RPG:Champions of Geridarr (Page 5 of 6)

Vanessa blinked as she attacked one of the ninjas. But then his face seemed to change, it was like the black covering on his face was coming lose. It had to be the shadow. Vanessa sent a volley of bolts at the Shadow. She blinked and suddenly realised she’s shot a defenceless tree.

She gritted her teeth. “He’s playing mind games,” she snarled. “Show yourself you pathetic creature.”

Vanessa watched as Indiana morphed into the Shadow. “Speak to me,” Vanessa said wanting to identify if it was the real Indiana Jones or not.

“It’s me,” he said.

Vanessa blinked and turned. She looked and Jack had suddenly turned into a ninja. “This is crazy,” she muttered to herself.

Vanessa gritted her teeth and wondered why this particular ninja was more hearty then the others. She'd managed to score a hit but his blood was... black. She blinked, "Who are..." before she could finish she was being lunged at.

Vanessa lifted her arms using her aegis suit's outer to protect herself. She matched the ninja move for move but had a feeling that the ninja may have just been an illusion. She hesitated as he punched at her chest and she took a low blow and was thrown back.

She landed at the pirate's feet, "Parlay?" she said trying to remember what the pirate had said to surrender.

Gorfin was just about to come at the ninja again with his sword when suddenly Vanessa was in front of him.  He immediately halted his attack.  He fell prey to the Shadow's trick.  Pathetic.  Gorfin was supposed to be a champion telepath on his homeworld and here he was being beaten with a simple Eskellion childling's trick.

Gorfin made his way over to Vanessa and helped her up."I am truly sorry for what I did."  Gorfin brought his hand to his forehead in a show of apology as was his custom.  "I believed you to be a-"

"Ninja.  Yes.  I had the same thing.  But I believe I am the one to be apologizing."  She motioned to his arm. 

"I thank you for your concern.  Sleep may not be the wisest choice Dr. Jones."  Gorfin hadn't quite caught the sarcasm in Indy's voice.  Indy rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for the update.  Listen how about we have someone go on watch?"

"I will volunteer.  My 'sleep' takes on a different form.  I can stay alert when morning comes if I am awake throughout the night."

"But you're injured."

"I don't know if you have noticed Dr. Jones, but my race is completely different than yours.  Do not worry I will be fine."

Vanessa returned to her room and did a quick sweep before laying down on the bed. It was most uncomfortable lying on her back so she turned onto her side. She wondered if leaving the light on would stop the shadow from coming into her room. She let out a disgusted noise and turned out the light, she wasn't a child needing a night light.

In the darkness Vanessa closed her eyes and dreamed.

As soon as Vanessa’s eyes closed she was back in a memory. She was tired yet pumped because she’d defeated yet another one of those huge robot monstrosities out for her blood.

As she stepped into the room she was taken in by the large cylindrical tank. There was a woman held suspended within the tank. Vanessa scoped the area for threats but there were none. As she neared the tank she saw a familiar face. Her own face.

“What?” she gasped.

“You don’t have time to save her, the facility is rigged to blow,” came her employers voice.

Vanessa shook her head, “Who is she?”

“You need to leave, I’ll explain later.” Her employer said coolly.

Vanessa stood transfixed, in her memory she had left the woman behind to save herself. Now she found that she couldn’t do it a second time. “How do I get her out?”

“I told you, you don’t have time. Get out now!” her mysterious employer said forcefully.

Vanessa lifted her hand and shot at the clear cylinder. Water exploded through the breach. Vanessa jumped as the wave flowed and rushed under her feet. The woman tumbled out. Vanessa reached for her. “Are you okay?”

The woman who’s face was identical to her own opened her eyes. They were blood red, “You’re going to die.”

Vanessa sat up straight, it took her a moment to realise where she was, “A dream, just a dream.” She let out a deep breath. She turned to look at the clock radio beside the bed, it was the early hours of dawn. Funnily enough Vanessa felt as though she’d slept for only minutes rather than hours.

The room was cold but the aegis suit adapted and warmed her body, only her face was cold. She touched her nose with the covered hand. “Who was she?” Vanessa said quietly to herself. She knew the truth now, the other woman had been a clone just like her. The memories of her childhood were false, they’d been implanted into her subconscious. She wondered if the woman who had been in the tank had died with any knowledge of her own existence.

Such thoughts could drive a person mad. Vanessa opened the shutters and peered outside. The night was slowly glowing lighter. Yet the shadows were still dark enough for someone to hide themselves in.

Vanessa closed the shutters and turned to the small dented fridge. She opened the door and found a can of coke, a couple of chocolate bars that looked to be out of date and a cup of milk. “So much for breakfast,” she muttered to herself.

Closing the fridge door, Vanessa got up. Put the room key into one of her secret pockets and headed outside. The thought of scrambled eggs on toast was on her mind.

Vanessa was annoyed, apparently it was too early for the Inn’s restaurant to be open. It’d be at least another two hours until they would be providing any sort of food. Vanessa managed to find a vending machine and persuaded it to give up some booty.

She was chewing on a chocolate bar when she saw that Gorfin was in the pool. She was glad that someone else was up and decided to chat with him until the restaurant opened.

“How’s the arm?” she asked as she walked in.

