Richter
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Post by Richter on Jan 6, 2016 2:17:29 GMT -6
"Only the fastest get into the academy." Barker said cheerfully despite the exchanges of blade and sword, closes calls and shallow cuts. It was what some men lived for. These two apparently had some common ground in that.
Tim saw the punch coming and knew that he had no time to avoid it, so he didn't. Instead he rolled with it and put his right arm up so that James's fist would connect with it heavily. The force of the hit, his strength superior to Tiny's, sent him stumbling back. But it also sent that death-wire launching forward at James's torso again, which he'd need to deal with while the spy recovered himself.
As was predicted the heavy slash proved to be too ponderous for Tim to evade, but it did its job perfectly of setting him up for the flashbang. His eyes went wide for the handful of seconds that Gransela saw them prior to turning away, and he heard the scream through ear ringing that could only mean it had worked. Tim backed off as he had predicted, forced to put space while he fiercely rubbed his eyes to clear the spotty, washed out colors that were painted onto his retinas.
"Nice, I like it!" He exclaimed. For a little while both of them stared at each other, thinking and reevaluating one another. In a good fight, this could happen a couple of times before any decisive conclusion was reached. Tiny clicked his metal toe caps against the floor again, doing that with one foot and then switching to the other. Idle motion, or attempt to psych James out?
"I'm done hiding. Anyone who comes my way, dies. That's the name of the new game. So far so good, eh? Let's see if I can keep it up!"
It turned out to be a little bit of both. While his left foot was raised, his hand shot back, grabbed three somethings from his boot, and hurled them at the pirate. They scattered in the air and burst open all around him to disperse thick, acrid smoke that'd burn the eyes and throat in addition to blocking vision with its opaqueness.
More smoke pouring up from the vents and over the edges of the roof made him look around with surprise. "Looks like we're not the only ones having a good time. What do you think the winner down there is going to see when his side gets to the top?"
Tiny took the initiative, rushing forward again and launching another stab James's way. "They'll see me me me ME!"
---
Briggs folded his arms when it came to mention of the captain. "Maybe not tech-smart, but he knows what he's doing in other ways. How to move men, command them, stuff like that. Guys like me and you do the other stuff. No man can do it all, why we're a team. Don't let him hear you calling him a brute though, not unless you want him to punch you for real. Only man who could probably go fist to fist with him and come out close to even is the chef."
The mention of home, that caused the engineer to bring up a hand to his chin, stroking at the bushy hair that grew downwards from his heavy-set jawline.
"Home? Sometimes. I was born on a ship if you can believe it. Guilder, in fact. But life there was too structured. You do what your parents did, that's it. Not much room for flexibility or mobility. It's a safe life sure. But it isn't really yours." Briggs looked very lost in thought as he recounted this entire thing, giving the impression that it wasn't something he thought about too often. Shikoto got the feeling there was more to it than just that, but for now it'd have to do.
"I imagine you do too? You were from one of them moons on Araelia weren't you? I'd say it must be nice, probably is to most people. But gravity just don't feel natural to me. Neither does air without a bit of CO2 in it." There was a pause. "Course, when I say it like that, all this must feel just as backwards to you, don't it?"
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Jan 6, 2016 2:48:08 GMT -6
James was able to use the force of the punch to push himself slightly aside from the wire, enough to avoid a direct hit, but not enough to completely avoid it. The wire managed to tore a bit of skin and flesh near his ribs, after going right through his junk armor. It stings quite a bit, but at least it's not a big enough wound to actually bring him out of the battle. But it's a good thing they have some space between them, if they continue to fight at blank range it would just drag on the battle forever, he need a bit more space to end it.
"Well then, I had enough fun, time to get back to business and talk to the real 'Tiny'... Come."
He stabbed his sword back on the ground again, stretching a bit and looking straight at his opponent. He know Tiny have something up his sleeve, or else there would be no reason for the shorter man to come directly at him rather than using his speed to his advantage... and he figured it out. When Tiny was trying to confuse James with his footwork, James noticed that the steps of the two feet sounds different. It would have been very difficult to determine the differences, and he didn't fully figured out the trick, just that he knew it would come from Tiny's feet or in the general direction of them.
Leaving his left arm by his side, he waits until Tiny pulled off his trick. When a man is sure that his trick will work, they would be less likely to care the risk that are involved, deciding that it is not something to be worried about if it won't happen. James believes that is necessary in order to perform at his best, only then will one not hesitate and can deliver the killing strike... such as now. Now is the time to determine who lives, and who dies.
