10-28-2005, 02:05 AM
Was it really that easy? Bardock wasn't so sure. Bebi was carefully articulating all the angles of his plan with the stolen knowledge from the guard's brain. The saiyan was only half listening, his head swarming with buzzing questions, so many doubts that they were almost overwhelming. The thought came to him that sentries, however high their security clearance, were only given what information was needed to carry out their duties. Unless this humanoid performed multiple tasks, it didn't seem likely that a perimeter guard would know of something so vital to the game's operation. Wasn't the perimeter the first line of defense? Wouldn't it make sense that they would know less, since it would be all too easy to abduct them from their post? Bar self-countered that Brim might not have been aware of Bebi's infiltration ability, but the producer had had more than enough time to adjust for it if he was constantly watching their every movement. Katel had mentioned that Brim already knew they were here. Wouldn't Brim also be aware of their little excursion to the main power core? The others had too readily forgotten her warning. And only five guards? Five, when the power source was the only key to the game? No fail-safe systems? No division of importance to prevent this exact thing from happening? So many questions.
A memory quickly surfaced that had been mulling around in his mind: Reijin's theory. If their true bodies were stored away in capsules, like he proposed, then shutting down this source of energy wouldn't make a difference. Their virtual reality would remain. It didn't matter what secrets Bebi divulged from the guard, they would likely have been programmed. Or, worse, the power source they were traipsing off to could in some effect shut down what was keeping their capsules operational. Bardock doubted it would be at all pleasant to have their minds ripped out of a computer program, or if they required life support to remain safely in stasis. Bebi might very well be killing them all.
His ambition was undeniable. He would do anything to get his little claws on "Grim." But was he making the same mistake he accused the cybernetic mischief-maker of? Was he rushing recklessly into some elaborately concoccted trap?
The black-haired brawler's tail twitched in agitation. This is why he never involved himself in matters like these. Too many goddamned head games. What seemed like something was actually another. It might turn out that Bebi was indeed correct, but there were so many perceived fallacies.
Bardock just wished he were in the security office so he could sniff out Kao. That was all he was really sure of in this wretched place. He needed a goal to keep him focused. Burter Junior and Katel were important, no doubt, and so was his family, but Kao...he was simple. He didn't require much thought at all. Just good old fashioned bone and flesh, none of this "match of wits" crap.
Maybe he was just complicating things when they needn't be.
He distracted himself by observing the others. Bebi had gotten the hang of his stolen body, because the humanoid's face was screwed up in sheer anticipation, savoring the taste of victory. The android remained stoic, emotions easily masked by his mechanical nature. Yamu and the kid were almost as eager as Bebi was. Katel's face was so full of emotion, it lacked definition. The woman didn't have the ability of flight, therefore, she didn't have the ability to curb her descent by manipulation of inner energy. Bardock lifted her gently off the ground, and she laced her arms around his neck for support. Dark shadow passed over their features as they entered the cold shaft. Her chartruese skin felt soft and velvety against his own sun-baked epidermis. She smelled of pine and lavender, an interesting combination, but one that was pleasing nonetheless. The closeness of Katel's presence was a welcome one. It had been a long time since he had felt a woman's gentle touch.
Twenty feet later, they reached the bottom, five pairs of feet slipping soundlessly back onto the ground, and then the sixth pair as Bardock relinquished Katel's body. She moved fluidly and gracefully back onto her feet, retaining a perfect and efficient poise. Now was not the time for admiration. Retribution for all seemed close at hand.
To their backs was a long, cavernous hallway that was dimly lit by overhanging lights mounted into the ceiling. The hatch above them closed automatically. Bebi had mentioned that there were sensors everywhere, so a mechanism must have automatically determined that there were no more people in the service shaft. There were no guards in front of the large door that was constructed of some kind of metal. The security measures were much greater. The little gray being would have to be cautious in its opening. Manipulating the humanoid's body, the tsufuru-jin approached the barrier that stayed them from their goal.
Bardock let his arms drop to his sides, gloved fists tightening, the sound of leather against leather echoing in the silence.
This door seemed to have all the works: retina, handprint, voice command, keypad, and finally, key card. The combination almost seemed ridiculous. Bebi leaned forward and placed the upper half of his face to the retina scan, simultaneously placing his hand on the panel. A noise emitted from both devices as they transmitted the entry. A friendly beep sounded its clearance approval. Bebi slipped a hand into a pocket and produced a metallic card, using his other hand to quickly punch in a combination of symbols and numbers. When he finished, he slid the card through the slot. In seconds, a green light flipped on accompanied by a second beep.
