Black Friday is over, who was open in Paradise?

[Atticus Batman]

Seeing Belle in trouble as I was headed to the doors leading in side, I turn my Raptor and gun it between the Bulwarks. I bail out, knowing that the Raptor will drift to a safe stop, since I didn't aim at a cliff this time. I quickly overcharge, toss a Bio grenade and unload my EXL LMG on the Bulwarks destroying them both, my legendary EXL Darkest hour seemingly indestructible. I then run into the building, with Belle right behind me. I get into the control room, just as their reinforcements start to flood in. I start hacking the systems, counting on Belle to keep me safe, at least until my mission is complete.

"Starr Eyes, I need 3 more minutes! Hold them off as long as possible!"

As I am hacking the array and altering the satellite's direction, my eyes flicker a bright blue as Kakusi's powers surge through me. I have finished altering the array and it's satellite's to do my bidding, when I glance over my shoulder. Seeing Belle struggling with the huge number of forces coming in, I have to come up with something quick. I quickly upload my altered commands ordering the Volge to attack Sutro Tower, as she gets hit by a stray shot to the shoulder. I feel both Kakusi's and Kabule's rage starting to surge through me, and know what needs done. I just hope Belle trusts me enough to listen.

"Starr eyes! Blurr and get the hell to safety, NOW!! I HAVE THIS!!! Get out and..........DO NOT LOOK BACK!! GO NOW!!!"

Seeing her shoot me a look of concerned confusion, I slam the door shut and jam it as I hear her engaging blur and hope she listens and gets to the exit. Bullets start cutting into the door, as my rage boils to a bursting point. After about 2 minutes, the systems say all the commands have been sent, and I quickly use the satellite surveillance to see. Sure enough all Volge, except the ones at the Bathhouse, start heading towards Sutro. I quickly tell Dinara to notify all E-rep and Arkhunters in the area to converge on Sutro to stop the Volge threat. She also sends Blackgut and his Dragoons a message to get to Sutro on cleanup duty as soon as they make sure Bathhouse and the GoldenGate are clear of Volge threats.

"Dinara! send Belle a private encrypted message. Give her the override code for the crate at Overpass, and tell her I will see her at Coop's! And Dinara relay your distress frequency to her."

"As you wish but are you sure?! You can't mean..."

"YES! Tell her if she doesn't hear from me again to get to the last known coordinates of your distress signal. And tell her.........., nevermind Dinara. Record this Next part so she can hear it from me."

" Starr eyes, I sincerely hope you made it out. I am not sure if I am going to make it. I can't hold back the rage and am setting the base to self-destruct! If I don't make it to Cooper's know that I am glad to have met you back on the New Freedom. I have enjoyed our reunion and what little time we have had together. Do not mourn my loss for long. It is what needs to be done. It stops the current Volge invasion and eliminates any threat I may cause....." I gasp in pain as I fight to hold the rage back just a little longer and a bullet goes through the door and hits me in the back. "Just do me one last favor and tell that Lawman that my dying words were for him to go jek himself! And tell Torc, thanks for everything. Farewell my friend!"

Dinara says, " Message sent. If we don't make it, goodbye Atty and Gridy!!"

I quickly set the self destruct, as the rage reaches it's bursting point. The last thing I see before everything goes black is a surge of electrical force emanating from me. I scream in extreme pain and pass out. The surge ripples tjrough the whole base killing all Votan life forces inside, and causing the self destruct to trigger early.


*hours later, my ego's distress signal becomes active on the roof above Last Chance, where my body is laying unnoticed, and sends a SOS to Belle Starr.*

[Jaedy]

About 45 minutes out, the Dragoons's second in comand Yesamin, is keeping up with the news that's coming out of the Bay Area. After losing contact with Blackgut's advance recon team, she had suspected the worst and was trying to either confirm or deny the rumors. They'd lost contact before but usually not for long. She then notices that one of the music players that she had put together had been activated. Jek.

"All right Dragoons, get yourselves prepped. It looks like we have a fight on our hands and you know how the Volge like our glorious leaders' taste of music. I'll update you when I learn more," she says over the company's frequency. Privately, she begins contemplating where they should insert and which squads to use where when she receives a message from an Ark Hunter. She had heard the name of course, but hadn't realized that Ms. Starr had returned from her mission.

