liamc2

[size=1]The soft click of the keyboard echoed from the corner of the dark room. Soft blue light traced like lightning across the hair-thin fibre optic cables that spread like a web across the room. The typing stopped and the chair hissed as someone leant back to admire their work. ?Done, done and done. Sometimes I even amaze myself.? The man?s voice was soft, like it hadn?t been used to converse with a real person for a long time. ?I?ve orchestrated this petty anomaly like the charade it is. Pity they?re suspecting something?? He paused, as though listening to something. ?Yes yes, it was a good idea to send those cracked messages?especially to that ?IT? fool Tony?? He laughed and patted a metallic panel in the wall, ?you thought well. He lapped it all up. That Richton boy is giving us problems. Much like his meddling father.? The man paused again, listening, ?yes?you showed him well for giving evidence against us?very well indeed.? The panel in the wall hummed and lit up, revealing it to be the front cover of a hi-tech computer. ?No?no, you?re right. We need to eliminate his boy when he?s served his purpose. The rest of his team we can lead once he?s gone. Once they?re out of Loadspace, they?ll be too busy grieving over his death?and possibly someone else?yes, yes?much more dramatic?the Load Project will have to do a full investigation and shut down the Load?While they?re doing that we can continue unheeded, and play with his grieving sister?s mind?poor girl. Her father and then her brother?? There was another whir from the panel and the fibre optics blinked faster. ?Yes. Soon as they remove that frustrating AI, expand it and we?ll own them for once and for all.? He laughed, a small snuffling laugh, ?the Load Project believe everything to be fine, and the Load team will believe that they?re under its orders!? The computer glowed fiercely and the man hunched over the computer, muttering apologies. ?Yes yes, no time to waste?? [I]?Jonathan??[/I] ?Yes?? ?Kathy. Got some leaked messages, pretty urgent, sounded official. I?m sending the .mp3 to you now.? Jonathan listened to the broken messages. He paused. It sounded official all right, but it was too broken?the white noise was?odd?as though there?no?that was impossible. The Load Project only had access to this place. The rift must have weakened and let some?routine? ?messages through. Jonathan didn?t want buy his own words, but it was the only thing he had money for right now. ?Good job Kathy. We?ll rendezvous back at the carts. The techies reckon they can create some sort of Holo-device to simulate the cart?s morphogenic field, while they?re really two low flying SUV?s.? ?I concur.? ?Just get here soon. We move out in the half-hour before the Fomhoire strike.?[/size]

Postedness. Got queries? Get me. ~_^ ~~~ [size=1] Text scrolled down past Jonathan?s vision. It was the future, or to be more politically correct, the [I]past[/I] of Ireland. A gauge in the corner rose, simultaneously dates and events morphed and a new past was born. The gauge was the rift, and it was growing faster than it should. Something?[I]someone[/I]?was feeding it?but how? [I]?The winter was late in falling, summer hung, as though fearful of what would happen if it left-[/I] [b] Reformatting?[/b] [I]?The snow fell early, and as the wind whistled, the delirious war cries of the Fomhoire accosted the ears of the mighty Irish warriors?All the while they murmured against the leader of the Danann?contention was against him for it was seen as his presence was a bad omen?[/I] Jonathan blinked. This was bad, this was really, [I]really[/I] bad. They had to move soon, the rift was getting intelligent, it had never targeted individuals before? Something niggled at the back of his head, demanding to be acknowledged. Jonathan didn?t catch its eye and brushed it aside. He sat up and closed the text, stepping out of the tent. A bitter wind danced across his face, leaving ice crystals in his eyebrows. Flags appeared on his HUD. Ken was signalling him, and the others were with him. The arrow indicated he was up on the hill?Jonathan spun on his heel and took off at a steady pace. He arrived and frowned. There was a man on his knees, two warriors held him by the shoulders. In front of him were the nobles, a jury of sorts. ?Ah, here?s the man of the hour. Prince -Jonathan winced at the term- Jonathan. We were wondering about the Danann?s laws when it came to horse theft. Your sister mentioned that you had a better knowledge, and all of a sudden you are here. Marvellous.? Jonathan looked into the shining eyes of the Clan Chief that he had spoken to the night before. Jonathan looked the kneeling fellow up and down. ?A fair trial would be in order first.? ?Yes, we have concluded he is guilty, several eye witnesses, including one of your sisters handmaidens,? he gestured to Kathy, ?saw this fellow take one of my son?s prized steeds.? ?Your judgement?? ?Our custom is the Blood Eagle.? Jonathan noticed that each of the team members flags flash. Their heart rate jumped, either it be out of disgust or horror, he couldn?t tell. The Blood Eagle was a barbaric punishment that involved cutting the victim?s chest open and draping their lungs over their own shoulders like a pair of gory wings. While they were alive. ?As this is not my country, Lord, I have no say over your punishments. I am biased in this matter. Do with this guilty fellow as you wish.? [I] ?The Mighty Lord, leader of the United Clans, was pleased with his response. Yea, for the emissary of the Danann was truthful in his words. The Lord confided in his noblemen that This Man was one who could be trusted, and his proposal accepted.[/I] The text filled Jonathan?s HUD and he let the air escape from his lungs. The rift gauge fluctuated. [b]ERR: Reformatting?[/b] [I]But the Lord was also displeased with the Danann warrior, for he expected him to disagree with his Judgement. The Lord harboured his displeasure and reserved judgement over the diplomatic party, for his anger was kindled only against the Danann leader, the one called Jonathan[/I] Alarms flashed in Jonathan?s head. Literally. A bright yellow exclamation mark flashed on and off next to his highlighted name. It just keeps on getting worse? The rift was targeting him individually. It was moulding around him, tripping him up and changing the mindset of the Irish against him, not against his team members, [I]him[/I]. You dispatch a rift person to fix the course of time?but what if the course of time, the very river, is polluted by a rifted err? Jonathan bowed and took his leave, opening a communication on all revolving frequencies. He spoke and said, ?damn. Damn. Damn. [I]Damn![/I]? ?What?? I thought you did it well, he was pleased with your answer, mind you I wanted you to save that poor fellow- Liam cut Leona off and muttered angrily, ?look again.? ?Huh?? ?Look again Leona. Does he look pleased to you?? ?Umm?? Leona paused as she looked. ?Oh crap. What the hell is going on? He keeps looking at you as you walk away, and muttering to the others.? Jonathan sent all of the history text he had perused before the rift hit it, along with the altered history staggered . ?Damn.? It was Tony this time. ?Jonathan we?ve, well [I]you?ve[/I] got problems.? Someone whistled in appreciation, ?Jonathan, I?ve never seen this before. Those rift actions are off the charts!? Zachary said, completely in awe. Jonathan kept walking towards the wagons. ?Yeah. I kinda noticed that. We need to open that server, and I mean [I]now[/I]. Zachary, I want an outside line. It?s about time the Load Project knew what was going on in here.? ?Problem on that.? Jonathan paused. ?Problem as in small setback but I?ll get my line anyway?? ?No. Problem as in something is blocking any communications out. I?ve been trying to get some tech support since we got here, but some sort of code is blocking me, and it ain?t the rift. I?ve seen that code somewhere else before.? [I]Worse and worse and worse and worse?[/I][/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by The Harlequin [/i] [B][font=gothic][color=indigo] Then of course, there's the rather interesting incident where a friend of mine ended up with something like fifty pieces of chalk, and tried to throw them at another person in Chemistry. His defense when he got caught? He threw them at me first.... [/font][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] Don't forget the soccer ball. And the towel. And the ream of magnesium he tried to pilfer. lol Ream of magnesium meaning that if he set fire to it, he would be blind for the rest of his life, and as would people in the surrounding 5 metre radius. ^_^; I frequently steal stuff, but thats only to say 'mineness' or something, or bite it. Of course I do it in plain view of the owner and give it back. EDIT: Good good, I'll lend you the third one as well

