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| Episode 4: Quest for Freedom; All Aboard the Albright | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 9 2012, 10:27 AM (18,712 Views) | |
| Brandon Hicks | Oct 14 2013, 03:43 PM Post #106 |
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Vent Shaft Hicks skidded to a halt as the blast door came down before him. He glanced back nervously, gripping the newly appointed gun in his hand tightly. As expected, both ways to a fro were sealed. They were trapped. "Great. Now what?" Hicks was beginning to sweat as paced the enclosed space, his mind fighting to overcome fear. "Ryder?" he said suddenly, glancing to Ian. His voice was steady and calculating. "You often make a habit of naming possessions?" Understanding this curious behavior proved a proper coping technique for him. The rising panic in him subsided a slight, but it not extinguish. "Isolation tends to bring about that particular habit, did you know? When an individual is subjected to it, primarily for a long period of time, psychological mechanisms are evoked in an attempt to cope with the basic human nature to interact." Hicks paced along the walls, scanning every inch of the closed off corridor. His voice was low and non-too-formal, unlike his usual manner, as though he were talking to no one in particular, or simply himself. His pale face began to regain some colour. Hicks' gaze went upward and his speech seemed to end non intact. Seemingly oblivious to this, he shot another look to Ian. "Any way we can get through that?" he asked, indicating the vent. |
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| Ian Dugan | Oct 14 2013, 05:50 PM Post #107 |
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Death's Toy Boy
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Vent Shaft They had made it through two of the Blast Doors before they were blocked by the third. Ian slowed his run to a trot then to the jog then to a walk before finally coming to a stop as the Blast door seal at the bottom of the passage. Hicks had ran the full distance and skidded to a stop just ahead of Ian. Ian saw his look back and forth and though of a caged animal. He smiled slightly when his thought was given more evidince as Hicks bagan to pace. "Great. Now what?" Ian slowed his breathing and was about to answer when Hicks looked back at him and continued "Ryder? ... You often make a habit of naming possessions?" "Only my weapons. Named and Blooded" Ian wasn't sure if the Doc had heard him because he continued on. "Isolation tends to bring about that particular habit, did you know? When an individual is subjected to it, primarily for a long period of time, psychological mechanisms are evoked in an attempt to cope with the basic human nature to interact." Ian looked over at his constant companion, his goddess, his Death and smirked. "I'm never alone." As Hicks talked Ian had seen the vent and waited to see if the Doc would see it too. He smiled again when the man did. "Any way we can get through that?" "Yep. But I'm not leaving my coat. Janice Joplin gave me this coat." He took off his duster and set it on the floor. He then took a spanner from his pocket and removed the bolts holding the vent cover to the bulkhead. He took some string and duct tape from another pocket and tied the string to the vent cover, making sure it could be removed from the inside. He put four rolled piced of duct tape on the inside edgfe of the vent cover and looked at Hicks. "What. Tools of the trade. Never leave home without it." He told HIcks that the tape should hold the vent in place long enough for them to get to where they were going. Then he told Hicks to get in the vent first. He had to pull the cover back into place and make sure the tape held it in place. |
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| Brandon Hicks | Oct 14 2013, 09:43 PM Post #108 |
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Vent Shaft Hicks didn't know who the hell Janice Joplin was, and given the word of Ian's answer, he was more compelled to understand the next escape plan. Next Hicks stood open mouthed watching as Ian worked his spur-of-the-moment magic, withdrawing provisions he, at first thought, were at random. When Ian was finished Hicks had not bothered to hide his expression of high regard. "What. Tools of the trade. Never leave home without it." Hicks straightened. "I'll have to remember that one." He acted instantly after Ian was finished, taking the invitation to go first without hesitation. Reaching his arms over his head, he tucked his way in, stopping midway to take a hasty breath. He had never climbed through an air vent before... "Hope I don't fart," he called back, pushing onward until he was fully submerged within the vent. His own joke made him smile, and he relaxed a slight, easing onward, Ryder scraping steadily against the flooring in his hand. He did not trust holstering a weapon like that in his pants. "Shouldn't be long right? I mean... I hope this leads us to where we want it to lead and not..." He trailed off, the box surrounding him seeming to close around him. He took a few steady breathes, not daring to stop. If he did... He might not continue. Ease up, he told himself. It was an awful time to discover claustrophobia. All his will and strength went into suppressing it, biting back the torturing thirst, the violently churned stomach... and the heat. Blowing air upward along his sweaty forehead, Hicks did not falter. In all his muster to remain focussed, he paid little mind to much else. And without warning Ryder went off in his grip, and Hicks immediately slumped heavily to the cold flooring amidst the deafening sound. |
