|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 10, 2010 16:40:11 GMT -5
"Oh, so it's not all brute force and ignorance," Darcy said, watching with her large blue eyes as the door opened to reveal the grassland. She noticed the same thing that he had. "This could be a problem." If they made their way out there, heading for their intended destination, they'd be visible to anyone and everyone. Who was to say that there wasn't someone here who would stop them if they tried to get up there?
But then, if someone did, it would also prove that the tower was exactly where they wanted to be heading.
Casting a glance at Hugo, she said, "well, I don't know about you, but, I'm way too curious now to not go." And if curiosity killed the cat, well, bring on the pain.
She made the first step, tentatively, though the door, wary when nothing happened. "Okay," she took another step, still nothing. "Come on."
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 10, 2010 16:48:44 GMT -5
Hugo nodded in approval, smiling at the bravery she displayed. He was glad that she didn't cower in fear, like most would in a situation like this. She was stepping into the challenge, something that he admired quite a bit.
The slope wasn't as steep as he thought it was, but almost every step Hugo took, he expected SOME kind of alarm to go off, a sentry to shout that there were intruders, even a mech droid that would warn them they were in an unauthorized area...but nothing. Nothing at all. In fact, the trip was quite peaceful until they reached the barrier.
Hugo looked around at the wall, scanning for a sign of entrance...no, nothing again, not even the outline of a door. He looked up, noticing that the height of the barrier was scalable...
"Darcy, come here." He motioned for her as he pointed towards the top of the barrier.
"I can give you a boost over."
|
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 10, 2010 16:57:21 GMT -5
"Not going to kick it again?" she half joked, walking over. This sense of humour, or whatever it was, was slowly coming to her. She supposed it had been there all the time, but she was tapping into it now. It was making things more enjoyable. So far, meeting Hugo hadn't been a bad thing. In fact, she was glad to have someone to spend time with who understood what was going on.
He gave her the boost, and she lifted herself up over the top, dropping down on the other side, just about landing on her feet. The question was, how we he going to get over?
He made it look so easy, clambering over with barely any effort at all, his muscles tensing as he did so. Once they were both safely over the barrier, they now had to make their way into the building. It was still unnerving that they hadn't encountered anyone yet, or anything that had stopped them. Maybe whoever ran this place didn't think that someone would actually try and snoop around, or escape.
This door had a button which was easy enough to find, so Darcy pressed it, and soon they found themselves inside the sterile building, white corridors leading off in all directions. "This is going to be fun..." What was that? Sa.... Sarcasm?
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 10, 2010 17:17:45 GMT -5
After clambering over(which was hard enough to do, seeing as there were no grips. He apparently had a pretty good vertical jump, which he was thankful for), he noticed the stark blackness of the tower, as if the whole building had been smothered by darkness. It was eerie to the say the least. The sliver of light that was being projected from the top of the tower was now dying...why? Hugo didn't have time to answer that as he followed Darcy into the corridor, which was white. No furniture, no nothing. Just endless stretches of white that branched off into several different paths. Which way to take? There were no directional signs...
Then things changed.
He was standing with Darcy in the slums of Compton, California. They were standing in front of what looked like a crime scene, police officers milling about the scene trying to piece together the evidence. In the center of the commotion was a red and white Buick Lucerne, the ancient car looking like it had been trashed in a major accident. The scene was taped off by thin beams of yellow-colored laser that would stun anyone trying to cross who was not authorized to be there. It was a handy tool. Hugo looked around, seeing the derelict buildings...he had seen these before.
"Hey boss, sorry to call you down this late, but I wanted you to see this." A short, squatty man in a uniform that read LAPD on the right breast came up to Hugo, not even aware of Darcy.
"What is it Larry?" Larry? Who's Larry? Why did he say that?
"Just come on over and I'll show ya." Hugo couldn't help but comply, walking through the beams unharmed.
"Larry, does this have anything to do with..."
"Just let me show you." They arrived at a stretcher, which currently was levitating by way of the quiet propulsion engines that lay on the bottom of the stretcher. Wheels were a thing of the past. The stretcher had an occupant, a shroud of nanobots covering the body, ensuring that no one could see it.
