A Tale From Horizon (Horizon Based PbP RPG)[CANCELLED]

Haaaaa, she touched my-- Drew stopped mentally drooling with a start, then chastised his libido. His brain flipped through an endless array of STIs. Yersinia, nesritis, and even classic gonorrhea was still around. It didn't matter that antivirotics were out there. You only just met her, man.

He pinched the bridge of his nose slightly... then his eyes wandered to Win's exposed cleavage not half a meter away, and his worse half twitched again. Ugh, it had been too long. He figured she was teasing the absolute hell out of him, especially with that wink toward Jackboot Max, but, fuck, Drew couldn't care less. At least he had boob on his shoulder.

He gave Max a look, then a resigned smile.

 

"Well, I believe the android's introduction takes care of my gender" Acuxe began, (thankful that they had decided to keep his identity secret), "and that means we can get on to the mission. I accept, of course. There's not much alternative." (Especially since I wanted to be off the planet a week ago). "Which planet will we be heading to, and will we be required to return to this one?"

 

Jia waited everyone had settled down with what they wanted to ask and were back to sitting quietly. The android girl processed all the questions, cycling through her set of predetermined answers until she found the ones that were best suited and filled out the rest with logical conclusions. Once the questions had suffecient answers, Jia had started to speak again.

"The planet you all will be headed to is a colonial world made in effort by the Kitsune Empire. It took some favors to make sure your arrival were not to be noted or cause an incident. We don't even wanna know what the thief has done to be able to hide out there. As for how to deal with him, my masters only say for him to be ended by a permenant solution. They do not care how it is done, only that the logical means of not worrying about him ever again is met. You will not be required to come back here, for the ship can bring you to the appropriate drop location at a Free Trade Federation trading post. If you can bring proof of his demise, there might be a bonus for you."

She then looked to Max and simply stated, "As for your question, it is currently unknown. It is incredibly unlikely that the Imperial services would care what offworlders do to each other. And it is a colonial world, the untapped market it brings to the black market would be fresh for the taking, he might be trying to make a claim if he isn't going to run away. In my opinion, he is a Grey...despite what most of the galaxy think of them, they are technological masters. I would be expecting mechanical interverence on some level."

She then smiled and bowed her head, "I must be going now. Please, enjoy your stay on Paradico while your ship is in transit. I would suggest to use the time to get any last minute provisions before you leave. The Kitsune Empire may not bother entertaining any of your needs due to their distrust of outsiders. Have a great day." With that, the android girl courtely turned to face away from the table and turned invisible...obviously high-end stealth technology. Seems they wouldn't be seeing her again for awhile.

 

Win whistled appreciatively as the android faded out of visibility. A military-grade personal cloaking device on a pleasure android suggested their employer was not someone to be trifled with. If the Grey was protected by androids or using powered armor it might be beneficial to pick up some EMP rounds for her weapons. She mentally added this to a shopping list that included a universal translator and some basic engineering equipment to maintain her cover, along with her usual shopping for just the right outfits to tease men and women alike.

First, she reasoned, it was time for a little test of her comrades.

"Well, I don't know about you boys, and Sister Ezixosh," she glanced at the Camarian, "but I wouldn't mind having another drink to celebrate before we go our separate ways for the evening. I happen to know all three of you recently came into some money, so the question is, who is going to buy a girl a drink?"

Win swirled her empty cup and the bendy straw clicked against the sides. She fluttered her lashes and swung her gaze from Camarian to rugged tough to the doctor sitting next to her.

 

Drew swung his arm into the space Jia's form had vacated to no avail. Impressed, he blinked. His limited engineering knowledge did not include cloaks of this power and magnitude, and both astonishment and apprehension gripped his throat. Their employer was not one to be trifled with. I need more specialized equipment then. Best to find an analyzer somewhere out there.

"Who is going to buy a girl a drink?" Win teased to his side, glancing about the room. Well it would take the edge off, he mused.

"Sure," he said with a grin, masking his anxiety. "I definitely need to loosen up." I paged a server with two crooked fingers. "What'll be, Winnifred?"

 

"Win, please," she said to Drew. "Although if you buy me enough drinks you can call me whatever you'd like."

She looked over the glowing menu of rarely-ordered girlish cocktails above the bar and selected something called a "Dripping Wet Fizz Up" that sounded like it contained mostly synthetic fruit juice. "That should loosen me up a little," she said, and winked across the table at Max, the loser in this first round of her little competition. She plucked the bendy straw from her first drink and played with it with her tongue as she leaned back in the booth.

