This is a bit of a departure from my usual MoFiction writing in terms of brevity; this is a short story featuring Georgia Stahlmansche that I wrote for an online creative writing class. I liked it enough that I wanted to present it here as well.
Hitting Where It Hurts
The woman jabbed her fists into the brown punching bag, each solid thudding sound echoing in the private gymnasium. The hazy light that streamed through the windows set high along the wall marked the time at being nearly sunset, which threw most hues in the gym in dusty old colors of tan and pale gold. The smell of honest sweat matched the glaze on her arms as she struck the bag again and again, sometimes aiming lower or higher for an imaginary gut or neck. The chain suspending the bag rattled and clinked, and her black workout shoes squeaked on the smooth wooden floor.
She herself seemed to be simultaneously in her element and out of her place in this setting. The sleeveless black savate uniform clung to her body like a second skin all the way down to her knees, where it hung loose down to her feet. She took a moment to wipe her freckled youthful face with the back of one glove. In the same gesture she brushed some of her apple red bangs back behind her ear. She looked like a well-developed teenage girl, but something in the way she swung her leg around in a sudden whirlwind kick showed experience belying her apparent age as the heavy punching bag jerked with the blow.
"Miss Stahlmansche, I am here to report on the Gerund and Tolbott acquisition."
Georgia Stahlmansche turned on her heel and looked over at the entrance, and her lip curled ever so slightly into a confident smirk that hinted at smugness. Exactly on time, as usual, Espadrille, she commented as she left the punching back to drift freely on the end of its chain to come over to the owner of the voice that had addressed her. Espadrille was another woman, but a good head taller than the more diminutive Georgia, and her hair and eyes were dark as ravens feathers. Espadrille stood waiting with a bottle of purified water held out in one hand while her other hand stayed respectfully behind her back, looking very dignified in her ultramarine womens business suit and skirt. Georgia took the offered bottle and drank from it shortly before she capped it and paid her full attention to Espadrille. "Now, report."
Espadrilles voice was strong but slightly bland as she spoke with methodical precision. "The company refused our initial bid and have made it clear they will not be bought out by Effective Cybertronics Unlimited. They offered instead a contract for a merger, intending to maintain their own product lines while benefiting from our research and development department. After they made their proposal, I told them I needed to consult you before we continued negotiations."
"Just as you were prepared to do. Superb." Georgia sipped from the water bottle again before she set it down onto the hardwood floor and walked back toward the punching bag.
"How should we react?" asked Espadrille patiently. "Gerund and Tolbott has on at least two separate occasions attempted industrial espionage on our facilities. They are blocking our attempt to take over their company with this merger contract. It is clear that they recognize our company has overall better technology and resources, and they would gladly take advantage of any deal that allows them access to our research and development division while allowing them to continue their product lines in competition with our own."
Georgia did not answer immediately as she reached the bag and held her hand up against it, that smirk firmly planted on her face. Then her pale green eyes turned to Espadrille with a glint of inspiration. "I will explain how we will react by way of rough analogy," she said, and she patted the heavy leather shell. "This punching bag is Gerund and Tolbott, and by extension human beings in general. It is sturdy and strong. Watch what happens when I tap this with my finger."
And she did as she said, tapping it loudly and with obvious effort. "See how it doesn't move except for the slightest amount? It's designed to handle far stronger blows, and it's much too dense for my finger by itself. Now see what happens when I hit it with my fist."
Georgias fist shot at the punching bag like a piston, pushing into the bulging bag's surface ever so briefly. She removed her fist a half-second later, and the bag resumed its normal shape, though the chain from which it hung jangled overhead. "Again, I had a temporary impact. But the punching bag is far stronger than that. It can take almost anything I myself can throw at it."
Her foot connected right in the middle of the bag, and she smashed into it with all the strength that her legs and arms provided, causing it to bend and shake and swing from its chain. Georgia stepped back, taking a few controlled breaths before she continued, her voice echoing in the still air. "So you see, it's a lot tougher than you might expect it to be. No matter how hard you hit it with conventional amounts of force, it will bounce back and, if you're not careful, it will strike you back."
