The ORG 2.0 IC

[deadfast]

The metal and concrete interior of the Org compounds were a familiar sight to Bane, but this new complex was unusually small in comparison to the previous installations. However, that had been the least of his problems over the course of the last week. As a hazardous environment specialist, the robust little alien was chosen to thoroughly test all six pads at Site Four. Despite the grueling locations used for test destinations, they all performed flawlessly and the first personnel were already adjusting to their new positions. Now the greatest task remaining was to assemble Site Four’s IDE team.

Bane waited in silence while the elevator swiftly ascended to the ground level. The zergling eyed the simple metallic transponder strapped to one of its blade arms; a gadget devised to open the electronic doors of the facility upon approach. Bane growled irritably. Even this small machine was an annoyance, although it saved him the hassle of otherwise memorizing a key sequence and carrying an access card.

The doors to the elevator parted with a low chime and Bane came face to face with Corporal Slathe. Due to her capable form and vast weapons skill set, she was among the first to be chosen as standing security at the facility and she took the position seriously.

“Agent Red,” She acknowledged the zergling’s presence in her native language, which afforded her a much broader vocabulary, “You’re back just in time. Just got off the line with air-com; Fenix should be arriving by whirly any minute.”

Bane nodded as he stepped out of the elevator and began pacing across the central lobby towards the hangar. For a moment, the only sound was the clack of the zergling’s claws on the steel tiles and the metallic jostle of Slathe’s personal arsenal as she fell in beside the alien. She continued as they entered the security station. Thor was leaning forward on his axe handle, with a positively bored expression on his scaled face as he waved the pair through with two clawed fingers.

“Director Lacings has notified the other parties and the responses are positive; the debrief is scheduled in one hour and the first Jump is due right after.”

Bane snorted as the security door to the hangar slid open with a whine of the hydraulics.

“It would seem our dear Lacings is wasting no time then. Excellent work, Slathe.”

The Mantrin was quiet a moment while they crossed the sprawl of the hangar; it took only one of her long steps to cover the same distance as three of Bane’s.

“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Slathe said with a low snarl of her own. Bane’s crimson eyes glowed a shade brighter as he answered without looking up,

“Speak your mind, mortal.”

“It’s damned boring here, Bane!” She growled with clenched teeth, “I’ve gotta get out of this snore-crate; can’t you put in a good word for me on the next mission?”

The zergling could sympathize with her. The Mantrin species was also bred for combat; every day cooped up on home security detail was all but torture.

“Your enthusiasm is noted, Slathe,” Bane replied as they stopped to wait for the front bay door, “Should we require extra support, your name will be the first I mention.”

Slathe growled again as a blast of arctic air rushed from the opening doors, “Just make it quick, would you? I’m going to go out of my mind if I don’t get to shoot something soon!”

The icy helicopter pad and the snowy mountainsides seemed serene, as if frozen in time. The wind howled slightly and a light snow fell, already beginning to reclaim the freshly cleared pad.

“Patience, mortal,” Bane replied at last, “You will get a chance.”
As the pair waited, the tell-tale chop of approaching rotor blades began echoing through the peaks.

[Fenix250]

A chime rings through the earbuds Fenix was wearing, "Ten minutes until we reach Site Four, Creator. I suggest you get ready."
He wakes up with a loud yawn and gets up from the chair he was sleeping in, "Of course, wouldn't want to get there while I'm still half asleep, now do I?"

After grabbing what little he brought along and putting on some winter clothes he has, Fenix opens the door to the pilot area to get a good look at the snowy wonderland, "Well, look who decided to wake up? So how is the furball doing today?"
Fenix chuckles at the co-pilot, "I'm doing quite alright, thank you very much. ETA?"
"Four minutes."
"Good. Kinda wish I didn't have to go somewhere thats... well, cold."
"Don't we all?"

The helicopter lands and an umbreon anthro with light winter clothing and a small backpack holding a laptop and other technical stuff steps out. The first thing he sees is Bane and someone else. He waves as he approaches them, "Hello Bane, long time no see! ...Who's your friend?"
The reason why he's wearing light winter clothing is because he just got to that cold location, which means his winter coat didn't have any time to grow in, but he's happy about that since he believes his winter coat makes him look scruffy.

