could of been lucky and it was empty at the moment of you missed the person inside, anyway where are some others?

>>523929
Get an eyeball on the guy on the floor below us, to see if he's moving. If not, let's go down there and just pop him one without wasting a bunch of ammo.

great now that this is dealt with just make sure the guy who fell is really dead and also no one else is coming down the sky light. then loot any ammo you can find and then check with command to see what else we have to deal with.

>>523929
check on the civilian and confirm your kills.

Wire 2013/07/12(Fri)23:07 No. 524139 ID: 0eef61
File 137369565708.png - (7.16KB , 800x600 , 156.png )

The men are all dead.
73-6 fires a couple rounds into the twitching smear the floor below, just to be sure.
No more movement from the roof. 73-6 doesn't want to go up there when there are snipers crawling around.

He opens the coffin he accidentally shot into.
"hey, is anyone in here? are you okay?


oh. oops."
Well, at least he's not mad. Probably.
There's not a lot of face left to tell.

>>524139
Oh well. Still, considering Gordon's actions, we probably saved at least one other coffin-dweller by taking care of those soldiers. We're still karmically in the black. Cover him with his sheet and let's go kill those last two guys.

Ironic how he died in a coffin, EH? EHHHHHH?

>>524139
can you find the coffin from which came the scream?

>>524139
get his wallet!

um, ashes to ashes dust to dust...

well we gave him a moment of silence so lets see what else we still have to do. And if anyone ask the Fantomas did it. don't forget to grab some spare ammo from these guys either before you go.

>>524148
Getting off-mission there. No sense putting the other residents at risk by not prioritizing dealing with the remaining Fantomas.

Wire 2013/07/12(Fri)23:43 No. 524158 ID: 0eef61
File 137369779245.png - (8.11KB , 800x600 , 157.png )

The coffin stiff had 30 dollars to his name, and a folded library card identifying him as Shaun Podilac. 73-6 takes both.
He also takes 50 more rounds for the machinegun he's packing, collected from the remains of his enemies.

Time to deal with the last patrol.

"i am getting. agh. really. tired. agh. of these goddamn. stairs."
"Cardio, Sev! Cardio!"
"what am i dealing. gah. what am i dealing with down there?"
"They're starting to force the doors open as we speak. Fifty-fifty they'll be out by the time you get to floor 16."

>>524158
We've got cameras everywhere they can go. How about you rest up a bit and let them do a bit of climbing up the stairs?

>>524160
Have to at least get a few floors below Keisha's apartment before any standoffs. They're doing room to room searches and there's no way they'd get by without a shootout at this point.
It really is better to engage them as soon as possible to minimize the number of potentially lethal interrogations they perform.

>>524139
*Sigh*

Not much we could have done, really. The Fantomas were already hurting and/or killing residents. They were at risk by us doing nothing as much as engaging. And if we'd attacked earlier instead of waiting to use the grenade, it would have just been a bigger firefight, with more bullet spray and likely more casualties.

The only way to completely minimize civilian casualties would have been to immediately surrender. ...but we don't know they wouldn't have tried to teach the residents a lesson anyways.

At least we got a name. Does the agency have a policy about compensating relatives of wrongful or accidental corpses?

>>524158
Since there's some breathing room, important question: Are there any special means the enemy could use against you if they find out they're up against a not-dead supersoldier like yourself? Infowar attacks against your technological parts, for instance? Or EMP?

Wire 2013/07/13(Sat)13:43 No. 524254 ID: 0eef61
File 137374820468.png - (7.17KB , 800x600 , 158.png )

>>524228
A direct blast from an EMP would disable a good amount of the machinery keeping 73-6 ticking. He wouldn't die, and his systems have failsafes that would bring him back online eventually, but for a good five minutes he would be in a shit ton of pain and operating at greatly reduced capacity.

73-6 takes a breather on floor 26.

"okay. let's let, hooftah. let them come to us for a change. what's the situation?"

