The cast:
- Switchblade (Maestro D'): acrobatic woman in a fool's motley who lead a traveling show called the Carnival. She is handy with a knife. She is unnerved by her visions of her "Mother" and the new passenger with a claim to her adoptive sister Hiccup: Max. She's bought into the cult and its disturbing visions for now.
- Max (Gunlugger): a brutal woman who crash landed on the planet Everette. She is haunted by her past and thinks of herself as a reaver. She has joined the Carnival to be close to her little sister Hiccup.
- Ekaterina "Katya" Mikhailova Petrova (Tribal): for generations Ekaterina's people have lived on Everette, adapting themselves to its strange psychic jungles. But the environment grew too hostile. Ekaterina led her people to a place of safety, following the visions her father sees in the maelstrom. That place is the Carnival.
- Pipeline (Battlebabe): a golden-haired amazon, Pipeline is the head engineer of the Carnival. She had a crush on Manfred but that, like him, is in the past.
Family Rifts, Part 2
We pick up right after Nestor has been stabbed and Switch has called a meeting.
Switch's announcement resounded in Max's bunkroom. She tried the door. It refused to yield.
Max stepped back and considered her options. The lock suddenly turned and Chainsaw opened the door.
"Come with me," he said, stepping aside.
She exited her room. Chainsaw's fist came out of nowhere. It crashed into her nose, leaving her reeling.
The towering carnie dragged her along as she tried to hold her broken nose.
The crowd filled the center ring of the hangar bay. The Baikal rubbed shoulders with the crew while the freaks and other disciples of the Beast with Two Heads stood together on one side.
Switch walked along the edge of the ring. "Where's Red Shirt?"
"With Nestor I think," Daily replied.
"Okay then let's get started. Algor give me your gun." As Switch took his pistol, she said, "now bring out the Beast."
The misshapen man hurried to the Den. In the center of the ring, Max shook her head, dispelling some of the stars in her vision.
"What's going on?' she asked.
Katya stood near her. "Nestor was shot. Switch called a gathering. I fear there was a conflict with or between my people as well."
Max stood up and swayed for a moment. "Just great."
Algor returned, gently leading the deformed goat into the ring. Switch motioned the crowd to make space. The crowd formed a ring with people pushing forward to get a glimpse.
A shot rang out and one of the Beast's head burst like a overripe melon.
The inhabitants of the Carnival turned their attention to the captain. Switch took careful aim and shot the Beast in the other head with the pistol.
"Ending" that threat.
The silence suddenly filled with shouts and accusations. Cries of freak and demon worshipper mixed with shouts about prejudice and neglect.
"Everyone shut up!" Switch screamed over the din. "Good, now I want no violence. Talk out your issues. That thing is dead. The cult is dead. We are just family now."
I believe we allowed Manipulate a Person to work here. I'm still not sure if that is the right call.
"I don't see how you can call us family," Chainsaw growls. "You killed it. It meant no harm. It was defenseless."
Algor reached up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Let it go, Chainsaw. You know he is right Switch. We can't stay after this. We freaks have a mission. We must spread the word of the Beast. We will leave the Carnival at Megaton."
Max shrugged off Chainsaw's meaty grip. She stomped away as Algor continued to preach.
"Where are you heading?" Katya asked.
"Someone is hurt right? I'm going to patch up Nestor."
Katya turned to the carcass on the ground. In the half closed blue eyes, the hunter sensed a power still present.
Katya opens her brain.
"Switch, the Beast. It still has power."
Switch waved her hand at the freaks gathering around the dead goat. "Everybody stay clear."
The acrobat grabbed the small broken thing and carried it to the airlock.
"There is no need for that," Algor said.
"It is dead. It goes." She slammed the door closed and cycled open the outer door.
"Stay with me," Redshirt said pressing his lucky shirt to Nestor's wound.
Max tromped onto the bridge. "Good work, Richard. Now out of the way. "
She pulled out her medkit and began sealing the knife wound on Nestor's chest.
"Can you save him," Hiccup said from the edge of the bridge.
"Maybe. With some help."
Her sister rushed over.
"Hold this pouch," Max said. "If he starts bleeding again, empty the dust inside over the wound. I'm going to seal it."
Hiccup eventually became Katya's player's second PC (a Solace). I'm not a 100% sure but I think this might be one of her early scenes.
I think Hiccup helped Max and thus Max was able to save Nestor.
After a couple of minutes work with the polymer pen, Max got up. "He'll live for now. Hiccup and Redshirt keep an eye on him. I'll let Switch know."
