Snowen puts rocks in a circle, then empties a small canister in the circle.
“Shoot it,” Snowen commands. Falcon draws his .90 pistol and fires a round at the wet spot. The circle blasts a flame towards the heavens, and the place lightens up as if it were day. The blaze dies down to a cozy little fire.
“What the hell was that stuff?” Falcon says. Snowen throws the empty can into the flames. “Hellwater, it will burn for a week or so,”
“Really hope Fuchsann wakes up soon, I'm beginning to worry 'bout her,” Falcon says and looks behind him. Fuchsann is lying on a patch of moss, moaning something every once and again.
“If you are so worried why don't you just read her mind or do some sort of mental tap on her. You seemingly have the ability to bend minds after your wish.” “True... By the way. When I was “converting” you... I found something was amiss,” Falcon steps closer to Snowen. “Mind if I take another look?”
Snowen kneels down in front of him and says: “Please do. I feel so strange with you two around,”
Falcon lays his hands on his head. “Let's check you out,” he smiles.
He closes his eyes, then reopens them in another place than the woods.
“Must be Snowen's soul,” Falcon thinks. He takes a look around the dark place. He ignites his hand. A temple of some sort. “Hey look at that... My wings are back,” An altar lies atop some marble steps, something is pulsating on it. Falcon glides across the chilly, blood-red floor. As he approaches he hears a beating sound more and more clearly. At the altar the sound is almost like grenade blasts. On the altar lies a salt outline of a body, and certain internal organs. Brains, lungs and detached heart and testicles. “Must be a symbol,” Falcon draws a red line from the brain to the detached parts with his finger. The heart starts beating and the noise ceases. A glassy substance flows out of the heart, filling the outline, assuming the shape of a Star-Gazer. The glass figure smiles at Falcon. Falcon feels quite pleased with himself. Somehow, the figure has grabbed hold of Falcon's muzzle. Falcon, back in the woods, lets go of Snowen while gasping for air. Snowen stands up. “You alright, Falcon?” “Sure, I just need to catch my breath,”
Falcon sits down next to Fuchsann, she smiles and whispers“Joon...” then let's out a sigh.
“Falcon?” Snowen says. “Have I ever told you how much I like...ehm...”
Falcon smiles. “I sure hope you don't mean Fuchsann,” “Heavy machine guns. The feel of the recoil, the weight, the mayhem...” Snowen says in an affectionate way. “I fixed something in that screwed up mind of yours alright...” Falcon laughs. “No... Monno, go 'way...” Fuchsann says in a strict way and turns onto her side. Falcon strokes her head, but suddenly pulls his hand away. “More Noo'Rahdians are coming,” he says a bit shocked. “One's a bad apple,”
A twig snaps in the darkness, Falcon jumps on his feet with gun in hand.
Snowen spins his guns into his grip. “Snowen?” Falcon asks, a bit stressed.
“Do you know what sort of weapons-training I've been given?”
Snowen strafes around the fire. “I believe you are supposed to be a sniper, with some sort of zoom-function embedded in your mind,”
A green flare blazes up nearby. The flare keeps moving closer. “At ease, men,” A rumbling voice commands as a shady figure approaches the light of the hellwater. The shade becomes clear, a doberman-guy, a Hound... With a patch on his left eye.
Snowen lowers his aim, Falcon keeps his up.
“Well I'll be a son of a bitch... If it ain't some more of us,” the Hound smirks. “Wekka!” he shouts. Another being comes into the light, a female cat, white fur with stripes of blood on it and a black ponytail beneath a cap. “Who the hell do you think you are?!” Falcon says, suspicious of the doberman. “Well for your information,” the Hound speaks up. “I am lieutenant Monno, this is my bitch Wekka, a special weapons expert,”
He pushes Wekka forward in a brutal manner, with a smile. The camo-clothes on her had seen better days. The pants had big holes, both torn and burnt, and her shirt was tied together on the chest. Monno holds the flare in front of him, his tanktop is covered in mud and what-else and his pants were black and in seemingly good shape. “Mind if we crash with you guys?” he asks. Falcon looks at Wekka, she's trembling and looks as if she's barely able to stand. “Alright... But I'm keeping my eye on you...” Falcon says irritated and holsters his gun.
