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Post by Gambit on Jun 11, 2009 11:51:58 GMT -4
When the vehicle screeched to a halt, Remy LeBeau didn’t move a muscle. He didn’t move a muscle for several minutes after it had stopped, his hands still gripping the seat with white knuckle intensity. For years the biggest rush he had experiences was trading secret messages regarding this plan. So long as a priest his life had grown slow and serene, and while this mission was always there in the back of his mind he had started to wonder if it would ever come this far, and had resigned himself to the new life he had created.
Now the moment was here, and all his training and experienced seemed so far away. He’d gone soft. He chose words over action, reasoning over instinct. Could he complete this mission using those tactics? Fear of the unknown that awaited him was making him hesitant, and hesitation could be dangerous. He was on his own now, and he was so close. He couldn’t let anything stop him now. This had to end tonight.
Stealing his nerves, the priest exited the high-powered vehicle and hit the ground on unsteady legs. A dilapidated set of stairs led upwards to the surface. This was his path. A card in his hand, his weapon at ready, he cautiously ascended the stairs and stepped out into the cool night air. Pausing a moment, he took in his surroundings. The only light came from that of the moon, but it was enough to illuminate the fallen buildings that surrounded him. The sights, the silence, the smell... there was no mistaking where he was. New York City, once proud and overpopulated, was now a ghost town. Darkness, death and decay clung to every crevice, and one couldn’t help but feel an overpowering sense of dread just being there.
No time, no time.
Closing his eyes, Remy listened for his next direction before setting off once more. It wasn’t far now, the voice was getting stronger, more certain. Soon it would all be over. Everything would change.
He only hoped – no, prayed – that it would all be for the better.
((tag: Surge))
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Post by norisurge on Jun 15, 2009 6:10:13 GMT -4
It was just another day. Another boring, mundane, do-as-your-told day. Tightening her grip on the steering wheel, Noriko Ashida sped down the broken, and abandoned streets. She did this occasionally; after her shift. It proved to be a much more acceptable means of stress relief than electrocuting the nearest object. She could drive these streets for hours, and it never grow old. She liked the solitude in the right doses, but the quiet here ceased to be undoing to her long ago, now she craved it. Especially the quiet that came with nightfall.
Technically she was supposed to check in right away, but right now, the rules were the last thing on her mind. Besides, she was the only one out here. She was always the only one out here. Not like command ever checked on her, so who was gonna care anyways? With a satisfied smirk, she reached down and turned up the volume of the radio, which was now blasting out her speakers, and echoed through the hollow shells of all the buildings that she passed. Closing her eyes, and nodding along to the music, she gradually lightened the grip on the wheel. The sharp tension and stress she had been feeling, slowly ebbing away. Cool night wind whipped through her blue hair, a fact made possible by the jeep she had 'borrowed' from the SHIELD garage.
It was all going as planned, until she opened her eyes and caught sight of what looked like a shadow being thrown from her head lights. A human shadow. On instinct, Surge slammed on her brakes with a painful screech, jerking the wheel to follow it. Surely she had been seeing things, no one would be dumb enough to be out here alone..or just out here period, but she had to make sure. If someone was actually out here, it would be her hide on the line if anything went wrong.
She kept driving until she saw it up ahead. "HEY YOU!" She shouted over the noise of the jeep and the radio, pressing on the horn several times. "STOP!"
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Post by Gambit on Jun 16, 2009 19:11:34 GMT -4
Back at the lab was supposed to be the easy part. They were supposed to slip in and find what they needed, completely undetected, but everything had gone horribly wrong. Now that he was even closer, moving swiftly and unheeded toward his destination, Remy couldn’t help but feel that this part was too easy.
Just as he had this thought, a pair of headlights illuminated his form as he ran across what used to be a very busy roadway. Dashing down another street, he began to weigh his options in lightening fast speed. The first option was hiding, but he instantly crossed that one off the list. Whoever it was had already seen him, and if they didn’t find him he was sure they would head to where he was going. He had no doubts that this was someone meant to stop him; who else would be out here tonight? He could wait until they passed, but then what? Besides, he didn’t have time to wait anything out. Option two was running, but he had heard the screech of tires, and soon the headlights would be on him again. He could run into a decaying building where the vehicle could not follow, but that would still take time.
Much more time than the third option.