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| Ian Dugan | Oct 16 2013, 05:47 PM Post #109 |
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Death's Toy Boy
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Vent Shaft Ian had climbed into the vent, feet first. He pulled up the string and pulled the vent cover back into place, making sure it stuck. He pulled the string back through the grill of the vent cover and began the process of turing around in a tight place. He had done it before, back when he weighed more than he did at the moment. He had gotten stuck, twice then. This time he had gotten stuck three times before he was facing the correct direction. 'BLAM' He heard the gun shot and slithered through the vent duct like a sidewinder snake before coming up on the prone and still figure of Hick. He whispered the man's name and slapped his foot. "Hicks. Are you dead?" |
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| Brandon Hicks | Oct 17 2013, 01:02 AM Post #110 |
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Vent Shaft The ringing and unrelenting fear drowned out Ian's words. He lay very still, his eyes closed tightly shut, the realization slowly dawning on him that he was not in fact dead, after all. He groaned lightly, the sound muffled beyond his comprehension, and he he stirred within the small space. Lifting his head only to immediately smack his head on the vent's ceiling, Hicks blinked rapidly through his sweat drenched gaze, wishing he could bend his arm low enough to rub his ears. He threw up. Grimacing, he swallowed the remaining bit of vile, too tortured to remark on what would have otherwise been a wonderful opportunity at humor. Taking a much needed breath he inched onward. It was hell. |
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| Ian Dugan | Oct 18 2013, 12:17 PM Post #111 |
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Death's Toy Boy
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Vent Shaft Ian sighed and shook his head. He hated crawling through someone elses vomit ... his included. Once on the other side he directed Hicks past the other other Blast doors, going around through service routes he was experienced with. If no one saw them, they would be at the shuttle bay sooner, rather than later. "Glad yer not dead. Would suck to be standin there when the rest of the crew showed up an me with a dead you, still askin for passage. Dont think it would go over well." Though Hicks couldn't see him in the dark, tight vent, Ian was smiling his crooked smile. |
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| Ariel Duquesne | Oct 20 2013, 04:05 AM Post #112 |
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Aerial Artist with 'tude
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Electrical Hub Inside Ventilation/Service Tunnels Ari head what sound like a series of loud booms as they began to move down the shaft. "What's that?" she asked as Darren began to scramble faster up the shaft. He obviously knew what was going on. "This isn't good is it?" They traveled down into a service tunnel and stopped at a dead end where Darren started to quickly go through the systems located there. He was trying to rectify whatever problem had arisen. Ari began to think about what the reasons for the sounds she heard and the pace that Darren set at trying to "fix" it. It was the blast doors. They were locking the place down. They were trying to stop them from escaping. They wanted them trapped. "We're gonna die aren't we?" she asked, her voice wavering. "They are going to search for us until they find us and finish what they tried to do in the Med Bay." She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and started rocking a little. "You should leave me. I'll turn myself in. They don't know you are here. Save yourself," she pleaded with him. She had no desire to die anytime soon, but perhaps it would be better. At least the others might get away. She would give her life readily for crew. They were family. Plus, she could finally be reunited with her parents. And exist the way things should have been. |
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| Major Samuel Harrigan | Oct 20 2013, 04:19 AM Post #113 |
