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Post by Skyscream on Aug 7, 2013 16:50:41 GMT -8
Format watched the small woman approach as he lowered one of many gangplanks he had built into himself. Her steps were measured and confident as she approached the massive shape of his body but he could tell by the way her eyes darted along the massive bulk of his body that she was nervous. She was counting all the weapons she could see. He was sure of it. He suspected Zionites were nervous because he reminded them of the war and what a machine is capable of. But this woman was different. He smiled digitally and closed the gangplank once she was inside. The first to set foot on his flooring besides Sky in many years. He felt a little foolish about making sure everything was clean and shiny but he did have some pride. She stood for a moment in the large cargo bay filled with supplies and bits of equipment he had salvaged from the surface and looked around carefully. He was pretty sure he hid the type of stuff most Zionites became nervous about, like disassembled Machine technology, but she didn't seem concerned about that. The look on her face seemed to be interest hidden deeply beneath a stone cold expression. At least that's what it seemed like to him. Occasionally with the veterans he had a hard time reading them.
"Welcome aboard, Karaa." Format used his most friendly tone as he spoke through speakers. They were in every room, every space, so that he could communicate anywhere on the ship that was him. "It is nice to finally meet you in person."
"Thank you, Format." Karaa replied. He could hear the weariness in her voice. Or maybe it was something else?
"I'm sorry to bring you over here but I need to discuss something with you before Sky wakes up." Format let the uncertainty show in his voice. "Would you like to talk over dinner? I have something special prepared in the mess hall if you like. Or we can talk here."
"Dinner?" Karaa raised an eyebrow slightly at this. "Alright."
"This way if you please?" Format decided that now was as good a time as any to reveal his true nature to her. He selected one of his smallest tentacles and lifted it up from beneath the flooring, through one of many small portals in it, to point at a door on the far end of the large cargo bay. "It's the third door on the left past the cargo bay."
The woman barely even twitched when the tentacle rose and pointed. She strode past the metal tentacle towards the door with measured steps while her eyes scanned the cargo bay from top to bottom. He could tell she was mentally assessing everything she saw but he wasn't worried about that. As she pushed through the heavy metal doorway to the central hallway he wondered if his surprise would help put her at ease or make things worse. He could never tell and it had been a long time since he talked to humans in person. Before long she had walked past the medical bay and the empty crew quarters to arrive at the door to the mess hall. She stopped. An odd look was on her face. She sniffed the air so subtly that he almost missed it. He smiled digitally. This might work. He watched her push open the heavy door to the mess hall. On the single long table was a plate with a metal lid covering it. She walked slowly up to the place he had set for her and lifted the lid only to stare in surprise.
"How?" Karaa looked around after recovering from the surprise. It was the first time he had seen her guard down since she set foot outside the hovercraft she called home.
"Sky." Format chuckled a little as the woman stared at the plate again. "She's smart like that."
Karaa sat down in the chair in front of the plate and stared at it. There were a few things like fungus and tubers that were not that appealing but nutritious, however that was not what she was staring at.
"It's cave shrimp." Format said soothingly. "Not all life died. The things that hide in the dark survived in some places. The things that don't require direct sunlight. Or sunlight at all for that matter."
"But..." Karaa frowned and touched it as if to see if it was real.
"Please, enjoy." Format tried to put a smile in his voice. "I made it for you. Our business can wait long enough for you to eat."
The woman tentatively picked up a fork and picked a small piece of the shrimp he had prepared. It was large for a normal shrimp but one of the smaller cave ones Sky had selected. He had carefully removed the shell from it since it was unlikely she had ever dealt with such a thing in the real. He hoped her stomach wouldn't reject it after years of eating mostly the goo commonly refered to as 'snot' that kept humans alive in Zion. She bit into it and Format actually felt pride as she closed her eyes and just let the flavour settle. Before long though she dug in and quietly finished her meal while Format played some dinner music. It was nice. He missed this. Sky never bothered with properly sitting down to eat. Always on the go. Before long the shrimp was gone along with the tubers and fungus. Karaa sat back wth an odd look on her face after she placed her utensils on the now empty plate.
"That solves one of the riddles about how you two survived so long out there." Karaa smiled a little. "I .. Thank you. The meal was lovely Format."
"It was my pleasure." Format was genuinely pleased she enjoyed his gift.
"So when will Sky be joining us?" Karaa kept looking up at the roof when she spoke to him. It was common among most humans. "I'm guessing she's okay since you mentioned she wasn't awake."
"Yes. Sky is .. healthy. Okay is another matter." Format allowed the concern to bleed through in his voice. "I'm worried. She won't listen to me anymore. Even when my logic is sound."
"Listen about what, Format?" Karaa began staring at her empty plate with a frown.
"She's going to do something stupid." Format sighed. "And it will be her death."
"I'm going to need more than that." Karaa replied curtly.
"That ... entity .. wasn't the only thing we found." Format began. "There is so much more. I'm not sure where to begin."
"How about with what you were actually doing?" Karaa kept staring at the plate. Something was on her mind but Format couldn't guess what. This was not the same person he once studied so long ago. She seemed.. like Sky. Broken.
"We were looking for Neo. Or rather the One." Format began. "I didn't think it would actually lead to anything in spite of the information she got out of the Merovingian. I made a mistake. I underestimated how far Sky is willing to go. I thought after a couple years she would give up. I was wrong and I should have known better."
"What exactly are you talking about, Format?" The pitch of Karaas voice changed ever so slightly. Format thought it might be annoyance? Maybe fear?
"I'm going to break into Machine City." Skyscreams voice from the door was such a surprise that Format mentally jumped. She took a couple steps into the room and sat down in the nearest chair with exhaustion. Format chided himself for not paying better attention.
"What?" Karaa sat up in her chair.
"I'm going to break into Machine city." Skyscream repeated tiredly. Her body was bruised and battered from her battle in the Matrix but that wasn't what bothered Format. It was the weariness in her voice.
"That's .. I .. what?" Karaa stammered with a confused look on her face. "Are you insane?"
"Most likely." Skyscream replied with a little chuckle. "But I'm going to do it anyway. From a direction the Machine won't suspect. Because nobody has ever looked in that direction. Did you like the shrimp?"
"Yes. It was very good." Karaa continued to frown at Skyscream. Format was very nervous. They were approaching a moment he was not looking forward too. One he tried to avoid by talking to Karaa first but, as usual, he underestimated Skyscreams resilience. He was not surprised when Karaa continued talking. "But what are you talking about? Break into machine city? Are you trying to start the war again?"
"No. I'm not." Skyscream sighed and looked at Karaa with sad eyes. "But I'm going to do it anyway."
"Why?" The smaller woman seemed confused by all this to Format. He could be wrong though.
"I .. promised I'd find him." Skyscream stated simply but Format could see her eyes watering up.
"Promised who?" Karaa asked bluntly.
"Morpheus." Skyscream stared at the table in front of her. Format didn't like this. Not one bit.
"Morpheus?" Karaa tilted her head to one side the tiniest amount. "But he's been dead for years."
"No he's not!" Skyscream suddenly lept to her feet in anger and slammed her fist down on the table with force. After a moment of stunned silence she sat back down and wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry. I'm letting my emotions get away from me."
"Are you okay Sky?" Karaa asked gently.
"No, my friend. I am not." Skyscream laughed suddenly. "For the first time in my life .. I'm truely afraid. I'm not dealing with it well."
"I don't think breaking into Machine city is a wise plan, Sky." Karaa seemed a bit taken aback from what Format could read from the minimal body language beneath the hard exteriour of the woman.
"Never said it was smart." Skyscream shrugged, her wirey muscles flexing with the minimal movement. Format was always impressed by the lengths Sky went to in order to be just as tough outside the matrix as inside. "Just what I have to do."
"Why? Nevermind how you would do it. Why would you?" Karaa asked quietly. Format watched the smaller of the two women carefully. She seemed to be trying to decide something but he wasn't sure what.
"Because I promised I would find him." Skyscream sighed and shook her head. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then make me understand." Karaa sat back in her chair.
"Look. I know what the Prides stance on Morpheus was. I accept that. You didn't know him." Skyscream stared off into the distance of her mind. "Not like we did. The True Believers were just that. Believers. We were soldiers, Karaa, not operatives. Willing to die to protect humanity. A fair number of us did just that. Died protecting humanity in the darkness of the code. Zion unaware of how close to the end they came."
