Dead Space (FWC Halloween Thread)

[Chekīta Kaie]

"Don't sell yourself short captain, sounds like a very romantic evening being carried over your shoulder to a highly defended base of operation, bristling with turrets and armed men, ready to shoot anything that looks like its gonna attack, and then after wards watching the fireworks as they gun down wave after wave of ghoul like beast". It was all fun a game, but in all honesty, she wouldn't mind having a chance to relax after the whole ordeal, though fun, one needed to seep every now and then.

Chekita waved to the knife holding blood covered boy as the sergeant escorted him back down the hallway, hopefully the infection even if it was only blood borne, needed and open wound to properly infect someone, otherwise that person was as good as dead. "It sounds like you have a decent plan up and going, though I will have to warm you, there are quite a few blast doors that have been sealed shut due to the power outage, unless you want to cause noise we will need to slowly cut through or go around them, but it may be possible to reroute enough power from non-functioning areas of the ship to get a terminal running, and maybe open a few doors".

She thought for a minute about the captains question, had she seen any terminals, well non she could use, most were for astromechs or protocol droids, but, "Unfortunately I have not come across any of use, but I was headed for the security station on this deck, they should have a backup power supply for their terminals and equipment in case of certain events, that may be a good place to start our search and speed things up a bit, because we both know it will take forever to work our way to the bridge".

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop at the end...


Whether this was true or not, one thing was certain: Karina really did not want to fall down the couple hundred metres down the shaft. A scream escaped her throat when she slipped, just before Laira grabbed her. Her pride was out of the window, so she was clinging to the human 'peasant' for dear life. It only now registered with her that the human was in pain. She also saw the crimson liquid leaking out of an arm wound. Right now she could not process this. All she could think of was not dying. So she pulled herself up, holding on to the ladder.


A telekinetic grip would wrap around both as Akari stretched out with her willpower. She could not maintain the hold for long, but it kept them from tumbling. "T-thank you," Karina stammered when she addressed Laira. She sucked in oxygen to fill her lungs with air. Then her eyes fell upon the wound. "You're bleeding," she exclaimed in evident alarm.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Once Karina was on the ladder and Askari helping stabilize the two of them with a telekinetic grip, Laira eased her way back into the shaft with Askari behind her and Karina on the ladder beside her. "Welcome sweetcheeks." Laira said sarcastically through a wince as she wiggled her fingers to see if they still worked alright. Her left arm felt like she had just peeled off the skin from the elbow down after the sudden exertion of energy and the pain of latching it onto a full grown, if slender, woman. "Couldn't let you fall, even if you're a pain in my arse." Perhaps it was the good in the young princess that made her sacrifice her own well being for someone that clearly didn't care one way or another about her.

"Yup." The redhead said as the noblewoman realized she was injured, looking over it herself. She had tied a bit of her sleeve around it when she had first noticed the injury, but the stress of grabbing Karina had undone that wrapping. The wound didn't look very good, though it had originally been a fairly clean mark upon her skin. Now, only minutes later it was a dripping mess with pus oozing from the teeth marks and releasing a faint odor of infection and disease. "But you not climbing isn't going to make it any better." Laira grinned at Karina weakly. "It feels better when I smack you if I'm being honest."

Dimeria in the back heard, but could not see what they were talking about. Her purple eyes simply watched the Eldorai closely, waiting to see what they would do about it. The Knight didn't want there to suddenly be conflict in the ventilation shafts, certainly not among the group. She had taken a fancy for Vaena but that wouldn't change her loyalties suddenly. That said, she knew what must be done if her redheaded companion showed signs of becoming a ghoul.

