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 Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:02 am
"We are each our own devil,Ami was contemplating exploring around the old train station to see what was around here but after she had taken two steps towards the edge of the platform she heard a twig snap and took off the way she came like a frightened deer. She ran straight for 3 minutes without looking back focusing only on getting away from the potential danger. Slowing down she leans against a tree and tries to calm her heart down for it was trying to keep running away from the station. A month ago Ami wouldn't have been that jumpy but too many nights spent alone in the bushes in Carlisle made her jump at everything, and she had learned it was better to run and ask questions later. That philosophy had saved her life many times.
As her heart slowed to a jog she picked up running again, but instead of heading home she heads to the deep woods around the town and to a little known area deep within them. The hangout of the Runners. Ami and her friend James had found this place one day when seeing how well they were in deep woods. It was a large clearing in the middle of the woods surrounded by the thickest brush in the forest, making it almost impossible to get to. They had brought in tools and made a hut in the middle of the clearing that was big enough for all of them, and after that they slowly brought more things to make it more like home. The hut was now full of pillows, blankets, and a mini fridge full of drinks and food. When they can get their hands on a generator large enough for a tv and a game system that won't require recharging every ten minutes they plan to bring it in, but the bigger the things are the harder it is to bring them.
It took Ami 10 long minutes to get to the hangout and she was happy beyond belief to see it. It was her home away from home, a place where she could go to just crash. She entered the hut and crashed on one of the bean bags. Falling asleep in moments. And we make this world our hell."
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:29 pm
Greg spent close to ten minutes running through the fields to the various run down skyscrapers of Carlisle, the whole while being chased by the unusually fit drug dealers. Climbing up a particularly tall derelict hotel he growls to himself when he figures out what to do. "Desperate times and all that... Oh well." A few moments later he bursts out on to the building's roof, having used a powerful kick to break the rusted lock. Hearing the now furious men climbing up the stairs after him Greg starts springing towards the far edge of the roof, a single lane street and a shorter building beyond. A he runs he pulls out the two staff sections and quickly puts them together. Using the staff like a pole vaulter he uses it to increase the power of his jump, launching him through the air just as a volley of bullets fills the air where he was occupying.
The fall to the adjacent roof was terrifying even for Greg, having fallen further than he ever had. "This is gonna hurt!" just before he lands Greg pulls his staff horizontally over his stomach, allowing him to tuck into a roll just as he lands. Coming out of the roll his heart sinks as he spots the gang bangers sitting on boxes ahead of him. "Nooot my day." Continuing his roll into a run he sprints towards them just as they get up. Instead of trying to fight his way past though he runs as hard as he can towards the center man and just before he gets within arms length he leaps into a soccer-tackle like slide that carries him under the mans legs and to the other side, allowing Greg to run off to the sounds of curses and a few thrown bottles.
Twenty minutes later Greg finds entering the hut, stripping the staff harness off and hanging it on one of the hooks by the door. Spotting his sister asleep on one of the bean bags he points at her ready to give her a chewing out for the trouble she caused him, but stops with his mouth open ready to say something before he changes his mind. "Awww I'll save it for later. For now, I'll take a page out of your book." Flopping onto a pile of cushions he relaxes and slowly starts to nod off.
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:44 pm
Lieutenant Colonel Hal Dobson, commanding officer of the Ontario Ariborne's 1st Battalion, rose from his desk to face Duffy and Sellars. The two NCOs stood inside the Colonel's tent in the Canadian Forces Camp Wolfe on the outskirts of Puslinch. Behind Dobson stood Major Benjamen Applegate, Dobson's burly, African-Canadian 2nd in command, and Captain James Deakin, the short, yet athletic, commander of Bravo Company. Accompanying Duffy and Sellars was Lieutenant Rob Wilkes, leader of 2nd Platoon.
"I'm not so sure about this suggestion, Sergeant Duffy," the husky Colonel chewed his lip "The townspeople are grumpy enough about our being here without us putting their children at risk."
"Well, strictly speaking, sir," Duffy shuffled slightly, "The townspeople wouldn't exactly know what's going on."
"Could you elaborate, Sergeant?" Dobson raised an eyebrow.
"Well, sir," Duffy continued, "These kids do pretty clandestine work, most of the adults in town don't know what's going on."
"So how is it that you came to hear of these young people?" Applegate inquired.