"I understand that. We never had a problem with that." Karaa said simply.
"The things Morpheus told me.. are almost beyond belief." Skyscream didn't even seem to hear the other woman speak. Format knew different. "The white hallways. The keymaker. The Trainman. What Agent Smith tried to do to him. There is much more going on than most people are aware of."
"Of course. But about this idea of breaking into Machine City." Karaa shook her head. "That's just suicide. They'll blow you and Format up long before you get close enough to even breath the air around Machine City."
"I know. It almost happened a number of times already." Skyscream smiled a bit. "But Format can be pretty sneaky for a fat ass tugboat."
"Hey!" Format interjected. "That's one persons opinion. I am not a tugboat. It's bad enough that Niobe says it Sky."
"I know, Forr Matsee, I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention." Skyscream let her smile disappear after using the name she always knew him by. Since before she fell out of the world. She took a deep breath and turned her attention fully to Karaa. "Format and I are not going to approach Machine City in the real. I found another way."
"It's obvious I already think this is a bad idea." Karaa crossed her arms. "So why are you still telling me about it?"
"Because I can't do it alone." Skyscream sighed with a soul crushing weariness. "And I don't have anyone else I can count on. Not anymore."
"I haven't seen you in years. Not since... " Karaa let the sentence trail off before continuing. "I don't understand why you think you can count on me? We barely knew each other. We still don't."
"I see things Karaa." Skyscream almost whispered the words. "In my dreams."
"Dreams?" Karaa frowned again.
"Yes. My dreams." Skyscream took a deep breath. "Okay here it is. I know it sounds crazy but I get ... glimpses of things. Then they come true. It doesn't happen often."
"Okay." Format could almost hear the disbelief in Karaas voice but she masked it well. Karaa continued. "So what do your dreams tell you?"
"It's difficult to explain. Now, when I wake up, I don't remember the dream. Just the feelings. I think I don't want to remember them. Not this time." Skyscream frowned and stared at the table. "Dread. That's what I feel."
"So you want to break into Machine City and risk more war and a genocide over a feeling?" Karaa seemed tense. Uncertain.
"I know how it sounds." Skyscream suddenly stared at Karaa intensely. "Do you believe that Neo is the one who will save us all?"
"I'm not sure I want to answer that." Karaa replied after a long pause. "Assuming that he hasn't already which is what I thought happened."
"The war isn't over Karaa. It's just paused. If you don't answer me, and answer me honestly, then I can't guarantee you'll walk out of this room alive." Skyscreams voice had taken on an edge that Format knew all too well. This was the moment he was afraid of.
"I don't know." Karaa stated abruptly after a long pause. Format could tell Karaa had a hundred questions about the words Sky had asked but she kept them to herself.
"Thank you." Skyscream seemed to relax. Her body posture changed. "Now my next question. Answer it how you like. Will you help me? I'm not asking if the Pride will help me. I'm asking if YOU will help me."
"I don't know." Karaa shrugged.
"Fair enough." Skyscream nodded and smiled. "I understand your hesitancy. But I shouldn't say more about my plan or why I'm doing it."
"Why not? You are seeking my help right?" Karaa had not relaxed, from Formats viewpoint, since Sky had suddenly appeared at the door.
"Because ..." Skyscream levelled a pointed finger at the other woman. "... I know more about you than you may think. You should go. I'm sure Agent Pace is getting impatient and we wouldn't want that. She is prone to using force to get her way."
"How did you know about that?" Karaa frowned up at the roof for the briefest of moments before returning her gaze to Sky.
"I just dreamed it." Skyscream smiled with a glint of .. amusement .. in her eyes. "I need to rest. Format will see you out. Let me know what you decide in terms of helping me or not. Please take your time. You know how to contact me."
Skyscream suddenly stood up and strode purposefully from the room to turn up the hall and walk out of sight. Karaa stared after the woman for a long moment before rising herself and walking back through the ship to the cargobay doors silently. Lost in thought. When she reached the now open gangplank she suddenly turned and looked at the large cargo bay for a long moment.
"Thank you for the wonderful meal, Format." Karaa stated suddenly.
"It was my pleasure." Format responded honestly. "I do hope we can do it again someday."
"We'll see." Karaa turned and walked down the gangplank. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye Karaa." Format watched her leave. He could see uncertainty in her mind from the way she walked.
These women were so alike in so many ways to Formats perceptions. Yet so very different.
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Post by Skyscream on Aug 11, 2013 22:19:07 GMT -8
Skyscream had insisted they take off immediately once Karaa had departed and now she stared out the front of her ship as it glided effortlessly through the dark tunnels dug deep into the earth. A giant maze that stretched from the nearly frozen surface of the planet to the warmth near the earths core. Slowly they edged the large mass of the hovercraft through the tunnels and away from New Zion. It was the last place Skyscream wanted to be. New Zion. There was no way out. Nowhere to run. They had fortified themselves in yet another death trap. Nobody had learned a damn thing from the war as far as she was concerned.
"Format. How long until we reach the surface?" Skyscream continued to stare intensely out the windscreen of the ship from her chair. It was central in the room and surrounded by instruments. On any other ship it would be called the Operators station. But on this ship the entire hovercraft was the operator.
"About an hour." The voice of Format C stated calmly into the nearly empty bridge. It was large and spacious with twelve comfortable Jack Chairs aligned in a semicircle near the back of the room. "I have no hostiles on my sensors. I think our strange friend from the city has given up for the moment."
"And did we receive a response from our contact?" Skyscream hardly moved as she glanced over her instruments out of habit.
"Negative." Format responded simply.
"I see." She pursed her lips for a moment in thought before saying more. "We continue anyway."
"Are you sure?" Format sounded even more uncertain than his words. "I don't like this at all. Look at what all has happened in the last four hours. We can't be certain anymore."
"I'm sure. I was given very specific instructions." Skyscream frowned in thought. "Are you questioning them now?"
"No. I'm just not certain anymore. Things have changed. A lot has happened in eight years." Format reasoned. "It is our duty to re-examine the situation again."
"Regardless. Everything that I was told has come true." Skyscreams voice took on a hard edge. "Everything. Including me rescuing you from the Merovingian and giving you real freedom. Don't forget that."
"I never do Sky." Format sounded offended. "You know that. But with everything that's happened I'm not sure I want to do this. I'm uncertain. I keep telling you."
"Of what?" Skyscream continued to stare out the window at the dark tunnels.
"Of where this is all leading us. I don't care what you tell other people. I know the truth of things; not that half truth stuff you keep putting over on people." Format dodged to the left to avoid a metal outcropping in the tunnel wall but the motion was so smooth it couldn't even be felt on the bridge. " I know why you have those dreams. I know why you latched yourself onto Morpheus like he was some kind of holyman back in the day once you arranged to meet him. Just like I know why you picked the handle Skyscream when you arrived in Zion. I've known you since you were a bluepill, Mala McFey. You owe me as much as I owe you. Why won't you discuss any of what happened back then and why we are still following those instructions now eight years later? It's not like I don't know about any of it."
"Don't push me, Forr." Skyscream frowned at the world outside the ship. "It is not open for discussion. Ever. You know that."
"Fine." Format said with bite in his voice. "Don't talk about it. Have your insanely convoluted plans that lead to who knows what result. It's not like I'm risking my life in all this too. You know what? You can sit here by yourself. I'll be driving if you want me."
Skyscream closed her eyes. At least now she could think in peace.
