Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Piper let out a sigh. It seemed to be a perpetual problem. "But wait," she said with a realization. "If that's how we're going to get in, then how do we plan on getting out?" It was probably easier to find an escape than an exit, especially if they didn't attract too much attention, but still...this was looking a lot more difficult then it seemed at first glance.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Suddenly Cale had an idea "The Monsteropolis sewer system, you can access it through just about every man hole in the city, that could be our way in" he said running his hand through his hair.

"Unfortunately, there are no public records of the system, people know that it is there but the senate was always afraid that people would use it for our very cause" Stretch reminded Cale.

"No public records" Cale stated "But since the Jedi and the Senate were always at odds with the Senate they 'acquired plans' to the system, just in case they would ever need them, if I'm right the plans should still be in the Jedi Library. Precisely were they were we left them" he said, 'them' referring to the Jedi.

"But wouldn't of-" Shrimp began saying before Cale cut him off "No, the door to the Library is invincible. Not even a lightsaber can penetrate it" Cale said. Rachel began to speak.

"So what you are saying, we get into the Jedi temple, get some plans that havent been touched for over three hundred years and use them to guide us through sewers that have been recently upgraded, so all we would have to go on would be a hunch"

Cale nodded "You got it" he said with a grin.

---

Zakk nodded, realising what Liminata meant "The odds alone would force you into open rebelion" Zakk said "This guy is a former Jedi, his whole life he has vowed revenge on our government. Now he is going to get his chance, dump off your data, then call me" he said then rocketed away.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Raven listened quietly. Her experiences with actual plans had been minimal; getting in and getting out were matters for security staff to plan, not someone of the upper class.

"What can I do to help?" she asked. "I'm not bad with a sword, and if necessary .. " She paused, and ran her hand through her hair, uncertain of how what she said next would be received. "I'm a werewolf, if that helps any."

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Waiting was a very boring occupation. In general, Grace did not mind being alone; she was good at occupying herself. But waiting, period? That was all? Her fingers itched to do something. The hiring staff for the scientific division of MESS had told her to wait at the entrance to the headquarters. Then and again, Grace reasoned, they were wasting the valuable money that they'd spent to bring her here if they used some of her time in merely waiting.

That was it! A perfect argument! Grace checked to see that her bag was still slung around her neck and arm, then moved purposefully towards the main building. She moved into position just in time to see a man take off his helmet and another man punch him in the face. She didn't gasp, but her eyes widened noticeably. What kind of a place was this?

The punched man jammed his helmet back on his head and ran off. Then the puncher talked to a woman nearby and then let her go. Some kind of a romantic dispute, Grace wondered? She quickened her pace and made it up to the puncher.

"Excuse me." Grace said loudly, wondering how well the man could hear through his helmet.

-------

Shoot. Aim. Shoot again.

David put down the gun on the accuracy diagram table and went through some exercises to relax his wrist. Man, he was tense. One, two, rotate, push. One, two, rotate, push. He completed the exercise and picked up his gun again. Somehow he could think best when he was using weapons. Strange.

Today he'd experienced something that made his gut wrench. A girl had been brought to see the Chairman. David, of course, had been on duty as bodyguard. She'd obviously had no idea why she was there and didn't know much about what the Chairman wanted to know. David could see that. Then and again, he thought grimly, it was all too often that the Chairman saw something his subordinates didn't see.

Shoot. Aim. Shoot again.

The girl had been carted off, presumably to prison, if not torture. David knew it wasn't right.

Shoot. Aim. Shoot again.

But he knew his duty too. And he knew that helping her would be hurting his first duty to MESS and the Chairman.

He put down the gun, then keyed in the command to have it sink back into the weapons stores. No, he couldn't help her. But maybe he could go be with someone that he knew felt as he did. Felt the same helpless inability to do anything that mattered.

Stripping off his accuracy and vitals jacket, David left the range.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Shalen, Cyg and Liminata nodded to Zakk as he mentioned that if MESS found out who had broken into the facility they would all be forced into open rebellion. It was true, that if they were identified, the MESS would stop at nothing to capture or kill them, and anyone who had their data.

"Dump your data and call me." He said.

Shalen answered, "ok..." and he flew off on his jetpack. She turned to CYG, "and I have to get patched up." She winced again in pain, then relaxed and sat back.