Skidding to a sudden halt in the middle of the street, Remy turned back toward the quickly approaching vehicle. As it grew closer he could hear loud music and shouting from within, but whether they were one in the same, he didn’t know. He ignored the shouting, the blaring horn and the rumbling engine. He focused only on the headlights, his eyes mere slits as he stared them down. In his hand, the card started to glow. The jeep continued to close the distance between them. Then, with a smirk, he tossed the card into its path. Hitting the street a few feet in front of the jeep, it instantly exploded.
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Post by norisurge on Jun 26, 2009 21:13:09 GMT -4
The figure ahead, now clear to her to be a man, stopped suddenly, and turned around to face off with her, and her approaching jeep. She hesitated for only a moment, wondering just what he planned to do, but soon she thought better of it and continued to close the distance. It was only when she caught the briefest glimpse of something glowing bright pink being thrown in front of her jeep that she realized this was going to turn into a fight.
The explosion sent a blast back, and her out of the jeep. If she had been wearing a seat belt, she'd be flipping through the air along with the jeep right about now, but as it was she had hit the hard ground and rolled until she stopped. Her eyes moved from the mangled jeep that had finally landed upside down, quickly over to the man.
With a growl Surge pushed herself to her feet, a haze of blue electricity beginning to crackle all around her. "You picked the wrong girl to mess with, aho...." she hissed out at him, taking a defensive stance, and clenching her fists as the electricity intensified to the point that her eyes were glowing. Raising her hands at him, she let out a loud yell before discharging a short burst of blue lightning in his direction.
(just in case anyone is wondering, 'aho' is an Japanese insult slang meaning 'asshole')
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Post by Gambit on Jun 26, 2009 21:24:43 GMT -4
When the card exploded, it had the exact impact and result that Remy had intended. Still, as he watched the Jeep careening through the air, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of remorse. This was not how this night was supposed to go. He hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone, but he was in too deep now to stop. He just had to remind himself it was for the greater good, and whomever was in that jeep was trying to stop him from carrying out his purpose.
Not wasting any time, before the jeep had even stopped rolling he had turned back toward his destination again. He’d barely made it a few steps when he heard a voice shouting behind him. Maybe the regret had settled in too quickly. Turning back to face her, he had just enough time to jump aside as the bolt of electricity flew past him. Hitting the dirt he rolled, instantly in a crouching position, a rock clenched in his fist.
“In dat case, how ‘bout we fo’get dis whole t’ing happened an’ I’ll jus’ be on m’ merry way,” he drawled, his light-hearted tone directly contrasting the fire in his eyes.
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Post by norisurge on Jun 27, 2009 8:07:22 GMT -4
To Nori's great dismay, he dodged her attack, with some skill she might add, but she wasn't done yet. Taking a step, and then another, electricity still crackling all around her, she paused to listen to him speak. Oh he thought he could talk his way out of this one? Fat chance.
"That'd work a lot better if you weren't wandering around a wasteland. Alone. At night." She shot back, eyes now devoid of the static, narrowing. Holding up a hand she let a large orb of electricity charge while keeping her gaze locked on him. "So why don't you tell me what you're doing here, and maybe you wont get hurt."
The electricity buzzed even louder, she hoped it was serving as a warning to him. She had no problems frying him, in fact she had a feeling she would enjoy it.
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Post by Gambit on Jun 27, 2009 8:59:26 GMT -4
Crouching low on the ground, Remy watched with glowing red eyes as the girl approached. The energy crackled and glowed around her making her appear every bit an intimidating figure. Unfortunately for the Cajun man, he was sure she could back it up.
“What, a homme ain’ allowed t’ go out for a walk?” he replied with forced levity. He could feel the hair on his arms standing up as the very air around him seemed to be electrically charged. He didn’t have time for this. He could throw the rock, take her out, but something made him hesitate.
She was just a kid, probably no older than...
“An’ jus’ what you doin’ out here? Can’t t’ink it’s ‘cause y’ like de scenery,” he questioned, watching her carefully, ready to spring into action if need be but hoping it wouldn’t be necessary.