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Corridor Outside of Vent Where Ian and Hicks Are Major Harrigan felt empowered. He made his way to the sector he had locked down and began to enter the codes into where he had locked the blast doors. Starting at the Cargo Bay, he began to unlock each section and moved forward. He was about to go through another one to get nearly to the compartment Ian and Hicks had been when he heard the shot ring out. He grinned with glee as he figured he may have gotten a chance to run at least one of them down. "They're in the vents," he said into his comm, communicating with the other folks involved with the search. "And it sounds as if they are armed. That makes them unpredictable. Shoot first and ask later is my recommendation." But for him, he had other ideas. He wanted to see the whites of their eyes. He wanted them begging for their life as they were on their knees before him. He wanted to make them suffer. So he flipped open a vent and look down the opening, hoping to see someone stick their head into the area. He then decided to leave the vent cover open just a little so he could see in. If anyone came by, he was just going to reach in, grab them and yank them into where he was in order to exact his revenge the way he wanted. |
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| Reno Carson | Oct 25 2013, 10:52 PM Post #114 |
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Snake's Quarters Reno heard the alarms go off and the soldiers running down the halls as he and the Advocate traveled to Snake's quarters. "Let me guess... They are after my crew?" he asked. His eyes hardened. "Nothing better come to harm them or I will... I will..." Reno stopped himself. He wasn't sure what he would do, but it would be big. He thought about it as he carried on to Snake's quarters. When he was there, he found the file and Hicks had left for them. "Huh..." he commented. "Fucker's got the record of a boy scout." He looked up at the Advocate. "I know he's a filthy liar, rapist and who knows what else. My crew don't lie, especially not about things like this." He handed the file to the Advocate. "Let's have a looksee around here," Reno said clapping his hands together in preparation for a real hunt. "If I was a no good, raping type, what kind of things would I keep in here?" |
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| Brandon Hicks | Oct 30 2013, 01:35 PM Post #115 |
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Vent Shaft Hicks could hardly hear him. He was drenched in sweat, every nerve in his body ached, and he though he might actually die from the thirst. Still he edged on, slowly but surely. He now held the gun by its barrel instead of the trigger handle. "How much further?" he managed to say. He had long since lost focus. His head was cloudy, shutting out the urge to yell and thrash about in rising panic. Hicks stomach heaved and gagged, but it came out dry. |
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| Ian Dugan | Oct 31 2013, 12:46 AM Post #116 |
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Death's Toy Boy
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Vent Shaft "How much further?" He heard Hicks speak and was about to answer him when he heard another voice. "They're in the vents. ... And it sounds as if they are armed. That makes them unpredictable. Shoot first and ask later is my recommendation." It was Harrington. Ian would have remembered that voice in his sleep. The voice was faint, coming from somewhere near them. Then Ian heard the sound of a vent grill being removed and froze. Light spilled into the shaft. It was in front of them. The grill was replaced. Ian tapped Hicks on the foot and pointed to the shaft going up. It was right before the vent cover that had been removed. Close enough to shoot, but not close enough to grab anyone. At least Ian didn't think so. |
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| Amber Kynes | Nov 1 2013, 12:47 AM Post #117 |
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Corridor Three Doors Past Med Bay No, Ari wasn't doing well at all. Amber wished she could be there with Ari or that Ari could be there with her. But... no. Maybe it was better that they were all split up. Better chance of at least some of them getting out of this mess alive and in one piece. She looked at Sergei when he mentioned Reno going to Snake's bunk. Huh. So the useless piece of space trash had been here before. Somehow, she wasn't overly surprised at that. They did need to get out of here and fast, though. Had it been anyone else that scooped her up before she'd taken more than a handful of steps, she would have insisted they put her down. But with Sergei, she didn't mind so much. In fact, she actually kind of liked it. Instead of squirming and insisting to be put down, she draped her arms loosely around his neck and remained silent. "Thanks, Ian" she said with a grin. "And you two be safe" she added, turning to look at Hicks and Ian as she was carried out of the infirmary. She did not want to lose more crew. Not even new