>>19890
"I am reasonable," I agree with Nova, "But the problem is I have one very good reason to doubt you." I proceed to convey to them my earlier encounter with the faux-Elaine in Parts and Storage who turned out to be something else... something much worse.

"So you can see why I'm so hesitant to take this at face value. What was that? How could they have created such a... disturbing likeness of Elaine?"

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/08/01(Sat)18:26 No. 19969 ID: 6faa8c
File 124917641029.jpg - (46.57KB , 640x480 , Achilles.jpg )

>>19950
Nova thinks for a moment.
"Perhaps it is ___*&*__*^&^%__." he says. "Er... Your kind would call him Achilles." he states. "We had watched mankind for ages. We thought them an interesting mirror to ourselves. As your daughter puts it, you change things around you. We can only truly change ourselves. Not all of the unthinking are stupid. One is incredibly cunning, and he leads the rest. His name is Achilles. (ah-SHEELs)"

He is the only one among us to have two eyes. He is... cunning. Brutal. Smart."
An image flashes briefly into your mind. "And also incredibly dangerous to both our kinds."

Nova sighs.
"If you cannot trust us, we will part here. Me and mine will do our best to lure Achilles into our home, which your freind will then launch into the sun. You and your daughter will land on Mars."

>>19969
I remained silent for some time, thinking it over. The point that they could have killed Elaine didn't sway me because they could just be using her as bait. But if that was the case, they would have killed Meiko and me by now. Unless they had some even more elaborate scheme in store... but that would have to be incredibly far-reaching and toward what end goal? The extermination of humanity on Mars? I doubt that the lives of three or so humans could effect that.

But all the same, something doesn't seem right with Elaine. 'We don't want to hurt you, Daddy.' That phrase echoed around my mind. Why would Elaine say that? Why choose them over her own father? Pushing aside what I assumed were the standard fears of being an inadequate father, I consider the fact that these beings are obviously psychically gifted. I still can't rule out mind control.

The larger implications of this meeting aren't lost upon me either. This is, I'm pretty sure, first contact with alien beings. And, apparently, I've been made a psychic now too. This is... so much.

"I'm not... going to bother asking how you know our plan. I..." I give a sigh of- I don't even know what. Frustration? Confusion? Reluctance? "You kept my daughter safe, and for that I'm extremely grateful. I want to trust you, but it's going to take time. We just met, and surely you must recognize these conditions are far from ideal."

I strayed off topic. I paused a moment to collect my thoughts. "I'd... I'd like to help you. To work together, humans and, um... your kind." I give a shaky smile, then remember something, or rather someone. "Oh, and can you do whatever you did for me to Meiko? It'd be good if she can be a part of this conversation."

Nova nods and touches the base of her neck. She grunts, then blinks, looking at her hand. Her eyes change color, and she jumps.
"I gave her a different set of... gifts." Nova states.

Meiko gains:
+ OPTIMAL
+ LEG POWER
+ ALTAN RESONANCE
+ EYE SPECTRUM CHANGE

"You can call us the Altan. Just like humans, we have good and evil among us. You may take as long as you need to decide. Feel free to ask your friend to review his security tapes, he will find all the aggresive ones were either in self defense, Achille's kind with the red eyes, or both."

>>20023
"I believe you," I can't believe I'm saying those words, but it's an easily verified fact, if he was lying I could find out without difficulty. "I'm... sorry about all those Watchers I killed. I didn't know they were good guys.

I stand up from my wheelchair and am immediately surprised at how different I feel. Stronger, faster, the change is impressive. I look over to make sure Meiko's okay. "You alright, Meiko?

>>20067
"Yes, I'm fine. Be-" she pauses, turns around, to check something, then whispers to Nova. You catch a whisper from her head: 'Did they get... yes, they got bigger!'

She turns back to you. "Yes, I'm fine. I feel... better than ever, actually."

Nova smiles. "Now, one last thing before you leave: Will you be taking Elaine with you? She has been so kind to us."

>>20076
I do my best to avoid snickering. "Good. That's... good."

"That depends. What's the plan? Ours no longer seems appropriate. What can we do to help you? What are your goals?"

A sudden thought occurs to me. For the first time, I decide to try and focus my new found psychic powers on my daughter.

>>20113
Focusing on someone brings their mind open, but human minds are hard to read unless they are focused intently. Keep this in mind.

