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Post by dakota on Sept 23, 2014 13:43:53 GMT -5
"Now we try to get out of this airport and back to tell the others without drawing any attention." Jason replied, taking a look around before starting towards the parking lot.
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Post by doc on Sept 24, 2014 7:58:46 GMT -5
"Sure thing." Tom wheels about heading towards the car.
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Post by dakota on Sept 26, 2014 13:42:06 GMT -5
As they left, it seemed there seemed like the pair from the hangar were going to be of no consequence, until they turned a corner and nearly walked into a young lady. She stopped after sidestepping around Tom, then looked at the two of them and smiled," Jason, is that you?"
Jason scowled," Hello Thermax. Tom, go wait in the car." His voice flat and tense.
"Aww, let your friend stay, he can watch. Do Stiletto and Taipan know you are here?" The young lady replied.
"Go Tom. Now." Jason said again, sterner.
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Post by doc on Sept 26, 2014 16:55:52 GMT -5
Tom responds. "Hi, I'm Tom. I'm not much of a watcher." He tries to sense if the woman has any metal on her. "What kind of a name is Thermax? Is that the name your parents gave you? Is it from your homeland? I mean, I'm all for ethnic pride if that's what it is and I'm sure it has a very pretty meaning in your native tongue? Or is it one of those things where you had to legally change your name, like Meatloaf? His real name is Marvin Lee Aday - he got the nickname when he stepped on his high school football coach's foot. He had it legally changed, mostly because he hated his abusive father. Personally, I don't get get legally changing your name, but I can understand if it's something you had to do because of issues in your past."
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Post by dakota on Oct 1, 2014 21:25:53 GMT -5
"Thermax is the kind of name that you give psychotic mutant mercenaries that like to play with fire." Jason said flatly.
"Aww, such a flatterer, Jason." The woman smiled. It seemed almost predatory. " Your friend has a big mouth, maybe I should weld it shut?"
Tom could sense a set of keys in her pocket, and some change in the other. At the same time, her body suddenly was shrouded in a orange aura that Tom could feel the heat radiating from. "Come on Firefight, my dancecard is free."
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Post by doc on Oct 1, 2014 21:48:07 GMT -5
"Your dancecard is free? A hot young woman like you? I'm surprised? Is there no demand for women who smell like BBQ and butane? I'm pretty sure there's some websites for guys with that exact fetish. You just have to look and I'm sure you'll find a very nice guy - maybe a firefighter? I mean, you strike me as the kind of girl who keeps some firefighter calendars and writes fanfiction about getting rescued and 'having your unquenchable flame doused' on forums." Tom gives an aside to Jason. "I don't think we should dance - we're both with other people and I think she's looking for a lasting relationship."
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Post by dakota on Oct 3, 2014 9:43:30 GMT -5
Thermax started to laugh. " He's a comedian. I know you dropped out of the game, but I never expected you to go to show business. I guess that is why no body armour."
Jason shrugged," Not show business. Just helping out a friend. But I am retired from the game. I thought you did too." It was a struggle, but he was trying to follow Tom's lead.
"Yeah well, expensive tastes made me come back sooner than planned. And enough cash was waved at me to get my attention. Can't say the company I have to keep is worth it though." The young lady replied.
"Well, look what the little lassy ran into." Taipan sneered from behind them. " Find grandma's britches yet?"
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Post by doc on Oct 3, 2014 10:09:31 GMT -5
Tom looked at Jason, trying to determine exactly how pear-shaped things had become. Again he reaches out for nearby metal, preparing to act if need be.
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Post by dakota on Oct 4, 2014 15:16:56 GMT -5
Again Tom could sense metal on all three around them.
"Thermax, can't believe you'd stoop to working with an Aussie snake in the grass." Jason smirked.
The young woman actually chuckled as Taipan gave Jason a shove, " Shut your mouth, Dexter. And just how do you know wheels here?" The Australian snarled. " Kid has to have better taste than that."
Tom could sense the other man's cybernetic spine coiling as he tensed while turning. "I gave a friend of a friend a ride. You know what friends are, right? You know, those people you shouldn't bite."
