cityship: (Default)
cityship ([personal profile] cityship) wrote in [community profile] trans_92012-03-16 04:21 pm

Buy a Little Mercy [Open; Potentially Graphic Material]

Less than an hour after the ship leaves Agrestic's orbit, an announcement is broadcast throughout Stacy.

|| Attention, crew. Your crewmates, Howard Bassem and Charles Merriman, have been apprehended attempting to desert. They will now be given Punishment. According to established guidelines, you are all requested to report to the Observation to witness the Punishment. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly suggested. This will serve as a reminder of the consequences of treason and desertion. ||

On the observation deck, Archon Yavek, Archite Rekkti, two other Daligig and a handful of Kessek soldiers stand outside a spherical force field. Inside the bubble, Orc and Howard are suspended by tentacles looping around their wrists. Orc's ceased thrashing around and struggling against his restraints; rust-colored fissures have developed around his shoulders and forearms from the strain, but now he simply hangs there, looking defeated. Howard's nose is bleeding, and every time a drop falls to the bottom of the forcefield there's a small sizzle. He's weeping and begging the Daligig with every plea possible, but they act as if they aren't listening. Instead, they wait for an audience.

REACTIONS

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-16 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Open for anyone who would come to see or try to interfere. You may assault the Kessek, but in the interest of keeping the rebellion on a feasible timeline Stacy will protect the Kessek from being too greatly injured, and the Kessek will retaliate to any attack. If you're interested in having your character seriously injured, let Lisa know.]

PUNISHMENT

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-16 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Orc, Howard and NPCs.]
first_in_time: (disapproves)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] first_in_time 2012-03-16 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
As soon as Barbara heard the announcement, she ran as fast as she could to the observation deck. The first thing she saw was Howard and Charles suspended in their bubbles. She covered her mouth with a hand in shock and disbelief, shaking her head like it shouldn't be real.

And it shouldn't.

"How could you?!" she cried at the officials and their soldiers, "they're only children! They shouldn't even be involved in this war and all they wanted to do was get away. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
badassfreakingoverlord: (animated laughter)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2012-03-16 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
In the arms of his minion, Zetta came up to the scene, a big grin on his face.

"Hyaa ha ha ha ha! It's about time we saw some discipline around here!" he said, directing his voice to the Daligig. "Kick ass and take names!"

He was pretty much counting on the Warden being too busy to read and communicate his thoughts, for the sake of this deception. Of course, stupid other crewmembers believing this crap was also a concern, but he'd done his best to point that he was lying his table of contents off without saying as much on his omnicomm transmission.

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Desertion is a crime. We're all soldiers in this war. We all have to make sacrifices." Archon Yavek barely dignifies Barbara with a glance. "Whether or not they're children is completely irrelevant. And you will not speak back to me while I am commanding this ship."

One of the Kessek looks her over, decides she is probably a relatively normal human and unlikely to attack, and shrugs.
zouichi: (Zouichi: yelling)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] zouichi 2012-03-17 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Zouichi stalked through the halls, his customary weapons (plus one recent acquisition) all present and accounted for. His thoughts were whirling, refusing to settle on anything save the last recording of Punishment that he'd watched. If they were going to try and inflict that on Howard just for trying to leave and make a new home for themselves --

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded of the Daligig gathered in the chamber. It didn't matter which one of them answered him so long as he got an answer. He and Howard had said their goodbyes. Howard wasn't supposed to be back here. He was supposed to be free from this. Free to start a new life, or what passed for one now that almost everyone in his reality was dead and gone.

"You're going to vivisect a couple of teenagers for not wanting to take part in your damn war? What happened to the truce terms? How many laws did you break to yank them off that planet? What the hell does it matter to you if two kids from out in the middle of nowhere tag along on your little crusade? They're not soldiers! They're not even trained combatants!"

[Chances are they'll pretty much have to severely injure Z to get him to watch the Punishment.]
theboywhodied: (Deathly serious)

[personal profile] theboywhodied 2012-03-17 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
Cedric had been forlornly playing with the cats back at the inn when the message arrived. He'd dropped his little ball of yarn in shock, leaving Sushi and Emergency Rations to tussle over it on their own.

