I am Proximus

“My name is Proximus, I am here to help.  I believe there are some terrorists in your hold getting ready to attack the station. I need you to inform the captain that they are there and warn the station there are 4 groups. One is going to attack the Station’s Guild Director, another is going to try and retrieve something from Cargo Bay 6, and a third is targeting a girl as a backup objective. The fourth is securing their means of escape.”

“B-b-but sir where is Mr. Knight is he ok?” the flight attendant asked hesitantly.

“Mr. Knight will be fine as long as you do as I say. Call the captain NOW, I don’t have time for this.

Continue reading “I am Proximus”

Journal Entry

Summary for Session 1, August 27, 2009

Metatide records:

What amazing luck! Admittedly it’s not all good luck of course, but still amazing. So there I was at Shakelton Station Prime, waiting for a transport back home from my vacation out to Alpha and there pops in Eberos! I hadn’t seen him since college and we just started to catch up when Sam arrived, too! Really amazing! When Eberos’ sister, Oriana returned from the restroom, it was like the old crowd from that semester in college was back together again. 

Of course, that’s when things got crazy. A medical emergency was raised and the station had to make ready all their medical people for an incoming ship from some station out in interstellar space. Apparently this station suffered a collision with a massive meteoroid and most people suffered decompression and other injuries. Sam and I volunteered to help with the injured as we were both trained in paramedical techniques. We’d only just get ready when the attack hit. Continue reading “Journal Entry”

PanGalactic Liner – Evac Flight 1701

David sat in his passenger seat.  The liner had been appropriated for the emergency evac of the majority of the crew of the Proxima Astrometric Station to Earth’s Armstrong Station medical facility on Luna.  He was the only one in the front passenger section; the rear had been turned into a large triage facility for decompression sickness life support.  Still in starjump transit, a flight attendant stopped by to check on him. “Mr. Knight, is there anything I can get for you?”

David seemed to snap out of deep thought and shook himself. He started to speak before he looked up. “No I’m fine, thaannk Yew.”  His you came out more than a squeak as he looked up at the flight attendant. He blushed and then looked back down at his hand. “I’m aaaaa fine thank you.” David tried for a more normal tone of voice; unfortunately it came out a little brusque. Continue reading “PanGalactic Liner – Evac Flight 1701”

Rey, February 9, 2009

The conversation with Ann-Marie last night was interesting, to say the least. We talked about many different things, and I think I finally managed to get through to her about some of them.

She was surprised I’d wanted to talk to her. As it is with every time in the past, she said things that just pushed my buttons. I’m proud of myself, though, that I managed to keep my temper under control. The year of not speaking to each other except in passing or about the weather seems to have helped me, at least, be civil to her.

Still, the conversation almost ended up in an argument before it even started. I thought I’d made things clear that I was trying to ignore the problems we had before. Try to be more friendly, but she just had to push buttons and bring up old shit. Why does she have to do that? She keeps going on and on, talking about wanting to be friends and not understanding why people don’t like her. Even if I could set aside what she is, she can be so fucking annoying! She says she’s changed, but I don’t see it, not in the way she’s acted towards me. Sure, we’re barely even passing acquaintances, but still.

Anyway, I told her about the problems she caused by bringing Anu into our territory. First, she denies bringing Anu here. But, duh, Ann-Marie lives here, and brought Jesse/Anu with her. Passing the buck, as usual. What will it take to get her to take responsibility for her actions? And I know Ironclaw had a talk with her about death spirits and bringing them here. How could she not understand the problems she’s causing?

She’s so wrapped up in herself. She said I remind her a lot of a younger version of herself. I can say the same about her. Self-centered, pity poor me, blaming others for their actions. At least I have an excuse, even if it is a rather feeble one. I’d also like to think I’ve grown up at least a little bit since I arrived here. I’m certainly not perfect, but becoming part of the pack, and then Lupa, certainly has forced me to change, and for the better.