Yay! If there are any changes needed to be made, contact me and I can mould this post to make it all better ^_^ [size=1] Jonathan?s eyes flitted up to her. He raised an eyebrow and stood up, dropping the fur blanket back to the bench. ?Yeah.? He muttered to her in a whisper. ?C?mon, I?ll talk to you outside. There?ll be hell to pay in our reputation if where caught talking inside here.? Jonathan?s point was accentuated by a sleepy grunt from the other side of the tent. Jonathan shot a glance around. It was early morning and no doubt that there would be no-one up for hours, especially after that bender that went on the night before. A low mist was dropping from the hills, giving the air an unnecessary ethereal feel. ?What?s up?? Jonathan ventured. Nina sighed, breathing out a white cloud, ?couldn?t sleep.? ?Same problem as last time?? ?You could say that.? Jonathan nodded to himself and rocked on the balls of his feet. A horse in a stable nearby whinnied. He should venture what he saw, Nina knew all about it. She was there when he was shown the footage, she tagged along to find out what was going on. Back in the days when they were academic rivals. It was by chance that the door was left ajar and she peeked in. Hell?he was so young, eighteen and a rookie in the Load academy. His mother was somewhere?but by some cruel twist of fate it resulted in him having to verify that it was his father?stupid?stupid red tape?they bloody well knew it was his father, but the red tape demanded that a family member verify. Luckily Leona hadn?t seen the footage?the shock of hearing her father?s death was bad enough, fifteen and already fatherless, but if she?d had to verify it [I]was[/I] her father and view his final hour?it would have broken her in two? ?So why are you up so early Jonathan?? Nina?s voice broke through his mental stupor like fist through glass. ?Huh? Wha?? ?You?re up early too y?know. Share and tell time. You worried about the mission?? Jonathan looked into her eyes and said, ?yeah. That?s what it is. Just a bit worried about the relations with the Irish. Not to mention the deadline and the rift trying to rip us all apart. Yeah, I guess that?s what?s keeping me up.? He gave a wry smile. ?The best thing for that I?d say is a good night rest Johnny-boy. Just because you?re in charge doesn?t mean you?re in charge of worrying about stuff. Leave the details to the Load Project.? Nina grinned. ?Everything sorts itself out in the end Jonathan, it always does.? Jonathan nodded and jabbed a thumb at the tent, ?I guess I?ll take a kip for a while then eh?? Nina smiled and nodded, watching him peel back the folds and step back into the gloom. ?Since when did he ever give in so quickly?? Nina shook her head and fixated her stare on Jonathan?s HUD tag inside the tent. ?Sure, the Load Project sorts everything out, but it doesn?t worry about the pieces left behind.? She rubbed her hands together against the cold, ?we?ll finish this conversation later. You?re not the only one with insomnia.? [/size]

I'm working on writing a SciFi novel, does that count? Eheh..19000+ words and I'm only halfway through the main story o.o; Sub plots are way too hard to be bothered with when you put down the bare bones of a novel >>;

Ah yes, the bane of all netdom kind, the Junkmail. But what do I see, someone doing [i]research[/i] on junkmail? [i]And[/i] its been emailed exclusively to me? Goodgracious! I feel special now...or something. [quote][size=1] Sorry to bother you but I am hoping that you might be able to help me, I found your e-mail address on a chain letter that was sent to me and thought that as your name was on a chain letter you may have other chain e-mail letters (Forwards) that you could send to me?[/quote][/size] What chainletter? [i]My[/i] email address? I'd like to see my lawyer please. Excuse me? You collect chainletters? As in, letters that say something horrible will happen to you if you don't email me (like, 'cos my friend like, just totally broke his leg in a freak accident just after he refused to email it. [size=1]The fact he was drunk and fell down a flight of stairs had nothing to do with it..)[/size] You, want me, to send you these emails? The ones that are basically the bane of every online persons existence? How odd. [quote][size=1] I am doing a project at college regarding the different subjects that go around the Internet on chain e-mail letters and how many people they actually reach, I would be very grateful if you could send me any that you have, absolutely anything and everything. [/quote][/size] College? Really? [i]A project?[/i] Wow, I'm so impressed. Why yes, I'd love to send you junk email that you would have already received, after all, if you get chain letters with my email address (Two plus two make four dear), heck after sending those emails, I'll even throw in verification of my email addresses existence for free! A word of advice though 'Jane.' You are doing a project on how many people chain letters reach, no? And you gleaned my email address from a long list of other people's addresses, why don't you just note the number of addresses in these lists? [quote][size=1] I would also be very grateful if you would be kind enough to forward this message on to all your friends as [i][b]I need as many as I can get my hands on.[/b][/i] [/quote][/size] *insert evil laughter here* That's right folks! With this exciting offer, I'll not only throw in one email verification, but an entire address book! [quote][size=1] Your help would very much be appreciated. Thanks [b]Jane[/b][/size][/quote] Jane, as in, Jane Doe? Come now, you could have come up with a far more entertaining name. I mean, you could have at least been the wife of the President of Paraguay seeking refuge and wanting to give me a bazillion dollars or something.. ~~ This email just caught my fancy. I mean seriously, even if it was a real project, would you go around emailing off to complete strangers and requesting their junk mail? How [i]sus[/i] is that?