'Daddylovedaddydaddyissafehappy
wakwakishealthyhappynewladynewmom?
NovasmartNovaleavingdaddyleaving?'

Meiko sighs and rolls her eyes.

Nova smiles.
"My original plan was essentially yours, without ejecting my home from this satellite. After power is restored, we may call for more armed forces to properly take care of Achilles."

>>20122
Kids think the darnedest things, hehe.

I nod to Nova in agreement. "That sounds good. Can you take care of restoring the power in your home?" I describe the battery and what needs to be done with it. "Speaking of which, what is with the words on the hull of your section? 'Help us'?"

>>20164
"I was hoping to... prevent further loss of Waks. Er, Watchers, as you call them. I was also experimenting with pigment changes and such." he shrugs. "We will do our best." he states, walking towards the door. "That thing you speak of? It is in room 101 in this area, in the closet. I would prefer you handle our enraged brother first, though. He likes to break things so very much..."

"I see."

I kneel down in front of Elaine to talk to her eye to eye. "Honey? This is Meiko. She's been helping me fight the broken ones and even saved me from Achilles. We have to get the power back on to keep this satellite from crashing, but it's going to be dangerous. I want you to go with Nova for now so you stay safe, but don't worry about us; we'll be fine. I love you very much, sweetie, and I'm so happy that you're okay. We'll come get you after we're done, alright?"


<<bed time for me. I'll pick it up in the morning.>>

>>20198
"I will take her to the Hub. My own area is somewhat infested itself." he takes her hand in his slightly clawed three-finger appendage and leads her out.

It's a weird sight, but by now you trust Nova. You sense he's a nice... alien.

"Well, let's head out." Meiko says, handing you your pistol and taking the SMG. "I wonder about that other satellite..." she mumbles, but you both leave the room, eyes wary for Big and Ugly.

<<erg, fine. one more post.>>

>>20206
I use the intercom to BRIEFLY explain the situation to Larry (I'm assuming he couldn't have heard the psychic parts even if it was left on the whole time), mainly the part about blue-eyed aliens being friendly. Then I try to work out a plan with Meiko.

"This... Altan... is extremely clumsy and injures itself, but bullets don't seem to do much against it. I think our best bet is to make it hurt itself by running into walls, and shooting it with the grenade launcher. If it's charging at you, wait until the last minute possible, then dodge 90 degrees to the side, perpendicular to its trajectory. We should try and lure it into charging us with a wall right behind us, so there's a better chance it can't stop in time. Then when- if it's stunned, we can shoot it with the SMG and grenade launcher till it recovers, then run away and repeat. And hope it doesn't learn before we can kill it."

<<heheh. Don't feel obligated, now.>>
>>20217
Larry says he understands, and that he hears a knock at the door. He opens it and takes Elaine in. He's a little confused, but he says it all adds up.

He then says BAU is headed your way.
"By the way, bullets don't work, but... maybe something else will?"

<<I think I'm addicted...>>

"Dammit, Larry! This is no time to be cryptic!"

Can I get a complete, thorough inventory please? That way I can think about my options in the morning.

>>20238
You have:

CHAIRBAG:

AMMUNITION (3000 NORMAL, 50 RGB, GRENADES, 10F 10S 15I)
POLEARM
ONE EXTINGUISHER

ONE FLASHLIGHT
ONE MOBILE INTERCOM

Meiko:
ONE HEADSET
ONE SMG (WITH AMMO)

You
PISTOL + AMMO

EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES
TACTICAL SENSE (RESONANCE IN COMBAT)
STRENGTH

>>20238
"That's al-" he pauses.
"Kill it with fire." he says quietly.

>>20254
"That is my M.O." I respond, hefting the grenade launcher (still loaded with incendiary grenades).

"Since bullets don't do anything, just shoot it to attract its attention, then jump to the side. I'll light it on fire with this."

The creature lunges for you and you both get out of the way, sending it ramming into the CHAIR instead. There's a ruckus of noise as it knocks it over, and they both tumble down the hallway. As soon as they seperate, you launch a grenade at it, lighting it ablaze.

It gets up, flames all over its body, and rushes at you again. You dodge again, the heat rushing over you as it lands...

And doesn't get up.

