Exchange of Debts

Thanks to all for the support. I am glad you are enjoying the story. Sorry for the delay in getting Part 4 up (explanation is in an update in the original post). I am planning to at least try to get Part 4 up by Monday's episode (a semi-final draft of it at least), so stay tuned! My hope for getting it up on my own website is to expand upon the writing a bit - most of what I do here is a bit pared down for the sake of the forum and for the fact that we all pretty much are familiar with the surroundings so descriptions and back story is less necessary. Plus, after the Defiance "episode" I plan on expanding the story to encompass the setting and characters in the game.

Also, in regards to a couple of the above comments. Yes, this story is written under the assumption that our characters would be able to use all four EGO abilities, much like Nim does. After all, if the bad guy can do it, why not us? We can unlock all four once we get enough EGO points and perks, and I consider the mechanics of use in the game (only being able to equip one Power per loadout) a matter of gameplay design that can be safely ignored for the purposes of a story.

Finally and without further ado - the next part in our glorious saga. Again sorry it took so long, but I hope it won't disappoint. I expect to get the 5th and final part of Welcome to Defiance out later this week. There will be another short break then, as I hope to finally be able to work on getting my fanpage uploaded and start re-writing this portion of the main story with some meatier bits to be more than just dialogue.

Exchange of Debts
Welcome to Defiance - Part 4

As Wyler finished relating the events surrounding his discovery of Project Piper, and the final showdown in the Angel Island bunker to shut down the project, he leaned back in his chair, and pushed his cap back up on his head. From the look on Nolan’s face, his storytelling abilities had the effect he desired.

Nolan took a moment to soak in what he had just heard before responding. “That was one hell of a story. I’ve seen some strange things in my time during the Pale Wars, but that ranks right up at the top.”

Wyler nodded. “If there’s one thing that I have found to be a constant throughout the evolution of the human race, it’s stupidity.”

“The EMC trying to militarize hellbugs,” Nolan said, almost as if he needed to hear again to really believe it. “But what does this have to do with this favor you want?”

Wyler rubbed his hand across his mouth and chin, almost as if debating if he wanted to go through with it after all. “Officially, as a duly appointed representative of Paradise Territory Law Enforcement, I want Rynn released into our custody.”

“You’re joking,” Nolan said, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. However, the look on Wyler’s face indicated otherwise. “For what reason, exactly?”

Wyler took a breath, gathering his thoughts. “I could say that she helped to save countless lives by providing us with information and assistance in shutting down Piper, but that would only be a partial reason.”

“You still have my undivided attention,” Nolan said after Wyler paused. Up until this point, the Ark Hunter seemed quite sure of himself. Now, however, he appeared reluctant to continue.

“I know what the official reports say about the murders, and despite her reluctance, I was able to wrestle some of her side of the story out of her,” Wyler said.

“I should congratulate you on getting that much,” Nolan replied.

Wyler nodded his head slightly, a slight grimace crossing his face. “It helped that I have a certain empathy for her situation,” he said. “There is some family history that I have that proves history does indeed have a way of repeating itself. While I don’t necessarily agree with her methods, I do understand her motivations.”

“I can’t say I entirely disagree,” Nolan said. The events out in the Badlands that lead to his letting Rynn go flashed through his mind. “But I don’t think it’s going to be that easy.”

“I figured as much. However, as much as it would be for personal reasons, there is also the practical matter in that her knowledge of hellbugs still poses a threat.”

“How so?” Nolan asked.

“As I said before, information has a way of spreading. Project Piper may out of commission, but that doesn’t mean someone else can’t pick up where the EMC left off, and Rynn would be a valuable asset for anyone who wants that information. I would feel safer keeping her under our watchful eye rather than ending up at Las Vegas.”

“There aren’t many who would be able to get to her in Vegas,” Nolan said.

Wyler gave him a look, as if to say they both already knew where he was going with this. “It’s the ones who can get to her there that I am worried about.”

“The Earth Republic?” Nolan asked in confirmation.