No problem. I'm just happy you posted part of the story instead of excuses for once. ~_^ lol [size=1] The powder blue digits of Jonathan?s HUD winked at him as they clicked over another minute. Twenty-three twenty-six. The once polite and interested Irish had broken off into drunken rambling, inhibitions shed by their barley brew. The defenders, however, were clearly sober and were gleaning all the information they could from the only too willing warriors. The last dying embers of the fires spat their protest as they faded and belched their last smoky cries up through the hole in the roof. Servants were now bustling around their drunken lords and were lighting torches and cleaning tables as they went. Jonathan stepped over the ashes of the fire and sat down on one of the wide wooden benches, allowing one of the servants to push a fur blanket into his unresisting hands. In one of the corners he could just make out Nina?s form as she was ushered from the tent to the women?s quarters. The last of the blankets were being handed out and the drunken lords were being gently pushed to sleep by their underlings. The torches that had been lit were now being put out. Jonathan muttered ?highlights? into his com and the blackness of the tent brightened to a white washout. The others made their way across, stepping carefully over the slumbering warriors before seating themselves on Jonathan?s bench. ?[I]What do you make of this?[/I]? Came Ken?s voice over the com channel, they had all sealed their voices for security against any eavesdroppers. Jonathan yawned, ?[I]It?s called sleep. People who don?t drink coffee tend to do it Ken.[/I]? ?[I]He means security.[/I]? Jonathan didn?t recognise the voice, but he knew it could only be Quin?s. ?[I]I gathered that,[/I]? muttered Jonathan, ?[I]but I think we all need some rest. Just let the HUD security system do its stuff. If anyone without a Loaded signature approaches, you?ll be woken, simple.[/I]? ?[I]A sentry would be more traditional[/I]? said Ken. ?[I]But we all need to rest. I don?t care how macho you lot are, but as I?m in charge, I want us all to use the HUD security system.[/I]? Jonathan sighed after this statement before saying, ?[I]but if you really want to, you can all stay up. Just don?t come to me tomorrow complaining about how tired you are, because you?ll get no love from me.[/I]? There was a pause and Jonathan used it to pick up his fur blanket and stretch out on the bench. The clock ticked over to triple zero and he closed his eyes. There was a general shuffling going on around him and Jonathan opened his eyes. Everyone was lying down, but he very much doubted they were sleeping. [I]Tracking?Found?Loaded[/I] Everyone?s nametags appeared in front of his eyes with directional arrows and exact distances in metres. His sister was now with Kathy and Nina in a tent thirty metres away. ?[I]All secure and satisfactory there?[/I]? Jonathan asked. ?[I]Do you have to do that? For all you knew we were asleep![/I]? Leona cried in a mock anger. ?[I]But you weren?t.[/I]? Jonathan chuckled, ?[I]You know I have to check up on you guys. Speaking of checking up, do you think you?ve got adequate protection?[/I]? ?[I]Look Jonathan, it?s a tent, same as you. And I bet you don?t give a damn about your protection so stop worrying about ours.[/I]? Nina chuckled, and Jonathan could imagine her shaking her head. ?[I]Just get some sleep already. We promise we?ll holler if we need you.[/I]? ?[I]Fine, fine.[/I]? The channel closed and Jonathan closed his eyes again. He didn?t remember how long it took him to fall asleep, but he did remember the dream. It was video footage, including the timer and grainy texture. It was a Load mission recording, one he?d seen a few years back. The team call sign was his father?s. Even though he was asleep, he could still feel himself relish that he was going to see his father once more?until the mission number focused. A war torn village, Italian by the architecture and language on the walls, filled Jonathan?s mind. Rubble still slid in a steady trickle from the rooftops and a squad of six soldiers picked their way through the concrete and trash. Their Load serial codes hovered like vultures above each of their helmets. Jonathan?s father was in the lead. There was the sound of an explosion, but it had the twinge of a modem dial, a rift was being exposed. Ahead of the group turf and bitumen were ripped up in a fireball and wretched smoke. As one the Load squad took cover, for a fleeting instant Jonathan saw deep into his father?s eyes and saw and older, rougher, more experienced, version of himself looking back. His father barked out an order and the footage spun round to follow the squad?s gaze. A tank was there, with German insignia, but it was a modern model, an English M1 to be precise. Equipped with depleted Uranium shells, infrared cameras and armour too thick for the Load team?s WWII weapons or their Blue bangs to penetrate. ?All it takes is one shot and we?re all gone. Why the hell did the rift had to be connected with the present? Bloody English and their stupid bloody tank advances?? The gruff voice came from a shortish unshaven man who was crouching behind the wall with Jonathan?s father. ?We need to get an egg behind it, that?s its armour?s weak point, we?ve got to penetrate the armour to get to the rift.? Another well-built and grimy man muttered this with conviction. ?Fine then. We need four at the front with a distraction. Get the blue bangs and some fireworks going. Two will go around the back and drop off half of our eggs.? The order Jonathan?s Dad and there was a murmur of affirmation. ?I?ll go around the back.? ?I?ll go with you Jack.? The man with the complaint against the English dropped a hand on his shoulder. Without a word being spoken the other four handed over half their eggs and made their way out, morphing their sub-machine guns and rifles into their Blue Bangs. Jonathan?s Dad and the Defender with the stubble picked their way through a shattered wall of the house they were hiding behind. The camera jumped up to an overview of the street. The serial numbers of each defender highlighted their position. Jack and his comrade picked their way around behind the tank and dumped their eggs before the M1 was any wiser. There was a hiss and a flash of brilliant white. The M1 vanished and nothing but a pair of bewildered Nazis and a 15mm anti-personnel remained. They saw Jack retreat into the house, spun the cannon around and let loose. Twenty rounds were fired but only two made their mark, the other eighteen flew harmlessly into the wall of the house. Only two of those high-penetrating rounds were needed. This mission was one of the reasons why the Load project updated their Defender?s armour to a high-density titanium alloy body suit. ?Damn. I?m hit.? The words escaped Jack?s mouth, not carried by anguish, grief or pain. They flew on the wings of mild irritation, as though this was merely a snag and he was irritated at the fact he couldn?t complete his mission. The serial number above Jack switched from a pure white to a foreboding black, and the image faded. Jonathan opened his eyes, sat up and brooded over what he saw. [/size]

Rain is good, especially after a drought -.-; Hooray for Victoria for it got rain and such ^_^ Personally though, unless we need it, I don't like it. Stupid always raining when I'm catching a bus to or from school..