"Looks like they've gotten out of the shaft on floor 16. They're crossing to the stairs. Doesn't look like they're checking any rooms this low in the building."

"oh, and i accidentally greased a civilian in the coffins. we don't have any sort of familial reimbursement thing or anything, do we?"
"We kiiind of do, but he was just a coffindweller, Sev. I wouldn't worry about it; they're not exactly... you know. Important to anyone. I could check for relatives for you, but the payout has a flat lower rate and it's probably more than this guy made in his lifetime. If he even has any relatives we can find. Usually the Bureau, uh, prioritizes their reimbursement programs a little differently."

>>524254
He had 30 bux in his wallet, though. That seems a bit much for a coffin dweller... or is 30 bux like, nothing? Plus he was visiting the library regularly enough to have a card. Let's look him up at least.

>Usually the Bureau, uh, prioritizes their reimbursement programs a little differently.
She's saying they make moldies out of them, isn't she.

Eh, might as well look the name up. Poor bastard was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught in the crossfire.

Wire 2013/07/13(Sat)16:26 No. 524297 ID: 0eef61
File 137375800046.png - (12.20KB , 800x600 , 159.png )

"i don't know. look him up. he had a library card and thirty bucks on him, he's got to have been someone."

"Well okay. But 30 bucks isn't exactly going to recoup the cash we'll have to spend on him if we find the family. A little ready to throw the Bureau's cash around, aren't we? This isn't gonna thrill them."
"i killed a guy."
"You kill a lot of guys."
"a civilian, though."
"I know, I know. Ok, I'm looking him up now, happy? We find anyone attached to him they'll get their money. Where'd this Samaritan streak come from, anyway? First the Brancher, now this guy."
"it seems right."
She sighs. "Well, it's a good thing we're not CEOs or anything. Heads up, those goons are on floor 20 by now. They're hustling."

Meh, maybe the Bureau will be happier when I kill this whole death squad coming for me.

(I'd suggest docking your pay, but zombie assassins probably don't get paid in the first place. You're an asset, not an employee).

>hustling up stairs.
Well, seems like we should set an ambush, then. We can take them either as they exit the stairwell, or as they run past a floor we're hiding on.

...or we could set up an ambush on the stairs. Set up with the gun around a blind corner so they run right into us.

>>524297
If they're hustling, they probably aren't checking for traps~

If you can anticipate their route you can place the shotgun mine in their way and possibly end them both in a fashion that will ensure the custodian's job security for years to come.

>use the shotgun mine
We dun have it anymore.

>>523384
>He's borrowed the drill and is using it to bolt the shotgun turret to the kitchen counter while Sara boards up the door.

HOORAY FOR MORALITY

>>524297
"Consider it payback for getting me caught in a siege and making me accidentally shoot civilians."

Wire 2013/07/13(Sat)18:13 No. 524331 ID: 0eef61
File 137376439524.png - (9.61KB , 800x600 , 160.png )

73-6 waits in the stairwell, armed and ready.

"-means there's something seriously wrong, is all I'm saying. And if there's an agent around then it's pretty obvious he's the wrong thing."

"You heard what they said. Don't worry about the agent. Just get the plans back."

"They can't even decode the plans. Why are they sending us into the goddamn line of fire?"

"Will you calm down? We're not-"

Wire 2013/07/13(Sat)18:13 No. 524333 ID: 0eef61
File 137376441536.png - (10.42KB , 800x600 , 161.png )

73-6 never gets to find out what they aren't, because he twists round the corner and mows them both down with one extended burst of fire.

... message Keisha ask if she could look through the stuff you retrieved for anything that doesn't belong. Looks like you accidentally stole something valuable.

Mention what you overheard to Monica while you loot the corpses.

>>524331
Ask for an ETA on backup, and information on exactly how many enemy units are present, and whether or not we can call in a huey for an extraction.

Start rapping "Everyday I'm Hustlin" to torment Monica's words and these poor fools' corpses.

Whip it real hard. Oh and check your corners.

Call it in, ask Monica if she sees any more baddies in the building.