[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Vaena Askari"][/SIZE]

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"]

The moment Chekita began talking, she would notice two of the squad members behind Derrick whisper amongst each other. What they were actually saying was simple, that being a bet over whether or not the Captain would latch onto the bodyguard saying not to sell himself short and joke about it by boasting over his height. After all, he was already laughing and seemingly enjoying himself with the situation and it was clear by this point that his soldiers were used to such behavior to the point they would take up casually betting over such frivolities under the circumstances. "Well it would be hard to sell myself short when I'm taller than you, but I suppose you're right." An exchange of credits from the sighing soldiers behind Veltraa was all that needed showing for anyone to understand the norm for the squad.

Not that Veltraa himself noticed or would even mind if he had while he puzzled over the news about the blast doors. "We closed a few doors ourselves to cut off a couple hordes we ran across. We didn't bring any serious cutting or welding equipment so it will be really slow going if we have to deal with every blast door. Making sound it also a bad plan since we'd just be inviting ourselves to be overrun before we got too far I'd wager. Our ammo isn't infinite after all . . . . . .your plan is the most sound then. If we can get some power going from the security station or at least find a working terminal we might have a better idea of whats still available to us for resources on this ship. At the very least if we can get a look at the sensor suite I'll buy everyone here a drink to celebrate afterwards." Grinning again, the Rendili Captain hefted his blaster carbine and motioned for the squad to get ready to move out. "Let's follow the map to the station until we hit a closed door then shall we!"

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


Awkward City: Four inhabitants. One may or may not turn into a zombie in the next couple minutes.


Or go through an emergency amputation. On the bright side, losing a hand was an important rite of passage for any character in the Star Wars Galaxy. Just ask Anakin or Luke. Ok, the first one is not really an example to emulate, what with the child murdering and all that, but that had nothing to do with him being maimed and a lot to do with him simply being, well, a jerk.


Anyhow, on with the plot. Karina flinched and visibly recoiled, looking frightened. "Get away from me!" she shrieked. "She's infected! She's going to turn into a monster! We must...end her." Her reaction was probably understandable, but tremendously ungrateful.


Askari had moved up on the ladder. She looked very concerned, but was trying to stay composed. After all, the Sister of Battle might get aggressive. "Karina, stop yelling. Move up and calm down. I'm not having us suddenly come to blows while we're on a damn ladder," she turned her gaze to Laira, looking at the wound. It looked very nasty. Either way she was ready to do what was needed if Laira suddenly manifested cravings for brains.


"How long have you had this injury?" her tone was demanding. If Laira had had it for a long while and said anything, she'd endangered them all. If it had been very recent, it was stil deeply troubling because of how ghastly it looked. "Do you know how long it takes for the...pathogen to take effect?" She looked thoughtful. "Amputation might prevent further infection." At least that had worked with the zombies she'd faced during the Bando Gora War.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira's expression changed to one of regret, a somber and almost annoyed look at Karina. "No good deeds go unpunished, right." Behind her, she could here Dimeria re-positioning herself, shifting her weight and raising one of her arms at the now panicked Eldorai. When the Knight spoke, her tone filled with authority and presence, "No one is ending anyone. Vaena, keep her quiet or I'll put her to sleep."

Laira allowed Vaena to look over the sickly injury, "I noticed it after we got in the vents. Didn't realize how bad it was until a minute ago," The redhead glared daggers at Karina, "Right before I saved your life and about a minute or so before you started on about killing me. I swear, when this is over if I don't get a reward for having to put up with you I'm gonna be pissed."

Dimeria asserted herself once again as Laira continued her angry rambling about Karina, "Stop Laira. Vaena, we don't know how long it takes. They seemed to be sighted here and there, then suddenly the whole ship was overrun." It had been a hectic several minutes when the outbreak had first began, however they knew nothing about times or even transmission of the condition. "We don't even know for certain if its transmitted via bite."

Laira jerked her arm outwards, "I'd say this is some pretty compelling evidence that it is. As far as amputation goes, it could already be in my bloodstream, but its worth a shot. Let's just all know if we do, I'm going to go into shock. Someone's going to have to help me up the ladder and help me walk afterwards." She glared at Karina once more, "And I don't really trust her with my life."