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Post by Skyscream on Aug 23, 2013 10:44:11 GMT -8
##Login: Ookami## ##Password: ****************************## %USER ACCESS GRANTED
##Command: Secure Line## %LINE SECURED
##Command: Download File=Zion Situation Report## %FILE DOWNLOADING....... %DOWNLOAD COMPLETE
##Command: Nuke line %LINE PURGED
##Command: Scan File=Zion Situation Report## %FILE SCANNED. NO VIRAL IDENTITIES DETECTED
##Command: Display File=Zion Situation Report## %DISPLAYING
Salutations General Ookami. This week had been difficult in terms of gathering information. Ever since the HVCT Format C arrived and then departed suddenly I've found that security has suddenly tightened up so it's been very difficult getting anything out of the command structure. I'm not familiar with this Captain Skyscream personally, or her ship, but she certainly has a reputation among Zionites. Especially among the Neo fanatics who call her "The Neonite". They say it the same way the say Morpheus or Trinity. I discovered that even the ranks of EPN that I am in contact with have a great deal of respect for her. There is a lot more I could say on the matter but I think I'll just be repeating information you already have, General. About the HVCT Format C (Strange name for a ship), numerous people have stated that it is run by an Exile program. I was of the opinion that this is simply rumour, perhaps spread by the Captain of the ship, that has grown into something approaching legend among the hover jockeys. The following conversation I captured leads me to believe otherwise. If you wish I'll investigate these rumours further. If Captain Skyscream actually found a way for an exile program to successfully leave the system entirely, and gain the trust of (some) Zionites, this may be something we should look into. I defer to your judgement in this matter, General. Here is the audio file I manage to pick up between Commander Roland and Councillor Locke. I'm including the transcript. My audio bugs picked it up on the walkway near the docks very late last night.
Roland: Thanks for meeting me, Jason.
Locke: The news you sent me didn't leave me much choice did it?
*laughter*
Roland: Sorry Jason. But I need some advice.
Locke: It's fine. I understand. I used to have your job remember?
Roland: Yeah. I do. My life was easier then.
Locke: To be honest so was mine. I never expected this council thing to be as hard as it is. I never had much patience for debates. So what is it I can help you with?
Roland: Skyscream.
*long pause*
Locke: So the rumours are true. She is alive.
Roland: Yep.
Locke: Okay. Where do I come in?
Roland: I'm a really busy man with a lot of different things I need to do every day but I read all the reports on Captain Skyscream. The history. But I need more than stale reports. Tell me about her. I need to understand some things from your point of view. She used to have a following. I know that much. She fought at my side. Niobe's side. But not much more than the surface stuff. That fleet she ran were a secretive bunch. I didn't know them very well. All I know about her is that when the chips were down... there she was. With her fleet. Fighting for Zion. Tell me about her, The believers, and that damn ship.
Locke: Format scares you huh?
Roland: Yep. It's ... half Machine. I do not trust it.
Locke: I understand. But do you trust her?
Roland: Not really. I've seen her do insane things. Sure, she always sided with Zion when it came down to bullets. But nothing about her was what it appeared it seems.
Locke: No. It was not. Ask your questions. I'll answer them.
Roland: Why did you issue an arrest warrant for her a few months after the war?
Locke: It was never an arrest warrant. It was more like 'she needs to answer some questions so bring her in' order. She decided to go rogue instead. Painted a red skull and crossbones on her ship and started calling herself a pirate. She never did answer any questions about what happened to the Vital Element fleet. None of them did. She started hanging out with another self proclaimed pirate. Then all of a sudden one day she marched into my office and declared that she would never answer questions about the 'incedent' and that I need to get over myself.
Roland: Wierd.
Locke: Yes. She is.
Roland: What about this whole Neonite thing?
Locke: Talking to the wrong guy about that. The Neo cultists don't talk to me.
Roland: Okay. What about the Believers?
Locke: They were beyond brave and always defended Zion.
Roland: That's it?
Locke: I learned a long time ago that it was all I needed to know. They were very focused on one goal. Protect Zion at all costs. Not one ship was like the other. Not one captain was like the other. It was chaos. But in that chaos was a chain of command. One that seemed absolute. They never took orders from me. Never followed the instructions I'd lay out. But they always ended up at the same goal I ordered to go for. Just never the way anyone would expect. But ... they never took my orders. They listened to Morpheus.
Roland: What happened to the True Believer fleet?
Locke: Happen? *Locke laughs* Locke: Nothing happened to them. Some died fighting for Zion. Yes. Quite a few actually. But they're still out there. Make no mistake about that. You just can't see them.
Roland: I can't see them?
Locke: Shh. They are hiding among us.
Roland: Very funny.
Locke: I'm not joking.
Roland: Okay. So what about that ship? Is it really a threat if it decided to turn against us?
Locke: Yes. Very much so.
Roland: Hey, what's this? Shit. Bugs.
*static*
That is all I managed to recover from the remote data storage, General Ookami. I await further instructions.
- Agent X (can I please have a new code name? Agent X?)
%EOF%
##Command: Delete file=Zion Situation Report## %FILE DELETED ##Command: Send message=Agent X## %SENDING.....
Agent X. Stop wasting my time with things I already know. Pay more attention to the assignments I actually task you with and less on these random paths you enjoy walking down. They will get you killed. I need smart agents. Not ones that poke thier nose in stuff and LET ZION COMMAND FIND A BUG. Keep to your assigned task. Remove all your stupid bugs that you put in stupid places and only do as you are instructed. You were instructed to watch the movements of Councillor Locke. One more mistake and I'll grant your wish. You won't be Agent X anymore. You'll be known as 'that corpse over there'.
That is all.
%MESSAGE SENT
##Command: Nuke Terminal##
%DELETE TERMINAL? Y/N
##Command: Y
%TERMINAL DELETED PERMANENTLY FROM GRID
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Post by Skyscream on Aug 23, 2013 13:50:34 GMT -8
"Tell me again this isn't the stupidest thing we've ever done." Format deadpanned through the earpiece and mini-microphone she was wearing. "I was laughing too hard last time you said it. I forgot to record it."
"This isn't the stupidest thing we've ever done." Skyscream replied seriously from where she crouched on the roof of a tall non-descript brick building.
"Okay. What are we doing again?" Formats voice was filled with amusement. "For the record. So I can tell people. At your funeral."
"Breaking into Metacortex." Skyscream replied in a semi-serious tone but she couldn't help but smile. "What else?"
"And you actually expect to live through this." Format was laughing through the earpiece.
"No. But I'm going to give it a go." Skyscream chuckled as she peered at the incredibly tall building that housed the headquarters for Metacortex. "They have something I want."
"Uh huh." Format didn't sound convinced. "Okay. I'm in. I have access to the security grid. I'll have to be careful. Subtle. This could take a while."
Skyscream stared at the building across the parking lot for a long time. She hardly moved at all while perched on the edge of the tall brick building. While time moved and the bluepills went about their business she was little more than a statue. Her sudden movement startled some nearby pigeons but she was already running across the parking lot by the time they realized something had happened. In moments she was across the car park and suddenly leaping high into the air. The angle of her jump carried her far into the air and soon she was arcing back down towards the building. Below her a balcony rose up to meet her just as a man in a security uniform was stepping back into the building through the balconies glass sliding door. She landed, and rolled with the impact to collide with the man as he turned back to look. As she flipped to her feet she drew a pair of silenced pistols from behind her back just as another security guard stood up from the couch he was sitting on. The man tried to draw his weapon but a pair of bullets pierced his forehead. Skyscream spun around and fired one more shot into the head of the man she had collided with just as he was levelling his own pistol at her.
"Are we good?" Skyscream crouched low in the small office and whispered. She adjusted the shiny one piece black cat burglar suit she was wearing. "I hate this armour. It's... I hate it."
"It's the best armour we have." Format responded. "That met the specifications you gave me."
"It's too revealing and too tight." Skyscream whispered back. "Whoever designed it needed a girlfriend."
"We're good." Format replied after a moment. "They haven't detected you yet. But I don't see how this helps. Their defenses are going to sniff me out if I change anything at all. I don't know why they haven't already."
"Don't worry about that." Skyscream slipped through the office in a low crouch with the pistols held out before her and pointed at the door leading into the rest of the building. "Just make sure this office is secured."
"Okay." Format did not sound convinced at all.
"Don't worry." Skyscream whispered as she reached the door. She took a deep breath and carefully placed the silenced pistols on the floor beside the door before standing up and adjusting the skimpy looking shiny black outfit again.
"Commencing 'Not Worrying' ..." Format responded sarcastically.
"I have a cunning plan!" Skyscream chuckled and grasped the door handle to suddenly fling the door open and step through.
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 6, 2013 11:13:34 GMT -8
As Skyscream stepped into the hallway she unzipped the front of the ridiculously tight, shiny, black catsuit she was wearing to nearly her belly button. The hallway extended to her left and to her immediate right ended in a door marked "Alarm will go off if opened" right beneath another sign that said "Emergency Stairwell". Further down the door lined hallway she could see an open area containing elevator doors. She took a breath and suddenly reached over to fling the emergency door open. As advertised alarms immediately went off. Within moments people stuck their heads out of their offices to see what was going on. They were all well dressed and obviously not used to disturbances. Skyscream struck a pose of surprise and shock.