Apparently they're trying to recover some plans. They find anything good in that hard drive we copied? Because I'm not sure where else the plans could be.

>>524333
That's two of how many left?

>>524333
If they're so concerned about the information you collected, maybe you should collect more~

>>524333
aww i wanted to know what weren't they.
tell monica about the plans. is this something we already picked up?

I think we got all immediate goons in the building but it never hurts to double check with HQ, also ask when you are likely to get a pick up cause at this rate you mate as well just start fighting street by street until you're back at HQ.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)00:39 No. 524395 ID: 0eef61
File 137378759636.png - (10.61KB , 800x600 , 162.png )

"What do you mean stuff that don't belong?" asks Keisha. "I don't think any of these guns belong."
"yeah, but something different. something more valuable."
Keisha tuts. "I don't know. This cloak and dagger shit. I ain't got the eye."

"Pass the fffucking ball," yells Penelope in the background. "Madre de Dios!"

"What about the paper?" asks Sara.
"The what?" says Keisha.
"Me and the moldy found a bigass map or something in Barduk's safe room are these cabrones blind," says Penelope. "For fuck's sake!"
"You, uh, I'm done with the leg for the most part," says Sara. "You can put clothes back on."

"Oh," says Keisha. "Would you look at that." 73-6 hears the rustling of paper. "I'd say this fits the criteria you were lookin for, 73."

>>524344
"any more baddies in the building?"
"Not that I can tell. Looks like they're pulling the primaries back. They've got some prisoners. That'll keep them occupied. Maybe they think one of them is you."
"snipers still out there? can i get an eta on that exit?"
"Ohh, yeah. There's at least a dozen shooters surrounding you, Sev-three. We've got to put together something serious to get you out, and I've got to convince management it's worth spending the resources on one reconstituted operative." Monica sighs. Her voice sounds haggard. "I hate to say it, but you might need to spend another night in enemy territory."

>>524395
Tell dispatch they're after some plans you recovered from Barduk's place. So if the Bureau wants to find out what's so important, they're gonna want to extract you. That said, we do have some rather pleasant living arrangements, so they can take their time for now.

can we get some digital pics of the stuff sent over? and then throw it out to them since we have copies? be all "hey fantomas, this what you looking for?"

eh we can look through some of the shit we took from these guys to see if we can't find anything interesting. Also one good thing about these dumb asses is they tend to carry lots of ammo so I'm not low on fire power so there's that at least.

>>524395
Inform command of all the data we've recovered. Also, inform them that dying really really hurts and you'd greatly appreciate not doing that again.

That said, command is a bunch of slimy pricks. Can we phone out for a subcontractor? Call in another Agency to extract our asses? We don't need much, just a dozen guys in trenchcoats with SMGs would do it. Any cheaper merc organizations we know of?

>>524397
If by throw it out you mean set it on fire and throw it out the window, then that sounds great.
Otherwise, we shouldn't be giving the enemy what they want.

All right. Tell Monica about the information you just overheard- they're not even looking for you. They're trying to recover some plans or something.

Time to double back to the apartment and upload copies of those plans to HQ. Maybe they can make out what it's worth?

>have to convince command it's worth rescuing one moldy operative.
Yeah, I figured. Takes a lot of manpower to break a siege, and we risk losing more than one person in the process. No hard feelings. We'll keep doing what we do.

I suppose if this goes on long enough, at least we'll have Penelope back on her feet. Then we got two assassins versus an army, at least.

Tell Monica to get some rest. An operator who is half-dead from exhaustion isn't going to do us any good when they make their next move.

73 can watch the cameras.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)11:26 No. 524462 ID: 0eef61
File 137382637477.png - (7.13KB , 800x600 , 163.png )

"tell them i understand the situation. they can take their time. and you gotta rest, monica. i need my handler in good condition. i'll watch the cameras."
"You sure?"
"sure i'm sure. i'll be okay up here."
"Provided they let you stay there overnight again."
"i already managed to dump a junkie ninja on their couch. i think i've got the knack." 73-6 gathers the ammo from the dead enforcer. 20 rounds, and 40 dollars cash from their wallets. "they're looking for some kind of plans, here. i think it's something i stole. i'll bring it back to hq."

