Futuristic Forsaken: The Neutral Zone

[Breadman]

1

 

[Infab]

1. Accept the Training
You will be given a crash course in Advanced Weaponry. This will allow you to use Carbines, Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, Light Machine Guns, and Marksman's Rifles. You will also be able to handle two-handed melee weapons more efficiently, such as pickaxes and fireaxes, pipes, and so on. This is a straight upgrade to your Basic Weapons Knowledge, and is mostly a step on the way to higher skill levels.

You think on it for a few moments, eyeing the large rifle, before nodding. Lola holds out the rifle with a smile, before removing the dead soldier's bandolier of magazines. Then, she hands that to you as well. Once she strips the other bandolier off the other soldier, she picks up his gun and secures her own personal rifle onto her back. You do the same with your shotgun.

"Alright. I'll run through the basics. These are Imperium M53Cs. Battle rifles, cut down to carbine length and used as assault rifles... because the Imperium likes to overcompensate." she says, slipping the rifle's stock under her arm. "They fire high-caliber ammunition. Stuff that punches through body armor and sometimes walls. So don't get shot, and make sure they don't shoot the outer walls of the colony."

As she loads her weapon, she continues to explain the basics on the weapon among others like her own. She also shows you how to load yours, and prepare it for battle. "That should cover everything. With these kinds of rifles, be sure to brace yourself for the recoil. Its rough on full auto. Semi-auto is your best bet for ammo conservation, since these only have twenty round magazines."

"Got it. Semi-auto only, unless I need full-auto. Brace for shots. Watch where I shoot. Don't get hit." you say back to her. She gives you a firm nod in response, and pats your shoulder.

"I'll be right here to help out and back you up too." she then says, flashing you a smile before motioning towards the doors leading out of the cabin. "Let's get moving. We're a little pressed for time."

You give her a nod, before moving quietly towards the doors. A peek through the glass allows for a view into the hallway beyond, but only a short distance in either direction left or right. More black-grey, yellow, and red. Imperial utilitarianism. Lola reaches over and touches the manual door control, forcing the doors to slide open. You both lean out carefully, looking down both directions with your rifles raised.

Nothing. The hallway is empty. However, you do smell something terrible... Honestly, it was quite like the smell in the bathroom. Had more people suffered the same fate?

Lola taps you on the shoulder before moving past you towards the right. "...Elevator down to the main section of Administration should be this way." she whispers as she moves by. You follow quietly along, checking behind you every so often to see if anyone might be moving down the other end of the hallway. Still nothing.

The elevator is smaller than those of the Union and the Conglomerate, barely large enough for two people. Likely at the request of the head of the Imperial colony. You don't get many guests if only two people fit in the elevator at a time. The doors are a bright yellow, almost golden in sheen, and emblazoned with the emblem of the Imperium. They wouldn't be for shut for much longer, as Lola reaches over and taps the call button on the wall next to it.

"Mmm..." she mutters under her breath, watching the light above the elevator move across the small black screen. Signifying its position. She glaces back to you after a moment. "...Where would you lock yourself if you wanted to send out messages to the Union and Commonwealth without alerting your allies? Especially in the Administration sector?"

You shrug. "With the way the Imperium likes to do things, they're bound to have cameras and guards everywhere." you say.

Lola nods in response. "I doubt the personal cabins would be a good location to set up. The doors don't lock, and there's a camera in each cabin..." She pauses, as the elevator arrives. The doors slide open, revealing a small bare space that the two of them could occupy shoulder to shoulder on the way down.

She steps inside, before motioning for you to get in. You do as instructed, stepping inside and standing next to her as she taps a button on on the wall. Going down.

The doors shut, locking the two of you inside, before the elevator shifts and begins its downward decent into the colony. As the light above the door moves, this time in the opposite direction as the one before, Lola soon turns to face you. Her bright blue eyes lock onto yours as you glance towards her, the synth peering through her white bangs at you. A moment later, she speaks.

"I've some things to ask you, while we wait." she says quietly, "...And since its just me and you here, there's no distractions."

You give her a confused look, as you turn to face her. Distractions?

She smiles. "...Back at the Conglomerate facility, when you were looking at my old body... Who spoke to you?"

You feel the color drain from your face, your eyes widening slightly. "What?" you ask. Oh fuck. She knows.

"Your eyes glazed over for a few moments, when I looked up at you. I've seen that happen to a few other people, when they conversed with someone else telepathically... Your eyes did it again, in the bathroom back there, when we were looking at the message on the mirror. I could see your reflection in the mirror... I bet you even know what the message said, thanks to whoever spoke to you." she says, her tone never changing. Her eyes, however, shift downward towards your neck.

Her free hand moves up to your jumpsuit's collar, before her fingers begin to smooth out wrinkles across your jumpsuit's chest. Then, they travel to the strap of your bandolier, giving it a gentle pull to tighten it to your body. Securing it. Her eyes then shift back up to meet yours again, her face still wearing the same smile she had when she first started talking.

"So... who was it?" she asks again.


1. Tell the Truth.
2. Lie (Make up an answer.)

 

[Breadman]

1

 

[Worthlessplebian]

1

 

[dikdik]

1

 

[hardcore.munchkin]

1

 

[K0mori]

1

 

[demytra]

1