Interesting. *hands T a nickel*
Her identity changed while she was in a coma? Hmmm...
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
Recursive?
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
The periodic hammering brought a fine trickle of dust from the ceiling. Recursive shook her head and brushed some larger drywall fragments from her shoulder.
"Why do they have his office out here in this wing in the middle of a renovation?"
"I don't know. Budget cuts or something. He doesn't work here anyway, they brought him in for this consultation." Mrs. Green stared at her daughters dress. "Where did you get that? I don't remember you owning a dress like that." She rubbed the fabric of the sleeve between her fingertips. "It's too...mature for you."
"Mr. Greene gave me some money to buy clothes. We stopped at the mall yesterday after he picked me up from school."
"Don't call him 'Mr. Greene'. He's your father."
"'Father' got me a new dress. The other clothes don't fit."
The door to the office opened and a man emerged. He was of middling height and build, wispy blond hair, engrained laugh lines around his mouth that evoked an attitude of perpetual amusement. He was handsome and charming with a rubbery face that looked sort of fake and disconnected. Topping his pinstriped shirt and tie was a long white lab coat with six pockets on the front. Three up each side, the lower ones in the usual place while the others stacked higher on the torso like those of a vest. He held a folder in his hand and used it to wave them into the office, which was completely bare save a desk, lamp, and three chairs.
"Ladies I'm Dr. Proxy, please have a seat."
"Proxy? That's an unusual name.." Mrs. Greene lowered herself into a chair, purse on her lap.
"Haha yes I know. I get that all the time." He sat down and opened the folder, and flipped through a small stack of documents.
"Is it German?"
He looked at Recursive, then Mrs. Greene, then glanced back down at the folder. "Ok so we have a situation here with Callie. Callie Greene. My notes say she was found under unusual circumstances..."
Mrs. Greene shifted in her chair and slid her purse on to the floor. "I dropped her off at the high school in the morning. She was found 2 hours later in an alley by the train station downtown. She was unconscious and had been beaten. It took a week for her to come out of it."
"And then?"
"She didn't remember anything about her life...me..her father...nothing. And she insists her name is 'Recursive'."
"Well people who experience extreme traumas often have altered states of consciousness as a result.."
"There's more." She rubbed her eyes.
"Go on."
"She doesn't sleep. Every time we've checked on her at night, she's been awake. She's...bigger. She was in a coma for one week and now she's four inches taller than before. She doesn't act anything like my daughter."
"Do you think there's been a mistake? Did you bring home the wrong child?
"No. I thought about it, but we stayed with her...nearly the whole time. It's Callie...just the change wasn't apparent until she woke up."
Dr. Proxy took a pen out of his lab coat and tapped it on the table before jotting something down on a piece of paper. He looked at his watch. "Mrs. Green, what do you think is going on here? What is your worst case scenario?"
"I..don't know..it's just. It sounds crazy..but..that isn't my daughter. Inside. It's not her..."
"So what are you suggesting? That's she's somehow possessed?"
Mrs. Green squirmed in her seat a bit. She threw up her hands. "I don't know."
Dr. Proxy turned to Recursive. "Are you possessed?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"I told you it sounded crazy! I know it sounds crazy. I know that." Mrs. Green reached into her purse and withdrew a tissue.
Dr. Proxy laughed and waved his hand. "No no dear lady it's not crazy. There are many different types of possesion. Induced extreme personality disorder via brainwashing. Demonic possession. Psychic displacement. All sorts of different scenarios."
"Are you serious? Is this a joke?"
"Absolutely not. Here let me show you something..." He reached into his coat.
Recursive put her hand on the woman's shoulder. "Mother wait. He's not what he seems to be."
Mrs. Greene pushed her away. "Stop it. Now what do you have to show me doctor?"
As she leaned forward towards the table, Dr. Proxy pulled out a small aerosol can and sprayed it in her face. Mrs. Greene sneezed and then coughed. She fluttered her fingers near her face and then started to convulse. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her jaw slackened. The doctor came around the front of the desk and took her hand, steadying her.
"Mrs. Greene....Mrs. Greene...."
"Yes."
"Your little girl is gone. Callie is gone. And she's never coming back."
"Oh...no..."
"It's alright. Do you hear me? It's o.k."
"O.k.?"
"Yes everything will be alright. Just start to let go. Everything will be o.k. Think happy thoughts. Can you do that?"
"O.k."
"Good girl. Now I'd like you to go out in the hall and wait for a while. We have some things to discuss. Be happy. O.k.?"
"O.k."
"Goooooood. Go on now."