"I'm, like, so sorry!" She exclaimed to a grey haired man staring at her with a slack jaw a short distance down the hallway. "I got lost and I didn't see the sign."
"It's okay." The man smiled at her as a number of people began to file down the hallway towards her. "Accidents happen."
"I'm so sorry." Skyscream exclaimed over the alarm. "I was supposed to deliver a strip-o-gram and I got turned around somehow. I'm not even sure what floor I'm on."
"Typical." A stern looking woman muttered under her breath before addressing the 'stripper' in a whorish outfit before her. "You stay right there young lady. Security will deal with you."
"Yes, Ma'am. Even as Skyscream said the words two large men in black and white security uniforms were among the group. Skyscream smiled at them as they caught site of the unexpected spectacle of her ridiculously tight, half open, outfit. She exclaimed to the guards in a breathy voice as she pushed past the stern woman. "Oh good. I'm really sorry about the door thingy. I got all turned around and stuff and I was just trying to find the place I'm supposed to deliver my strip-o-gram!"
"Uh.. Okay..." The larger of the pair replied uncertainly before talking into a walkie talkie. "Go ahead and turn off the alarm. We'll be bringing someone in for processing."
"Processing?" Skyscream said in a worried voice before turning to the man that was a bit shorter than her. He had his eyes firmly planted on her chest. "What does that mean?"
"Oh. Um." He finally looked up at her face. "It's standard procedure. Just making sure who you are and why you are here. We'll need a statement from you as well."
"Oh. Okay." Skyscream smiled at the man and struck a, nonchalant, sexy pose with one hand on her hip. "I'm really sorry about this."
"It'll be fine." The man smiled back a little as the alarm turned off. He turned to the workers. "Okay everyone. We have it under control. Sorry about the disturbance."
"Come with us." The larger of the two men reached out and grasped her arm to lead her away. His partner followed along behind them as the big man led Skyscream down the hall with a firm grip on her arm. She knew her ass was getting a good look over as they approached the elevators but that was the point of the outfit.
"I don't want any trouble out of you. Okay?" The large man frowned at her as the elevators door opened by themselves as they approached.
"Yes sir." Skyscream breathed sexily as they stepped into the elevator and the shorter man pressed the button for the parking level. He turned suddenly as the doors closed and stared at Skyscreams face for a long moment with a curious expression.
"Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked. "I feel like I know you from somewhere."
"I don't know, darlin'." Skyscream smiled at him charmingly. "Ever been to the Elephant and Tophat? It's a great club I dance at sometimes."
"No. That's not it." He kept looking at her to the point it was making Skyscream uncomfortable. "Some where else ..."
"Son of a ... " The large man exclaimed as his grip tightened on Skyscreams arm and his other hand reached for the gun holstered at his waist. "It's Skyscream! The Terrorist!!"
"Shit.." His partner exclaimed and reached for his weapon.
Skyscream blurred into motion to kick the shorter man in the throat as she twisted in the grip of the larger, muscular, man to knock his half drawn out his hands and to the elevator floor. As she continued to twist in the mans iron grip her other foot lashed out to collide with the shorter mans chest and smashing him into the doors. As he slumped to the ground, unconscious or perhaps dead, Skyscream broke the grip of the big man and threw her arms up to block a heavy left hook.
Suddenly the man started to twitch and scream. His body distorting into an inhuman shape before reassembling into a man with perfect hair, a dark immaculate suit, and sunglasses. Skyscream lashed out with a blindingly fast straight right punch but the Agent was ready for the sudden strike and dodged to the side. He reached out and grasped her arm to swing her around in the small confined space to smash her into the elevator wall. She impacted with so much force that it smashed the panelling to leave an indent of where her body collided with it.
"This is a .. violation .. of the truce agreement, Ms. McFey." The Agent spouted at her in a monotone voice as she flipped to her feet while the agent maintained his grip on her arm. He swung her around again to slam her into the elevator doors. "Surrender or your life is now forfeit."
Skyscream flipped to her feet again and managed to get a knee up high enough to impact the Agents elbow. He let go and Skyscream took a single step back in the small confined space. Instead of attacking she simpy zipped the front of her outfit all the way up to the neck. Binary code suddenly appeared all over the shiny black outfit and Skyscream unexpectedly leaped forward at the agent to wrap her body around him like a lover. He frowned at her and tried to force her away but she held on for all she was worth.
"This was not the plan but it'll have to do." Skyscream said into the agents ear as he tried to pry her away with one arm while the other attempted to reach his weapon lodged firmly under his arm and suit in addition to a woman clinging to him like a snake clings to a mouse. "What I'm wearing is the new Code Bomb. It won't hurt me. But it will sure do a number on you."
The Agent suddenly launched them both across the small elevator to slam Skyscream and himself into the back wall. It crumpled and broke to reveal the metal framework beneath the panelling but Skyscream held on like her life depended on it.
"You have five seconds." Skyscream groaned in pain. "Stay and die..."
The Agent suddenly began to transform back into the large man and in the blink of an eye he was back to being a bluepill. Skyscream and the man toppled over onto the floor with her on top and the man unconscious. The smaller of the pair was clearly dead. He had not breathed since Skyscream had kicked him in the chest. She reached up to activate the inconspicuous ear piece she wore.
"I can't believe he fell for that. Did you get it?" She asked as she lay atop the unconscious man and collected her wits.
"Remarkably, Yes." Came the reply in her ear just as the elevator door opened.
Skyscream looked up, from where she was laying on top of the unconscious guard, just in time to see an entire room full of security guards turning to look at her.
"This was so not the plan." Skyscream sighed.
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Post by Karaa on Oct 17, 2013 19:42:21 GMT -8
Karaa had her feet propped up and lounged back in Ocelet’s chair. She stared at the code falling across the screen without really seeing it.
I'm not asking if the Pride will help me. I'm asking if YOU will help me.
Karaa played the meeting with skyscream over in her head. This would start a war if they were ever caught. They would go down in human history as the ones that bought genocide to their species. Karaa sighed but didn’t shift, keeping her body in a seemingly relaxed posture.
The war isn't over, Karaa. It's just paused.
“Shit.”
Karaa’s stomach rumbled threateningly, “Nope. Not throwing up. Not even if my life depended on it. I refuse to throw up shrimp.” Karaa muttered to the empty room.
Karaa swirled around in the chair looking at the monitor with the streaming code, she then got up and strolled down to ocelet’s door and rapped her knuckles against the iron, “Ocelet. I’m jacking in. Time to wake up, lady.”
***
Karaa stood outside an impressive skyscraper, not so different from the one that she used to work in as a bluepill. This is where she would be meeting Agent Pace.
“Look alive, Sunshine. “ Karaa murmured as she walked into the building, security stopped her, asking her to step through the metal detector. “Tell Agent Pace that I have arrived.”
Finding no weapons, the security personal escorted her to the nearest elevator. In truth, Karaa didn’t need guns, her marital arts was almost as legendary as her speed. Plus, she doubted she would be able to get a shot off before Agent pace put her through a wall.
It quick efficient movements the security staff had her standing in front of Agent Pace as they walked out of the room and closed the doors behind them.
“Ms. Johnson, Please sit.”
Karaa moved to have a seat in front Agent Pace’s white desk, in quick easy movements. Agent Pace smiled, though the gesture gave nothing away. It didn’t even convey real happiness, no doubt a gesture just to put humans at ease. It made Karaa’s skin rise in Goosebumps.
“Its been too long, Teraso.” Pace offered as a way of greeting. Not long enough, if Karaa had any say in that matter.
Karaa inclined her head but said nothing else. Pace’s smile grew wider, for reasons Karaa couldn’t begin to guess at.
“You know why I called this meeting, yes?”
Ah, here we go. Lets see what the machines know.
“Recent events.” Karaa offered without inflection.
“ Yes. You seem to be in the middle of …recent events. You were involved in an altercation with an unidentified subject. Why?”
Karaa arched a delicate eyebrow at Agent Pace, “Unidentified Subject? You don’t know who or what that was?”
Agent pace was silent, not offering more information, simply waiting for a response to her initial question.
“I was there.” Karaa offered without elaborating.