“And what wrong could I possibly do?” Monno smiles and tosses the flare into the fire. Falcon points at Fuchsann. “Well hello there...” Monno grins. “Who's the owner of this little bitch then?” Falcon grits his teeth and makes his hands flame red. “She's her own master... I'm just her boyfriend!” “Falcon, calm down!” Snowen says. Monno backs a bit up. “Whoa, whoa, I'd never dream of getting on with your bitch...” Monno exclaims, Falcon looks with doubt at him.
“But how about telling us your names and ranks, huh?”
“Snowen, Black & White agent,” Snowen says. “Holy Fuck! I thought you guys were just bullshit!” Monno laughs. Wekka collapses in front of the fire. Monno kicks her a bit and pulls her up. “On your feet, soldier!” he commands. Falcon looks at Monno in despise. “That's Fuchsann, test unit,” Snowen points out. “And this is Project Jade Falcon Storm, special command unit,” “You've got to be kidding?!” Monno says baffled. “He just can't be for real!”
“Come over here and I'll show you how real I am...” Falcon snarls at him.
Snowen walks over to Wekka. “May I have a look at Wekka?” Monno looks at them. “Sure do whatever you want with her... I don't want her anymore,” he says in a cold way. Snowen puts her arm around his neck, then lifts her and carries the tired body behind a tree. Falcon starts circling Monno. “I'm the highest ranking here, Monno! Make a wrong, and I'll make you regret you ever abused Wekka!” “And what the fuck makes you think I ever hurt her?”
Falcon just taps his forehead and charges a blue energy-ball in his hand.
“Here's a taste of my powers...” He fires off the ball at Monno. Monno is knocked to the ground with great force. “Stay away from Fuchsann too...” he says and goes to check on Snowen.
Wekka is sitting up against a tree, Snowen is on his knees over her legs. He places a small lantern on the ground and aims it at Wekka. Snowen presses his fingers at a bleeding cut on her chest. Wekka's eyes slide together. Snowen puts another light in his mouth and sweeps her chest-area with the light and his hands. “No, please no... Not again lieutenant...” she says and shakes her head. Snowen spits the light into his hand, then switches it off. He forces her eyes open, awakening her. She looks about, as if she was under the influence of a drug. Snowen strokes her fuzzy cheek. Wekka's green eyes stop wandering as they discover Snowen's pitch black. He reaches into his space-compressor and picks out a tiny bottle. “Swallow,” he says as he pours it into her mouth. Wekka suddenly snaps out of her current state, and immediately starts crying. She throws her right arm on his shoulder and Snowen puts his arms around her. "It hurts... hurts so bad..." she cries. “What has happened to you?” “The lieutenant... He whipped me when I fell... He... He struck me down a-a-a-and kicked me when I couldn't stand... drugged me, a-and then he... he...”
Wekka buries her face in Snowen's shoulder and cries even harder. “How long has he been hurting you?” “Almost a week,” Wekka says muffled. “I'm licensed to kill abusive officers, or worse, if that is a comfort,” Snowen informs. Wekka looks up and into his eyes. She wipes her nose. “Please kill him. I beg you...” “Anything I can do for you to cheer you up?” “Give me the newest, most efficient weapon available,” She laughs and wipes her eyes. Snowen pulls out one of his guns and hands it to her. “Wow... A Glock 69,” she smiles. “With a mega-clip,” Snowen adds. Falcon comes around the tree. “How're things going here?” he asks. “Where's Monno?” Wekka asks a bit worried. “I left him on the ground near Fuchsann,” “Is Fuchsann a female?” she asks even more worried. Falcon nods. Wekka pulls herself up with Snowen. She fumbles about her pockets and picks out a syringe and a needle. She puts the needle into the syringe, and then presses the needle into her neck. “What substance is that?” Snowen inquires. “Let's just say I'm gonna open up a can of whoop-ass on the bastard!” She says enraged. “Which way is he?” Falcon points somewhere, and Wekka starts running. Just as she starts running, she falls face down in the dirt. “I'll go check on Monno, you patch her up,” Falcon says and starts walking.
