Aaron’s rescue. Everyone falls in to a trap.
Dion: *Dion looked dressed in his normal clothes, but underneath was that nice bit of armor he picked up. He was serious about not getting himself shot.* It’s a bit like storming a fortress. Aaron’s is going to be somewhere in the mid-levels, likely in a steel reinforced tank. Something he can’t bust out of with bare hands. Assuming they know we’re coming, the whole place is going to be littered with me. We’ll have to split just to increase the chances of someone getting there fast. ….And we want to do it SILENTLY. *All eyes turned to Cassius.*
Cassius: Yeah, yeah, I get it. Keep my damned mouth shut. *He snorted.
Dion: *littered with men! and not Dions!
Duncan: And me and Tiny stay on the ship in case anyone needs back up or something. *He replied, nodding.*
Dion: Right. We’ll need to be ready to fly out the moment the last person steps on board. *…Dion gave a heavy sigh.* I think that’s it. We have to play it by ear once we crept through that door.
Brennen: Let’s go then. The sooner we get Aaron out of here, the sooner we’ll be tossing back drinks.
Cassius: Oh, hell yeah. That’s what I wanted to hear! *With drinks on the mind, Cassius worked his magic on the door with a good little hacking… And led the way inside!*
Like most fortresses, this place was all hallways, doors, and sharp corners! It was a maze to navigate, so it was a good thing they decided to seperate. The search could take awhile!
Cassius: Ugh. Makin’ me sick. *It was Cassius who broke off first… choosing his direction and heading down it. With nothing but his first, a single gun and his knife to arm him!*
Brennen: *He took a deep breath.* Take care of yourself, Brownie. *He smiled.* You’ve come a long way. *And then he, too, was off!*
Dion: *Dion pat his sister on the head.* Be safe. …if you have to come rescue us again, leave Cassius for last. *A joking smile and Dion picked his direction to disappear!*
Creepy and quiet was definitely the words to describe the place! This fortress could easily hold thousands of people, yet the halls were empty and devoid of sound. The lighting didn’t even seem to be working properly, as they’d occasionally flicker in the halls!
Brennen: *He was armed with a gun that looked more like a shotgun. It was heavy and it only held so many bullets but it packed quite a punch! He slowly moved down the corridor, finding the total silence more disturbing than any sound he’d ever heard!*
As Brennen walked down the hallway, suddenly one of the doors opened right beside him! ….But nothing was there!
Brennen: *He quickly turned and aimed the shotgun into the darkness beyond the door! He glanced around, side to side. It was probably a stupid idea but he had to check it out, make sure it was all clear. He took one step, and then another, and then another …*
As soon as Brennen stepped in to the room, all the other doors in the hallway opened up! …But those rooms weren’t empty! Tons of goons wearing the finest of bullet proof armor came pouring at, and all of them were rushing for Brennen!
Brennen: *He pressed his comm link and raised his shotgun butt to slam it into the nearest guy’s face!* Hey guys! We got a problem! *He held the shotgun like a club and slammed it into another man’s face! Then he lowered the shotgun and shot holes in thugs’ feet, taking advantage to push them over each other and try to fight his way through the mob, back to the ship!*
BZZZZZZZ! Brennen’s comlink was only giving a weird buzzy sound in reply! They must have been jamming up his signal! Brennen might have taken out a few goons, but there were an awful lot of them! He couldn’t even make it out of the room before… THWACK!
Dion: *…This quite WAS a bad thing. It was never good when things were quiet. His comlink gave an odd sound… did someone try to page him? With a frown, Dion turned a corner with his gun ready!*
As Dion turned a corner, he finally heard something that broke the silence! Was that … crying?! It was faint but it was definitely close!
Dion: *Crying wasn’t something out of place in a prison fortress. Checking around at all sides of him, he headed for the sound… It might have ben a woman or a child, and despite this being an Aaron rescue mission, he wouldn’t leave someone else behind if they were trapped too.* …Hello? Who is out here…?
He neared the door the crying seemed to be coming from … Whoever it was, was on the other side! Now he could make out words! “Help me … Help me … please!” It was a woman wailing and she was beginning to pound on the door! But the pounding was little more than a light tap so she must have been weak and in dire need of help!
Dion: *Damn…! Glancing around again to make sure no one was coming, Dion put his gun away. He pressed his comlink.* There’s another prisoner in here and I’ve got to get them out. *Taking out one of Cassius’ little door crackers, he was able to get that door open in no time!*
The door opened and there was a woman lying against the door frame, dressed in only a white slip! She had long, unkempt dark hair but she wasn’t pale and she wasn’t skeletal thin either! “Help … me …” she gasped, raising an arm weakly toward Dion and suddenly dropping it!
