Clever Girls

Grimlock

No one controls Grimlock!
Level 1
Joined
Sep 10, 2018
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4
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€2,635
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Inverxe
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The scraping of metal and the whirring of servos dragged Safeguard out of his concussive stupor. He forced his arms to push his body up onto his knees, every muscle straining against exhaustion. He tried shaking the fog out of his mind as the clanking footsteps grew closer. A deep and rasping voice, laden with a thick German accent, scraped against his ears.

“Breaking you has become a pattern, Safeguard,” A heavy claw wrapped itself around the hero’s back and shoulder, pulling him up off of the cold concrete. “You seem to refuse to accept the inferiority of your organic body.”

Safeguard felt his body rotate as the claw pulled him closer. The smell of ozone and a wave of heat washed over him as the arrogant maw of Dr. Gerhardt Brandt filled his vision. The scientist’s metallic face-plate sneered like an angry lion, smoke spilling out of the glowing orange circles along its cheeks. A consecutive series of clicks signaled the retraction of Brandt’s segmented arms. Will tried to breathe past the piercing agony in his ribs, but he couldn’t find the strength to resist the pull of the strong claws as Gerhardt dragged the hero across the chaotic remains of his lab.

“You have no respect for my work spaces.” Dr. Brandt’s other hand gently pushed a flipped table out of his path. “I’m disappointed, Safeguard, this ignorance does not become you. Of all people, I assumed you would appreciate how this device can alter humanity’s future for the better.”

“Y-you… can’t…” Will barely found the breath to choke out his weak resistance.

“Can’t what? Change the world? My calculations are perfect, and this device has every capability to produce near infinite energy for all of humanity… save their price is right.”

Brandt released his grip on Safeguard, allowing him to collapse back to the ground. His mechanical bulk lumbered up to a bulky cylindrical pod suspended by a matrix of blue energy. His sharp finger tapped the device, causing it to tilt slightly.

“This is my crowning achievement, surpassing even my mechanical body. I am on the cusp of machine-assisted immortality!”

“The s-science… it isn’t sound.” Safeguard pushed himself onto one knee, looking up at the doctor and gathering his strength. “I double-checked the notes we found in your warehouse In Fulton River. This perpetual energy device is guaranteed to fail, possibly even detonate.”

Brandt swiped a hand dismissively, knocking over a small rack of test tubes. “Dummkopf, you’re just like the rest! Doubtful and unwilling to take risks!”

“Please, Gerhardt…”

“NO! This is my one chance to make my chassis a permanent replacement for my body. I can live forever, unrestricted by the degenerative diseases that ravaged my elderly and WEAK physique.”

Brandt stomped to the next console, flipping a switch. He fumbled with his large claws, cursing the hero for forcing him to don his more combative chassis. Cursing in German and focusing on his work, he failed to notice Safeguard struggle to his feet. The hero slipped a hand to a small compartment woven into his uniform and retrieved the tiny EMP he had built to safely shut down Brandt’s device.

“You’re a real hard case, you know that?” Will pressed the button activating the EMP.

Brandt whipped around, the disruptor in Safeguard’s right hand catching his eye. With an angry roar, the scientist grabbed for the EMP. His claws wrapped around Will’s hand before he could throw the disruptor at Brandt’s device. He cried out as he felt his bones grind against each other. The doctor tightened his grip, crushing Safeguard’s hand and the machine with it like he was crumpling paper. It took everything Will had not to black out from the pain.

The small device crackled angrily at the sudden stress and detonated with a burst of light. A pulse of invisible energy radiated throughout the laboratory. A hollow roar resonated from Brandt’s throat as the lights along his chassis flickered in response to the EMP. He flinched, throwing Safeguard through an overturned table. Still growling angrily, the scientist stumbled over to the failing suspension field. The large pod wavered, dropping towards the base of its suspension matrix. Brandt reached out his arms, his claws gently cradling the perpetual energy device. The hand that had held the EMP was twisted, and his grip was not enough to keep the pod suspended.