"Okay, Sev. I'm gonna make some calls and try to figure your extraction out. The channel's open if you need me. Stay safe, okay?"
"okey-doke."

73-6 climbs back up to floor 30. His ears are still ringing from all the close-quarters shooting he's done today.

>>524462
Everything looks normal. Just remember not to go in through the front door, and warn the ladies through the computer that you're coming in through the vent.

>>524464
yeah we did set up that shotgun turret and never really did figure out how to change it's IFF tags so I really don't think we should go through the front door.

Alright. Hall looks identical to the last time we saw it, minus the open door and passing out jpg artifacts. No ambush.

Head back in the way you left. Apologize to the ladies- you dealt with the baddies in the building, but they still have the place surrounded and on lockdown. Can't really go anywhere yet.

>>524462
Assess the risks and potential rewards of using hacking abilities on yourself.
Those shell upgrades strongly imply that you have hardware present that only needs a little nudge to activate.

We probably COULD mess with the IFF now... we did upgrade our hacking.

Huh probably shoulda thought of that before we blocked the only entrance.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)18:29 No. 524542 ID: 0eef61
File 137385174840.png - (3.50KB , 800x600 , 164.png )

>>524473
73-6's hardware is at least two generations behind the curve. It does not react well to tinkering, if he was even allowed to perform it on himself.

The Bureau is a bit iffy about voiding warranties on their undead supersoldiers.

>>524469
73-6 crawls back the way he left.

"Hola," says Penelope.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)18:29 No. 524543 ID: 0eef61
File 137385176539.png - (8.63KB , 800x600 , 165.png )

"sorrysorrysorry." 73-6 as he stumbles into the apartment.

"Hey, hazards of the profession," says Penelope, closing the door again.

Well explain to your hosts the situation. Try and hack that turret to recognize you as friendlies then lets go prep for a long night watching the cameras.

Do you need to eat?

okay, let's get that chilled injector upgrade in us.

Right, apologize to the other girls. You killed the dudes in the building, but the place is still surrounded. So you're stuck, unfortunately.

Make sure to check your security hack for anything new, and to check out this map.

And if we can, updating the friendlies list on the turret so someone doesn't accidentally walk in front of it and get pulped would be nice.

>>524545
Already done.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)18:51 No. 524550 ID: 0eef61
File 137385311580.png - (6.99KB , 800x600 , 167.png )

That was awkward. 73-6 says hello to everyone and sheepishly goes to deal with security.

The cams remain clear. 73-6 opens up the turret and tinkers around with it.

With his intermediate hacking skills, 73-6 can:
+Update the IFF to ignore him and the ladies (which he does)
+Overcharge the turret so it fires all 7 of its shells in a split second, making it a one-use but astonishingly devastating attack
+Deactivate the turret and turn it into an improvised, ramshackle shotgun usable as a mobile weapon

>>524544
73-6 realizes he's actually really hungry.
He wonders how exactly to go about asking for dinner and a room.

We could just barge into the next door neighbor's room and steal their food if they don't wanna feed you.

Or you could like, give them some of the money you looted to pay for your food. Either option works!

Pay for takeout?

Hmm. The later two options are interesting, but for the moment, it's fine serving as a sentry watching the door with multiple shots.

>pay for takeout
How's the delivery man going to get past the gangster blockade?

>>524555
Worth a shot?

Just gotta remember to not let the deliveryman catch sight of 73.

Pay them for food. Good thing you looted those corpses. Hopefully they have some stores, 'cuz takeout probably isn't going to work. I don't suppose you can cook?

Also be sure the door's locked. Wouldn't want innocent visitors getting pasted.

I'm pretty sure any delivery guy would be intercepted. At best, we're ordering the gangsters food. At worst, we're getting another civy shot.