He looked down at them, sparing a little skritch before taking up his wand and running. Please don't be too late...no...surely they can stop this...

A few minutes later, he skidded onto the Observation Deck. What he saw made his stomach churn. Howard and his friend Orc, captured and afraid. The Daligig looking menacing. Memories of the video he'd hardly managed to watch even segments of flashing through his head.

"This is absurd!" he yelled, clenching his fists. "You're going to torture them for attempting to escape an awful war that we were forced into?"

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Archite Rekkti sighed and rubbed at her temple, "Archon, with all due respect, what have I told you about trying to get along with them? This is not helping."

She looked troubled, crossing her arms, "I really don't think Punishment is necessary. There are less... cruel things that can be done to make the point."

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Archon Yavek turns to Zetta with a look that borders on disdain. How uncouth, to come throw metaphorical popcorn at this sort of torture.

Behind that arrogant exterior, though, Yavek sees something of a kindred spirit in Zetta's glee. Because Yavek feels it himself, a sadistic thrill that comes from hurting others. He just doesn't let it show on his face.

"You are a Councillor, are you not?" Yavek sounds as if he's complimenting a particularly slow child on their sand castle when he says 'Councillor'. It's clear he has no respect for the governing system here.
badassfreakingoverlord: (the impatiently literary glare)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2012-03-17 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, for what THAT's worth," Zetta said, rolling his eyes. "Most of the time I think the Council just exists for the rest of the crew to have a government to hate."

Hey, Zetta isn't the best liar in the world, so he'll just tell the truth.
soulinherfists: pre-Burning Finger pose (Its loud roar tells me...!)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] soulinherfists 2012-03-17 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
When Allenby heard the announcement, she raced for the Observation Deck as fast as she could go. She had seen the recording of Punishment not long after her arrival on the ship--part of it, anyway. She couldn't make herself watch all of it.

If she had her way, all of it wouldn't happen today either. Voices of doubt (or maybe common sense) clamored for attention in her mind, about the Kessek and Stacy's forcefield and tentacles and energy blasters. She ignored them.

Goddammit, Howard was crying. And she was pretty sure those red marks on his friend's body were nothing good. Allenby didn't waste any time with questions or accusations. She just ran until she felt she was in range and lifted her hands above her head. "NOBEEEEL SUPERBALL!"

She pitched the green-white energy orb like a hugely oversized baseball. It sparked with all her rage and spirit as it flew towards the Kessek and Daligig. Take them out, get that forcefield down. Then... well she'd just keep going from there and damn the consequences.
Edited 2012-03-17 00:34 (UTC)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Kessek." Yavek gestures with one hand towards Zouichi, and the Kessek fan out to surround him and plan themselves between him and the Daligig. "Be careful with this one. He's armed."

A tentacle descends from the ceiling and hovers a few feet away from Zouichi.

"Whatever laws we broke with that backwater planet is of little concern. Once they've had their fit about it they will return to obeying us. They will not jeopardize the entire war effort over a small infraction of their make-believe Truce." He speaks calmly, as if he's not facing any threat at all. "And we are all soldiers here. It is not our fault your crew has not ensured everyone be properly trained."
theprophet: (Tarrant: forest)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] theprophet 2012-03-17 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
Tarrant made his entrance as cool and collected as ever, draped in fine. He was dressed in graduated layers of silk, as was his custom when not traveling. A thin gold band held back his hair; he'd even completed his outfit with the high collar that signified his station -- beaten gold, in the pattern of intricate overlapping flames.

He made no effort to use the weapons hanging at his side. Nor did he try to engage the other crew members. He merely stood watching the two prisoners, imposing in his height and impassiveness. Or so it seemed to everyone else in the room.

To Tarrant's special Sight, the ordinary lighting in the chamber was eclipsed by the strange, otherworldly luminescence of the dark fae that permeated most of the ship. He reached out to that web of power, tasting the currents as they reached out, invariably attracted to the living warmth of the people gathered here. Swiftly, he formed the basis of a Knowing, using it to touch the Daligig and the Kessek alike. If there was information to be found here -- on their future plans, their motivations, their capabilities and armaments... even a weakness or the confirmation of the sordid rumors that had been drifting to his ears from the people of Agrestic -- he wanted to know.

