Glitch IV: Chapter 2 Abduction

[Agent Fisher]

Jack did a quick check to make sure all his gear was secure and didn't rattle. He made sure his rifle had a full charge and that the gernades he was carrying where all secured and wouldn't snag on anything.

He gripped his E-11 and extended the folded stock.

"I'm ready."

[SirNitram]

Albert nodded slightly, gingerly picking up a blaster pistol. He eyed it like a caged animal, lifting it to sight along it experimentally. "You know, I can't help but think taking fictional weaponry is gonna bite us in the ass." He commented. "Then again, given this plan, we'll do the best we can." He looked to Matt. "You alright to do this, man?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

Justin checked over his weapons. They were fully loaded, he had a belt of various sorts of grenades, not many, but a few. He was as ready do die as he would ever be.

"I am"

[Agent Fisher]

Jack looked at Albert. "Then use the beaming stuff and get us some real guns if you thinking using this stuff is a bad idea."

[Charon]

Matthew looked over his weapon. "That's a good point Al. Does anyone have any idea how to use these things other than to point and shoot?"

Then came the second question. Matt looked over at Albert. "Yeah, I think so. I'll try to keep from losing my head again, like I have every time something's gone down. How about you?"

[SirNitram]

"I'm a fucking political major about to launch a raid on a multinational corporation with private security armed to the teeth, knowing there's possibly Nulls down there." Albert replied. "I'm clearly insane. And while I'd like to have normal weapons, I'd not be any better with them. And these have stun. Rent-A-Cop doesn't deserve death."

[Charon]

Matthew grinned as he looked over at Albert. "Well you're in good company man. We're all insane heroes here."

[Dark Silver]

Robert Page looked over his notes. He had the speech prepared for several days now, and in minutes, he'd had to give it.

Absently, he fingered the optical disc which was labeled Project: MORGANNA. The culmination of twenty years of long work...and there were only a few days precious hours before it was complete.

His personal aide walked up to Page's desk. A few brief words, and the two were headed to a personal elevator. Seconds later, Page was standing behind a podium infront of a auditorium full of reporters. Every news agency on the planet was present, none left out.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome to Page Enterprises International Headquarters in New York. As you are well aware, I am Robert Page, Founder and CEO of PEI. As you are well aware, the Gray Death has been ravaging out world for the past six months...."

Page was eloquent as he spoke, going over the past six months, the symptoms of the disease, of the hundreds of thousands, even millions it's killed, and of the millions more suffering with it. He went over the leading theories to the disease's origins, of what it was, and how it was immune to nearly every form of cure available to modern medicine. He even spoke of how his company has worked to ease the suffering of those afflicted, how even as they spoke, hundreds of clinics where being staffed throughout the US and surronding countries, with even more being built, of his staff's work to ease the pain and suffering of those who were dying of the disease.

"Which brings us to the reason I have gathered you here today. With the recently reported outbreak and quarintine of Neo Orleans, we fear we are facing a new mutation of the Gray Death which, if not handled immediatly, could over run the country, maybe even the world, and destroy life as we know it."

"Luckily, the scientist at Page Medical has worked on a possible cure for the original Gray Death virus, which we are codenaming "Ambrosia". Page Industries will be distributing Ambrosia at all of our Clinics, as soon as the human trials are successful. I will now open the floor to questions..."

----------

Crusher had put the news conference on the visual displays the minute she had picked it up. Half anticipating any requests, she had scanned the source given on news broadcasts, to which the computer replied, "Unable to scan coordinates. Location is shielded from sensors and transporters."

----------


Paxton watched as Page walked from the stage and towards him. The stern faced young man fell into step alongside of his employer, hands clasped behind his back.

"Get squad ten-seventeen-tango ready to go via Nighthawk. I want the first shipment of Ambrosia sent to Neo Orleans immediatly...."

Fettel nodded, his eyes going glassy for a moment, before responding, "Done."

----------



Little did Page now, even as his press conference was being rebroadcast, it was being pre-empted by even larger news....