"High schools are the breeding ground of rumors, sir." said Duffy, "You see a guy running off to the shady neck of the woods enough times, you start to think you know what's going on." Dobson nodded and stroked his chin, but did not answer. Duffy knew that he was mulling the idea around in his head.
"Sir, we all know that 7th Brigade brass is planning a combat drop on Carlisle next week when the Royal Canadian Regiment gets back. If we want this thing to go off well, we're going to need solid intelligence reports and I think these kids can provide them."
"We have the reports from CSIS." said Dobson.
"Yes, sir," Duffy nodded, "But with all due respect the agency hasn't been able to establish an inside man in Carlisle. The intel they've got is hazy at best."
"What makes you think that these kids are trustworthy?" asked Applegate, "They could be drug-runners for all we know."
"I don't think so, sir." Duffy shook his head, "The times I've seen them they've always been very cheerful to us. They smile, salute, they don't seem to resent us like some of the other kids do."
"Do they speak Russian?" the Colonel turned to face the Sergeant.
"I wouldn't imagine so, sir," admitted Duffy "But I'm sure that intelligence section can spare some recording equipment. The fact of the matter is, sir, that these kids are the only ones in town who are brave, and crazy enough to go into that place. Those kids are our best bet."
Dobson stroked his chin again and turned to Deakin.
"Captain, what do you think?"
"Duffy's one of our most promising NCO's, sir," Deakin said frankly, "He's an able leader, with a knack for making sound judgments. If he thinks that this can work then I'm more than willing to trust him."
"Lieutenant Wilkes?" the Colonel turned to the young Platoon CO.
"Sir, I agree with Captain Deakin," the tall, charismatic Lieutenant answered "I have more than enough faith in him."
"Very well." Dobson nodded, "Sergeant Duffy, I grant you permission to try this plan, but make sure you keep everything quiet."
"Don't worry, sir." Duffy smiled and answered.
"Good," the Colonel nodded again, "Dismissed." Sellars, Duffy and Wilkes saluted. Dobson returned their salute and the three turned smartly and left the tent.
"Now," said Dobson "We've got to make some more room here. The rest of 7th will be here soon, as well as a special operative from a private military organization."
"A mercenary, Colonel?" Applewhate sounded surprised.
"I'm informed that he's trustworthy, Major," Dobson sighed, "Right now we need guns and boots more than morals."
(Whew, sorry about the novel of a post!)
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:16 pm
(( Pardon my complete and total lack of posting. My absence was due to the combined forces of responsibility in real life and a knock down drag out fight between me and the human Rhino-virus. Now that my sinuses are no longer exploding, I'm going to be posting more often. If for whatever reason I go back to inactivity, feel free to send me vicious pms stating my laziness. I tend to ... Forget.))
James was snoring like a huge, hibernating bear. His muscled body was hunched over his desk, hanging over it at all sides. His shoulders easily spanded the width of the desk, and his arms drooped so far down the sides that his fingers were brushing against the floor.
He looked like a giant in a kindergartner's chair.
The over all appearance was quite comical, though those around him did not fully appreciate it as such. To his classmates, he was the insane hulking brute boy with long hair, seen leaping through trees and off of the school building on his way to the drug infested town of Carlisle.
His presence, no matter how silly or benine, always made them uncomfortable.
James of course, being who he was, didn't honestly seem to notice the people around him, or their out right hatred for him and his "ways".
He snored in absoulete bliss, shamelessly filling the class room with the exuberant din of his sleep.
His face was serene with calm, nature filled dreams, his eyes gently closed, his lips folded up wards in a retarded smile.
The teacher breathlessly competed with the sleeping boy, shouting at the top of his lungs, and looking as if struggling to find enough air left in the small box shaped room to fund his endeavors to impart knowledge on the nervous looking teens in the class.
At some point, he simply gave up. Unwilling to wake James and try and send him to the principals office, he simply wrote a homework assignment on the board, and dismissed the class.
The quite room left James in his dreams for some time after the rest of the school let out. The teacher didn't bother to wake him up, and the scream of the school bell didn't dislodge him from his awkward position on the desk.
It was long after the halls were deserted that the boy sat up straight with a snort, and rubbed his eyes.
He smiled at first, looking around the class room, expecting to be in the middle of a history lecture about events he'd already studied up on at home.