Max found Switch outside her cabin. "Nestor is stable."
"He's okay?" Switch asked.
"He'll live. He needs time to heal properly."
"I guess I was wrong about you."
Max meets eyes with Switch. "Maybe I'm a danger but so are you. We are both devils Switchblade. We need to accept that."
"I don't really get you. But you saved Nestor and you haven't killed anyone. I'll let Belter know that you can have your stuff back."
The Carnival traversed the debris field surrounding Megaton. Inside Katya approached her brother up in the rafters of the ship.
"Ilya, I'm glad to see you back home."
Her brother focused on the small figures far below. "I guess."
"I wondered. Why did you want to join Grigori?"
Read a person.
"Why would I want to stay here?" He pointed down. "I want to be there were the people are."
"How can I convince you that this is where you should be?"
"Why don't you talk to Grigori? If he agrees then I'll stay."
"I will do so." She paused before turning away. "I am glad you are well."
Katya approached the encampment on the edge of the hangar bay. Grigori and warriors laughed around a small open fire. Katya scowled. Sophia was with him. The hunter paused and considered returning home.
"Katya!" Grigori called.
"Grigori," she answered continuing to approach.
"What do you want?" he said.
Sophia frowned at him.
"I've come to see if you will return to the tribe after your folly," Katya said.
"Folly? The Beast revealed many secrets to me."
"Are these useful secrets or idle gossip?"
The onlookers began to laugh but Grigori silenced them with a look. "It showed me ways to manipulate the void." He laughed. "Perhaps I will be a shaman one day."
"Perhaps. You haven't answered me. Will you return to the tribe?"
"You just want your little brother to come home. Ha. He has more spirit than you."
Sophia laughed. "Go back to your perch little bird."
"Quiet skirr-ling," Katya hissed at Sophia. "Girgori what would it take for you to return?"
Grigori pondered the question for a moment. "I will return if you marry me."
Sophia pushed him and stomped off.
"Fine," Katya said. "But you need to show me your new power. We will take a spirit journey together."
Manipulate a person?
"Agreed."
Switch stood on the bridge. A small armed shuttle led them through the exterior wreckage cloaking Megaton.
"You are cleared to dock," their escort radioed.
Daily guided the ship into their berth. The clamps gripped the ships hull with a clang. The monitors and lights flickered briefly as the Carnival's systems slaved to Megaton.
"You'd think we get more of a red carpet," Daily said.
Switch turned Daily. "Tell our people and Katya's to be ready for a full inspection. I don't want them finding any undeclared weapons. I'll tell Max."
As the last of militia left the Carnival, Switch led Daily and Pipeline out the main hangar bay. Max and Katya joined them on the way out.
Max noted the heavy suitcase in Pipeline's hands. "What's that?"
"Nothing important," Switch said. "Just returning something to Bluejay. What are you doing?"
"I thought I would look for work. Katya?"
The hunter stood still taking in the expanse both human and mechanical of Megaton. She snapped to attention. "I need to get materials for my wedding."
"What?" Max and the others said.
"I am marrying Grigori," she said before hurrying off. She chose not explain further or share what Megaton appear to be in her mind's eye: a jungle of predators hunting each other.
She opens her brain.
Switch entered Bluejay's office. Instead of the ruler of Megaton, Bug sat behind the desk.
"Where's Bluejay?" Switch demanded.
The balding man leaned back in the chair. "He has other things to do. I'm in charge while he is away."
"I want to conclude my business with Bluejay."
"You delivered the red suitcase and you have the green one. What else do you want?"
"I'm returning the payment to get Bluejay off my back for good."
Bug nodded. "Bluejay told me. Hand it over, I'll check."
Pipeline put the suitcase on the desk. Bug popped it open revealing luxury goods and Golden age artifacts.
"There we are done," Switch said.
"No we are not," Bug said, scanning a hand written note.
"What!? It's all there. No one has even opened it since Bluejay gave it to me."
"There is a digital music player missing. So you haven't brought it all back. So you still owe Buejay. So your arrangement stands."
"You're lying!" Switch moved into Bug's space. "There was never a digital music player. You or Bluejay made that up! You tear up our contract and let us go!"
I think Switch tried to Manipulate or Go Aggro on Bug but she really doesn't have the leverage. Someone (cough Mice) stole it.
Two thugs burst into the room.
"I think you should leave," Bug said.
Pipeline put a hand on Switch's shoulder. "Let's go."
Switch whirled around and stormed out.
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