"This message is to whoever is in command of the 13th Dragoons. We are in the middle of a major incursion of the Bay Area by the Volge. I tried to send this to the one called Blackgut on special request from Atticus Batman, but the area he was last in has gone dark." The young womans pretty eyes go a little bit darker as her face fills with worry, "We are luring the Volge in San Francisco to Sutro Tower and need you to meet us there to take them out. We know your reputation of Volge hunters and need that expertise."

Yesamin sends reply to the message that the Dragoons would be ther as fast as they could and to expect them no later than half an hour.

"Ok boys and girls, listen up. The volge are attacking the bay and we are headed to the heart of the issue. A few of you have special assignment though. Delta, you are going to the Gate and starting up a search of the area for Blackgut and Alpha, that's around the area that they were last seen if you see anything major report it. Zulu you will coordinate with Delta and start from The Fork, thats the commanders usual insertion when he comes on vacation over here...Both squads...Take extra guns and ammunition, I have a feeling some body is going to need it. Epsilon, you are our diplomats. Get in contact with Ara Shondu and see what you can find out about getting our comms back on. If there's somebody out ther playing hide and seek, I need to know who it is and what you did to get them to jekking cut it out. Everybody else, get ready for a hot drop, we're going to have a welcoming committee on this run. You know the drill, now see to it!Squad leaders you have received your orders, rev it up and get ther a bit faster dont worry about staying with the main force." Having full faith in the training that her company had, Yesamin only had worries for Blackgut, Ms Starr, and Atticus. Atticus was an old friend and Belle was known as someone to hold down her own in a fight, but the reports she was receiving showed Volge in numbers that were higher than she had seen in some time.

"Shtako, Blackgut, what have you gotten yourself into? I told you to send someone else to command the recon," but she knew that he would never place anyone else in knowing danger. That meant he thought the Grand Warmaster might be coordinating. Even after all these years thinking of the monstrosity still brought pain and anger. "If you thought he might be here,..." she thought dangerously to herself,"...I'm going to kick the living daylights out of you for keeping it from me. Again."

[Belle Starr]

"Starr eyes! Blurr and get the hell to safety, NOW!! I HAVE THIS!!! Get out and..........DO NOT LOOK BACK!! GO NOW!!!"

"NO ATTICUS! I COULDN'T SAVE NOLAN* BUT I CAN SAVE YOU!" Belle and her EGO scream out simultaneously, but Atticus has already barred the room's door, and Belle's Wildcat pistol, like her SMG-EEC before it, runs out of ammo as the Dark Matter troopers swarm around her. Belle pulls her Thorn Liro charge blade from her belt and blurs, but not to get away as Atticus has intended, but to enhance her melee damage as she surrenders to her inner monster and her blue eyes begin to glow red. The Volge genes spliced into her body take over, adding strength to her fatal blows as she performs her ballet of death, twirling and spinning through the Dark Matter ranks killing a score of them.

Unfortunately, for every score of enemy Belle kills, two score of heavily armed Dark Matter troopers take their place. Finally, many of the troopers make a formation out of sword range, a large firing squad aiming squarely at a sneering and red-eyed Belle Starr, sword still in hand and surrounded by their dead and dying comrades, defiantly guarding the door behind which Atticus works fervently to cause the self-destruction of the base and himself. The amassed Dark Matter soldiers fire simultaneously, and the barrage of bullets tear through Belle's shield, the door and Belle herself!



Belle's eyes start to glow even brighter as blood begins to flow out from over a dozen bullet holes, her EGO working overtime to keep her from going into shock from the trauma. Suddenly Belle's whole body begins to glow as if it was on overcharge and she slashes the air with her blade. The blade disintegrates as energy boomerangs from her as it takes out half the firing squad, like the energy attack of a Volge Viscera. Another wave of Dark Matter soldiers fill in the ranks of the fallen, taking aim at the now unarmed Belle Starr, but Belle lifts her right fist into the air, then slams it into the ground sending a cascade of devastating energy through the assembled Dark Matter troops, reminiscent of the attacks made by Volge Troopers. Then Belle takes the pose of a Volge Bomber, stretching both arms in front of her with balls of energy streaming out of her fists into the panicking enemy.