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Post by norisurge on Jul 1, 2009 9:31:02 GMT -4
"Don't try to be cute." Nori snapped at him, when he tried to avoid the question, "and that's not an answer." As if to show she meant business, Surge caused...well, a surge of the blue energy to flash out farther from her, illuminating the dark alley briefly, and casting all sorts of eerie shadows. She was getting really impatient with him. She might not be feeling this way if he hadn't trashed her jeep, and then tried to run.
"It's my job to be out here." She replied flatly, eyes narrowing on him, "now are you going to tell me why you're here, or do you have a fetish for the smell of burnt hair?" A small grin appeared on her lips as she let the orb hovering above her hand grow even larger.
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Post by Gambit on Jul 1, 2009 10:23:37 GMT -4
“It don’ take no tryin’,” Remy replied, grinning up at the girl. This wasn’t the time for jokes, though, and all humour quickly fell from his face. This was the time for action. He had to take her out of the equation... but still he hesitated. Perhaps it was her youth that stayed his hand, or maybe it was recognition of the immense power she held at her disposal. He couldn’t fool himself into thinking this would be an easy fight. Words, fighting, they would both take time; time he didn’t have, but he had to try.
“Y’r job,” the priest repeated with a wry chuckle. Getting slowly to his feet, he kept his arms extended out slightly, the small rock still concealed in one fist but taking a stance that made it clear he didn’t want to fight. “Dey send y’ out here t’ dis wasteland all on y’r lonesome... t’ do what? Do y’ even know why y’re here? What could possibly be out here dat anyone could want?”
It was a gamble, but the way people seemed to work nowadays, everything was a big secret. Secrets and lies were the language of this world, the truth a foreign tongue. He had to assume she knew the barest details of her assignment, because if he could cast a shred of doubt then that could be the chink in the armour he needed.
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Post by norisurge on Jul 3, 2009 7:50:06 GMT -4
Surge let our a disgusted sigh at his reply. Why did men have to be so difficult? He probably thought he was charming. Well he had another thing coming if he thought she'd take his bait just like that.
"Yes, my job." She sneered, wondering what was so funny about it in the first place. She took more of a defensive stance when he stood, her eyes not moving off him for a second. She wasn't stupid enough to trust his defenseless stance. If he wanted to attack, she'd be ready. Nori's scowl hardened when he spoke again. More so because he was getting into the same territory she went through everyday. It pissed her off having to hear her own insecurities and doubts being used against her in some kind of mind game.
"That's not an answer!" She growled angrily, speaking through tightly clenched teeth. In her frustration, she shot off the charged energy out at the nearest dumpster, letting out a short yell as she did. When the glow, (and buzz) faded, she was left standing there, taking several deep breaths.Her charge was gone for now, but he'd know just what she was capable of.
Walking towards him with a finger extended, pointing menacingly up at him, (considering she was a good deal shorter than him, and most people her age for that matter) "You've got two minutes to explain yourself before that," she pointed to the smoking dumpster, her gaze not leaving him, "is you." Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him unwaveringly, tapping her foot in anticipation.
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Post by Gambit on Jul 3, 2009 10:19:04 GMT -4
Visibly starting when the girl suddenly took her frustration out on a nearby dumpster. Widened red eyes took in the destruction before turning back to the girl as she approached him. That was just a warning shot and he wasn’t fool enough to tell himself she wouldn’t do the same to him. It was her job, after all; what she was trained for. Still, he could see those insecurities. He had hit the nail on the head.
“Is dis what y’ wanted fo’ y’self when y’ was jus’ a p’tite fille? T’ be isolated? T’ have all need t’ t’ink an’ decide fo’ y’self taken away?” Remy spoke, his voice soft and compassionate. “Don’ ask questions, jus’ follow orders.”
As another gamble he opened his hands, letting the rock fall to the ground between their feet. The glow fading from his eyes, they returned to their normal red on black appearance as they met hers imploringly. “Don’ y’ ever wish fo’ somet’in’ more?”
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Post by norisurge on Jul 9, 2009 9:50:04 GMT -4
When the man began speaking, he still wasn't answering her questions, but she'd given him two minutes. If he wanted to waste those, then fine by her. And yet.....she found her frown wavering the more he talked. She did not like his perception, or whatever it was, not one bit. Maybe he was a telepath, or an empath, trying to feel her out and get around having to answer for himself. Maybe he was just that good, either way one thing was for certain, he seemed to know what he was doing.
