Aberrant: Dead Rising - Rough Start?[Complete]

[Stargaizer]

May 11th, afternoon

Draygo was flying around 2000' in the air. He'd found that this was a good height to get a good look around. Of course, his telescopic vision helped a lot with that. He was also carrying his semi trailer. Inside was his new friend Dylan, as well as all of their accumulated 'wealth'. To be honest, it made the trailer very heavy; nothing he couldn't handle though.

Then, as they flew south, his telescopic vision picked up a large concentration of heat in front of them and off to his left. Draygo tilted his head and activated the two way radio headset that he and Dylan had worked up. "Dylan, I see a lot of heat up and to the left, it's still a few miles off. Adjusting course. If it's people, it's the largest settlement that I've ever seen. Prepare for course adjustment and a possible quick landing" And with that Draygo flew closer.

As they approached, still at around 2000' in the air, Draygo could begin to make out details. It looked as if it may have, at one point in time, been some form of fenced in facility, high security. Now it looked like it had been transformed into some form of refugee camp. There was a wall, besides the fence, and they had guards around it. Draygo kept an eye on the guards (Bond and the others from Training Day), seeing if they would notice him. To their credit, it didn't take awfully long for them to see the 7' dragon with a 12' wingspan carrying a 40' semi trailer 2000' up in the air.

But, to Draygo (and Dylan's) displeasure, it also didn't take them long to take up arms. And so, Draygo had to make a more abrupt landing than usual.

The trailer landed in a small grove of trees, about 1/2 a mile away from the northern wall of the settlement. Draygo landed beside it and changed to Nathan as quickly as he could, and ran to open the doors for Dylan.

"Hopefully we can meet them on their way out here and convince them not to shoot us. Up for some diplomacy?" Humor wasn't Nathan's strongest suite, but you had to give him credit for trying.

Click to reveal..

Draygo looks like this, except that he's wearing a white undershirt/t-shirt and a pair of jeans with their ragged end about mid shin... which also happens to be what Nathan is wearing.

[Dylan Harvey]

Inside the trailer the young man nodded his head to the Ace of Spades as he worked on connecting some wires. This generator and capacitor was going to need more parts to finish. As word came over the radio Dylan pushed the roller chair across the trailer. Stopping in front of the computers he typed in a few commands. After seeing the results he rolled back over to the generator and picked up his radio.

"Satellite isn't in range so I can't get a image of the place. If my calculations are correct which...well come on, the map says we are in the middle of nothing.

Not to mean anything but are ya sure that, woah!"

As he felt the trailer go down quickly he grabbed the table and held on. When it landed he checked to make sure none of the electronics were damaged. As the door opened Dylan nodded and grabbed up a pair of binoculars. He also grabbed up the Blackberry he had connected to the computer. Hopefully soon the satellite would be back over head and he could better look at the surrounding area.

"Lets go make some friends. Maybe they have some parts that I need."

[Stargaizer]

Nathan helped Dylan out of the trailer. When he spoke his tone was curious. "Did you check the map or the archives... I know, I know the internet is down, but did you check other sources? This didn't look like it was built after... ya'know?" He started leading Dylan in the general direction of the... refugee camp(?).

As they started walking, Nathan looked off in the distance, almost as if he were day dreaming, and his tone was equally light. "With as large a group of people as this was, maybe it's some place that we can settle... or at least stay for a while. Maybe they can be more than just trade partners..." He didn't look over towards Dylan, but he was waiting for an answer.

[Dylan Harvey]

"Settle down? I thought we had a good thing going big guy. Besides if I am going to have any chance getting the global network running I need to get to D.C. I can't get the codes I need from a remote connection. Not that I am against settling down just need to get better control of the satellite network first and make use of them before they lose orbit. Hey you never know though, maybe they can help us with that. They might even have some good food waiting."

Dylan brought the binoculars to his eyes and scanned out looking to see if anyone was coming their way.

[Dawn OOC]

The response didn't take long. Shortly, a group of men in a truck drove out. It was a military convey, and it had several serious-looking armed men inside. It came to a sideways stop and several more people jumped out, including a stern-looking Native American woman. She wore a tank top and dirty jeans; her feet were covered with mossacans. Despite that, there was no mistaking that she was the most beautiful woman they'd ever seen.

She wasn't armed, but she walked forward boldly. Her dark eyes studied them, then she said, "Who are you, and what do you want?"

[Stargaizer]

Nathan didn't respond to Dylan's reluctance to settle down. His company did a lot to alleviate the loneliness that Nathan's heart still felt, but there was only so long that his dragon's instinct to horde could satisfy his human's heart to accomplish something. He was ready to do something more substantial than just survive.

Nathan watched as the truck drove up, hoping that the serious looking armed men inside were strictly backup and that they wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later. When the Native American woman stepped out and approached them; that made Nathan happy. Talk first; good.