As Belle falls to her knees, bleeding and dying, she sees Volge Troopers streaming into the area, tearing apart the Dark Matter soldiers remaining on their feet. Strangely, the Volge move around her like she doesn't exist. Belle feels a cold wave creep over her body, and as she looks at her hands she sees a blue diamond crystalline substance form all over her skin, and as she falls forward onto the ground she thinks, "Daddy lied! He didn't splice my genes with just Viscera genes, he used them all!"

As her red glowing eyes fluttered shut, Belle heard huge explosions going off all around her as the base self destructed and her mind retreated into the darkness of oblivion.

*****

Belle woke up behind the white door of the white cottage in the Vast White that was her EGO. She was laying on a Victorian couch with a white blanket over her. Sitting next to her knitting was the white image of her mother, who died in her late twenties when Belle was just a toddler. Belle's EGO always manifested itself this way, so that was no surprise, nor was it a surprise when MOM said, "Time to get up Dear! You're friends are waiting outside!"

*****
Belle felt rough hands pull her from the rubble of the base, as her blue eyes fluttered open and a disembodied voice said, "You alright Miss? You better put this on."

Belles eyes focused on the man who was talking, who's trench coat he was draping on her that had the insignia of the 13th Dragoons on it. It was then that she realized she was totally naked, dirty but apparently unhurt, standing in grey rubble as far as the eye could see, and she struggled to form the words, "Atticus... Atticus Batman... he was in there! Did you find him? He's my... friend!"

The Dragoon's eyes go sad as he replies, "I'm sorry Miss. You were the only one we found and frankly, it's a miracle you're alive. We'll keep looking of course."

Belle sees over two dozen men combing through the ruins, some Dragoons, some other ark hunters. Just then, a Team Evolution clan raptor drives up, the driver yelling, "Belle's one of ours. We'll take her from here!" Her clan mate abandons his seat in front, and as he and the dragoon help her into it, Belle says to the Dragoon, "I promise to get the coat back to you and... thank you!"

"No worry Miss!" Answers the Dragoon, "And we'll keep looking for your friend!"

The Raptor turns towards Overpass, and after a short run, Belle see's that a battle with the Volge occurred here as well, with E-Rep coming up on top. Unfortunately, she finds the crate and the Challenger's trunk where she left her captive blown open from the outside, but she has no time for that mystery now. Her clan mates rustle up some clothes for her, and she is laying on the couch in a backroom there when she gets the SOS message to her EGO from the Last Chance.

Against MOM's and the E-Rep Medic's advice, Belle teleports to Last Chance which almost makes her pass out, and after an effort climbing the roof, she finds Atticus Batman's body on the roof. Tears start to stream from her blue diamond eyes down her freckled cheeks, when MOM informs her that his EGO is active and that there are faint life signs. Belle smiles in relief as she pulls out the hailer a clan mate gave her, calling VBI headquarters to send out a Medvac copter to her location, and to ready the modified Gulanee life support pod that she had awakened from only days before.

As Belle waited for the copter to come, she sat next to his body, promising, "No matter how long it takes Atticus, when you awaken from this, I'll be there for you!"

* http://www.defiancedata.com/page.php?id=353

[vash2x60billion]

It was my turn with the revolving door called Cass. Lets just say she stole my christmas cookies.

[Atticus Batman]

I feel coldness as I open my eyes. When I look around all I see is a vast dark void all around me. I focus as I stand up and realize that, though I am in darkness I am enveloped in a bubble of electrical energy.

I say to the darkness, "What the jek is this?! Am I dead? By Irzu, I know this can't be heaven for it is cold and dark, but can't be hell either even if I do belong there! Am I in Purgatory? Did Belle survive?!?! Did my plan work, or did I die in vain?!?!?!"

Just then 3 figures step out of the darkness and into the bubble. I recognize the first immediately as an Irathient Dark Matter officer. The second to step through is a glowing blue Grid. He is followed immediately by a glowing white woman of pure energy with long hair. The Grid takes full form and his glow softens. The girl never solidifies though.

The Grid then begins to speak. "You are extremely stupid, Fleshling! You sacrificed everything for a whole planet of beings that would be more than happy to see you die and rot in oblivion! At least we went out with a BANG!!!!!!!"

The Enforcer is the next to say anything. "You jeking fool!!! You tried destroying yourself for a nasty human!! She will never have feelings for you, not for a superior alien! And definitely not one as scarred as us!!!"