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


Karina flinched a bit. Maybe she realised that was being a massive jerk. Or she was just concerned about her survival. This one is a cynic. "I am...sorry," she said reluctantly. "It's just the shock and the stress. I am no warrior and I am trapped on a ship infested with unholy abominations."


"Karina, tear off your sleeve. She will need a bandage. I'll make it a clean cut, but a Sarix does not cauterise." Vaena shot the prissy aristo a look that shut her up. "I can help you up," she spoke to Laira. The absurdity of them having a debate about this while they were all standing on the ladder was not lost on her. It was awkward, but she managed to raise her Sarix. The blade had a subtle luminiscent glow to it. "Ready?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The redheaded princess pulled off her belt, fastening it around her arm just above her elbow. She pulled the belt very tight until she could feel it cutting off the circulation. "Yeah, yeah. You owe me after this. Owe me a lot." Laira would find a way to collect on that debt one way or another. Even if Karina might find it a bit repulsive or beneath her.

"Not really." Laira said, holding out her arm for the woman to cut. Her grey eyes turned to "Just, don't let me bleed out. Okay?" While she could summon flames and manipulate them to degree, it was unlikely after her arm was cut off that she would be able to. Instead, the princess focused her power on numbing her arm and stemming her blood flow. That was something she could do and learned well for her father.

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


Askari made no further comment. She drew upon her Sciia to stabilise herself on the ladder. Raising her Sarix, she chopped through Laira's arm. Fortunately, it was a good, well-maintained sword and she only needed one cut to get the job done. Laira was left with a small stump.


"Hold her," she ordered Karina gruffly and put her blade down. Her hand touched Laira's stump. "This will hurt." It would actually be a small mercy if the redhead went into shock and lost consciousness. For what the Eldorai did next was manifest a surge of blazing heat to cauterise the woman's wound. It was as painful as it sounded, but it was necessary. Otherwise Laira would bleed out, even with a tourniquet. It probably helped that the duchess had done this before. "Wrap her wound."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The blade fell and Laira closed her eyes, bracing hard for the pain that would come. Her jaw clenched and eyes shut, she didn't feel the blade sever her arm at first. It was a second later that her body felt the sudden shock of having lost a limb. With her strength in the Force, she was able to limit the pain some by dulling her pain receptors, and aid in keeping the blood loss at a minimum. Even with all this, she still gasped sucking in air hard.

For an instant all the young girl knew was pain and suffering. Her infected, pus riddled arm lay at her feet, drops of blood joining it. Laira held her breath, clenching her teeth again, doing her best to focus on ridding herself of the pain. That's when the heat, the burning and charring of flesh began. If she thought she felt pain when the arm was lost, this was something completely new. Of all her years of training and fighting, an emergency amputation had never come up. It was something she could have never prepared for, and yet it was over. The aroma of burnt meat filled the vent shaft, echoes of agitated and angry growls from the darkness as the creatures smelled the blood and flesh being cauterized.

Weakly, Laira opened her eyes. "Thanks Vaena." She even managed a agony filled smile when her stormy grey eyes fell upon Karina. "You know, we're gonna need to keep that hand. Why don't you carry it? I would myself, but ah, I've got my hands full." The flame haired maiden attempted a weak giggle but failed as she winced deeply. The slightest touch of her stump filled her with agony.

"We need to move. We aren't far from a hangar now." Dimeria looked at Karina and Vaena. Despite the fact that Laira was still standing and able to move, she was hardly in any shape to fight. And anyone who had to carry her was one less person capable of fighting off any ghouls that attacked them. It was a bad situation, and in truth Karina was the only option to expend on caring for the redhead, but also the most likely to leave the poor girl. "Karina, you'll have to help carry her. Purple eyes narrowed, flashing flecks of red as she looked the Eldorai woman in the eyes. "If she doesn't make it, you'll wish you had gotten eaten by the time I get done with you. This I vow." It was a bold threat, but not exactly one a Knight was known for making.