At her question, Nathan took a step ahead of Dylan and spoke. He held his hands, palms forward, down by his sides but away from his body. He was trying to show that his hands were empty and that he had no weapons without raising his hands in the 'I surrender' motion. His tone was steady and even, and loud enough that everybody could hear him clearly. "I'm Nathan and this is my traveling companion Dylan. We have some goods for trade or sale, and possibly some skills that you could find useful. I'm a civil engineer, a licensed... I was a licensed master electrician, before..." He let it hang, everybody still alive should know what 'before' referred to. "I also know some computer programming, but that's Dylan's specialty. He's the best person with electronics and computers that you'll find still alive." He wanted to leave some cards in the hole and not give everything away, right up front. So he left out a few things.

But hopefully that'd be enough to gain them access to the encampment.

[Dylan Harvey]

Daryl could only stare at the woman. He never imagined anyone could look that good. Finally he looked back down at the display in front of him.

"Ya...uh, if you guys have any computer parts that you aren't using we could use them. Als-so mechanical parts, if there are ones you have that you aren't using I uh, might be able to give you some ideas. The big guy and I might impress you with how much tech you guys could still be utilizing."

He managed to keep his stuttering down to a minimum.

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

Jules pursed her lips, unaware that she'd just threatened to give Dylan a nosebleed without so much as touching him. "I'm sure we have parts around, but I'm not sure what we'll be willing to trade for them, or trade them at all. That'd be up to the owner of the item, or Fox if it's part of Refuge supplies."

Her dark eyes roved over them again and she said, "Which one of you is the dragon-thing?"

[Stargaizer]

Nathan gave Dylan a sideways look as he stumbled all over himself talking to this woman. Sure she was probably the most beautiful woman that they'd ever seen, but she was still just a person; a person who had several armed guards and an understandably not positive attitude towards them.

Then she had to go and ask about his alternate identity. Nathan gave a sigh and drooped his shoulders. He'd learned in the past that being a dragon didn't help his sociability at all. But she'd asked, straight up, and there wasn't any hiding it. He raised his hand, simply bending his arm at the elbow. "That'd be me. But, as you can see, I've learned to change before being around people," he glanced over at Dylan, "That is unless they know it's coming and are ok with it."

He then decided to try to get things back on track. "If you can't trade them, maybe we can fix whatcha got here for you. Possibly even do what we can to help in exchange for a bed to sleep on. It'd be nice to not have to get back to the road right away. If it wouldn't be too much trouble. I won't even have to eat any of the food you have, so long as I can get a couple hours to myself, outside of the camp every day."

He decided to stop while he was ahead... or behind, it was hard to tell.

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

"Well, what you look like isn't as important as how you behave, as far as I'm concerned," the woman said. "Fox may have a different opinion, but he's been tolerant so far. Just offer your services, and obey the rules. You're welcome to stay if you wish - the Refuge is open to all who need it."

She looked at them more closely and said, "I'm Jules WhiteElk. Would you gentlemen like an escort to the Refuge?"

[Dylan Harvey]

Dylan looked back the way they came.

"Might not be a bad idea big guy. Not sure how well our ride is running after that landing, unless you just want to carry it in?"

Looking up at the sky he considered for a minute. "What ever we do, we should do it soon. Another hour before a satellite comes in range and we want to be situated while I can actually access the internet. So either we wait out here with the trailer or we get it in now."

[Stargaizer]

Jules' statement that behavior was more important than looks heartened Nathan. At least he'd be given a fare shake; and the people might actually be able to get used to his alternate form... like Daryl.

He answered Jules before he acknowledged Dylan. "Yes, an escort would be nice. Thank you Ms. WhiteElk. And I'm assuming that 'Fox' is the leader of the Refuge? Might a meeting with him be possible, that is if it isn't too much of a breach of standard protocol."

Then he turned to Dylan. "Our trailer's fine. I didn't set it down that hard. But I'm afraid it's going to stay where it is, for now. Draygo's the only one who can move it, and I don't want to go waltzing into the Refuge and have him be our first impression. If it's ok with them, we can arrange for me to bring it in, or near tonight, after dark." He finished with a 'do you think that would be ok?' look to Jules.

Then he added to Dylan. "If you have to stay with the trailer, and it's ok with Jules, then you can do that until after the next pass. If you can get it from inside, without the trailer, I think that'd be a better idea."

[Dylan Harvey]

Looking around at the people then down at his display he looked to be thinking.

"Well uhh, if they wouldn't mind helping me load a couple things up I could get a computer set up and running in the refuge. That is assuming they has power going, I can't quickly remove the battery from the trailer. Think you guys could help?"

He looked to the group standing in front of them.