Without the ability to Work the fae themselves, they would have no way of knowing what he was up to. Which was exactly how he wanted it.

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
A bit of a smile snakes its way over Yavek's mouth. So even the Council doesn't believe in their own power. What a pathetic display of shadow puppetry.

"You've done a terrible job enforcing the laws of the ship, so you know."
encourage: (look; as doubtful as you feel)

[personal profile] encourage 2012-03-17 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
The announcement had Sakura running as soon as "Punishment" was uttered. She had to get through the transport tubes, but she's among those early on scene.

She goes cold. Sakura knows it's out of anger, feels it straining against every inch of her skin as she stands still, staring at Howard. She looks to Orc, too, but it's a general check. She knows the relative reality of what's going on, she knows what punishment entails, and she knows it's all the bullshit brought on by the Daligig.

"Are we conscripts?"

It's a simple question, delivered with an entirely even tone of voice. Sakura's face, her mind, her everything is a mask, a focused anger so immense that it's lost all heat. For her, this is the most dangerous sort of moment. It's when she can least predict herself.

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
"What is absurd is the idea that desertion should go without consequences," Yavek snaps. "Do you not believe that the Daligig were forced into this same war by the Ohm's evil? This isn't a battle you enlist in. This is a battle you join to survive."

One of the Kessek walks forward and towers over Cedric, hoping to intimidate him into inaction.
badassfreakingoverlord: (book is on fire!)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2012-03-17 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
"No kidding." The book snorted. "That's what happens when the government doesn't have any POWER. Security answers to Command, Command doesn't do anything, and all I can do is go, 'hey, quit being idiots.'"

He looked purposefully from the two awaiting Punishment, to the increasingly hostile around them. "And then look what you get. A bunch of maniacs who want to throw away the entire war for the sake of rebelling." Zetta sighed. "You guys at least can DO things like tell the ship to detain this guy or that guy. All we've got is our ability to talk sense to them. Guess how well THAT's going."

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
The orb flies straight for Archon Rekkti. One of the Kesse darts forward and knocks Rekkti to the ground, and the superball collides with a flash against the side of the forcefield. Another Kessek rushes forward, inhumanly fast, and tackles Allenby to the ground.

"Stand down!" The Kessek yells in Allenby's face. She's made efforts not to hurt Allenby more than necessary, but that will change if the situation escalates.

Yavek and Rekkti shuffle behind another Kessek.
mythoughtsoncloning: (super--big blue class punch)

Serious injuries are allowed. Thread-hopping okay? Might as well coordinate!

[personal profile] mythoughtsoncloning 2012-03-17 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
Howard had saved his life. He was annoying, to be sure, in that way that really jaded people just generally really annoyed the hell out of Kon, but he'd saved Kon's life. The weeping and begging that he'd heard far off thanks to his super-hearing was what drove him more than anything else, though he'd have done this anyway for anyone, even if it wasn't Howard up there, even if he wasn't crying.

There was a rebellion kind of thing that was stirring, right? Kon hadn't been entirely sure about it, about whether it was the right thing to do or the right time, but this made him far more sure of it.

That meant that this wasn't just a rescue attempt. While that was what it was primarily, it was also a statement of intent. That was why it wasn't Superboy that showed up to fight the Kessek. No, he went with the new costume--a costume that was new and at the same time older than he was--flying to his room at superspeed and changing into it about a nanosecond after he heard the announcement rather than changing into his other fighting duds. Then it was off to Obs Deck.

He also didn't do the preachy announcement "I'm here to fight you!" or "You won't get away with this!" stupid superhero thing, either, opting instead to fly into the room and barrel at the Kessek with superspeed, hoping that'd give him an advantage if the Daligig tried to call down Stacy's tentacles. Hopefully, Allenby's attack causing some chaos would give him a slight edge, too.
Edited 2012-03-17 01:01 (UTC)
theboywhodied: (Seriousness)

[personal profile] theboywhodied 2012-03-17 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Even so, it's still extreme," Cedric insisted, a hard edge to his voice. There was no fear when he knew in his heart that he was right.