Laira breathed raggedly, her one good hand holding onto her Renegade pistol, as ready to go as she could possibly be.

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

It would have been easy to make a joke along the lines of 'who said I was talking about your height' or what not, but they were wasting time, time that would be better spent killing ghouls and getting to their objective. She slightly cocked an eye brow at the ’Oh, what this, his men taking bets... must get into a lot of strange conversation to have this happening, is he that predictable? hehe all the better to laugh around with'. She readied her weapon as the captain review the plan, giving herself a one up point that he agreed with it, "From what I know on blast door is closed between us at security, I don't know if its electronically sealed or just closed, but with enough guys pulling we may be able to wrench it open with brute force".

Before heading off she gave the squad on final piece of information, "Though what may lie on the other side is unknown, though it would most likely lead to the more social areas of the ship, as such we may run into larger groups of those beats". "Best keep our wits about us... as for a party, am I invited, I could use a stiff drink after all this, maybe get to know each other a little better, anyways captain, right behind you". As the part began to move out, her own map came up on a side HUD, 'it’s show time'.
[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


Karina paled, looking equal parts disgusted and terrified. "What...but...I am not touching that. I might get i-infected!" she stammered. "Vaena, you will not let her harm your own flesh and blood, will you?" she could not meet the cold gaze of the Force Dead Knight. The same applied to the infested arm. Her entire body trembled.


"Karina, do as she says. Consider it a lesson in humility. It is an old Ashiran virtue," Vaena responded tersely, wrapping the repulsive looking into a bundle of cloth. Karina looked as if she might become physically ill and vomit at any moment. She looked around, as if pondering her chances of survival if she just ran off. Then she finally gave in, muttering curses along the way. With the appropriately chastisted aristo helping Laira along the way, the group moved on. The hangar was close, and if they were lucky there might still be a ship there.

 

[Derrick Veltraa]

[member="Chekīta Kaie"]

Grinning, the Rendili Captain nodded to the bodyguard as he took off with a bit more energy in his step toward the blast door in question. What fatigue he had felt traversing through the ghoul infested ship seemingly devoid of survivors had left the moment the squad had not only discovered still sane passengers, but lively ones at that. The boy seemed out of it, but he had defended himself and had managed to keep going so he hoped the lad would be alright. Now Veltraa hoped to find more survivors as the squad advanced, blasters raised in the event they encountered another mob of ghouls. "Well whether or not we can pry open the blast doors with our combined muscle depends on this ship. I doubt it's military grade, but even a decent blast door is meant to be tight in the event of decompression or security breaches. It would be nice if it was so easy, but if the ghouls are at least smart enough to try and pry them open as well we'd probably have noticed by now."

Spoiler

sorry for short post, slight headache but didnt want to keep you waiting.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira was in a great deal of pain. Her now missing left arm from the forearm down was burning and searing with agony. Even the air brushing against it hurt, and mild bumps or scraps left the young redhead gasping for breath as her body tried to warn her she was in danger through its natural pain response. The benefit of being in shock was, Laira wasn't really thinking clearly. Most of her concentration was on assisting her body in healing from the terrible injury, her amulet assisting to a slight degree.

Karina was gingerly helping the young redhead move along, her remaining arm draped around the eldorai aristo's back, hugging the woman tight as she moved along. "You know, you wouldn't be so bad if you lightened up a little. Its your personality that drives everyone away, not your looks." Laira murmured, smiling absent-mindedly. "I wonder if I can still make the fingers move." she squinted, jokingly acting like she was trying to affect her severed limb. Her tongue stuck out and dragged across Karina's cheek in a quick motion, probably taking some make-up with it in the process of messing with her unwilling, racist walking stick, probably done to mess with the aristo and to at least get something out of her very bad situation.