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

Why do supers with two forms always seem to have personality disassociation? Jules wondered, though she kept those thoughts to herself. Asking that question seemed unhelpful, to say the least. Instead, she said, "You'll have to sit in quarantine for twenty-four hours once you enter the Refuge. I'm sorry, but we have to enforce that to make sure that we don't get someone sick with the Z inside the walls." She looked at them closely, her gaze stern. "This is not negotiable, gentleman."

[Stargaizer]

Nathan listened to Dylan and Jules. His first reply was to Jules, "That's perfectly understandable. We wouldn't want to break any of your protocols. Is there a way that we can speak to people from quarantine? Like through a window or something? That way we could get all the standard questions out of the way while we were in there."

Then he answered Dylan. "I wouldn't mind doing some of the heavy lifting... that is if these fine gentlemen," he motions to Jules' heavily armed accompaniment, "don't mind getting their first look at a friendly dragon." He looked back and forth between Dylan, Jules and the men with the guns.

[Dylan Harvey]

Dylan looked at Nathan and then at Jules. He chewed on his lip while he thought.

"You know what, why don't you go ahead big guy. I will head back and work through this window then I will join you and start the quarantine process. Once we are both through we can move the stuff in and I can get back to working on the generator."

He checked his phone for something before looking back up at Jules and the men. "Assuming that is alright with you."

[Stargaizer]

Nathan nodded his agreement at Dylan's plan. "Sounds good to me." He turned to Jules, "Sound good?"

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

"I don't care when you enter," Jules said easily. "All I care about is that when you do, you sit your ass in quarantine for the full twenty-four hours. Besides, the longer we have to observe you, the sooner we'll know if you're going to die."

She glanced at Nathan. "People can visit you in quarantine. Just don't unlock your cage if they go dead-head on ya." She turned to speak to the guards.

"Comforting," Dylan muttered.

A moment later she was back. "We have a semi cab for nabbing handy trailers. Dave there said he'd run it for you, if you'd prefer to do that. Assuming you pass quarantine."

[Stargaizer]

Nathan chuckled a little at Jules' and Dylan's comments. He looked approvingly at Dylan before answering Jules. "That sounds great. I remembered seeing a lot of people inside, so it would probably be best, for everybody, if I stayed like this... I'm sure we'll be able to find a way to pay you back for the fuel."

Then his lip quirked a little. "If anybody goes 'dead head' while I'm around, I'm not going to be the one that has to worry... they won't stand a chance, for my safety and the safety of the refuge." Then he took a half a step forward, very casually, trying to not rouse her guards. "I'm ready to get started. Lead the way."

[Dylan Harvey]

Dylan just turned and started walking back to the trailer at that point. He wondered if all the woman there were going to be that cold. When he got in side the trailer the transmitter was already beeping. Quickly getting in his chair he established a connection to the satellite. Just a communication satellite. His first try as always was to attempt to hack in to its navigation and control. As always he failed. Ever since the day this all started he had gotten a lot better at analyzing systems. As he focused on this one he came back to the same weakness and openings that he had been trying from the start. Only now his programs were gone.

This was getting frustrating. It didn't help he was still thinking about the first woman he had met since everyone had died and how she had seemed to look at him as if he was just a zombie in the making. He needed to focus on the damn signal while he still had it. Using the satellite he connected to the forum he used to communicate with the only other computer geek it seemed had survived. Seeing no new messages for him he pulled up a new one.

To Deadeye, from Jammer:

I am starting to get suspicious someone else is messing with these satellites. Every time I leave a program in there to take over it is gone by the time I get back in. Need to know if you have had contact with anyone else. Also if you have any ideas? I don't think this guy is better than me but he seems to have good knowledge of the system and I can't hide anything from him. Still thinking I just need to get the codes from the source. Starting to think Cheyenne bunker may be a better goal then the pentagon. Only a small town near by, wouldn't be that many zombies. Nathan and I could probably get in and out.

Interesting happening today. We found people. Looks like a good sized group possibly. Said they had some kind of refuge. They want us to go through quarantine before they let us in proper so I wont get any more attempts today. Will give you longitude and latitude as soon as I have it. Still don't think you have given me your position.

I will keep the connection up as long as I can. Hopefully you will get a window soon. Generator is coming along fine. Should be ready to turn it on and start testing and data collecting in less than a month.

Dylan leaned back and thought. If he could just get control of the satellites he could connect the entire network in orbit and get the near constant connection he needed. While he waited he quickly started programming a new code in to the satellite. Nothing fancy, he had a new idea. The next time anyone went in to change or remove the program they would get a simple message.

Who is this? Maybe we can work together.

Once he was done he just waited.

[Venus]

Myf and Dr. Singh were too busy with the women from Paradise and they could barely afford to leave the Hospital to check on any newcomers in quarantine. Once the news reached the hospital Violet volunteered to check on them promising to be back as fast as she could. Myf only reluctantly let her go since every personell with medical training would be sorely missed.