>>20669
I take this opportunity to PUMP THE MOTHERFUCKER FULL OF INCENDIARY GRENADES!

As the flames rage, I yell out giddily, "I hope you brought your wallet, 'cause the rent in hell gets paid in advance!"

>>20674
You do so, but by the third nade it's quite clear it's dead.

Meiko looks a little disturbed.

>>20676
I smile embarrassedly. "Eh... hehe. Just makin' sure." My expression changes to confusion as I eye the dead carcass. "I thought it'd be much more difficult than that. This thing seemed really resilient."

I go back to the intercom and check in with Larry. "Hey, how's it look over the cameras? Are we clear now?"

>>20680
"Yeah, everything looks fine." Larry says with an audible shrug.

"It was almost dead in any case. It was either us or bleeding to death, really..."

"Oh... well... okay then. Let's get that battery."

I head to room 101, keeping an eye out for any more funny business. On the way, I decide to try out my psychic powers on Meiko.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/08/02(Sun)11:48 No. 20704 ID: 6faa8c
File 124923891690.jpg - (105.27KB , 640x480 , Achilleshithere.jpg )

>>20700
You hear her hearing your thoughts hearing her thoughts...
OW.

Best not to do that anymore.

As you move through the place, you see occasional Watchers, There's really not much of note, the area seems to have been cleared out beforehand. You find the AUX BATTERY with ease an-

HELLO.

RECURSIVE MIND SCREW!!! What she gets for being so nosy. =3


Respond psychically (if I can, verbally if not), "Hello, Achilles."

>>20704
SO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
EEEEHEHEHEHEH.
HEHEH.
THIEVING PINKIES. THIEVING MONSTERS. LEAVE. LEAVE. GET OUT.
OR
OR
OR

OR

I WILL THROW YOU OUT.

You notice there's a window in this room.

>>20713
Of course there is.

"Fine, you want Mars? You want this station? You can have them. It was wrong of us to take the planet from you and if we'd known you were there, I can assure you we wouldn't have done it. However, this station is going to crash and be completely destroyed unless I can plug in this battery. Search my thoughts... you know it to be true."

"Let me and the other pinkies get off this station, and we'll tell all the pinkies on the planet," I point out the window at Mars below, "and we'll all leave, giving you back what is rightfully yours."

>>20720
YOU ARE BLUFFING. YOU ARE LYING. LYING PINKIES, LYING PINKIES.
YOU CAN'T COMMAND THEM, YOU HAVE NOT THE POWER. NOT LIKE ME.
NOT LIKE ME.

You hear Meiko slump to the floor. You feel a strong pressure on the back of your neck, pushing you forward.
You can feel Achilles move closer, his smoking red eyes close to yours.

YOU WILL BOTH DIE HERE. THEN I WILL KILL NOVA. THEN THE PINKIES HERE. THEN THE SATELLITE WILL CRASH, AND I WILL KILL THEM THERE, TOO. AND THEN... AND THEN THEY WILL TRY TO TAKE 'BACK THEIR PLANET. AND THEN...

EEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!

>>20723
I gasp in pain and let him talk. He obviously likes to hear himself talk. But this time... he's said to much.

I focus my entire mind on one thing. Not my revenge, not the lives of the crewmembers that've been murdered, not even the millions of people on the surface of Mars. No, the only thing I keep in my mind's eye is my daughter's face. Elaine, so young... so innocent... and I will not let her be butchered by this monster. I will not lie down and accept this fate.

I will die on my feet.

I fight the torrential force and reach a shaking arm out to snag Achilles' neck, forcing his eyes even closer. I don't break off the stare, instead I unleash all the burning psychic rage I can muster against the being that wants to kill. my. daughter.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/08/02(Sun)12:43 No. 20733 ID: 6faa8c
File 124924223043.jpg - (83.42KB , 640x480 , Achillespain.jpg )

>>20728
PINKYSTOPITITHURTSPINKYSTOOOPIT!

you hear the creature scream in your mind and with your ears.

KILLHIMSAVEMESTOPHIMKILLHIMHIMSTOPHIMGETTHECHILDFINDTHECHILD!


KILL

THE

CHILD!

>>20733
That is it. Pull out the pistol and shoot him twice: once in each of those damn eyes.

Then get Meiko and tell Larry he's got company on the way and that he needs to hold tight until we can get there to back him up. The battery can wait.