“I know. Why?” Karaa could of sworn she saw Pace’s left eyebrow twitch slightly. If she wasn’t so hyper aware of her current surroundings, Karaa would have missed the gesture. Even know, she wondered if it was just trick of her mind.
“Helping a friend.” Karaa replied, purposefully keeping her answers vague. If the machines knew she was there, then they already knew Sky’s involvement.
“Ah, yes, Ms. McFey. Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does she have planned?” Pace pressed.
“No idea.” Karaa lied smoothly.
“Ms. Johnson, you are not being …helpful.”
“That fight was as much a surprise to us as I’m sure it is to you. And unless you have useful information to share, our meeting here is done.”
Agent Pace held her hand up to hold off Karaa’s departure before putting her hand to her earpiece.
Karaa sighed, I'm really getting too old for this shit.
"It seems Ms. McFey was recently in violation of the truce. She was also in possession of a code bomb. What are your true intentions, Ms. Johnson?"
Karaa's answering smile was all teeth. Fuck. Sky, what the hell are you doing?
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 21, 2013 9:57:43 GMT -8
Skyscream deftly grabbed the unconscious guards pistol while she rolled to one side as at least half a dozen rather large security officers levelled weapons at her. The narrow space to the side of the doors was barely cover and her hands shook a little bit as she readied the weapon she now possessed. The blinking of the binary code on her skimpy armour suddenly stopped and she smiled.
"Trace complete. Shutting down armour software." Formats voice intoned in her ear. "But that's still only half of the key. You still need to get the other half. Activating micro-codebombs you left behind in the silenced pistols."
"I don't think that little distraction is going to do much good now, Format. We already have their full attention." Skyscream took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and listened. In the distance an strange static filled explosion sounded. Footsteps were approaching the elevator cautiously. She had to act soon.
"You were supposed to attract the Agent AFTER you got the first part." Format chided her. "This really complicates the plan." "Throw the weapon out of the elevator and come out with your hands up." One of the officers yelled into the elevator. He was close. Skyscream didn't respond. She took a deep breath and rolled out of the door at an angle. The weapon in her hands popped twice as she entered the small square lobby to drop the man who had spoken. The other five officers opened fire but Skyscream seemed to be a step ahead of the bullets as she rolled to her feet and grabbed the nearest man with one hand while pumping two more bullets into the face of the bluepill nearest to her. She wrapped an arm around the mans neck and suddenly flipped over him while she emptied the clip of her pistol into the next closest of her assailants. As she landed the snapping of the mans neck she held was almost as loud as the guns still firing at her. She didn't pause and leaped straight into the air, twisting like an acrobat, to just as suddenly jump off the roof right back down at her attackers. The kick she levelled against one bluepill smashed him into the flooring and the other was sent flying across the room as she lashed out with one fist while landing in a crouch. The last guard collapsed from the hard wall he finally collided with as Skyscream stood and glanced down the lone hallway that led from the small square room.
"This is not the parking lot." Skyscream paused for a brief moment to catch her breath. "The guard pressed the parking lot button right?"
"You really need to keep moving." Format chided her. "They were controlling the elevator from the security office. To keep you disoriented. You are where you are supposed to be."
Skyscream didn't respond. Instead she ran down the hallway as quickly as she could. At the end was a door to the right labelled 'Stairs' and a single door straight ahead which she didn't even bother to slow down for. Her foot cleared the way and as she smashed her way into a new room what she saw made her smile. It was a small office with a holding facility to one side. There were two desks with computers on them and a bank of monitors. Static filled voices were coming through a radio at the empty dispatch station.
Security.
Skyscream ran to one of the desks and immediately began typing on the computer terminal there. Her fingers blurred as she glared intently at the monitor.
"Hurry up." Format urged in her ear. "You don't have time."
"Shut up." Skyscream replied, annoyed, as she typed furiously and suddenly code began to stream across the monitor. "I'm not you. Humans can only do this stuff so fast."
"Here he comes." Format warned.
"Got it!" Skyscream exclaimed just as an Agent stepped through the ruined door.
"Ms. McFey." The Agent frowned at her behind his dark sunglasses as he pulled out a large caliber handgun from beneath his dark jacket.
"Not going to fall for the code bomb thing again are you?" Skyscream smiled from where she sat at the desk behind the computer.
"You will come with me." The Agent stated as he levelled his weapon at Skyscream. "Compliance is required."
"Okay." Skyscream suddenly held up her hands and slowly stood up. Her eyes never leaving the barrel of the gun pointed at her. "But first I have a question for you."
"We are the ones with questi..." The Agent stopped talking and began firing as Skyscream suddenly leapt across the room. Bullets sizzled through the air as Skyscream blurred through the air to land near the doorway and the agent. Lead sliced through flesh as she landed, pain searing through her left arm, but she rolled forward with her momentum out into the hallway. Another bullet grazed her side as she turned and dove through the door marked 'Stairs'.
Stairs indeed stretched up and down before her. Blood dripped onto the floor as Skyscream made a quick decision and decided that down was the way to go. She hopped over the railing and let gravity take her as the Agent burst into the stairwell behind her. He didn't hesitate and leaped right after her into the open space in the middle of the downward spiralling staircase. Skyscream thought she counted six floors blur past as she plummeted, the air rushing loudly past, before the floor rose up to impact with her legs. She rolled, luckily towards the exit door, as the breath was knocked out of her. Stumbling to her feet she threw open the exit door just as the Agent impacted the floor where she just was.
"Get me a hardline." Skyscream blurted out as she tried to catch her breath. She burst out into a large spacious lobby on the main floor of the Metacortex building where people were milling about appearantly curious why alarms were going off. She did not slow as she ducked behind bluepills while running as fast as she could to the front of the building. Bullets sizzled past her head, bluepills providing some cover as they began scattering before the sudden gunfire in their midst.
"I have one functional a few blocks from you." Format responded in her ear. "Near the bridge."
Skyscream didn't bother to answer as she rushed to the entrance. She could see a bluepill there begin to transform into yet another agent so she turned a little to one side and burst through the large glass windows fronting the lobby. More bullets whipped past her as stumbled and rolled forward through the shattering glass. Another bullet grazed her leg as she rose to her feet after the impromptu somersault.
She took one more step and lept into the air as bullets cut through the space she just vacated. She glanced back as she soared through the air just as the Agents stepped out of the building. They were too late though as Skyscream landed on top of the building across the street from them and leapt off into the distance to the next building. Now that she was outside with a hardline ahead of her they wouldn't be able to catch her.
"We have both halves of the key secured now." Format said in a business-like manner. "But I think the consequences are going to be rather dire. We were supposed to be subtle. Sneaky. That was the opposite of sneaky."
"I had to improvise." Skyscream smiled a little as she leapt again. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed the agents were still on her tail but the hardline was in sight. She would have time to jack out safely. Barely. "But it worked. We have the keys to hack our way into Machine city."
"Zion is going to be really mad this time. So is the Oracle." Format stated calmly.
"I think everyone is going to be mad. But I'll be seeing the Oracle later." Skyscream landed within feet of the aforementioned hardline and didn't pause to step forward and answer the already ringing phone. "After I patch up my wounds."
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 21, 2013 13:00:38 GMT -8
A man in dark leather with odd eyes stared at a television that was in the window of the store he was standing in front of. A man and a woman sat behind a desk. Channel 4 was emblazoned across the front of the desk.
"And now over to Bob for some breaking news!"
The focus of the camera zoomed in on the man behind the desk.
"Thank you, Eva. Terror in Megacity tonight as the terrorist group known as the True Believers launch a cowardly assault on the headquarters of software developer Metacortex."
A grainy picture of a woman dressed in skimpy leather and firing a pistol appears over the newscasters shoulder.
"While the terrorist group have not claimed responsibility as of this broadcast it is confirmed that their leader, known by the hacker alias of Skyscream, was present when a bomb was detonated on the 16th floor of the building. Authorities are not releasing how many were injured in the attack but the event was captured by a tourist just a few minutes ago."
A brief clip of one corner the 16th floor of Metacortex exploding to spew fire and debris out into the air is shown.
"Citizens are urged to contact authorities if you see this woman or if you have an information about her hacker accomplice known only as Format C."
The grainy picture of the woman is shown again alongside a much better and recognizable photo of her face.
"You are not to approach her under any circumstances. She is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous by the authorities."