He removes his Enforcer helm, and I see his face, my face, the face of Kabule!

Then the girl finally talks, " Hush both of you! He needs answers and our support. NOT the vengeance of a ghost from the past. or the cold violence and hard truth of his...other half!!! Atty, I will answer you. Yes you died in the explosion. Yes Belle Starr's ego says they made it out alive. I believe your plan succeeded at least in getting the Volge to converge on Sutro, but I can not say from there.

No you are not in Heaven or Hell, or even Purgatory. You did succumb to the rage. Kabule and Kakusi's combined rage destroyed all in the area of the Zhena Array Station. If Kakusi hadn't of done something, then you would have been destroyed. However, he did do something at the last second."

I look at her in confusion, "What do you mean he did something?! You said yourself, I am dead!!!"

Kakusi steps forward and places a hand on my cheek. "Fleshling, I teleported 'US' to Last Chance, your home. I knew it was where you you belonged. I did have to fight with your Dark Matter self for control of your body, before I could do so though. I am afraid he felt, if he couldn't retake the body then it should be destroyed. 'We' are at Last Chance. I have channeled 'our' powers, and managed to get your heart and lungs working enough to reactivate the Compu-Lady. She sent a distress signal, as I reawakened your specific consciousness. You're alive in the deepest recesses of your mind. As are the three of us. Your body is alive though it is comatose since we are all in this darkness. I hate the darkness!"

I look around, then respond in slight anger. "If you took control of my body, why is it comatose? Why are you in this darkness, instead of there?! Why is Kabule here?!?!?!"

Dinara then begins talking again, "Atty, calm down! Kabule and Kakusi are here, we are all here because we are all a part of you and care and worry about you in our own ways. Like it or not we all represent a different side of you.

Kabule is your vengeful egotistical side. Kakusi is your cold and calculated self- protecting side. I appear to be your more reasonable and polite side. And you, well you are the heroic but misunderstood and self despised side. However we can work together as one. Yes we are one.

With just you three together you are the embodiment of righteous fury. Add my stability, and we are the Hero everyone needs even if they don't want him."

I shake my head as I consider it. "I don't know. I get what you are saying, and if you are right and Kakusi did save my body to save me and not just himself, then you may be right but Kabule is still vindictive, self serving and a little evil. Kakusi, however is a species that does everything to survive so I am not sure I can believe he would just give me my body back!"

Kakusi raises his other hand and cups both my cheeks, "I did do it to save you. If I did not want or need you, then I would have destroyed Compu-lady instead of reactivating her. I also would not have protected your consciousness in this bubble. I would have destroyed it. However, after living off you for so long, I not only need you for my survival, but also because I am part of you. More now, than before the explosion!"

I just stare through him, "WHAT?! What are you talking about More a part of me than before?!"

Kakusi says,"In order for us to survive the explosion and for me to revive you I had to..........become an equal part of you......to merge with you. If somebody were to scan your vitals, they would no longer see an Irath infected by a Grid Symbiote, or a Grid taking over an Irath. They would se a combination..."

I respond with, "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!"

Kakusi simply states," It means I am no longer a symbiote or infection. You can no longer get rid of me. I can not get rid of you. Though we are separate consciousness's, you and I, we are now one being. An Irathient-Grid hybrid. Your vitals will now and forever show you as half Irathient and half Grid. Compu-lady is right. Of us, three consciousnesses, that are in here, you are the best. Kabule just wants to destroy everything and watch it burn. I live purely for battle and survival. You are the only one of us three that strives for more, strives for the life that you deserve, and hopefully friends and family besides us. However we are a family of sorts."

I blink again and stare at all three in shock, "What are you saying?"

Dinara chimes in, "Atty, Griddy is right! Cranky boy will continue to cheer on violence from the darkness, as your bad side. Everybody has one. I will continue to be the voice of reason and stability. Griddy and you are now a merged body, though you retain your own conscious in your crowded brain. Also you, Griddy and I are a family. You are now basically body-brothers, and I your cyber-sister! (She giggles at that in a melodic girly giggle)

You are half Irathiant-half Grid, though your body still looks exactly like it did before the explosion. Kakusi Kabule and I are now basically a triad instead of a duo with you getting final say as our avatar. Of course the bright side is, now that your bodies and vitals are merged you will have complete control of his powers and he can help you focus without, hopefully without another zhena Array-like issue."