[Yellow 13]

I hd just finished up a school presentation on drug avoidance. While I might not have been the best person for a school to call, I still wanted to do it. I had seen a lotof drug users in my small stint as an adventurer and even more drug dealers. Naturally, I had put them all down as soon as I found them. People tend to side with you after they've had 50'000 volts to anywhere in their body. The Da Vico crime family tried to stop me, but in the end, I had enough dirt to put them away for a long time.

"And believe me when I say it. You might get lucky and get some powers that resist them. But then again, you might not." I concluded. "So before you light up a ciggerette or down your first shot, just think where that could take you. And if you hear about anyone offering anything that sounds illegal, come see me." I said. "Thank you."

Stepping down to applause Hope, my daughter, walked up and hugged me. I accepted the hug and kissed her. "That was great, mom!" she said, always happy to see me at her school. I could tell she wanted to be an adventurer like me. Seeing as how it was her lunchbreak, I decided to take her home walking through the streets. The trip wasn't long because no one seemed to need my help. It was a refreshing site to see. No one in danger or calling for help. Crime was at an all time low and had been staying like that. Criminals were too scared to do anything and the crimes that did happen were out of desperation (for food or essentuals) or becaue the ones doing it were really, REALLY stupid. Or just new to my city. sitting on a park bench, I listened to how Hope's dy was going so far and also wondered what the nextbig spurt to her powers would be. At least that's how I grew them. They didn't come all at once. Rather they were developing in growth spurts. And I had the feeling they were still growing even now.

[deadfast]

The alien's eyes burned bright as it acknowledged Fenix with a nod, "Indeed! It has been some time since last we met; It is good to see you are still in sound health. The one standing with me now is Corporal Slathe, she will serve as second in command of site security. She is also our resident weapons expert."

Bristling with guns ranging from colt sidearms and mp-90's to a Kalashnikov and an automatic shotgun, the Mantrin reached into one of the many pockets of her tactical gear and produced a translucent security card.

She held the card out to Fenix with the simple words, "Door Key."

Slathe's voice sounded clumsy and unruly forming the words, as if someone had taught a pit-bull to talk with growls.

"Slathe is still learning your English language," The zergling explained briefly, "But she is quite fluent and outspoken in her own tongue."

Bane paused to turn back toward the hangar, gesturing with one blade. "Come. The outside environment here is unforgiving to mortals."

[Fenix250]

"The one standing with me now is Corporal Slathe, she will serve as second in command of site security. She is also our resident weapons expert."
You could say weapons expert again; Slathe was simply loaded with all kinds of firearms and her legs have a unique bone structure and build to them. In all honesty, if Nidvex were to get her species bio, he'd probably warn him not to get kicked in the face... or anywhere for that matter, by her.

When Fenix got close enough, she extends a hand with a card out to him, "Door Key."
The words didn't flow at all and was unruly to the point where he couldn't tell her disposition towards him was. He still smiled and grabbed the card from her, "Thanks."
Bane proceeded to explain the reason for the way she spoke and it made complete sense. He'll just have to ask his AI to find or, if possible, make a translator; this would be especially important if something were to happen and they needed to work together. But enough rambling... "Come. The outside environment here is unforgiving to mortals."
He proceeds to follow the zergling, "Indeed. At least it's nice enough to only throw a light amount of snow at us at the moment."

They proceeded through the hanger and towards a door that would require an access key, "So how's Site Four coming along?"

[deadfast]

The hydraulic security door at the end of the hangar opened automatically as Bane approached.

"Fortunately," the zergling answered telepathically as it lead the procession through the checkpoint, "The mortal scientists here seem to be gaining a competent knowledge of the technology."

Bane nodded at the Iksarian chief of security again in passing, who tipped his axe in respect to the site's new guest before hitting the key for the inner blast door.

"I managed to utilize all six pads without landing in a world of fire or in the reeking gullet of an immense worm; an achievement that almost leads one to believe the humans know what it is they're doing." The zergling just finished saying as the second security door opened, revealing the central lobby with a stressed Director Lacings standing in front of the main elevator.

"It is good to see you again, Specialist Zenaku," Lacings said as the three approached, "Welcome to Site Four. I was hoping we wouldn't have to skip the formalities, but we've just had a rogue quantum flux and it has pushed our schedule forward considerably. Get settled in fast, you and Bane will need to be at pad two for jump briefing in thirty minutes."

The zergling growled irritably, but Lacings seemed to be waiting for this.

"Sorry, Bane. I'll have Tia save some barbeque for when you get back, but right now I really need to finish the coordinates for these jumps."