Everything happened at once for Will. As the pod slipped out of Brandt’s hands, he was already struggling to his feet. As soon as he caught sight of the descending time bomb, Safeguard sprinted towards the massive scientist. With a flick of his left wrist, he attached a remote winch to Brandt’s back and dove for the pod. As Will’s hand grabbed its supports, the winch activated and fired a grapnel line out the doorway of the lab. Will crashed into the pedestal with the large pod hugged to his chest just as the winch yanked Brandt backward. The scientist was dragged across the floor and out of the room just as Will caught sight of the overloading energy levels displayed on the pod’s control panels.

Safeguard stood up and turned to the doorway. Too far. The hero looked down at the pod. Too complicated. Without hesitation, he lifted his uninjured arm and aimed his gauntlet at the exit. Brandt was detangling himself from the line, shouting and cursing in German. Safeguard tightened his fist, activating the range tasers mounted onto the back of his glove. The electric lines shot out like arrows and buried themselves in the door’s locking mechanism.

The jolt of electricity forced an overload and its respective lock-down sequence trapping Gerhardt Brandt outside of the laboratory. Safegaurd could already feel the heat from the perpetual energy device as it overloaded. He mildly regretted the EMP, and he tucked his injured hand against his chest. It didn’t seem to bother him that this device would likely de-atomize him, or that he’d never see his friends again. It did annoy him, if only for a moment, that he would miss that date with the reporter. What dominated his mind as the lab filled with a vortex of radiation and energy from the pod’s detonation was that he’d finally get to see his sister again. That made Will smile.

--

The jungles of Kraw were experiencing a moment of peace. In a small clearing near the river locals called Rijeka, the trees swayed softly, and vines swung in the light breeze. The various birds that populated the canopy flitted back and forth, singing their mating songs and searching for perches. At the river, a small herd of Okapi drank their fill from one of the places where the water did not rage over rapids. The sun warmed a rocky outcropping over a slight dip in the river where a lithe tiger lay, resting after a successful hunt.

The clearing, carpeted with grass, housed a single Boar, snuffling around the vegetation for roots and truffles. Suddenly the fur along its spine spiked up, and it squealed in surprise. The clearing seemed to vibrate with energy for a moment, sending the pig scurrying back into the trees. Just as suddenly as it began, the vibrating stopped. The birds, who had stopped singing, ventured a few tentative chirps. Then Safeguard collapsed onto the grass.

He had appeared out of nowhere, without warning or effect save the soft vibrating of the grass. He gasped, not noticing the lack of pain in his ribs, and pushed himself to his feet with both hands. The hero stumbled, disoriented, and glanced around. The distant rushing of water, the mad ravings of birds, and the hushed shifting of leaves was a stark contrast to the raging storm of energy her had been ravished by mere seconds before. A quick glance down at his person revealed a surprising lack of damage to his uniform and body. He flexed his right hand, noting that not only was his gauntlet repaired, but his bones were no longer broken. Safeguard tried blinking to activate his visor, but the thick glass remained dead. He reached up and clicked the mechanism on is ears, releasing the visor, and pulled it off along with his mask.

His hair bounced out of its restraint, and he winced at the mottled sunlight pouring through the canopy. Will tucked his mask into the small pack on his back and took in the jungle with his own two eyes. The vibrant greens left him speechless. His brain struggled for an explanation for the sudden repositioning. Perhaps the sheer amount of energy released had teleported him elsewhere on the planet as the universe’s attempt to displace the sudden surge. Perhaps he had torn a hole between dimensions with the detonation of the pod. Perhaps he was dead, and this was the afterlife. A dozen different theories ran through Will’s mind. He took a few steps toward the trees, hoping to find an answer on the other side of the brush. He pushed through the thick foliage and stepped over stray roots. On the other side of the forest, he was struck by the beauty.