Like a sleepwalker, Mrs. Greene collected herself and her bag and exited the room without looking back.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
You have Dr. Proxy spelled as Dr. Proxie in a few places.
As usual, your stories are very... complicated.
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
Thanks I missed those.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
So, me see if I understand...
Callie Greene, AKA Recursive, was assaulted, fell into a coma, grew 4 inches in a week, and has amnesia. She also exhibits some sort of ESP.
Additionally, Dr. Proxy is either not a doctor or has ulterior motives.
Interesting.
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
This is interesting.
Pity it'll disappear once attention is no longer paid to it...
Aside from the usual recommendations of keeping a back-up on your hard drive, I also suggest you post this in a place like the roleplaying forum, which has works from numerous players and isn't susceptible to the regular purges that claim so many inactive posts in the server forums.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
I'm going to wait to see how the story progresses before I worry about posting it anywhere else.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
The doctor sat down and smiled, sliding the aerosol can back in his pocket. Recursive took another survey of the plain white office walls.
"So I take it you're not really a doctor." He shrugged.
"I dabble in medicine, but it's true. I don't have a formal degree in anything. I just like having the title. 'Doctor.' Gives a nice air of credibility and authority. An expert that can help you get well, you know?"
"Yeah."
"Would you mind keeping it up? Calling me doctor...I've just really grown accustomed to it."
"Sure. I will."
"Thank you so much." He smiled broadly. "I know you have questions, but could you indulge me in something else for one minute?"
"O.k."
He reached into another pocket and pulled out a small bottle of ink. He removed the cap and set it on the table. Then, his eyes intent on Recursive, he knocked it over with a wave of his hand. The fluid spilled out, flowing all the way to the other side and dripping off the edge. He threw up his hands.
"Ooops! I'm so clumsy. Would you mind taking care of it?" There was a moment of silence. Nothing happened. He gestured towards the ink. "Please."
Recursive glanced at the spill. The drops jumped back up from the floor to the table. The fluid rolled and coalesced back towards the bottle. It flowed back up inside until the bottle was nearly full again and it righted itself. Standing once more as it had before his hand knocked it over. The doctor grinned and clapped.
"Very nice. Very very nice. Wonderful."
"Was this all your doing? Did you put me in the coma to create this ability?"
"Actually, I don't know. I think it's definitely likely. But I had no knowledge of your condition prior to this morning. I was instructed to come meet you here."
"Who gave the order?"
"I did."
He shifted his posture. A bulge appeared in one of the lab coat pockets. He reached inside and pulled out a white note card.
"That card appeared in there just now, didn't it?"
"Correct." He held it close to his face as he read it. "It's from the future. 'A' future I should say." He frowned slightly. "Yes it seems I was responsible for your coma. Sorry about that, it was apparently necessary for the transition. There was no beating either, just some bruising created to serve the cover story." He dropped the card and it disintegrated into nothingness before reaching the table.
"You're a time traveler?"
"In a way. I'm able to extend my being outward to different time periods and realities. I'm able to send myself information and other things accross the gaps. When I was little I had a twin brother. We played together all the time. Then one day my mother informed me that she hadn't had any other children. I realized my twin brother was another incarnation of myself. He was the first to pass on to the future and he was my first pen pal, so to speak."
He stood up and pulled a cell phone out of an inside pocket and looked at the screen. "Hmmm, I'm almost out of time. There are some things to which I need to attend. You should leave those people and come stay with me. It would be better that way. I'll just send the mother on her way."
"The Greenes? I can't just leave." He looked at her blankly.
"What? Why not?"
"They've lost a child. They're traumatized.."
"What is that to you?"
"I don't know. It seems wrong."
"Alright, fine." He reached into the coat and pulled out a business card. "You can reach me at that address. If you experience any difficulties make your way there as soon as possible."
She took the card. "Hold on. I have a feeling...a bad foreboding. I'm in danger aren't I?"
"Yeah. The note said you need to be careful. Didn't say why." He turned to leave. "Just keep in touch, you'll be fine."
"Keep in touch for what? What is this all about anyway?"
"I'm putting a team together. To take over the world--it will be a lot of fun. Ciao for now."
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
To take over the world? This IS interesting.
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
I agree. This story looks like it is going someplace...a dark, scary place but a place that keeps you on the edge of your seat. 
I am taking my sig to MWO and MWT. Let them wonder what it means.