Wyler nodded. He could see Nolan glance at the EREP patches on the side of his cap. “As the Old Earth saying goes, I wear many hats,” he said. “It depends on what the situation calls for. This one just happens to be my favorite. I received some information from contacts I made in the E-Rep that gives me reason to believe that they would have a keen interest in learning more about Project Piper, given the chance.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me,” Nolan said. He pushed away from the table and stood up, turning around before finally settling himself up against a row of filing cabinets. “How much do you know about Pol Madis?”

Wyler shifted slightly, as if he was going to stand as well, but elected to remain in his chair. “War Criminal. One that the E-Rep has a vested interest in bringing to justice, though my contacts have heard some other rumors.”

“Like they actually want him in order to use his expertise for building more WMDs?”

This time Wyler did decide to stand, taking up residence against the jailcell, across the room from Nolan. “Sounds like you have some contacts of your own.”

Nolan cracked a little smile. “I have my own story to tell. For now, let’s just say it ends with me putting a bullet in Madis’ head.”

Wyler sighed and looked down at the floor. “Then it’s more imperative than ever that we keep Rynn under our watchful eye. Both for her own safety as well as that for everyone else.”

“Then let’s take a walk, and I’ll introduce you the Mayor of our little town,” Nolan said. Wyler straightened up and took a step towards the table. “But first, I will need you to turn over all your weapons.”

Wyler was about to protest, but thought better of it. “Town Ordinance?” he asked, though, being a Deputy himself, he already could guess the answer. Nolan nodded.

“Understood, though there will have to be an exception for …” Wyler tapped the side of his head, indicating the EGO that was a part of his body.

“I think we can manage, as long as you keep the powers in check.”

“I will do my utmost,” Wyler replied. “However, if possible, I would like to freshen up a bit before our meeting. The trek and the Divide have left me a little worse for the wear, and I’d rather not meet your mayor smelling like a Raider.”

“Can do. I can point you in the right direction if you can point me to the rest of your arsenal,” Nolan said.

After Nolan had collected the rest of Wyler’s weaponry and the Ark Hunter cleaned himself up, they found themselves strolling through the Hollows on the way to the building that acted as the administrative offices for Defiance. Nolan had also checked in with Tommy, who after getting a clean bill of health, he told to wait with Irisa at the Mayor's office. Wyler looked around as they walked, taking in the sites and sounds, struck by how much the Hollows reminded him of bazaars of times long past he had seen in Old Earth movies. Of course, the one big difference were the people – there were an equal mix of the alien Votan races as well as the native human population going about their business as the Lawkeepers weaved their way through merchant booths.

“I expect you never have a dull moment around here, Wyler said.

Nolan laughed a bit at that. “It hasn’t been boring, that’s for sure. So how’s old Coop been?”

Wyler shook his head in amusement. “Aside from telling me he’s turning in his badge and heading for Antarctica once a week, he’s hanging in there. Paradise is a big place, and it hasn’t been easy keeping the order, but personally, I think he’s having too much fun to quit, despite all his *****ing.”

“That sounds like Cooper.”

Wyler watched as they walked past a couple of Castithans bartering for some tools with a human merchant. After a moment he said, “It’s funny. I always wondered what it would be like to live in the Old West with the likes of Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday. Never thought I would have that chance.”

Nolan grunted in agreement. “I remember playing Cowboys and Indians when I was a kid. Now they play Lawkeepers and Votans.”

“Things certainly haven’t come out the way we would have expected,” Wyler replied. “At least it looks like you have a bit of harmony among the races here.”

Nolan nodded again. “Everyone gets along for the most part, though we do have our troublemakers.”

“My parents always hoped we could find a way to co-exist. There was always so much potential to become so much more. This is what my mother always hoped for, even if it’s not exactly how we pictured it … and what my father died for.”

“Was your father military?” Nolan asked.

“No. My parents never thought a war with the Votan was one that we could win. They tried to keep the peace, but after the Denver area went all to hell, we headed out and eventually found our way to Yosemite Valley.”

Nolan looked at the Ark Hunter. “You were there during the Massacre?”