He didn't avoid the coming objects, rather he throw something of his own. He had more than one flashbangs, and he throw it just right so it'll generate enough shockwave to push the gas away from himself. Not only that, both he and his opponent knows that the gas alone won't be helpful alone, it's not decisive enough. In other words, its user will surely follow up with an attack of his own, and James is waiting just for that. He took a step forward with his left foot, then with full strength as he brings his right foot down swings his trusty cleaver down at full strength, fast enough to generate a howl in the air as the blade travels and strong enough to cut through even the floor itself.
A simple slash, if Tiny continues his attack he'll surely meet James' slash, and that will determine everything. If James misses then Tiny would have the perfect opportunity to continue on his assault, otherwise he would be straight at James' attack route, and dive right into something that equals a full speed truck with all the force focused into slicing you in half... or into liquid.
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Post by Pitman on Jan 6, 2016 3:30:28 GMT -6
Shikoto heard of what the engineer was from, guilds in fact were structured due to to keep what little technology humanity had left running. True you were stuck at your position but to Shikoto that might of been a better life then outside of what space turned into. Hearing his little talk being born on a ship compared to those who live planet side was a huge differences. So much so Shikoto soon chuckled when the man asked him about what he said.
"Backwards? Not precisely, man came from the dirt and the ship was just a vehicle to go from one dirt to another dirt. No, I don't think it was backwards to be born on the ship but, things are so much different it's defining. Like for example on a world food is grown old fashion way, and humans who live in gravity are nationally stronger then those who live inn space only. But those in space have to work constantly, if they don't maintain the ship would break and everyone dies. On a planet if someone breaks it's fine you can fix it depending when you need it. So key differences between the two. Not much, but I do long to go back home as more and more or those memories slowly disappear. In fact if it wasn't for my single picture of my parents if might of forgotten."
Though this wax true Shikoto long wondered, why they lived like this and why it's so hopeless to many humans, he wondered with all this technology they keep finding made by men why was it slowly disappearing and why society slowly collpasing on itself. A question which was in this slave's mind. The single most talked about thought, it's called 'why'. Why did man come here only to have itself fall, why must people kill each other or survive and why haven't anyone attempted to rebuild into what was once before.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Jan 6, 2016 3:56:08 GMT -6
It was fleeting, but just for a moment, mentioning a 'real' Tiny knocked the smile from this one's face. He pushed the facade back up within a second, but it had unbalanced him. It'd end up to leave him vulnerable later, now his mind wasn't so focused anymore. In fact, he didn't even say anything about it, instead letting it all bleed into the tempo of the fight.
The first grenade had caught the assassin by surprise, but this one did not, that card had been played and now any others would be of diminished returns. Still, it aided him in the way he wanted, shoving back the worst of the noxious vapors. But Tiny had miscalculated and assumed that was all that he had, and for that, he would pay.
Or maybe he knew the attack was coming and still threw himself into it heedlessly? The man did seem a little deranged. Regardless, the heavy stroke of the blade came down with such resounding force that it even cut through his armor. The sound was horrific. Apparently he had some kind of metal armor on under that cloak of his and the sword either rent them, or rent out the rivets that held them to a canvas backing. Whatever the case it was deadly, and there was blood, gooey and free flowing. It covered James's sword and the ground, which also had a pretty cut dent in it. Smashed more than cut. So it seemed that he had tried to evade, then, and just couldn't abort the attack in time to quit it entirely. Mind not entirely on the battle, perhaps?
It wasn't easy to tell how deep it had hit, but the man's eyes bugged in that way they only ever do when they realize they ate a hit that they won't come back from. Guts weren't spilling out, but that didn't mean they didn't get hit. The force of the blow drove him to the ground, but he recovered fast and forced himself back up with the hand not holding his knife. For his effort, he hacked up red. He stared at the hand like he couldn't believe it.
He laughed, and then it transitioned into a furious scream with the same smoothness as turning a page of a book. He lunged over the sword for a final strike, his entire body weight behind the blade in his hand, which he drove forward like the piston of some industrial machine. If he was going to die he intended to make sure it wasn't alone.
Meanwhile hot smoke began to pour up from the lower levels in thicker plumes...
---
"Real farms, huh? I've seen them, eaten from them too. Some folks say its better than the kind of stuff we get here. Hydroponic and whatnot. I don't see it, but I've had to eat some pretty slimy stuff to get by. And I mean that literally, too." Briggs said as he contemplated what it must be like for terrestrials like him. "You're right though, it's always stressful, the life I came from. Breeds hard people, no doubt about that. Also imparts you with some damn fine skill. Adversity and all that. It's what made me the man I am. For better or worse. Don't think I'd change it even if it did mean a cushy life. Even on them planets your life still belongs to someone else. If not the guild than the nobles, if not the nobles then the merchant princes. Even here you could say we're putting our faith in the captain's hand, but at least he listens to what we have to say. More than most folks get."