Heck, lots of people changed me. Without them, I might never have got so interested in the net, let alone Otakuboards. [b]Britty:[/b] One of my first online friends. We had some amazing MSN conversations and spars. She really helped me develop my budding RPG skills and became one of my best friends and my ickle sis ^_^ She also helped me a lot through rough times, especially when I was feeling down about something that happened at school. She was, and is, a key figure in my life and someone I always felt safe to confide in. [b]Ken:[/b] Hey, it's Ken, if it weren't for him I wouldn't have such a thick skin, lol. When I first came online, he really inspired me to write. Our MSN RPG's were fantastic, I remember how I used to spend hours talking to him and Britty over MSN and sulking when Mum and Dad booted me off. [b]Dragon Warrior:[/b] Ah, the crazyness. If it weren't for DW, I might have such a bizarre online (and offline ^_~) personality lol. Without his pivotal influence my life would be very boring indeed. [b]Anti:[/b] Another RPG great. Gaian Warriors with him and Raiha is still classified one of the greats, I still feel honoured that they let me come in halfway through it. [b]Rico and Rai:[/b] Another pair that really helped me learn how to RPG properly. I'm grateful that they put up with me in Nosferatu and all those other 'cool' RPG's they started There are more people out there that I owe my respects and thanks to, but there are the guys that kept me going at the very beginning, when I was just an ickle 13yr old n00b. Thanks guys

[size=1] Jonathan resisted his sudden urge to cough and choke on his own bile, and instead, smirked with all the sleaze he could muster. He continued the conversation until it was socially acceptable for him to leave. As he left he rubbed his arms and mouthed to Kathy and Nina, ?the dirt won?t come off!? The cold night air was refreshing on his face as he stepped out of the smoke filled tent. Boisterous laughter echoed behind him with patches of song and snippets of gossip. Jonathan?s ears turned red when he heard his name mentioned once or twice and grimaced, squinting at an innocent horse. Feeling relieved, he stood upright and sighed. [I]Its all a part of the experience?the façade isn?t you?the façade isn?t you?[/I] A swift breeze rushed up the mound and raked across his face, chilling him to the bone. Winter was coming, with it, the war. The barbaric Formorians, knowing the frailties of the Irish in the winter, would lead a bloody assault right into camp, a strike at winter?s chilled heart. If the server wasn?t purged in time it would be a massacre?only the Load employees and Formorians would remain. Total disaster for the history line. The entirety population of Ireland would vanish, as would half of the population of America?history books, past and present, would be re-written in the twinkling of an eye. And the damage would be irreversible. Jonathan shook his head. He had to stop thinking so pessimistically. His father always told him not to take the worst-case scenario as a given, it blinded you from all the possibilities of a victory. The dark and frosty air prompted him to return inside the warm and smoky folds of the giant tent. In the amber gloom the tall form of Ken could be made out in the corner of the tent, as could Tony?s and Quin?s. No small satisfaction could be gained, however, from the fact that Leona?s ?handmaidens? were given a wide berth. Leona made her way across to him as casually as she could, alarm bells went off in Jonathan?s head, Leona?s eyes were sparking fire. ?[I]What the hell did you do?[/I]? she asked in a harsh whisper. ?What?? Leona looked around, ?every time I begin to talk to the clan leaders to find out some more information, they either make some odd excuse to leave, or start asking if my brother?s promiscuity [I]bothered my father![/I]? Jonathan coughed. Talking to the clan leader?s sons was bad enough, but this was sheer agony. The uncomfortable feeling he had before intensified and he could feel his face turn beet-red. He heaved a sigh and recounted his awkward situation. ?Well. That explains why some of them ran off like that.? Mused Leona, ?they were probably terrified that you?d behead them or something.? ?[I]What?[/I]? Leona giggled, ?think about it. If you were a young randy warrior and all these pretty young foreign girls just suddenly appeared, but you were given an implied threat from a hulking bloodstained [I]ogre[/I] through the mouth of one of these pretty girls, would [I]you[/I] hang around this ogre?s sister and tempt fate?? ?I?uh?? Jonathan sighed and picked at one of the dried bloodstains. She was right?she was [I]always[/I] right. Leona winked and laughed, ?mind you, the bit about you being as bad as one of those randy young Irishmen does make up for my frustrated attempts at conversation.? Leona giggled as Jonathan?s red face intensified. ?I resent being called a hulking ogre.? He muttered sulkily. [/size]

Just a general observation. Signatures are getting way too long. Whatever happened to Ten lines of small text and a banner? It's becoming more and more common to have these huge signatures that I've got to scroll through. 28 lines of text, a banner, 19 blank lines all in the normal size font? It's just insane to have to scroll through such a large amount of inane rubbish. The rest of us have managed to keep it under ten lines of small text, why can't you?

No, no it wouldn't. Just my point of view, but hey. Whatcha going to do about it? ~_^

Rightio. Just post already. lol [size=1] In the corner of his eye Jonathan could make out the flurry of movement as techies tried to remain inconspicuous while using conspicuous equipment. Zaeon was standing in front of the pack and was reading a scroll, but his eyes were giving him away. They were slightly unfocused and he had the glazed look of someone who had been reading their HUD for too long. Their eyes became strained from picking text out from the background it had been superimposed on. Jonathan smiled. That was the type of dedication he needed. He returned his gaze to the tents up in the distance. According to infrared, there were a lot of people in the main tent, surrounding the girls. He could tell them apart from the pale blue nametags that obligingly appeared above them. So far all was going well. They had been in there for over half an hour and they hadn?t needed any help yet. Jonathan wasn?t surprised. After all, a degree in Acute Diplomacy was one of the prerequisites before any of the Load training even [I]started[/I]. Even so, snags might occur and demand some outside influence that was unbiased to the conversation? Jonathan switched the zoom and the infrared off and shot another glance around. The remaining defenders were slouching around and taking casual walks around the perimeter, the epitome of a bored group of mercenaries. If they were all too militaristic they?d be given away. Save the training for the combat and combat for the training, one of the millions of useless sayings his father had handed down to his sister and him. However useless though, it needed to be said. Sometimes you just needed that little firm voice in the back of your head while the adrenaline was pumping and your own inner voice was howling for blood. ?We?ve got the location.? It was Zaeon, ?the server?s in the old burial mounds about two hundred clicks from here. To stop it from getting easily discovered, the Load project felt it necessary to be only accessible during a full moon, just to play on the- -Irish?s eccentricity and affinity for superstition. I know. Good job.? ?Yeah,? voiced one of the techies, ?but it shouldn?t have taken that long to find it though. Normally we can just jump right on in and do a search for Ancient Ireland servers on your comput?er?? The outspoken turned a shade of red as he realised his blunder. It was easy to access the server from the outside, you had all the software and shortcuts operating separately from the Load. But once you were inside all the software and shortcuts vanished because they took way too much of the Load system?s resources. [I]Still doesn?t make sense why they didn?t give us a map?[/I] ?Jonathan, Leona and Kathy won them over easily.? That was Nina?s voice, ?sorry we took so long but we had to do the polite lady thing and become social butterflies. We?ve found out quite a lot about these guys. Oh yeah, Leona wants all of you to come up.? ?What? But we?ve received no outside invitation!? ?So shoot me. Leona wants you to get up here before the messenger so you can say, ?My sister hath already inviteth me,? or something like that. You know these guys lap up those sort of mystical spiritual links between brother and sister.? ?Oh, so that means our captain friend knows we are related?? ?Yup.? ?Marvellous. A pity I missed the expression on his face.? ?Yeah, it was a good one, you?ll be able to see it again when you step through the door. Quick already, she?s winding the conversation to the requesting for a messenger to be sent.? ?We?re leaving already.? Jonathan waved everyone onto the wagons and climbed up in beside the driver. He was about to grab the horses but Quin and the others were in the process of tying their reigns to the back of the wagon. Jonathan was tempted to ride in on the Captain?s own horse, it was an impressive stallion, but it would have been a grievous insult and would have been tried by a council of elders without a social leg to stand on. And he really didn?t want to experience the Blood Eagle for himself? [/size]