>>20736
Achilles flies back onto the bed. He's not actually all that big, and he's rather weak-looking, physically.

IT'S NOT THAT EASY....

You feel a twinge in your mind...
And then he's gone.

You book it like crazy, taking Meiko with you. Larry responds, calmly.
"Restore the power to that sector first, John. Trust me. We need that. Or at least it will make things easier.

You hear hammering on the SURVEILLANCE ROOM door.

"Hurry, John."

>>20738
Larry's calm voice helps ease the storm in my mind and realize he's right. I agree and grab the battery, using all my newly granted speed and strength to get that thing into its slot.

"Meiko, run on ahead to the hub. If there're too many, wait for me."

>>20740
You slam the battery into place, and the computer beside it hums to life:

POWER RESTORED: 77%

FUNCTIONS RESTORED:
MEDIUM RANGE COMMUNICATIONS ARRAY
HUB SECURITY AUTOMATED DEFENSES
ARTIFICIAL GAVITY SWITCHES IN DOCKING AREAS

Larry lets out a sigh of relief as the bugs are gunned down.
"Alright, John. Come back, and let's discuss things properly."

>>20742
"Yeah, we have a lot to talk about..."

I head back to the hub and then the surveillance room.

>>20745
You return to find that the Surveillance Room doesn't have a door anymore. There's bodies piled in front of it, though, and the guns retract just as you arrive.

Elaine runs up to you and hugs you tightly again, Meiko finishes bandaging Larry's arm.
"Seriously, why did you think it was a good idea to punch that thing?!" she mutters at Larry, who shrugs.
"It woulda gotten the brat, otherwise..."

>>20746
I give Elaine a big hug and then walk with her over to Larry. His situation brings a bemused smile to my face, but my respect for him has risen tremendously.

"Has Uncle Larry been a good babysitter for ya?" I give Elaine a conspiratory wink.

>>20755
"The reason I called you back with such seriousness is because... Nova said he had someone he wanted you to meet. Someone he forgot to tell you about. She should be on her way now." he says. "With 77 percent restored, we're almost done here. Nova and his people will escape with us after I arrange everything, but Nova's holding off inserting the Aux until we meet this... person."

>>20761
"Nova... 'forgot' to tell me about someone?" That sounds suspicious. I don't really have any choice but to wait till he gets here, I suppose. In the meantime, I decide to listen in on Larry's thoughts.

>>20775
Donttrustnovabutthenagainnovahelpedus
twoofthemwithtwoeyes?
evilbastardevilmonsterredeyesnecvergood
elaineisokaynewcomerissupposedtobereallyimportant

>>20780
"Hey Larry, I've been thinking about something... do you have any reason to think there might be more than one Altan with two eyes?"

>>20786
"Nova said something about 'opposites and parrallels.'" he replies. "It's appaerantly a big thing in thier culture, a large part of their aesthetic is symmetry and opposites." he shrugs. "I'd also appreciate if you didn't use your 'gifts' on me, John."

>>20790
Shrug back at him. "Gotta check for mind control. None of this is makin' much sense at the moment."

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/08/02(Sun)14:04 No. 20803 ID: 6faa8c
File 124924705398.jpg - (156.77KB , 422x577 , 1249242855613.jpg )

>>20794
"True. We can ask about that sorta thing when No-oh."
Nova stands in the doorway with... another little girl?
"Hello again, Tower." Nova says with a bow. "I heard what happened with Achilles. You are quite talented, it seems, with an aspect of phsychic might I myself am not talented with... but he is. So I sought out and found our Hermit."
The girl nods.

>>20803
Ooooooookay. "Hello, Hermit, pleased to meet you." Hopefully she's Achilles' opposite, and not so much his parallel.

"I lucked out against Achilles, I'm not so sure things would have turned out the same if he hadn't been off guard. So... are we ready to go? Have you restored power to your section?"

>>20809
There's a loud humming sound.

"Yes." Nova says. "Larry, if you would?"
"Working on it."

hello.
i am tyka.
i'm gonna teach you how to hurt achilles permanent. you're special, nova says, so i'm gonna help you.

>>20812
if i hurt achilles permanent, what will that do to you?

>>20814
i'm only his opposite in terms of personality, we are not connected in the slightest. now, push back.