He let go of his face and turned to face Shikoto now.
"I'm kind of envious. It's not really home I miss but the people there, you know? But I could see how you'd get attached to somewhere like that, the place itself. Constant. Not hostile. Maybe you'll get to see it again at some point. New boss is pretty prone to working for others and there's work to be had there all the time, way I hear it. Not really the same but better than nothing."
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Jan 6, 2016 21:21:43 GMT -6
"Hm, that didn't kill you, guess I'll have to keep working on it..."
He expected the slash to be enough to end most opponent, but apparently Tiny is skilled even to avoid some of it, although not enough to keep his life. The injuries however, would greatly decrease his opponent's ability to continue battle, and without any ally supports or chances to retreat means his death would be unavoidable in the end.
It's the third time that James had faced this weapon, enough for him to see how it was activated, and enough times for him to figure out how to deal with it. As his opponent comes, he reaches out carefully and grabs his opponent by his wrist and upper arm, then proceeds to perform an over shoulder throw. However he didn't finish it, knowing that Tiny would likely have several chances to attack him if James shows his back towards him, so instead with a twist of his arms he throws the smaller man right back down in front of him and towards the cleaver that remains on the dented ground.
Due to Tiny's position, and the grip from James, if succeeded the lighter man would have his spine slammed on the dull side of the large sword. One might be able to reduce their damages when making impact with a flat surface, but it is another story against something like this. Even if the direct impact was avoided, the force would still be enough to break bones, and would add to the already serious wounds. To make sure that this is enough to end it, he lets go of his opponent after the impact, and deliver a heavy punch downwards right at Tiny's throat.
"They'll see you of course, your lifeless corpse. Now lets hope your employer aren't foolish enough to send more of his team to their death. Well then, what are you waiting for? Come on out, or say something."
He knows the real one is around or watching the fight in some ways, now that it's over, it is time to get to the point. Does the real thing want to suffer a similar fate? Or would he take the chance and use the double to switch to a new identity?
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Post by Pitman on Jan 6, 2016 21:36:01 GMT -6
Shikoto heard about envious that is true, though he was not on good terms with the boss. Probably doesn't help the fact he has no respect at all for the man never the less. Maybe there is a chance out of this mess, if it means using the boss then so be it. He had no choice in the matter, so its better that he treats this as just a use for one way over another.
"Work over there huh. That might sound alright to some but the problem lies what kind of work they do there.", Shikoto soon stated which obviously meant, the political realm there is cut throat as he heard rumors of it.
People found dead, or disastrous information ruins a man's career. Well regardless Shikoto soon shrugs, "Well who knows, there is always that chance I might end up in a ditch or never gain my freedom. This place is volatile as ship that is about to go nuclear. Not to mention I did hears rumors of a large war might be coming soon, so no matter what there is a high chance the so called home might end up being no more anyways."
A bleak outlook but sensible, this region of space of mankind is in decline, how further it may go, no one knows.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Jan 6, 2016 22:41:39 GMT -6
The sound of the dwarf impacting the heavy metal blade was the stuff of nightmares, an all too familiar and visceral cracking that could make the stomach retch. It was of bone breaking of course, and the now lifeless body dropped to the ground like a hunk of inanimate meat with the spine broken and bent the wrong way from the force of the shock. In fact, the spy was so light that James probably could have hurled him even without momentum to assist.
The dead man's shield continue to flicker around him, a pale orange membrane in the shape of an egg. Saying nothing else for the occasion, there'd at least be some good loot to go around. A glance around didn't reveal anything at first on this rooftop, but James could see a figure standing at ease across from him on the next building over on his lefthand side. He had to squint to get a good look, but it appeared to be the same beggar from before. The man gave an overheard wave, and motioned for him to come over.
Inside of the building, the fighting would finally begin to die down as Tiny's men were either killed or fled. There weren't many of them overall, they just had talent and superior positioning. Liberal use of fire was fairly effective in negating both considering the cramped quarters.
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Supposing James had the stones to jump over there and talk to him, the beggar would smile with those yellowed teeth of his and display open palms to show he meant no harm. Like that would put anyone at ease after Tiny's act.
