will work better, more painful, on a subject that hasn't been numbed by pain yet. And naturally you will get to watch your friend suffer like that. Of course it still remains that you can stop the pain immediately by simply telling us what we want to know."

 

He noticed the two goons in the cubicle were gone, the pain had numbed his senses, and thinking was slow, so it took him a minute before he realized they were probably off to get another victim. Apparently they wanted him to watch through this window. Most likely it was like one of those windows that were transparent from only one side, though he wasn't too sure about that. Who knows what these Ascadians still have in store for them.

He wondered who they would select next... perhaps Kacur, he would be one of the few that would know as much as him regarding NAO and everything. When the door opened he was surprised by the person they dragged in: One of the new privates.. Atzel. What were they trying to achieve by this, did they think he would sooner give in if it were a woman they tortured in stead of a man? It would make sense, though apparently they didn't know Ghost that well yet then... he had seen his share of pain and loss in his life. And he knew that the women of X-Com were no less than their male counterparts... he had found that out the painful way... to him it wasn't any more or less bad regardless of the gender of the person that was being tortured there...

 

<<insert flashback here, I won't write that out right here right now, maybe in my next post >>

[Strong Bob]

<<This may not seem like the dream land the rest of you would think... But trust me, the good part comes later. >>

 

"Albino! Wake up"

 

Scott opened his eyes. Things were blurry at first but everthing came into perspective fast. He was in a car, the front passenger seat. To his right, out the window, he saw a "Burger 'Topia" fast food restauraunt. To his left, in the driver's seat, a slendor dark skinned woman wearing a police uniform was looking at him and snapping her fingers in his face. Scott groggily stretched his arms and looked at her groaning.

 

Scott: Damnit 'Liz... What's going on?

 

Elizabeth: Watcha mean "what's goin' on?" You fell asleep again you lazy bum!

 

Scott shook his head, a sharp throbbing pain was searing through his face, as if a giant gorilla had punched him there not so long ago.

 

Scott: Jesus... I've just had the weirdest dream.

 

Elizabeth: Oh no, not the one where you run off joinin' X-COM again...

 

Scott: Yeah but... This time it was so...

 

Scott tried hard to remember his "dream". But, like with most dreams, thing's started to dissappear from his mind. Unable to remember any specifics he changed the subject.

 

Scott: Ah, forget it. (Looking to the restaurant on his right) So what's the situation here?

 

Elizabeth got out of the patrol car. She kept the door open waiting for Scott to get out as well.

 

Elizabeth: My stomach's rumblin'. Now let's go get somethin' to eat we're three hours late for lunch!

 

Scott sighed, smiling. He left the car as well, feeling a bit uncomfortable in his police uniform. It felt stale and unfamiliar. Maybe he was just sleeping on it the wrong way...

 

___

 

 

Joseph Scott and, his partner, Elizabeth Corman were sitting at a corner of the restaurant. Awaiting their food orders. He couldn't stop staring at Elizabeth every few seconds, he felt as though something was very wrong with her but he couldn't put his finger on it. She seemed fine but very out of place.

 

Elizabeth: (Noticing Scott's gaze) Whatcha lookin' at?

 

Scott: (Snapping back to "reality") N-nothing. Sorry, I just feel a little weird right now...

 

Elizabeth: Well relax Albino. Enjoy yer life.

 

Scott gave her a confused look. Saying that was very unusual for her. Suddenly Scott noticed something strange. A man was standing in front of the cashier desk pointing something at the clerk with something beneath his coat. Obvious to Scott, the place was being robbed... Right in front of them?

 

Scott: (Quickly speaking) 'Liz, 6-73 in progress.

 

Without another word Scott moved out of his seat in a fluid motion. Closing in on the robber. He drew his .9mm glock and called out...

 

Scott: Drop the weapon and put your hands in the air! Do it now!

 

The man stopped for a second before turning around to Scott. As he turned around he pulled out a small pistol from his pocket and attempted to make a shot at Scott.

 

*BLAM*

*BLAM*

 

Two bullets exchanged... The robber was on the ground with a direct shot in the chest, Scott was still standing unharmed. His opponent's hand was shakey, sending his shot straight into the floor just two meters behind Scott.

 

Scott turned back to Elizabeth... She was still sitting down at the table, but looking at Scott in amazement. He turned back at the body now lain on the ground, moving closer Scott recognized his face.

 

Scott: Kacur!? The hell...

[Loonie]

Kacur grabbed Scott lightly by the shoulder and quickly offered an explanation:

 

"I was hoping you'd do that, in fact I was damn certain of it." Kacur grinned slightly after that before continuing with a very serious face: "I needed your attention and I knew that becoming a part of your phantasy was the only way. I learned it the hard way after trying it with Fleche. Now that I've hopefully gotten your undivided attention you will hopefully listen to me."