Recursive zipped the duffle bag and looked around the bedroom for anything to take. Anything serviceable as a weapon. She jumped up on the bed and slid across to the other side, snatching the lamp off of the nighttable and pulling it away until the plug popped out from the wall outlet. She ripped the cord from the base and wound it up tightly before sliding it into her pocket. The voices in the house we getting louder. She could hear Mr. Greene's footsteps coming down the hall.
"Callie? You in there? Come on out, we need to talk to you in the living room."
"O.k. I'll be right there." She looked at the bedroom window and thought one last time about escaping through it. Then she sighed, grabbed the bag, and headed out the bedroom door.
"Are you going somewhere honey?" Mrs. Green sat on the couch with a man in a suit. There were two more in the room. One was standing by the front door. The nearest one was to her left, by the wall opposite the door. They were all well built. athletic. Well groomed to look official. All three were armed. Two with shoulder holsters under their jackets. The man near her with a pistol tucked into the back of his waistband, another at his left ankle. Underneath his sleeves, the one by the door had knife wound scars all up and down his left forearm. There was a switchblade in his pocket. The guy on the couch with a prison tattoo on his neck just barely peeking over the top of the starched white collar. Liars. Fakers. Contract killers. Mr. and Mrs. Green talking with them. Hopeful and blissfully ignorant of what their senses were unable to tell them.
"No mother." She dropped the bag to the floor and brushed past the man to her left who was trying to introduce himself as "Dan". Mr. Greene's golf clubs were stacked in the corner. She took a metal putter and returned to where the duffel was slumped on the floor.
Mr. Greene gestured towards the guests. "Callie these men are with a government agency called Longbow..." He turned towards the man on the couch, who reached inside his coat and pulled out a picture.
"Yes Callie we are from a division of Longbow, which is a government agency formed to deal the with super-human threats that have been rampant since the days of the Rikti invasion. Our group's focus is protecting ordinary people, like yourself and your parents, who come into contact with these dangerous people. Take a look at this photo for me..." He held the picture out for her to take.
Recursive ignored him. She methodically lifted the club in different directions in front of her body. Up and down, left and right, side to side until every vector away from her wrist had been covered. The man at the door grinned.
"Practicing your golf swing? That's a strange way to go about it." Mr. Greene grunted.
"Callie pay attention! These men are here to help you."
"No they aren't."
The man on the couch shot Mrs. Green a knowing look and continued. "Callie, this man who introduced himself as "Dr. Proxy" is a rogue chemist and pedophile who has been victimizing young girls over the last 10 years. He uses dangerous hallucinogens to distort his victim's sense of identity in order to make them believe is scams. We are close to apprehending him and we believe that we can undo most of the damage he has done to your system. Mrs. Greene clasped her hands and leaned forward on the couch.
"Do you hear that dear? They can restore your memories. You'll be able to have you life back. Isn't that wonderful?"
"They are lying Mother. I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry about what has to happen. I am. Proxy was right. I shouldn't have come back here."
"Callie, what are you.."
The man on the couch put his hand on Mrs. Greene's shoulder. "Remember that cognitive disassociation we discussed earlier? We need to get her to the medical facility in Steel Canyon in order to.."
Recursive lashed out with the club. It shot across the room and hit the man by the door square in the face. He leaned forward, clutching his nose with his hands, blood seeping out between his fingers. The club shot back to her hand and then fired forward once more, bashing him in the top of the skull. He crumpled to the ground as the putter returned again to her grasp. It spun around in an arc as "Dan" rushed forward to seize it, snapping three of his fingers.
"AAArrgh damn Jack she broke my fingers!" The Greenes both yelled as the man on the couch jerked out his pistol and opened fire. The putter flashed back and forth in front of the girl. It caught the first bullet and sent it into the ceiling. The angle of the second impact deflected the next bullet towards "Dan" and it lodged itself in his right temple. He snorted and shook and then fell lifeless to the floor.
"You little [censored]!" Mrs. Green screamed as the gunman seized her by the hair and pulled her down, putting the gun against her head.
"Hey! What the..." Mr. Green reached for his wife.
"You stay the hell back or she dies now!" He glared at Recursive. "Think you're cute freak? You're going to drop that club and lay face down on the floor or I'm going to kill your folks."
"Go on ahead. Do it."
"I'm not joking here!"
"Go on ahead."
He quickly shifted the weapon and fired on Mr. Green, opening a hole in his chest. He gasped and sank to his knees.
"OH MY GOD NOOOOO. HOWARD!" Mrs. Greene started to pull away but the hitman yanked her back down. He fired again. Howard Greene slumped against the side of the couch and then slid to the floor. Mrs. Greene whimpered and shook.