“We were.” Wyler got a faraway look in his eye, the memories still too fresh for his liking. He said no more as they arrived at their destination.

Finally, and with (or without) much fanfare, the fifth and final part of Welcome to Defiance. Be sure to check out the fan page on my site (link is in the second update of the OP in this thread). Further parts of the overall Exchange of Debts story will start to be added there, and I will use this thread to update everyone when I have new parts available to read - including an (hopefully) improved and expanded version of the first chapter - Welcome to Defiance.

Exchange of Debts
Welcome to Defiance - Part 5

Nolan and Wyler stood in front of a tall tan colored building, green ivy clinging and climbing its way up the walls. Above the door was a bronze plaque that read “Darby Building -1932-“.

“Another survivor of the terraforming?” Wyler asked, as he glanced at the nearly repaired Arch in the distance.

“Sort of,” Nolan replied. “Most of Old Saint Louis is a few kilometers beneath us.”

Nolan opened the door and gestured for Wyler to enter. “After you.” They entered and Nolan closed the door behind them.

When they reached the Mayor’s office, a tall Castithan woman was there to greet them. “The Mayor is waiting for you inside, you can go right in,” she told the men.

Nolan opened the door and again allowed Wyler to enter first. The Mayor was sitting at her desk, with Irisa and Tommy standing off to one side. The three were engaged in quiet conversation which ended
when the Lawkeeper and the Ark Hunter entered.

The Mayor stood and came around the desk towards Wyler, and held her hand out. “Hello, Mr. Wyler, may I welcome you to our town of Defiance.”

Wyler shook the mayor’s hand, her grasp stronger than he had expected from one of her stature. “Thank you Mayor Rosewater. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Ara Shondu has told me a bit about you.”

“Please, call me Amanda, we try to be a little more informal around here, please sit” the Mayor replied as she gestured at one of the chairs in front of the desk and turned to walk towards a table by one of the windows. “How is Paradise these days?”

“Well, between being up to our ***** in hellbugs and dodging Arkfalls every few minutes, it’s our little slice of Heaven,” Wyler replied as he plopped down into the proffered chair, while removing his cap, and scrunching it up in one hand. “And you can call me James.”

“Can I offer you something to drink, James?” Amanda said when she reached the table, holding up a carafe of brown liquor.

“Thank you, but no, I would rather just get down to business.” Wyler replied.

Amanda held up the bottle in the Lawkeeper’s direction, where he had taken up a position next to his deputies. “Nolan?”

Nolan shook his head, “Another time.”

“Very well,” Amanda said, returning to sit behind her desk. “I understand you’ve come to discuss the situation with Rynn Grisu.”

“Indeed I have,” Wyler replied. “Has Nolan filled you in on the details of our discussion?”

“Not the entire conversation,” Amanda replied, “but he did tell me that Rynn helped you and Lawkeeper Cooper with some Hellbug issues you were having relating to an old Earth Military Coalition project.”

“Project Piper,” Wyler nodded in confirmation. “As noted, Rynn was vital in helping us stop a group of E-REP soldiers from re-starting the project, and as far as I have been able to uncover, this wasn’t an officially sanctioned mission, and the rest of the EREP brass are unaware of the exact details of what was involved. I would like to keep it that way, and request that custody of Rynn be transferred over to Paradise Law Enforcement.”

“I see,” Amanda said, taking a breath. “As you are aware, Rynn murdered two of our citizens, and attempted to unleash a hive of hellbugs on Defiance. She was convicted and sentenced for her crimes. Even if I was inclined to do so, I don’t have full authority to release her to Paradise.”

“I understand your concerns, and your position,” Wyler replied. “However, as I told Nolan, I think it is for everyone’s best interests that Rynn stay in protective custody and not remain a fugitive nor be transferred to Las Vegas.”

“As I said, if I were inclined to grant this request, I don’t have the full authority to do so. I would have to bring this up with the town council, but the ultimate approval for the transfer would have to come from the Regional Governor, in a case like this.”

“I suspected as much, though the Regional Governor isn’t my main concern” Wyler replied. “That will take some time anyway, and Ara has agreed to help where she can in regards to him. My concern is with ensuring your agreement and cooperation.”