Cyg patted her shoulder, "Stay put and we'll be there soon."

~~

Ten minutes later, they ship hovered in mid air over the merc headquarters. Cyg picked up Shalen and jumped out, landing with a thud and a grunt. As soon as they were clear, the transport flew off into the distance, heading for an explosive death on the outskirts of the city.

Shalen was quickly taken to the medical center and CYG carried liminata's data chip containing the data dump into the meeting room. Sitting at a table in the middle of the back wall, was the man in the black cloak. CYG walked straight up to him, and he looked up, "Ah...I knew you wouldn't fail"

Liminata popped up on the table, "There is a ton of data in that chip, I didn't have time to sort it all out."

He nodded, "Thank you Liminata" he turned to CYG, "Is Shalen alright?"

CYG nodded at his question, and loaded Liminata into his suit, "Please let us know when you crack the data, we would like to know what we risked our lives for, you have our private com channels."

The man nodded, "We will let you know, thank you again."

Cyg nodded and left. He walked back to the medial wing at a tireless pace that only a cyborg could keep for long, and when he arrived, Shalen was waiting for him outside. The doctor had removed the excess shrapnel that was still in her skin, none of it having penetrated very deeply, and given her a strong medicine to keep out infection.

They walked together, outside and to the vehicle bay in the back of the headquarters. There all the mercenaries kept their personal vechiles, as well as stored a large collection of vehicles for mission use, which any registered merc could sign for and take.

They climbed aboard a military grade, speeder car and opened a secure com to Zakk, "ok, where do we meet you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ace frowned and turned away from the direction that the woman went, intent on heading back up the stairs to the building and heading inside. His mind spun, after what he had just seen, coupled with the interrogation of the young woman earlier, he felt that he had had enough.

Six years of this, six years of putting up with the MESS's 'laws' and 'rules' and not being able to stop a wrong or set something right. Sometimes doing things that made him want to throw up. Hating every minute of it, well... not every minute... he thought. He did have a friend in the MESS, by the name of David. He was the only person that Ace really felt comfortable talking to. They both felt the same way, and both just as much, although it seemed that David was a bit more subdued when it came to doing something about it. Not that he wasn't capable of doing something, that he wouldn't even if they had a chance. Ace had never voiced his concerns on the matter, but because David was a bodyguard to the chairman, it may have something to do with extra DNA swapping that they had done.

They would often sit together in the evenings, in a corner of the mess hall, or in one of their quarters, and discuss what they would love to be doing away from here.

Six years... I've had enough... it's time to get out... His mind told him and he gave a short nod to himself, but immediately on the heels of that thought came something that had haunted him every time he had considered leaving, what if they can stop me? What if they can kill me, or know when I leave?

He tried to put those thoughts down, he had to take the chance... all he had to do was retrieve his personal communicator from his room, and punch in the correct code, to send the signal to his friends, and then they would get him out, and he could get away... but he had to find the right time...it wasn't going to be easy at any time... he knew that the MESS kept a close eye on all outgoing transmissions... and there was that girl...

He was deeply into his thoughts when he was interrupted by a loud female voice from behind him, doubly amplified by the speakers in his helmet. He had to turn fully around, since he had put his helmet on after leaving the chairman's office, and it didn't offer the widest field of vision. He turned swiftly, and looked down at her, just a bit annoyed at being interrupted, "Yes Ma'am?" he began, then took a good look at her and wished he hadn't sounded so cross, he took a breath and relaxed, "and you don't have to shout, i can hear you perfectly well." He finished, in a calmer voice.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Grace blushed. "Oh, sorry. I wasn't sure how thick that helmet was."

For a second, she forgot what she had to say, sidetracked by feeling silly. Then (with great purpose), she remembered and her face became hard. "What kind of discipline is it to punch a man without warning?" She tilted her chin up. "Seems more like abuse to me. What kind of military corps is this?"

--------

David waded through the masses of crowd, carefully avoiding superiors so that they would not yell at him for not doing something useful. While technically he was off-duty, higher officers seemed to think that idle soldiers were liabilities....or something. So they assigned him tasks and kept him busy from morning until midnight.

He'd long since learned to avoid them.

New building, new faces. He was getting closer to the outer circles of MESS, and closer to real life: the city. Ace had been at the steps earlier, he remembered. Maybe he still was.