"You like that, eh? You happy now kid?" He pressed the barrel hard against Mrs. Greene's forehead. "LAST CHANCE."
Recursive stared at him impassively. "Go on ahead. You're not going to make it out of here alive anyway."
There was a moment of grotesque heavy silence. Then the explosion. The burning. The spatter. Red mist and moisture. He pushed Mrs. Greene's corpse away and stood up. He pointed the gun. His body was stiff. His face was squirming. She was staring at him vacantly.
What are you going to do to me now?
Mrs. Greene rose to her feet behind him. And she became Recursive.
What are you going to do to me now?
The other killers stumbled to their feet and they were Recursive.
what are you going to do to me now?
what are you going to do to me now?
what are you going to do to me now?
Mr. Greene staggered to his feet and was Recursive.
what are you going to do to me now?
There were footsteps coming down the hall. And it was Recursive.
what are you going to do to me now?
The room began to fill with bodies.
And it was Recursive.
And it was Recursive.
And it was Recursive.
And it was Recursive.
And it was Recursive.
"GET THE F*** OUT OF MY HEAD!!!" The killer emptied the rest of his clip and ran for the door. He wrenched it open and darted out into the light.
Recursive moved to the window and watched him. He ran to a black SUV parked out front. He was about to climb into the driver's side when something caught his attention down the street. He seemed to fall into a daze. He shuffled off down the sidewalk to a lot that was bordered by hedges. He stood there, babbling to nothing on the other side of the hedge wall.
Then she saw something. An apparition. An empty suit and dark gloves. An empty collar with no neck. It was standing there and the killer was ranting to it. Then a shadow moved past the window. Shadows moved down the street. They emerged from the bushes. They fell down from the sky. They seeped into the suit like water. And a strange shape began to take form.
The head was long rounded shape. A cylinder with a bulbous end, like an old fashioned thermometer. It was dark and glassy with strange movement inside, swirling like smoke. The figure raised its hands and began to throttle the gunman.He writhed and shook until the life left his body and the thing dumped him in the hedges. There were sparks of light in the glass. Flickering images. A single eye looking around. A skull breathlessly laughing.
Recursive left the window and gathered the duffelbag. She stood in the center of the room for a moment, eyes closed. There was a sucking sound as blood flew across the room and poured back into the Greenes. Their bodies jerked to life like puppets, spitting out the shells, cloth and flesh burrowing and locking back into place. They gasped and looked at her in horror.
"I'm sorry. I never wished this on you. I have to leave now for good."
Mr. Greene coughed and patted his chest compulsively. Mrs. Greene stared slackjawed at the bloodstains and bodies, and the bullet holes intruding on the walls of her home.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
O.o
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
*blink* Uh...wow. That's...something.
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
"So it was some nonhuman entity. And you think it sent the hitmen after you."
"Yes I'm sure of it."
"And it was wearing a suit?"
"A grey suit. White shirt, black tie. Black leather gloves."
"Hmmm."
Dr. Proxy ripped a sheet off the notepad on the desk and pulled a pen out of his coat. He leaned over his desk and started scribbling. His hand was a blur. The motion produced a nearly photograph quality rendering of the thing.
"Yes! Yeah that's it." Recursive started as the furnace vents started clattering behind her. Proxy's one-man neurological institute was located in an old stone chapel at the edge of an industrial park near King's row. The furnishings left something to be desired.
"Hmmm. Well crap." He crossed his arms and tapped his index finger agains his lips. "You're a bad boy Proxy. You promised you wouldn't do it again. Oh well..."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I steal....a lot of stuff. From various places. There's this one universe, it's just a great place to siphon energy for things." He grinned. "You know, like giving little girls super powers. Problem is..." He pointed to the picture. "This thing..I call it Bulb. It followed me out of there. It's killed me in the future, absorbed some of my knowledge and abilities. I think it probably wants to hunt you down and kill you to release to power I used to boost you."
"Why didn't it attack me directly?"
"Well it's tricky. The thing generally manifests somewhere and you need to kill it three times in order to be rid of it. Still, that's only three chances. If it can kill you indirectly, it will."
"How difficult is it to kill?"
"Well it's not that hard at first, but there's a problem...hold on.." He lifted a finger. "Wait.."
There was the sound of a large vehicle pulling up outside the building. Dr. Proxy became agitated. "He's here! Let's go to the main office." He brushed passed her. "Come on!."
"What? Who? Who is here?"
"Our point man. Our muscle. He's being delivered."