Oh, and leave the turret as it is now that you've fixed up the IFF.

"Here's 30 bucks. I'm hungry."

"Okay but we're not letting you sta-"

"You can keep the guns."

"Deal."

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)19:31 No. 524565 ID: 0eef61
File 137385550331.png - (10.94KB , 800x600 , 166.png )

"okay, guys, here's the thing." 73-6 straightens his trenchcoat, nervously. "i might need to spend the night again. aand i could use a place to sleep again."
"You want a mint on your pillow while we at it?" asks Keisha.
"i'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but there's a blockade around the building."
"Aight," says Keisha, evenly.
"so... that's a yes?"
"We was gonna have to take care of that other one while her leg fixes anyway," says Keisha. "and I guess if there's a bigass army of thugs around, you could stand to have a badass moldy killer around. You kept them from us so far."
"well, uh, thanks," says 73-6, inordinately proud that the untested noncombatant called him badass.

"Ooh, and I can cook!" says Sara. "You like Mediterranean? Tzatziki sauce?"
"tzatwhowhat?"
"You're gonna love it. I have a cucumber I was saving for a special occasion like this."
"i can pay my way."
"No need," says Sara. "You've already supplied such a lovely centerpiece." She pats the shotgun turret. "Besides, how much do they pay you?"
"they don't. i get a stipend."

"Ok, but where he gonna sleep?" asks Keisha. "We got a different spook on the couch."
"I can take the floor," says Penelope, limping out of the bathroom. "Need room to stretch my leg out."
"Oh, no, he can have my bed," says Sara. "I don't need much comfort anyway. I'm a robot thing."

There is a moment of silence. They turn to Keisha.
"Well, what?" she says. "You two offered already."

You are all heart Keisha.

>>524565
If we're looking to optimize things, maybe Penelope as the injured person should have the bed, enabling both room to stretch out and comfort so she gets needed rest. Then you can sleep on the couch and Sara can be a robot.

>>524569
yes, and in the middle of the night as sara if she wants to have some fun.

Sara's bed seems the more pragmatic solution. Penelope can stretch her leg out as she sees fit.

>>524569
Honestly this seems the best way to go about it.

Oh wait. We need someone watching the cameras all night. Maybe we can all take shifts.

>>524585
The bigger problem is the computer is in Keisha's room. :V

>>524569
meh sounds good to me. might want to check up on the computer here from time to time just to check the cameras and such to make sure they aren't trying some kind of night raid to see if they can't catch you asleep.

>>524585
Can't we just put someone back at HQ on that? Surely Monica's not the only one there.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)23:10 No. 524626 ID: 0eef61
File 137386863631.png - (10.95KB , 800x600 , 168.png )

73-6 gets in touch with 62 back at HQ.
"i need you to watch some cameras."
"Yessir."
"also, did you eat that egg roll yesterday? i won't tell."
"I did."
"your life is forfeit, you know."
"I do. Let me get those cams for you, sir."
"thanks, 62."


This Tzatziki stuff is delicious.

Wire 2013/07/14(Sun)23:17 No. 524628 ID: 0eef61
File 137386905839.png - (7.54KB , 800x600 , 169.png )

"So what's it like?" asks Sara. Penelope's using her room, so she's moved the tv back and is sitting on the floor in front of the couch. "Merking a bunch of dudes."
"haven't you?"
"Well, yeah. Of course. But the few firefights I was ever in was mostly a bunch of dots shooting at us and us shooting at a bunch of dots and watching them fall over. I never did CQC, and I don't even know for sure if it was me who ever even shot someone. Mostly I just patched people up. There was this guy." She laughs.

"He was a sergeant and this was in Chad, and we were in this village and we came under fire off the outskirts, and a mortar takes a chunk of wall out near us, and he gets a piece of like gravel in his stomach, and it's just shrapnel, really just a flesh wound, obviously, but he gets all pale and gravefaced and he's like flopping all over the place, and he pulls me over and he's being an extra in Saving Private Ryan like, 'Dalton. I want you to give this I forget what it was, this watch to my kid,' and basically he's being this huuge drama queen, and I just I'm looking him dead in the eyes and I reach down and I pull this tiny shard of like dirt out of his tummy and slap like a bandaid on it.