I look around again. "Are you all really fine with that arrangement?"

Kabule says he doesn't care as long as there will still be some vengeance and bloodshed, but he would prefer to enjoy the quiet of the bubble in the darkness that we are currently in, only being bugged when we REALLY need his advice or opinions.

Dinara says she is fine with it, as it is very reasonable, given the circumstances. Kakusi responds with, "Fleshling, of course we are fine with it. It was decided before we came to talk to you! My only condition to NOT frying you or Compu-lady though is that she QUIT calling me 'GRIDDY'! And you no longer lock me in this horrid darkness!!!!

Dinara reluctantly agrees, but insists that means he is now her gruff but lovable 'Shocky'! Kakusi agrees even though he is NOT lovable according to him. I agree to not push his consciousness into the darkness anymore, and to let Kabule stay in the bubble in the quiet darkness that he prefers.

Kakusi then squeezes my head between his hands and sends an electricalshock through me as he talks, "Good. It is settled. Now you MUST wake up, Fleshling! That female fleshling has found you and needs you back! as does all of Paradise!!!!"

I see flashes of blue and white and am forced to close my eyes.
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________

When I reawaken, I am in Belle's arms clutched to Belle's naked and warm bosom. I blink a few times as I stare into her tear stained eyes, then start to talk, it coming as a whisper at first.

Starr Eyes, I believe this is where you are supposed to give the heroic knight a passionate kiss for sacrificing himself for the lovely lady and the greater good! Oh well...... I know that type of kiss from you, is not for me to get. I will settle for a loving embrace......just be careful, my whole body aches. As I smile, I realize most of my helm has been destroyed and she can see my loving smile, a smile I don't remember ever having before.

I then realize I am being held to her unclothed chest. "Did you lose your clothes for me or because of me? No matter it is a nice view, and a comforting place to be. Starr Eyes I am sooo cold and my Cyber rig isn't responding, but you are sooo very nice and warm. I'd love to hold you back but with the rigging not responding, all I can move is my head. And I think I like the view to much, to move it.

By the way Dinara, is saying my lifesigns have changed. She says I am no longer Irathiant with a Grid Symbiote, but am now 50% Irathiant and 50% Grid, a Irath-Grid hybrid. But seriously can I stay here a little longer, before you worry about getting my rigging fixed? I feel so comfortable for once, despite being cold!"

[Belle Starr]

Belle Starr had changed into her black Castian business suit with the green jacket when she arrived at the VBI secret bunker and research facility that was her office, happy to take a quick shower and change from the dirty cast-off clothes her clan mates had found for her in Overpass. The bunker was located in San Francisco in the canyon below Overpass near the tunnel entrance, and was found when Karl Von Bach had set up his retail EGO shop there after his resurrection. VBI had taken it over, and given it to Belle when the Board of Directors had made her the Director of Security Analysis, where she and her hand-picked team of hackers sought to strengthen VBI's security, but which also had a fully functioning medical lab.

When Belle had found Atticus barely alive on the roof of the Last Chance, she had called her second-in-command, Chloe Mac Gyver, to send a med-vac copter to pick them up and take them to what Belle called "The Office." The comatose Atticus was immediately put into the modified Gulanee life pod that she herself had occupied only a few days before. Belle had spent almost every waking moment by Atticus' side while he was unconscious, with either Chloe or Dr. Orion there when she was not. Both of them were with her as she reviewed Atticus's medical condition.



Belle unconsciously swiped an errant blond bang from in front of her narrowed diamond blue eyes, her pale brow furrowed in concentration as she looked at the med pad, not being able to make any sense of what she read on it, then looked down at the Liberata with the graying mustache and lab coat, asking, "What does this all mean Doctor Orion?"

The diminutive doctor looked up at Belle, then sighed and patiently explained, "It seems Mr. Batman's Irathian physiology is changing into a hybrid form of Irathian and Grid, retaining the attributes of both. His EGO unit seems to be facilitating the mutation, which is fascinating in and of itself. It even seems to be grafting into the flesh and bone of the subject, so that you cannot even see a clear division between the organic and inorganic anymore. It's fascinating! I bet I could get a billion scrip grant from the Earth Republic Science Council to study the process!"