-----------

"Bill Sofman with Channel 5 news. In what is perhaps a dark day that has seen one of America's bustling metropolisis gripped in a pandemic and quarintine, we are receiving reports that a explosion rocked most of Southeastern Louisianna, at it's source, Neo Orleans. We have sattellite imagry which shows what looks to be a nuclear explosion originating near the Mississippi River."

The images showed a before and after, Neo Orleans bustling, whole, unspoiled...then the satellite images after the explosion, most of the city obscured by smoke, though what could be seen, it seemed as if the city was gone. The land was cratered, buildings no longer left standing.

"We still have no clue what happened, if it was a Nuclear weapon set off within the city, or if the nuclear power plant suffered a meltdown...or even if the city was attacked by a outside force. More as it is reported..."

[Agent Fisher]

Matthew grinned as he looked over at Albert. "Well you're in good company man. We're all insane heroes here."

"Speak for youself." Said Jack.

He watched the news feed.

"Guys, I think we should put off the smash and grab. Something else is going down."

[Charon]

Matthew had been glaring at the screen as the conference happened. "That lying snake. Playing everyone for fools."

"Unable to scan coordinates. Location is shielded from sensors and transporters."

Matthew bit his lower lip in annoyance for a few moments. "Well, there's more than one way to skin a cat. If we can't teleport there we can always just use the shuttle and invite ourselves in."

"Guys, I think we should put off the smash and grab. Something else is going down."

Matt shook his head slowly. "There's nothing we can do about that, much as we may want to. Right now all we can do is try to make sure that none of this will have ever happened."

[SirNitram]

"With nukes going off, I don't want to risk getting shot at." Albert said simply. "Computer, switch to optical and find me the entrance to whatever that facility is that is likely to be least-guarded."

A glance at the ruins of Neo Orleans. "And we are definately erasing this timeline when we're done." He said, sombrely.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Indeed. Of course, I was uner the impression we would by default... WHich I will say, makes the stun setting on our guns... a bit irrelevant... but then again I am just as insane as you are apparantly"

[LadyTevar]

Leah was not sure how much time passed before she moved. The tower was shrouded in the same darkness as the rest of the fortress, leaving her no way to see how far the sun had moved... or if it was in the sky at all.

She pulled the sheet off the bed, covering herself with it as she explored her prison. The bed was the main feature, a wooden four-posted carved montrosity that made king-size look small. At the moment, Leah was doing her best to avoid even looking at it, wrapping the fine silken sheet tighter around herself as memories grabbed her.

It wasn't Darek doing that. It was a trick, fucking with her mind. Adena... she was doing this, the bitch. Remember that. It's all Adena's doing. Darek wouldn't ever hurt you like that.

A small washroom was in one corner, where a basin of warm water held a bar of soap, a washcloth and several towels. Gratefully she washed herself -- scrubbing herself vigorously to remove the feel of those hands...

It wasnt' DAREK. It was Adena's puppet, the troll. Not Darek.
Or was it even the puppet's fault, with his eyes glazed that way? Did he even know what he was doing? Or did the puppetmaster control him ...

She shook herself, trying to shake the thoughts, the memories out of her head. How long had passed? Albert told her once, 3 hours Zion for 30 minutes realtime. 6 hours for 60 minutes. How long before Albert could get to Zion? How long before he could find this fortress?

Calm down. He will find you. It will take a while, but he *will* find you. Thog won't let him stop til he does.

A sigh, as she looked around the rest of the room. No clothing, of course. Somehow she'd known that Adena wouldn't be that polite a hostess. Maybe Leah could do something with the sheet? A toga, perhaps...

It would be ten times better than that see-through 'fuck me now' outfit Adena had.... She had to be a male under it all. After all, it's not what you show, it's what you conceal and how you hide it....

[Dark Silver]

Crusher turned from the sensor console, her blue eyes looking over the group. She let out a low breath, rose and head to a replicator, "Tea, darjiling, two sugars and cream."