Recursive sat down next to Proxy's desk. There was silence then the sounds of people passing through the main entrance and something like chains being dragged across the floor. There was a loud voice:
This ain't the Zig. What the hell is this crap OH HELL NO YOU ARE NOT PUTTIN ME IN WIT DA KOOKS AND DA CRAZIES man that jus ain't gonna fly I'm tellin you mother--
Two longbow wardons in full armor entered the office. Between them was a large, muscular, very pale man with sunglasses and slicked back black hair. He was in heavy restraints, manacles on his wrists and ankles, chains connecting the two sets and restricting the movement of the heavily tattoed arms. He had an elaborate collar around his neck that Recursive took to be some sort of taser device.
He was wearing a black tshirt, black leather pants and boots. The room reeked of alcohol as soon as he entered.
Dr. Proxy stood up and approached them. "Key?" The warden on the left handed over a key ring "Thanks. Was there anything else?"
"No this is how we found him when we picked him up in the bar."
"Thank you gentlemen, you can go now." They turned and left without a word. He started removing the shackles. "It's Frozen Death correct?"
"Most people call me FD." He rubbed his wrists. "What is this? Explain. What you have me picked up for?"
"I didn't have you picked up. I just heard about a plan to ambush you after a hard night of partying. So I mezzed those guys and had them bring you to me instead of jail. They won't remember anything after they leave here."
"Why? What do you want with me. Better be good."
"I need you for a job."
"Ok what job."
"There's a high security facility that I'm going to break into. There's a storage container in a research lab on a lower level. I need to get to a box inside that container. I need a heavy hitter. The place will be crawling with security in powered armor."
"Yeah i can bust some heads no problem. What's in the box tho?"
Dr. Proxy smiled and threw up his hands. "I won't know until I open it."
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
Interesting...
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc. I'm gonna miss you... you had such potential. But then again, all good things must come to an end..." -- Q
The temperature dropped considerably as the moved further down the passageway. The surface of the narrow walls was moist with humidity. The lightbulbs strung loosely overhead flickered slightly, as if somehow affected by an undetected breeze. The space widened into a room with stalls on either side. Dr. Proxy flicked a switch and it lit up, revealing some modest furnishings--a couch and a few office chairs, along with a dehumidifier in the corner. There was a bolted metal door on the far side of the room. He gestured to one of the stalls.
"This is left over from Prohibition. They used to have bookies down here too. That's what the phones were for." Each of stalls held an antique receiver on a base. Simple rotary dials. FD paced impatiently.
"Yeah that's nice...so? Why'd you bring us down here?"
"I have to make a phone call, need some more info for the smash and grab."
"A phone call? Dude you ever hear of a friggin cell phone?"
"Hahaha no it's not that kind of call. I'm calling the future. This is a special place for it."
FD looked at Recursive. "Is he trippin'?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Really? Daaaamn"
"Yeah it's part of his super powers. He's a weird guy."
"Hey Proxy....man, um...find out what the winning lottery is gonna be. The big one, the Mega Bucks one."
Proxy laughed. "Sorry my friend, it doesn't work that way."
"Well then crap--the Super Bowl. Find out who wins.."
The doctor mumbled something inaudible and sat down in one of the stalls. FD walked around the room a couple times than sank down on the couch. Recursive went to it and leaned against the arm rest on the opposite side.
"FD.."
"Yeah?"
"I don't really know you that well, but I was wondering if you could do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"Something is trying to kill me. And I was wondering if you could...stop that from happening."
FD looked her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. He had the face of a haunted man. In her mind's eye, Recursive could picture the specter of responsibility wagging its boney finger at him. His head was sunk into the plushness of the couch. It seemed to hold him there like flypaper. Finally he sat up and retrieved a pack of cigarettes from a pocket on the side of his right boot.
"Ok...yeah..f*** it..whatever. I'll do it." He held the cigarette in his hand, staring at the tip. Suddenly it burst into flame and he took a long drag. Smoke poured out of his mouth as he spoke. "Who wants to kill you? How old are you? Twenty? Some ex boyfriend wants to kill you or something?"
"No I'm almost 16."
"What? 16..damn...."
"This thing is hunting me. Dr. Proxy says its name is Bulb. It's some sort of creature from another universe. I don't know what it is exactly."
"It's as good as dead. Thing will wish it never showed its face..."
"It doesn't really have a face."
"Then I kick it in the nutz until it dies. And if it has no nutz, I run it over with my ride. Drive a stake through his heart. Throw his a** in a black hole. Oookaay?"
"Thaaaank yoouuuuu."
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
LOL. Backup plans for backup plans of killing things...awesome.