Two guards led her to the quarantine area and the tall seductress thanked them for taking care of her. Things had been a bit crazy since the raid and without Fox's men it would have been even worse. A smile and some kind words went a long way with them, especially during time of stress.

Her eyes searched for any familiar faces and found Jules standing near the quarantine area. Carefully she came closer concentrating on her task to examine the newcomers which in her case meant to ask some basic questions about their travels and any odd encounters they had and see if they needed any medical treatment beyond the obvious bite marks - but in that case they wouldn't pass quarantine.

"Hey Jules - I heard about newcomers and I volunteered to check on them. I wouldn't mind if you stayed here for the moment until I'm done.", she gave Jules a small knowing wink while she tried to see who the newcomers were.

Click to reveal..

this is what she is wearing at the moment. The hood rests on the bow of her head thus revealing her face but it can be quickly pulled deeper if she wants/needs to

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

"Go on and see to them," Jules said softly. "I'm sure that Nathan here is fine. Dylan, who'll be along later, could be infected. Nathan's... not. But everyone does the quarantine."

She shifted a little, then said, "Do you need me to stay? I have other stuff to do." Jules had become much less outgoing since Paradise; this was just one more sign that she was drawing into herself.

[Stargaizer]

Nathan followed Jules to her vehicle, and then to quarantine with absolutely no resistance. In fact, he almost seemed... happy? It had the possibility to be disconcerting or even creepy, if any of his riding companions were easily given to those feelings. Of course, in reality, it was only because he was so enthused to be around a group of people, that he couldn't wait to get to meet them.

Once in the quarantine building, Nathan found himself a bench and laid down. Pictures of how he could integrate himself into this group played through his head. He imagined being the dragon protector of this city, having them all look up to him and him giving them his protection.

It was all a fairy tale, and somewhere deep down inside he knew it, but a second woman's voice brought him back before he could fully realize that fact.

Nathan stood up off of his bench and tried to get to where he could see this new person, and introduce himself. A simple "Hello, my name is Nathan." Was probably all he'd be able to get out before being interrupted by someone or by the sight before him.

Now, being part dragon did a lot to help shield him from the lustful thoughts and desires of his human side... but when he was in human form; let's just say he wasn't nearly as shielded as he was when he was Draygo (besides, Draygo didn't have anything to do anything with... so how could he possibly be tempted? Nathan on the other hand...).

[Venus]

Originally Posted By: Jules WhiteElk

"Go on and see to them," Jules said softly. "I'm sure that Nathan here is fine. Dylan, who'll be along later, could be infected. Nathan's... not. But everyone does the quarantine."

Violet nodded at Jules returning a warm smile. She almost wanted to ask her if she was ok but that would have to wait for a more appropriate moment. Jules was busy as usual and Violet was glad to help her whenever she could.

Originally Posted By: Jules WhiteElk

She shifted a little, then said, "Do you need me to stay? I have other stuff to do." Jules had become much less outgoing since Paradise; this was just one more sign that she was drawing into herself.

"I'm going to be fine, thanks Jules. Just leave one of the guards nearby - you know, just in case.", Violet felt compelled to reach out for Jules and place a comforting hand on her shoulder but Jules had already made a step out of reach. Sighing she watched the woman she so much wanted to be friends with leave sensing the increasing seclusion she was forcing on herself. The raid on Paradise didn't do her any good...

Originally Posted By: Stargaizer

Nathan stood up off of his bench and tried to get to where he could see this new person, and introduce himself. A simple "Hello, my name is Nathan." Was probably all he'd be able to get out before being interrupted by someone or by the sight before him.

Nathan is going to be fine and the other guy might be infected..., Violet let that thought focus her back on her task - ask the newcomers to gather some information.

The inhumanly beautiful seductress dressed in what could only be described as a medieval robe with intricate stitchings and laces accentuating her impossibly curvy figure stepped within in sight of Nathan. Her long silken auburn hair glittered faintly in the diffuse lighting of the quarantine area. Of course her most prominent features were the first eyecatcher since the bodice's cup barely contained them revealing a very generous cleavage of the largest breasts Nathan has possibly seen alive.

The man named Nathan stood up off his bench and introduced himself politely and Violet smiled at him flashing briefly her perfectly white teeth.

"Hello Nathan, my name is Violet. Welcome to Fox's Refuge. I'm a nurse of the community's hospital and would like to ask you some questions if you don't mind? Just standard procedure to ensure the safety of the souls living here and prevent any infection with the Zombievirus... or other diseases like cholera for example.", Violet did her best to appear as friendly and trustable as she possibly could. Not every man would fall for the obvious 'sexy routine' of hers but fortunately that wasn't her only 'skill' to get what she wanted to know.

Click to reveal..