"So what do the rest of you think of this job? Does it smell like a screw-over to anybody else?"

 

"Although if you buy me enough drinks you can call me whatever you'd like."

"Heh, we'll see about that." The reply slipped through his lips like molten butter, and sounded just as calorific. Drew mentally stopped himself. Far too long, obviously.

The cybernetic server produced a tablet installed in her hand and took the order ("Dripping Wet Fizz Up for her and Whiskey on the Hard as Rocks for me. I think there's a gimmick to this place."), then Win openly discussed their predicament.

"Definitely, but I get the feeling that if we had much choice in the matter, we wouldn't be here. I'm sure we all have our motivations, and plenty of reasons not to tell each other about them."

 

Win scooted closer to Drew in the booth and pressed her soft curves against him as she sipped from her sweet drink. The alcohol was weak compared to the drugs she used to be given to keep her compliant for customers. She was conditioned to think through the haze of chemicals and be ready to strike when her target presented itself.

"Definitely," said the rather cute doctor, "but I get the feeling that if we had much choice in the matter, we wouldn't be here. I'm sure we all have our motivations, and plenty of reasons not to tell each other about them."

"Mmmm-hmmm," agreed Win. "We're all running away from something, right?"

She glanced over at Max again and winked, but this time as she did her hand slid into Drew's lap. Win turned her attention back to the doctor, her drink in one hand and his lump in the other. "I just like to know what I'm running towards."

She took a deliberately long, cheek-hollowing pull from her straw and gave that lump a squeeze.

 

Drew contentedly exhaled, taking a swig of his drink. He didn't particularly care all that much that she was teasing him beyond compare. The attention was lovely enough, and the sensation of her softness draping over his body started to fill a void long empty in his life.

"We're all running away from something, right?" she replied, as her hand snaked down. Drew groaned into another swig from his whiskey as his own hand discovered her thigh. "I just like to know what I'm running towards."

Drew angled a hungry gaze at Win, caution and intellect blown to pieces as she sensually slurped from her straw. His cock twitched in response. "So where would you like to run to, Win?" he called softly.

 

"So where would you like to run to, Win?" Drew asked.

She fluttered her lashes and took another drink before answering. "Tonight? How about somewhere comfortable with a view of the station. Maybe a steam bath." She gave Drew's cock another squeeze. "But I have some shopping to do first. Maybe pick out something nice. Would you... like to take care of a room?" She gave his cock one more squeeze and held his gaze.

 

Drew arched his brow while Win batted her eyes. Layin' it on a bit thick, but fuck. She outlined a room with a view and a relaxing bath, and Drew immediately thought of one of the nicer hotels on the upper levels in Paradico. Something about the nexus of swanky suites drove the prices down without sacrificing quality, and he figured he could splurge a bit and still have enough left over for a visit to a black market medical merchant he knew...

The ice rattled in his glass as she squeezed his cock. He caressed her thigh in response "But I have some shopping to do first. Maybe pick out something nice. Would you... like to take care of a room?" Another squeeze, another caress closer to her vulva, and another bit of his resolve fell away.

"I can," he said in a low tone, with a flash to her breasts. "I look forward to seeing your evening wear." And how to take it off.

 

"I can," said Drew and she could see him staring at her tits. "I look forward to seeing your evening wear."

"Then I'll see you tonight. I hope you like what I pick out." She scooted past him and out of the booth. She leaned over the table and said, "A Pleasure meeting you all. I'm sure we'll meet up again at the ship."

With a sway of her hip, not to mention the the uncanny ability to turn something as shapeless as a coverall into something that hugged her hips and round ass, Win walked out of the bar. Once she was past the entrance, she zipped up her coverall and disappeared into the flow of foot traffic. She slipped out her communicator and made some inquiries to her black market contacts in the lower levels of Paradico. She had some equipment she needed and she wanted to score it at a low price.

OOC: I would like to use my black market contact skill to try to receive a discount on buying EMP rounds for my pistol and sniper rifle as well as a universal translator. I'm not sure if this requires dice rolling or that's the GM's discretion or what. I have plenty of money, I just figured Win would use her contact to get a good deal.

 

Drew shook his head with a suddenness that surprised him as he... greatly admired Win's ass... ets. He sighed once more, standing while bending an awkward angle to conceal his erection. "Well! I'd love to talk more my compatriots, but we have a long time ahead of us to get to know each other and I have urgent business to attend to so bye!" The bar's seediness felt somewhat more comforting as he wormed his way through the throngs of the crowd and back out into the street.