The river Rijeka stretched out before him like a winding snake. It dipped and rose, peppered with land bridges, rapids, estuaries, and waterfalls. Across the water the herd of Okapi glanced up at the newcomer with little interest, focusing instead on taking drinks and watching the tiger who rested above them. Birds Will could not identify soared overhead and the sky was a vibrant blue. Everything from the Okapi to the river to the earth he stood on felt like ti was buzzing with life. His fascination was cut short, however, as the Okapi suddenly scattered. The tiger, likewise disturbed, snarled and slinked back into the darkness cast by the canopy. The bushes twitched suddenly and a spattering of clicks and squeaks emanated from behind the leaves. More of the same sounds sounded out from the other side of the river, as if in response. Will clenched his fists, wishing he had his visor. Then a head popped out from the bush. It was bird-like but possessed a maw of razor-sharp teeth instead of a beak. Sharp quills lined its neck and streaks of red colored its otherwise grey scales. It squeaked, and two more heads popped out of the bushes. Will backed toward the water when he heard more clicks behind him. A quick glance showed three more creatures step from the bushes across the river. His soles sank into the damp sand lining the riverbank, signaling the end of his retreat.

The three creatures on his side of the river stepped out with jerky motions. Sharp claws dug into the dirt and grass, and beady eyes studied the young man carefully from just below his own eye-level. They spread out tactically, chirping to each other regularly. Each of their feet was adorned by an especially deadly looking hooked claw. Will blinked in surprise as he registered that he was locked in a standoff with creatures that should be utterly extinct. The animals, which could only be some sort of prehistoric raptors, sniffed the air as they grew closer. Will held out his hands, hoping to assuage the beasts. They just stalked closer. Will reached for his waist where there were tiny hidden compartments in his uniform. He retrieved a small metal pellet and rolled it in his palm. In the same instant that the lead raptor jumped forward, Will dropped the pellet and rolled. He just barely ducked under the pouncing beast, its long hooked claw scraping his shoulder plate. He jumped to his feet and took off running just as the pellet touched the dirt and broke open. It exploded with blinding light, blanketing that section of the river with pure whiteness. The Raptors screamed and squealed in panic as they jumped around, sightless. Will took off into the trees again.

The Raptors shook their heads in attempts to recover. The three raptors across the river leaped to their brethren. One beast severely underestimated his blindness and slipped into the water. His fellows watched blankly as he was swept away and over into the impending rapids. The lead raptor chirped for his comrade's attention, and all five remaining beasts sprinted into the trees. Will could hear the frantic footsteps of his pursuers and he desperately zig-zagged through dense clumps of trees. It didn't take long for the lithe raptors to catch up with their quarry and they surrounded him. Two sprinted up to his right, another two to his left, and the lead raptor kept itself right on his heels. Its jaws snapped at his back close enough for Will to feel its hot breath. He swerved and vaulted a dead log. The raptor's to his right reacted too late. One rammed into the log and collapsed while its brother barely managed to clear the tree before tumbling into the first. The other three kept up easily. Will knew for a fact he could never outrun such ruthless predators, and it was only a matter of time before the two fallen raptors untangled themselves and took up the chase again. He dove through a wall of vines and saw ahead of him a sheer drop. He could hear the river rapids rushing below.

In a moment of impulse, Will redoubled his speed. He sprinted for the edge of the cliff without slowing down. Once his foot made the last step it could he launched himself out over the precipice. He hung in the air for a moment, his brain desperately trying to wrap itself around its precarious position, and then dropped. He groped wildly for vines that grew out from the cliff face, trying to slow his descent. Will's hands burned as he gripped the thick foliage, but it only held out for a few feet before snapping. He barely managed to take a breath before barreling straight into the rapids of Rijeka. He was tossed underneath the surface of the water and battered against smooth stones and sandbars. It took everything Will had not to take in a gulp of water, his lungs desperate for air. His hand scraped along another tree that had fallen. He grabbed onto the first branch he could find, but it snapped instantly. Unrelenting, he tried to find another branch before the rapids swept him away. He was able to grab onto a second protruding branch and halt his underwater tumble. Exhausted and gasping for air, Will dragged himself out of the water and onto the tree. With a few more heaves, he clambered over the trunk and onto the riverbank. He lay there for a moment, coughing and blinking away droplets.