“Then, please convince me that this would be the right thing to do,” Amanda told the Ark Hunter. “I’ll grant you that I agreed with Nolan’s decision to let Rynn go out in the Badlands, albeit relunctantly, but the citizens of Defiance, especially those who were directly threatened by Rynn’s actions, would expect justice to be served.”

Wyler stood up and wandered over to one of the windows that overlooked the town. He spent a moment looking down at the town and the activity of the people below before speaking. “You have a nice little community here, Votan and Human living in relative harmony. Just like our not so little Paradise. However, that isn’t the case everywhere, and it’s very likely that another war is right around the corner.”

“What makes you say that?” Tommy spoke up and asked.

Wyler turned to face the deputy Lawkeeper. “Word of the Volge attack on Defiance has gotten around, and it has quite a few people in high places worried. The Volge haven’t made a major offensive like that since the Pale Wars.” Wyler looked around at the people in the room. “Tell me, has anyone figured out why they would make an unprovoked attack on Defiance?”

“We have our suspicions,” Nolan replied, “But we don’t have any concrete evidence that points to any particular group .”

“We can make the assumption it was because of the McCawley Mines,” Amanda said.

“While that can be a fair assumption, I doubt it is solely because of the Gulanite your town is sitting on.” Wyler told her. He looked over at Nolan. “I’m sure your Pale Wars veteran here doesn’t believe that.”

Nolan didn’t answer and Wyler turned to look out of the window again, before facing the Mayor. “There are forces in both the Earth Republic and the Earth Military Coalition who are convinced that the Votan Collective is planning open warfare against humanity, and both groups are doing their utmost to ensure that a preemptive strike is made first. They believe the Volge attack was a potential first strike, but without hard evidence are reluctant to openly move against the VC at this point. I believe they are wrong.”

“And what makes you believe that?” Amanda asked.

“It doesn’t make sense strategically,” Wyler replied. “At least not as an opening move.”

Wyler paused before continuing, gathering his thoughts. “It’s well known that the mines here are a primary source of Gulanite for most of the country east of the Divide, and hence why E-REP among others has an interest in putting their banner on Defiance. To lose control of the mines would cripple any war effort we could mount against the VC.”

“Which is why it would make sense for them to attack the town,” Tommy said.

“Right you are,” Wyler told him. “However, it is also well known that Varus Soleptor’s mines have as much, if not more of a supply of gulanite than Rafe McCawley’s.”

“I think you might get some argument there,” Nolan finally chimed in, a slight grin on his face.

Wyler tilted his head in acknowledgement at Nolan. “I’m sure. Regardless, should war break out, there is no doubt that Varus will throw his hat in the ring on the side of the Collective, which I am sure they are well aware. At this point, there is no evidence or indication that the Collective has secured Varus’ cooperation or otherwise made any move into Paradise. Therefore, at this point, it doesn’t make sense that the VC was behind the Volge attack.”

“If that’s the case, then who was?” Tommy asked.

Wyler shrugged his shoulders. “That is still the big mystery. However, it still won’t stop the warmongers in both the E-REP and the EMC from using it to get what they want, and that includes control of Defiance and the gulanite mines.”

“How does any of this involve Rynn?” Irisa finally spoke up.

“Aside from making sure the E-REP can’t get their hands on her and Project Piper again,” Wyler said, “and in exchange for the help she provided us, let’s just call it a return favor for helping to save Defiance from the Volge.”

“What do you mean?” Amanda asked.

Wyler smiled and finally returned to sit in his chair. “Well, the way I see it, without the use of a piece of pretty powerful arktech that wiped out the Volge army, the acquisition of which was only possible with a certain piece of tech that was ‘appropriated’ from the Bay Area, shall we say, by your Lawkeeper and his deputy, with my help of course, everyone here would be singing the Volge national anthem.”

The Mayor looked at Nolan. “Is this true?”

Nolan shifted his stance and looked slightly uncomfortable. “I would have to say yes. We were able to salvage the Terrasphere using a Libera Nova Gem that Wyler helped us to obtain in the Bay Area.” Irisa gave him a sidelong look.