After the replicator made her drink, Crusher took a slow sip, then leaned back against a console. "We have a hour before the sensors can tell us anything. Even then, we need to have a plan, we can't go in blasters firing. Page is intellegent, increadibly so, and powerful. He has nanoaugmentations which increase his reflexes, strength and perceptions far beyond the human norm."

She walked back to the console, and tapped at a few buttons, "He is merticulous with his planning, he probably is already expecting us.... "

-----------

The doors creaked open again, as the copy-cat stepped through. A dark cloaked figure stepped out behind him, looking at the huddled form of Leandra.

This is the girl?, the voice seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere at the same time.

"Yes, this is Leandra..." the double said almost revenantly, before smirking at the human woman.

She will do...she is fertile..claim her, produce the Offspring.

"Of course Master" the double bowed his head, as he turned to Leah again, and the Master stepped back out, the doors sealing the two away.

[LadyTevar]

The doors creaked open again, as the copy-cat stepped through. A dark cloaked figure stepped out behind him, looking at the huddled form of Leandra.

This is the girl?, the voice seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere at the same time.

"Yes, this is Leandra..." the double said almost revenantly, before smirking at the human woman.

She will do...she is fertile..claim her, produce the Offspring.

"Of course Master" the double bowed his head, as he turned to Leah again, and the Master stepped back out, the doors sealing the two away.

Leah had rose, clutching the sheet to her, having nearly given up on making any kind of garment out of it with no way to cut the excess material away. She heard the voice from the darkness, heard everything ... and it nearly broke her mind.

Fertile? Offspring? What....... no, I misheard... he can't be serious....

The faux-Darek crossed the room, walking towards her with obvious intent.

No.. he's gotta be joking. Unaware of doing so, she was clutching the sheet to her, shaking her head in denial and trying to scoot further away from him. Offspring? A child? He's crazy... there's no way, no possible way...

Tears fell from her eyes, reflecting the mental trauma. "... I can't have children...." she whispered, speaking aloud the thought in her head. "no way... impossible... I can't... it's not there, they took it..... it's gone....."

[Dark Silver]

The copycat shook his head, the armor melting away from him, as he moved towards her.

The smile on his lips were somewhat sublime, as he stood before her.

"The Master commands, I will obey, my dearest."

With that, he descended upon her again.

[LadyTevar]

"NO!" she shouted, the danger bringing her fractured mind back together. She had to fight, she wouldn't let him do this again! She kicked out, tagging him squarely in the groin, with no armor to protect him this time. He cursed and fell, groaning in pain.

It gave her time to roll to her feet, making a break for the door that was at last visible. The faux-Darek grapped for the sheet, and she let it go, let it fall lest it tangle and trap her.

The door was locked as she pushed against it, trying to get it open. A hallow laugh echoed, as if from the door itself. Were they mocking her? She beat at the door with her fists, rage taking over. HOW DARE THEY!

The Faux-Darek was rising to his feet. "Oh no... we can't let you leave. You are to bear the Child, beautiful. Don't you know how blessed you are to be?"

She shook her head, tears pricking again. "No... won't work. Wrong woman..." she replied absently, her eyes looking for anything that could be used as a weapon, a way out. Behind her the door whispered mockingly to her, laughing low.

He started for her, his eyes leering over her now-naked form. "No, my dearest.. you're perfect. I'm going to enjoy doing my Master's work..."

"NO!" she screamed as he reached for her again, wanting the power to stop him, to stop Adena, to punish them for doing this to her, to Darek, wishing for some way to stop it all.

The faux-Darek seemed to pause... or was it time that paused? The whispers from the door became a torrent of vision. She could stop him... it showed her how she could just reach out and pull his life-force out of him, taking it into herself. With his stolen power, she could break the doors down, drain or destroy everyone within the castle. She could break Adena, break her mind, make her no more than a puppet... or kill her totally and take her place. Zion could be hers, all of it... she could have Thog.......

"Thog..."

The name broke the spell, and she whirled away from the door, tripping over the Faux-Darek to fall into the floor, more scared of what she'd seen than him at the moment. "Tha's not me... that's not what I want... I Just Want Things Made RIGHT!!!" she cried with rising hysteria.