Belle's pretty rose petal lips turned into a pout as she quickly replied, "You will do no such thing Doctor! Besides me, only you and Chloe are privy to this information, and both of you are sworn to secrecy!"

Doctor Orion sighed before answering, his small arms waved in dismissal, "Sure, sure, I never bite the hand that feeds me Director Starr. Still, this subject is fascinating!"

Belle had been prepared not to like Doctor Orion when she first met him, her experiences with Varus Soleptor souring her on the race, but had hired him based on his work that found computer viruses being much like human viruses, and that could be treated as such. Since hiring him months before, he had earned her trust tenfold, so she trusted both him and Chloe with Atticus' secret.

"Don't forget that we need to wipe all trace of this research from our records when Atticus wakes up, and none of this information leaves this facility," Ordered a concerned Belle, "That includes video and audio records too!"

"Yeah, yeah Boss, don't worry! The system in this lab monitoring your friend is completely self-contained. I made sure of that personally," Replied Chloe Mac Gyver, the five-foot nine-inch tall buxom redhead with the green eyes stood next to the life pod, peeking in the picture window watching the unconscious Atticus, his helmet and clothes being removed to facilitate treatment.

Chloe Mac Gyver had a Scottish name, but looked Irish, and sounded Australian. Chloe had been a corporate spy since sixteen, operating from a basement in Defiance, selling information to the highest bidder. E-Rep, cooperating with VBI, had caught her at twenty-six in a sting operation. Belle had rescued her from a life sentence at Vegas Prison, getting VBI to drop charges and having Chloe put under Belle's supervision for her past crimes. Chloe genuinely like her job as the team leader of other hackers who were similarly rescued by Belle, and genuinely liked Belle. As a rule, Chloe hated authoritarian figures, but Belle always made her employees feel like they were part of a family, not a hierarchical organization.

"Hey Boss!" Chloe smiled mischievously as she regarded Atticus, because she liked to call Belle Boss because she knew it bothered Belle, then asked, "He's kind of handsome in a rugged sort of way, if he wasn't all scarred up. Why doesn't his EGO heal his scars like yours does?"

"My best guess is that it is psychological," Dr. Orion interjected with a wave of his hand, adding with a hint of irritation, "And my best guess you can always take to the bank."

Belle had originally thought it strange that a Liberata would go into science, since most Liberata seem to be all about the scrip. Then she realized after working with Dr. Orion for a while that he was all about the scrip, but that he was brilliant at science and had found a way to make science pay.

Chloe then waved to get their attention, still looking in the pod's window while saying excitedly, "Hey his head is moving around! He's even smiling! He must be having quite a dream!"

Dr. Orion and Belle hurried to Chloe's side, Belle quickly opening the clasps that kept the pod closed. As the pod opened with a hiss and the lid opened slowly, Belle looked inside, her jaw fell as a blush spread up her neck and into her freckled cheeks. Chloe put a hand to her mouth and began to laugh hysterically, more at Belle's reaction than at what she saw there.

Dr. Orion stood on his tip toes to see what the commotion was about, but when he saw, he merely said, "Oh my!"

Still laughing, Chloe joked, "Things really are larger than they appear in the mirror!"

Belle frowned, "I think the term was closer, but that's beside the point. Um... can we cover that up please?"

Chloe was also turning red in the face, but it was from laughing at Belle so hard, however the attractive redhead grabbed a blanket from the table next to the pod and draped it over Atticus' groin, her green eyes lingering for a moment before doing so, saying with a grin, "But it really is a shame to hide this beauty!"

At this point, Atticus' eyes fluttered open, and Belle said with a warm smile, "Welcome back, hero!"

[blackgut]

by the time the 13th reinforcements arrived blackgut and the surviving dragoons had killed over 50% of the volge with the reinforcement and ammo they quickly wiped out the rest and killed the warmaster . one of the dragoons found some kind of grid device that was jamming the coms as they were leaving blackgut trip on something .blackgut: what this sheild doing here its badly damaged wait i recognized this its the sheild i modifed for batman howed that get here guess ill fix it and give it back to himas soon as i can find him

[Atticus Batman]

As my eyes flutter open and I touch the sides of the life pod, my eyes and scars glow a bright electric blue as Kakusi senses the audio and video surveillance devices in the room and an electric blue pulse is sent out of my fingertips and through the pod and into the walls of the room. A crackling sound and blue electric EMP pulse configured to just target the video and audio recording devices travels through the walls, in a wave as all those devices pop and quit working.