The raucous milieu outside obscured Win's path, and he shrugged. Well, I do have business to attend to. Somewhere in the lower levels lay the dealers of organs and contravened chemical compound, so he had to steel himself for yet another descent to his "supplier." He pulled up the data on their target's stolen property, determining that an opioid reagent would serve as the best test. Thankfully, such things flow like water even in more "legitimate" black markets, but he figured that a stronger potency would illicit a faster reaction, and therefore he would need something that would sink an Earth-2 pelagic whale.

Down to the depths I go. With a tap, his computer went as silent as he made his footsteps.

 

Acuxe groaned inwardly. Still in transit? What kind of operation was this? How had they managed to last long enough to get high-end cloaking gear when they couldn't even land a ship at the same time as they send out recruiters? Because, seriously, if you were going to compel people to do a job for you, it would be best to be able to knock them out and pile them onto the ship if they refused, rather than knock them out and sit around in a cargo bay with a bunch of bodies waiting for a ship to turn up.

"Alright, I need to pick up some things to assist with the mission. I'll see you in a few hours." Acuxe stood up and left.

OOC: Buy suit-repair nanites (3000 credits, I have 1700 in savings plus my recent payment, so the purchase will leave me with 200) and get ready to leave (pack everything that isn't already packed and take the bags), before heading to the docks.

 

"... I would be expecting some mechanical interference on some level." the android stated.

Inwardly, Max grimaced while keeping his features flat. He was a combat expert, tech wasn't really his forte; but he assumed that was why their 'employers' brought in this sexy engineer.

Win...

Max controlled his breathing and tried to mentally force his erection to subside, but it was little use. She was asking for a drink, but he wouldn't take the bait; even if his cock was against that stance. Thankfully, the young doctor fell for it hook, line, and sinker. But then she winked at him and started twirling the straw in her drink with her tongue and Max couldn't help but curse himself.

She scooted closer to lab coat and pressed her body against him, while Max silently paid special attention to her the entire time. The swell of her gorgeous breasts as she breathed, the sparkle in her eye as she winked his way again, the slow decent of her hand into the doctor's lap. For his part the doctor seemed to be falling into her trap without much resistance, if any. He made a comment loaded with innuendo that a pre-teen could see though, still, Max couldn't really blame the younger man for it, and despite himself still wished their positions were reversed.

But his attention was still squarely on Win, and her slow moving hand. He could tell what she was doing, and while he couldn't stop the jealous breath from leaving his lungs, he also found himself incredibly aroused by it. The doctor didn't matter here; Max himself didn't matter here; she mattered. This was all about her this display, and Max felt as drawn in as the doctor did. The only difference was that Max recognized it, and fought against it. Win knew what she was doing to both of them and loved it, and if Max was going to be brutally honest with himself, he loved it too. She was a woman in complete control of her sexuality. She'd dry rub a nearly perfect stranger in a bar, with an audience, and not have any qualms about it.

This one was trouble, and Max had to fight back a smile at that knowledge.

There was more meaningless flirtation between the doctor and walking sex. Everyone at the table, including the Camarian (if she was even half paying attention), already knew where this exchange was going. Max had no illusions about how this night would end for his two new compatriots, this doctor would become just another notch in Win's bedpost. There was nothing to be jealous about with that. But Max could certainly appreciate the curve of her shapely ass and the exaggerated sway of her hips as Win confidently strolled out of the bar.

The doctor, understandably excited, quickly excused himself almost immediately after; only granting himself enough time to admire Win's backside as well. The Camarian, silent with a professionalism that Max could respect, was the next to exit after a brisk goodbye.

Max sat in the booth for a while longer, letting his erection subside. 'Where do I know her from?' he wondered again, before downing his water and leaving. The safe house was a good distance away and a couple hours shuteye would be nice before the ship was due.

 

Win checked her computer again. She was somewhere near the main docks where cargo was offloaded onto Paradico, but many levels below that in the underworld. The smells of grilled recycled protein and spilled beer competed with the harsh chemical tang of runoff from one of the fuel processing stations. The whores in this area had hard eyes and looked like they probably carried guns.

Win kept her gaze averted and her head down.

Testro, her contact on Paradico, had vouched for the person she was supposed to be meeting, but she had never worked with this person before. Would they have the gear she needed or was this some sort of setup? She glanced around and kept her hand near the engineer's carryall containing her sidearm.

Testro had said "he'll meet you across from the holographic dancing girl" and there she was, spinning and shaking her naked body to advertise a strip club. So where was this dealer?