Drawing her knees up tightly, lacing her arms underneath, Leah put her head down on top of her knees and broke down into hysterical tears. She didn't resist when the faux-Darek picked her up in his arms .....

[SirNitram]

"Without any clue what we'll find in there but him and rent-a-cops, I'm hard up to plan." Albert admitted. "Stun the security.. And, well, hope like hell if he can use his powers from gameside, I can use mine." He flexed a hand uncomfortably. "If I'm going to have remnants of Null in my soul, I might as well get some mileage out of them."

[Agent Fisher]

"Al, I think we should beam down a three man team, you, me and somebody else, not sure who. If we are clear, then the others beam down. If not, they beam us back out, and we try a different spot."

[Charon]

Matthew had a seat, his foot tapping quickly as he looked at everyone else, then the doctor spoke up again.

"Listen doctor. Like Chris said, we don't have an hour. Every minute we spend here is a hell of a lot longer that those bastards have Leah. We don't know what's down there so we can't plan for it. Even if we did know what was down there, I think there is a total of two of us that have any sort of experience with raids." Matthew got to his feet.

"I say now is the time to move. Al, you can fly this thing right? Page is still gonna be in that building. He's expecting us either way, so lets hit him now."

[Rukia]

Rory had listened to the plan develop. She shook her head. "You bust into a ring of wanna be gansters sitting around their stolen t.v sets. Not a intelligent Mob boss guys I know we don't have a lot of time but if we go down there now guns waving, we'll be taking out not only by the gaurds but the reporters and eveyone else there. We'll never make it to Paige. Especially if he's expecting us. If we fuck this up now, we'll never get Leah back. We have got to be smart about this."

She sighed, and looked around at her teammates. She had a plan but would they listen to her...?

[SirNitram]

"You've an hour to put the plan before us." Albert said softly. "And to convince us. I'm taking a big gamble, but three hours late and intact is better than on-time and mostly corpses."

[Rukia]

"It wont take me that long. I'll lay it out and you'll either yay or nay it. Plain and simple." She said siging, he was giving her the benefit of the doubt and she was going to do her best. "As it is this press confrenece will go on for a while. He'll want to nuke it for all it's worth. We've got about twenty minutes before he opens the floor to questioning. I say we get two people down there. One of us girls and a guy to pose as a reporting team. Get in the confrence. When it's over, we get him to do a private interview. He's smart but his ego will prevail, and he won't expect an attack from a two person crew. Once they're in it'll be much easier to beam down." She looked at Crusher, "Does the ship have something that might override the cloaking systems from inside?"

At this pause she looked to Al for confirmation. He'd go for it or not, either way... She was ready.

[Charon]

Matthew put up his arms in a 'leave me out of this' motion and sat back down. "It's up to you guys on this one. I don't know a damn thing about strategy. But I will say this, I dunno how likely he's gonna be up for a private interview if Neo Orleans just blew up."

[Dark Silver]

The press conference was already over, and Page, flanked by Paxton Fettel and three soldiers in full body armor, heavy weapons held in thier hands. "We've gotten reports," Fettel spoke softly, "There's been a explosion in Neo Orleans...damage reports indicating 45% of the city has been destroyed by the initial blast, cursory reports indicate the rest of the city and most of the surronding area will be bathed in hard radiation for years...."

Page frowned, looking to his bodyguards, then slammed a fist into the wall. Stone cracked with the impact, and chips of the wall fell to the floor.

"I want that area secured, any trying to flee, are to be shot. Two battallions of Replicants, fully armed, full NBC gear."

Paxton nodded, and the orders were sent, "Done."

Page touched his wristwatch, and a miniture hologram appeared, a young woman dressed in a technicians suit.

"I want the transporter prepped. Co-ordinates are programmed under package "'Superion". I'll be down for transport in fifteen minutes."

The woman nodded and the hologram faded away.

"Have a squad meet us at the transporter bay. We're going to the ship."