"This is the vic." Larry pressed a switch on the bottom of the stretcher, which revealed the face...
"Li...Lisa..." Her blue eyes were still open in a look of horror, her left cheek cut wide open.
"We found her in the Buick." Larry put a hand on Hugo's shoulder in comfort, Hugo only staring at her face, unable to speak, unable to move.
"When you submitted the missing person report, it didn't take long till we found her. We're looking for the guy who did this pal, don't you worry." Hugo leaned down to look at Lisa's face closer, tears forming in his eyes as Lisa looked back at him.
"I love you."
"Why did you leave baby? Why?"
"I love you."
"ANSWER ME! WHY?!?!"
"I love you."
|
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 10, 2010 17:30:15 GMT -5
Darcy had been trying to make a decision herself when the scene around them changed. She did a double take, looking around wildly at the change in surroundings. This didn't look anything like the complex at all, and yet it felt so much more... real.
All she could do was stand by and watch as Hugo became involved in the situation, it looked tragic from the onset. When he moved off, she followed him up to the barrier but then stopped, a police officer holding out a hand as if to say 'don't come any closer.' Trying to peer over the man's shoulder, she wanted to keep Hugo in her sight at all times; she didn't want to lose him, especially when she really wasn't sure what was going on.
Hearing him shout, she side-stepped the officer and caught a glimpse of the woman on the stretcher. She looked horrific, her face cut up like that. Darcy shuddered.
Part of her wanted to go over there, but she wasn't sure whether she'd be able to cross the barrier, or get past the officer. Deciding to risk it, she passed straight through, much to her surprise, and cautiously came up behind Hugo, reaching out towards his shoulder with her hand. Part way there, she stopped. She could fix this situation, couldn't she? If she worked at a medical centre, then she could fix people she could help. But, how?
"I think I can help," she finally piped up, "does anyone have a medical kit?" Someone looked her and nodded, going off to get one. She'd have to do this all on instinct.
Something lurched in the bottom of her stomach, the scene changed again.
Standing in the middle of the long white corridor, Darcy looked back at Hugo. "What just happened?"
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 10, 2010 17:39:07 GMT -5
Hugo watched as his wife's eyes closed, the detective sobbing quietly.
"Lisa...why...you left...why...left..." He didn't feel or hear Darcy's presence until the stretcher disappeared before his eyes...he looked up. Everything was white again. They were back in the complex...
But Lisa wasn't. And he knew deep in his heart she never would be. She was gone.
He did know one thing for sure now: he had been married. And the girl that he claims as his daughter IS his daughter. He could the resemblance in her eyes. Things were coming back now...but Hugo didn't know if he wanted to see the rest, to see what else there was that he had forgotten.
"I...I wish I could tell you." He could tell that they had advanced in the main corridor, having gone past a few twists and turns that had been evident from the entrance. Speaking of the entrance, Hugo now realized that they were far from where they had come in. Had they moved? They must have.
"You...you saw all that didn't you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 10, 2010 17:58:28 GMT -5
Darcy nodded mutely. Hugo still had tears running down his face; wherever they had gone, it had been a painful memory for him (if it was a memory). The woman on the stretched, he must have loved her, to have been crying like that. She could have been his wife, that would have made sense. Watching someone die once was more than enough, but to have seen that again? The thought made her own eyes sting.
"I would offer you a sleeve," she said quietly, "but they're not exactly long enough to do any damage to those tears." The disadvantage of wearing a short sleeve t-shirt.
Opening her mouth to speak again, her breath got caught in her throat. At first it was just because the tears of any man was enough to flaw someone, but then the room began to spin, the image of the white corridor fading away into a dark office. The lights were off, and it was the early hours of the morning. There was a loud crash, and Darcy looked over to see someone fall behind the desk.
"Oh my...!" she quickly, rushing over to help whoever it was. Tugging at a meaty arm, she hoisted the person up, them letting out a low grumble, and came face to face with a ruddy face and a bushy moustache.
Frank. Her father.
"GEROFF," he yanked his arm away, banging his head against the hard desk on the way down.
Darcy sucked in a breath, grabbing him again, determined. "Get up," she told him forcefully, not sure where this had suddenly all come from. "You're drunk, again. You should be in bed."
