Baron sits quietly in the Cave, a crying child sitting in his lap. Baron tries to comfort the child, but knows there isn't much he could do, he'd likely be the same way if he were in her shoes. Baron looks about the area and considers the situation that brought him here, but his thoughts go farther back.
McVey's Brain wrote:The small room in the back of the Tap house smelled of stale beer and sweat, but little could be done about it, it was soaked into the woodwork. At a small table cluttered with papers, tools and a partially disassembled revolver, sat a man. His features were both human and alien, He had long black hair and deep brown eyes, but where his nose should be was two nostrils on a flat face. This wasn’t an uncommon look among the Quick-Flex, an alien species trying to make it’s place in a post-apocalyptic world. This particular Quick-Flex was a man by the name of Caron McVey, and he would be the unlikely protagonist of this story.
Baron slowly put a wire brush down the barrel of the revolver, a work of beauty, silver and gold with exquisite filigree carved into it by the hands of a master. Baron continued to clean the weapon with what could be called a gentle touch. Once Baron seemed satisfied with his work, he began the slow process of reassembling the revolver, each part rechecked for fit, like they had been for hundreds of years and many owners before. Though Baron seemed to be paying careful attention to his work, his mind was elsewhere. Off to the side was a hastily drawn blueprint of a manor house, and several pages of notes. Baron spins the wheel of the revolver hearing the satisfying clicking it makes when put together right. Baron sets the revolver to the side and flips the page he had been reading. ”All but impenetrable.” He says quietly to himself.
Baron looks away from the notes and grabs a carton of ammunition. Inside are over a dozen brass cased .44 caliber rounds, of which he selects one and chambers it into the revolver, following this with five others. Again Baron gives the wheel a spin and snaps it closed. Setting the gun down on the table once more, he stands up from his chair and makes his way to the dresser. A low basin and a pitcher rest there for his use. Baron uses the wash basin to clean his hands of the gun oil and wash his face. On the ratty looking bed lay the clothes and armor he intends on wearing this evening. A low profile suit of composite body armor lies next to a finely tailored suit. A utility belt is hung from a post at the foot of the bed, slightly lopsided from the sword sheath weighing it down. Baron dresses slowly, making an effort to look his best as he was taught by his mentor Lord Faris a few years prior.
The end result was that of a modern southern gentleman, an uncommon sight in the Colorado Baronies. Baron checked his belt one last time before picking up the revolver from the table and giving it a few twirls on his dextrous finger and holstering it. ”I reckon it’ll do.” Baron says to himself as he makes his way outside the room, making sure to lock the door on his way out. On the other side of the door was a cozy looking tap room already half full in the mid-afternoon. Baron looked to the bartender and smiled, before sidling up to the bar. ”Ben I’ll take a beer if you don’t mind” Baron produced a few coins and set them on the bar top. The bartender ben nodded and grabbed a glass to pour some room temperature beer in. A few sips later Baron observed what was going on around him. A trio of men, miners by their looks were playing cards in the corner, a few farmers were at the bar were drinking for their lunch, and a cyborg sat quietly in another corner a half full mug of beer in front of him on the table. Nothing interesting. Baron thought.
Baron quietly finished his beer and set the mug on the counter. ”Later Ben.” Baron says as he gets up and leaves. Outside the temperature is high and dry, with a slight breeze from the east. Baron places his stylish hat upon his head and walks out into the dirt road. Baron hadn’t been in the town for too long, he walked in looking for his next score, and soon found out that the people of Richardson had a strong dislike of their Mayor. Another day fo research concluded that the Mayor was a cattle baron who ruled the town like his own private fiefdom, caring little for it’s citizens other than another source of income. It was around then that Baron decided that robbing the Mayor would be a good idea. Luck being what it was the Mayor was having a soiree tonight, Baron planned on crashing the party and stealing a collection of valuables.
Baron’s walk took him past the Mayor’s home, a sprawling three story affair that resembled southern mansions of the late past. Though this particular building boasted a well designed and very modern security system, and a small army of well-trained guards. Impervious to the average person, but Baron was if anything far from average. Baron considered his plan as he made his way to a nearby cafe, boasting the best coffee and teas this side of the Mississippi. After ordering a coffee, Baron sat down at one of the exterior tables and watched the populace walk by.
A few hours later as the sun started to dip beyond the horizon, Baron got up and made his way back towards the Mayor’s house. As Baron had figured the crowd was starting to gather and it would be prime time to get himself inside. A few quick hand gestures and a polite bump, and Baron had an invitation to the party. Smirking he made his way inside, not even glanced at by the security detail looking at invitations. The interior of the home was lavishly decorated, almost to the point of gaudy, the Mayor wanted everyone to see his wealth. Baron slowly made his way across the room, taking in the sights, when he came across two things he adored almost as much as stealing from pompous rich folk. Off to one side was a few tables set up for poker, while off to the other side was a breathtaking beauty of a woman.