Back to the conversation. Ann-Marie seemed to think she wanted as much time as she wanted or needed. I couldn’t tell her that she had only three months, as I didn’t know if that was something to be spoken of outside the pack. Still, I think I got her to realize Ironclaw has given Jesse a finite amount of time.

She offered to leave Eldon Well, but I told her she didn’t have to. I mean I think it’s the best solution, but Ironclaw would rather have Jesse where he can watch her. She may still do so, and if Ironclaw asks me if I told her to, I can honestly say I told her she didn’t have to.

Her opinion and view of spirits seems to be at least part of this. Her kind has been dealing with spirits for millennium, she says. If that’s true, I don’t really think she knows all that much about them. She certainly doesn’t know how the Uratha fit into all of it. I certainly didn’t, despite my own dealings with spirits. I took the effort to try and learn about them. A matter of survival at the very least. If Lyla hadn’t spoken up for me, they’d have killed me, just like they did that woman who was setting traps for us. I still make mistakes, but I’d like to think they’re fewer and farther between.

Ann-Marie said the gifts Jesse’s offering are to honor the pack. Shows how much Ann-Marie knows. It’s the way of the spirit world – Jesse wants something from us, so she offers the gifts. Honor has nothing to do with it. Ann-Marie’s applying human – or maybe vampire – thinking to spirit behavior, and that’s just plain wrong. One day she’ll make a mistake, and we might all pay for it.

I managed to convince her that she needs to learn more about the Uratha, what motivates them. If she does that, she should be able to limit the stupid stuff she does that pisses them off. At the very least, she might learn who they value and their opinions of non-Uratha. Well, most non-Uratha. I’m sure every pack may have an exception or two

So, maybe some good has come out of the conversation. If she truly does open up her mind and accept the world doesn’t think as she does, she might learn something. Hopefully it’ll make her less annoying. 🙂

Shackelton Station Prime

March 1st, 2911 OC (Day 60:950 NE)
Shackelton Station Prime, the Falcon-Scott Starport, Terminal 6, Section
10. 10:32 AM Standard Time.

It is a fairly busy time at Terminal 6, Three inbound flights had just docked and several outbound shuttles were prepping for departure. Some to Earth, others to Mars. There were families, students, business types, a few government suits, and the odd loner scattered amoung the 300 or more persons waiting in this area of the terminal. Certainly not the busiest time of day, over 1200 seats remained empty. Some of those sat at the bar, or shopped on the nearby concourse.

Several Alliance Transport Authority security agents and staff walked about, some checking identicards, but most doing their best to be helpful. Two EarthForce Security walked calmly by, having just entered Section 10 from Section 9. They carried rifles and looked no nonsense, but one was taking the time to answer a child’s questions.
Continue reading “Shackelton Station Prime”

Questions, Questions

Timeline: February 8th, 2009 late night

Rey smiled down at Hamilton. He was stretched – or rather, practically draped – across her lap, purring contentedly. She’d just finished brushing and otherwise pampering him after spending some time working on the bar’s books. The money situation wasn’t too bad yet, but things couldn’t keep going this way for long.

She gently settled her familiar on the cushion next to her chair and looked at the clock. If Ann-Marie was going to be coming to the bar, now would be about the time she’d show up. Rey gave Hamilton one last scritch, then walked out of the office and into the bar proper.
Continue reading “Questions, Questions”

Rey, February 8, 2009

I saw Jesse today, and learned something that has me both scared and very angry. Angry at that vampire bitch, but what else is new. She claims to be Jesse’s friend, but no friend would do that to another. All Ann-Marie cares about is personal power. I don’t care what Jesse told me. I don’t believe Jesse would ever willingly volunteer. Not unless she felt threatened.

Hamilton says what the Anu part of her might be true – that she will let Jesse go when her task is finished and Jesse will be okay. I don’t know what to believe. All I know is that my friend is gone. Still, I don’t want to see Jesse/Anu harmed. What if she is telling the truth? Killing her will kill Jesse, and Anu will just go off to do whatever it is she wants to. If what she said is true… I don’t know what I’ll do if ordered to by Ironclaw.