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

Shyanne inhaled and then exhaled. The cave was starting to feel as if it was closing in on her. She shifted uneasily, arranging her light blue skirt around her folded legs.

However, she didn't stay still for very long. Clearing her throat, Shyanne stood and said, "I need to...get some air."

Avoiding the tiger and the carcass as much as she could, Shyanne quickly made her way toward the opening. Stepping out, she breathed in deeply and closed her eyes.

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

Dark clouds rolled over the milky white moon, as twilight set in. Distant thunder growled and spoke of looming storms. Streaks of freakish blue and white lightening crackled across the sky many miles away over the mountains to the north. The signs of a foreboding tempest were ignored by naive citizens. A small village, Telrinth, was nestled between two chucks of think forest and right in the path of the building clouds. Though quaint, during the day it received traffic from traveling merchants and local passer by's. Guards from the capital city rarely came visiting which left the houses and farms protected by competent men and boys. Tonight, the tavern was filled with happy voices, and merry drinking and laughing. Nothing unusual, and only the sounds of night birds and owls. The inn had lost it's customers some time ago and now was being cleaned up. Peace reigned until.....

Two horse tore into town shattering quiet. There hooves ripped across the dusty ground and came bolting into the town center. The horse were brought to the hitching posts in front of the inn, and one rider fairly flew from his animal. He rushed to the other rider, and cut a few ropes which had held him securely to the saddle. Grunting with excursion he assisted the wounded man to the door of the inn. He tried the handle, and found, to his relief, that it was unlocked. He stumbled in, his burden weighing him down. He dragged himself and the other man to a table, where he gently laid down the younger man.

Suffering from a torn side and a deep gash on his head, the young male was unconscious and bleeding badly. Having already lost pints of blood from the vigorous ride, he needed assistance and fast. Coming to the counter, Stendar, a gruff man of 50, pounded a fist down onto the wood. He sought the attention of the pretty little lady on the other side "Ma'am.....we need your help...."

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Zakk replied "Meet me down town, at Rupert’s Tavern, see you then” his said and hung up, Rupert was a fellow dissentient and his restaurant slash bar was a regular meeting place for the mercs.

Zakk sat down his phone and picked up his menu “I’ll have my regular” he replied to his waitress when she asked him for his order, then he leaned back against the leather seat, waiting for the others to arrive.

--

Shrims leaned over to speak to Raven "Just tag along, we will be sure to come across something that will require your abilities, trust me, you can count on Cale to get us into a tight spot where swords will be needed” he said with a knowing look on his face then turned his attention back to the planning.

VAC’s dropped to the ground started to talk “I assume Cale that you as a Jedi can open this door?” Cale nodded, knowing that VACs wouldn’t need an explanation to their plans; he had been spying on them most of the time they were there.

“How do we get into the Jedi temple? Cale you know as well as I do that the gates have been guarded since the Senate took power, and recently it has begun to be used by the MESS as a base in Ditto Town” Stretch replied, Cale in response said “There is a secret one that I know of, and if I’m correct it hasn’t been used in ages, we will have to try it.”

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

The girl had already been staring at them with a surprised look on her face. Before the older man had finished the girl was hurrying over to the man on the table. "What happened to him?!" The girl asked in a very worried tone. "I'll get some ale and wet towels."

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

"What happened is not important" Stendar said, watching as she busied herself. He cast a cautious eye toward the door. If any one discovered them....

The worry now was that one of their enemies had been following. But he was sure he had eluded them hours ago in the forest. Darkness had been their friend for many days now. He brushed his hand over the pommel of his blade, resting comfortably at his hip "Can you help him? I have money enough to pay you"

****

Micah sighed still staring at the now ruined deer. "Yes, I think going into town would be best. Maybe the local butcher will be generous today" He doubted it, but it was a chance. With little money in their pockets they hadn't much to buy sufficient supplies. But what they couldn't buy they could make or do without.

