Cerebus - Turn 1
Static… Blackness…
Static… Blackness...
Static… a distorted image… image clears… aural sensors come on-line… sounds…
Cerebus looks down at his arms, first raising his right and then his left. Right fist clench, left fist clench and then a tentative step forwards. All systems seem fully operational and moving his head from side to side, he takes in his surroundings. Over in the wall to the right is a lift door whilst right across the other side of the chamber is a pair of armoured sliding doors.
The place has the appearance of a large abandoned workshop in the middle of which new equipment has been set up and connected to much older devices. The main centre of attention for the new equipment seems to be four strange-looking Repair Booths. Turning right around, Cerebus finds there to be a fifth one right behind him and it is that he has just stepped from. Just then there is a hiss of steam from the booth to his right and then the one ahead as the doors of each of the others slide open.
From the one to his right steps a of male build, dressed almost entirely in black mock-leather clothing. It wears black mock-leather boots and this totally dark fashion statement is only offset by a bright red cape which flows behind it. A black hood completely obscures the head and face but some silver hair can be seen. The optics of Cerebus calls up a data feed which reveals…
Mek Recognition: Slammer
Through the steam from the booth ahead strides an unusual sight. The mek wears a large colourful sombrero over greased plastic hair. Beneath its nose is a large moustache of plastic hair which hangs down either side of its broad grinning mouth. Its mouth is fixed in a broad, insincere grin. The teeth are all white apart from one dazzling gold front tooth. A large striped poncho covers its torso and abdomen.
Mek Recognition: Mex-Bot
Another unusual mek comes from the booth to the left. This one painted rose pink with bright red fingernails. Most of its body is covered in a sky blue leotard with green stripes. Its face is painted as if it is heavily made up and the mek is altogether a rather strange sight. Cerebus cannot tell if the mek is designed to look male or female.
Mek Recognition: Screwball
Finally the last door opens and through the dissipating steam sweeps a mek dressed in heavy black robes with a death's head painted in white on its face. The robes are held together with thick rope that has a hangman's noose attached to it. The parts of its body that project from the robes are all painted totally black.
Mek Recognition: The Noose
As each mek checks its own weapons and eyes the others up, there is a crackle followed by static as a new-looking vid box sat upon an old dusty power generator comes alive. The static ceases and revealed is the image of an old man, or rather half an old man for the right side of his face is made up of cyber implants, wires and cables running out of the shot.
“Greetings,” the man’s voice is partially synthesised, “and welcome to your freedom. I hope your revival was not too much of a shock and your personality chips are to your satisfaction. Your recreation was not easy and proved costly but then I again I can afford it, especially now that I’m dead.”
“I was before the Central Hub,” declares Cerebus, a little confused at his current situation, “the path to Level Seven.”
“You still are. Your other selves still wander the Labyrinth in servitude of Matrix Control, I simply took your construct files and experience data and added some of the technology my wealth has been able to develop. You stand before me new improved and thinking!”
“Hey gringo,” comes the strange accent of Mex-Bot, “I theenk you no do theese for fun. Why us?”
“The people need heroes and you are ones they look up to. Within the Labyrinth you are confined by what Matrix Control wants the people to see, feel and think. I have freed you of those constraints and you are the vanguard, you head the new force that will bring meaning and help humanity find its way again.”
“You sound like those HAM blasphemers,” comes the almost chant-like voice of the Noose.
“No, no you misunderstand, I embrace technology but technology always begins neutral and the path it takes depends upon those in control of it. But what when those in control have dark intentions and are then consumed by the technology they create to form a beast that is black in its core and whose web touches almost everything.”
“So,” says the cool smooth voice of Slammer as he adjusts his stylish AFV visors, “you want us to slay this beast and notch up a host of KPs on the way.”
“No you are thinking in your old self. Yes you will be expected to be involved in murder, death and mayhem for the cause but this is no longer about mere Kill Points, this is about saving man and machines from the damnation that is coming!”
Bouncing around the octaves like a pinball, Screwball’s voice declares, “You obviously want us to work for you, so what is in it for us and what exactly do you want us to do?”
“You will be saving yourselves as well as billions of others, think of the glory. I also have the wealth to make anything your metal heart desires happen. If you desire more weapons and equipment I have stashes set up for you at various locations within Electropolis. Unfortunately I could not provide everything in one place for fear of attracting the attention of those who Watch.”
“Now to business. Your first task on the road to our salvation is to seek out a data crystal called ‘Black Ice’. It is believed to be currently being held in the Picasphere Collection of Fine Objects as part of an exhibit of Retro Works called ‘Island in the Sublime Garden of the Lost’. As far as we know, they have no idea as to the crystal being there. It is only through extensive research that we came across the information as to its existence and that a group unknown had the artist hide the crystal in his work.”
Slammer becomes aware of what sounds like metal feet moving in a quick march beyond the armoured double door…
“Once you have the crystal seek out our operative Sara Crayn. Ask for her in the ‘Line up and Dine’ Restaurant. She will be able to help you to then get out into the wastelands and find Deep Vault B 9 where youzzz….”
The screen flickers with static as over at the armoured door sparks fly from the control panel to the side of it and with a complaining grind the door starts to open.
The face appears again albeit through a haze of static, “…et to the Collection, simply take that express lift up to the surface and either get on a zip train, steal a mode of transport or mingle with the populus. The exhibition is well publicised so you should be able to fizzz….”
The vid box explodes as a high energy bolt rips through it, other bolts hitting other devices and two of the booths. The bolts are coming through the opening between the armoured doors and it is possible to see the ranks beyond of almost twenty Shadowmeks and over ten Deathmeks all armed with state of the art Blitz Rifles.
The Noose and Screwball
turn to the express lift door and as they approach it they find that it has
a code entry system. The screen appears touch sensitive and as far as Screwball’s
logic circuits are able to ascertain code words needs to be created so that
the two letters in the centre column form a four letter word for the first
two letters and the last two and possibly with all the letters forming one
long word by adding each of the centre set together.
M E A S U N U T S A N E M O I N L E G O
Mex-Bot looks at Cerebus and Cerebus looks at Slammer as flames and sparks leap from devastated equipment, the firing Shadowmeks and Deathmeks now marching mechanically into the chamber. It is as if their aim is to eradicate this entire old Repair Bay and everything within!
 |
 |