[The Falls] Aftermath

[Sebastian Kirsch]

†  The day is overcast, and the mist seems thicker than usual at the Falls.  The hunter tosses one empty watercan after another onto the shore of the river as perspiration beads on his brow, his dusty brown hair matted to his face.  His breathing is labored, the respirator he has worn since the fires first sprang up has made every effort a little more difficult, but he knows it is the only thing that has kept him sane while the others begin to spiral into paranoia.

    Suddenly, the hunter stands upright, a heavy pistol already held level and arcing slowly to take in the tree line.  The Citadel's other hand slowly draws the second pistol.  Was there someone watching? No, just a shadow.  They use the shadows to their own advantage, though, don't they?  His hands tremble as he grips his weapons, a small rivulet of blood traveling down his arm, dripping off his wrist.  His grip slackens slightly as his eyes move from the forest to his own arms, wound opening on his forearms ... as if he had been staked twice through each arm.  The fog of his breath appears and disappears inside his mask as he grunts, the sound of metal on metal reverberating through the valley as the guns clatter in the back of the FAV.

    The hunter looks at his arms, the blood flowing freely as he gasps for air.  He looks up and sees it ... a cabin lying in the midst of the forest, seemingly abandoned for some time.  His heavy boots move slowly off the back of the vehicle and tread across the forest floor.  Upon reaching the door his eyes slowly move up the heavy wood grain, following the smears of thick dried blood, coming to end in a series of heavy nails hammered against the entrance.  His fingertips press against the surface of the door, feeling the sticky surface.  "This isn't right ... it was so long ago ..."  Without warning the door collapses into itself and a dozen pale scabbed arms grip his wrist and forearm, dragging him into the blackness.

[Sebastian Kirsch]

†  the winds blows softly through the trees, causing the leaves to sway.  The foreboding mist that has been gathering since the 'incident' continues to hug the ground, for the most part obscuring the collapsed figure lying on the forest floor.  The hunter's hands move slowly, his palms outstretched as he pushes against the soft soil.  He is able to lift himself just enough to turn and rest against a nearby tree.  The Citadel reaches slowly behind him and unclips his communicator, bringing it up to the respirator still covering his face.  His sandy brown hair is still matted to his face .. which bears several minor scratches and cuts , "Hyran ... Sigma ... Fox ... this is Kirsch ...  are com lines open ... over ...".  As he releases the button of his communicator he lets his head fall back against the solid surface of the tree.

(OOC - remember ... you only get the message if you have an actual item card for a communicator)

[wcshoe]

OOC: Unfortunately for you, at this moment Hyran (as well as Fox, Mack, and Tommy) are all cycling through the transporter buffers on the USS Temperence. They will be able to communication shortly, but until then, this message is lost to them.

[Sebastian Kirsch]

**  Well come on, he didn't seriously think he'd get a response ... the enemy must have gotten them already!

[Mack Ravensline]

OOC: Mack has one of Sebs coms too but alas he is in a buffer.

[Fox McCloud]

Fox does not respond to the radio communication

But never the less a short while later...
Fox's Arwing slows down as he approaches The Falls.  It lands and Fox hops out.  He looks around with a sense of urgency.   He eventually spots Seb and runs up to him "Sebastian!  We need to get everyone to the council chambers NOW!  Something very bad is going to happen and its gonna get here very soon!".

[Sebastian Kirsch]

Fox's Arwing slows down as he approaches The Falls.

†  Sebastian can hear the sound of the ship's engine, unable to recognize it at first.  He shakes his head as he pulls himself up to a standing position.  He staggers slowly back to the FAV as the starship makes contact with the ground near the shore of the river.

It lands and Fox hops out.  He looks around with a sense of urgency.   He eventually spots Seb and runs up to him "Sebastian!  We need to get everyone to the council chambers NOW!  Something very bad is going to happen and its gonna get here very soon!".

†  As Fox approaches he hears the distinctive sound of a shotgun being cocked.  The hunter is braced against the side of his vehicle, leveling the weapon in the Ares' direction, "what position was I given while I was in Ares?"

[Fox McCloud]

Fox comes to a halt.  "Uhh"  Fox takes a moment to remember "Warmaster?"

[Sebastian Kirsch]

†  The gun's barrel drops in the direction of the ground at the hunter's feet, "Infection ... pervasive. filtering is of no apparent use.  Affecting my mind ... can't help but think .... where is everyone? How bad is it?"  The Citadel's steel-grey eyes move up to gaze into the Fox's own, weariness and pain reflected within them.

[Fox McCloud]

"I'm not sure the extent of the damage.  It seeming to be affecting some more than others.  It is driving a few people crazy.  But I still think that something big is coming...We need to make a safe house....I suggest the Counsel Chambers because of its built in defense system.  We need to gather all the weapons we can and get everyone willing to come to go with us.  Can you get in touch with anyone?"

[SigmaCaine]

Over the com, shortly after Fox makes his landing:
"Caine here. What the hell is going on?"

[Sebastian Kirsch]

FOX - "I'm not sure the extent of the damage.  It seeming to be affecting some more than others.  It is driving a few people crazy.  But I still think that something big is coming...We need to make a safe house....I suggest the Counsel Chambers because of its built in defense system.  We need to gather all the weapons we can and get everyone willing to come to go with us.  Can you get in touch with anyone?"

†  "Something big?" retorts the hunter, "it's already here ... the dust is a plague, it draws all the dark memories out of your mind ... and I have plenty."  He coughs through his respitrator and looks around warily, "the Council Chambers won;t be safe ... last time ... last infection ... Councilors were all compromised, have to assume ... have to assume the same her.  Need to find someplace else."

SIGMA - Over the com, shortly after Fox makes his landing: "Caine here. What the hell is going on?"

†  His eyes still fixed on Fox, Sebastian raises the communicator, "this is Kirsch ... infection ... spreading, need a safehouse, any ides? over."

[Mack Ravensline]

Over the radio comes Mack's voice. "To anyone with a radio, has anyone seen Andromache and know if she is OK?"

[wcshoe]

† His eyes still fixed on Fox, Sebastian raises the communicator, "this is Kirsch ... infection ... spreading, need a safehouse, any ides? over."

Hyran replies over the comm unit. "Starseeker here. New Aldaraan is free of the infection, and has a cure. Over."

[Sebastian Kirsch]

Over the radio comes Mack's voice. "To anyone with a radio, has anyone seen Andromache and know if she is OK?"

†  Sebastian lifts the radio, his finger still resting on the trigger of his shotgun, "Kirsch here ... have not had contact with Andromache.  How long has subject been missing, do you require assistance in recon? Over."

Hyran replies over the comm unit. "Starseeker here. New Aldaraan is free of the infection, and has a cure. Over."

†  The hunter narrows his eyes as he gives a questioning glance to Fox, "Kirsch to Starseeker, switch to frequency matching tactical radio ... broadband setting.  Kirsch Out."

The Ciitadel adjusts a few settings on his communicator before looking back to his companion, "get a response from Ravensline ... I want to know what the status is on Andromache.  I also need a confirmation on Sigma's identity before we let him in on any more iinformation." He then returns to his - now more private - conversation presses the button again, "Kirsch to Starseeker, do you copy? Over."