 

Scott shot back an angry glance at his superior officer, or former superior as Scott saw it now, and replied as he pulled him to his feet: "Ha! Listen to you?! I've had it up to heeeeere with listening to your orders." he said as he motioned with his hand up to his throat. "First you frost out that damn rookie so as I get removed off of piloting the Avenger and THEN you send me to patrol duty after a mission when I'm all exhausted. You think you can do everything by pulling rank dont ya. Well not now. I've got freedom to do whatever I please and you can bet your life that you're not going to be part of what I define as freedom." he concluded as he turned around and looked towards Elizabeth. Martin couldn't hope to grab him forcefully and he knew it. The only thing he could do was convince him with words:

 

"Dammit Joseph think about it! Ask yourself why the heck can you get anything you want?"

 

The Private's response was rather swift as he turned around, still walking backwards away from Martin: "Why should I care? I've got what I want so why the heck should I question it. Now leave me alone you stupid f*ck"

 

Martin now decided to reply quickly before Scott would wish him away. If Kacur came to the realization of this place through his dreams being shattered then so could this stubborn Private. And Martin decided to turn Joseph's wishes the only way he knew how AND he also knew that the Private's dreams would ultimately fail his expectations. They most certainly would:

 

"You'd want me to leave you, eh you shithead idiot? I suppose it's nice dreaming in a nice phantasy and not facing the truth that you're one of the most self centered f*cks I've ever met. To think that if it weren't on that occasion when you chased after that ball for my good will to save your rookie ass from the fire you'd most likely be pushing daisies right now. And still you disobey my orders, well here's how we can do it tough guy. You can go back to phantasising of shoving your tounge down that bitches' throat" he said as he pointed towards Elizabeth "or you can face me here and fight me. I know you want to and it'll be a pleasure to kick your rookie ass right back into the stone age where neanderthals like you belong."

 

Martin was really exhausted now. For someone who wanted good for other people he sure did know how to swear! Now all that remained was to await until Scott did the obvious and imagined Martin being tortured most painfully. That would be the first stepping stone in how to break him from this dreamy phantasy...

 

<<Heheheh! Tag Bob! >>

[Strong Bob]

Scott: You son of a bitch!!!

 

Scott lunged himself at Kacur, grabbing him by the throat and thrusting him over the cashier counter. He fell onto his back as Scott leaped over the counter as well, pinning down his former CO and grabbing his neck once again. He repeatedly slammed Kacur's head into the floor in uncontrolled rage.

 

Scott: Miserable bastard! My life was fine before I joined X-COM! I had friends... Family! I was their protector, and I knew every day I put someone in jail I made their lives that much better! But now look at me! I'm half way across the f**king universe and I can't do a f**king thing for them! For all I know they're all mutilated bodies hanging on the ceiling of some f**king Temple of Sirius now!

 

Tears welled up in Scott's eyes. Blood began splattering from the back of Kacur's head, but his face indicated he felt no pain. He loosened his grip of Kacur, forcing himself to calm down.

 

Scott: What am I doing!? Why am I... Kacur's been nothing but good to me. He's right, if not for him I may be dead right now... It's not his fault I made the mistake of joining X-COM. It's not his fault a better pilot was needed... Atzel... Why am I mad at her too? She's a better pilot than I'll ever be, and despite being so Green, she talks as though it's from experience.

 

Scott sat back, still unable to look away from Kacur's grinning face.

 

Scott: I joined X-COM because I thought I could serve the world better that way. Was that truly a mistake? Instead of busting Psiclone dealers and rapists I'm taking down beings of great power bent upon genocide... Am I wasting my chance?

 

Scott's train of thought was interrupted as Elizabeth moved to his side. She had her glock drawn and pointed down on Kacur's face.

 

Elizabeth: Just give me the word Albino! And I'll make this f**ker go away. Then you and I can back to our duty... To protect civilization and make a difference! Away from X-COM!

 

Scott: (Still looking into Kacur's eyes) Put the gun down 'Liz.

 

Elizabeth: Don't do this Scott! He's bullshittin' you!

 

Scott stood back up and took a few steps back. Looking at Elizabeth's face with an expression of loss and depression.

 

Scott: I remember now... A year and a half ago.

 

Elizabeth: What the f**k you talkin' 'bout!?

 

Scott: Sergeant Elizabeth Corman died from a direct gunshot wound to the head... I know, because I was there when it f**king happened!

 

Elizabeth: Don't you go fallin' for this guy's bull! Now, are you gon' let me shoot him or not!?