His grin faded, baffled, as he noticed the room was completely empty, and hung with an aged silence.
"What in the name of the moon?" He whispered softly to himself, his sandy colored eye brows knitting with concern. He picked himself up carefully, and removed his tall body from the low desk, stretching to get the feeling back in his legs and toes.
"s**t!" He gave in to conventional curse words as he spied the time on the clock over the black board. He was so incredibly late! The others would make fun of him for this.
It was like him to be later then the rest. His lackadaisical attitude meant that he rarely used his running ablitiy to get places on time.
But this? This was outrageous! He'd been sleeping for almost a full forty five minutes.
Still wiping the dust of nog from his eyes, James set off out of the school like he had a fire burning at his heels.
He launched himself over fences, up light poles, through trees, as fast as he could.
By the time he got to the little house in the woods that he'd helped Ami make, he was red in the face and covered with scratches.
It was never a good idea to run so haphazardly, so quickly and carelessly.
But he was already ashamed of how late he was.
Clumbsily, the long haired boy burst into the peaceful little cabin, his lungs gasping pathetically at being so suddenly forced into over drive.
Not noticing the other two were asleep, he immediately began to sputter excuses, bowing his head in the door way and shuffling his feet.
This too was silly, for even though he was a very large young man, with broad shoulders and long legs, he always had the soft hearted demeanor of a sensitive school boy. His face was red with embarressment, and his stutters spoke of his misplaced shame.
It was like the school teacher had just corrected him in some minor fault.
"I'm sorry guys, I know I'm really late. I should have been here sooner, I don't know why I fell asleep, but I was dead to the world and I slept past the bell and .."
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:43 pm
"We are each our own devil,As Ami slept dreams of being a pirate who found a leprechaun danced behind her eyelids. She was in pursuit of the leprechaun's gold when her brother entered the room and her brain lifted out of unconsciousness. Ami had the uncanny ability to wake the moment something entered the room she was sleeping in, just like a cat. She partially heard him say "I'll take a page out of your book." My book? Her brain thought as it drifted off again. This time she was in a library looking for her book. I need it for Greg. He'll go to Zurglia without it.
When James entered the cabin Ami sat bolt upright and threw a nearby pillow right at his crotch and yelled "Top left behind the apples!" She blinked and rubbed her eyes before looking up at James' sheepish face. "Don't worry about being late." She says, not realizing what just transpired. And we make this world our hell."
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:11 pm
Greg didn't wake up when James bursts in bit is startled out of his sleep when Ami yells her nonsensical sentence about apples. Throwing himself to the side he rolls up onto his knees, drawing one of his staff sections he looks around frantically trying to find the source of the disturbance. When he spots only his sister and James he relaxes, taking a deep breath before standing up. "You gotta stop doing that Ami, you're going to give me a heart attack someday." Looking over at James he walks over to give him a high five. "Hey man, hows it going, you, look a little tired there."
Once they're all settled in Greg calls their attention to him as he takes out a small folded up piece of paper. On it was a short list of business details for the runners scribbled down in pencil. While Ami was the leader of the runners it had been decided that Greg would handle a majority of the logistics. "Alright, few pieces of business to get through here. Our loyal customer Tony has finally pushed the envelope too far, he got caught and arrested by the police two days ago." Looking back down at the paper he continues. "We have a few new potential clients that have been asking questions about our services, both of them Russian by the sounds of their names." Looking over at his twin he speaks to her directly. "If you want, Ami, I can set up a meeting with them sometime tomorrow, but if we do I think it should be the whole group in backup, something about them gives me a bad feeling." Sliding his finger down to the next line he continues. "Because of the Canadian Armed forces presence in the city now I've been told that the conventional means for transporting are being disrupted, so we should see a pickup in business... Aaaand..." Greg looks over the page carefully before shrugging and folding the piece of paper up again. "I think that's it."
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:28 pm
James really hadn't expected an attack, but instinctual he thrust out his spidery hands and snagged the pillow mid-air, his eyes wide with a temporary alarm. After all, all his mind could assess was that something rather large was flying towards his crotch. Not a pleasant thought in the least.
Looking a tad confused, he held the half crouched over pose, staring down at the pillow, before realizing it was safe and that it had not been an attack, just a sleepy accident.
The blond haired boy grinned from ear to ear.
"Should have known to look behind those apples! They always get me."