Through the haze, he could just make out two raptors watching from the cliff. They had apparently hoped he would drown, but their hopes were dashed. With a few more squeaks, they turned and disappeared. It took Will a few moments to remember that there had been three raptors after him on the cliff. He rolled to his feet, forcing his body through the pain, and caught sight of the lead raptor pulling itself out from a lower level of the riverbank. It was likewise beaten by the water, but as soon as its eyes settled on Will, it was struck with a second wind. It screeched angrily and dashed towards its prey. Will found just enough strength to roll with the raptor as it pounced onto him. Its claws jumped for his stomach in harsh, gutting motions. The young man was hard-pressed to hold back the powerful hind legs and snapping jaws. He punched the beast in the neck, just behind the jaw, and dug his fist in. He launched his left-hand taser into its neck, which released a jolt of jarring electricity. The Raptor spasmed, giving Will a chance to kick it off of him and retreat. Just as he moved to run again, the raptor's teeth buried themselves deep into his left ankle.

Will grunted, adrenaline closing his throat, and fell to the ground. The raptor yanked him back and stomped its massive claw into his calf. This forced Will to cry out in pain, and he lashed out. His foot connected with the beast's thick skull, only barely slowing its ravenous bites. He twisted his body to escape the claw's grip, gritting his teeth as it tore his flesh, and flipped onto the raptor's back. It swung its head around to grab Will's arm faster than he could react and it clamped its jaws around his forearm. The young man acted on instinct and fired his right-hand taser. The Raptor's eyes rolled back in its head and foam started to pour out from its mouth. Its entire body shook violently for a few moments before stopping, suddenly. Will waited and watched the creature's still shape. Not even its quills twitched. Will pried open its jaws, wincing as the teeth slid out of their fleshy sheaths, and flopped onto the bloody sand. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths. Will was utterly exhausted. It passed his mind that another raptor might come, but he decided that if it did he would just let it eat him. He didn't mind. After a few minutes, Will forced himself onto his knees and then his feet. He could feel his wounds oozing blood, and his bruised body ached with every breath. He hoped his uniform's built-in healing systems were still intact as he headed for the jungle. His suit worked overtime to try and patch Will's injuries as he limped through the forest. All he wanted was to sleep. He didn't make it far into the trees before collapsing onto the soft grass, unconscious.
 
M

Man with No Name

Riddled by the fever of greed Tuco firmly latches his hands upon a flat piece of wood.
Frantically he moves, digging up the loose sand encompassing over a grave. With both eagerness and aggravation, he tosses the wood in a false hope of speed and continues digging with both hands until as if seeing a ghost he is startled by the sudden crashing of a shovel beside and followed by a shadow looming over Tuco’s body.

Following the shadow back Tuco’s eyes widened in surprise making out who’s shadow it belongs to. Blondie, he should have known that he would have eventually caught up with him. The Bounty Hunter, when needed to be, was a determined man and equally intelligent.

“It’ll be a lot easier with that.” The Hunter said fiddling with his cigarillo setting it in his mouth.

Kept in greed Tuco locks his eyes with the others slowly reaching for his revolver. Shaking his head in disappointment Blondy flips over his green poncho revealing his iron. Not in the mood to get shot Tuco lowers his hand giving a shrug and grabs the shovel resuming his digging until another shovel zooms from behind landing between both men. Shooting their gazes into the direction of the second spade they both narrow their eyes. In front of them grinning from ear to ear the mercenary, they had soon learned to call Angel Eyes held out his revolver, inching several steps closer to Tuco and Blondy.

“Two can dig a lot quicker than one- dig.” He said directing his focus on the Hunter.

Reaching into his shirt pocket the man simply pulled out a match.

“You’re not digging.”

Igniting the match with his thumb Blondy lit his cigarillo ignoring the mercenaries command. Displeased with the Bounty Hunter’s actions Angel Eyes took another step forward, clicking back the hammer of his revolver, causing Tuco to jump at the sound.