The Mayor sighed and pushed herself up from her desk. “Then I suppose we are indebted to you as well, and offer our thanks.”

Wyler also rose. “It is appreciated. However, there is still the matter of custody.”

Amanda walked around to the front of the desk and half-sat, half-leaned against the edge. “Considering this new information, I think I can agree, and secure the council’s agreement in transferring custody of Rynn over to you and Lawkeeper Cooper. I will also draft up the request to send to the Regional Governor.”

“Again, much appreciated,” Wyler said, shaking hands with the Mayor again.

“The question now is, can you handle her?” Nolan asked.

Wyler turned to him and grinned. “Well, I do have a close friend who agreed to help us out on that front, though I am not sure exactly what kind of role model she’ll end up being. She’ll keep Rynn out of trouble in any event.”

“Well, now that that’s settled, are you planning to stay long in Defiance?” Amanda asked.

“Unfortunately, as much as I would like to, I should be getting back. I’ve been gone long enough already, and I’m sure Cooper will have my ears ringing any minute.”

“In that case, have a safe trip back. I will be in contact with Ara to work out the details of the request to the Governor.”

“Thank you,” Wyler replied. “I told Nolan I would help him out with a little problem he has in exchange for this, and that goes for Defiance as well.” Irisa looked at Nolan, but he gave a slight shake of the head to indicate that now wasn’t the time. “If there’s anything I can do to help in the future, be sure to contact me and Cooper, or some friends of mine – the Children of Gallifrey. While the VC may not be an immediate threat, there are still some mysteries that need an answer, and we are determined to find them.”

“I will be sure to do so,” Amanda replied, as the group gathered up and headed for the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to Defiance – Epilogue
Wyler was nearing the outskirts of Paradise Territory – his new home. It seemed it had been far too long that he had been gone and he looked forward to finally getting back. As he steered the dented and dirty blue buggy the last few hundred clicks, a familiar voice popped up in his head.

“I am receiving a faint transmission from Lawkeeper Cooper. It sounds like it was recorded, and set to transmit repeatedly. I will put it through,” the EGO device said.

The message was weak and full of static, but with a boost from EGO, Wyler was able to make out Cooper’s voice. “Wyler, I hope you get this sooner rather than later, but as soon as you do, I need you back at the ranch pronto. All Hell is breaking loose here and it doesn’t look good. We need you now!”

“Any idea what’s going on?” Wyler asked EGO.

“I’ve been trying to intercept any communications that I can,” EGO replied. “The signals I can pick up out here are still weak, but it sounds like some sort of plague has broken out in Paradise.”

With that, Wyler jammed the peddle to the floor and hit the boost control. His thoughts raced at what could be happening, but centered on the concern for his friends.

“See if you can find anything out about Cass and Rosa,” Wyler told EGO. No matter how fast he could get back. He felt it wouldn’t be fast enough.

*Wipes sweat from brow*

Well, it has taken a bit longer than I would have liked, but I finally have the full version of Chapter 1 up on my fan page now:

http://www.realmillenniumgroup.com/Defiance.html

I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hopefully, it won't take as long to get the next couple of chapters to you, but in the mean time you can also peruse my in game screenshots I posted on the site as well a hook up with myself and the rest of the Children of Gallifrey in game!

I post here again once C2 is up for reading.

After much trial and tribulation (and real life interruptions along with a couple of complete re-writes), Chapter Two of Exchange of Debts - A Chance Encounter - is finally up for your reading pleasure.

http://www.realmillenniumgroup.com/Defiance.html

Hopefully the next two chapters I have planned at the moment won't take quite as long, but I am setting the goal for myself to getting at least one chapter up per month and hopefully having the whole novel (or at least the bulk of it) finished just in time for Season 2 of the show to kick off.