And she will declare war on the pack. If Hamilton is right, and Anu is one of the Fury, then the pack will be destroyed. I doubt I’d be shown any mercy. I don’t envy being in IC’s shoes. Here he is, confronted with the most powerful spirit he’s likely encountered – or that anyone is likely to encounter peacefully. It’s their nature to hunt and control. If Anu wasn’t quite so powerful, I doubt Jesse would still be alive.

Ironclaw is angry about the situation. That she’s using Ann-Marie and myself to talk to him, rather than talking to him directly. Of course, I made things worse. You’d think I’d know by now to keep my temper in check. I was able to calm things back down somewhat, which was good. If IC decided I needed to be taught a lesson, Grey probably would have just stood there and let it happen.

Ironclaw has set a deadline of three months before he orders an attack on Jesse. He wasn’t happy to learn Anu is a lunar goddess, but he doesn’t show any signs of backing down. He and Grey are going to visit Ironclaw’s father’s pack and ask for help. I hope they talk some sense into him, and convince Ironclaw it’s not worth it. And I wonder what they’ll think about a human being part of the pack, let alone Lupa. I wonder if Grey would speak in my defense. No, I’m not going to think about that now.

I’m going to have to go talk to Ann-Marie. I don’t want to, but I need to find out what’s going on from her point of view. Maybe get her to realize there’s danger. I can’t tell her everything Ironclaw said. That would betray the pack. Most importantly, I have to keep my temper, for the good of the pack. I don’t hate Ann-Marie, but I hate what she is. Everything she represents. She says she wants to be friends, but I do not trust her. Vampires are an abomination, outside the natural order of things.

I will not deny she has helped defend and protect Eldon Well and my friends. But I cannot accept it was out of the goodness of her dead heart. I cannot help but think she has an ulterior motive for everything she does. That she is using us all to advance her own agenda. And even though Jesse/Anu says it was Jesse’s true choice to become one of the Claimed, I find it almost impossible to accept it as truth. Choosing to do it is one thing, but choosing to do it because you are afraid and want to protect others is another.

Perhaps not speaking to Ann-Marie in anything more than passing for almost a year will have given me the ability to keep a civil tongue in my head.

I’m going to take Jesse up on her offer. The chance to meet a Lune. How often could someone like me could that happen for? It could be dangerous, but I’m going to my best to minimize the risks. The Lune might be able to answer some of my questions. Hopefully, if there is a price I have to pay, the cost won’t be too dear.

Master Report: Metatide

Master of the Game’s Report: Metatide

 Critical information regarding Project Metatide 01-00398-XB
Report Beta 1
NeoGenesis

Metatide, a.k.a. Lake Rain

Prepared for: Edward Cupps, Master of the Game
Prepared by: Dustin Evermore, Agent

August 14th, 2008
Proposal Number: 000-0001

Master of the Game’s Report: Metatide

 Critical information regarding Project Metatide 01-00398-XB
Report Beta 1
NeoGenesis

Background

Powers

Metatide is an Alpha Class mutant with a flexible and powerful ability to shift forms almost at will. While the task requires some effort on Metatide’s part, this mutant is capable of using it’s apparently water-based form to achieve a number of effects. Metatide appears to be capable of sustaining any form indefinitely, or at least until conscious control is lost.

Goals

Unknown. Metatide’s motivation and agenda are currently unknown. It is recommended that she be approached and requested to join a team to give her a positive focus.

Known Aliases and Personal History

Metatide has an alternate, mundane identity of Lake Rain. As Ms. Lake Rain, she appears to be an attractive blonde caucasian woman of 5’7” in height and 125 lbs in weight. Ms. Rain was thought to have died in a tragic vehicle accident during her time as a student at a prominent North American university. However, there appears to have been an error as she was seen to be very much alive an well hours later.