You feel a gentle, yet absurdly strong force push against your forehead, as if a silverback gorilla had his palm there and you could feel the power in his arm without him using it.

>>20818
oh goo-Holy fuck!

Rrrrrrgggghhhh- hee...

I feel my mental focus snap, as though I'd strained a muscle in my mind and my psychic presence was left to flap about in an overwhelming river. I almost call out in defeat for fear of hurting worse if I tried again, but first I decide to attempt something else. Concentrating is tough, but this time instead of trying to push through the mental barrier all at once, I lean my own mind against it, accepting its force and feeding it back into itself to form a comfortably supported wedge. The foreign weight doesn't lessen any, but somehow now it feels less intrusive, less threatening.

I suddenly realize I had stopped breathing and start again, gasping slightly at first.

<<Watch yourself. Suggestion + result + one post = >:C ))

>>20822
Tyka smiles, although it's hard to see.
good. good. maybe you will be ready...

The push increses tenfold.

<<I don't really get what you mean. =/ >>

>>20825
The supported wedge collapses with a nearly audible *pop*. That's when I fell over.

I'm sure it's not very dignified moaning on the ground holding your head, but dammit there are some situations where it's entirely appropriate.

>>20852
The girl stands over you.
this will take a while.
she mumbles something to herself.

>>20861
"You gotta... start off slow..." My voice is as quiet as a whisper at this point. Why are those damn lights so bright? I massage my temples with a hand as I sit up.

"It's like gaining another limb and not knowing how to use it. I'm sure it's second nature for you, but I feel like I need some lessons or something."

>>20886
that's what i'm giving you. we don't have a whole lot of time... and i need to be certain of our power before we destroy achilles, lest he simply return again.

>>20892
"I... I don't think I can-"

this is all so much this is insane there is not enough time i just started this is no lesson there is nothing to learn i have no practice

"I thought we were going to-"

i have done enough my part is over i have elaine i should be able to leave

i should... i... I? I can't just think about myself. There's Meiko, who's given her all just to get me here. There's Elaine, who's unwavering love and faith I can feel even without psychic abilities. There's Larry, who... umm... forget Larry.

It's so easy to focus on myself, on the negative, on the failures. But there's more at stake than that. This isn't about me, this is about us. Humans and Altans, working together. Achilles has to be stopped, before any of us are safe. And if I'm the one in the position to stop him, then who am I to refuse my assistance?

"Alright..." I get up slowly and take a cleansing breath to clear my mind and calm my body. "Let me try again."

>>20934
Tyka seems pleased.
good. the reason i am training you rather than facing achilles myself is because there would be no result, a zero sum. but with you...

The push comes again, harder this time, against your whole body.

you will stay with me and meiko if you wish, but your daughter will be taken to safety elsewhere, under our care.

>>20938
I couldn't manage a response.

As soon as the force came, my entire body tensed up. The pressure was staggering, muscle weakening, bone aching... Pushing against it would be more futile than climbing a waterfall. So I didn't even try it.

It's hard to describe, but I let my body relax. I reached out and took back the part of my brain tensing all my muscles. I knew I would fall over as soon as I did, but I managed to avoid caring. Instead, I accepted the pressure, the energy, and I took it, and I let it float my mind to a higher level. My body, the satellite, my friends and family, they all faded away into nothingness.

I let the force fill me until I felt ready to burst. Then... I pushed. If I had to describe it, it would be like inhaling till my lungs were full and then exhaling in one strong burst. I redirected all of that energy and added in some of my own, projected in a blunt spike right up the center of the stream. I pushed and pushed, without stress or strain or worry of inadequacy, just exhaling as strongly as I could.

I kept it up until a severe sensation of drowsiness slowed down my thoughts and dragged me back to my body. The first thing I noticed were the black spots in my vision, then the pain in my chest, and a horrible sinking feeling in my gut. I coughed and gasped for air, at which point my concentration failed completely. I dropped to one knee and grunted under the onslaught. This wouldn't work. I couldn't just abandon my body when I wanted to use my mind. I had to use them together... somehow...

>>20984
close, you're almost there! dig deeper, think harder! you're the only one who could do this, psychic altans have to give up body to use their mind, but you don't!

>>20986
Agreement of mind and body. I unclenched my teeth and stood back to my feet.

