Dark Deeds

Legal Stuffs: I don't own PSO. I mean, I own the copy but nothing else except a few characters from my stories. Don't sue me, I have nothing.

Chapter Two

I think I had another blank moment at that point. I remember absolutely nothing of our briefing, except for the fact that when Tomiko introduced me as Mouse I actually squeaked. Bolt's got that on file too, the bastard.

I suddenly realized where Tomiko had found the inspiration for her door. The forest is beautiful, beyond description. I instantly perked up, and spent a few minutes dashing about trying to take in everything at once. And then I saw it.

"Oh my god! It's so cute!" I squealed, running up to the little yellow bird and holding out my hand to pat it. You know what the little bastard did? IT BIT ME! The little son of a bitch actually BIT ME!

I punted it into the bushes with a move one of Bolt's friends had shown me. I am pleased to say that it hit a tree and went running into the thicker forest screaming like a baby. Stupid Rag Rappies.

So, yeah, anyway. I listened to Tomiko and Bolt and quickly picked up on what had happened. Black Paper had been making some overtures to Doctor Montague about getting some data recently, and when he told them to get bent they took his android, Elenor. He'd managed to track them to the forest near the Central Dome before they cottoned on that Elenor had a beacon inside her and deactivated it.

I hoped for both her sake and theirs that they hadn't hurt her too much when they did. Because I knew enough about the Doc to know that if they so much as scratched one of her panels he was going to destroy them.

Bolt went scouting ahead, and eventually reported back with accurate patrol routes and sentry positions for Black Paper's operatives. I studied the settings for a while, and I swear something in my mind just went CLICK! I knew what to do.

I tried to tell Tomiko and Bolt, but Bolt had just gone wide-eyed. (Don't ask me how, he just DID, okay?) I think I reacted quickest, though, because I dove head-first into some bushes and froze. I peeked out through the foliage and saw Bolt and Tomiko being led away at rifle-point by some seriously scary-looking Newmen in black clothes, and at least one of them had Guild ID into the bargain.

Shit. Shit, shit shit shit. SHIT.

I can't tell you how long I lay there, swearing in my head, but then I realized that it was just me now. Tomiko and Bolt had been captured, so it was just me, and my brilliant plan for getting into the middle of Black Paper's formation without getting caught. It's just as well I learnt how to swim before we left Coral, because I got seriously wet.

Long story short, so few people know how to really swim these days that they basically left an entire side of their outpost completely exposed! How stupid is that? And best of all, Bolt had confirmed that Elenor was being held there, so I could get some help once I got in.

Except that I was completely unequipped. I had my robes and that was all, apart from a really baby MAG (try Level 6) and an inventory device. However, Tomiko had told me that I could find gear in crates left behind by the Pioneer One, so a-sneaking I went.

And boy, did I hit jackpot. I found a bunch of crates deeper in the bushes, covered in moss, so I don't think anyone had found them before me. And inside one I found the Best. Wand. Ever. I got it identified once I was back on the ship as a Twinkle Star, but at the time all I thought was Sweet!

One of the other boxed held a twinked-out sniper rifle, and the third had a nice big block of Meseta. That find is paying my rent for the next year.

But yeah, I was pleased with myself. I was now armed, dangerous, and ready to cause some serious hell. It wasn't hard to reach the stream running through the forest, and as I can hold my breath pretty well I didn't have any trouble reaching the bank. No, my problems came afterwards. Namely, I had no idea how to get OUT of the water without drawing attention to myself.

Turns out my MAG is more intuitive than I thought. It beeped and hovered away, and a few moments later I heard shouts and running feet. They were handily heading away from me, so I hauled myself out of the water as fast as I could and took stock of my surroundings. Someone had set up a rough synth-metal hut in the clearing, and I could see a bright pink android strapped to some kind of examination table, a red-coated man prepping some instruments, probably to delve into her circuitry.

I've got to say, what happened next was pure instinct. I leapt to my feet and tackled the man from behind, wrapping my long right sleeve around his neck. I leant in very, very close.

"Give me the keys to the area and the android, and I let you live." I tightened my grip, just a tiny bit, and he realized that I was serious. At least, he thought I was. I don't think I could kill someone who was helpless.

He slid the keys behind him, and I clocked him one with my bangle. Don't think they're just for show, folks, you can use them as weapons too. He went down like a puppet with cut strings, and I snagged the keys triumphantly.

I unlocked the restraints on Elenor, and gave her a basic look-over. I won't claim to be a master of robotics, but I know enough. It took me all of about ten seconds to work out that they'd disconnected her main power unit, and another five to reconnect it.

I clamped a hand over her mouth as soon as I saw the tell-tale glow of pink from her eyes. "Shhh. I got you out of the restraints and I found you a gun, but they've got my master and her friend. Ideas?"

Her reply was to sketch a rough map of the compound in the dirt below. Oh yeah, this gal's got a good head on her shoulders. She pointed out where she thought the patrols would be, and I put that together with the information I'd gotten from Bolt and came up with a plan.

And it was a damned fine plan, even if I say so myself. Really, you'd think Black Paper would be more ready for an attack from the inside. My only problem was that we'd need a Ryuker to get out, and I'd never gotten the hang of it. Not through lack of trying, of course, but the words didn't seem to join up in my head. But still, I knew Tomiko could cast it, so it'd all be good. Right? Right.

I made Elenor turn away while I was changing into the scientist's clothes, though. I never really feel comfortable with other women seeing my body. Not too comfortable with most men, either, but there are a few exceptions. Once I was done, hair tucked up beneath the ugly cap, I could pass for the scientist, from a distance at least. I transferred the Sniper to Elenor's inventory, and we started on Phase 2 of Operation Get The Fuck Out.

And I am pleased to say, the plan worked pretty well, at leats for a while. Elenor somehow managed to make it look like she wasn't quite in control, and I put that 'arrogant scientist' swagger into my walk. We made it all the way to the other prisoner compound before we hit a snag.

There were guards. And sure, from a distance I looked right, but the instant I got close enough for them to see my face they'd realize it was a Force and all hell would break loose. At that point, I decided fine, let's have all hell break loose. Tomiko would get us back home, I never doubted that for a second.

You ever seen two Newmen wet their pants? I can now say that I have. For some reason, they found the sight of an armed and angry android and an irritated, damp and fire-ball throwing trainee FOmarl utterly terrifying. One passed out solid, and the other knocked himself out running into a wall trying to flee and watch us at the same time. Moron.

Honestly, if this was all Black Paper could do, I was pretty unimpressed. Like a couple of photon locks and thing synth-metal walls could keep a couple of professional Hunters contained! I still laugh at the very thought. Once Bolt heard my voice, he punched right through that wall like it was tissue.

"Surprise," I said with a wonky grin. Tomiko looked like she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"You idiot!" she finally yelled, smacking me upside the head. Hard. "Stick to the plan next time!" She looked at me for a long, long moment. "You did hear the plan, right?"

I shrugged. "Much as I'd love to chat, can we please leave this till we get back to the Pioneer 2? Because I think your yelling just alerted the guards."

Gods, I love Ryuker.