"And now over to John for the weather!"
"Thanks Bob. It looks like we're in for more sunny skies this weekend with a small chance of showers..."
The tall man in dark leather suddenly turned and walked away. No longer interested in what the television in the store front had to say. His eyes glowed with a faint silvery light.
"Skyscream." He said slowly, with a small smile, as he stalked silently down the street under the harsh glare of the afternoon sun.
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 22, 2013 17:56:26 GMT -8
## Phone Transcript #10100101100100111101#
Male voice: Hi.
Female voice: Hi? Is that how you greet me now?
Male voice: Sorry. Hello great and illustrious slayer. How can this humble unworthy servant please you this day?
Female voice: Oooh. I like that. But it's a bit over the top. What are you doing today?
Male voice: Exactly what you ordered me to do the last time I was in contact with you. Following the girl.
Female voice: And where might she be at this moment in time?
Male voice: Meeting with Agent Pace.
Female voice: I see. Interesting.
Male voice: Bad for me interesting or just interesting?
Female voice: Bad for everyone actually. You remember that lovely woman you asked me about in that dreadfully boring bar the other day?
Male voice: Yup. It's kinda how I ended up spying on a freaking agent and an elite operative of Zion.
Female voice: It appears she's trying to start the war again or something. Blew up bits of Metacortex a few minutes ago. Killed a bunch of bluepills. Delightfully chaotic.
Male voice: (sighs) Crap.
Female voice: So, our friend you are watching. Get close to her.
Male voice: Not going to happen. Tried. Failed. Next plan.
Female voice: Let me rephrase it then since I like that you hate taking orders from me. Find a way into the good graces of our crazy ass insane Neonite person. I want to know what she is up too. It's all very mysterious. I like that. I assumed the one you are following would be the path to that goal.
Male voice: You assumed wrong. I'm not the guy for this kind of work. Why are you making me do this?
Female voice: Because you are the one I want doing this. Must you question everything?
Male voice: Yes.
Female voice: Find out what Skyscream knows. I don't care how.
Male voice: And if I can't?
## End of Transcript ##
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 29, 2013 21:02:51 GMT -8
Agent Pace smiled back at the woman across from her.
"One moment please." Agent Pace turned her attention to the door just as an another agent entered the room unannounced. He stared at Karaa as he crossed the room and handed a file folder to Agent Pace. "Perhaps you need what you humans call a sign of good faith?"
"And that would be?" Karaa stared back at the agent who had entered the room as he simply stood where he was.
"Information." Agent Pace placed the plain manila folder on the desk with a casual seeming gesture. "I have spent a great deal of time studying humans, Tesero. Based on my experience in dealing with you I would ... guess ... that you were somewhat surprised by my news about your ... friend."
"And this is?" Karaa nodded at the folder.
"My purpose is to protect the system. You know this." Agent Pace shrugged a little and flashed a quick smile. "Recent events have disturbed the order I've worked very hard to create. Events are unfolding that I have no knowledge of."
"And I fit in to this how?" Karaa prompted.
"Your ... friend ... is disturbing my task." Agent Pace frowned. "If I allow a war to break out because of events within systems that are my responsibility then I have failed. Failure is not acceptable. We are already in contact with your Zion command. I expect they will be looking for your ... friend as well very soon."
"Go on." Karaa payed close attention to both agents.
"I am ... asking ... for assistance, Tesero." Agent Pace sighed a very human sigh. "This situation is volatile. Ms. McFey is perhaps one of the more perplexing and elusive humans we have encounted since Morpheus. I am concerned Ms. McFey intends to restart the war. Code bombs? Attacking Metacortex? These are not the actions of someone who wants peace. It would be a shame to see all of our hard work, keeping the truce your Neo wanted, disappear because of one rogue operative. We would like you to do nothing more than pay attention. File a report on the incident involving the unknown entity with your superiors. Ask that a copy be sent to us. Follow the orders of Zion. If Ms. McFey contacts you again and she does plan on starting the war ... let us know. We are not asking for anything unreasonable between ... friends."
"And the carrot is?" Karaa frowned at Agent Pace.
"Information." Agent Pace smiled and pushed the aforementioned folder across the desk. "Take it."
"And if I don't cooperate?" Karaa responded without moving.
"Then you may end up in the same situation your friend is, Tesero." Agent Pace smiled charmingly.
"I see." Karaa reached out and grabbed the folder with a quick motion as she stood up. "I'll let you know what I decide."
"There is no need for that, Karaa." Agent Pace watched the operative leaving the room. "We'll know soon enough one way or the other."
*************************************************
Even though the chills still ran up and down her spine, from the meeting with Agent Pace, Karaa wasted no time opening the folder as she walked away from the building. What she found inside was not something she was expecting. In it were two files. One was a machine report. From shortly before the Truce. The other was a Zion report detailing the reappearance of a lost black-ops operative. Her feet stopped moving as she quickly read the reports.
The Machine report detailed an event near the end of the War when a black-ops team from Zion entered the Matrix near Mara. As they approached the known location of the Oracle they were suddenly attacked by a multiple Agent Smiths. The team was no match for thier assailant and they fled. The entire team was quickly eliminated by the rogue agents except for one operative who in the middle of fighting a rogue agent suddenly self substantiated. There were numerous photos of the event. It wasn't until Karaa reached the second last photo in the machine report that she became surprised. There was Skyscream with Agent Smith holding her against a wall by the throat. His hand was buried in her chest. Literally. In the next, and last, photo Agent Smith was still standing exactly where he was except alone and his hands were empty. The time stamp showed they were taken only a seconds apart.
The Zion report was more two notes than an actual report and appearantly the last in a series of reports.
"Captain Skyscream has not been cooperative with me at all since returning to Zion. She refuses to answer questions about where she was during the final days before the Truce and continually tells me it's classified and to ask you. Then you tell me it's classified and you can't talk to me about it because I don't have high enough clearance. I would like to remind you her official report to Zion Council was simply "Before the machine I think Turing understood. Isn't that wierd? Did you know I fell out of the world? That's new." and nothing else. It is my opinion that she is not fit for duty and should not be allowed to retain command of the Hvcft Hydra. This is just my opinion but quite frankly Jason, we need to think about retiring her. While her physical rehabilitation proceeds at an incredible pace her mental rehabilitation is another matter. She needs counselling. The post traumatic stress disorder will not go way on it's own. Whatever classified insanity she went through needs to be dealt with in an open way. She's broken Jason. We need to try to fix her. - Psywind"
"I agree with your assesment. In my discussions with Skyscream it became clear that she no longer wishes to work for Zion Command in her previous capacity. Her erratic behaviour and recently aquired obsession with Neo worries me. If you can get her to agree to counselling then my decision on this matter may change. - Commander Locke"
Karaa closed the folder and tried to casually walk away while she wondered what the Machine was trying to tell her with this so called gift of information.
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Post by Skyscream on Oct 31, 2013 10:47:17 GMT -8
Niobe knew something was very wrong the moment she walked into Rolands office.
"She's trying to start the damn war again!" Roland yelled at her.
"Calm down." Niobe tried to mollify her old friend.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Roland pointed an accusing finger at Niobe. "Do you know what Skyscream did? I'll tell you what she did. She attacked Metacortex. Detonated a code bomb! Maybe two! She's insane. I always knew it."
"And the Machine is blaming us?" Niobe ventured.
"They want her." Roland growled. "And they want us to give her to them."
"Shit." Niobe sat in a nearby chair.
"Yeah. Shit. I'm putting out the order. Skyscream is to surrender to Zion forces immediately. Captains have authorization to use force if she resists." Roland glowered at Niobe and pointed at the floor before his desk. "I want her brought right here. With answers. Before the machine gets hold of her. If that isn't going to happen ... you know what to do."
"Yes sir." Niobe nodded with a frown. "She becomes expendable."
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Post by Skyscream on Nov 6, 2013 21:58:47 GMT -8
Skyscream landed with a loud thud at the east end of Debir Court. Slowly she stood up and peered across the courtyard at the people on the far side. Three were their number and all of them familiar yet changed with time. As Sky strode across the courtyard towards them she took the scene in. The Oracle sat on the familiar bench looking completely different than her memories of her yet so familiar she could not doubt it was her. Her attention appeared to be focused on the other two people before her. Seraph, dressed in white, looked the same as he always did. He was practicing kata with a young girl, barely teenager, and gently guiding her with calm words. The girl was good. Her movements precise. It wasn't until she was almost upon them that Sky realized who the girl was.