"Fenix," the director said before turning for the elevator in a haste, "Glad to have you back on the team. See you at the briefing."

[Fenix250]

Bane proceeded to explain about the tech the place uses for traveling to different worlds and dimensions. They passed through the checkpoint with what appeared to be a quiet lizard type species wearing medieval plate armor and welding a 'shocking' double-headed axe. Fenix nods back as he tipped his axe; it was one of the many gestures one would use to show respect for, or maybe simply greet someone.

Thankfully, the site is proving to at least impress the zergling by a mild degree since he was able to use all six of the pads within the site without something going horribly wrong, "an achievement that almost leads one to believe the humans know what it is they're doing."
Fenix got a chuckle out of that; they better know what they're doing, WE'RE the ones using those pads!

The next, rectangular room had a rather stressed looking human that looked familiar. Lacings, noticed him and spoke, "It is good to see you again, Specialist Zenaku,"
He gives a salute that turned into a somewhat professional stance after replying, "Nice to see you too, Director."
"I was hoping we wouldn't have to skip the formalities, but we've just had a rogue quantum flux and it has pushed our schedule forward considerably."
...wonderful, that means one thing.
"Get settled in fast, you and Bane will need to be at pad two for jump briefing in thirty minutes."
Fenix sighs while Bane growls a little; clearly Bane was hoping for some food before the trip.

Bane was promised BBQ when they returned and the Director quickly makes his way towards the elevator, "And Fenix, glad to have you back on the team. See you at the briefing."
"It's good to be back, Director."
Well, they weren't ENTIRELY back; that gunslinger girl and the werewolf with the shapeshifting weapon wasn't here, but we still had the zergling! That's something, right?

Once the elevator closed, Fenix started to look around in place, "I was hoping for a bit of food myself... oh well, anyone know where my room is? ...Or maybe a map at least?"
He was speaking to anyone who happened to be listening, however his AI already found the necessary information, but it was holding it off until someone else answered, or if he gets hopelessly lost, whatever happens first.

[Yellow 13]

With lunch over, Hope headed back to her classes and I went back home. Cole was there as I expected since he told me he had the day off. As we embraced, sparks literally flew around us. Positive electricity and negitive meeting together in that moment. It always felt wonderful ever since I ran face first into him. My powers were still growing then andwhen I hit him, the energy shot outwards and made me tingle all over. The same happened when I kissed my loving husband now.

"Hey honey. How'd the appointment go?"

"ash gwood azsh you can hoop." he said, mouth clearly frozen. I nodded.

"say no more, honey. Don't worry, i'll make supper. Nothing's going on tonight anyways."

He nodded and help up a letter addressed to me and hd some sort of offical seal on it. Immedieatly, I sighed. I didn't want fame or glory. I was just doing the right thing when no one else would. I really didn't need or want recognition. Just helping people was enough for me. After prodding the leter to make sure it wouldn't explode it my face, I opened it up and unfurled it. Clearly, whoever was sending this was important. They didn't spare any expense with the stationary either.

Greetings Mrs. Tara Raiden,

Due to your outstanding record of valor and heroism, and the unique abilities at your disposal, this letter has been sent to offer you a rare opportunity to further aid the world around you. For eight years, the Organization of Extra Planar Research has been making unprecedented strides in all fields of science through the exploration of distant worlds. However, many human lives would otherwise be put at risk in the retrieval of these vital discoveries were it not for the efforts of specialist teams. We would like to offer you a position on one of these teams. In doing so, you would be protecting the lives of valuable scientists while aiding them as they uncover new ways to combat disease and starvation.

Barring any errors in our calculations, the time as you read this letter is approximately 1:32 p.m. In six hours time, representatives of the Organization of Extra Planar Research will arrive at the GPS coordinates outlined below to meet you in person and explain our offer in greater detail.


There wasn't any closing statement, but the GPS coordinates were there. Heading over to the computer, I booted it up and when it was going, i put in the coridinates, I found that it was in an electrical substation. Six hours from now... 7:30 PM. sunset... and they knew when I would be reading it... "This stinks..." I said and turned to Cole who was looking over my shoulder curiously. "I think these guys are stalking me. I don't trust this one bit. Listen honey, if i'm not back by 8:30, tell Hope I love her."

He nodded, worried but he would let me go. He wasn't a hero, I was. This was my burden. I'd have to get ready. I went to take a quick shower, then hoped I could make something to eat quickly enough. I needed time to scout the area and find a good hiding spot.