"We're in," he grinned, almost maniacally at his brilliance.
No one seemed to remember that it was originally Yamu's suggestion. But, then again, it wasn't about one person, but a team effort, so individual recognition was nonexistent. That didn't stop self-ego. They all relied on Bebi, so why not give yourself a pat on the back? Bardock didn't know about anyone else, but he didn't need anyone. It was simply a matter of convenience. Still, no one could deny Bebi's innate ingenuity.
No mention of the guards was made. They would only have so long before their presence was alerted to the masses.
A rush of air hissed from underneath the door as it slowly slid upwards with a hum. Six determined figures watched and waited, all with different goals, but all with the notion to attack the game that had imprisoned them in one way or another. Hellfighter Seventeen glanced at the floor as the barrier was rising. His eyes widened. He saw them first.
There weren't five guards, but twelve, two for each of them. All stood in a perfect "V" formation, every one of them standing solidly with crossed arms and menacing glares. So much for easy. As Katel had said, Brim had a surprise waiting for them. Waiting for them.
"We've been expecting you," the foremost sentry greeted.
Bebi hissed. It was simply more incentive to take Brim down.
"When I give the signal, Little Blue," Yamu whispered to his smaller companion, readying his fighting stance and moving in front of his charge. The child nodded as he mimicked his friend. Hellfighter grinned. He didn't mind an opportunity to show Yamu just how much stronger he was now. Bardock clenched his jaw and cracked his neck. Just a warm-up for Kao. His dark eyes darted to the woman (whom he inched closer to) and the kid. Nobody would touch her while he was around, and if for some reason the human faltered, Bardock would step in to look after the kid. Katel was blatantly furious at once again being balked in her efforts to free her sister.
"Step inside and we'll start the ride," the sentry smiled, arrogantly motioning them all forward.
As a group, they advanced into the power room.
Instantly, something went completely awry.
All of them felt an invisible hand reach into their bodies, burrowing under their skin like some kind of parasite.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Brim's lackey continued. "As one of our more advanced defense mechanisms, this entire room has panels that drain your energy. And guess where it goes? To the power core! So, in a nice little twist of fate, you're now helping to run our little show. Smile big for the camera, fools."
The pain was palpable as they slowly felt their ki being siphoned away. They would either have to move fast to dispatch the guards and figure out a way to shut off the drain, or retreat. But retreat seemed the unlikely option. Bebi's guard obviously had no knowledge of this, or they wouldn't have been taken in like this. The mind was useless now.
"And don't think you can shut off our little surprise from here. It's being run in an opposite part of the building."
Bardock growled ferociously. He was just going to have to beat Kao twice as hard to vent his aggressions now.
OOC: Sorry, Bebi. Couldn't be that easy. Tried to make it a little more interesting. Two for me.
A memory quickly surfaced that had been mulling around in his mind: Reijin's theory. If their true bodies were stored away in capsules, like he proposed, then shutting down this source of energy wouldn't make a difference. Their virtual reality would remain. It didn't matter what secrets Bebi divulged from the guard, they would likely have been programmed. Or, worse, the power source they were traipsing off to could in some effect shut down what was keeping their capsules operational. Bardock doubted it would be at all pleasant to have their minds ripped out of a computer program, or if they required life support to remain safely in stasis. Bebi might very well be killing them all.
His ambition was undeniable. He would do anything to get his little claws on "Grim." But was he making the same mistake he accused the cybernetic mischief-maker of? Was he rushing recklessly into some elaborately concoccted trap?
The black-haired brawler's tail twitched in agitation. This is why he never involved himself in matters like these. Too many goddamned head games. What seemed like something was actually another. It might turn out that Bebi was indeed correct, but there were so many perceived fallacies.
Bardock just wished he were in the security office so he could sniff out Kao. That was all he was really sure of in this wretched place. He needed a goal to keep him focused. Burter Junior and Katel were important, no doubt, and so was his family, but Kao...he was simple. He didn't require much thought at all. Just good old fashioned bone and flesh, none of this "match of wits" crap.
Maybe he was just complicating things when they needn't be.
He distracted himself by observing the others. Bebi had gotten the hang of his stolen body, because the humanoid's face was screwed up in sheer anticipation, savoring the taste of victory. The android remained stoic, emotions easily masked by his mechanical nature. Yamu and the kid were almost as eager as Bebi was. Katel's face was so full of emotion, it lacked definition. The woman didn't have the ability of flight, therefore, she didn't have the ability to curb her descent by manipulation of inner energy. Bardock lifted her gently off the ground, and she laced her arms around his neck for support. Dark shadow passed over their features as they entered the cold shaft. Her chartruese skin felt soft and velvety against his own sun-baked epidermis. She smelled of pine and lavender, an interesting combination, but one that was pleasing nonetheless. The closeness of Katel's presence was a welcome one. It had been a long time since he had felt a woman's gentle touch.