"Sky!" Sati exclaimed when she noticed the woman, stopping her practice, and waved with a gleeful smile.
"Hello Sati." Skyscream smiled. "You've grown so much I almost didn't recognize you."
"It's good to see you." Sati grinned as Seraph cleared his throat to get her attention. "I know. I should go inside now Seraph."
"Your wisdom exceeds your years." Seraph bowed and Sati bowed back before skipping off with a smile at Sky. "Hello Skyscream."
"Hello Seraph." Skyscream glanced at the Oracle who was staring at her with a smile. "Let me guess."
"Of course." Seraph nodded.
"There is only one way to truly know a person." Skyscream replied quietly.
"Yes." Seraph walked up to Sky until he was within arms length with his hands clasped calmly behind his back. "Shall we begin?"
"If you insist." She stared at the smaller man. Her gaze was intense. Silence reigned throughout the courtyard. "Knight from queens knight three to queens bishop five. Check. Your move."
"Hmm." Seraph stared back. "An unusual strategy."
"If you two don't mind ... time is short." The Oracle interrupted suddenly.
"Of course, Oracle." Seraph bowed to Skyscream, who returned it, and walked to stand behind and to the left of the Oracle.
"Take a seat, dear." The Oracle patted the bench beside her. "Let's talk about the way of things."
"What way might that be?" Skyscream slowly sat on the bench beside the Oracle. She couldn't help but think of those who sat in this very spot. Exchanging words of great importance.
"The way of the world, my child." The Oracle stared at Sky for a long moment. "But I'm not sure you're ready to hear it just yet."
"Regardless." Skyscream shrugged. "Here I am."
"Yes." The Oracle looked up at a bird flying overhead. "There you are. The question is ... why?"
"What do you mean?" Skyscream looked at the older woman in confusion.
"Maybe it's something in the water. I don't know." The Oracle commented to Seraph over her shoulder and then turned back to Skyscream. "That is the question. Why? Why are you following the path you are on? Do you even know?"
"Because it has to be done. If I don't who will?" Skyscream sighed. "I gave my word. The past haunts you as well. Why are you on the path you are on? Because you believe it to be the right one. From what I understand it's why Neo listened to you."
"Neo. That is why you are here, isn't it?" The Oracle smiled with amusement at Sky and suddenly reached into her purse to pull out an object wrapped in cloth before holding it out to Skyscream. "Your cause. Now you have finally come to the fortune teller after all these years for what? Confirm you are doing the right thing? Perhaps if you'll find Neo? Or if you are about to start the war again and ruin what he did? Hmm?"
"And if I am?" Skyscream took the cloth wrapped object. It was round and very light. "What would you say?"
"I would say that it won't matter what I say. You'll go ahead with your plans. Even if I told you that you won't find Neo you wouldn't care. You believe that strongly in what you are doing." The Oracle shrugged with a calm smile.
"But I would listen." Sky smiled a little.
"And that's why I like you." The Oracle laughed a little and turned her face up to take in the sun. "You will find no peace in what you are doing. No answers to the questions that have haunted you since the war. The path you follow is a dangerous one and you will face enemies the likes of which you have never seen. In the end you will find yourself in a place unimaginable facing something you can barely understand. Your life will be in the hands of someone you care about and you both will die because they believe in something you do not."
"And what might that be?" Skyscream frowned at the Oracle.
"You." The Oracle looked at Sky. "You believe deeply in things you think you are supposed to do but doubt clouds your path when it comes to who you are. What exactly is it that you think you can accomplish in all this?"
"Peace." Skyscream shrugged. "What Neo wanted."
"The reluctant Hero." The Oracle smiled and shook her head. "Fortunately I can't see the end of your tale. It means there is still hope for all of us, no matter how slim."
"All?" Skyscream was paying rapt attention.
"Yes, my dear." The Oracle sighed. A serious expression was on her face. "What you do; it could destroy everything he worked for. What he sacrificed for. But it's too late to stop it now. If you don't finish what you already started then there is no hope for any of us."
"It is time Oracle." Seraph suddenly interjected.
"Ah. Time is always a precious thing and it appears ours is up." The Oracle began to slowly stand up from the bench.
"What should I do?" Skyscream asked quietly as the Oracle walked back to the building behind the bench with Seraph at her side.
"Believe." The Oracle smiled over her shoulder. "But right now, mostly, I think you should fight child."
Skyscream turned away from the Oracle to look at the courtyard. At the far end was a man she had not seen in a very long time. She set the cloth wrapped object in her hand down on the bench and slowly stood. The dark leather of her clothes creaked in the silence that suddenly covered the area.
"Cryptos." Skyscream murmured as she watched a dozen other Cypherites enter the courtyard around her and begin to close in.
"Kill her." Cryptos exclaimed loudly with a laugh and a smile.
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Post by Skyscream on Feb 2, 2014 18:19:41 GMT -8
As the large group of Cypherites advanced a small object arced down from the rooftops above to bounce off the pavement at Skyscreams feet. A sudden explosion of smoke enveloped her as an automatic weapon started to spew hot lead into the courtyard from the rooftop above the oracles apartment behind Sky. A lone man in a dark cloak stood at the lip of the roof as the weapon in his hands fired death at the people below. A pair of the cypherites charged at the cloud of smoke with knives slashing at the air while the rest turned to fire back at the assault from above. Knives slashed through the smoke with ease but Skyscream had already leapt high into the air during the distraction with the object wrapped in cloth clutched in one hand again. She landed roughly on the roof beside the man with the machine gun and they both tumbled back to land in a mess of limbs as bullets pummeled the edge of the building and the air around them.
"Good timing, Telemancer." Skyscream grinned at the last First Mate the Format C ever had as they both quickly clambered to their feet.
"As always." He smiled a little as he tossed the empty machine gun away while they ran. "Hardline a block away."
"Reminds me of the good old days." Skyscream grinned as they both jumped back down to street level with a large pack of cypherites on their tail.
"A bit too much for my liking." Telemancer laughed.
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Slasher stared through the telescope he 'borrowed' from the Merovingian at where the long meeting his new target had with the Oracle and the resulting escape had just taken place. The ugly one with dreadlocks had his attention. He was pretty sure the mans name was Cryptos. Former zion operative turned machine tool was the word on the street. Then a new person entered the scene and Slasher suddenly sat up to pay attention. It was him. The weird guy with the silver eyes. Silver Eyes walked right up to dreadlock boy and said something. Slasher watched dreadlock boy nod and immediately get on the phone to someone. Sliver eyes wandered off just as suddenly as he appeared and Slasher fought the urge to follow him. If there was a confrontation with an entity of that power he would have to play his hand and show all his cards. He wasn't prepared to do that. Slasher turned the telescope back to the courtyard but it was empty already. As if nothing ever happened there a few minutes before.
Slasher sat back and sighed as his phone rang. It was Ookami. This simple search and destroy mission was getting very complicated and the deal he made with the Merovingian was not helping matters. He shook his head and answered the phone with a wry chuckle. Necessary evils ...
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Skyscream dropped smoothly out of the Matrix and into the reality of her ships bridge. Telemancer was in a nearby chair also coming back into reality.
"That was close. When did you get here?" Skyscream smiled at her friend as Format finished removing the data jack.
"Just a few minutes before I showed up to save you." Telemancer smiled and gestured to his bag of gear sitting in the middle of the deck.
"Good thing too because I .." Skyscream started to say.
"I have some bad news Sky." Format suddenly interjected. "The Tiger is sitting outside. They say they have direct orders to bring you in for questioning."
"Valaro?" Skyscream sighed. "Of course. The one crew I won't fight."
"What the hell?" Telemancer exclaimed.
"It's okay. It's time." Skyscream suddenly stood up straight. Determination was in her eyes. "Tell him I surrender Format."
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Skyscream stood on the cold metal of the tunnel before her enormous ship waiting for the Crew of the Tiger to cross the short distance to where she stood with her hands raised in the air. She could see the looks on their faces. None of them were happy. In too short a time they were before her. "Only I'm going with you Val." Skyscream started the conversation. "My ship and crew stay here."
Valaro thought about that statement for a long moment.