Taipan's associate intervened," Gentleman, no need to make a scene. Just answer the question. What are the two of you really doing here?"
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Post by doc on Oct 5, 2014 11:48:26 GMT -5
Tom spins about looking angrily at Jason. "Friend? FRIEND? You dare? After making a fool of myself to cover your bumbling ineptitude?" Tom huff and spins in his chair so he now has Thermax and Taipan in his line of sight. "Yes yes, formal introductions now. I see you are far more than the stumblebums Dexter made you out to be. My name John Galt and I lead the new Rand Republic. I found this wretched, dejected shadow of a man, adrift, tossed aside by the takers of the so-called government, which has denied this man and others like you and me the sweat of our brow. They take from us, the makers and creators of things, the ones who make possible the joys of life itself, and I see to bring them low. I ask you, is my cause wrong? Would you like to no longer to be serfs to men and women lesser than yourselves? Then join me - I can offer you far more in the world to come than you can possibly imagine."
"You ask what I am doing here? My...associate." He rolls his eyes at Jason, feigning disgust. "had informed me that there were facilities here I might purchase that would suit me well. We have examined many of the hangars here, and I will soon select the one for my best purposes in the coming twilight struggle for freedom. I ask you again, to join me. But heed, if you are not with us, by default you are against us." Tom then reaches out with his magnetic talents for the golf carts, as well as the metal on Taipan and Thermax, to lift them into the air. "And I think neither of us would benefit from that. Consider your next words...carefully."
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Post by dakota on Oct 15, 2014 19:21:20 GMT -5
The threesome looked at each other with a bit of humour after Tom's monologue. Taipan was the first to speak up as he snickered while repeating, " Stumblebums." While Thermax also giggled, before both of them gasped in surprise as Tom caught them off guard. Thermax engulfed in flames, but Jason, looking miffed, had her covered with outstretched hands ready to unleash his energy blasts.
The third member of the group was a bit more mature, merely held his ground, " Impressive, but I have to question on this Rand Republic, as I am a well travelled individual and have never heard of it. So either it is new, well hidden, or a farce." Tom could sense little metal on his posession, but could easily see the blade of energy extend from his hand. " Release them, and we will have no quarrel with you and you may be on your way. Otherwise, this will become very messy."
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Post by doc on Oct 15, 2014 19:34:10 GMT -5
Tom gently lets them down. "The first two, and I assure you, not the last item." Tom clears his throat. "I thank you for your level-headness and circumspection. It is a pleasure to deal with reasonable and forthright individuals."
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Post by dakota on Oct 23, 2014 21:16:30 GMT -5
All three looked less than thrilled, but the blade disappeared as they began to back off. " We will cross paths again."
Jason watched them depart, then let out a deep breath, " How in the hell did you do that?"
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Post by doc on Oct 23, 2014 21:42:52 GMT -5
"Talk when we're in the car. Driving. Fast." Tom answers.
Once in the car and driving Tom exhales. "OK, first let us all be glad that none of those guys ever, ever read or heard of Ayn Rand, Objectivism, or Atlas Shrugged, because if they had we would have been so, so screwed." Tom runs his fingers through his hair. "I took drama classes in high school. OK, so I couldn't sing real well, which put me out of the musicals, but for the pure drama I was good. I was going to get a part in the school's production of Death of a Salesman, but then...well..." He looks back at the chair. "And hey, I understand story structure, and even deranged supercriminals love a good story. They want to believe in stories, you see. So I told them one that worked in their frame of reference. You, the loose cannon bouncing around as a merc, and me as an improbable but powerful mastermind with a devious, secretive and likely way too complicated plan. It's amazing how well that works."
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Post by dakota on Oct 31, 2014 3:57:26 GMT -5
Jason looked over at Tom in disbelief, " Hey, I'm impressed youpulled something liek that together so quick. Problem is we now have a couple more goons to watch over our backs. Taipan, the aussie is not an issue if you can hit hime from a distance, and Thermax, Jolanda Therian actually, can be a handful, but manageable if you can get in her head. The third guy I don't know, but I'll lay money he had something to do with the SCRET detachment being wiped out since I heard they got hacked apart."
As they drove, there was no signs of pursuit.
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