Saved from the second page [size=1] There was a clatter as the metal rim of the wagon wheels hit the chaotically laid stone pavers of the capital. Other than that it wasn?t that different from the villages they had passed through. Same houses, same rotting garbage smell?but there were people, hundreds of thousands of people. They were everywhere deemed possible, children ran underfoot, ducking and weaving between the carts and horses while their mothers chattered on the sidewalks, completely oblivious to their antics. Not much attention was paid to the two wagons. Plenty of people came in every day to seek refuge from the Formorian raiding parties, including druids, strangely dressed females and their mercenaries. But the cavalry guards got waves and respect from the crowd, so they had family and friends out there. Good, as long as there was mutual respect they would stay together to defend themselves? The carts continued along, eventually breaking free of the sights and sounds of the ramshackle bazaar and reaching the base of a hill in the centre of the city. The captain and his guards dismounted from their horses and made their way to Leona and her handmaidens. Jonathan resisted the urge to deck the captain as he took Leona?s hand and helped her from the cart. Each of his men did the same with the rest of the maidens until Jonathan, Tony, Ken and Quin were the only ones left. ?Your [I]mercenaries[/I] can stay and guard the horses, can they not?? Smirked the captain, a little louder than Jonathan appreciated. ?They may.? Leona shot Jonathan a glance and tapped her earpiece. Jonathan nodded in return. Ken placed a hand on Jonathan?s shoulder as the Captain shot Jonathan another smirk. It wasn?t necessary, but the thought was there. ?Just wait till he finds out you?re her brother Jonathan.? That was Nina?s voice over the COM channel. Jonathan smirked. That was true. There would be retribution paid. ?All right then.? Jonathan checked to see if they were alone and then spun to face the remainder of the defenders and the techies. ?We need to find the manual server of Ireland, Zaeon, check that cauldron of yours and do a full scan of this area.? [/size]

[b]All:[/b] Sorry, sorry, my fault. Because I know what was written, the speed hasn't bothered me. Heh, that problem always seems to pop up with me. [b]GinnyLyn:[/b] The [i]Credo at Christmas[/i] is a happy christmas poem about the traditions and beliefs children have from various countries. When I first read it I instantly thought about the negative possibilities of a (Nuclear) War (probably because there was a North Korea news update and I'd just seen T3 ^_^; ) and decided to contrast it with this positive and happy Christmas poem. I'd type the whole of it out for you but I can't find the book I found it in... [b]All:[/b] Updated version below. I tried the speed out on my parents and they were able to read it, so hopefully you guys will be able too as well..

I was reading the [i]Credo at Christmas[/i] and got a sudden burst of inspiration for this banner. I guess you could call it dark, but hey, that's how it came out. Thoughts, comments and/or a rating would be appreciated ^_^

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Celia [/i] [B][color=0099FF][size=1] They should know what's in a burger. If they don't, they are stupid. If it's fatty food, don't eat it. Simple as that.[/color][/size] [/B][/QUOTE] Heheh, that reminds me of the wrapper for the Big Mac; '100% Australian Beef,' is actually a company. lol.

[size=1] The carts left the wood without further incident. Gradually the heavy scent of pine needles and decomposing undergrowth was replaced with an airy smell of wildflowers and long grass. The bumpy track connected with a much more level highway. They passed houses, dirt floor cottages of the ?lower class,? but they were all empty. The Irish leaders must have ordered his people to fall back to the main capital, in the name of protecting the innocent or something like that. What it also did was provide the upper class with a whole new line of peasant farmer defence. The druid?s cart, in front, climbed to the top of a hill and stopped. The sound of conversation drifted back. Jonathan leapt off the cart and jogged up to the top of the hill. In the glint of the sun he could make out armour, highly polished but dented armour. Jonathan looked up into the eyes of a saddled cavalry patrol captain. The captain looked down and sized him up. ?By the order of the clan leaders, all able warriors and mercenaries are to be already at the capital,? said the captain while eying Jonathan?s sword, ?those who are not at the capital are deserters and therefore are to be executed to make an example to the others.? By now Ken, Tony and Quin were beside Jonathan, hands on their swords. ?Ah,? said Jonathan amiably, ?we are not of this land. We are of the Tuatha De Danann from across the seas. We have a proposition for your leaders.? The captain drew his sword and placed it against Jonathan?s throat, ?the Danann are legend, sir, and to my knowledge, extinct. As will you be for lying to a superior officer, deserter.? ?Wait!? There was the sound of hurried footsteps behind them, Leona and her ?handmaidens? (who were doing their very best to look the job) stood in front of the Captain and his guards. The maid they had liberated exclaimed, ?they are who they said they were! I saw their magic! They rescued me from the Formorians, and deserve your respect Samuel. Or do I have to tell your mam?? There was a snigger from behind the rapidly turning red Captain. He sheathed his sword in an embarrassed sort of way. ?Fine, just don?t tell me mam,? he mumbled sulkily. ?Is there anything I can do so you don?t?? ?You can give my entourage a royal guard to your clan leaders,? Leona demanded. There was a stunned pause. ?Uh- Her majesty, Princess Leona of the Tuatha De Danann, and her handmaidens?? stumbled Jonathan. [/size]

Yeah, you left out shagadelic (Lydia) and Avaris (Jess). I'm quite proud of my little herd of Toowoomba OB'ers. *dons Shepherd robe and holds a Shepherd's crook* ^_^; And yes, I am the aforementioned Liam. *bows* ~~ Hey, I remember that assigment. That was sweet, I managed to bludge on OB in class for ages and claim it was research for my assignment, lol. Worked for a while too, before the Librarians cottoned on to my dastardly scheme. Muhahaha and whatnot. ^_^