He laughed heartily, and threw the pillow back at Ami, playfully trying to make it hit her upside the head.
Now that his friends were awake and talking too him, his previous self-consciousness melted back into thin air.
In his mind, he'd been forgiven. So why worry about it any more?
The whole thing was water under the bridge.
He'd just be more careful to get out of school on time tomorrow.
James returned Greg's high five eagerly, his eyes twinkling with dog like friendliness.
" Don't worry, I had a nice nap." He laughed again here, poking fun at his own lateness.
Everything was fine in the world.
Feeling pleasantly relieved, he marched into the little house like he owned the place. Which, he kind of did. At least a third of it any way.
He closed the door behind him, and then took up residence on the floor, sitting cross legged.
For some reason, sitting on ground always suited him more then fluffy chairs.
It made him feel closer to the earth. To the thrumming heart beat of lava twisting around, deep beneath his feet. In the core of the world.
He stretched out like a cat, his broad back leaning against the wall. Once he was quite settled in, he turned his attention back to Greg, who was getting out logistics papers.
He listened attentively, his face solemn but reserved. He didn't really know what to think about loosing Tony.
Or the new Russian clients.
But he trusted Greg and Ami. And therefore, he trusted the clients that they had found. A run was a run. Money was money.
Still, he liked none of the comments about bad feelings.
He came from a family that believed in trusting internal warnings.
But, hey, people could always be wrong. He'd just make sure and be there with Ami, to make sure nothing bad happened to her.
" Sweet. " He muttered softly at the mention of business picking up.
It would nice to get some extra money.
Then maybe he could afford to spiff up their club-house. Start planting a garden, buy his little sister a bicycle.
The possibilities that were attached to that sentence were indeed sweet.
"Well, whats on the menu for today?" He stretched his arms to the ceiling and cocked his head to the side in question. His purple-blue eyes caught on the two halves of what appeared to be some sort of staff.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:37 am
"We are each our own devil,Ami stretched and lounged in a bean bag chair while Greg spoke. Gotta stop doing what? Ah crap did I yell something again. s**t. Suddenly something flew towards her head and Ami did a roll off the chair to avoid the flying object. Just a pillow. She crawled back into the chair and stared at the roof while Greg talked business. Dammit Tony I told you to stick to the paths, and stay out of sight.
"About the Russians, I don't like it. They seem to be running the crime ring in Carlisle, and you know how I feel about that." The majority of money making in Carlisle revolved around prostitution, and that was one thing Ami wouldn't stand for, seeing as most of the girls didn't have a choice. "And about the army dudes, it's good that they're doing something that'll actually help...for once. If we really need the money we can take a job or two from the Russians, but other then that I want to avoid them as much as possible. Understood?" Being the leader allowed Ami the right to make 'laws' not that the others ever disagreed with what she decided. "Now for today. I think we deserve a day off. I hear that Push is playing at the theatre, if you wanna go see it." And we make this world our hell."
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:03 pm
Greg listens carefully to his sister as she gives out her orders. "Got it Ami." Taking out a small note pad he scribbles some stuff down before closing it up again and putting it away. Looking back up he smiles at the mention of the movie. "Hey sure, sounds like a good time."
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:13 pm
Back on duty after their time off, Duffy's section had been assigned guard of one of the local movie theatres.
Six more hours of boredom and dirty looks, the Sergeant grumbled inwardly God I love the military.
"Hey, Duffy," MacDonald nuged the brown haired paratrooper, "Aren't those the kids you were talking about?"
Duffy cast his glance over to where the machine gunner had pointed and saw the two runners from earlier that day. They were accompanied by a tall, thin yet fit young man.
"Good eye, Mac." Duffy grinned, tapping his ear comm "Sellars, tell Feorino to get on the horn to Deakin. The Runners are approaching."
"Copy that, Duffy." the Corporal answered.
"Well," the Sergeant smiled "Let's go and say hello."
Duffy and MacDonald made their way towards the approaching teenagers.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:15 pm
"We are each our own devil,One more big stretch and Ami was out the door with the boys behind her. They headed towards civilization, soon happening upon the hardly used path through the woods. I think we're the only people who use this path now. Ami thought to herself as she picked up the pace a little bit.