Dimeria moved along side Vaena, "I'm sorry things got so stressful. I was kinda hoping we could get to know each other a little better after we escaped from this nightmare." Things between the Eldorai and the Force Dead Knight had been heating up, a not-so-subtle flirting and killing things during their trek, then suddenly things had cooled off after Dimeria had angered during a battle only to continue to chill with awkwardness and amputations. "Perhaps we can still salvage the night, share a bottle of something after getting Laira to a med-bay?" she asked, coming up to the grate that would take them into the corridor leading to the hangar.

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


Karina was...very uncomfortable with this situation. She was very sweaty, her feet ached since she'd been doing a lot of running and climbing in impractical high heels, and her perfect makeup was ruined. Oh, and she had to carry Laira - and her zombie arm! The human's words made her shudder.


"I am not playing your silly games. Keep your tongue where it belongs," she ordered, trying in vain to sound authoritative. It took a lot of self-control not to drop the human and make a run for it. However, fear and survival instinct kept her on course. She would need a long, warm shower and plenty of fawning from her servants to forget this humiliation.


Meanwhile, Vaena tried very hard not to listen to any of these antics while she kept focused on getting off the damn zombie ship. To her surprise, Dimeria spoke up and expressed regret about how...chilly things had gotten. The duchess cracked a thin sort of smile. "I would appreciate that. I would not mind seeing you...outside of your armour," she spoke. Corny flirtation was mandatory. "I feel I must apologise for my half-sister's comportment. I would like to say the rest of my family is more well-mannered, but in truth she is one of the better ones," she shrugged.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Dimeria smiled behind her gold face mask, "Well, perhaps we can work something out where we both benefit." Her violet eyes mixed with shades of bright pink once again, her unique mutation having provided the young woman with mqaaq'it-like eyes that changed with her mood. She brushed a hand through her long black hair, raking her fingers through the long locks until they came to the purple ends of the strands. "That's alright. My fellow sisters are shades of terribly somber to rabidly xenophobic, so I can't really complain if I'm not someone you feel like taking home to meet the folks."

Purple eyes glanced backwards at the Eldorai aristo and redheaded ranger, "You know, Laira doesn't normally lay it on so thick unless she likes someone. She would have given up by now if she didn't." Whether that was entirely true or not, Dimeria didn't know. She'd seen the pretty little redhead bat her eyelashes and act all cutesy to get her way, but normally she was only this way around people that were friendly in return in the Knight's experience.

Behind them Laira was trying not to be a burden while also trying to ensure she was getting her fill of Karina's forced pleasantries. "I've saved your life twice now you know. Some people would be, you know, grateful. Or at least polite about it." She squeezed Karina a little tighter, gripping the eldorai's side at her ribs just under her armpit. If she had been a little more aware she would have considered asking the woman to stop her from going to any further lengths to save the Eldorai, but alas her mind seemed to be distracted by her companion's haughty attitude and matching physique.

As the group could see the hangars ahead of them, escape now in sight for the little group of four ladies, the sounds of bulkheads being torn and rent echoed from behind. The dulled sounds erupted as though through several doorways, heavy thuds of a very large creature stomping through the metallic corridors, tearing open door after door and moving in their direction. Laira grinned, "Hey, what do I get if I save you three times?" making sure to get a good grip on the woman and be ready to trip her if she decided to ditch the young ranger.

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Chekīta Kaie]

She liked the slightly care free nature of this military officer, if someone else had come along she doubted they would have been as open minded with a new objective, or let her tag along, but that was how the FWC worked, may not always get the best results, but allows for more happy way of life, unlike the Sith. "That is true, though we are a decent way into the hull, at this level depressurization would be catastrophic, so maybe they are not as strong, as for the infected, their main method of opening doors seems to be pushing against them and clawing with excessive force, so I doubt that they can open them, though we should never underestimate an enemy".

As the group back tracked down the corridors they came across the infected that Chetika had already put down, most with clean shots through the head, tough often enough their where others with crushed skulls, broken arms and other wounds that looked to be inflicted by weapons. "May want to watch your feet, some of these guys had more blood in them then I expected, makes the floor a little sticky".

