[Nexus] ISF HQ

[horngeek]

"No. It's currently got properties of a shadowland. All that means is that I can't respire Essence within it. The reason Abyssals get hurt more by Holy attacks is because they've been decreed Creatures of Darkness, because of their relationship to the Neverborn, by Sol Invictus."

[UncleWolf]

Vasquez gives a careful nod after a moment. "Good to know."

((I'm going to pause this until Morty can get some more in))

[Morty]

Do you know if the Abyssals get hurt more by all attacks that are considered "holy" or just those powered or granted by this Sol Invictus deity? Anatolij asks. After all, if Mortal Coil ends up fighting Exalts, they'll be most likely Abyssals.

[horngeek]

"I know the designation is by him, but I'm not sure on the exact answer to your question."

[Morty]

Anatolij nods. We'll have to learn by doing, then. Now, I have another question: do Exalts have healing capabilities exceeding the norm without using their Charms?

[horngeek]

"Yes, but not considerably so. It's more a 'don't need medical treatment to avoid infection' than a 'regeneration' thing."

[Morty]

Understood. The Cossack pauses. I've heard something about Exalts being prone to fits of momentary insanity. Is it true? If so, how exactly does it work?

[horngeek]

Rose nods. "Yes, and I'm not sure how it works, given that I seem to be immune."

This, incidentally, is due to the fact that the Neverborn (who put the Great Curse in place in the first place) lift it from all Abyssal Exalted, and Rose is a recently-redeemed Abyssal.

They have no ability to re-put it in place. But no, she doesn't know why, because they didn't tell her.

[Morty]

Anatolij quirks his eyebrow. Immune? Interesting. Any idea why?

[horngeek]

"...a slight one, yes. To be honest, sort of personal."

[Morty]

Alright, I won't pry. Still, knowing more could be useful, since it sounds like likely scenario for figthing Exalted.

[UncleWolf]

"And the others? How does this insanity effect them, what happens, and how is it triggered?" Vasquez asks.

[horngeek]

"I honestly don't know much. From talking with some of the Lunars I've met, it varies from Exalted to Exalted, but that's all I know."

[UncleWolf]

[Presumably some time much later...]

All living members of Mortal Coil have been strapped into their armor, and fully armed, before being sent to patrol the walls. All of the keycodes and schedules have been changed, in case Ted Brando, once a member of the monster hunting squad, turned vampire, comes to visit.

When many of the Mortal Coil members came back from their homes or leave, they brought back their loved ones, boyfriends or girlfriends, but it doesn't seem any are married. It was no secret amongst the team where the others lived, in case any needed to stop by.

Sunny, Edijar and Charity will end up arriving by APC, and are not blocked by the gate guards. After signing the two civilians in, Edijar will lead them to a suite of rooms set aside for them, having called ahead to make such arrangements.

In the meantime, Commander Vasquez, her face contorted by a frown, looks for Anatolij...

[happyturtle]

Spoiler

Show

[Blitz]

Before Rot can stab the control panel though, he'll hear a dark and mirthful laughter fill the air around him. It sounds familiar, but shouldn't Ted be dead?

[ISF HQ]

Vasquez is woken up in her sleep by an alarm going off in her ear. She blinks a few times, and wills the report to show up on her enhanced eyes. When she sees what it is, she feels fear for the first time in a long while.

It was alarm, saying that Ted Brando's failsafe, failed.

[Blitz]

The spot is empty but for a pool of blood, and a couple of bloody handprints. But then Ted steps into sight, ripping away the Immolator strapped to his chest. It's a small harness, but lined with detcord, meant to kill him if he ever died without his power armor, but it seems Rot destroyed the ignition source. His pale chest has the horrid knife wound in it, and he has an air of new power around him.

Then he opens his eyes and smiles, showing a set of fangs and black pools for eyes.

"Oh, you certainly did..."

He reaches up and throws the scarf from his neck to the side, showing the horrible bite marks on his neck, scarred over. Rot should be able to tell they were given to him by a vampire a long time ago.

Ted had been bitten, several times, but had never been given vampiric blood in return, keeping him from being Enlightened. But, should he die...

He laughs loudly, cackling like a mad man. There's a reason Mortal Coil's power armor cremates the body after death.

Him.