Sirius nodded, still feeling ashamed. "Of course! I'll take you there right away" he turned then made a face "Wait, I got to go take Jaeger back. I'll just be a minute" he tugged on his tiger and after staring for a minute longer at the meat, the beast came with the boy

Micah watched Sirius leave, but he knew he would return as promised "I'll be going into town but leaving the women here unprotected is out of the question. Edmund, Jarian....I think one of you should come along in case of trouble but the other should stay. We have no idea where are enemies are"

****

Dalin slipped down from a tree, his cloack snapping off a twig in his decent. Breathe......wait.....stop. A guard is coming. Let him pass....continue He kept on in this pattern across the city avoiding everyone and anyone. Though he hadn't made it a habit of venturing into the thickly populated main town, tonight was different, and plus he needed to cool. Akar shone as a presence passed close by him. A woman and her love stopped some feet away from his crouched place in the bushes. Just what he needed. A delay and distraction. He picked up a stone from grounded and hurled from the bushes to colide with a horse across the street. It hit the animal on the leg and spooked it, making it dash forward and hit it's driver. The two young people gasped then rushed away to help the trampled man. A fitting diversion... He thought with a chuckle and moved on. He came to his destination, which was a shabby inn, hidden behind some nicer buildings. A cheap stay, where most of the drunks could be found carousing or sleeping. He had learned from some sources, of a person living in room 5 on the second floor. The sources had been used, then eliminated. Slipping a small piece of parchment from a pocket in his black leather shirt, he ran forward and hoisted himself up the trellis.

5 feat to go. 3, 2, 1! He was there. His hand tossed the note in then he dropped down with a grunt and melted into a shadow.

"Um... I might be able to help." The young lady said as she walked quickly back to the man. "I'll do the best I can, but I'm no doctor." She looked the young man up and down as she began to dab his forehead with one of the cloths. "He doesn't look too good... Why don't we get him into a room. Take him up to room nine, I'll be right up there with some bandages."

VAYOND

After finishing up his portion of breakfast, Edmund listened to Micah's announcement about going into town. He would be delighted to go with Micah, to protect him from enemies. Besides, if he went it would make it harder for the enemies to get to the others. Edmund could fight them off single handedly in his own mind. "I'll go with you."

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Ace nodded as she explained about the helmet, but then took a step back as she exploded with an exclamation about his conduct, punching a man. She asked just what kind of military establishment it was that he worked for.

Inside his helmet, if she had been able to see, he gave a wry smile... he knew the true nature of the military he worked for. He saw that she was waiting for him to give an explanation of his actions, so he cleared his throat and nodded in the direction he had come, "The young woman was being abused by that Captain... I gave him... I decided to punish him as I saw fit." He said it a bit crisply, "If what I did was abuse, what he did was far worse."

He gave a curt nod to show that he was finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shalen nodded as Zakk told them where to go. It was in a slightly less popular part of town, where less security was kept, and the mercenaries could often meet in peace. It was one of the only places that actually welcomed them, apart from their headquarters, and the owner, Rupert, was very friendly to their ways.

Cyg powered up the engines, and eased the speeder out of the bay. It hovered low, and then he pushed it up, into the flow of traffic above, and fell into the posted speed. Five minutes later, he pulled out of the traffic flow, and dropped closer to street level, dodging in and out of the medium sized buildings with his Cyborg enhanced reflexes.

Liminata popped up on his shoulder, "I really wish you would let me do this flying..."

He glanced at her, "Nervous Limi?"

She huffed, "No... but.." he swung the speeder over quickly, to dodge another flying craft that darted out from an alley, "I could do better at avoiding those..."

He shook his head and chuckled. Shalen laughed. A mere minute or two more, and they landed in front of the tavern that Zakk had indicated. After locking their craft down, they both strode inside.

It took a fraction of a second to spot Zakk, seated in a chair in the corner, and they walked over. Shalen slid into another seat at the table, and CYG plopped down into the third, hoping it would support his weight when it groaned loudly.

A waitress approached and Shalen looked at her, "Telfinian Brandy for me..."
Cyg looked up at her, "A can of motor oil and a glass of your best Yelten..."

After ordering, they both turned to Zakk.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

"Welcome" Zakk said with a grin "Now, to business, I have the number of the man I was talking about with me, if you want to talk to him I can give him a call, if you wanted to set up a face to face meeting with him I’m sure he’d be glad to meet you” He continued as his coffee and HCP arrived.

--

“Well where is it?” Shrims asked, getting impatient, Cale replied “On the outskirts of town, in a very old tree house which once belong to Joey the Jedi Ewok, the head of the Jedi order” Stretch added “Let head over there now, who knows what is waiting for us” Cale agreed “Lets go”