Unity of the mental and the physical. My limbs shivered as psychic energy bounced off them.

Harmony in thought and in action. My lungs kept working, in short, steady bursts.

Cooperation between the ethereal and corporeal. I looked Tyka in the eyes and pushed with all my being.

>>21012
She flinches.
almost but not quite. remember how you stunned achilles? remember how scared he was? why would that be? he could have crushed your mind like a grape, pinkie!

but he could not.

why?

>>21031
he couldn't win, because that would mean death for elaine.

and i can't. let. that. HAPPEN!!!

>>21040
Tyka giggles in your head, even as she takes a few steps back.

mind and body, pinkie. force of mind and force of body. remember? remember the look in his eyes as you fought back? come on, it's what you've always done, this last bit!

I kept my thoughts on Elaine. That's really all I can say about what happened next. I focused on Elaine and Achilles' frantic command to kill her... and everything went red. I might have passed out, or maybe something in me was unlocked and took over my mind, kicking the rational part out.

All I know is that I'll never forget the sight that awaited me when I regained awareness, my muscles burning in protestation and my eyes clouded with tears.

>>21050
Tyka suddenly moves close.
your body is strong. use it.

She looks up at him, grinning.
don't you get it, pinkie? you won because you grabbed his neck. it wasn't your family or anything like that, although they certainly helped.
no, it was your physical might that knocked him off balance!

<<Hey, I never said he didn't use it his body. I just said he didn't remember what happened next. I was hoping you'd fill in that part. =P >>

>>21054
"Ugh... I don't know how I'm supposed to push and walk at the same time... I can barely stand up at the same time, heh."

I sat down to rest for a moment. "Besides, I didn't wanna start throttling you. I thought the point of this training was to work my mind; I'm already pretty good at choking people out." I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

>>21071
Tyka laughs, and uses her normal voice. It's clear she's not really a full Altan.
"Don't worry! When things get really tough, you'll learn everything. For now, try to carry things with your mind. Once you can do that, you can use your mind to attack with your body... like... um..." she thinks for a moment. "Oh, right, ki."

>>21072
"Lifting things with my mind now? Man, this day keeps getting weirder and weirder. Okay, let's give that a shot."

I pulled out my pistol and ejected the clip, laying the gun on the ground. Then I placed the clip in my outstretched hand. I looked at it carefully, and then took a second look. A look more of emotion than data. I could feel the cold of the metal, both in my palm and my mind.

Using the same technique as before, only much less, I pushed against the clip. It twitched in my hand, and I almost laughed. I nudged it again, and again it moved. Then I decided to lift it, and put all of my effort into pushing upward until I overcame the tremendous force of gravity!

The clip flew out of my hand, only stopping when bounced off the ceiling. Unfortunately, the straight upward trajectory lent itself to a straight downward ballistic path, and the danged thing clunked me in the elbow. Good thing I had hid my head under my arms...

>>21128
Tyka giggles.
"Well, you won't need that much control anyway." she says, reloading the gun and sliding it into your holster.
"Nova will be leading Achilles into our home. That is our next destination."

>>21131
"Oh man... I'm ready to take a nap, heh." I stood up wearily from sitting. "Alright, let's do this. Meiko? Are you coming with us, or would you rather go with Elaine?"

>>21138
Tyka looks at Meiko, and there's silence.

"Too dangerous." Meiko says at last. "Listen..." she pulls a small figurine from her pocket. It's a little boy with a striped shirt, baseball cap, and hat. "Bring this back to me and come back alive, okay?"
She almost turns to leave, then hugs you and kisses your lips, briefly. "I'll see you on Mars." she says with a smile, leaving the room.

Tyka's a little annoyed.
let's get moving, then.

>>21147
...
Why did we get a Ness figure?

>>21154
Because we just gained PK Fiyah!!!

>>21147
Wow... that's quite the good luck charm. And the figurine is pretty nice gift too.

I give Elaine a goodbye hug (assuming she's still in the room) and then head out after Tyka. "Sorry for the delay."

>>21160
"I apologize for my ire. My ability to use power came with stunted growth. I'll look ten until the end of my days." she walks down the hall to
Recreation.

>>21163
"Oh... ohh." Well shit, now I feel like an asshole. "I'm sorry," I offer feebly.

I'm not looking forward to heading into Recreation. It's so foreign looking... alien.