“If you shoot me you won't see a cent of that money.”

“Why?” Angel Eyes kept his gun aimed.

Looking down at the spot Tuco had dug Blondie placed his foot onto the sand. “I’ll tell you why.” kicking his foot up a flinging coffin door upwards to Tuco. Inside revealing nothing but an old decayed corpse resting in the coffin. “Cause there’s nothin’ in there.”

Giving a somewhat inaccurate gesture of making a cross Tuco shot his gaze up to Blondy his face steaming with anger. Slamming the coffin door down Tuco jumped up raising his shovel to hit Blondy.

“You son of a!-”

“You thought I would trust you?” The Hunter interrupted Tuco keeping the shovel raised. “Two-hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. We’re gonna have to earn it.”

“How?” Angel Eyes retorted.

Looking around the Bounty Hunter picked up a rock lying beside left boot. “I’ll write the name on the bottom of this stone.” Keeping his eyes on Angel Eyes he pulled out something to write on the rock. “The gun.”

Taking his time merc hesitantly put his gun away. His eyes followed watching the Bounty Hunter walk into a circularly shaped opening void of tombstones and paved all around with rock. Stepping into the center of the opening Blondy placed the rock down. Tuco and Angel Eyes followed in behind taking their own positions in the opening. Each man stared at each other knowing that only one would come out alive and that one would have the money all to themselves. Seconds turning to minutes each man, bounty hunter, mercenary, and criminal each brought their hands close to their iron waiting to see who would make a move first and be the unlucky soul to get shot. Narrowing their eyes at each other Blondy and Angel Eyes snatched for their guns opening fire at each other causing a blinding white light of the muzzle flash.

-
Blinking Blondie pulled his upper torso up both eyes adjusting to a sudden change in scenery. The seemingly endless sea of graves and tombstones was replaced by the lively green of bushes and long viny trees. The chirping of birds echoing in the distance replaced the foreboding stillness that filled the graveyard he was once standing in. The change, although he would never show it startled him, never in his years of bounty hunting had such a thing happen. One moment quiet, empty, graveyard gunfight the next a living jungle green and breathing with life. It was all too strange. A man doesn’t just enter a different area in the blink of an eye. It was all but impossible.

Plucking his hat from the jungle floor, the hunter stood up, his expression twisting with confusion. Making a quick decision he began pushing his way through the brush laid in front of him until stumbling onto a sandy riverbank. The bank’s path was damp his boots mushing down onto the clay like orange sand.

Trailing the bank further, he panned his gaze towards the course itself. It was large trailing like a winding road creating rapids and waterfalls patterning across for as far as the jungle would go. If the Hunter had the time he’d almost call a peaceful scene but’s what's peace to a man who’s never known it? Continuing his path his eyes as perceptive as they were, came across clear signs of footprints one set unmistakably being a man’s while the others could have belonged to a group of large birds.

Closely following the tracks he latched onto several vines climbing down a sheer cliff that dropped downwards from the flowing river. Releasing his grip on the vines from the cliff’s side the Bounty Hunter arrived at an open clearing, grass encompassing most of the ground. The signs of struggle were more apparent in the tracks compared to ones up above the cliff. Squinting his eyes Blondie took to one knee brushing his index and ring finger across the grass. Rubbing both fingers together with his thumb he felt the all too familiar sticky solution of blood- he was close.

Taking only a few more steps his gaze locked onto the owner of the human tracks and to his surprise, the animal that created the other tracks wasn’t very far either. Kneeling, he checked the young man’s pulse. The Hunter gave a sigh shaking his head. The man was alive but just barely and strangely the Bounty Hunter had never seen such a manner of clothing worn on a person. It was almost like a blue spandex or union suit but hardened like some sort of soft armor.

Peeling back the young man’s mask, showing the only hospitality he could give. the Hunter took the cantine that rested from his side applying it the man’s lips in a hope to nurse him to somewhat consciousness.
 
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