"Leave me alone," he slapped her hand away, holding onto his pride by a thread.
"Dad," she said automatically, tugging at his arm, despite the fact that her hand was now throbbing. "Come on, let me help you."
"I don't need your help!" he spat, glaring at her darkly, "I didn't ask for it! I don't want it! You're no help to me whatsoever! Get out! GO AWAY!" He kicked at her with his feet, and she jumped backwards, almost falling over, feeling her heart wrench.
"You don't mean that."
He cursed loudly, throwing the bottle of drink in his hand at her. She ducked as it shattered against the wall, the shards of glass slicing into her skin.
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 10, 2010 23:25:05 GMT -5
Hugo could only watch in horror as the man, who was identified as Darcy's father, drunkenly responded to his daughter's prompts and pleas of assistance. His blood boiled inside of him, raging at the fact that a man could treat his own flesh and blood, his own CHILD like a miscreant servant who knew nothing. He instinctively reached for his gun...wait...he carried a gun? That's right! He had carried one! Before...
But no matter.
"Hey, back off from your daughter and crawl back into your bottle you miserable sad sack. You don't deserve to have a child! You don't have the right to treat SOMEONE YOU GIVE BIRTH TO LIKE THIS!" It was quite obvious that the father-daughter relationship was important to Hugo, seeing as his daughter was the only thing he had...the only thing that he could depend on for sanity. And to see someone abusing that relationship...
It made him mad
|
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 11, 2010 2:52:11 GMT -5
Darcy winced against the pain, and the sound of Hugo yelling in her ears. Her Dad shouted in return, cursing in both English and Afrikaans, and Darcy was about to throw her arms out and scream for them to both stop when she was almost blinded by the white light of the corridor once again, her father and the cuts on her forearms gone.
Taking a long, shaky breath, Darcy felt all the emotions inside that she would have felt at that time. Her father had been an alcoholic, she could remember that now. She'd always hated the way he'd get out of control, which affected her deeply. But for now, she told herself to be strong, and forced herself to look back at Hugo, who had been so livid. Seeing that had obviously struck a nerve.
Was there anything she could say after that?
Clearing her throat, she said, "this isn't right. I kept thinking all the way up the hill that something was going to stop us, and nothing did. But now..." Making her feel emotional and weak was definitely putting a damper on her determination. "I think they're trying to mess with our heads, make us turn back."
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 11, 2010 22:24:59 GMT -5
Hugo's angry stare quickly melted into a state of confusion as, once again they were transported to the white hallway. As his ears caught onto Darcy's words, Hugo quickly realized that they were moving further and further away from the entrance. If Darcy was right, then all of these images...they were memories. Psychological warfare.
Oh that's nasty.
But that did mean, if this was true, then what or whoever was in charge of this place was slowly, albeit inadvertently and rather painfully, restoring their memories by replaying their worst encounters. And he KNEW that both encounters were memories. He knew who Lisa was, he knew now! He KNEW!
That was a feeling he was going to hold onto for a long time.
He looked back to Darcy, then said:
"Listen, these encounters...they're memories. They don't know it, but they're giving us our memories back. It may be the hard way, but we're getting our minds back. I need you to buckle down and keep on pressing." He looked forward now, now realizing that they were approaching a metal door, the door being about fifty feet away. They were close...he knew it.
"Behind that door is the answer. I just know it..." As he put one step forward, another memory came...
It was a dark alley, rain pouring down heavily. Hugo and Darcy were stationed at the edge of the alley, Hugo now hearing a small whimpering...it sounded like a little girl. He cautiously walked forward, automatically reaching for his belt and pressing a small button. The button illuminated the alley with a bright blue light. He now remembered who designed this for him: the local techie at HQ...Joe? Yeah, Joe Hung. Bright kid. The light revealed a girl lying in a pool of dark red..blood. Hugo quickly ran to the girl, kneeling down beside her. He could see that she was in shock...and he saw why. There was a gaping hole in her right shoulder and her arm was bent back at a sickening angle. Hugo didn't see the large man who had suddenly appeared behind him, who was now raising a pulse rifle...