“Not too bad,” he replied.

“Glad to hear it. I’m starving but the kitchen doesn’t open until 6am.” Vanessa said with disgust.

“Would you actually eat something from there?” Gorfin asked.

Vanessa shrugged, “I’d prefer something else but beggars can’t be chosers.” She offered him a chocolate bar, “Would you like one?”

Vanessa shrugged, “I’m from Earth but I’m from a future fast distant from Indiana Jones’ own time.”

“Tell me about it,” Gorfin said as he brushed of the remains of the chocolate on to the fake grass.

“We’re highly technologically advanced. There are many facilities that are controlled by automated robots. I’m not even naturally born. I’m a clone, I don’t know why I was cloned. As far as I was aware I had a past and parents but it turns out that these were false memories. I don’t know how they were inserted into my psyche.” Vanessa said as she placed her chocolate wrapper in the sole bin.

“I know I’m the third clone, my designation was PN03: Product Number Zero Three. I’d been given an identity but I don’t know if it’s the same name as the person I was cloned from. Somehow I doubt it’s the same. I’m very skilled at combat and I have to wonder if it’s all me or if I’ve been enhanced in some way.” Vanessa lifted her hand to study it, “Well beyond the enhancements of the aegis suit.”

“Is the suit part of you?” Gorfin asked.

Vanessa shook her head, “No I can change out of it, but while it’s on it’s connected to my neural system. It acts as I think it, even faster I sometimes feel. What about you, does your suit connect to you?”

Vanessa nodded, “I know all about that. I’ve stayed on my own because I like a dangerous job.”

Gorfin looked at her, “The thrill of the chase?”

Vanessa smiled, “Something like that. Since I lost my family, well thought I’d lost my family, I decided there was nothing to hold me back. So I lived dangerously. I’ve been alone for what seems like a long time. On my last mission I found another clone. She seems to know more than I but she is not forthcoming.”

“Perhaps she is protecting you,” Gorfin suggested.

“But from what?” Vanessa said, she knew that Gorfin could not answer. He didn’t need to, his silence let her know that he understood that she wasn’t really looking for an answer from him. “So do you think we can get out of this situation?”

"Yes?" Indy answered annoyed, yet not lowering his revolver.

"My name is Revolver Ocelot. I over heard your conversation with your friends back at the cantina and I've decided that your plan may be something I wish to be part of. I want out of this place just as you do, and I want to be on the winning side." Ocelot replied.

Indy thought for a moment. He really couldn't tell what the man's intentions were, yet its probably true that he wants to get out of Geridarr. However, 'I want to be on the winning side' could be either the Vindicators or the immensly powerful Emperor. Damn...

"So you want to be a Vindicator?" Indy asked

"Well...I'd like to know more."

"I'm not taking that chance. You're with us or you're not."

"....very well. Where do I sign?" Ocelot said smiling. Indy didn't trust the smile.

"Not just yet. We got a couple of telepathics or psychics or whatevers in our party and I want to be sure that you're not trying to pull a fast one on us."

"....right. What? Theyre gonna scan my head?"

"The hell if I know, but i'm sure one of them can tell me something." Indy motioned down the hallway and the pair began to walk to the spa area, where Indy was pretty sure Gorfin was taking first watch. Flame was MIA.

Indy brought Ocelot to the spa where Gorfin was relaxing in the water and Vanessa was sitting in a chair nearby speaking with him. He nodded to Vanessa.

"Dr. Jones..." Vanessa said in greeting.

"Call me Indy. Gorfin, this is Revolver Ocelot. He wants to join us, but im not completely sure of his intentions." Indy said

"Understandable." Ocelot said

"I wanted to know if you could get a feeling of intentions or something with your...skill." Indy asked Gorfin.

Gorfin nodded.  He looked to the other man.  "If you co-operate this will be relatively painless.  If not I can make it quite painful."

Revolver Ocelot shrugged.  "I have nothing to hide."

Without another word thought Gorfin placed his hand on the man's forehead.  Physical contact made deep searching easier.

Gorfin found just as the man said.  The man tried to repress some memories but Gorfin wasn't here for those.  Although he wasn't the most savoury person back on his realm he wanted to get back.  And he viewed the Vindicators as the best way.

Gorfin removed his hand and addressed everyone.

"He is like us all.  He wants to get home."

Vanessa raised a brow at Flame’s unusual entrance. “Oh you know you missed the ninja of doom, nothing special.”

“What?” Flame said looking rather disappointed.

“If you want to kill something that bush over there is just waiting for a thrashing,” Vanessa said with a teasing smile.

Flame shook his head, “I want some real action.”

Indiana pushed his hat up with his finger, “Stick around and maybe, just maybe, you can pick up my shell casings," said Indiana, clearly annoyed that Flame was off getting drunk while they were all outmatched by the Shadow. "Now then Gorfin, you were saying?”

“Like us, Ocelot just wants to go home.” Gorfin confirmed.

There was a faint rustling in the bushes. Vanessa adjusted her glasses, “Looks like there’s a ninja for you now Flame.”

"Yeah well in this case, this shadow just so happens to weild two handguns bigger than my head. But go on with your handy work here...with any luck the Emperor will hire you to do his lawn." Indy replied extending his hand towards the burnt bush.