Twenty feet later, they reached the bottom, five pairs of feet slipping soundlessly back onto the ground, and then the sixth pair as Bardock relinquished Katel's body. She moved fluidly and gracefully back onto her feet, retaining a perfect and efficient poise. Now was not the time for admiration. Retribution for all seemed close at hand.
To their backs was a long, cavernous hallway that was dimly lit by overhanging lights mounted into the ceiling. The hatch above them closed automatically. Bebi had mentioned that there were sensors everywhere, so a mechanism must have automatically determined that there were no more people in the service shaft. There were no guards in front of the large door that was constructed of some kind of metal. The security measures were much greater. The little gray being would have to be cautious in its opening. Manipulating the humanoid's body, the tsufuru-jin approached the barrier that stayed them from their goal.
Bardock let his arms drop to his sides, gloved fists tightening, the sound of leather against leather echoing in the silence.
This door seemed to have all the works: retina, handprint, voice command, keypad, and finally, key card. The combination almost seemed ridiculous. Bebi leaned forward and placed the upper half of his face to the retina scan, simultaneously placing his hand on the panel. A noise emitted from both devices as they transmitted the entry. A friendly beep sounded its clearance approval. Bebi slipped a hand into a pocket and produced a metallic card, using his other hand to quickly punch in a combination of symbols and numbers. When he finished, he slid the card through the slot. In seconds, a green light flipped on accompanied by a second beep.
"We're in," he grinned, almost maniacally at his brilliance.
No one seemed to remember that it was originally Yamu's suggestion. But, then again, it wasn't about one person, but a team effort, so individual recognition was nonexistent. That didn't stop self-ego. They all relied on Bebi, so why not give yourself a pat on the back? Bardock didn't know about anyone else, but he didn't need anyone. It was simply a matter of convenience. Still, no one could deny Bebi's innate ingenuity.
No mention of the guards was made. They would only have so long before their presence was alerted to the masses.
A rush of air hissed from underneath the door as it slowly slid upwards with a hum. Six determined figures watched and waited, all with different goals, but all with the notion to attack the game that had imprisoned them in one way or another. Hellfighter Seventeen glanced at the floor as the barrier was rising. His eyes widened. He saw them first.
There weren't five guards, but twelve, two for each of them. All stood in a perfect "V" formation, every one of them standing solidly with crossed arms and menacing glares. So much for easy. As Katel had said, Brim had a surprise waiting for them. Waiting for them.
"We've been expecting you," the foremost sentry greeted.
Bebi hissed. It was simply more incentive to take Brim down.
"When I give the signal, Little Blue," Yamu whispered to his smaller companion, readying his fighting stance and moving in front of his charge. The child nodded as he mimicked his friend. Hellfighter grinned. He didn't mind an opportunity to show Yamu just how much stronger he was now. Bardock clenched his jaw and cracked his neck. Just a warm-up for Kao. His dark eyes darted to the woman (whom he inched closer to) and the kid. Nobody would touch her while he was around, and if for some reason the human faltered, Bardock would step in to look after the kid. Katel was blatantly furious at once again being balked in her efforts to free her sister.
"Step inside and we'll start the ride," the sentry smiled, arrogantly motioning them all forward.
As a group, they advanced into the power room.
Instantly, something went completely awry.
All of them felt an invisible hand reach into their bodies, burrowing under their skin like some kind of parasite.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Brim's lackey continued. "As one of our more advanced defense mechanisms, this entire room has panels that drain your energy. And guess where it goes? To the power core! So, in a nice little twist of fate, you're now helping to run our little show. Smile big for the camera, fools."
The pain was palpable as they slowly felt their ki being siphoned away. They would either have to move fast to dispatch the guards and figure out a way to shut off the drain, or retreat. But retreat seemed the unlikely option. Bebi's guard obviously had no knowledge of this, or they wouldn't have been taken in like this. The mind was useless now.
"And don't think you can shut off our little surprise from here. It's being run in an opposite part of the building."
Bardock growled ferociously. He was just going to have to beat Kao twice as hard to vent his aggressions now.
OOC: Sorry, Bebi. Couldn't be that easy. Tried to make it a little more interesting. Two for me.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
_=Pass you by, it's all in this life you have
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_