[member="Derrick Veltraa"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


And suddenly there was a huge monster coming their way. After all, the daring escape could not be allowed to become too easy, right? Its coming was heralded by loud noise, caused by bulkheads being torn and rent. The sound echoed across the hangar. Then they heard heavy thuds, grunts and snarls. Then the gigantic beast emerged, roaring loudly.


"Karina, get a move on. Dimeria and I will keep it at bay - and join you," the Eldorai aristo needed no further encouragement, for she'd already taken off by the time Vaena said her name. "Don't drop Laira...and don't take off without us," the duchess added in a sharp tone, like the crack of a whip. Coincidentally, old school Angelii corporal punishment included a good flogging.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira still seemed rather out of touch with what was going on. She still had the awareness required to not allow the Eldorai aristo to ditch her, such as being prepared to trip poor Karina and take her with the redhead, and she had the intelligence to keep up with the now scrambling woman to the best of her ability. With her one remaining hand the redhead was able to keep steady with Karina.

The two were able to quickly move into the hangar and find a ship sitting there waiting to be the rescue of the little crew. It was of course the only one Laira had start up codes for, the Rebel Outcast. Currently its colors were matte black with Ranger Corps insignias born on the wings. "Awww, there is my beauty." The doors opened for the two women without hesitation, recognizing Laira's bio-signature as they approached allowing them to go straight for the cockpit. "You are gonna have to go through the start up sequence boo-bear. I don't really have the hands-eye coordination anymore."

Dimeria took up her position between the creature and the hangar, bringing up her gauntlet shield. Boy did she wish she had bolter rounds left to put into the much larger threat. The beast seemed unreasonably strong, hulking musculature and exposed sinuous cords were only the surface. Before being seen, the creature had torn its way through closed blastdoors, bending metal and plastics with relative ease. The dark-haired knight could only lament that Laira would have been perfect for fighting such a creature given her natural quickness and agility. Instead it was up to her and Askari to either destroy the creature or to hold it back long enough for Karina and Laira to get the ship up and running. On a good day, that was about two minutes.

[member="Vaena Askari"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laira Vereen"]


The creature was...huge, to say the least. Unreasonably strong, it was a giant, grossly mutated hulk. Vaen silently prayed for the sentient this abomination had once been. She could only hope that it would be spared suffering in the afterlife, despite having been turned into an Illyriaspawn. The beast howled as it charged towards them, causing a heavy thud with every step. Vaena rushed forward, taking up a flanking position. Dimeria was stronger and a lot sturdier than the Eldorai, making the Force Dead knight better-equipped to play the role of the shield or broadsword.


Lunging forward, she slashed at the abomination's knee. Her Sarix glowed with a fierce light. It howled angrily and turned to her, but when its massive fist came crashing down like a hammer, she had already vacated the space she'd occupied through quick acrobatics. An Eldorai war cry left her lips, as she moved with amazing speed to launch a flurry of strikes.


Where she slashed the beast, foul ichor dripped from its wounds and it staggered. But though huge the creature was fast and not without tricks of its own. As she swirled about like an annoying wasp that delivered rather mean stings, she suddenly cried out in pain when the creature spat spat acidic bile. White-hot pain surged through as her skin felt like it was on fire and the acid was devouring her flesh where it seeped through. Her face and right ear were burning. Using her moment of weakness, the beast swatted her aside with barely any effort. The Eldorai was flew back several metres before landing hard on her back, causing a crunching sound. Ouch. Dazed and in pain, she slowly pulled herself up. Adrenaline kept her going.


Meanwhile, Karina was in the cockpit. "Yes, yes. Just...sit there. And do not play with the arm," she declared as she sat down. Fortunately, she'd actually learned how to pilot a ship, so she was not hopeless in this situation. She just needed to get the ship up and running. So she set to work, for she did not relish the idea of being eaten by the monster outside.