Back at the camp, Monno is curious of Fuchsann. “Hello there...” he mumbles to himself. He stands over Fuchsann, looking at her. She lies there so silent, so innocent, so helpless... Monno turns her onto her back, then kneels down over her. He smiles as he strokes her cheek. “Soft fur, any other soft things on ya?” he chuckles. He starts fondling her breasts, Fuchsann begins to whimper. “I thought I told you to leave her be!” an angry voice sounds behind him.
He turns around but sees no one. From out of the black treetops, Falcon dropkicks Monno. Falcon gets on his feet and looks quite pissed off. “I don't know who the hell you think you are. But I do know I've met you before!”
A grim laughter fills the area as Monno removes his eyepatch. “An Sanct Joon Et Xeni Do Dominus!” he echoes. “Demonia Vive, Muerte Amen,”
Monno starts growing longer, but his skin starts tearing apart. His face rips, and a black shadow with red eyes is the substitute. The creature grows to 3 meters, the skin of Monno lies in folds at it's feet. Falcon stares at it and takes a few steps to the side so he stands in front of the fire. The black being lunges forth. Falcon dodges it, and it vanishes into the flames. Fuchsann shudders, and wakes up. She looks around and catches sight of Falcon. She slowly gets up and stretches. Falcon sees her and opens his arms for her with a smile. She walks into his arms and yawns. “Where are we?” “I'm not sure,” Falcon says. “But I think we might have a new member in our group,”
Snowen presses his lips to Wekka's, then covers her nose and blows. The 20-13-unit covers her chest, monitoring her life-signs. They are weak... Only kept up by Snowen's breath, and minor electric currents from 20-13. Falcon brings Xeni to the spot, in hope of showing her a new living Noo'Rahdian. Instead they were greeted by a panting fox, and a dying cat. Falcon runs to the patient. “What has happened?” Snowen catches his breath. “She injected herself with a chem...” He stops to mouth-to-mouth her. “...which had a hazardous effect on her...” Again he gives her a life-breath. “...because of previous substances in her system,” Fuchsann grabs her tail and stares nervously at the lifeless, white being. Falcon takes a grip on Wekka's head, Snowen continues his treatment. Falcon tells Wekka to calm down. He feels her mind is distressed due to her current state and tries to cease control of it. Wekka seemingly calms down as Falcon telepathically tells her the current situation. 20-13 bleeps affirming that a normal pulse has been established, while still Snowen has his lips around hers. Wekka throws her arm around Snowen's head and holds him in that position for a while. Falcon steps over to Fuchsann and whispers “She'll be alright,” with a smile. “I think Snowen likes her,” Fuchsann says. “The feeling is mutual...” Falcon points out as they look at the 2 white ones, not seeming to separate their muzzles. "I think Snowen is trained and modified to hold his breath for more than 5 minutes," Falcon chuckles. Fuchsann looks wondrous at the couple, then at Falcon. She plants her hands firmly on his cheeks, smiles, and pulls him in for a kiss. It being relatively brief compared to Snowen's and Wekka's. Falcon and Fuchsann yet again looks at them. “Maybe we should poke them with a stick...” Fuchsann suggests. “Nah...” Falcon shakes his head. “They might bite. So we should do it from a distance,” He smiles, then erects his hand. A blue beam slowly moves from his hand, towards Snowen. Falcon taps Snowen on his back, as if the beam was a solid substance. The couple breaks apart, slowly. Snowen walks towards the hellwater-fire, Fuchsann accompanies him.
Falcon grows out his wings and stands above Wekka. “Damn,” She exclaims. “Did I die and go to heaven?” “Close enough,” Falcon replies. “As long as you're under my wings, you won't die...” Her eyes widen. “...in an ordinary way at least,” He grins.
“Snowy?” Fuchsann asks. “What's wrong?” Snowen sits down next to the fire. “I'm... scared,” He says, almost trembling. “What did I do just now?” “Well...” Fuchsann sits down beside him. “You could call it a kiss,” “But why am I so scared of her? She's all I can think of right now!” He runs his hand through his hair. “Gee...” Fuchsann stares aimlessly into the fire. “She really touched you, huh?”