My pace falters. "Hey, Lyka... how come the Recreation area was changed so much? Nova told me the Altans can only change themselves, not their surroundings."

>>21176
"This stuff?" she asks, poking a rather alive-looking wall, "It is Altan. Literally, just a big one that made itself into a home." she reaches into the folds of that big cloak, and tosses something into one of many mouths. "And don't worry. Most folks don't understand anyway."

>>21179
"Wow! So... we're going inside of a giant Altan? That's amazing. And... a bit weird, haha. Altans seem far more diversified than humans. I'm sure we can learn a whole lot from each other once this is all over... I sure hope we can come to a peaceful agreement..."

>>21187
"Assuming Nova survives and is allowed to speak at the UN, everything will turn out all right. He does well with crowds." she speaks slightly differently about Nova.

>>21189
Odd that she knows about the UN, but okay.

"Well then let's do our best to make sure he survives."

I gotta admit, the scenery and our approaching battle is making me nervous. I take a few deep breaths to calm down.

"Indeed." she replies.
"He's coming. Prepare your mind, he won't waste time with chat."

>>21215
Mind... and body. I picture Elaine, and Meiko. Actually I try not to picture Meiko too much.

But I can do this for Elaine. I bounce in place to limber up and continue breathing deeply.

>>21227
You do so, When a sudden force pushes harshly against your brain. Just as strong as Tyka, but with none of the suppresion of 'training'.

SILLY HUMAN
SILLY PINKIE SILLY
SHOULD HAVE LEFT SHOULD HAVE RAN
NOW YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE AN ORPHAN
YOU WILL DIE HERE LIKE YOUR WIFE

>>21434
FFFFFFF-

No, he wants me angry- ugh this hurts- well he can't have... it.

I relaxed my screaming muscles and lifted my chin to look forward. Every joint in my body felt gummed, and the pressure on my chest made even breathing difficult. All of my mental energy was going into just diverting the force, and it still wasn't enough.

this is too much what was i thinking i cant fight this and win

At least... not with just my mind. I took a tortured step forward, and then another. Don't fight it, accept it, use it, wield it. I let the energy fill my mind, its overwhelming volume quickly threatening to tear my thoughts asunder. And then it's out, pushing forward, taking a few more treacherous steps.

This is taking far too much out of me. I need to distract him. Let's see how he feels if I turn the tables.

that's it?! that's all you got? you're an outcast amongst the outcasts, achilles. you're a leader of an army of none. you have no home and no hope, and you're trash talking me because my wife died? you're not even worth a witty comeback.

>>21523
EEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEH
I KNOW YOU DID IT. I KNOW
I KNOW.
SHE WENT BEHIND YOUR BACK BACK
AND YOU YOU TOOK HER LIFE IN ANGER
ANGER ANGER
THE LITTLE RED MONSTER! EEEEHEHEH!
The strain grows, then lessens.
Tyka stands between you and the monster. He has warped your senses, seeming bigger than is.

>>21527
My convenient AMNESIA keeps me from knowing what the fuck he's talking about and therefore getting enraged and/or depressed. However I'm still pretty pissed about that killing-my-daughter thing...

Oh thank god Tyka's here. Okay, physical... that monster likes to hear himself talk? Let's see how he does when he can't hear at all.

I pulled a sonic grenade from my pocket and activated it. Ignoring the protests from my muscles, I chucked that thing as hard as I can in Achilles' direction, then diverted all my psychic attention into pushing it at him. As soon as I did so I began to fall over, but I figured a few bruises would be work it once he's bleeding from his ears.

>>21541
There is a pause, and a -
A nothing.
You can't hear anything. Assumably, none of you can, and Tyka and Achilles are matching minds.

>>21545
Dammit, forgot about the psychic noise dampening. Another crippling blow against physics.

Fine, up close and personal it is. I got up and half-ran/half-crawled forward and to the side, staying out of the middle area between the two. Along the way I added my meager psychic strength to Lyka's considerable repertoire; no need for this to turn into a stalemate before I even make it to Achilles.

>>21557
Achilles flinches, taking a step back. Tyka steps forth, and glances at you.

justlikethefirsttime

>>21560
I nod. The first time. The time when Achilles yelled out to his evil bug minions to kill Elaine. Loving, sweet Elaine who'd never hurt a bug. And he wanted to kill her. No. Fucking. Way.