 

Scott pulled out his glock. As he pointed it at her it seemed to morph into the X-COM laser pistol. He noticed his clothes had changed color as well. The black police outfit he was wearing mere seconds ago had changed into the standard tan X-COM uniform.

 

Scott: I said put the gun down. If you were the real 'Liz, you would trust me enough to do that.

 

Elizabeth: Make a choice Joseph! Is it gon' be him? The guy that nearly shot the cashier at this very place! Or will it be me? Your partner for 6 long years who's never once betrayed you, never!

 

Scott: (Thinking for a moment) My partner died a year and a half ago. And by the way... In those 6 long years she not once ever called me "Joseph"!

 

He pulled the trigger on his laser pistol, a red beam of light zipped through Elizabeth's head, sending a strange ripple throughout her body. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light and everything in the restaurant dissappeared...

 

<<That was a nice one Loon. But the thing I was getting at before was that Scott had literally forgotten about his X-COM days. But I like what you did a little better. >>

[Loonie]

<<Heheh, glad to be of some assistance I guess. Actually I planned this out somewhat differently but okay. This is after all called roleplay. >>

 

Again the same drama repeated as before and the two soon saw each other in the room where the others were still happily enjoying their dreams. Martin quickly looked over to Scott and shouted:

 

"You've got to engrave what you've just experienced into your memory! Just keep repeating to yourself a single word that you know means a great deal to you. Try to make it as generic as possible and just repeat it to yourself in your mind over and ov...."

 

Martin was then knocked back into dreamland by one of the Ascadians apparently very angry at what had just occured. He would not give the Psionisist another chance if the same process repeated, even though he knew that the chances of X-Com actually managing an escape through this method was very unlikely. He moved towards Scott as well before giving him a hard thump on the head as well.

 

----------

 

Martin found himself in the NAO mess hall again and for a brief glimpse he thought he had seen someone he knew, out of the corner of his eye, chasing down aliens and firing at them manically. He managed to look towards the figure briefly and upon seeing it he immediately remembered her eyes. That was all that was needed for Martin to remember the truth this time and he quickly went into observing what she was doing at this moment, inadvertently wishing at the same part that he could somehow become part of that phantasy that she was experiencing, someone important to her.

 

No further thoughts were needed as Martin suddenly found himself in an X-Com soldier's uniform carrying a rifle and standing besides Fleche who was still in the rush of battle. He was quite confused by the scene at first and even more so when Fleche addressed him:

 

"Shinji" she said as she looked towards him.

 

Martin then glanced downwards to his body and towards Terra. He noticed that he was almost her own size now whereas before he had been quite a bit taller than her. He noticed also his different build and it suddenly clicked inside him - "someone important to her." It made Kacur quite dizzy and unfocused for a moment but he then remembered that this could be his ultimate way of convincing her of the reality. But how......how could he use logic here and especially with Terra? Then he remembered the time that Terra had first slapped him and a thought entered his mind at that memory: "She really does seem to blame everyone but herself...if only I could change that somehow..."

 

"Shinji! Are you gonna help me out or what? Come on! Join in the fun" was a yell that brought Martin back to "reality" as Terra aimed and fired towards several Mutons that were bunched up together. Martin now decided to do something which would quite possibly be very ugly for her, but something that HAD to be done if she was ever to face the truth. He aimed his rifle towards her slowly, so that she would notice as he did that.

 

Terra looked rather puzzled at the first moment and screamed: "Shinji! What are..." It was too late however as "Shinji" began firing at her on full automatic, the bullets that impacted obviously not doing any damage to Terra. But her own survival reflexes kicked in as several bullets impacted with her skin nonetheless and she quickly let several rounds fly. As soon as just one of those bullets hit "Shinji" he stumbled backwards and looked towards Terra with an expression upon his face of utter astonishment and dissapointment. He slowly went to the ground, first falling to his knees before finnaly rolling towards the ground, lying motionlessly after twitching occasionaly before.

 

<<Tag Fleche please >>

[Caster13]

Terra stopped firing. She dropped her rifle. A wounded muton crawled around in the background for a bit but she didn't notice or care. She quickly ran to the fallen Shinji. She melted down to him quickly and starred at his body.

 

"I killed you." Mutons approached, surrounding her. "For the second...time..."

 

Bzzrt! Blackness.

 

"What the hell is going on?" Terra yelled out loud into the void.

[Atz]

The first half hour had been they yet most horrifying experiance in her life. Or the first ten minutes, or whatever it might had been.

The pain increasing injections, the hot pokers, the barbed needles, the electric shocks... whatever they wanted from her, they had been sure to get it unless she had found It.

The Trick. She didn't know what to call it yet, but until later it was the Trick.