"Quite a fight, quite a fight. That guy, he killed a lot of people. But I had a feeling about you." He said, giving a forlorn sort of chuckle as he did. A hand went into his mouth and, surprisingly, pulled out a set of faked teeth. He smiled to the Captain again with a pair of much cleaner white ones. Then he tugged off the mask he was wearing to reveal a face that legitimately matched the wanted posters. The man wasn't much below average in height, that wasn't accounted for, but considering the effort it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he went the mile and got something to boost his height too. Come to think of it, the pirate had never really seen him walk. He'd just always been somewhere noticeable whenever he needed info.
"Consider it a loose end, if I was going to go anywhere. Or a thorn in my side if I was to stay." Tiny, the real Tiny, had his face twist up in a lopsided sort of frown as he stared over at the building nearby, which the people inside of were now working on putting out the fire within.
"So. Do you still want to talk? Or do you want an encore performance?" His voice was a lot smoother than the double's. His eyes less manic. Expression colder, save for whatever connection he apparently had to the fallen fighter.
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"The place isn't that bad, usually. Was under the old boss, because he kind of turned into a dick when people started to question him. The type to talk a big game when they point the fingers at other people, but when they're getting it from their own people, they start to get antsy. But it's how you deal with your own kind that makes a good leader, not how well you can rally men to fight some exterior entity. Folks have been doing the latter just fine for ages, the former? Way I see it, we still never got that just right." It seemed that Briggs was fairly well learned for a greasemonkey. Made sense if he was a guilder though. While their education only focused on apprenticeship and how to do jobs, they typically had the time and resources to invest into learning that most peasants did not.
He pushed his goggles up onto his forehead and rubbed at his eyes, which looked red from lack of sleep. He'd been working all night on the ship using the funds they'd got, Shikoto could hear him banging around the hull all night, and it was evidently taking its toll.
"Try to hold out some hope, kid. And keep that mouth of yours in line. Or it's going to keep getting you smacked." Erwin tilted his head in a thoughtful look. "I'm tempted to say you should hit him back next time, he might just respect you more."
The hearty guffaws of laughter that followed made it unsure whether or not that advice was given seriously or not.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Jan 6, 2016 23:13:52 GMT -6
Now that his opponent is dead, he reached down and took the equipment from his lifeless corpse, the shield alone would already be pretty useful and there were a few more goodies too. After he's done with looting, he picks up his sword again, and use it to stab through the neck of his former opponent. After severing the corpse's head with his body, James picks up the head and place it on top of its torso, bowing towards it slightly before turning towards the newly appeared Tiny which he hopes is real this time. With a short distance worth of running to gather up some force, he give it one great leap over to the other building.
"I had my share of fun for today, lets get back to business. Surprised me a bit to see you, but hey it made perfect sense. I suppose I should thank you for earlier help too, makes it a lot more simple. Now you probably heard what I told your now headless friend, so lets hear that response that I asked for."
Emerging as the victor of that battle, the only thing that bothers him now is that stinging wound on the side, but not something he couldn't manage. Right now he just want to hear from the operative before him, so that he could return with more than just a few bit of loot and an exciting experience.
"As long as you're the real thing, I don't think you would choose to have another go with me, not worth the risk. Unless you have other things to tell me what I did not know yet, if so then lets hear it."
He looks at his new loot while he waits for the answers, the new shield would provide great protection and the other items can increase his range of tactics to use. Perhaps he should go see what he could buy, or maybe further improve his existing equipment?
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Post by Pitman on Jan 6, 2016 23:22:57 GMT -6
Shikoto soon laughed at the idea that Briggs gave him an suggestion which sounded alright. Yes smacking him back might either be a good thing or at worse he would be beaten to a bloody pulp. Looking at the engineer Shikoto noticed that he looked exhausted then suggests, "You know let me help a bit more, at the rate your going, you would probably kill over when your overworked."
In other words Shikoto was ready to learn more and help out more if needed be. Even if he hated living in this shit hole of a ship he at least was worried about the engineer. After all he was the only one in the ship he actually was sort of close to, like an uncle or a mentor sort of. With this Shikoto's head still had an idea in his mind about the Nuclear Battery, if they had proper equipment, and proper tools, he could convert the battery into a weapon of some sort. As well he already began to think up of the perfect thing, the only problem? It required the Captain, which at the moment are not best of terms.
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Jan 7, 2016 0:16:17 GMT -6
"I'm real this time. Technically, so was he. We were both Tiny, in a sense. Twins, as it were." He recounted, finally turning away from the building to look at the person he was talking to.
"You mean on working with you? I'd be willing. Now, anyway. I needed my old 'friends' to think that I was dead, and that man over there, was my ticket." He raised an arm and pointed it at the structure nearby. "We were both operatives, our government hires twins when able, triplets too. Natural teams. We had faked his death earlier after going AWOL. Complications arose that made it impossible for me to do the same. And things...only got more difficult from there."