Charisma+Rapport to establish a friendly...tsopen(7,10)=5) that makes 5 Suxx or 4 vs. baselines because of her social penalty

[Stargaizer]

Nathan was very agreeable, and Violet could tell that it wasn't her 'sexy routine'. He did have some trouble keeping his eyes on her face, but more often than not she could tell he was taking in her outfit rather than anything else. His tone was chipper and even. "Hello Violet. Thank you for the welcome, and it's nice to see you." He started walking back over to his bench in such a way that it was obvious he was wanting her to follow him. (and if she didn't, or started in another way he'd stop or follow her) "That's a pretty unique outfit you have there. Looks very medieval." He chuckled and grinned. "That's actually somewhat ironic." His gaze was somewhat distant, as his thoughts drifted through the stories of dragons and maidens. Usually the dragon abducted them, for one nefarious purpose or another, but sometimes, rarely, the dragon was their benevolent protector.

His attention returned quickly, and he simply said, "So, whaddya need to know?"

[Venus]

He seems to be a genuinely nice fella, Violet followed him keeping some distance though. His mentioning of her outfit made her smile and she nodded to him. "Yes, a friend of mine who used to be in re-enactment tailored it for me. I have rather unique measurements and thus required an outfit that was both comfortable and... flattering.", her unnatural purple eyes started to glow with an unreal intensity.

She was really the spitting image of a medieval witch or sorceress if one knew the lore and her hair and eyes did a lot to emphasis that assumption. "First of all - do you have any ill intentions towards this community? Any bad will that would harm the people living here?", her smile was still friendly but there was an eerie intensity to her voice and glow of her eyes. Supernatural...

Click to reveal..

Empathic Manipulation+Perception to dete...tsopen(7,10)=3) 3 suxx, no quantum cost because of RQC Extra

[Dawn OOC]

Dylan's computer pinged, and he grinned as he got a message. It was from his mysterious contact - not that 'Jammer' had been all that forthcoming about personal stuff either.

To Jammer, from Deadeye

Yeah, I think you’re dealing with someone who has access to the actual satellite mainframe. I’ve had the same issues myself. Have you tried locking out changes? That’ll show you if someone is doing an administrative override.

Found more people? That’s awesome. I’m in Cali, in Silicon Valley. It’s just me and the other guy who was on the night shift. Are their girls? Please tell me you found girls (or are one). I’m so ready for a set of tits that aren’t on my computer screen.

Let me know about the results of your generator. Keenly interested in that. Stay in touch.

[Dylan Harvey]

Dylan read through the message a couple times. His window was closing fast. He already was suspicious that the person on the other side had full access. That meant they had to be someone of authority. He went through the list of people that would have that. They would be people who answered directly to five star generals and such. Even to the joint chiefs. What most people knew from movies was that the president had a bunker. Cheyenne mountain in Colorado. He considered that the zombie attack had enough warning to get the president to that bunker. Could the top end of the executive government still be alive?

To Deadeye, from Jammer

Haven't been in the refuge yet. They require a 24 hour quarantine. Will be going through it after this window closes. As to girls I have found one. She is the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I will get a picture of her and put it up for you. Sadly her personality could be equated to windows 2000. Generally broken and not caring at all about you.

As soon as I have a working prototype will have the blueprints up for the generator. If you guys are so small maybe if this refuge things plays out we could work out coming to get you. I am working on some things that it would be nice to have some help on.

With that Dylan shut down all the electronics. Grabbing up his PSP he scanned his game selections. He needed something to keep him self entertained for most of a day. He picked up some adventure game and a zombie game and pocketed them. He looked around the trailer one last time. Everything was shut down and secured. Grabbing a soda out of the fridge he headed out for the refuge. When he arrived he waved to the guards and told them he was there to go through quarantine.

[Stargaizer]

"Hmm, that's interesting," Nathan replied with a smirk to Violet's comment about her outfit. He wasn't extremely fluent with lots of tales of ole, just the ones that had to deal with dragons. There were quite a few that had interactions with wizards/warlocks and sorceress/witches; though her particular outfit didn't ring any bells.

To her second question, he actually looked a bit taken aback. It completely caught him by surprise, and it took him just a little bit to recover. "Uh... no. I... well, I guess there might be some that see this place as an affront to them or their power. So I guess it's a logical question, just not one that I thought I'd hear. But, no, I harbor any ill intentions or bad will for the people here; in fact, I really want to help. You see, before all of this," And he motioned around, "I was a foreman for a construction company as well as a master electrician. I'm pretty sure that I saw some construction from the air, and with this many people, electricity could be a major problem... that is if you have any."

Nathan paused for a heartbeat, deciding how to word what he next said. "Plus... If you ever need any protection, I can be pretty... intimidating. I'm sure that our friend Ms. WhiteElk told you about my other form. If you'd like, I can show it to you. But, I do have to warn you, he's not very... he's very out of the ordinary." He was a bundle of mixed emotions as he waited for Violet to respond. It wasn't that he didn't want to show her, he did, he just didn't want the negative reaction that always went with it.