She couldn't describe how she did it, she had just suddenly stumbled over it, but it was as if she took everything that was she and put it in a dark void inside her body, shutting out the outside world. She could feel what her tormenters were doing to her but it didn't bother her.

She felt at ease there, it spread a feeling of cozy warm darkness in her mind.

After a while her tormentors decided that they needed a break and after giving her a doubel shot of that stuff that made it feel like her body was set on fire, they left.

She tested her restraints... they were very solid. She looked up.

 

"Hello Lt." she said, her voice dry and hoars... trying to focus on him, but it was hard since her right eye was pretty swollen.

Even afterwards, she could not explain why she of all things added "You look just like I feel Ghost... how are ya holding up?"

[Ghost]

Apparently what seemed to be a window between the cubicle and the room they moved Ghost to, wasn't a window, but just an opening in the wall.

Atzel's added comment managed to make Ghost grin slightly and chuckle, immediately followed by a few coughs.

"Ugh, well if I look as crappy as I feel, then you must feel pretty bad right now."

 

Much more chance to talk they didn't get, as an Ascadian came towards Ghost, which gave him a hard smack in the face. Before everything went dark he heard the Ascadian grunting "Prisoners will not be talking to eachother"

 

A few moments later, Ghost found himself waking up in a prison cell. The sun was shining through the barred window, and the heavy iron door prevented his escape. He rubbed his head, it felt like he had been hit by a freight train... what happened again? How did he get here again?

The door opened, and bright light came in from the hallway. Bright compared to the semi-twilight that was almost permanent in the prison cell. From the bright light, two figures came forward. As his eyes got used to the bright light, and he saw the uniform the figures were wearing, he remembered again.

The two figures that entered the room were a man and a woman, neither of which he had ever seen before, but their uniform told him all he needed to know: X-Com! Both the man and the woman were armed with an X-Com rifle, and neither looked like they would hesitate a second to pull the trigger.

He should have known it was a mistake to go on with their mission to raid that X-Com experimental weapons depot... he already had a bad feeling about it when their intel was so inconsistent.

"Come on Cult-boy, get up. Time for your game of Twenty Questions... with a twist," said the woman, gesturing with her rifle for him to get up.

Slowly Ghost rose to his feet and walked towards the door, both rifles continuously pointed at him as he was taken away to a small room with just a table and 2 chairs, a little down the hall. He was told to sit down on one of the chairs, while the two guards moved to the door. The guy stepped outside, while the woman stayed inside and guarded the door from that end.

After a few minutes waiting the door opened again and another woman in an X-Com uniform entered, carrying a file in her hand.

She sat down and opened the file, looking at a blurry picture, then up at Ghost and back at the picture, then closed the folder again.

"Dmitri Schmerjchanikov, member of the Cult of Sirius, and apparently one of their militant cells as well. I am sure you understand why you are being held here, and I think you probably understand what we want to know from you too. Who ordered you to raid that facility?" She looked him straight in the eyes, obviously not even caring a bit about the person sitting in front of her, just about what he could tell her.

"If you know so much about me, then I'm sure you will be quite aware that I won't tell you anything you need to know," Ghost looked back at her, confident that he would be able to keep whatever they wanted to know hidden.

She nodded quietly, and walked over to the guard at the door. She talked at a soft tone with the woman for a moment, Ghost could not hear what was said, but the guard nodded eventually and as the interrogator moved back to her seat, the guard moved to behind Ghost and gave him a hard smack with the butt of her rifle in his back, and grabbed his arm, twisting it as far as it could go without breaking. A very painful position. The interrogation went on for nearly an hour, during which the guard managed to surprise him with her strength, despite her being a woman, causing him a lot of pain each time he didn't answer as he should. Eventually they had apparently heard all they needed to hear, as the guard moved to his side and gave him a hard smack with the butt of her rifle again, sending him back to the land of the unconcious.

 

And again a sharp pain flashed through Ghost's skull as he opened his eyes again, looking straight at the interrogator Ascadian he had spoken to before.

"Ahh, welcome back. I hope you had pleasant dreams Mr. Ghost, because I am quite sure the coming hours will be quite unpleasant for you."

The last thing Ghost saw, before they resumed their interrogation, was that the cubicle in front of him was now empty, no Atzel... what they had done with her, he didn't know. But she wasn't there anymore. He hoped they had let her back with the others, as bad as imprisonment might be, it's better than torture...

 

<<Tag Atzel Also, for those wondering: Ghost is experiencing a flashback to when he was still a cultist, not thanks to the gits dream machine, but just a regular dream/flashback >>

[Loonie]

Darkness enveloped both Kacur and Fleche, but Martin already knew this darkness. He shouted into it, hoping that Fleche would hear him before he would be towed away by the gits:

 

"Terra listen to me! You've got to remember this now and remember it good. Think of something that has happened during this incident and engrave it..."