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
ANNDDD there is the FD we all love and hate.
Just joshing ya FD, love the story so far.
I am taking my sig to MWO and MWT. Let them wonder what it means.
They rolled up to the office building in a decrepit cargo van. The breaks squealed and boxes rattled in the back as Dr. Proxy circled to the rear of the building. The vehicle stopped and Recursive cracked her window. FD leaned over her seat from the back and stared out of the windshield.
"This it?"
"Yes indeed."
"We really gonna be making our getaway in this piece of crap."
"No, unlikely.."
"But you don't know right? Stupid....more of that stupid crap. What's in there?"
"It's a Crey research facility disguised as a vacant building. The offices next to it are really vacant. We're going to sneak in from there."
FD sat back down. "Hey what am I doing this for anyway? What are you paying?"
"Mmmm money?" Dr. Proxie pulled a roll of bills out of his coat and tossed it back. "I think that's about 5 grand to start. But I don't picture you really doing this for cash."
"Oh?" FD thumbed through the bills. "Why's that?"
"Cause you could take whatever you want. I think you probably have everything you need in terms of material wealth."
"Yeah, so? How am I gonna get rewarded?" He stuffed the bills in his pocket.
"I was thinking more power. I understand you are pretty much tethered to the artifact in your safe house right? Can't leave the city."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Well I should be able to do something about that soon." He opened his door and slid out into the parking lot. Recursive smiled at FD.
"You have somewhere else you need to be?"
"I don't like this mystery garbage."
"I think he's gonna deliver. I think it'll be worth it."
"Why? You know this guy?"
"Not really. Just the feeling I have. My gut is usually right."
"Hey your hair got long." Recursive twirled a strand with her finger. It was well past her shoulders.
"Yeah. Do you think it looks better this way?" Her hair shrank back into her head until she had a pageboy haircut with sharp bangs just above her eyebrows. "Or this?" There was a flurry of motion as the hair lengthened and swirled into a bun in the back, bangs lengthening on the sides.
"Crackhead."
The office building was dark. Dr. Proxy handed out nightvision goggles, which FD declined. They followed a couple turns until they ended up at a metal security door.
"Do I bust this thing down?"
"Nope. You shouldn't ever need to do that as long as we have Recursive with us."
Recursive waved her hand at the door. The locking mechanism clicked and it swung open. Inside was a small passage leading to another door, this one larger with more reinforcement like somthing from a bank vault. Again, the mechanism turned inside and the door squeaked open. Proxy peered into the space beyond.
"They really don't expect people to get beyond this door without creating a lot of noise, so this area isn't as secure as the others. We have a straight shot to the surface lift."
He led them down a side passage that ended at a staircase. They listened for a moment to some voices in the distance then, when the sound subsided, they began their descent. Proxy stopped them at the fourth floor down. The stairway exit was locked and keyed with a palm print scanner. Recursive opened it and they entered the passageway, removing the goggles and squinting in the flourescent light. Proxy gestured towards the walls.
"Okay. Here's where it gets interesting. The passage in front of us has pressure and motion sensors along the floor and sides. For the first 20 feet or so, there are special guns that will fire an adhesive foam at anyone trying to make it past without a special security beacon." He gestured towards slots visible along the length of the wall. "The foam absorbs oxygen in the air, so normal people will likely pass out within the first minute. After that, there is an additional 15 feet with flame throwers, followed by 2 large blast shields that will slam into place if activated by the men in the room at the end of the passage."
"Who is in the room?"
"A Crey security team. Five or six agents. Two of them in medium grade power armor at all times."
"That's it?!?"
"Sorry?"
FD stepped forward. "Ok I got this handled."
"Wait..." Recursive extended her arm towards him. His body blurred for a moment, then the outline sharpened. He balled his fists, a feint energy and blur surrounding him as he moved.
"Oh yeah...nice! Feels like I'm at 150 percent."
"Probably around there."
FD drew his closed fists to his sides then slowly extended them halfway. He sank in his stance as jets of darkness flowed out of his hands, pouring into passage. Suddenly he thrust them forward, ramming his energy down the hall. There was a shriek of metal, grinding and falling noises then explosions and burning. He shot off and was gone, darting into the black and away from view. Proxy smiled and strolled after him, hands in his coat. Recursive followed, gawking at the mangled corridor--the walls pushed out, machinery sparking and burning on the other side.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
Will there be more went I get home from work tomorrow?
Seriously, FD this is some good [censored] dude. I have rethunk about you and with this fiction, your a cool dude...even if ya gank me when even I do go into a PvP zone. 
