Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27324808-20160708020658/@comment-27324808-20160809151611 - Revision history

FleetCaptainT: Created page with "

2016-08-09T15:16:11Z

Created page with " <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-fon..."

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Yeah'', Cyclone agreed with himself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>That was weird.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But as soon as the words exited Allison's mouth, a loud BANG sound came from around the hallway, followed by the crumbling and rattling of small bits and pieces of concrete hitting the floor.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone spun around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It wasn't a fiery explosion, since there was no heat or flames, but something had broken apart - a thin cloud of dust billowed out from around the bend of the spiral hallway's curve, and it slowed down as it approached them.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then, like a ghost, someone ran out of the dust field.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone stepped back, Allison as well, before he recognized the girl who had rescued him before.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It was Kate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>She skidded to a stop and rested her hands on her knees, gasping.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Man I'm out of shape," Kate panted, "and Intrepid said we were under attack."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone turned to Allison, who looked like she'd just seen a ghost, but she brought a hand to her ear and removed a small earpiece to inspect it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>A green LED on it flashed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"My comm's on, but I didn't hear anything."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Not your Intrepid," Kate clarified, "my Intrepid.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He went the other way, and then the ceiling broke, so we can't go back that way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Is there another way around?"</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"It's a spiral hallway," Allison said, "but there is a door and a connecting hallway-"</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Good, let's go!" Kate said, grabbing Cyclone's right hand and tugging.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The left side of his body suddenly felt heavy, and when he glanced down, he saw with sadness that his left arm had reverted to a blade again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>How did it change?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>What made it change?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But now Kate was pulling him down the hallway so he didnât have much time to think.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"I'll get Ben!" Allison cried after them.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Who's attacking us?" Cyclone asked.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"No idea," Kate muttered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Can't say I know anything about dimensions, what's going on, and what's with Intrepid?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Whoever knows, I sure don't."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Apparently he marries someone named Mara in the future." Cyclone recalled what Allison said.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Mara?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Oh, her.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Red hair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>That makes sense, when Allison said Red was his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Since theyâre both redheads."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Well actually-" Cyclone was cut off when they approached the aforementioned door and Kate pressed a button, sliding it open.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But instead of looking into an empty connecting hallway, they found themselves looking into a full connecting hallway.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Full of Stromling Mechs.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"1T I5 T1M3 F0R Y0U T0 D1E." the first one said, swinging its barrel around to face them through the door.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Kate slammed the door.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Where did they come from?" she shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone raised his blade arm while Kate's bow unfolded into a shield, which she held in front of them for the inevitable explosion.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The Mech's energy blast did strike the door, blasting it out of its frame to bounce off her shield.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It transformed back into a bow and she launched flaming arrows into the hallway, which quickly engulfed the close quarters within its walls and the mechs began to smash.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"444444HHHHHHHHH!"<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"4444HHHHHHHHHH!"<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"444444HHHH!" the mechs' robotic voices echoed as they smashed into turret quickbuilds.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Â </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri"> As soon as the imagination flames died down, and the hallway was clear, Kate and Cyclone pushed through.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN">Â </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Kate ushered Cyclone over to the door at the end of the connector, and she gave her katana a spin before triggering the door to slide open.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Immediately flashes of weapons fire began to enter the hallway through the increasing gap, and sounds of combat reached Cyclone's ears.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Stay back," Kate warned.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"If you smash, you're dead."<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone nodded, then she leapt into the fray.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid Fusion Eclipse was on the ground inside a tent of overturned tables, outside of which Skilled Honored Ninja and Cailan Crateris battled.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Red and Strange Odd Shadow were exchanging melee attacks with Crimson, who kept jumping out of the reach of Shadow's wrenches and dodging Red's blasters, and bounding back with powered punches that would have knocked anyone else out already, but they were resilient.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Skilled's broom had transformed into an Energy Spork, and he braced and spun the double handed weapon to block Cailan's flipping kicks, and suddenly he delivered a strike that knocked the boy flying across the room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He fell over a table and crumpled to the ground.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Before the janitor could move in for a followup strike, Crimson suddenly rebounded off Shadow's chest and flew over the rows of tables, twisting in the air to grab Skilled's head, her momentum pulling him off course, but before they hit the ground a rift appeared in front of her trajectory.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>They both fell in, and Red squeezed the triggers of her weapons while Kate, running to join Red and Shadow, launched an arrow into the void.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then the exit portal appeared in the ceiling above the three of them, out of which flew the hail of blaster fire and a flaming arrow, which they only barely dodged.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then Skilled fell out, landing squarely on Shadow, and Crimson followed to plant her boots on Red's shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>With a jump, Red was sent sprawling across the ground.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Crimson double jumped and landed victoriously atop a remaining table, then turned to face the last one standing for the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"I don't think we've met?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Shame we'll never get to get to know each other." she taunted to Kate, tilting her head to each side and stretching her arms outwards, before bringing her gauntlets together with a clang.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>In response, Kate smirked and mounted the table row opposite her opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Her bow transformed into a shield, and she held her katana in front of her, assuming a dueling stance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Get to know this." she challenged, poking the tip of her blade ever so slightly, while maintaining a perfectly controlled balance atop the otherwise teetery structure.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone watched as Kate launched herself across the divide and into an attack, and he heard the scrape of metal weapons against each other, and that was all he heard from that room as he had to turn around, because he also heard a scuttling sound from behind which required his immediate attention.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>A Dark Spiderling had entered the hallway and was sidling around the smashed mech parts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Approaching him.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Cyclone gulped.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It was a Spiderling that had infected him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He felt an irrational fear: had that one returned to finish the job?</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Instead of attacking, preparing to attack, or even looking threatened, the Spider continued to trot towards him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Suddenly having an idea, Cyclone raised a hand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Stop!" he ordered in the gruffest voice he could muster.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Surprisingly, the Spiderling did come to a halt, but its forelegs twitched slightly, asking to proceed, or asking for a reason not to.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Think'', Cyclone thought hard.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Well, the Maelstrom was here, and they'd tried to attack them... and these two crazies were here, he could still hear the girl and Kate exchanging blows, and they were attacking them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>So that could mean...</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Our allies have this room covered." Cyclone stated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Head back and patrol that way."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The Spiderling nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then its fangs parted, its mouth opened, and it did something Cyclone didn't think Spiderlings could do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The dark creature actually ''spoke'', and it enunciated its syllables, the few there were, pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Got it."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then it turned around and headed out into the spiral.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Wondering what use he could be, Cyclone contemplated the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>One hit from a gauntlet would smash him permanently, since he was infected and couldn't rebuild.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He could be noticed by an ally who didn't know better, and be smashed that way, and that wouldn't be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But there was only one other way into the hallway, and he could move farther down it and still be in a position to deter any other Maelstrom reinforcements.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Perhaps he could use his current state to learn more about the Maelstrom's objectives in this facility.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He looked back furtively, to see that Kate was holding her own and that the others were beginning to recover.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Without another glance, he darted down the hall and followed the Spiderling's clattering steps, deeper into the facility....</span></p>