[size=1][b]What lab? What job? Aren't we completely cut off in Loadspace? Why aren't you back on the cart with the others? Hell, this is [i]my[/i] RPG and even I'm confused[/b][/size] [size=1] Jonathan?s eyes flickered open as Ken?s message came through on the narrowband, closed to his frequency only. He sat up as though on hinges and rose steadily to his feet on the moving cart. Quin had turned around at the small noise behind him. Jonathan looked deep into his eyes and half expected to see the demons waving back, but there was nothing. Jonathan rolled his neck before ordering, ?keep on this path, Ken has come across?a snag. I?m going ahead to lend a hand?and where the hell is [I]Trance?[/I]? Blank stares gazed back. Jonathan waited patiently while they all seemed to snap out of a dazed trance. Seeing, what your mind gradually labelled as, a bloodstained corpse suddenly rise up with no apparent warning did that, especially when that mind has been lulled into a stupor by monotonous movement. Jonathan shook his head and brushed the textbook thoughts aside. ?She left the cart?sir?? It was Kathy, and she seemed to use the word sir as though she?d just thought it was appropriate? ?Why? Did I not give implicit instructions?? ?She?well, disregarded them sir.? Jonathan grunted. This was what he was worried about. It?d be one thing if she?d ignored his instructions, but totally disregarding the Load Project instructions was tantamount to treason. Angrily, he jabbed the button and leapt off the front of the cart. The invisible pack took him mid-air. Leona punched Kathy lightly on the arm and laughed, ?look, he?s my brother, believe you me, he doesn?t need to be referred to as ?sir,? just ?Jonathan? will do fine.? Leona laughed and let Kathy?s face resume its normal colour. [center]~~~~~~[/center] Jonathan killed the engines over the clearing and fell to the forest floor beside Tony, Ken and Trance. He rose steadily from his crouched position and watched Trance through slitted eyes. There was a time and a place for chastisement, and now was not one of them. His point was furthered by the sensation of something hitting the back of his Load armour. Something heavy, well crafted by the force it generated?and the sound of a windlass meant it was a crossbow. So they were right, it was the medieval server that was leaking. Jonathan spun round and noted the corpse of the rift infected deserter. His blood and bile had a green hue, but those sores were unmistakably due to the bubonic plague. An odd anomaly, the Load philosophers would undoubtedly be able to explain it off as the effects of the human imagination of the plague creating interference when the shuttle hit Loadspace? He coughed and unsheathed his sword, noting that Tony and Ken beside him with their swords ready, as the crossbow bearers stepped out into the light. There were seven, but only six were affected by the rift?you could tell by the eyes?always by the eyes?The immune Irishwoman was a prisoner, a terrified one at that. The six were? Formorians? [I]This early?[/I] Jonathan spat in the dirt before muttering, ?This is were history is made. Trance, you are to stay back, I?m serious Trance, and are to care for the woman when we?ve retrieved her from their custody. It is important that we create a good impression for her here?she?s a servant and no doubt skilled at spreading rumours, in our favour if we do it right!? As Jonathan flung himself forward into the impending fray there was a rush as Ken outstripped him easily, a war cry rumbling deep in his throat. Tony was, well, he was guarding their backs as far as he could tell and Trance was positively livid with quiet anger. The Formorians were at a loss. Crossbows in this time period were definitely an advantage from a distance, but at close quarters they were nothing but useless lumps of wood against men prepared to deal death. They growled in their inhuman language (just like the history books, Jonathan noted) and readied themselves. Though not much could ready them for Ken?s sword as it cut a swathe through the first two, leaving Jonathan looking rather foolish as he decimated the rest. There was a growl of pain, followed by a long piercing moan. The maid had kicked her distracted captor, who was avidly enjoying every second of Ken?s work, and then kicked him ?in the knackers? before making a run for it. The moaning warrior raised his crossbow to give the fleeing woman a fatal complaint between the shoulder blades. Time slowed as the crossbow lifted. Jonathan sprinted, desperately trying to get his armour in front of the bolt?but he was going too slow, the Formorian?s trigger finger was already too far gone? There was a flash of blue sparks that erupted over the beast?s face, biting into his flesh. The Formorian froze?and exploded into a shower of distorted air. Tony lowered his pistol and morphed it back into a sword. He smiled at Jonathan and gave the thumbs up while sheathing it. Ken followed suit and Jonathan just tried to get the smell of ozone out of his head. ?It?it was horrible, they took me from milord?s coach, killed him outright?and the footmen?they must?ve been scouts or somethin? and they were all about to?to?? The maid shuddered, ?but then you came and distracted them just before?? Her voice trailed off and Jonathan just realised that the shoulder of her dress had been torn. Trance, steadying her, followed Jonathan?s meaningful gaze and gave the poor girl her own shawl. The maid drew a shuddering breath, and as though noticing Ken for the first time, muttered in awe, ?you?re not from these parts are you?? Jonathan shook his head, ?we are from the Tuatha De Danann tribe, from far across the water. We?ve come at the request of your leaders.? Ok, so it was a white lie. They weren?t requested, but her leaders did want to meet them and hear their message. Plus they?d be interested in their ?magic,? especially after Tony?s display, however impromptu. The maid nodded rapidly, believing every word that came out of his mouth. Out of the corner of his mouth Jonathan muttered to Tony and Ken, ?take her to the road. The others will be there soon. Put her and Trance in Quin?s cart. I?ll be along shortly. There?s something I need to do when she?s out of earshot?? Jonathan showed Ken the platinum egg he held and instant recognition dawned in his eyes. ?Right then. No more flying scouts then?? ?No?we?re all on foot from now on. Well, the male Danann warriors that is?? Jonathan watched them leave the clearing, playing with the egg in his hand, when he was satisfied; he dragged the fallen Formorians into a heap, along with their weapons. He then took a few steps back, squeezed the egg and tossed it into the pile. A vortex of white exploded and imploded where the Formorians were. Jonathan cursed and rubbed his eyes. He always forgot to shield his eyes when he used these stupid things. While his eyes watered, the vortex vanished, leaving nothing but green grass behind. Jonathan dried his eyes. The Formorian warriors were part of a serious rift breach. The deserter was only a minor break, the rift was only just evident. All he had to do was sever its connection. But the Formorian?s were not only infected by the rogue code, they were the rogue code. Just killing them wasn?t enough. Sure, it bought time, much like assembling a makeshift firewall, but it still left an entry point. And makeshift firewalls don?t last forever. That?s when the little eggs came in, the R23?s. When the makeshift firewall was up, or when the infected beings were deceased as it were, the R23?s sealed the hole in the server programming faster than liquid Titanium. The pistols were the same, but they could only take out one of the buggers at a time, and they overheated with extended use. Even plasma circuitry and charging had its limits. Jonathan left the clearing and made his way through the overgrowth and back to the road, whistling as he went. [/size]