He hadn't seen all that many people besides Dylan since that day, mostly scavengers looking for stuff the same places that he was. However, every single time that they'd seen Draygo first, they shot first and asked questions later. The couple of times that he'd been flying and had a chance to land and change, when he met them, and told him that 'there wasn't anything to worry about, he was that thing they saw flying'... well, let's just say that it was a good thing he was next to cover.

Violet didn't look like she was armed, but he had no idea what she could do. What Jules had said gave him some measure of hope, but past experiences were a hard thing to move past.

[Venus]

Click to reveal..

I'm assuming Nathan wasn't lying

Originally Posted By: Stargaizer

To her second question, he actually looked a bit taken aback. It completely caught him by surprise, and it took him just a little bit to recover. "Uh... no. I... well, I guess there might be some that see this place as an affront to them or their power. So I guess it's a logical question, just not one that I thought I'd hear. But, no, I harbor any ill intentions or bad will for the people here; in fact, I really want to help. You see, before all of this," And he motioned around, "I was a foreman for a construction company as well as a master electrician. I'm pretty sure that I saw some construction from the air, and with this many people, electricity could be a major problem... that is if you have any."

Nathan paused for a heartbeat, deciding how to word what he next said. "Plus... If you ever need any protection, I can be pretty... intimidating. I'm sure that our friend Ms. WhiteElk told you about my other form. If you'd like, I can show it to you. But, I do have to warn you, he's not very... he's very out of the ordinary." He was a bundle of mixed emotions as he waited for Violet to respond. It wasn't that he didn't want to show her, he did, he just didn't want the negative reaction that always went with it.

Nathan's reaction was authentic and believable and Violet quietly nodded to herself and apologized, "I'm sorry for this straight question but we've recently encountered quiet a few hostile... individuals who obviously think if it's the end of the world they can have things their way which usually means death and destruction. I trust in your words and see no reason to not believe you.", the glow in her eyes got slightly dimmer but it still had a magical intensity to it.

"Now for your offer of protection - I'm sure Captain Fox appreciates any genuine help to increase the safety of the people living here.", she hesitated briefly before she worded her next question.

"You're one of the awakened? Some people call them Supers around here.", her voice was pitched with curiousity. "Indulge me."

There was no doubt that she must've been one of the Awakened or Supers. No woman he's ever seen could be compared to her, not even in his wildest fantasies.

Click to reveal..

Her Empathic Scan is still active for the entire scene - remember to give me a hint if his words contradict his emotional state or if he starts to hide something from her. Thank you

[Stargaizer]

Nathan nodded at both her explanation and comment about Fox, but quirked an eyebrow at her last sentence. Awakened, Supers? I just used some variation of 'special'... Violet could tell that he was hesitant, both because of what she said and what she had asked. But, he stood up and took a step back, motioning for her to stay seated. He looked all around himself, including up. He was judging the distances, to see if he had enough room to change without destroying anything, but didn't let on. It probably looked like he was looking for cameras or other observers.

After a few seconds of looking around, and apparently satisfied with what he found or didn't find, Nathan's entire posture and demeanor changed. He took a wider stance, and was filled with a sense of calm, washing away everything else that he was feeling. He pushed his shoulders out to the side, and ended up assuming a slight variation of the horse stance (he didn't bend his knees). His head was down and his eyes were closed. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Then, when he took in another slow, deep breath, everything changed. He grew about half a foot above his already impressive height (from 6'7" to 7'2"). He also greatly incresed his girth, putting on several hundred pounds of pure musscle within the span of a few seconds. Supprisingly enough, though, his pants and shirt grew with him, not stretching or tearing at all; however that wasn't nearly as interesting a fact as the rest of his transformation. His mouth and nose grew out, fusing together into a snout, and all over his skin grew brown scales that were flaked with gold. His legs, which had been straight before bent backwords at the knee, and his foot turned into one that had tree large taloned toes. His hands remained relatively unchanged, except for bulking up, and his fingernails turned into talons as well. And, lastly, he sprouted a pair of large, leathery wings out of his back.

His outward transformation wasn't the only one. Inside, his calmness was burned away in a fury that was unlike any Violet had ever sensed. The fury was quickly replaced by elation, and then by an assurance. But the emotions were innately different from the ones she had sensed from Nathan, somehow... purer, crisper, brighter, less muddled. But, she could still sense, somewhere, the faint little calm sea that had been Nathan. He was still somewhere inside what had transformed into an entirely different creature.

The transformation complete, Draygo looked down at where Violet was sitting, letting out the breath he had inhaled during the transformation, and showing her a mouth filled with gleaming razor sharp teeth. He opened his eyes, and what had once been bright blue and human, was now a stunning golden with a virtical reptilian slit. His voice, naturally, had changed as well. It was deep and gravelly, so deep that Violet could physically feel it as well as hear it when he spoke. Draygo's first words in the Refuge were, "This is it. What do you think?"