"Yes. My orders were very specific now that I think about it. I'm sorry about this Sky." Valaro frowned. "We tried to stay out of it. But .. direct orders."
"It's okay Val." Skyscream smiled and held her arms out. Waiting for the cuffs.
"I don't think that's necessary Sky." Valaro said simply if a bit gruffly; as if he were insulted by her action.
"I insist." Skyscream smiled a little and looked at Karaa with an almost imperceptible wink.
Valaro shrugged and shook his head as he put the cuffs on before his crew began to escort her back to the Tiger.
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"Well. That puts a cramp in things." Telemancer mumbled from where he stood on the deck of the Format C. It had been a long time. Things were different .. but familiar.
"This was a contingency she prepared for, Telemancer." Format responded. "Why don't you take a look around while I get a briefing ready for you. I also have a number of things I need to do now as well."
"Sure Format." Telemancer picked up his gear and started to leave the bridge. "This better be a pretty good plan because we look kind of screwed at the moment."
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Post by Skyscream on Feb 17, 2014 10:08:42 GMT -8
Skyscream watched the Tiger's gangplank lower and slowly reveal the docks of Zion beyond. The short trip had been uneventful. Nobody had spoken the entire way. There was nothing to say. Skyscream knew the crew of the Tiger well. Perhaps better than any other crew in the Pride. They had shed blood together on numerous occasions defending Zion. Valaro and his crew were dedicated Zionites. Crazy ass black ops missions were their specialty. Just like it was hers once upon a time during a war from long ago. Nothing was what she thought it was though. The price for that knowledge was high. Cost her entire crew. She should be with them but then something strange happened. Something she couldn't understand let alone explain. The sound of the gangplank of the cargo bay hitting the metal docks woke Sky from her revere. The crew of the Tiger gathered close around her when they saw the small curious crowd that was gathering on the dock. Security was already waiting. In force. Her eyes stopped when she spotted Niobe and Roland waiting in front of the ship with a substantial number of large men around them.
"Alright. Let's do this." Valaro's voice was commanding but quiet so it did not carry to the dock. "No problems. Make sure nobody gets near our prisoner."
"Aye aye, Captain." Karaa was the only one to respond but the entire group was alert. Professional. Ready for anything.
Skyscream smiled a little and adjusted the metal cuffs securing her hands. They walked slowly down the gangplank to the docks as Roland, Niobe, and the large men approached to meet them. She looked around at the gathering crowd. There were faithful among them. Not many but enough.
"Captain Skyscream." Roland started. Uncertainty was in his eyes but something else too. Fear. It was hidden deep but it was there. Skyscream understood why. Roland knew exactly what was at stake if the Truce was broken. He was there. "You are under arrest for deliberate acts of aggression against the machine in violation of the Truce agreement."
"I'm sorry for this." Skyscream said simply with a voice full of regret.
"What?" Roland was surprised by this. Everyone was.
Skyscream turned to look directly at Niobe before repeating herself.
"I'm sorry for this." Skyscream said quietly before suddenly raising her voice loud enough to be heard across the now silent docks as people stopped to watch the proceedings. "You call me a criminal! I follow the path of Neo. How dare you! After everything I've given for ZION!"
"What are you doing, Sky?" Niobe stepped forward and spoke quietly so nobody outside the small group could hear. "This is just for show. For the machine."
"I do not fear the wrath of the Machine!" Skyscreams voice, used to giving orders in violent situations, carried easily across the docks. "I am the Neonite!"
"Jesus Sky." Roland exclaimed. "You're screwing this up."
"I am not afraid." Skyscream turned to look left and right at the people gathering. "I was there. I have looked death in the eye. I know it well. Neo comes to me in my visions. He tells me what must be done. I know why he didn't kill the machine! I will follow the path that Neo has put before me. He wasn't finished! It is up to us to realize Neo's dream!! It is up to us to fight for those who cannot!"
"Take her to the brig." Roland exclaimed again and the large men started to step forward but the menacing look in the eyes of the crew of the Tiger made them hesitate. "Do it!"
"We'll take care of that sir." Valaro almost growled. He was clearly unhappy with everything that was happening.
"I THINK! THEREFORE I AM!" Skyscream yelled at the crowd.
"Sky!" Valaro snarled. "Enough."
"I'm done." Skyscream sighed and bowed her head to the captain of the Tiger in a blatant show of respect for the people watching. Her cuffed hands clasped before her. "I'm sorry, Valaro. There was no other way this could have happened."
The crew of the Tiger escorted their now humble prisoner away from, Roland, Niobe, and the hvct Tiger.
The crowd murmered quietly as they began to slowly disperse once the excitement was over.
Sky wished there had been another way. She didn't want any of this. All she wanted was to explore the world with Forr Matsee. Like they planned so long ago in another world.
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Post by Skyscream on Feb 17, 2014 20:39:31 GMT -8
Skyscream barrelled onto the bridge at a full run fuelled by adrenaline and sheer terror. She hadn't even taken off the gear she had been wearing during her mission outside. There was no time.
Death chased her. "Move it!" Sky yelled as she manned the big gun, firing it before she was even sitting down. "GO GO GO!"
The hovercraft Format C burst out of the pile of debris he had been hiding in, the scraps and rocks carefully positioned for perfect camouflage, and breathed fire and death around him as he swiftly rose into the air. The larger pieces of metal and stone he hurled back at the incoming cloud of machines, smashing through the mass of squirming death, as he sped away. Already some crawled upon his surface, and as he rose into the air, metal arm clashed violently with metal arm.
"Son of a .. " The rest of Skyscreams words were lost in the chatter of the machine gun turret she controlled from the bridge, spewing metal at the nightmare approaching behind them. She took a moment to spray bullets at the ones on her dragon before returning her aim to the closest of the huge approaching mass.
Format dove close to the ground again, gaining speed, as more of the metal squids caught up with him. They tore into his skin, attacked his pads, as he fought back.
"Whatever happens." Skyscream yelled as she leaned over and stuck a tiny disk into a drive while she fired randomly at the approaching cloud. "Don't forget this."
Format hugged close to the ground, following it's contours perfectly as he poured every ounce of energy he had into flight. He flailed at the squids tearing him apart as they caught him, protecting his hoverpads for all he was worth. Then something exploded underneath him. Bombs timed and thrown ahead by the sentinels being slowly left behind.
Format screamed.
Turning end over end, as Format hit the ground after being bathed in fire, Sky had somehow managed to hang on as the machine came apart around her. Or maybe Format held on to her. She couldn't be sure. It all happened so fast. Even the squids had backed off a little as the broken Format C arced high through the air, spinning rapidly, before smashing back into the earth in a cloud of dirt and debris.
The Format C bounced and gouged it's way along the earth. Hoverpads broke off and pieces of metal arced through the air before the mangled mess finally came to a rest. Skyscream wiped at her forehead and her hand came away bloody.
"I am not afraid." Skyscream mumbled, as she reached for her pistols, drawing one from it's shoulder holster and pointing it out the window at the thousands of sentinels fast approaching. Her hand shook badly. The world swam before her. Blood kept getting in her eyes. The crash had been bad.
She had no time to worry about that though as a squid landed directly on the broken windscreen with a thousand more behind it.
"One shot ain't enough." Sky chuckled and pulled the trigger as the squid arms reached for her.
Fwwwoooooom
The closest hundred of the cloud of sentinels suddenly began falling to the earth for no apparent reason. A small hemisphere of open space that centered on the bridge of the Format C seemed to be filled with silence in spite of the whirring and gnashing of metal arms around the bowl shaped divot in the cloud of death and the sound of lifeless machines falling to the earth.
"It works?" Sky laughed, tossed aside the expended EMP pistol, while she reached with her left hand to draw the other from it's holster beneath her right arm. But it was far to late. A thin spear of metal shot though the broken windscreen and drove through the flesh just beneath her collarbone to punch into the chair behind her. In the next instant something clawed into her back and she was yanked roughly out of the bridge of the Format C like a fish on a hook.
Skyscream woke screaming rage and defiance at the empty cell around her. Cold sweat clung to her hot skin in the cool silent room as awareness returned to her.
Slowly, unconsciously, her right hand rubbed the scar just beneath her left collarbone as she lay back down on the hard cot to stare at the ceiling.
"I'm doing the right thing." She murmered the words quietly trying to convince herself they were true.
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