I'm back, didja miss me? [size=1] The carts trundled through the forest, bouncing gently over the dirt paths and tracks. The air had a damp, cool feeling to it. Despite the warmth of his suit and clothes, Jonathan gave an involuntary shiver. Something was up; he could feel it boding, promising a snag to the mission. Jonathan stood on his seat and took a look around. Then all hell broke loose. [I]?Jonathan,?[/I] it was Ken?s voice, [I]?the infrared sensors are picking up some unexplained heat sources in the woods ahead-[/I] Jonathan fell backwards into the cart as an arrow hit his suit?s titanium chest plate. If the arrow had not been caught in his Irish garb, it would have ricocheted upwards and through his throat. Nina looked down at him, worried. Jonathan winked and relaxed, taking on the expression and form of one who had been pierced through the heart by a rather crude arrow. There was laughter coming from the forest where the arrow had come, deep booming laughter, that generally meant big?There were footsteps and the sounds off swords being sheathed but arrows being notched into bows. ?Hello pretty lady, care to make a veteran soldier a happy man?? Through his frozen, unfocused eyes, Jonathan could make out a rather ugly and rather tall soldier, Irish and a deserter to boot by the looks of it. ?Only if the soldier would like to make the lady very happy and remove this useless man of a guard from my cart.? That was Leona?s voice, Jonathan resisted the urge to smile. It was scary how well his sister knew him?it was as though she could read his mind? The soldier gave a mock bow, climbed up into the cart and grabbed Jonathan?s shirt before grunting, ?A?slightly?heavy useless guard?? muttered the soldier. The soldier righted his grip and dragged Jonathan off the back of the cart, letting him fall about a metre into the mud. Leona winced as her ?deceased? brother was dragged through the mud and over the rocks to where the other deserters were standing. The lead soldier released Jonathan and muttered, ?strip him of his belongings and gold. After ye?ve done that we?ll all take a wench for our selves. Our beds?ll be warm tonight boys!? The leader turned and left, leaving the remaining three soldiers to eye the body before them. Jonathan waited until the bows were put away before ripping his sword fully out of it?s sheathe. There was a slight pause as the three soldiers worked out what was going on. ?Hey up, you?re supposed to be dead, like.? ?Doesn?t suit me,? muttered Jonathan from his horizontal position on the ground. Jonathan ascended to his full height and lifted the sword up. He eyed the men around him, they were slightly stunned as well as at a disadvantage. Because of their close ranks, their was no way they?d be able to unsheathe their swords without impaling one another. While they were taking a few steps back, Jonathan brought his long sword around in an impressive downward spiral, effectively beheading one, puncturing another?s lungs and gutting the third. The three deserters collapsed, the latter of the two making gurgling sounds as they choked on their own blood. The leader turned to face the noise, and grimaced when he saw Jonathan, sword and body spattered in blood, standing above his men who were writhing in the mud. Jonathan beckoned. The leader unsheathed his sword and charged, furious. Jonathan ducked his first swing and impaled the man on his long sword, ignoring the sickening singing sound his sword made as it grated against bone and exploded out the other side. The man spat in Jonathan?s eye, adding another blood stain to Jonathan?s face. ?I?ll still have time to kill you again, and all the pretty maids in the wagon, before your wound will have time to kill me.? The head deserter?s eyes flashed, and Jonathan had no doubt he was telling the truth for the rift had control over the deluded soldier. He could see it in his eyes. Jonathan stood side on to the man and stamped hard on his foot, the soldier choked out a pathetic laugh, blood dribbling down out of his nose and mouth. ?A?pathetic?attempt,? he burbled. Jonathan smiled and grunted before ripping his sword, not out, but up. Parallel to the spine. The sword bit through flesh and bone, through no small effort on Jonathan?s behalf, before swinging a full one hundred and eighty degrees and biting into the blood-stained mud. Blood and bile fled the torn man and he staggered backwards, collapsing into the mud. Jonathan, breathing heavily, wiped his sword clean on his breeches before sheathing it and climbing back onto the front of the cart. ?Ken,? he muttered into his mic, ?find the other deserters in the woods. If they?ve been infected by the rift, kill them. Otherwise bring ?em back and find out why they deserted. Keep on guard, there will be more, you can count on it.? Jonathan coughed, the cocktail of injections and adrenaline were making him feel queasy, ?Quin, take my place on watch down here, I need to lie down.? Quin floated down through the forest canopy just as Jonathan collapsed into the back of the cart, looking more dead than tired, the blood stains dried looking like wounds, though there were none. The two carts trundled on and past the four corpses. A slight muttering of conversation and almost conspiratorial whispers fell on Jonathan?s deaf ears as he drifted off. [/size]

I hate to say this guys, but I'm gone until Sunday or Monday. Don't do anything drastic while I'm gone ^_^ [size=1] Jonathan nodded, only half listening to the conversation. Something odd was going on, it never took this long to hit the Load planet. Once they were past the Load boundaries it always took five minutes and five minutes and thirty seconds had already past. [I]Landing gear//Brace for impact//Shuttle secure on Load soil//Scanning for Load life forms//Scanning?//Area vacant for twenty kilometre radius//Forest in front may contain possible hostiles?Scanner could not penetrate///Nearest settlement thirty kilometres//[/I] Jonathan turned as the door behind them lowered, hissing as the pneumatics did their work. ?Excuse me.? Jonathan said to the group. He smiled apologetically and made his way to the main room of the shuttle, surprised to see everyone with their gear packed and attentive. He allowed himself a small grin of appreciation for the moment and began barking orders for the exit of the shuttle. [center]~~~[/center] Jonathan watched the shuttle lift steadily up into the sky, and fade away as its exit boosters kicked in. Normally the shuttle would stay on a mission, but the Project wanted it gone, just in case the rift might affect the ship AI. He sighed, normally about now he?d have a crackly voice in his ear, directing him to the location of the rift with pin point accuracy?but that too was gone thanks to the server problems. ?All right!? He barked, ?let?s get moving. We?ve got a village to tend to!? Jonathan reached for the jetpack button, as did several other defenders, but then he paused. He had to stay with the ?druids,? seeing as the techies would have no idea how to fly. Jonathan pointed to Tony, Ken and Quin and said, ?I want you three as forward scouts. Keep high enough so no-one can see you, but low enough so you can see them.? There was a pause as the three pressed the buttons on their suits, Quin more automatically than the others. Jonathan dismissed it as nothing and watched them soar up into the clouds. Turning his eyes back to earth Jonathan walked over to the druids and their contraptions. Among them was the second crate. He opened the catch and pulled out two chrome bricks, each of which he squeezed and tossed into a nearby clearing. The air shimmered, compressing and decompressing into pixels. Two forms began to take shape, two horse drawn carts, big ones, designed to carry logs. Jonathan jabbed his thumb at the larger of the two and remarked, ?Oi, druids load it up and get moving. All you have to do is get in the back, the inbuilt processor will do the rest.? Zaeon rolled his eyes at Jonathan as he passed and climbed into the front, beside where the driver would sit. Jonathan chuckled and then pointed to the second, ?the princess and her maids will be travelling in this wagon,? there was a pause as all of the female defenders, bar Nina, gave him a quizzical glance. Jonathan did nothing and instead said, ?just get on the cart.? Leona paused beside him, watching the others climb into the wagon. She looked up into his eyes, pouted, and hit him in the arm before saying, ?you could?ve told me bro.? Jonathan said nothing and walked over to the cart, climbing into the front, the seat beside the driver. As Leona climbed into the back the air above the driving seats on both carts shimmered, and two digitalised Irish drivers appeared. The carts lurched forward and shuddered as they hit the worn trail. In front of them a forest loomed, foreboding. Jonathan kept his eyes forward and tried to ignore the conversation going on behind him, trying to keep his mind on what was at hand. Subconsciously his hand fell across his side and clung to the pommel of the sword, just in case. [/size]