Falcon and Wekka rustles into the campsite. Fuchsann gets up and pulls Falcon a bit away from Snowen, Wekka proceeds forth and sits close to the fire. Snowen takes a quick look at her from the other side of the silky flames. 20-13 rolls down from his sleeve and transforms into a screen. Snowen stretches a plug out and puts it in his ear. Green text starts pouring onto the black screen.
0.02: I wish I was you.
MOp: So you finally use the chat. Good to see you're alive.
0.02: You know well I killed the cube. But have we your support?
MOp: Sure. It's more fun trying to keep track of a renegade, and we have only half the paperwork without your lifesigns. =)
PrOp: We got you on visual too. HOT stuff you did just a sec. ago... =P
0.02: How can you have a vis. on me? I'm the only B&W active.
MOp: We kind of sold one to Sky-Mil. for a reasonable price. They needed something to counter your superior abilities.
0.02: I sure hope it was to save your asses. Give me a description of the unit.
MOp: Female, cat, white w/ black hair, green eyes. And if Sky-Mil hasn't changed the dress-code: Camo-uniform.
0.02: She's sitting 0.5 m away from me.
PrOp: I told you I had tapped her signal!
MOp: Sky-Mil has in that case failed. AGAIN! Our flawless plan that we sold them. I recommend you take out her cube ASAP.
0.02: Was she supposed to assassinate me?
PrOp: Nope, worse...
MOp: She was supposed to make your skills drop from your 500% to 50% so some big-shot general could capture you without effort and claim the bounty.
0.02: So I should just kill her before she manages to harm me or my friends?
MOp: Not necessarily. Why do you ask?
0.02: I find her attractive.
Snowen looks up and around. Falcon and Fuchsann sit on a log a few paces away, talking about Falcon's “divine” journey. Wekka lies stretched out, with her eyes on the moon.
PrOp: I knew there was a flaw in our programming! This'll be fun! =)
MOp: Oh great... We had created the perfect war-machine, but it seems we didn't get all of your love and attention to guns and tactics.
PrOp: I can reprogram her to be your loveslave... *Pants*
0.02: Just get some of the Sky-Mil propaganda out of her head and I'll manage her.
PrOp: Manage her... Hehehe...
MOp: You mentioned you have friends. We never programmed you to leave anything but corpses! Identify them.
0.02: 0.03 and 0.01
PrOp: You've got to be kidding! So that's where I sent those clothes. Though I was a bit worried you'd turned a transvestite.
MOp: Well done. Wanting to claim the bounty?
0.02: Never. Our destination is...
“Where are we going, Falcon?” Snowen asks. Falcon sighs. “I was hoping to get us home,”
0.02: ...home.
MOp: We might be able to pull that off.
PrOp: Yeah. First we need to measure Storm's Eye, and then we need a craft sturdy and quick enough to get you through... That'll be cheap! =(
MOp: A challenge in other words. I'll pull some strings at 'warp' and 'mechs'.
0.02: We are in your debt. And by the way, PrOp. Send me a 20-13 and tune it to Wekka's brain, she'll need some new clothes too.
PrOp: Nothing says "I love you" more than new clothes and a killing-machine. I'll even throw in a Mod for your little bastard. I know you'll like it... Package sent. Enjoy.
MOp: I've fixed her brain. Clean for Sky-Mil-shit, so you should operate the cube out now.
0.02: Roger. Ending transmission.
Snowen pulls the plug from his ear, 20-13 devours it and shifts to a ball. He walks around the fire and kneels down beside Wekka. She smiles at him. He almost brutally turns her onto her side and presents the back of her neck to the shiny, little ball. In the blink of an eye a small cube rolls out of a slit in her skin. Snowen feeds it to 20-13. 20-13 changes into a long cylinder. Snowen angles it and the cube is fired off into the night.
“What the hell are you doing?” Falcon asks. “I just increased our chances of survival.” Snowen replies and stuffs the blob of metal into his shirt. Wekka rolls onto her back, and just smiles. “I know what you just did, your operator told me all I need to know,” Wekka giggles. “I like your boots, by the way,”
“Damn,” Fuchsann concludes to Falcon's tale. “You have sure done a lot of bleeding...”
Falcon nods and looks at the stars.