Knowing this early wasn’t the time to strike, Baron made his way to the woman, figuring what harm could come from flirting. She had just finished talking to an older gentleman when Baron approached. From the look on her face she wasn’t repulsed by Baron at the very least. ”Good evening Mademoiselle.” Bron opened up with. ”Oh an educated gentleman are we.” She said with a smile and a playful gesture. Baron smiled back and noded. The two of them began to talk, nothing of substance, but friendly in nature it was during this conversation that BAron found out that the woman, Rosaline, was the Mayor’s wife. Eventually the conversation had to stop, she had others to speak to, bit she commented that she would look forward to meeting again.
Baron turned his attention to the poker tables, and made his way there. One of the tables only had three, so Baron approached that one. ”Pardon me Gentleman, would you mind if i joined for the next hand?” Baron asked with all the charm he could muster. They nodded and Baron sat down. They were playing five-card stud and as it happened it was the high stakes table. Baron couldn’t have been happier. At first Baron played conservatively just to get a read on the others, whom he found out through ongoing table conversation that included the sheriff, the owner of the bank, and the mayor himself. Wonder's do not cease. Baron thought as his play style became more aggressive, winning far more hands than he was losing. Baron could see that this was annoying the others, so he made up an excuse and made his leave. It was nearing the time for him to act anyways.
Baron walked the interior of the party space and made mental notes as to where the guards were and how they moved. With this knowledge, Baron made his way to a particular hallway and slipped past the guards there. Being as stealthy as he could be, Baron made his way to where he had figured the Mayor’s office was. Picking the lock was childsplay to Baron’s nimble fingers, allowing him to slip inside unseen. The office was decorated even more gaudily than the rest of the house, which wasn’t too much of a surprise to Baron. He quietly walked the perimeter of the room looking for some detail that would seem out of place, he soon found two.
The first was a painting that was mounted on hinges, behind it was a wall safe. Baron looked the safe over and spent several long and aggravating moments cracking the safe. Inside was piles of gold jewelry, deeds, and stacks of credits. All of these items went into Baron’s pockets. The second thing Baron found out of place was a bookshelf, it seemed oddly shaped in Baron’s opinion. A more detailed investigation of it, showed that there was a secret switch that caused it to swing open like a door. Behind it, Baron would find the true evil that was the Mayor. The room beyond was a laboratory of sorts, designed for spellcraft of some sort. Baron quickly made an inventory of the items and concluded that The Mayor was a necromancer. Baron began grabbing a few choice items, when he heard the door open to the office. Shit! Baron thought as he stuffed the last items into his pockets and made for the door.
Just inside the office area are three people, the mayor and two of his security guards. The look of surprise pretty much covered each person’s face. This was quickly followed by looks of determination and rage. The guards spread out to the sides while the mayor began weaving a spell. Baron flipped from his position to put the Mayor’s desk between himself and the attackers, this saved his life as bullets and a jet of flame scorched where he was once standing. Baron from his crouched position drew the two weapons he always carried, and ornately crafted revolver and a equally well crafted vibro-sword. From the other side of the desk Baron could hear the Mayor bellow. ”Kill him you fools!”
Baron leapt to action vaulting the desk and landing a kick into the chest of the one guard while firing a shot at the other. The guards tried to shoot Baron again, but missed, while the mayor began weaving another spell. Baron dove from the guards and landed a blow on the mayor with his silver bladed vibro-sword. The mayor hissed in pain as Baron continued past him and back into the hallway. Chaos erupted in the halls as guards moved to intercept Baron and the crowd scattered. Baron leapt from a second story balcony, grabbing the crystalline chandelier an d swinging in a long arc that put him much closer to the exit. His landing would have likely been more painful had he not landed feet first on one of the mayor’s guards, flooring him instantly. Baron continued his run dodging and returning fire. I’m gonna have to skip town if I survive this Baron thought as he barreled out the main entrance, and right into an awaiting car. Baron barely had time to react as the car lurched forward and began speeding off. It took Baron several long seconds to realize that the driver of his getaway vehicle was none other than Rosaline, the Mayor’s wife. ”I needed a good reason to flee that brute.” She said with a smile.
Baron laughed, Rosaline laughed, and they drove off into the sunset.
The memory brought a smile to his face, it was shortly thereafter that he made his way to the Tomorrow Legion and the Ninety-Ninth. It was Billy's questions that took his mind off the situation.
Damn strange to put a kid in a Combat Borg chassis.
BILLY BORG wrote:"why don't Cyberknights have cybernetics?"
"Do Robohorses have dreams?"
"What temperature do minds melt at?"
"when you speak to machines, do they want to know your name?"
"how do you keep all those combat drug IVs from coming out when you fight?"
"If you were born blind, then why don't you get bionic eyes?"
Damn that kid is a philosopher for sure. Baron thinks with another chuckle.
"Those are questions for the ages kid."