crew. Just when Amber was starting to hope they had a chance, the thud of blast doors slamming shut began to be noticeable at the edge of her hearing range. And it was getting closer. Her fingers tightened a little where they rested on Sergei's shoulder. Too late, she realized what the sound meant. Before she could suggest that he start running, they were trapped. "Well. This can't mean anything good." Wow. What a way to state the obvious, Amber. Good job, that! "I don't suppose there's a contingency in place for something like this." No, there probably wasn't. Not that she thought the crew wasn't capable of coming up with one. It was just that it wasn't feasible to plan for every possible thing that might go wrong. Sometimes you just had to wing it. "Here's hoping Darren figures out a way to untangle this little knot asap." |
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| Sergei Romanov | Nov 1 2013, 03:00 AM Post #118 |
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Corridor Three Doors Past Med Bay Despite what their current situation, Sergei was in 7th Heaven. He had Amber in his arms and she hers loosely around his neck. It suddenly struck him that he had affections for her. Ones that ran a little deeper than mere friendship. Now only if they could get off this ship... Sergei heard it just about the same time Amber did. The sound of blast doors slamming shut. He started towards the next area, but didn't get far at all as the doors barricaded them in. "Well. This can't mean anything good." "You think?" Sergei said wryly as he set her very gently down onto her feet. He looked her in the eye. "You OK? Does it hurt much?" He frowned a little wondering if he should have her lay down. Would that be better for her wound? "I don't suppose there's a contingency in place for something like this." "Wasn't exactly expecting this to happen," he answered as he looked around, taking down the grate and looking inside. "Good thing Ari and Darren are in the vents somewhere. If anyone could get this mess untangled, it would be him." "Here's hoping Darren figures out a way to untangle this little knot asap." Sergei nodded before turning back to her, still very much concerned. "Are you in much pain? Do you want me to do anything?" |
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| Brandon Hicks | Nov 12 2013, 05:12 PM Post #119 |
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Vent Shaft Hicks did not hear the voice, too surrounded by his own suppressed panic to notice much else. He did, however, feel the tap from Ian, and despite the fact he yet remained a stranger (albeit an interesting one) it was brought a certain sense of relief to be reminded he was not alone. Craning his sweat drenched head back as best he could, he caught not of the signal upward. It was then that he noticed the light. Instinct settled in. The need to survive outweighed the panic. He rolled over onto his back until his face shot upwards along the conjoined vent. Slowly but surely he weaseled his way upward, wincing against the tight painful and narrow squeeze. "I really... Should not have... Gone first..." He said through heavy, focused breathes. |
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| Ian Dugan | Nov 12 2013, 06:44 PM Post #120 |
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Death's Toy Boy
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Vent Shaft Ian thought again about why he was helping these people. He saw the pain in Sergei's eyes as he had spoken of his crewmates. He had never much liked the Alliance since they had thrown him in the mines along Krane Moon. But they had given him a pardon and made him a citizen again. He knew that there were some evil folk in all walks of life. He had seen many examples in the Mines. He also understood what someone would do if they had raped any of his crew, back when he had a crew ... and a ship... As a matter of fact, someone on his crew had been raped, then had her throat slit and left for dead. Ian saved her by cheating, using a peice of plastic to stick in the vein and Duct tape to hold it in place and wrap the wound, until his Medic could work her wonders. The man who had did the deed was marked because Ian had left a scar on his face as a reminder to walk the straight and narrow or he would finish the job. The men in the Med Bay were going to kill two women who really didn't have any weapons, except for what they found there. They were just trying to get away. Ian knew that Harrington wasn't evil, just a pain in the Pi-Gu who followed orders. He was a good soldier, but it took him too long to see outside the Alliance Box. Within the 'box', Harrington was considered a genius and was a danger to his current crew that he was now a part of First the "Seven' and now the 'Gypsy' He wondered if he would ever settle down as he followed Hicks up into the last of three major vent segments before they would be at the Hanger Bay |
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3:40 AM Jul 11