Dion: *Dion moved to her side quickly, pressing his fingers to her neck to make sure she hadn’t just died then and there!* Don’t worry, I’ve got you now. We’re going to get you somewhere safe. *He pulled her up to her feet… why hadn’t anyone replied yet?!*
The woman had to lean against Dion for support! “Th … thank you …” she sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder! From out of nowhere, one of her arms came up, wielding a nasty needle which she swung down toward his neck!
Dion: Gu-uh…! *Dion shoved her away, his hand reaching up to yank that needle out of his neck! He was trying to press that comlink again as he dropped to his knees… and passed out!*
The woman was laughing! “Sweet dreams, dear prince!” she sneered as he dropped to his knees in front of her!
Cassius: *Cassius was doing GREAT. He was running in to goons here and there and dispatched them with perfect ease. Usually with a swift fist or boot to the face. Twice now the comlink fzzed, but he was too busy punching people in the face when it happened!* Boo yah, Eat my fists of steel, assholes.
It looked like nothing could stop Cassius when he was on a roll! Oh no, a trap door opened right in front of Cassius but a few yards away!
*small (trap door)
Cassius: *Cassius hopped backwards quickly, pointing at the trap door.* HA! Not me, mother fucker! I’m too fast for you!
… Unfortunately, Cassius had missed the much larger trap door which opened behind him as he hopped back from the first trap door!
Cassius: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-UUUUUUUUUUUCCCKK…..!! *Was the scream of Cassius as he fell..!*
It was still so very quiet! It didn’t help that all the doors she passed by were open but appeared to be empty!
It was difficult to say how many doors she had passed! But then she heard a buzzing sound coming from somewhere up ahead!
She found the source of the buzzing sound in an open doorway! It was some kind of recording that kept playing over and over!
Someone sneaked up and grabbed Bronwen from behind! One hand on her mouth, the other around her waist! Then someone else grabbed Bronwen’s legs!
They were pulling her somewhere! A thick rope wrapped around her body, trapping her arms to her sides and someone managed to get an opening in to knock her out!
It was still dead silent in the halls. But… then there was the faint sounds of foot steps nearby.
Clopclopclop. Pause. Clopclopclop. The footsteps kept moving forward, turning corners here and there… but always remaining just out of sight! They were leading pretty deep in to the fortress!
Clopclopclop. Shink! When MacBeth turned another corner it was a dead end hallway! But at there end there was an open door. It sounded like the footsteps had walked in there!
The room wasn’t very large and it looked empty. There was a strange, thick barbed war anchored to the floor in the center of the room. On the far wall was a big window screen displaying static and another door with a lockpanel! …Those footsteps were now clopping in the room. Pacing even!
The footsteps stopped but the person remained unseen! “Ian… running off with some woman, just like Erikson. After I gave you a son. With a Shadowstar, no less.” There was a clicking of her tongue, but the croaky voice was unmistakenly Morgan!
CHINK! The shot hit SOMEthing but it ricocheted right off it! Morgan chortled with laughter! “OHOHOHO~! Murderous bastard. Would you like to have a duel with me? Or would you be more interested in those Shadowstars you have betrayed me for…” The giant fuzzed screen suddenly flipped to clear images of the Shadowstar Men! Everyone one of them captured and trapped in some nightmarish torture setup! “My Knights are back where they belong. But.. am I forgetting one…?”
“That little Shadowstar trophy. I did want to keep her alive in one piece. But you just HAD to intervene in my plans.” Morgan snorted. Footsteps echoed across the floor as the screen changed. Blindfolded and hanging by the wrists with that same thick barbed wire that was anchored to the floor. Over a room full of deep murky water! “You might save her. IF you can get that door open… Ah, and the catch. You’ll have to drop her to even get to the door.” At that, the sound of a gun being pulled. BLAM! Morgan shot the anchor on the floor and the wire was slipping away… as the Shadowstar fell towards the water!
Morgan cackled! Her footsteps moved across the floor, stopping right next to him. “How long does it take someone to drown? Hm. I forgot something.” SHIIINK! Quick and sudden, she had pulled out a small knife and stabbed it in to his lower back! “For your betrayal! Watch the little girl die by your own sad little hands!” Loud laughter echoed as the footsteps faded and she left him to his fate!
The door was there at the wall, next to the giant screen. It was a sealed door, and the only way to open it was by the panel sticking out of the wall next to it! But it was sure to be locked with an elaborate code that’d need to be cracked!
The panel didn’t seem to give any sort of hint how it should be opened! It was just a wide blank screen! But… the moment he tried to touch it and blood dripped on the panel, it flashed green! The door slid open revealing the trap room! There was a large dropoff and a ladder from the door, leading down to the pool of water below and the Shadowstar dangling in the middle! It was impossible to be able to reach her without having to drop her first!