This agent, however, will go on record to state that is his feeling, though there is no proof, that Ms. Rain did in fact die in the vehicle accident and that her identity was simply assumed by Metatide, who needed an official name and place in society. Admittedly, there appears to have been no noticeable impact on Ms. Rain’s friends or family as a result of Metatide assuming her identity. We propose that Metatide’s ability to mimic people is so good that friends and family did not notice the transition.
Careful research in following this suspicion has led the agent to further conclusions. Metatide may in fact be not one, but two people previously thought deceased. As you read the report below, it is our hope that you agree with our conclusion.

Doctor Kenneth Zaris

Dr. Zaris was a Delta Class mutant, though he hid it well. He was cursed with the peculiar disfigurement of translucent hips and legs, a disturbing mutation that he hid for most of his life. He graduated university with a doctorate in Biochemistry and Biology and soon took a job as a researcher for Zenware Corporation.
Page 1

Master of the Game’s Report: Metatide

 Critical information regarding Project Metatide 01-00398-XB
Report Beta 1
NeoGenesis
He was awarded a grant by the company as a response to his proposal. His idea was to produce a Stealth Serum, allowing Terran soldiers to actually become invisible. His preliminary results were persuasive and they gave him a lab, an assistant and all the equipment he needed to make it happen. Unfortunately, his research, which was in fact secretly based on his own mutation, failed to show serious results, even after five years of work. During a financial review, Zenware decided to shut down the money-pit that Dr. Zaris’ research had created and terminate his contract. Dr. Zaris was outraged and even barged in on a board meeting to rave that they had no right to close his research when he was so close to seeing real results. Not only did he demand they reinstate him, but he demanded to be allowed to proceed with research on human subjects. Appalled at his behavior, the Zenware board summoned security and had him forcibly removed from the premises.

This was the last official contact anyone had with Dr. Zaris.

Doctor Tia Hellon

Dr. Hellon was the assistant provided to Zaris for his Stealth Serum project. We suspect that Hellon and Zaris were in fact lovers, that their five-year working relationship had spilled over into a personal relationship as well. When Zaris’ project was shut down, Hellon was reassigned. Questioned observers lead us to believe the relationship was largely one-way, in that Dr. Zaris barely recognized the relationship while Dr. Hellon was truly “in love” with Zaris.

We do not believe their relationship ended with the the Stealth Serum project.

Agents now suspect that Kenneth Zaris came to Tia Hellon after being terminated from the company, begging her to let him have access to his lab before they took it all away for disassembly. Dr. Hellon likely complied with his request. We believe that in desperation, he used himself as the target of his experimental Spectral Atomic Modifier (SAM) instead of a specially-prepared serum. This was, unfortunately for Dr. Zaris, his literal un-doing.

The SAM may have even worked. We will never know. What we do know, is that his mutation responded to the treatment in a very dramatic way. His entire body became completely translucent, though not truly invisible. When his mutation triggered, every cell of his body became “slippery” and unable to retain cohesion. In fact, even cell walls disintegrating, leaving only a wet, translucent mass.
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Master of the Game’s Report: Metatide

 Critical information regarding Project Metatide 01-00398-XB
Report Beta 1
NeoGenesis
Tia Hellon would have been horrified. Zaris’ body had broken apart into a watery solution before her very eyes. Weeping, she may have prepared to dispose of the unfortunate doctor’s remains when she noticed there was movement; a reaction. Further examination showed the wet mass responded to light, movement, even showing dim signs of recognition. Dr. Zaris was alive!
Hellon collected his remains and placed him in a hyper-oxygenated solution before removing him to her home. There, over the next few months, she built her own lab with the intent to reconstitute Dr.Zaris. Under the supposition thatZaris had somehow survived decomposition,Hellon theorized that if she could re-compose him, thenZaris might recover.This would require some kind of framework upon which to work. After weeks of work,Hellon had no solution; nothing seemed to work. His recovery seemed to require human flesh and bone. Devastated by the final loss of her lover, Dr.Hellon would have had to face the grim reality that she would have to putZaris to rest for good.However, in a final flash of insight, Hellon hit upon the idea to use her own body as the framework upon which to allow Kenneth Zaris to recompose himself. She was devoted enough to him to sacrifice herself so that he might live — a man who rarely, if ever, returned her feelings.