"Our government tends to keep agents on drugs to assure compliance in the field. I managed to find a local substitute. He did not. The withdrawal drove him insane, worse because he continued to consume more and more poor substitutes to try and ease it. Or maybe I was just the stronger? Either way he went quite mad and was exceedingly dangerous. To me any everyone else. He stopped being the brother I knew some months back." Tiny recounted. The way he said all of this was matter-of-fact, saying it because he thought the captain deserved an explanation, not particularly interested in if he had any sympathy.
"So I had to make a hard choice. And here we are."
"Now listen. You go turn that head in, you get your money, and you don't mention this to nobody, and we'll be square." He thought of some other hangups in addition. "You also have to be square with two other things: I'm never going home, and I need certain 'pick me ups' to keep rolling....I wouldn't mind the tube back either. Mine broke before I got to Terminus. I'll still pay you for it. A third of all the money I got. Share and share alike is how you rogues work, isn't it? A third for me, a third for you...a third for the person I've been grooming to take my place around here. Hey, I'm not entirely without a heart."
With that said he pocketed his hands and waited for the answer to the counter proposal.
---
The engineer grumbled at the offer for help. He was pretty keen on bossing people around, but letting people help him? Never. He had too much pride for that. But on the other hand, he'd been working non-stop since the day before they landed. He looked absolutely beat.
"Alright kid, fine. I'll run some of the basics past you. It's easy stuff mostly. We need to get new armor plating bolted on before we head out, and stick new casing to the turrets so they'll be ready to go in case of a firefight. It isn't as easy as it looks, angling is everything." And so like that they proceeded to get to work, with Shikoto probably learning quite a bit in the process.
It explained why he was so highly regarded, the engineer had a lot of skill, saying nothing for raw talent. He moved in low grav like a fish through water, almost beyond comprehension to watch for someone that hadn't been raised in space.
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Rabite
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Post by Rabite on Jan 7, 2016 1:00:19 GMT -6
He let the man talk without saying a word until he revealed his own offer. For the requests, he gave it a bit of thought, as it could be something that would affect the other crews and their ability in the long run. As for going home, he don't always need the entire crew for everything, so he could just get Tiny to do other things if he has to go down to that planet.
"....I'll allow it, as long as you keep it to yourself and not... share any with others. If it can keep you up and going that fine, but I'm not sure any other regular guys could do the same, and I want a working crew, not a crumbling one. And tell me, who are you now? I found you trapped in the building after I dealt with Tiny, but decided to recruit you into me team, but I haven't catch your name yet."
Looking at the weapon that he got off the other twin, it's not something that he would use, so he throws it back at Tiny.
"Say I found this in the building, perhaps it could be better used in your hands. Now lets hear your story before we get back on board."
He already heard enough about "Tiny", but nothing about who he might work with in the future. Surely he's got no connection with a rogue operative, but it's better to know more about a new friend, right?
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Richter
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Post by Richter on Jan 7, 2016 1:12:32 GMT -6
"Don't worry about it, lived with it for all of my life. Maybe I'll find a cure someday, helps to hold out hope."
He caught the weapon that was passed his way and clicked it onto the underside of his wrist with so fluid of a motion, that one would think he'd done it hundreds of times before until it was instinctual. Probably was as part of the training.
"Call me Edric McKie. I came here as an outcast and made my living as a beggar, before joining up with a gang. But now I want to get back out into the galaxy at large, and since you bailed me out of that fire, I'll pay you back by lending you my talents." The spy said, creating a new identity for himself. It was rooted in the truth, as all the best lies were, but still distinct enough from the original that only a very talented eye could find out about it.
No one else had seen Tiny in person to know the differences anyway.
"You could say I've been all over the sector before my old group went under. I'll do my best to help out where I can, I have a way of getting into things people would rather stay hidden. No one looks twice at the poor, after all. Could be useful, yes?"
And with that, they'd make their way back to the ship. 90 clusters richer, and possibly gaining something even more valuable in the spy's talents...
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Post by Pitman on Jan 7, 2016 1:15:56 GMT -6
Shikoto nodded and began to help briggs, learning this was very important to Shikoto.
"Don't worry I am a fast learner.", Shikoto replied as he did a thumbs up.
He began to listen like an student or apprentice would, on how to maintain everything on this ship. He concentrated and would ask questions on anything that needed explaining as he learned on what to do. Regardless this would be a large help to Shikoto in the future, if he liked or not. By the end of the day Shikoto would gain much knowledge on how the ship repairs worked, maintain, and run. Now would thst increase his importance? Possibly.
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