 

Just then a blinding light shined in as two large figures stepped out of it, their shilouettes approaching Kacur. He had to continue talking though if there was any hope for Terra:

 

"...engrave it into your mind deeply. Make sure the word you choose is as generic as possible and keep repeating it to yourself right now before these gits put you back to sleep.....URGH"

 

One of the Ascidians decided that Martin was just being too talkative and gave him a strong punch in the belly. Still the Psionisist managed to speak, though with a lower voice whilst resisting the two gits that were dragging him away:

 

"Find Scott! He........*wheeze*....also knows of this....find him continue convincing people.....*huff*"

 

Martin was then dragged out of sight from Fleche and towards the cubicle where Evander was previously at. On his way in he noticed Ghost through one of the windows at the side of his cubicle, quickly turning his head back to the other API that were strapping him down onto the table. Once again the same Ascidian that had just spoken to Ghost now moved to Martin's table and looked down towards him as he spoke in a sinister voice:

 

"Well well...I had thought you would resist more when we brought you here Lieutenant Martin Kacur, but you seemed to be veeeery cooperative with us as we marched you here. Except of course in the beginning. Veeery wrong of you to do that I'm afraid indeeeeeed."

 

Martin looked over towards Ghost who responded weakly but still quite casually sounding:

 

"He does that to everbody. Likes to play the villan I guess..." Ghost then suffered a quick punch to his throat, which was just enough to cause nasty pain indeed, though not so as to snap it.

 

"NO TALKING" shouted the git that preformed the strike. The "villan" API however responded in a more lax manner:

 

"Let them talk Qu'nar'ga, whilst they still can..." He then circled around Martin a bit and checked him out from top to bottom, determining his approach to cracking him.

 

"You don't appear to be like the sporting type now do you? I'm surprised you even managed to move an inch in that combat suit you were wearing."

 

Several laughs erupted from the other present Ascadians, but none of which made a serious impact on Martin. He did not think of making witty statements like: "Is that what modern Ascidian interrogation is consisted of today? Making people embarrased in public?" Instead he simply remained silent as he watched the roof of the cubicle, slowly closing his eyes as the "villan Ascadian" spoke again:

 

"I see that the standard pain will not be good enough for him. Fortunately I do know a very useful information about this paticular X-Com Lieutenant. A certain sense that he posseses is very dear to him. I wonder what would happen if we were to suddenly.....remove it?"

 

Martin then audibly gulped at the thought of what that sense was. If the process was permament he would never be able to HEAR again. Never would he be able to appreciate music and much less function as an effective X-Com soldier. He wondered if these sounds were to be the last he would hear in his life...

[Atz]

"We have no use for you... yet. So I advice that you muster what strenghts you have and pray to your gods" were the words the Ascidian guard uttered when he bodily hurrled her into the small cell.

Shw throughly wished she could have managed a better answer than "Uff! Ouuuh....", because his laughter taunted her as it disappeared down the corridor.

She sat down on the narrow hard bed, ouch... her right leg hurt badly... she could barly stand on it... trying to take stock of her situation. The cell was tiny, even as cells go, barly 2.5x2 meters. The brick walls lacked windows and looked depressingly massive... aside from one brick next to the bed that looked... loose. She prodded it and it shifted easily, falling into... and other cell. And it was an empty one, at that.

She sighed and sat down again. Most of her wounds had stopped bleeding by now, but she felt a bit wonky. Probebly a mix of all those drugs and slight bloodloss. And her clothes were a mess. Did they really have to tear them to stripes? Bastards. Well, nothing to do anything about. Might as well try to get some rest.

She hadn't noticed how exhausted she were, but almost directly as her head hit the pillow, she fell into an uneasy sleep, were maniacly laughing ascidians in white robes hunted her with stunrods and scalpels.

[DragonHawk]

Where am I?

 

Sergeant Kevin Ong looked about him, at the picturesque surroundings. Mountains, trees... Western China. Steep craggy mountains were ahead of him, covered in deep green forests. Behind him were the hills and beyond that the plains of central China. It was the place he dreamed about since he started wanting for something other than the scraps offered by the reigning Chinese Communist regime.

 

On the top of the nearest hill, he could see some sort of monastery. It was a small structure, not the most distinguished of buildings belonging to the Buddhist faith. Apparently this one was so secluded that it must have been passed over by the Communist soldiers almost a hundred years ago. It certainly did not look new...

 

Approaching the monastery, he wondered what the hell was happening. He vaguely remembered a flood of some sort... a sharp pain, then darkness. After that... this. What happened to X-Com? He became instantly suspicious.