"And he's fine. And the rest of my deployment, we just give him absolute hell for that. Like you stub a toe and you're on the ground being like Get Sgt. Edwall! I need him to hear my last words!" She reaches forward and stretches her back out. "And that's about as harrowing as it got, for me. It was mostly patching other people up, which was yucky, but whatever. Uhh, until I blew up, obviously. But you're right in the middle of it. How many people have you killed? I hate when people ask me that, but one vet to another, right?"

"thirty four. five."

"Dang. That's a lot of guys up really, really close." She rocks backward a little. "What's that like?"

>>524627
Settle down on the couch, get comfy, and tell her. Segue into one of the more interesting of the stories which I'm sure you've accumulated by now--she's told you one of her own, after all. Soldier heart-to-heart time. She'll appreciate the sincerity, and that'll help make up for your imposing on her.

flirt harder!

As far as what's it like, well. After so many there's no real emotional impact, if there ever was any in the first place. It's a contest of skill, and so far you've always been better.

sucks when they manage to shoot you. But most of the time I'm out gunned and out maned so I can't just go in guns blazing... I can end like that but not start. I have to be quite and take them down one by one and have to be quick about it to, someone might not miss johnny if he's gone to take a piss about 2 minutes ago but they might start getting suspicious if he's gone any longer then that. Basically it's trying to take as many of them down as you can before they even realize you're doing it so when they finally do notice someone is gunning them down you've hopefully weakened them enough that you can finish them off even if they dig in or go on the offensive.

So I guess it's just a game of cat and mouse really with who's who is changing all the time.

>>524628
Oh it's pretty fun when there's nothing they can do about it. You can pick how you do it, make it look cool even if you're the only one that can see. When it's more evenly matched it's tense, but satisfying when things go well. You are good at your job and enjoy being good at it.

Oh wait she meant like do we feel anything. Nope, they deserve it. Cept for that civvie that caught some bullets in the face from inside his coffin that soldier was standing in front of.

>>524628
enter flirting montage.

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)00:26 No. 524641 ID: 0eef61
File 137387316563.png - (8.52KB , 800x600 , 170.png )

"after a while there's not really any emotional impact." 73-6 lies down on the couch. "if there ever was, anyway. i can't really remember if there was. which probably means there wasn't."
"Does that bug you, at all?"
"not really. uhhh, yeah. killing people is pretty fun, and i'm good at it."
Sara laughs.
"what? it is. they totally deserve it."
"Oh, no. No, I'm not arguing that. I lost a couple friends in the Albany bombings three years ago."
"usually i'm outnumbered, so it's about thinning the ranks as much as possible without them noticing except at the end. it's a game of cat-and-mouse only the mouse has teeth. so, uh, cat-and-cat. i imagine what you guys did out in chad was a lot more noble."
She snorts. "We were shooting at a bunch of coked-out villagers who were just trying to get us out of their country. I think taking down domestic terrorists beats that."
"does that ever bug you?"
"Sometimes." She shrugs. "I'm not immune to it like you are. But then, like, they did blow me up. So I'm not that tore up about it." She sits back. "I don't think you're a very bad person, 73-6. People say you like doing what you're good at. I guess you're just really good at, uh, taking lives. Do you ever wish you were somebody else?"
"like who?"
"Like not a killer zombie."
"oh. yeah, sometimes, i guess. not looking like a corpse would be nice. but the people i shoot gotta get shot by somebody, and it might as well be somebody who's into it and doesn't have the face for a career in the movies, right?"
She giggles and tilts her head. "In a world as morally grey as the one we find ourselves upon, 73-6, a viewpoint like that is surprisingly refreshing."
"well, i am brainwashed. and i have to say, shooting people rules but getting shot i could pass on."

They keep talking and swapping stories. 73-6 loses track of time.