He took a hard and deep breath. "If you would keep unwilling people as soldiers, what's next? Torturing people you don't judge to be working hard enough?"
punchedoutdestiny: (LEMME SEE YA CLENCH THOSE TEETH)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] punchedoutdestiny 2012-03-17 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
Earlier, Simon had admitted to himself and pointed out to Allenby that they should hold back - wait for a good time to strike back against these guys holding their leashes. Play by their rules.

This, though - this hit home. This was them screwing with one of his housemates. One of the ones that probably thought Simon was a crazy man with the way he went on about burning spirit and stuff - but what Howard may or may not have thought of him didn't matter. He was another person caught up in this mess - both Howard and his friend.

Trying to get away from all this - trying to forge their own way away from this... Running away or not, it was still something Simon could admire in a way - after all, it was giving a big fat middle finger to those who would try and boss them around and grasp hold of their own future.

And these jerks were going to punish them for it?

That hesitance from before was gone. Screw the waiting, screw the consequences, and screw these guys. Simon barges up as his feet could carry him, though it seems he was a bit too slow - they've already knocked Allenby down. Damn it.

Simon draws his fist back as he charges the Kessek soldier that was blocking the important-looking guys. "GET OUTTA MY WAY!"
zouichi: (Zouichi: live fire)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] zouichi 2012-03-17 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
And that was it. Whatever source of temperance Zouichi had been drawing on ever since arriving here on this godforsaken ship ran out in that one instant. He could barely hear Yavek speak through the thundering of blood in his ears, barely even registered the existence of the other Daligig. Even as Yavek started on his sermon about all of them being soldiers, even as he was mouthing something or other about the truce, Zouichi was already in motion, drawing his sidearm and snapping the barrel of his coil rifle into firing position.

When he'd been created, it had been in the pursuit of birthing a kind of living, breathing combat machine. One which would consider every eventuality, one that could look at any battle situation and determine exactly what course of action to take to kill as many hostile combatants as he could, as efficiently as he could. One capable of murdering without remorse or hesitation or pity. There was nothing cold-blooded about the wrath that bubbled hot and thick at Zouichi's core now -- but he did, at the very least, recognize that unless he was trying to kill his opponents outright, he wouldn't be able to stop this from happening. Not if all of Yavek's smug bluster was true.

Quicker than a human could ever hope to, he fired a single gravity shell at the tentacle poised ready to restrain him. With his other hand, he leveled his rifle -- not at the Kessek, but at Yavek -- and fired. Let them scramble to protect him, see how they liked it. A bright burst of energy bloomed forth from the barrel of the coil rifle, but Zouichi was already preparing his next shot.

Bring the noise. And also someone was playing an awesome speed guitar solo?
Edited 2012-03-17 01:09 (UTC)

[personal profile] meat_mooks 2012-03-17 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
"We all are." Yavek looks down at Sakura. "No one asked for this war except for the Ohm. We are as helpless in it as you, but unlike certain members of your faction, we don't jeopardize the lives of trillions for our own selfish desires."

He waves a hand at Howard and Orc, and then to the crew members putting up a fight, as if Sakura's not smart enough to see what he's talking about otherwise.
teethofneedles: (homg its karis)

Re: REACTIONS

[personal profile] teethofneedles 2012-03-17 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
There's no sound from Karis for a moment and maybe that's a bit more terrifying than a yell or a scream or anything else. Because after a moment, there's just a blur of metal and dead flesh, ax in one hand as she leaps without warning, blade whipping around in a vicious arc. She's aiming for the kessek that's gone after Allenby. Hit the one that's distract. Bury the blade in the neck, sever the spine and then keep going.

Someone is going to die for this.
bequiet_hescreamed: all palace basements shall now install a pump so that my robes don't get all wet and icky (by royal decree ahem ahem)

[personal profile] bequiet_hescreamed 2012-03-17 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Civilized beings don't do this to other civilized beings."

The words came from out of nowhere-- well, specifically from Clef, who was projecting his voice so that it could be heard despite his short stature. He had summoned his staff and was glaring threateningly at the Daligig - quite frankly, he did intend to fight if necessary. The only reason he had opened his mouth was in the off chance that words would help. He had seen video of the punishment and refused to allow anything like that to happen again.

"Cease this immediately! The only thing these children will learn from being tortured is fear!"

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