[Venus]

Amazing!, Violet's reaction to Nathan's transformation wasn't fear or rejective. It was quite the opposite, her curiousity increased manifold and his huge size appealed to her in many ways as much as did his bulky and muscular form.

"You are a Dragon.", she stated the obvious with a hint of admiration in her voice.

"This is truly amazing... may I?", she made a hesitant step forward reaching out with one hand wanting to touch his scaly hide. Her eyes flickered with purple intensity as her smile grew wider and wider in elation of this revelation. A Dragon! A real life Dragon - still a bit small but it's a start. Maybe he'll change more over time or maybe this is just an interim shape because there's not enough room for his true form.

[Stargaizer]

Draygo held out an arm for her to touch. His surprise was evident in his emotions, though not a bit of it touched his reptilian face. His voice, when he spoke, held pride. "Yes, I am a dragon. Maybe the first real, living dragon that the world has ever seen, or perhaps the last in a long and glorious line that died out with the knights and their quests. There may bee others, out there, somewhere, sleeping or still in hiding. I know not. All I know is that from the first moment that Nathan learned of their grace and power he was enraptured with them. When that day happened...

...I came. We fought our way free, and we've been surviving, alone, until we found Dylan on one of our raids. We brought him along, but the company of one isn't enough for that which is still human. Now we are here. We wish to stay, and help.

Though many thought so, not all dragons were evil." Draygo let his last sentence hang in the air as Violet reveled in the touch of his scales. They were hard and resilient, yet they moved under her touch. But, the most interesting part, was that they were warm, near human body temperature warm.

After a few moments of her fawning, Draygo spoke again. "You said you were a nurse. Do you need to perform an examination of this form as well; for the safety of the Refuge? Or would further questions suffice?"

[Venus]

Her hands gently stroked over Draygo's scaled arm delighted by their warmth yet reptilian quality. She barely heard his words, they were registering somewhere in her subconscious mind while her further most thoughts circled around the amazing discovery that Nathan - or now Draygo - was.

Violet's eyes couldn't let go from Draygo's beautiful scales, "I never thought of Dragons being evil. I see your arrival as a good sign, Draygo."

Wandering further up to see his face Draygo could see the glow of Violet's inhumanly beautful purple eyes intensify. He could see the admiration she had for this form and that she was almost delighted by his revelation.

"As far as an examination goes I assume that you're immune to the Z-Virus as all Awakened are. Still you have to stay in quarantine just like everybody else, so are the rules of this community... you should better change back until the quarantine is over.", she reluctantly added.

"But I would be delighted if we could meet in private once you've been accepted to the community. I would really like to hear your story.", Violet stepped back to grant him some room for his change and waited patiently. She wasn't quiet finished with her questions yet, though.

[Stargaizer]

This might have been something that hadn't happened to Violet before, or it might not have been. Either way, it was more than likely something that she wasn't used to. As she fawned over Draygo, as their eyes met, nowhere inside Draygo was there any hint of lust. She didn't even feel any attraction, just wonder and amazement; there was also, off to the side, that original feeling of assurance/self-confidence. They weren't mixed, they were just all present.

At Violet's insistence that he change back, there was a sadness inside him. Both in Draygo and the small little part that was still Nathan. But, once she finished, he simply nodded his head once and said, "As you wish..." He was so close to adding m'lady to the end of the sentence, that it seemed as if he wasn't finished speaking.

Besides being a foreman or a student, they didn't really have any idea of how to organize themselves into society. Not to mention that this wasn't normal society. He didn't really see himself as a 'citizen' of the Refuge (and not just because he wasn't allowed out of quarantine yet). He saw himself more as a knight or more specifically the dragon protector of the city. Held to a higher standard and charged with the protection of this fledgling city. In either role, depending on what Violet's actual station was within the Refuge, m'lady would have been an appropriate title. But, even with the garb that she was wearing, he was fairly certain that the residents of the Refuge were looking more to an American instead of a medieval idea of social structure.

Draygo didn't move, as he was still in the spot that he'd originally transformed in, and waited until Violet stepped back. Once she was away, he looked up at the ceiling and took a very deep breath. He closed his eyes and... deflated.

By the time the breath was released, he was back to Nathan. Nathan was a big man, relative to most men, but after having seen Draygo, Nathan still looked down right scrawny. One thing that was a bit more interesting after this transformation than the last was that his clothes fit Nathan now just as well as they had fit Draygo just moments before.

Nathan opened his eyes, and Violet could sense inside him and see in his eyes the great feeling of loss that accompanied the transformation from Draygo. It lasted until he made his way back to the bench where they had been talking before, where it faded. Deep down inside Nathan was a tiny spot of dragon's fury, just as deep down inside the dragon had been a tiny spot of Nathan's calm.