Eventually Sara yawns, loudly. "That was for effect, because I don't have lungs anymore, but dang, what time is it? Do you sleep in that trenchcoat of yours?"

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)00:27 No. 524643 ID: 0eef61
File 137387324064.png - (10.41KB , 800x600 , 171.png )

"Because I like to be a little more comfy when I turn in, thank you very much."

She reaches up and with a bit of a twist pops her head off.

"Hair really tickles."
"not that i would know."
"Oh, right, this comes off. Sorry if I freaked you out."

Doesn't bother me. Pleasant dreams.

I've seen worst, night.

>>524642
"That's okay, you can take stuff off all you want and I won't complain."

As for sleeping in your trenchcoat, considering the current situation it might not be unthinkable to do so.

Our face is scarier then your decapitation bit by a far mile.

>>524646
yes

maybe take the coat off and flip it so it's a makeshift blanket.

>pulls her head off
>Sorry if I freaked you out
Show her the hand trick!

"Never been bothered by a woman taking things off."

Go to bed 73-6, you're drunk. On murder.

Don't forget to set your alarm clock!
And get the shotgun turret setup or shut down.

>>524654
Seconded.

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:22 No. 524744 ID: 0eef61
File 137393415710.png - (8.14KB , 800x600 , 172a.png )

"don't apologize. that's the first time a woman's taken anything off in front of me in forever." She laughs. 73-6 keeps going. "and with a face like mine i don't think i could complain anyway, except to say i wish i could leave my head at home sometimes too. hey, catch."

"Is this your hand?" She pokes it.
"yep."
"I bet that's useful for all kinds of stuff."
"i'll tell you when i find anything. toss it back."
"Say please."
"cmon."
"Because I could always use another hand around the house."
"please?"
"But I haven't even gotten your digits."
"har har har."
"Thank you, thank you. thank you. I'll be here all night. Let's have a big hand for Sara."
"you're slipping. give me that."
"What if I just palmed it off you?" She throws it back. "Sorry. Sorry. I should let you sleep."
"it's no problem."

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:22 No. 524745 ID: 0eef61
File 137393416817.png - (10.94KB , 800x600 , 172.png )

"G'night, Sev!"
"night, sara."
"It's cool to have someone else not entirely human around the place."
"yeah."

73-6 turns over and pulls his trenchcoat off, throwing it over himself.

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:38 No. 524750 ID: 0eef61
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There's a place on the other side of the world that is bright and clear and there's not a skyscraper in sight, and the rushing sound isn't the cheap metal herd of cars but the tide rolling in and out against the shore.

"Graciela?"

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:38 No. 524751 ID: 0eef61
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"Que necesitas, Diecicuatro?"

"When I feel the surf on my toes and the wind in my face and I can look out and see the sun shinin' down and a bunch of beauties in bikinis strutting around I think I could maybe just die. But i'd rather not go of thirst. You don't think you could grab me one of those Bronx Cocktails from the bar, could you, hon?"

"You the laziest thing, Diecicuatro."

"When you're retired too, babe, you'll understand. Get yourself something too, on my tab."

"Don't die while I'm out, hey?"

"Don't you worry about me."

Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:39 No. 524753 ID: 0eef61
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There is a voice, in a place inside his head.

"Fourteen?"

He starts, a little, then grins and settles back down.

"How long's it been since I heard anything over this rusty-ass piece of metal, I wonder?"

"Five years, four months."

"Sounds about right. And if I recall correctly I only gave one young lady permission to contact me, and only when she really truly needed to. Is that the young lady to whom I am speaking?"

"Yessir, 14. And I promise: I really really need you."

"I know."

Static on the Wire Thread I end Wire 2013/07/15(Mon)17:39 No. 524754 ID: 0eef61
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A grin weaves its way across the pallid lips of the former Bureau agent Fourteen.

"How you been, Monica?"

Oh cool, there's a retirement package? That's nice.

And Monica is pulling in an old-time badass to save our bacon? That's also good.