Once again RL rears its head and has taken up a bit of time, which has delayed my getting the next couple of chapters complete. Plus, gearing up for the Extra Life event on November 2nd, has taken up even more time (but I'm not complaining about that - its for a good cause. As such, I'm pushing back the publishing of C's 3 and 4 of the story until next month, but I'll not leave you wanting - well, I guess I will cause here's a couple of teasers for the next two chapters:

Chapter 3 - I Have a Little Bird - preview:
Wyler awoke the next morning from a restless sleep. The waking nightmare of fighting off the Afflicted from Kenn Farm turning into sleeping nightmares after his return to the ranch. It was late morning, much later than he had planned on rising, but his body needed to recover from the events of the past few days. He quickly showered and dressed, however, fighting off the aches and pains coursing through his bones. He wanted to check on Chance to see if Eren was able to help out Doc Everett in finishing the patch job he had done on the boy back at the Arkfall in the Badlands.

When he grabbed his hailer he noticed a message from Cooper, instructing him to meet him at his office as soon as he ready. Wyler figured a few minutes to check on Chance wouldn't do any harm, so he headed off to the barn where a triage had been set up to take care of those who had been infected with the plague. Now that it was daylight, he could see the extent to which the ranch had been turned into a refugee camp. Nearly every unused open space was filled with tents and people hussling about, getting their morning chores done.

Near the barn, Wyler saw Chance leaning up against one wall, watching a group of human children holding hands and dancing around a campfire. As he got closer, he could hear them chanting as they hopped along, back and forth in a circle.

"An Irath had a bird
Its name was Enza
The Irath opened the door
And in flew Enza."

When Chance noticed Wyler approaching, he stood a little straighter, as if to show the Deputy that he was well on the mend. Though it was hard to tell when a Castithan was actually pale, it seemed to Wyler that the boy at least had regained much of his races natural pallor, and he looked much stronger.

"You're looking better," Wyler said as he came up next to the youth.

"Still hurts a bit, but the Indogene that came to help the doctor was able to fix me up pretty good."

Wyler nodded. "Eren does do some amazing work."

"What are they singing?" Chance asked, still looking at the children.

Wyler turned his gaze in the same direction, and listened to the verse one more time. "It sounds like an old nursery rhyme my parents told me about when I was little. I think it started a long, long time ago - even before they were born."

Chance was about to say something when Wyler's hailer beeped. It was Cooper calling again. Wyler lifted the hailer to his mouth and answered.

"Nice to see you're finally up," the Lawkeeper's gruff voice said from the other end. "Get over to the house pronto, We've just gotten word that the plague's shown up in Defiance."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 4 - Hunting the Arkhunter - preview:
Wyler jogged after her and shouted as he saw her approaching her roller. “Rynn, wait!”

“Don’t try to stop me Lawkeeper,” she said without looking back or stopping.

He ran to catch up to her just before she reached the roller. “Rynn,” he said as he grabbed her arm to stop her.

She yanked herself away from his grip and spun around. “Don’t touch me.” She stared at Wyler, fury and hate burned in her eyes.

Wyler stared back, not sure what to say now that he had caught up to her. She snorted and turned back to the roller.

“Rynn,” he said again, then paused for a moment. When he spoke again, it was in Irathient. “May Irzu watch over your path, and let no harm come to you on your journey. Irzu bless you and those you will meet at journey’s end.”

She stopped and turned back around to look at him, a look of surprise on her face. The hate seemed to have diminished in her eyes, but the fire and fury still remained.

“That is a very old saying,” She replied after a moment. “Not many Irathient’s even use it any more. I am surprised you even know it.”

Wyler tilted his head slightly, and turned up one corner of his mouth. “There’s a lot that most people don’t know about me,” he answered. “There’s a lot that I don’t let them know. I think we are a lot alike in that regard.”

Rynn snorted again. “Most humans would like to think better of themselves. But their actions have always proved otherwise,” she said harshly. Her tone then softened slightly. “You have been different, though. You show courage, and treat others with respect when they deserve it.”

Wyler sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “I try my best.”

He looked around, trying to formulate what he wanted to say next. “Look, I’m not going to try to stop you. I know how you must feel right now.” Rynn frowned and opened her mouth to reply, but Wyler continued on, his next comment keeping her silent for the moment. “You know I do. Just be careful … and try not to get caught. And I am speaking as a friend, not a Lawkeeper.”