[Blitz]

Ted lets Rot drop, and doesn't bother holding his breath, knowing instinctively that he no longer needed air. After watching the vampire for a moment, he turns and swims away, looking for someone to sate his hunger...

[Mortal Coil Comms]

"This is Commander Vasquez, all units are now activated and leave suspended. Return to HQ, and arm yourselves. Once all have been accounted for, security codes will be changed. Ted Brando has Fallen to their ranks."

(Just figured this stuff should be archived here)

Sunny looks around in admiration at all the power armor. She's itching to get hold of some of it and take it apart.

Of course nobody looks especially interested in having their power armor dismantled, and she still has Mr Waffle Iron to sort out. So she goes with Charity to the civilian barracks and gets back to work.

Charity, for her part, takes out a bottle and starts to drink.

[Morty]

Vasquez will find Anatolij patrolling the walls, fully armed and armored.

[UncleWolf]

Vasquez, grumbling about people breaking protocol, offers a portfolio to the man. "This is everything we have on Ted Brando. You and your squad will be looking for him off the records. When you find him, kill him. He's been Turned, and has to be ended."


Edijar, for his part, is gone for a couple hours before he comes back to Charity's temporary room(Sunny was given the other one). He's out of his power armor, but is still in uniform. He sets his armor into the shared closet and moves to sit next to Charity and hold her.

[happyturtle]

Sunny has finished repairing the waffle maker and goes to look for a kitchen to try it out.

Charity snuggles against Edijar contentedly. "Love you." He might spot the empty bottle in the bin. But maybe not.

[UncleWolf]

If Edijar noticed, he doesn't say anything about it. "Love you too." He says quietly. "Anything I can do for you?"

Sunny will find a small kitchen in her part of the suite.

[horngeek]

Well, I assume Rose has gathered her swords and left, then.

[happyturtle]

"Just be my big strong hero," Charity says. Sorry, folks, she's drunk. She'd never say anything that stupidly sappy while sober.


Sunny starts to make waffles, the smell wafting out as they cook.

Mmm.... waffles....

[Morty]

Vasquez, grumbling about people breaking protocol, offers a portfolio to the man. "This is everything we have on Ted Brando. You and your squad will be looking for him off the records. When you find him, kill him. He's been Turned, and has to be ended."

Anatolij salutes. Yessir. I'll gather the squad and get right on it. Unless Vasquez has something more to say, he will study the portfolio.

[UncleWolf]

Edijar gives her a smirk before kissing her, ignoring the drink on her breath. "Come, I believe Sunny is making waffles." He says, trying to help her up, and if need be, pick her up to take her to the other room.

The portfolio shows the basics, his age, picture, history, pretty much everything that's in the character directory of him. But, it also lists his home address, as well as a few places he likes to hang around in. He seems to have no significant others or living relatives. At least, none listed or known at any rate.


(the places he likes to hang around are: Average Joe's Bar, Park, and The Lighthouse. The first and last will be made if they're visited to)

[happyturtle]

"Maybe later," Charity says.

[UncleWolf]

Edijar stays without another word.


Sunny may hear her door open though, and a small head, almost boyish looking, peeps in, showing blond hair, with rough facial hair. "I...I smell waffles. Can I have some?" The halfling asks quietly.

[happyturtle]

"Hi! I'm Sunny," she says. "You can have some."

[UncleWolf]

[Sunny's Room]

The halfling steps in, smiling warmly at her, and she'll see him wearing some of the power armor that Mortal Coil has been wearing. Though, it's a much smaller size for him. He goes to the counter and hops up, sitting on the edge and making himself a large plate of steaming waffles with lots of butter and syrup. "Thank ya kindly, miss. I'm Charlton Goodfellow, but please, call me Carl."

[happyturtle]

Sunny's Room

"I like your power armor," Sunny says, as she makes a plate for herself.

[horngeek]

Meanwhile, Rose heads towards the front gates, a bleak look on her face.

[UncleWolf]

[Sunny's Room]

The halfling smiles. "Thank ye." he says in between bites of waffle. "So, whattaya do?"

[Gates]

As Rose is spotted, one of the guards speaks into her radio, and Vasquez arrives shortly to meet with her. "Yes? We're rather busy at the moment, so I hope it's not too long."