[size=1] A steady beeping sound erupted from an LCD screen beside Jonathan. The screen flashed at his touch and presented an email from back at the Load Project base. He read it carefully and glanced up at the row of lights above the ?Turbulence? warning. The green light switched to amber, and then to red. They were fully in the Load now. Jonathan stood and raised a hand for attention. ?People, we?re in Load atmosphere. Due to the enlarged rift, we now no longer have any contact whatsoever with the outside world. We?re on our own.? There was a slight lapse in conversation as Jonathan walked into the back of the shuttle. As he closed the door behind him, chatter instantly broke out again. He groaned. Here they were, entering an unstable Load server that could throw them at any second, dealing with a serious problem, and he had a shuttle of [I]children[/I] behind him. Why hadn?t the Load Project accepted his proposal for just a triumvirate? Three defenders, all with technical knowledge! But no, they had employed almost twenty people, seventeen too many. ?Finished your sulking yet Jonathan?? Jonathan looked up into Nina?s shining eyes. He shrugged and leant against the wall of the shuttle, mimicking her stance. ?No, not yet. I?m out here to get some air. I can?t stand that constant chatter.? Jonathan eyed her suspiciously, ?anyhow, why aren?t you in there?? Jonathan jabbed a thumb at the door. ?Needed some air too, I saw the email by the way, how long before you tell her?? Jonathan looked away, ?look, she?s my little sis, believe me, she?ll find out sooner or later.? ?Well if she was my sister I?d want to tell her as soon as possible. Besides, how angry is she going to be when we hit dirt and say, ?oh by the way, you?re the royal daughter that?s going to be given to an evil man by the name of [I]Bress[/I]? Jonathan coughed and became profoundly interested in the door in the back of the shuttle that?d lower and let them out into Ancient Ireland. Back in the main room, the chatter increased as the timer on the wall counted down to arrival. [/size]

[size=1] Jonathan hit the ?Brace: Turbulence? button as the ship broke atmosphere. The structure wobbled slightly and then corrected itself, slipping easily into space. It would be a matter of minutes before the Load planet?s gravity would coast them in the rest of the way. Not that it mattered; the Load AI took care of all the driving for them. He checked his watch and stood, making his way over to the weapons lockers. Now they were in Loadspace, it was now ?legal? for him to distribute the weaponry. The latches of the crates had automatically sprung open and around them the room shimmered. A bemused techie tugged at the druid costume that had take form around him, apparently impressed. His colleagues around him were following suit, all dressed in the same flowing robes. Their equipment had taken on the looks of travelling gear, bearing religious runes. ?This can?t be real?it?s an illusion?I know?I [I]wrote[/I] this software..? exclaimed one techie who was now rubbing the folds of his outfit between his fingers. Jonathan smiled to himself, it was always the same whenever someone new entered?this place. Jonathan shrugged off his thoughts and flipped open the lid of the first crate. Inside, held in neat military rows, was an array of proficient pistol weaponry. He reached inside and grabbed one of the ?Blue Bang? pistols and tossed it to a defender, Quin. The pistol was snatched from the air, and morphed into a long sword and scabbard, Quin seemed mildly impressed, and he sheathed it in the scabbard that appeared on his side. As each pistol was caught in turn, it morphed into the appropriate weapon, suiting costume and even gender. Jonathan smiled at his little sister?s disgust with her weapon, which had morphed into a thigh-length dagger. Jonathan shrugged, ?not my choice sis. The brass wants you gals to play the innocent damsel until they fully know what situation we?re in, besides- Jonathan hefted his morphed pistol, a broadsword inscribed with runes. He tapped an invisible button on his sleeve and it morphed back to it?s normal self ?you can always make it ?normal? again??[/size]

Jonathan stood in the shuttle bay, beside two crates of weapons. Each was stamped with the Load Project logo and was equipped with an auto-incinerate, should it be needed. While he waited, he played with the seams of his Load suit, feeling the mesh of ?veins? that spurted local anaesthetic and disinfectant should the suit be punctured. He shifted the titanium plated knee-guard and the rest of the armour until he was comfortable. For some odd reason, he never felt fully clothed until he was back in one of these things. Gradually the grumbling masses filed out. The techies led, pushing their hover trolleys loaded up with their equipment. Jonathan checked their names off on his PDA as they went, all ten were accounted for. The techies were followed by the eight defenders, marking their names as they went. He raised an eyebrow, most of them had knowledge to rival the technicians that were now shoving one another for better seats. Zaeon wandered past, playing with a small computer on his wrist, Jonathan stopped him. ?That computer standard issue?? Zaeon?s eyes narrowed, ?no, but it has approval to enter the space, if that?s what you mean.? Jonathan grinned, ?it's my job to check these things, for all I know your technology might crash the server and cause us all to be flashfried by the Load planet bursting it's plasma fuses.' Jonathan coughed, 'right then, care to help me with these crates?? He jabbed a thumb at the two crates. Each were one and a half metres long, half a metre high and across. Zaeon shrugged and grabbed a handle, Jonathan followed suit and they both lifted it into the back of the shuttle. They turned back to grab the other, only to find Ken dropping it in front of them. Ken shrugged apologetically, ?did I do something wrong?? Above them the voice of the dock AI ?spoke? through the loudspeaker, [i]Clearance in 20 minutes// Engines warming// Load Space expanding to set parameters// Shuttle Launching in?Calculating?////5 minutes?//Ship to break planet atmosphere in 6 minutes// Shuttle doors closing//Roof opening///[/i] The shuttle slid along the gangway and raised steadily to 45 degrees. Engines fired, and it launched.