[deadfast]

Corporal Slathe snickered beneath her tactical helmet and turned back for the hanger. Her rasping, alien chuckle echoed in the small lobby as she left with a phrase in her own language.

“A map?! This one’s all yours, Red. I’m going to waste a few clips outside now.”

Bane ignored her attitude and turned to answer Fenix’s questions as if Slathe were saying nothing,

“This facility is the smallest of the Organization’s outposts, and as such, we will be required to occupy two to a room,” the zergling paused to point with both scythes toward the west wing, which was essentially a wide corridor with half a dozen steel doors.

“There are two rooms remaining on the end: One is currently empty to accommodate the other two team members we are to recruit shortly. I am assigned to the other, although I have yet to enter it. It matters not to me whether you chose to take the extra bed in my cabin or if you chose to take your chances with one of our new guests.”

The zergling turned as it finished explaining the bunk arrangements and began pacing towards the opposite wing with obvious haste. Using one fore-claw, Bane waved for Fenix to follow.

“The gymnasium is on this side, as is the cafeteria. Tia’s legendary creation she calls ‘barbeque’ may not be prepared before we depart, however, I did not complete twelve dimensional jumps today just to leave hungry for the thirteenth."

With another whine of hydraulics, the cafeteria door rose into the ceiling, revealing a long L-shaped buffet bar occupied by simple staples like fried chicken, french fries and self serve hamburgers. Tall and slender as a rail, an almost ghostly looking alien with a face like a mask of leather and wood stood behind the bar wearing gloves and an elongated kitchen apron.

"Fenix, meet Zabboo: Miss Tia's assistant," Bane growled over one shoulder as he stalked down the buffet line, spearing a rotisserie chicken with each scythe in passing. The silent alien behind the bar made an imitation of a smile with its small, wrinkled mouth and its saucer-sized eyes looked like deep, jade pools of thought.

"Take what you wish, but be quick. We have not much time." The zergling said as it jammed a whole chicken into its drooling maw.

[Fenix250]

Slathe responded to Fenix's want of a map with a rasping chuckle and her native language. With no translator at all, he could only assume that she might have been insulting him, so he responded in a neutral, yet slightly sad tone, complete with drooping ears, "Hey now; I don't have the time to take a grand tour of the place AND get settled in my room, even if it is a bit... well, bye then."
Mentally he was only slightly displeased, despite the act and once the door she went through closed, he was back to his old self, even though he never actually left it.

Bane begins to explain just how small the base is; everyone shares rooms and the only ones left are the ones Bane has and the two 'newbies' would be. Of course; he had a choice between one of the newbies or Bane, assuming he sleeps of course. Fenix replies with a simple confirmation as he ponders who to bunk with. Of course, this would be figured out once he meets the new team members. One of the factors would be how the newbies interact with his electronics; since he only brought one copy of his AI along and it would take a few hours to download another copy from here, he doesn't want a roommate who could easily break Nidvex's 'house'... Well, back to the grand tour then?

Following Bane in a slight jog, they continued the tour, which (of course) led to the cafeteria, "Tia’s legendary creation she calls ‘barbeque’ may not be prepared before we depart, however, I did not complete twelve dimensional jumps today just to leave hungry for the thirteenth."
He simply smiled; there's the Bane we all know and love! Although twelve dimensional jumps does warrant a bit of food, no matter how tight the schedule is...

The first thing Fenix seen when the door rose out of the way was the buffet bar... followed by a strange alien, "Fenix, meet Zabboo: Miss Tia's assistant,"
"Hello."
Fenix got no reply other then a smile, which must have been for both him and Bane, who had no problems stabbing a whole entire chicken with both scythes, "Take what you wish, but be quick. We have not much time."
True... well, he'll just setup his laptop later then. Food first.

Fenix grabs a tray and proceeds to grab some food while being careful not to get any fur where it shouldn't and while being watched by the strange looking, yet surely friendly Zabboo. It was somewhat hard to not look into it's eyes; which gave off a sense of vast intelligence. He'll get used to the alien of course, until then; we have a fully loaded, single patty hamburger (with no pickles...ick), a small amount of fries and a small Dr. Pepper, yay. He grabs a random seat and proceeded to eat while Nidvex chimed in to give him a small bio on the Krellon and Mantrin species, with the Krellon part being pretty enlightening; it explained the 'vast intelligence' look to Zabboo's jade colored eyes and why he didn't seem to talk much, being a mute and all.