 

Yaset Acuxe Events: exceptional pass roll

The Camarian was able to get to his destination without much of an issue. In hindsight, he probably could have gotten a cheaper price on his nanites, it was obvious to most that he was a Camarian and he felt lucky enough. But, why push such things? He got what he wanted, he had the credits, and he was at the docks waiting for the ship to pick them up for the mission.

Today felt like it was gonna be a good day.

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Dr. Andrew Layson Events: near critical failure

As if the streets of the Underworld wre bad enough...it just gets worse the further down you go. There the denizens get more rapid, the diseases get worse, the gangs more violent, and ever more closer to the scrap core that scavengers covet and would fight tooth and nail for anything shiny to salvage...even if they were still attached to something with a beating heart.

Even despite his familiarity with certain parts of the Underworld, the good doctor still had many things that would be a threat to him. Paradico was unpredictable, who knows what would happen?

As he was approaching the "medicinal" market section that thrived in this particular part, trouble had reared its ugly head around the corner. Of course it was just his luck that he had stumbled upon a gang of what appeared to be fifteen Nemura that were on the prowl for fresh cybernetics. Before he could even think about hiding somewhere to not be noticed, one of the squeakers turned its ratface towards him.

With an ear-piercing screech, it pointed him out. If the doctor didn't figure something out, he'll be without an arm...or more if he was anymore unfortunate.

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Maximilian Hatten Events: just barely failed

The streets of Paradico's Underworld was a dangerous place, many unpredictable things happen. Even so much as walking down the street has dangers of its own. Like, for example.

As Max rounded a corner, he was met with some opposition. A Stygian of green skin and the typical spines of his kind in place of hair stood in his way. The Stgyian was wearing thuggish clothes and had a knife in his hand. The sickly green, moderately built, but dangerous looking urchin licked his lips as he pointed the knife at him.

"Yo,ape-reject. This street here has a toll, and look here whose gotta pay. And don't do anything stupid, or you'll have to mess with my crew. So pay up, a thousand creds oughtta do."

*****************************************

Winnifred Karisma Events: slim pass

As she waited at her position, Win would notice something odd. A large form would crawl up from a railing that leant over the view of the lower sections and crawled real low to the ground over to the opposite side of the street from the holographic dancer. As it reached its position, it would then stand up and reveled its form.

The "engineer" lady would see that the creature was in fact...a Zasarian. The large bug's chittering could be heard across the street as it pulled something out form its back carapace. It's many arms pressing thigns and flipping other things on the object. Soon a stand came from a strange box like construct and what appeared to be a lid opened. It would be hard to see what it was doing, as it fidgeted with this, that, and the other.

Well, it was in the right position. So, it seemed this was Win's dealer.

 

Win did not let any of her nerves show as she cautiously approached the Zasarian she took to be her contact. She cleared her throat to get its attention.

"Are you Green?" She asked, using the codename Testro had given her. "I'm Red. I'm looking for some lightning loads and a talk box. You interested in making some money or did you..."

She hesitated. She was inexperienced with Zasarians. She had heard stories that were unpleasant and decided not to try the seductive route.

"Did you want to make some money?"

 

'Fuck!' Max thought to himself as he stumbled into an easily avoidable ambush. 'Get your head off of the redhead and into the game you idiot!'

Immediately Max's attention went into overdrive and he summed up his opponent while quickly scanning for this so-called backup. He didn't see anyone but that didn't mean there weren't others. Still, it was more likely this was just a random thug trying to shake down an easy mark. But he did have the credits to spare, and he wasn't supposed to draw attention to himself. His armor was still in his bag stashed in the safe-house, as well as his rifle, but he didn't think he'd need those to deal with one random mugger.

'Kick or gamble?' he thought before smirking, 'stupid question.'

In a split second he made up his mind and dropped a step backwards in an attempt to create some distance before reaching for his pistol.

'Idiot made a bad move bringing a knife to a gunfight...'

 

The word "fuck" is often a good adjective for many an unfortunate situation, but, at this juncture, something stronger would be required. Something along the lines of "what the fucking shit fuck fucking rats dear shit and a fucking half." Or something. Drew was a doctor, not a wordsmith.

Survival instincts kicked in, and he was grateful that he enrolled in that one triage and battlefield medic course. The S19 still had the airburst rounds in the magazine, and he hoped that one good shot in the middle of the crowd would at least take out the ones in the forefront and have the rest think twice. Thank goodness for the scope on it... Either that or hope for the best with the toxins and administering spray in the medkit, which would leave him at a severe tactical disadvantage.