(Figured we needed more RP in this thread.)
Chairman's Burrow, 2158
Pacing the corridors of Chairman's Burrow, Atticus Brown nervously awaited further news from the upper levels of the base. His father Ian was the fledgling base's security guard, and two mind worm boils had been spotted not long before, sent to shore by an Isle of the Deep. The sounds of screeching and of the flamethrower had been heard for days, and they had said that now the noise had stopped. Everyone awaited the newest news; no one knew whether Ian Brown had won or if the mind worms had gotten him once and for all. Though Supervisor Hussein had scolded him for doubting his father and urged him to return to his work immediately, even the local boss's words could not stop him. It was not long before the sound of the mind worms boring through metal could be heard on the upper levels. Ian Brown was dead, and soon the base would be helpless. Supervisor Hussein was about to order a former team on the surface to move in and stall the worms, but even that could only hold them off for a few days, and it would mean the deaths of innocents.
For the first time, Atticus said something he did not think he would in a lifetime. "No."
Supervisor Hussein looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. "Is that what I think I heard? No? Boy, do you want us to die? The men and women on the former team are more then willing to make a sacrifice for the greater cause so that we might live. Don't contradict me again, boy, unless you value your life."
His bravery unrelenting, Atticus replied. "No. The former team might hold them back for an hour if you're lucky, but they aren't trained solders. How are they supposed to hold back against a boil of mind worms? Once they've been beaten, it'll be for nothing, since they'll just burrow right through the hatch afterwards."
"And we're supposed to just do nothing and let them kill all of us here? Is that the plan now?"
Atticus stepped forward to meet the gaze of Supervisor Hussein. "We need someone to fight them. I'll do that - I'll avenge my father, and keep those damned worms back if it's the last thing I do. I swear it on his name."
Examining Atticus briefly, and then sighing, the Supervisor conceded, "Young man, I suppose you are brave, at least. It will be a long time before any reinforcements can reasonably arrive, and the Network Node's completion can wait in the face of more urgent concerns. Fine, go to the workshop, and collect what you need, but let me tell you that it may indeed be the last thing you do."
With that, Atticus sprinted towards the workshop, weaving between the base's denizens in a hurry to get past them. Soon he found himself in the workshop where he spent most of his working days, and before him Mihai Ivanov, both his friend and colleague. He was a tinker at heart; if any man could put together the equipment he needed with the parts of a Network Node, it was him.
"Mihai, I-"
Chuckling, Mihai replied, "Atticus, I know, I know. Here, let me take your measurements: we'll end up wasting some of the materials but it'll be for the better. Now, if you could just stand over here..."
Over the next half hour, he built a crude but serviceable suit of synthsteel armor, and then a crude flame thrower from spare parts meant for the heaters. It was a rather jury-rigged set, but it was... something, at the least. Atticus felt more of a soldier than ever - even though he had hardly any training, he more than knew what he needed to do. Looking back at Mihai, he said only, "I'm ready."
"I know you are. Now, quick, to the surface! It'll be a matter of minutes before they puncture the hatch!"
***
For what seemed to be an eternity Atticus fought the boil of mind worms. His father had defeated the first and fallen to the second, now Atticus had to follow the job. At first he thought he would lose himself in the pain and horror of the unthinkable, but he steeled his resolve. This was for the good people of Chairman's Burrow, for his father, for Mihai, and yes, even for Supervisor Hussein. They were all his people, damn it, and he was going to protect them with whatever he had. But for one moment his will faltered at the boil lunged at him, beginning to burrow through his armor with razor sharp cutters. He summoned his very last reserve of stamina and willpower to switch on his flamethrower for one final burst, and the searing flame burned away both mind worm and his own exposed flesh. But it was the last of them, the force was beaten. In relief, he collapsed onto the ground.
***
It was two days later that he awoke in Chairman's Burrow's infirmary. Before him, he could see Mihai's proud smile, and the considerably sterner smile of Supervisor Hussein besides him. There was a third figure, though, and Atticus's vision was too blurry at first to make him out. Was this who he thought he was? Was this really-
"Young Atticus Brown, let me, on the behalf of all of the citizens of the Human Hive, congratulate you for your bravery and mettle fighting against the mind worms. I had been monitoring the situation from the Hive, and I had my doubts as to whether your base would survive. But through the sacrifice of your father, the bravery of yourself, the ingenuity of your friend Mihai, and the momentary leniency of your Supervisor, it seems that you have pulled through. I apologize for what you have endured, but it was for the better of all of us."
Atticus bowed his head, and said simply, "It was only what we all should have done."
Offering a rare smile, before departing the room, Chairman Yun said, "Yes, truly, it was."
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Topic: SMAC MP Game: Turn 100! Partial Map Inside (Read 41895 times)