Just then a monitoring device the doctor uses, to watch my heart, beeps and the doctor runs over to look at it and starts to tap all his fingertips together. "Interesting!!! You have to see this! His heart is pulsing with the Grid's electrical energies!!! Briliant self-protection! Just brilliant!!!"

Seconds later the image disappears as I emerge from the Gulanee pod. As the trio turns to look at me, a glowing blue aura envelops me, and a hooded blue cloak, that resembles something from Earth's medieval era, covers me with the hood over my head. The glowing in my eyes and scars slowly dissipates, as I start to feel a little more comfortable.

As Belle just stares at me in disbelief, I walk up and hug her in a loving embrace.

"I am so very glad you are alive, Starr eyes! Please tell me I didn't sacrifice my Irathient side in vain!! And who are the hobbit and Celt?!!"

The Liberata looks at me in indignation, and responds with. "I am NOT a Hobbit. I am Liberata. We have much different physical and physiological features! Not to mention I exist and Hobbits do NOT! Also I am your Doctor, so be good or you will go take another nap!" A smile crosses the doctor's face with his hollow threat.

Belle continues to hug me afraid that if she lets go, I will leave her again, this time for good. The redhead continues to just watch, seeming disappointed that I manifested some kind of clothing and haven't offered her a hug. Seeing how Belle seems to respect and trust these two enough to reveal my secrets so they can help, I do not show any further disdain towards them, and instead pull the redhead into the hug, and hug both woman, just happy that Belle and I are both still very much alive! I do however still have that questioning look in my eyes as I wait for an answer to all my questions, while I enjoy the feel of two women hugging me.

[blackgut]

after blackgut returns to the dragoons base he sends the next few days dealing with burial deatel for the two dragoon that fell during the firefight once thats delt with he starts working on batman sheild fixing it up then adding a few upgrades to it to make it a lot stronger

[Belle Starr]

"Mate, you can call me a Wallaby's tookus if you keep hugging me this way!" Laughed Chloe Mac Gyver as her left hand slid down to Atticus' right buttocks and gave it a quick squeeze.

Belle broke away from the hug after a time; her hug lasting long enough to say 'I'm so glad my good friend is back' but not so long as to say 'let's take it to the next level.' Belle makes introductions all around, then raises a blond eyebrow at Chloe, who then also, somewhat reluctantly breaks her hug and steps back, her green eyes telling him they can continue their 'conversation' later.

Belle tells Atticus all that had happened from when he barred the door at Zhena Array through the events at Last Chance, minus her manifestation of various Volge powers and her seeming ability to call Volge troopers to her rescue, which she isn't sure wasn't a delusion caused by blood loss and gunshot trauma. She tells Atticus that she had borrowed a trench coat from a 13th Dragoon who was searching the rubble, and had informed them after their victories against the Volge to cease the search since she had found him when she had returned the coat with her gratitude. Belle tells Atticus where he is presently, assuring him that VBI will never have access to the information from the self-contained diagnostic center, and that all the data will be erased once Doctor Orion no longer needs it for Atticus' recovery.

At that comment, Dr. Orion sputters, "That may take some time Director Starr! There are both short term and long term consequences to be considered! It may take months, maybe years, to study the data and Mr. Batman himself to learn all there is needed to know about his transformation..."

"Boss, I'll be glad to play nurse and check his vitals from time to time!" Volunteers Chloe as she licks her lush full lips, then grins broadly as she stares at Atticus, more than a hint of mischief in her green eyes.

Belle raises a blond eyebrow a second time regarding each in turn, then faces Atticus, "All data as to Atticus Batman will be destroyed when Atticus feels ready to leave. Until then, I have a bedroom next to the lab prepared for you, with no surveillance devices there or in the hall leading to it and only a button that will summon medical aid if you need it. Atticus, you have questions for any of us? If not, Doctor Orion will show you to your room."

Belle's pale forehead furrowed as her diamond blue eyes narrowed and she pursed her rose petal lips when she regarded Chloe Mac Gyver, then with more than a hint of irritation in her voice said, "Chloe, would you please remain with me here to discuss some... performance issues. And Chloe... quit calling me Boss!"