You awaken at noon to the smell of stew. The young lady from before stands over you, mopping at your brow with a cold, damp cloth. "Mother Alphira. You've a fever." She offers, along with the bowl of food. You smile weakly, sitting up to take the food. You devour it hungrily, much to the worry of the young woman. She reclaims her seat.
"I don't have a normal temperature, my Child." You offer by way of explanation, taking the bottle of wine she has settled beside you. You drain it to sate your thirst, but the taste of iron -- your blood, still fills your mouth. You flinch at the thought but smile reassuringly at her, slowly rising out the bed.
Fear, worry, concern, it all plays over her face and is in her dress wringing hands. "Is-is it true? Mother Alphira? The Holy City is gone?"
You say nothing as you stretch, your shoulders slumping slightly. You give a tense nod. Great heaving sobs suddenly wrack the woman's form, her face finding the comfort of her hands. You sit across from her, feeling her pain, her loss. "M-my husband-d was a Crusader that-- I'm sorry." She apologizes for losing her composure, tears burning down her face, and it tugs at your heartstrings. You wrap your arm around her in a tight hug, feeling her cry into your chest.
You say nothing. What is there to say. The young woman cries like that for a long while, until she recovers, murmuring her apologies again. "You'll be reunited in paradise -- if he has passed on." You offer, gently, lifting her chin to look down at her with a weak smile. "Hold out hope, do not mourn yet."
The young woman, a farmer by the name of Dorothy Youngtown, dips her head in a nod, as she introduces herself to you with a bow. Dorothy continues to sniff on occasion but shows you around her house. A young man sits at the table, polishing a boot of your armor. That's Jonathan, her eldest. He looks just a few years younger than you, rising with a blush to bow to you. You size him up behind a smile -- his clothes would probably fit you. You ask for a set, which they provide without protest, stepping into the empty room and changing into the more comfortable garb.
You pick up Lucille's glove, slipping it on. Her needles sink in. [Good Afternoon, Pheobe.]
You meet her other two children, Whitney and Zachary, who give you bows. You muss Zachary's dark hair, smiling down at him, and offer the same to Whitney, who scurries away with a giggle. "I knew a great man called Zachary." You speak gently, grinning, "I feel you'll be the same type of man, one day. Always be loyal, Child."
You take your leave, stepping into an overcast day, into the muddy courtyard of the farmhouse. You left them many of your ration bars, and give them a benediction. They wave as you lift off -- your smile drops off your face as soon as you slip on your helmet.
Find Emma.[Most likely at Evacuation Point Alpha, Pheobe, judging by radio history.]
It's two hours as the angel flies.
Its a makeshift camp, set up against a hundred or so, brand new cargo-style hovercraft. A cry goes up from the people when they see you approach. You begin to pick up radio chatter, looking down at the mob that claws over each other to be below you.
["Clear a path for me, Warmachines."]
["...yes Lady Pheobe."]
Warmachines stride into the crowd, breaking it apart and clearing a spot for you to land without lighting some of these hapless refugees on fire. A band of Crusaders assist -- and you settle yourself down onto the muddy, torn ground. Many of the people are injured, with desperate eyes.
"You're a traitor!" A man strides forth from the Crusaders as a heavy silence descends on the crowd. General Hardy marches up, poking you in the chest of your armor, a furious look on his face. "This is all your fault! Where were you?!"
Anger begins to burn within you, tight and hot and burning-- your free hand snakes out, wrapping hard around General Hardy's neck as you lift him into the air to stare into the old man's eyes. He's terrified, no longer able to accuse you of falsehood. Nobody moves, nobody speaks, as he takes choked breaths. He claws frantically at your hand, but he might as well be clawing at steel. You're not choking him, not really. Not yet.
I am going to kill him now. Patches thoughts drip with the icy emotionless tone of the Interface, but sound closer to Alphira's own, somehow burning with a wave of fiery, unquenched anger. Alphira and the Interface do not respond to
your queries.
You are Pheobe Gainer AKA Alphira
Local Time: [1400] 11/20/2011
Personal Time: 5 months
Empyreal Time: NO NETWORK CONNECTION.
You feel comfortable in your second skin.
You are missing an arm.
You are angry. No, that's an understatement, you are -furious-
Cohesion: 60%
You are peckish.
On Body: Mark 15 Battle Armor (Active, Incompatible:Override)
On side: A charred duffel bag.
In bag: Forty-five nutrient cube packs, SEED of Ancient Terra.
Overload: Trained
Bird of Sol's Reign: Qualified
Conquerer's Aura: Initiated
Inferno : Great
Healing Factor: Apprentice
-
Endurance Boost: Amateur.
-
Strength Boost: Amateur.
Matter Manipulation:Silicon::Competent
Skill:
Charisma: Apprentice
Skill:
Attrition Warfare: Apprentice
Skill:
Marksmanship: Proficient
Grandmother(adopted), Handler: Mother Nicole Gainer
--Contactable in person.
--High Influence with Scholars, Crusaders, the Thornton Family
--Current lawful ruler of Steelworks 9 Region (Crusader Supported)
Organization: The Thornton Family
--Contactable through Emma
--High Influence within Steelworks 9 Region
--Allied with Nicole Gainer, you
*Researching: Radio towers*
Organization: Thornton Mercenaries
--A complement of hulking Thornton soldiers turned into cybernetically augmented heavy-duty infantry. Equipped with fusion reactor based las-gun assault rifles, Inferno Shotguns, super thick armor, and technicians standing by. They are also equipped with inter and intra-squad radio communicators.
--Lead by William Thornton
--?/?
*Ready for extended operations*
Servant, ? ? ?: Iyal
--A mysterious Outlander woman, branded by SEED as a debt-slave. She wishes to serve you, for a better life after an attempted mugging.
Ally, Subservient: The Pontifex
--Cowed
--Church leader for the Scholars of the Holy SEED city-state.
--High Influence within its borders
--Incredibly High Influence with Zealots
--Minor feud with Crusaders
Ally, Subservient: William Thornton
Leader of the Thornton Family of Businessmen.
--Contactable in person
--High influence within the Thornton Mercenaries
--High influence within The Thornton Family
--Feared within Steelworks 9 Region
*Coordinating Thornton Family Assets*
Personal Scientist, Ally: Silas Thornton
--High influence within The Thornton Family
Contact, Military Trainer Coordinator: Tyler Hop (Cordial)
Lover, Consort: Emma Thornton
--High influence within The Thornton Family
Pet, Threat: Mitch, the Barker
A stubby furred, stubby faced hellion of a canine that will possibly mutate in the future.
-8/50 Obedience
-?/50 Affection
-1/50 Respect
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Topic: McCreary's Planet -- (FINISHED) (Read 259557 times)