Tia Hellon drowned herself in an acid bath, hoping against all odds that he would be able to use her skeletal framework and organic compounds to recompose himself. This was not to be.

Metatide awoke days later to discover that Tia’s mind had survived, as well as something of Zaris’ mutagenic form. Dr. Kenneth Zaris, however, was not the consciousness or body that arose from the ruins of Hellon’s basement.

Current Status

Post-graduation

Metatide continued under her assumed identity of Lake Rain. Upon completion of college she took a job as a pharmacist, where her trained skills were quite useful. She continues still, taking meticulous care to retain her identity and very modest income. She has, however, had several encounters in which she was forced to assume a superheroic identity as Metatide. Once was to foil a robbery at her pharmacy. Another was to foil would-be muggers. She appears to be highly social, spending time in various social locations such as bars,
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Master of the Game’s Report: Metatide

 Critical information regarding Project Metatide 01-00398-XB
Report Beta 1
NeoGenesis
Metatide continued under her assumed identity of Lake Rain. Upon completion of college she took a job as a pharmacist, where her trained skills were quite useful. She continues still, taking meticulous care to retain her identity and very modest income. She has, however, had several encounters in which she was forced to assume a superheroic identity as Metatide. Once was to foil a robbery at her pharmacy. Another was to foil would-be muggers. She appears to be highly social, spending time in various social locations such as bars, movie theaters, parks and recreational areas. We suspect, however, that she is aware of her greater potential and may simply be awaiting an opportunity express herself as a hero.

Status of Dr. Kenneth Zaris

After a long period in which no contact has been made, his missing persons file has been closed and the state declared him deceased. His possessions fell to his closest relatives.

Status of Dr. Tia Hellon

Similarly, Dr. Hellon was never seen or heard from again. Due to the damage to her home, foul play was suspected but never proven. No body was produced and she was listed as missing. After a few years, the state declared her deceased. Her possessions fell to her closest relatives.
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The Trouble with Twins

The Juniper lumbered through space as it had for generations, carrying us along with it.Our family has been sailing through space trading things, exchanging things, some old, some even older and a lot of it really odd.

That’s us there, if you look closely you can see us running through the boxes piled in the cargo hold of ol Juney. Our parents are both archeologists and are semi normal,as far as ‘rents go. Sis and I have to entertain ourselves most of the time, this day imparticular I chose to entertain myself by putting itching powder in her undies, all of them. Continue reading “The Trouble with Twins”

Venus

Formal Name: Sol II

Government Name: Venusian Colonies

Population: 30 Million

Brief Description:

Venus is an experiment in full terraforming. Fully 500 years into it’s transformation, it has an estimated 2500 years to go until it achieve an Earth-like enviroment. 300 years ago after hundreds of years of algae seeding, sulfer stripping and cometary bombardment, an area of the atmosphere 50 km above the surface became as Earthlike as anywhere in the solar system.

Huge floating factories, later becoming cities were built to travel the planet, refining the atmosphere, and exporting the skimmed raw materials and sending them offworld. Sulfer dumping on Io, CO2 to Mars, and more.

The slightly higher pressure and atmospheric thickness, with little assistance allows humans a certain bouancy in the atmosphere, that with the right equipment allow flight. Genetically modified plantlife has been created to take adavantage of this, with vast skyforests and algae fields floating. in a 10 km ‘life zone’ starting 40 km from the high pressure furnace below. Visitors are advised to take axillary air tanks and wear protective clothing when exposed to the outside air as acid rain and sudden oxygen poor zones are still a common problem for non-genetically modified species.

While the local Arboreal Clouds and Floating Cities stay well within the habitat zone, warning is given to any visitors to avoid traveling deeper into the atmosphere. To do so is to invite death, either from sulferic acid clouds, intense crushing pressure, infernal heat or more likely a combination off all of them. The artificial heaven carefully created by humanity over a thousand years is balanced by the perpetual hell below.