 

The front courtyard of the monastery was not vacant. In the centre, were two monks. Raising their heads at the intrusion, the monks looked towards the gate. Ong, seeing the faces, gasped. Ko and Fox!

 

"Kevin, there you are" smiled Kaitlin. "Come over here, we're about to begin our forms." Ko merely nodded and grinned.

 

"What's going on here? What happened? Everything in my mind is garbage, I can't make sense of anything"

 

Ko grinned. "Well, he's finally got his memory back! We thought that was lost forever after that one mission... That mission was a success though! We got the secrets to the warp drive, and we made it back to Earth"

 

"It's only been a couple of years since we've returned, and we've been watching over you. We were pretty much let out of X-Com after the mission," Kaitlin added.

 

"How is that possible? Where are the others?" Kevin's head swung about wildly. "Are they here?"

 

Ko and Fox looked at each other. Sadly, Stone shook her head. "Many of them made it away. Commander Weindhoven and Lieutenant Ghost were killed covering our escape, as were Howardson and McBannok. The Colonel and Lieutenant Kacur led the rest of the team out... It was rough going, but they pulled us through." Stone shook her head sadly. "So many casaulties in so short a time. We thought we could make it out... But that's the past. There's nothing we can do. So here we are, friends making sure we stay alive in the world. Derrick suggested coming here, suggesting it would be the best place for you."

 

"It is, it's perfect." My friends... they wouldn't let me down. "Thanks for everything..."

 

Ko and Stone bowed to him, and he returned it. Following them into the monastery, he tucked his suspicions into the back of his mind.

[Loonie]

There was no sound and no light.

 

Martin was now lying in a small, completely dark cell. The floor's tiles were specially constructed as they were uneven and some of them were sticking upwards whilst others were sloped in a most strange fashion. Kacur began to discover why the floor is so uneven. As he desperately began shifting around it and trying to get into a sleeping position he just couldn't seem to do it. The floor was always very uncomfortable and he found it practically impossible to fall asleep normally, in fact he even found it hard to sit on the ground.

 

He knew that he would most likely rot in here for about 2 or 3 days and then when he would have been driven insane by sleep deprivation he would do practically anything for it. Worst of all he couldn't hear anymore. It was so tranquil and peaceful, yet he began to miss the sounds rather quickly. He still imagined the music playing inside his mind and that kept him relatively sane, but it couldn't be maintained forever.

 

It was obvious to him that the only chance he had to get even the least bit of sleep was to get so deprived of it that he would eventually sleep whilst standing. It had been done before, though one had to remain perfectly still and leant onto a wall or some other object. And with that he leaned slowly with his back to the wall closest to him and closed his eyes, hoping that his own body would bear the discomfort and still lull itself into dreams.

[Chrysalid_zombie]

<< Jackson to the... erm... Rescue? >>

 

Daniel was dragged along to the chamber of strange machines by two Ascidians. He wasn't kicking or screaming because he was too busy emitting momma jokes at his captors, who were almost at the point of dis-obeying orders and killing the prisoner.

 

Jackson: And furthermore, your mother is so obese that she seems to be wearing black all the time, but only because she has a mass so huge that light cannot escape. Yeah.. You like that one don't ya guys.. eh? Guys? Laugh damn you! It's a funny joke! You understand!?! FUNNY!!!

 

They didn't think it was funny and threw him into one of the strange machines and removed his glasses. The gits threw them onto a table nearby leaving Daniel blind as well as stupid and unfunny.

 

Jackson: You gits disgust me! You'd hit a man in glasses! I bet you let children smoke as well! Or something equally evil!

 

The gits left the room in the capable hands of the many other ascidians who had gathered there to make sure no one woke up for too long. Daniel could only reflect for a couple of seconds on how the mission he'd just come from had gone so wrong, ending in his team's capture by the API. The remains of the X-com team had gone after the first team to try and rescue them, ending up in an ironic twist of their mission goals. As Daniel listened for clues as to his location, someone called out

 

Kacur: Find Scott! He........*wheeze*....also knows of this....find him continue convincing people.....*huff*"

 

Jackson: Haha! I found you! Mission objective one is complete! At least it isn't a complete bust eh? Sir?... Sir? Ah nuts.

 

Suddenly he was stood in the NAO mess hall with a couple of others. His glasses were back on...

 

Jackson: Riiight.... This is a new one. I sure wish I knew where everyone was...

 

*ping!*

 

TV screens appeared showing various scenes of happiness, prison cells and torture.