Her eyes fell to the ground when he dropped the rock, and seemed to completely render himself defensless. Great, now she got to feel guilty about frying an unarmed man on top of all the emotion he was dredging up beneath her angry exterior.
"It doesn't matter what I wish..." she said bitterly, but with more softness to her voice than had been there before. "I follow orders. Sure I may not agree with them, but that's the point of them being orders." Shaking her head slowly, Surge looked up at him. His eyes were not exactly the most comforting sight, red on black, almost...devil like, but there seemed to be actual kindness behind them. DAMMIT. She was not going to lose her nerve over this!
"You just wasted about a minute and a half of your time," Surge nodded to him, "and I still don't have my answer." She glanced behind looking at the wreckage of her jeep and sighed. Her gaze came back to him and she took a deep breath, muttering to herself, just knowing this was a bad idea, but if it worked, maybe she could be done with him. "So..if you don't want to tell me, then you will just have to deal with me coming with you. Your choice."
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Post by Gambit on Jul 9, 2009 19:03:49 GMT -4
He was getting through to her, he could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. It was obvious she wasn’t devoted to her job like so many. She did it because she had to, not because she wanted to or even believed in it. It was exactly what the priest hoped to see. In fact, it was better than he could have hoped as she actually admitted to not agreeing with her orders.
Her suggestion, though, took him by surprise, and he felt his elation clouded suddenly with doubt. Taking her with him would make it easy and get him out of here quickly, but what if everything she had just said was a ploy? She could easily be lying to get him to trust her, and once she found out what he was truly up to his guard would be down.
He simply couldn’t risk it, and more than that he had this feeling that he simply had to do this alone. The feeling grew stronger the closer he got to his mysterious goal.
“Would y’ believe me if I tol’ y’ dat I don’ know why I’m here?” he asked with a soft smile. “If not, den y’ better come wit’ me.”
Taking a step to the side, he bowed slightly and gestured with his arms for her to step ahead of him.
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Post by norisurge on Jul 15, 2009 7:36:35 GMT -4
She was frowning at him even though she was losing her will to. Why did she have some nagging feeling that she should trust this guy? Maybe it was just her unresolved desire to rebel against SHIELD, or just the fact that her dull repetitive life was getting to her if she was honest with herself; or maybe it was just the fact that this guy was a real smooth talker. Whatever it was, she knew she was probably eventually going to have to let him go, even if she knew she shouldn't.
"No, not really..." Nori muttered to him, shaking her head, "but neither do I, so I guess we're kind of in the same boat." She paused when he actually agreed to her going with him. That had been easier than she anticipated. Well if he hadn't wanted her along, he'd made a big mistake with that one. Ignoring his smile, (as per usual with her and anyone of the male variety, Nori found ignoring them much easier than dealing with any sort of attraction to them.) she marched right past him, looking back over her shoulder as she went, "Well? Where which way do we go now?" Surge asked, stopping to look down the streets and then back at him. A smirk crossed her lips briefly, as she remembered something: "and by the way, you owe me a jeep."
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Post by Gambit on Jul 16, 2009 12:17:31 GMT -4
He wished it didn’t have to be this way. She honestly seemed unhappy with her lot in life, and when she smiled at him he wished he could trust her, but he had come too far now to start making poor judgement calls. Once she found out his true purpose she could easily turn on him, and she was far too powerful to take lightly.
It had to be this way.
With his head bowed he watched her walk ahead of him, but she kept her eyes on him for all but a moment. So young yet so well trained, but all he needed was a moment.
“A priest’s salary don’ allow fo’ many luxuries,” Remy said with a chuckle. Not that he could ever return to that position, but all these years, despite the underlying reason, it had changed him. Now he had to forget all that, though. Now he had to do what needed to be done. Gesturing ahead to indicate where they were going, he waited until she turned to look before springing into action. Although he was a little out of practice he still knew what he was going, and with a forceful and well aimed punch behind her ear, the girl crumpled to the ground. Just barely catching her before she hit, the Cajun lowered her gentle to lay upon the deserted street.
“Désolé, p’tite,” he said softly as he checked her vitals signs. He was relieved to find them strong. “I jus’ hope dat when y’ open y’r eyes on a new world dat y’ can find a way t’ fo’give me.”
And with that he was gone.
((godmodded with permission, and now on to the grande finale...))
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