Just like that the panel blinked green and the door opened up wide! There was growls and manly bellowing inside!
Cassius: *It was Cassius who say the door open was was running like fucking hell right through it! He was practically beating the panel to close the door when he stumbled out! Clothes ripped and looking like he just saw a whole pack of Tinys!* FUCKING SHIT WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG.
Cassius: What is the co- *Cassius stopped in the middle of asking what the open code was… These were DNA signature panels. He looked at the blood on his hand, that was left on the panel he just closed up. MacBeth’s blood! ….There was an odd sound from Cassius as he darted down the hall, pressing that bloody hand to the other two panels!*
Cassius: *All of the panels were blinked green now, opened up the last three doors! Cassius had just charged in to a room with Dion, punching some creepy as fuck looking nurse in the face and dragging him off a table!*
The door MacBeth opened up was the room with Brennen… a room filled with giant cockroaches and big flying beetles! All over the place!
Brennen: *Needless to say, Brennen was not taking the bug room very well! He was struggling for all he was worth and trying to get the damn bugs off of him! And then he looked like a man possessed when he tossed his head back after a bug got stuck in his hair and one tried to crawl up his nose!*
Dion: *Dion was shakey on his feet, but he was following Cassius out fast towards the other open door.* Never thought I’d be glad to see you, Cassius.
Cassius: Whatever. *Cassius was still trying to figure out those dna panels as they charged in to the other room! Here was Aaron bogged down with so much Aaron that he couldn’t even stand up!* You look like shit old man!
Brennen: GGAAAHHH BUGS! *He shrieked as he went flying out of the room and began dancing around!* Get ’em off! Get ’em off! *He was jumping and waving and trying to dust out his hair!*
Cassius: *IRON aaron koff!
Aaron: *He looked up at Cassius and just raised an eyebrow.* Shut up and get these things off of me.
Dion: *Dion was already working on pulling off those chains!* You’re in for a real treat, Aaron. MacBeth brought you a surprise.
Cassius: Fucking MacBeth there’s more than one damned surprise out of him. *Cassius growled. He couldn’t WAIT to bring that one up…!*
Brennen: *It took awhile but he was finally convinced he was bug-free–Wait, there was something in his pants! GAH! He ran up and down the hall, trying to shake it out!*
Aaron: What did he do this time? *Once the chains were off, he stood straight, stretched, and then cracked his knuckles. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another with the boy.*
Dion: *Dion was grinning… though he looked at Cassius with a curious expression.* He found Bronwen. …Although if we don’t get the hell out of here quick, we might end up in trouble all over again.
Brennen: *He blinked as he was dragged back!* … Huh? Oh right. *He grinned sheepishly.* Sorry, Brownie. *He ruffled his hair real quick to get rid of any stray bugs, then combed it back, nice and composed.*
Cassius: I second the damned motion. We can beat the shit out of MacBeth when we’re back on the ship! *Cassius was already headed out!*
Aaron: *He was silent but he looked at Cassius with that stern look of his that had become his trademark.* Let’s go then. *He stalked out of the room and then toward Bronwen, Brennen, and MacBeth! He looked at Bronwen and there was a smile at the corners of his mouth.* I’ll take the boy. Go. *He was already moving to Mac to hoist him onto his back.*
Brennen: *The warm Shadowstar family reunion would have to wait! But it was great seeing Aaron again! He was already heading for the ship!*
Duncan: *He was drumming his fingers against the panel as he paced up and down the bridge! What was taking them so long? Why weren’t they answering the comm links?!*
There was no goons or men to intercept them – Morgan had been so sure it would be impossible for them to escape! The way back to the ship and out of the fortress was good and clear!
Cassius: *…That made Cassius all the more pissed off! But he didn’t say a word yet as he boarded the ship first, shouting at everyone to hurry the fuck up!*
Duncan: *He could hear Cassius yelling even from here! He started up the ship’s engines and waited for everyone to board before taking off!*
Brennen: *He stopped as soon as he was inside the ship and had to catch his breath! His body hurt like hell! Those bastards had bruised him up bad!*
Dion: *Dion had to hoist up Bronwen and drag her the rest of the way on the ship.. seemed like MacBeth wasn’t the only one bleeding themselves out!* Bree, you’re going to have to stitch her up.