 

Jackson: One of those games is it? I've got news for you Gits! I've seen this plot on TV so many times that I can already tell you how it ends! We'll all realise that it's a fake world, we'll band together to find an exit and then one of the scientists or something will work out what the exit button is! Then we'll escape and open an entire bathtub of whoopass on you and yo mommas!

 

*Ping!*

 

A box of chocolate appeared in front of him on the table. Daniel regarded it with suspicion and then threw it away with the bat of his hand.

 

Jackson: Bribery is it? Lets see, in SG-1 they made the group go through their worst moments over and over. In the Matrix it was just a simulated world... This doesn't fit either. Probably more like that Star Trek: The Third Generation episode where the sexy Romulan was interrogated with the device that made her dreams come true. Mmmm... Sexy Romulan....

 

*Ping!*

 

Jackson: I already know what just appeared behind me, it wont work as I have foiled your evil schemes. In fact I'm off this very second to try and free everyone else.

 

His vision went black and he 'woke up' for a second before being hit over the head. He appeared back in the paradise prison.

 

Jackson: Ow! I felt that! Stupid pain... seems to travel over for some reason.

 

~~~~ Meanwhile, in the 'real world' ~~~~

 

API Scientist: What is going wrong with this one!?! He didn't even last a minute before we had to hit him!

 

Technician: I don't know! We tested this on captured aliens to see how powerful the psionic systems were, even sectoids fell under! Does he have a super high Psionic rating?

 

API Intelligence officer: No. This is *looks at a file* Ja'cks'son. He is by all reports so low on psionic skill that we look like Ethereals compared to him. He also seems to be of low intelligence and very, very annoying. Surely these wouldn't affect the system?

 

Technician: Well the machine draws its fantasies from the subject's thoughts and memories... In theory he could be so stupid that his own fantasies aren't good enough for him. Or they could be so weird the computer system can't replicate them. These humans are clearly an inferior race! Dra'ctn'ec! Keep hitting him when he wakes up! I'm going to try and reconfigure the system!

 

Jackson: You can't stop me! I'm the One! I can shape the Matrix as I *thwack* ...

 

<<Looks like Daniel's madness is coming in handy at last. >

[Loonie]

Martin finished typing out his de-brief and decided to head out of his office now to find the two people with which he had finished his report. He could already guess Scott's location and he quickly headed towards the Med-Bay, thinking through what he was going to say to him.

 

There was no doubt that he had deserved the Corporal promotion by now. The only thing was wether he would get the wrong message by recieving it. The thing was that he had no doubt that Scott had saved Evander's life. The shot that impacted at Scott's torso would've no doubt hit Atzel in the head had he not placed his body in between the API soldier and Atzel. But it was still quite a foolish act to just place himself in harms way like that and Martin would make darn sure that Scott would get the message.

 

As he entered Med-Bay he noticed Scott being conscious and looking towards Kacur's way, as if he was expecting him. Martin slowly approached him and sat down next to his bed beginning with the words: "How're you feeling?"

 

Scott grinned back and replied: "Not too shabby sir, though the Doc seems to be a bit hostile since the last mission I'd say..."

 

"Well he has a good reason for it. You went out of your way to get yourself injured so I'm not surprised he's pretty angry with you."

 

"Well he needs to ask himself if he'd want either another patient on his hands or if he would want a bodybagged Private instead. I guess it would be one less patient for him and shorten his workload but I guess..."

 

Martin saw that Scott was going to keep on prattling to prove his right, something he didn't need to do right now, and interrupted him: "Corporal you'll leave that subject alone since there's no sense in beating it to the ground now."

 

Joseph made a bit of a puzzled look at the first word to come out of Martin's mouth but then realized its meaning soon, just as Martin presented him the Corporal stripe.

 

<<Bob finishes up what happened next in this discussion. >>

 

After finishing with him now he had a more ardous task in front of him. He headed towards the personnel quarters of NAO and soon found Fleche's room. The door was closed so he figured it might not have been the best of times to stop by, but this time Martin had had it with her and was determined and set to talk to her about whatever she had to say to him along with presenting her the promotion. He knocked on the metal door several times awaiting for her to open the door.

 

<<Tag Fleche >>

[Caster13]

Terra opened her door but slammed it shut once she saw Kacur's face causing him to jump in surprise. The door opened again and Terra peaked out meekly and muttered a quick apology.

 

The ackward pause that took place seem to emphasize the existence of the door with Kacur on one side and most of Terra's body on the opposite. She pushed the door open all the way and invited Kacur in.

 

Again another silent pause filled the room. Kacur continued to remain standing just inside the doorway. Terra sat down on her bed and the expression on her face seem to be of confusion and apprehension.

 

"Do you... You have any mechanical or artificial parts?" She asked quietly, not looking at Kacur.

[Strong Bob]

<<Insert in the spot between Kacur's presentation of Corporal Stripes to Scott and when he left to see Fléche>>

 

Scott: Corporal? I don't mean to sound ungrateful... But it's about time.

 

Scott took the stripes from Kacur, he just held them in front of his face studying them.

 

Scott: "Corporal Scott". Nice ring to it.

 

Kacur: Well, *Sigh* Congratulations Corporal. Now if you'll excuse me...

 

Kacur turned to leave, but Scott had something to say first.

 

Scott: Sir! Wait!

 

Kacur: (Turning back to Scott) Yes?

 

Scott: (Exhaling deeply) Look, I... I just want to apologize for how I've acted in the past... I've always been rebellious when I know my tactics are better.

 

Kacur couldn't help but smile at Scott's conceited comment.

 

Scott: And after seeing Commander Weindhoven's strategy... I must say you must be the best Commanding Officer this base ever had. I mean come on... Who's never heard of a f**king quartermaster!?

 

Scott got frustrated and had to fight himself to keep from crushing his newly earned insignia. After a few seconds of grinding his teeth at the thought of the Commander's style of strategy, he got himself back to the topic.

 

Scott: Well... I'm sorry. But, Weindhoven... Different story...

 

Kacur: I wouldn't be so brash with him, Corporal. The Commander is not quite as forgiving as I am.

 

Scott: And not quite as smart either!

 

Kacur: Well, I've got something to do. (Looking at Scott's wounded leg) Can you walk yet?

 

Scott: I probably can. But the Doc is keeping me here to torture me... Like I said!

 

Scott leaned back on the medical bed, still holding the Corporal stripes in front of him.

 

Scott: Thank you sir...

 

Kacur left the medical bay without a word. Likely he didn't hear Scott's last sentence.

 

Scott: Hmm, Corporal now. Well, at least I can shout orders at Atzel in the Avenger cockpit for a change instead of vice versa.

 

<<Okay, just so Mouse doesn't kick me out of XCAS for this... My hostilities towards Weindhoven is entirely in character. I don't hate you personally Mouse, Scott does , I just value in character roleplaying more than anything else. So uh, yeah... >>

[Chrysalid_zombie]

<< Well done on the promtions new CPLs, I sense much ph34r/ph33r of you, but you are not all 1337 yet... *breathes heavily*

 

Yes, a Star Wars parody regarding promtion in XCAS. Yes it isn't that funny. No, I'm not too bothered >>

 