I really love your style, its despcriptive and engaging, I lubs it.
I am taking my sig to MWO and MWT. Let them wonder what it means.
I agree.
The style is a little irregular for the fiction that generally goes on the forums (narrative in one paragraph, full conversation in another), indeed, it's irregular for most works of fiction, but it works. I rather enjoy this story, too.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Thank you for the kind words.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
The sobbering and whimpering voices drifted out from the corner of the room. Recursive slowly walked back to the desk in the corner and peered over the edge. Two female crey agents huddled there on the floor in their black business suits, their makeup running down in the tracks of their tears. They stared wided-eyd at the floor and the bare wall, mumbling and gesturing towards some imagined horror. One held a pistol in her hand. She gnashed her teeth and languidly lifted it to her temple, clenching her eyes shut as she fingered the trigger. Recursive reached down and pried it out the woman's limp grasp. She set it on the table and snapped her fingers, drawing their attention as her consciousness reached out to them.
"Look at me." The agents gradually calmed and met her gaze. "Do you two want to die?"
The two shook their heads. "No..please..don't..."
"You two are going to get up and calmly walk out of here. You are going to leave this area and not return. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Thank you..."
The two started to rise nervously. Recursive pointed across the room to FD. "And stay away from that man. And if you come back here, I'll draw my power back and the fear will return."
The women started to leave. Dr. Proxy stepped over the smashed remains of a man in a powered assault suit and smiled at Recursive.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you bother releasing them? They would have stayed there."
"Does it bother you I let them go?" Dr. Proxy shrugged.
"No. It's just a bit confusing is all."
Recursive walked over to where FD sat in a desk chair. A second armored body was driven into the wall to the left, just the legs and lower torso dangling out. The edges of the hole in the wall were lined with ice. Smoke wafted out from somewhere on the other side. FD had the pieces of a third suit spread out in front of him on a table. He held the helmt, turning it around and studying the controls from different angles.
"Where's the body that went with this one?"
"It's gone. You don't want to know where."
"I saw you left the chickies...unkilled."
"Yeah well...I'm a ....misogyner...err a gynocologicaliss. You, know whatever they call that." Recursive laughed.
"Maybe kind of chauvinist?"
"Whatever it is [censored]! I got a soft spot for the ladies ok? Whatever you wanna call it. I call it being a man but you can call it your fancy french things. Whatever you want."
"That's sweet. But don't you think that's gonna get you in trouble some day..maybe with some super powered hot girl that will take advantage of it?"
FD laughed. "How do you think I got into this mess to begin with?"
"What mess?"
"Nevermind." He got up and followed Dr. Proxy out into a hallway.
The guard station was at a junction point for three new passages. Proxy led them down the one to the right. As they moved away from the room, they could hear people moving in the other corridors.
"Do we need to worry about reinforcements?"
"No. This facility is of minor importance to the organization, so it operates on a skeleton crew. There is one active research project going on here at the moment. They'll station their remaining security there to guard it. They'll let us take whatever we're after and then investigate later. We can't dally here but we have plenty of time to do what we need to do." He led them to a large storage room that had several stacked rows of metal containers, each one a cube about three feet wide. He shut and locked the door behind them and went to a filing cabinet in the corner. He pulled out a binder and began flipping through the storage manifest.
FD paced the room. "What are we gonna get here?"
"I bet it's a new team member."
"In a box? Is she right Proxy? Maybe it's like a cool robot or something."
"I don't know. It could be. Come on, it's over here."
The box was by itself in the far corner of the room from the entrance. Dr. Proxy flipped the latches on the lid, causing a brief, whistling influx of air as it came loose and the pressure normalized. He tossed the lid to the side and looked in.
"Oh......"
"What is it?" FD pushed him aside and looked in.
Inside the box was a thermos. A chrome thermos. It was about 16 inches tall. It had a handle on the side. It said Nissan at the bottom.
"WHAT THE HELL? WE BROKE IN THIS PLACE TO GET A THERMOS?!?"
Dr. Proxy was pale. He paced aimlessly rubbing his jaw and mumbling to himself. "Put it on top of that other box there."
"What is this? What is in the thermos?"
"JUST PUT IT ON THE DAMN BOX."
"Ok man just chill out geeze." FD reached in the box and grabbed the thermos. "Holeee crap it's heavy! Feels like it's full of lead or somethin."