He was going to kill Hugo.
|
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 12, 2010 9:11:06 GMT -5
Darcy didn't need to be told twice. Whether it was naturally, or because her memories were helping her to rediscover herself, she found that she was determined, and wouldn't back down from this, not without a fight. Seeing him determined made her feel envigorated, they could get through this, they just needed to help each other.
They were soaked in an instant, the rain drenching them from head to toe as their situation changed once again. Almost straight away, she realised that this couldn't be one of her memories. The setting was the tip off, then as she slowly followed Hugo down the alley, the scene before her told her for certain that this had to be one of Hugo's memories. She was stood a fair way back from the body, once again, the person's situation was dire. That instinct to help kicked in again.
But then she saw the glint of the gun in a dull alley light and immediately let out a shocked cry of, "no!" Throwing herself at the man with as much force as she could muster, they crashed to the floor, a loud bang echoing around the alley.
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 12, 2010 15:17:45 GMT -5
The large man had not expected the deterrance, his pulse rifle going off as the two crashed to the ground. Hugo spun around in time to see the rifle crash down onto the ground inches from where the girl's head was. He quickly grabbed the rifle and trained it on the attacker.
"Still in the business of child trafficking, eh Kyle? Thought we told you to stay off the streets." The large man grimaced slightly, his gaze locking onto Hugo's as he replied:
"It makes me money." Hugo grit his teeth, discharging the rifle at Kyle's leg, blood spattering onto the pavement.
"It won't be any more." Suddenly, the complete memory that was playing out fully hit Hugo between the eyes, causing him to lower the rifle momentarily. He knew this...
This was the only time Hugo had killed someone on the job.
He had regretted it ever since.
Kyle silently rolled on the ground, obviously in pain. Hugo could feel himself uncontrollably moving towards the trafficker, pointing the rifle at the man's heart.
"I'll see you around." Hugo's finger found the trigger...but he wouldn't pull it. Not again. With a forcible effort, he threw the rifle onto the ground, his hands trembling.
The memory faded.
|
|
|
|
Post by prefect on Oct 12, 2010 15:22:25 GMT -5
A brief light shone from the ceiling and within moments the walls began to melt under to intense brightness. All that one could see was light. It eventually subsided and Hugo and Darcy found themselves within a small white room, no doors, no windows. Just a box.
Another figure appeared in the room. It was the Prefect. "Hello there... hel... What are your names?" the man frowned. This wasn't in his programming. All unknown guests were to be neutralized but these two were members of the Venia crew.
"I believe you two haven't been taking advantage of the Mount Pleasent Complex. In fact, I believe you have been purposefully not taking advantage of the Mount Pleasent Complex. I worry, that you will lessen the others enjoyment of their time at the Mount Pleasent Complex. For that reason, I believe it best that you are re-educated." He continued to smile.
(hope it's ok that I jumped in) |
|
|
|
Post by darcyneumann on Oct 12, 2010 15:25:45 GMT -5
Darcy threw her arms up to cover her head as the second gun shot went off, she was shaking from the impact of her body hitting the ground, her elbows grazed. Turning her eyes to look at the situation, they widened when she saw Hugo pointing the gun at this 'Kyle', steely determination on his face. Her lips parted slightly, she was stunned. The gun clattered to the floor, and Darcy found herself lying on the floor in the middle of the white corridor, all traces of the memory gone.
Slowly, she climbed onto her feet, looking at Hugo with a face full of concern. She approached cautiously, taking his hands gently in hers. "Hey," she said softly, keeping the contact light but comforting. "Are you okay?"
|
|
|
|
Post by hugodouglass on Oct 12, 2010 15:40:23 GMT -5
"Yeah...yeah. They're only projections." He gave her a half-hearted smile before letting go of her hands and turning to face...
The door was still just out of reach. It was a lot closer than it was before. If they could just afford about twenty or thirty more paces, they could get there. Of course, knowing how this was turning out, they would be assaulted by more memory warfare. Speaking of which...
"Listen, Darcy...they're illusions, right? Since they are not actually happening, we don't have to worry about being caught up in the emotions of the memory. We can just plow right through them!" A thought then came to Hugo: what if she wanted the memories to play out? What if she wanted to know more about her identity, even if it meant re-living some of the most painful experiences that she had experienced?
Maybe that's what they both wanted.
|
|