~~~~ Medbay, NAO ~~~~

 

Daniel sat in his medical bed idly battling the two monsters he had made from Ascidian vegetables and toothpicks that he'd gotten for his last meal. He didn't really like the vegetables, but he did like playing 'Godzillo vs. Optimus Prime', so the logic was to make one into the other.

 

Jackson: "And now Optimus, you shall die. None can survive my radioactive death breath! Mwahaha! *Shakes vegetable 1 up and down as if laughing* you underestimate me Godzillo! For I know you're weakness! A good beating to the head! *hits the vegatbles together until one of them is damaged* "No! Curse you Optimus! You have severed my thin wooden arm! Flame breath! *shakes one about a bit* Haha! You are defeated! Now I shall destroy Tokyo!... Not so fast Godzillo"

 

At that point Kacur walked in and started speaking to Scott, who was a few beds down. Daniel had asked why he couldn't be next to him, but Yorke had said something about 'Mental Health and Safety act 2016' and walked off. He watched as he was given the CPL stripes and had a quick 'talk' before Kacur marched off. He shouted over to him.

 

Jackson: "Hey! Welcome to the club! I'd give you our introductory basket of Ascidian vegetables but right now I've got Optimus and Kong King lined up for a title fight later on."

 

Scott: "Ascidian vegetables? Are they different to Earth vegetables in that they viciously maul each other?"

 

Jackson: "Yes, but only when combined with tooth picks! Plus when you eat them, they give you super powers and stuff."

 

Scott: "You're in here for the mental check up as well as the leg right?"

 

Jackson: "Hell no. They gave up on that stuff a while back... Heck I haven't had a check up since... Three years before we left for here"

 

Scott: "And you've made CPL... And stayed alive? There's hope for me yet."

 

Jackson: "Nope! I made SGT! But then they moved the system around a bit and I asked to get put back to CPL... I got fed up of people always asking what to do and stuff when I was busy trying to figure out what the hell I should do. Plus I tended to be unable to give orders after a few minutes of combat...

 

Scott: << insert responce here >>

 

<< Will Optimus defeat Godzillo? Will Scott be able to work out how Jackson is still allowed in X-com without his head imploding? Will I ever get a proper job, for instance at PC World? Only time, and the next post, will tell! >>