In this form Violet could sense some attraction, both physical and otherwise. However, when he spoke, his voice only betrayed the admiration and wonder that he held for her. "You're the first person to not run screaming away at the sight of Draygo. In fact, you had as strong a positive reaction towards him as most have a negative reaction. And I understand that we have to stay; as I told Ms. WhiteElk, I don't want to break procedure. I actually want to stay here, for a while, and that means learning and abiding by the rules and laws of this place.

If you have more questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them, or if you don't, and you have time, I could go ahead and tell you my story now. There's no need for us to arrange another time to get together just for me to tell you my story. That is, unless you were just using that as an excuse to see us again..." He left the sentence hanging. There might have been a little anticipation in him, but if there were, he hid it well.

[Venus]

Click to reveal..

OOC: In case you want Nathan's/Draygo's emotions to be hidden from her then tell me and I reroll my EM-Scan vs. your MDV. Or if there's something coming up that he'd rather have a reason to hide add in your post that he tries to resist. I'll add a roll afterwards vs. your MDV just to make sure, ok?

Violet's admiration for Draygo was obvious and she shared some of the sadness Nathan felt when he changed back. It reminded her very much of her own dual nature although Nathan was very much more in peace with his dual nature than she was. If Violet ever found a way to never have to change back again she would immediately make use of it.

"You will learn that I'm different in many ways, Nathan. I think we have far more in common than you assume. Anyway, I thank you for your cooperation. As much as your words sound honorable and sincere I have to apologize in advance for the next questions I will ask. I mean in no way to offend you but it's necessary to have these answered for the sake of this community.", she smiled at Nathan politely not playing out the sexy card although her bodylanguage constantly implied a sexual undercurrent. It was nigh impossible in her dress to not offer some kind of sexual implication, her body was simply too outrageously volouptous and she simply represented everyman's wet dream, no matter what a man preferred in a woman - Violet had it.

Waiting for Nathan's nod to proceed with her questions she sat down next to him and took a deep breath gathering her thoughts. "You we're talking about 'we' wheen you had changed to Drago. Was that referring to Nathan or to someone else? What I'm asking is, are you travelling alone or are you part of a convoy or larger group. Maybe a scout?"

Click to reveal..

EM-Scan and spending one WP for an extra Suxx (5d10.hitsopen(7,10)=1) that's 2 suxx should you decide to hide your emotions from her. I suppose I won't beat your MDV so keep those emotions hidden that you don't want to share/reveal

[Stargaizer]

Nathan shook his head slowly at Violet's question, not hiding anything. "No, I'm not a scout for any larger group. It's simply Dylan and myself. Ms. WhiteElk spoke with us both outside the Refuge," Nathan looked around to try and see a window. "In fact, it should be time for him to be on his way. Is there any way that someone could go out to get him, or alert the guards at the gate to be expecting him... if they aren't already? The last thing I want to have happen is the first human that I've met since... to die because of a mistaken identity."

In all he said, he hid nothing. In fact, he was genuinely concerned for Dylan's continued survival; and if she wanted, Violet could surmise that they were very close friends by his level of concern.

"But that's it, just the two of us... and our trailer. I... Draygo carries around a semi-truck trailer; Dylan rides in it, and it's got all of our stuff," Nathan quickly added.

[Venus]

The buxom succubus in the witch's dress nodded at Nathan giving him another of her dazzling smiles.

"So Dylan is a good friend of yours and you travel alone. Have you found any other human settlements on your journey? Anything within reasonable range?", she was assuming they didn't but she asked anyway.

"And that friend of yours, is he awakened, too?", there was no hint of distrust in her voice and it sounded as if she was genuinely interested in him and his friend. There was a lot of flirtation in her bodylanguage though or maybe the way she was 'built' didn't give her much choice to move in erotic and enticing ways.

[Dylan Harvey]

As Dylan was lead in to the area he was not looking at anyone. Instead his eyes were on the walls. He kept looking at the cameras curiously.

"Well big guy if they have power they either don't have enough or not enough production to be running everything. Security systems are not on but the only problem I can see is lack of power. I suppose if they were turned on their might be other problems but I can't find them until that one goes away.

If their problem is just power then we might be able to do a lot for these people. My generator could use a place like this to really test out its capabilities. They also might have the parts I need to start building more but if not we could raid a few best buys and I might be able to get enough to build a dozen.

How has it been so far? They treating you ok?"

In a way that only a teenager could do he rattled it all off without ever looking down.

[Stargaizer]

To Violet he simply shook his head. "Nothing besides wandering vagabonds. And Dylan..." It was at precisely that moment that Dylan walked in, talking about the electric grid of the Refuge.

"Hey Dylan, we were just talking about you. Yeah they're treating me nice. Hey, you remember seeing any sizable settlements anywhere close to here?" Nathan paused a moment, honestly, before he realized the futility of his question. "Of course you haven't, you're always in the trailer. Uh... hey, does that IR satellite still work?"