Rynn smiled slightly. “I have not had any human friends,” she said. “I am glad you are my first … and Cooper too.” She nodded her head in the direction of Cooper’s house.

Sweet Victory! Chapter 3 is now up on the site, just in time for some Holiday perusing. I hope all will enjoy - I am excited about this chapter as it is the first to adapt an in-game event into the storyline.

Here's a direct link to the PDF file of the chapter. My sig has the main page for those who want to start from the beginning (and I've added a few new screenshots to the second page of the fan site).

http://www.realmillenniumgroup.com/f.../Chapter03.pdf

Oi, has it been over two months already?! Time flies when you're having fun ... well, not really. It just seems to fly. I wanted to post a quick update here to let everyone know I am still working on the story - it is not forgotten or abandoned! It's just those things in RL that have to take precedence over the hobby, no matter how much fun it is. Heck, I haven't even had all that much time to game or get videos up (hoping to at least get a couple of Trove up in the coming week since I actually got into Alpha like a month ago now).

Regardless, I did some twinking on Chapter 4 when I realized I was throwing just about everything including the kitchen sink into it and that was just weighing down the pacing and storytelling aspect of it. I updated page on my site to reflect that I am pushing the Launching the Cure and Nolan Contract game content to Chapter 5, while using the new Chapter 4 (Morning Interludes) as some of the filler for those scenes I want to get in, but didn't work when interwoven with the action stuff.

Success at last! It took a heck of a lot longer than I had anticipated (or wanted), but I finally have Chapter 4 - Morning Interludes up for your reading pleasure. Truth be told, the opening and closing scenes are what took the longest as I wanted to ensue I captured the essence of our two local Bay Area resident Lady Heroes. It was a lot tougher than I thought, and I hope I have done them justice, as well as brought in a little bit more character depth to them as well.

http://www.realmillenniumgroup.com/f.../Chapter04.pdf

In the mean time, because it has taken so long for me to get the next segment of this story up and running, I'll leave everyone with a little teaser (in addition to the Rynn scene above) for Chapter 5 - Hunting the Ark Hunter (Spoiler Alert!):

As Eren read over the data that scrolled across her screen, she felt a strange tingle in the back of her mind. Indogenes were normally stoic and reserved, often giving other races the impression that they were generally emotionless. However, that was rarely the case. Indogenes just preferred to use rational and logical thinking over emotional responses. It came to Eren’s realization that the tingling she felt in her mind was fear. She tried to push it back into the darkness of her subconscious, but it refused to leave.

She told herself that the human Ark hunter who brought this information did not know the significance of what he had found. But she did. She knew all too well because what the human had found was evidence of the Project. This was dangerous information, especially if the humans discovered what it meant. The information and DNA recovered from the Arkfall wasn’t the whole Project, of course, but just one small part – one of many. The Project itself had begun more than three millennia ago and like a living entity grew and changed over the centuries as new information and new technology presented itself. If the humans ever learned of the Project and its purpose, not only would it mean the end of the fragile Peace between the races, but it could very well mean the extinction of the Votanis Collective.

She would have to contact Meh. They worked together on several parts of the Project, Meh Ywell and the one who now calls herself Nicholette Riordon. Meh was the doctor in Defiance, the frontier town on the East side of the Divide, from where the Ark hunter had recently returned. This was just one Arkfall, but this past year had seen an increase in the number of Arkfalls, numbering almost as many as the first few months when they had begun over a decade ago. Meh could advise her on the next course of action.

Eren turned towards the comm panel and paused as she noticed a small light blinking in one corner. The light indicated that she had a message waiting. It could only have arrived within the last minute – it hadn’t been there when she began reviewing the data. She pressed a button on the panel to play the message.

The voice that came from the small speaker on the panel was male and spoke in the native Indogene language. The sound of the voice caused that small tingle to turn into a full-fledged shiver that ran the course of her spine.

“Hello Eren. I am so glad to see you have returned to work.”