I bum-rushed Achilles, fists flailing madly, seeking alien flesh to crunch. A part of me knows this is idiotic, but I don't care. I'm taking this motherfucker with me.

How do I shot trip?!H508X.HbJ6 2009/08/02(Sun)23:01 No. 21584 ID: 6faa8c
File 124927927435.jpg - (128.25KB , 1079x525 , 1249243241307.jpg )

>>21571
Achilles is taken by complete surprise. bones snap, muscles bruise, eyes pop with ease, but...
But he's laughing. His mouth is wide open, his chest shaking, you can't hear a word, but you know he is laughing.

Something is deeply wrong.
He throws you back with sudden force, your defenses crumbling like paper.
He's floating in the air in front of you.

I'LL BREAK YOU NOW
NOTHING NOTHING WILL REMAIN
NO MEMORIES
NO EMOTIONS
NO NOTHING
A SHELL A SHELL
YOU WILL DIE ALONE, AND FORGOTTEN.

Tyka stands in his way. An immense, barely visible blast rockets at her, and she skids along the ground towards you. She grunts, both audibly, and mentally. Her ears begin to bleed.
Her hair pins zing off, flying into the flesh of the walls. Her cloak is ripped away, revealing simple clothing from when she was found.
Memories flood into you.

A farm
A light
strange creatures
talents you never had
far away lands
war
war
so much pain
love
unknown love
and now...
loss.

You can feel it in your bones, she's going to die here.

Iwillsendhimaway
faraway
prepare
beready
andtellNova
TellNovaIalwayslikedhim

There's a flash of brilliant light, and both Achilles and Tyka vanish, her clothes, of 1920's make, flutter to the ground quietly.

I stand, slowly. My clothes ripple as I meticulously brush the dust off. I should be feeling some emotion. I should be feeling something.

So why aren't I? It's simple math. Anti-matter and matter. No one sheds a tear for the proton. And yet a part of me is drowning in sorrow. But I stopped being that part a long time ago. Or maybe now is a long time ago and I will be that part later. Or maybe it doesn't fucking matter.

I walk away from the battle site without a glance back. Another notch in a long list of such lonely walks. Something in my screams at me angrily and I shrug. As I leave, I repeat the phrase that's kept me going for so long: 'c'est la guerre.'

C'est la guerre.

>>21596
You make your way back to the HUB and then the Ports with ease. Meiko and Elaine hug you, and Nova approaches you.

Where is Tyka? he asks.

>>21598

"Tyka's gone," I informed him flatly. "She died sending Achilles 'faraway.' She said to tell you she liked you."

Even as my mouth worked, my thoughts despised the words. shes always been dead but you already knew that how can you be so cruel kindness is weakness

"Something happened..." The words jumped out before I could stop them. A part of me took the excuse of needing to finish the sentence and ran with it, "to me back there. I... remembered... I don't know what. I'm not sure who I am anymore."

>>21743
A watcher walked up to Nova, and he touched its back. It then skittered on to Elaine you swept it into her arms, giggling.

"Achilles was destroying her mind." Nova said, emotion heavy. "Her memories, her emotions, flowed into you... out of her. I suppose that explains how you feel right now, as well..."

Meiko looks... worried.

>>21744
>you swept
>who swept

dyerp

<<oops, I think I interpreted that one wrong...>>

>>21744
Meiko worried? I don't want to worry Meiko, but I can't remember why. Elaine, so innocent, in need of protection. Ugh... but why should I care? Why do I care? I do care... I care very much.

"This is so confusing. I just... need some time. I'm sorry... about Tyka. I don't get what happened. I got to him, I made contact... but it's like it didn't even matter. They just canceled out anyway. I thought... I thought my presence was supposed to tip the balance."

oh god tyka im sorry

>>21747
"But you did." Nova said. "Normally, the two of them would be against one another and tied, neither making nay headway. But with your help, she managed to have a victory."

>>21748
"Some victory..." I shuddered and shook my head. "What now? If we're done here, I think we oughta get off this satellite."

Elaine nods and walks up to you, taking your hand... and then Meiko's.

"Yeah, daddy. Let's go home."

You walk with Nova onto a ship, bound for Mars.

AGE ONE COMPLETE