Brennen: *He raised a finger.* … Right. Just … a moment … *He took several deep breaths!*
Duncan: Yes, ma’am! *He flipped the last switches to close the ship up and then he told them to hold on as the ship took off!*
Aaron: *He had already found the med bay and put MacBeth on the bed. He rubbed his shoulder and flexed it!*
Dion: *Dion didn’t want to go anywhere near that medbay, but Cassius was already packing one of those looks. That didn’t bode well.* Brennen…
Brennen: *He looked up and stood up.* Cassius, what are you doing? *Now he was worried!*
Brennen: *what are you going to do, not what are you doing XD
Cassius: *Cassius stopped to turn around and scowl.* Those were DNA locks. Only someone with matching genetic code should be able to unlock those fuckers. Morgan HAD us. There is no fucking way to crack that shit. and what happens? A little of HIS blood and suddenly we’re free. There’s some serious bullshit goin’ on and I am to beat the fuck out of him until I find out!
Brennen: *He blinked!* … So Mac is … *His voice trailed off.* Oh, shit.
Dion: *Dion was silent for a moment…* There’s got to be some kind of mistake. He’s covered in blood, it could be anybody’s.
Brennen: *He nodded. He didn’t want to believe what Cassius was implying!* … That’s right.
Cassius: Yeah? So how about we go on in there and find out! *Cassius was already turning on a heel and stomping for the medbay!*
Brennen: *This could not end well! He quickly went after Cassius!*
Aaron: *He was standing by the door so when Cassius came marching by, he held his arm up and barred him from entering.* What is it, Cassius?
Cassius: …DNA Panels. You know what I’m talking about. HE *He pointed a finger!* opened them with his own blood.
Aaron: *He raised an eyebrow.* And …?
Cassius: AND that means he’s likely some spawn of Morgan herself! Don’t you think it’s weird how shit has gone down over the years?!
Dion: *Dion was crossing his arms in the hall.* I don’t recall MacBeth ever doing anything to comprimise us.
Aaron: The boy has proven his loyalty many times before. Even when some hardheaded jackass put him up to a fight in the first place. *He was looking at Cassius.*
Brennen: He’s been with us for a long time. We can’t suddenly suspect him of being evil because of something he can’t help, like who his mom is.
Cassius: Then how do you feeling about the boy shacking up with OUR little sister! He’s got her wrapped around his damned fucking finger!
Dion: …I’d say it was more the other way around. He’s stuck with Bronwen more than he has with any of us.
Brennen: *He sighed and scratched his head.* This is a lot to swallow. Our Mac … and Morgan …
Cassius: He doesn’t belong on this ship. Morgan’s blood is a dangerous liability. What do you think MORGAN is going to do when she figures it out?
Aaron: We are all tired and injured. This is no condition to be speaking of matters like this. Everyone is to wash up, rest up, and eat. We will discuss this later.
Brennen: Right. *He nodded. Aaron always made a lot of sense but he still felt uneasy about all of this.* Uh … I’m sure there’s … some leftovers somewhere in the kitchen.
Cassius: Fuck that, we’re going to discuss it now before the asshole wakes up and starts pointing a damned gun at me again! Oh ho ho. You don’t KNOW the shit he and Bronwen have been pulling! Fucking broke my nose! TWICE.
Dion: …it’s about to be a third time… *Dion leaned to mumble at Brennen softly.* I could use a good drink.
Aaron: *His eyes narrowed onto Cassius. His hand whipped out and smacked Cassius straight on the cheek with enough force to possibly knock him off his feet and onto the floor!*
Cassius: *Cassius went sprawling back with a THUD! He was cursing up a storm, with Aaron’s name mixed in with it… But he was stomping off to the Kitchen as ordered!*
Brennen: *He winced as Cassius flew! Man, even he was hurting!* Uh yeah … Let’s uh, go. *He nodded to Dion and the two of them followed after Cassius.*
Aaron: *He watched Cassius march down the hall and toward the kitchen! Then he turned and watched Bronwen patching Mac up!* It’s been too long, Bronwen. *He said after several moments of silence!*
Duncan: … Captain …? *He poked his head into the Infirmary! Tiny was in his arms!* Me and Tiny … We uh, just came to see how you and Mac were doing …
Aaron: *He was about to say something when Duncan and Tiny arrived! He turned and looked the pilot and furball over!* And who is this …?
Duncan: *He blinked and made a nervous grin!* Uh, hello, sir. It’s uh … nice to um, meet you!
Tiny looked Aaron over and flicked its tails. “Greeoww greeoww …”
Aaron: *He raised an eyebrow at Tiny!* An interesting choice for a pet. *He looked over at Bronwen.* Point me to the nearest shower. I need to change out of these things and eat something before I deal with Cassius again.
Duncan: Um … I’ll show you there if you like! I uh, I got lost myself when we first got this ship …
Aaron: Very well. *Then he followed Duncan out of the Infirmary!*
As Duncan was leaving, Tiny hopped out of his arms and hopped on top of the bed Mac was on, beside his head!