Recursive put her hand on Proxy's shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
He rubbed his face and then stared up at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought. "Aww man...it has to be this way? really? Man...there's gotta be some...no it can't...yes...well....man...." He rubbed his eyes. "Ok...ok...ok ok..yeah..." He looked down and started patting the front of his coat and then pulled out a small prescription bottle full of red tablets. He popped the lid off and started gulping them down, pouring the pills into his mouth straight from the bottle.
"WHOAH dude! What are you doing? Don't go crazy man.."
"It's ok." Dr. Proxy tossed the empty bottle away. "It's ok but...ugh..wow...good pain killer. Anyway, um I have to explain what's going to happen next. First, look around. Are there any boxes around that are smaller, maybe with a "P" marked on the side?"
The wandered around looking at the stacks. Recursive called out and came back with a small, square plastic container with the mark on the lid. "This?"
"Yesh! Great thas it. Open it."
Recursive flipped open the lid and pulled out a black plastic sphere. She turned it around. One side had a window with liquid inside. She shook it and white words appeared.
GOOD JOB
"It's a magic 8 ball." Proxy smiled.
"Great here's the plan. Ugh..mmm I'm gonna open this thermos. And then you two rrr gonna do what the mashic ball telllsssyou...k?"
"Man you're high dude..you goin crazy on us?"
"Doctor what's gonna happen when you open it?" Proxy laughed and put his hands on the thermos.
"I...I yam gonna die. Someone hass to and I neejoo too alive. But its cool..don worreee....listen to the magic ball...it willl give you all..it will tellyou wha to doo untill I come back. It will givv youooooo guy dannnzzzzzzz...."
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
The Kooks
She squinted in the light and dangled a blurry hand in front of her face. Figures darted back and forth around the bed, the machines pulsing and chirping as they came and went. There was a shadow above to the right. It tapered to a long tube that hung down and was secured to her other arm. She began to claw away the bandages. A woman took her hand.
"Oh dear don't. We're not ready to remove that yet."
"It isn't necessary."
"Honey you've been through a lot...don't worry. Just be patient and we'll have you back up on your feet in no time."
"I'm not worried."
She focused her vision on the doctor. Young man. Dark features. Middle Eastern, early thirties. He caught her gaze and leaned forward shining a small light in her eyes. He mumbled something to a nurse about vital signs. He took her hand in his palm.
"How are you feeling?"
"Adequate."
"Adequate?" He laughed. "That's an interesting response. Any dizziness? Headache? Any strange sensations?"
"No."
"How about temperature? Do you feel hot or cold?"
"No."
"How is your mood? Feeling sad at all?"
"I want to leave."
"Well you are doing very well physically but we don't want to rush things..but I do have a surprise for you."
He stood up and nodded to a nurse. The was a slight commotion as a middle-aged couple entered the room and made their way to the bed. The woman was well manicured and perfumed with a tangled nest of dyed blond hair. Her embrace as she leaned down was firm but faltered quickly. She covered her mouth as she stood back up. Wide desperate eyes. In contrast, the man was relaxed. Even jovial as he patted her hand. Like an inmate set free, some great burden lifted.
"Hi honey. How do you feel?"
The woman leaned down again. "Callie..sweetie. We love you..we're so happy...to have you back." She covered her mouth again as she straightened up and the man put his arm around her.
She shifted in the bed and smiled wanly. "Hi."
"Oh you look so pale.." The blond glanced furtively around the room at the nurses. "Is there anything we can get you? Are you hungry or thirsty? You haven't had any...." She trailed off, mumbling inaudibly. The man shrugged and put his arm around the woman's shoulder.
"I'm sure they're taking excellent care of her dear."
She raised her hand, signaling the doctor.
"Oh..yes dear what do you need."
"Can I speak to you alone for a moment?"
"Oh..um.." He looked at the couple. "Mr. and Mrs. Greene, would you mind stepping outside for a moment?"
"Oh of course not. We'll be right outside." The man smiled and led his wife towards the door. She looked back over his arm as they left.
"Dear we'll be right outside if you need us."
The doctor took a seat next to the bed and took her hand as a nurse pulled a curtain around the bed.
"What's wrong?"
"Who were those people?"
"Oh.." He glanced towards the doorway. "That was Mr. and Mrs.Greene. Your parents. You don't remember them?"
"No."
"Well you were in a coma here for a week. Memory loss is not uncommon for this situation. Try not to be alarmed it will come back grad-"
"I'm not alarmed."
He leaned back in the chair. "Why don't you clear your mind for a moment and tell me whatever memory pops into your head."
She stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment.
"Just my name."
"Callie Green.."
"No."
"Oh? What is it then?"
"Recursive."
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"My name is Recursive."
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"