Within moments they were within city limits and Ami slowed to a walk, not wanting to smell by the time she got to the theatre. As the three of them approached the theatre Ami looked through the crowd outside of it searching for some friends from school, but her eyes fell on two people in army uniforms. "Hey guys, it's our friends." She said to her companions, "and it seems they're interested in us." her voice turning a little scared as the soldiers approached. "Did either of you do anything to draw their attention on us?" She asked lowering her voice a little and slowing her long loping stride.
The soldiers reached the teens and Ami stopped she shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat and slide her claws on. "Hello, anything we can help you with?" She asked with a cocky tone to her voice. And we make this world our hell."
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:15 pm
Duffy was wary of the girl as she slid her hands into her pockets. I fight dirty enough to know that you're not reachin' for your wallet there, sunshine. the Sergeant thought to himself. He was ready to ram his carbine stock into her mouth should she do anything to endanger them, but Duffy was confident this would go off without a hitch.
"So, how was Carlisle?" he asked with a pleasent smile. A glint of worry breifly made it's way across each of the kids' faces, but they remained fairly cool. Duffy chuckled. "Relax, alright? We're not here to arrest you. The fact is that we're aware of your work and we've got a job opportunity for you if you're interested." He cocked his neck to the right, a gesture he'd come up with to discreetly inform his section-mates of when they were in trouble. MacDonald scratched at his right forearm under his cuff to indicate he understood.
Don't flatter yourself, kid, Duffy mused inwardly, You're good, but it takes a lot to pull one over on the Airborne.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:34 am
After the horrendous time at the two airports, the screaming child on the plane, and a long taxi drive, Hugo was finally in Puslinch. What's a kid doing in first class anyway? He quite obviously was not over that fact.
He went to the outpost where the Canadians were stationed and received a photograph of the Sergeant in command. Tom Duffy Kind-of odd, having the military protect this small town. He was told that the Sergeant could be found near a certain theatre right now. He put in the address on his GPS and made his way there. Hugo noticed the Sergeant fairly quickly, as he was quite tall, not to mention in army uniform. He was addressing some kids about something.
He watched as things unfolded, the female teenager put her hands into her pockets and had a cocky stance about her. The other soldier nearby tensed up at a slight movement by the Sergeant and made a supposedly nonchalant hand-signal back. Hugo started to walk behind a crowd, and made his way behind the other soldier. He knew this wasn't the smartest idea, as the rest of the Sergeant's section was nearby, but continued anyway. He stopped at a set of newspaper vending machines, and looked at it as though he were choosing one out. He chose one and stood reading it at a bus stop. He waited to see what would unfold between these kids and the Sergeant. What in the hell is he doing? They're a bunch of kids.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:30 pm
The girl was taking her time deciding, so Duffy decided to speed up the process.
"Look, I'm serious, we're not here to take you in. I want to talk to you guys about doing some jobs for us in Carlisle, but there are too many people here, so, let's go behind the theatre. Private MacDonald and I here," he looked over at MacDonald, "Will sling our guns if you'll agree to take your hands out of your pockets and off of whatever weapon you've got in there. Gesture of good faith, alright? We're all friends here." MacDonald looked wary, but Duffy nodded, slinging his C11 over his right shoulder. MacDonald reluctantly did the same with his C12 LMG.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:13 pm
"We are each our own devil,Ami had slipped into Cat mode, all of her senses were heightened, and all of them were focused on the man in front of her all except her hearing, can't let someone sneak up on her. She noted every little move he made including the subconscious move of his hand to his gun stock. He plans on using that. His voice was rough but oddly melodious when he spoke, and that caught her off guard along with the words. How does he know about Carlisle, no one from outta town knows about us. As her brain was trying to compute what had just happened something caught her eye, a guy in a pair of black pants and a blue shirt sneaking up behind the soldiers and watching the group very closely. Who is that? And what is he doing? Is he going to help us? Is that what assassins wear?
The appearance of this new guy caught Ami so off guard that she didn't hear the rest of what the soldier had to say, and by the time her brother nudged her in the back to say something the soldier was speaking again. Ami surreptitiously slid her hands out of her pockets with her claws on and folded her arms so they weren't visible. "If you want to hire us, you can talk to us here, where there are witnesses. You'll be less inclined to try and kill us. Besides we don't have anything to hide from our town...But do you?" She shifted her weight on to her left foot and lowered her shoulders a bit, preparing for whatever may come. And we make this world our hell."
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