Georgia stepped over to the red duffel bag that sat in a corner of the gym. "Humans, and by extension companies, are very durable and resistant. They are designed to be so. They have survived for as long as they have because they have that ability to bounce back. Hope can be a powerful motivator, and no matter how hard I punch that bag, it will not damage or remove that hope." She reached into the duffel and pulled out a smooth black revolver with modern edges, a cylinder attached to the tip of the barrel. "But no matter how well-designed they may be, there are some forces that not only penetrate them, but hit them hard and fast enough so as to erase that hope, to shatter all confidence and to leave them utterly demoralized. Now compare how much effort this takes."
She pointed the revolver at the punching bag, and her finger pulled the trigger. The gun's extended barrel flashed with only a minute flicker and the sound of the report was so restrained that it didn't even reach her own ears. A hole marked the entry point in the punching bags surface, smoking from the impact. In the next instant the bag bulged and exploded, scattering leather fragments and sand particles all over the gym with a party balloon bang.
Espadrille finally nodded, visually unmoved by the dramatic spectacle. "So we will strike them hard and directly enough that they will have to beg to allow us to acquire the remnants of their company."
"Exactly. Strike hard and fast, no mercy, no compromise, and hit them where it hurts." Georgia clicked the safety back on and stuffed the handgun back into her duffel, which she lifted up onto her shoulder as she walked to the exit. "Espadrille, I trust you to handle the assignment. Take a squad of five Armada units and show them how a real company performs industrial sabotage."
"Acknowledged, Miss Stahlmansche," responded Espadrille with a polite bow before she turned and walked out of the gymnasium.
Georgia Stahlmansches smirk turned into an outright grin as she looked back at the empty-ended chain hanging from the ceiling. "And even if things don't work out, I can always get another one," she mused to herself. She left, closing the door behind her and leaving it silent in the gymnasium as the last rays of sunlight poured in through the window.
Another excellently written work, Terg. You're making me jealous of your MAD skillz. =(
NOOO >< MUST NOT READ OR I'LL NEVER FINISH MY OWN MOFIC SHORT!
...*read anyway*
Ah, another impressive work.
Well done especially with the analogy. You could make the most jaded of capitalists grin knowingly with that one. Also gives impeccable insight into character behaviour. Capital work, sir. The story compensates wholly for having read it whilst listening to your singing. 
This was an assignment to write a fairy tale, so I adapted a little something here and there and voila!
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom in the land of Moforia that was ruled by a wise and just king. It was a busy place, with the capital city located at a crossroads between many other countries around it, and there were many merchants who plied their trade in the city. This allowed even the peasants to buy what they needed, for the merchants had to deal fairly to compete with their fellows. Peace reigned and the king maintained only a small army to keep the peace.
Then one day, a horde of monstrous creatures invaded the city, causing a horrible panic as they tore down buildings and attacked people. The kings army, though well-trained in the ways of war, were not strong or numerous enough to defeat the creatures. Then one of the merchants, a woman named Green-Eyes with a remarkable talent with metal-work, unleashed an army of her creations to beat back the invading horde. These creations were mighty golems forged from steel, many heads higher than even the largest of the kings soldiers, and their strength outmatched the weird beasts. At last the horde was defeated, and the king honored Green-Eyes for her contribution to the city.
But there was more to Green-Eyes than she appeared, for soon after acquiring the kings favor, her competitors began vanishing one by one until she alone sold all of the goods in the marketplace. She then raised her prices and maintained a monopoly on all goods, and only the rich could afford to do business with her. Her golems, hailed formerly as the saviors of the city, were now menacing enforcers who punished any who would not or could not pay her prices, and she pressed her indebted customers into slavery. The king himself did not see the plight of his people, for Green-Eyes assured him of the peace and plenty that her goods brought to the people and stayed in his court to manipulate him. The true power of Green-Eyes laid in her silver tongue, for she convinced the king to give her charge over many affairs of the kingdom and she raised taxes for all of the people which went straight to her own pocket.
This unjust state, brought by cruel deceit, affected all of the people in the land. Worst off were the peasants, who no longer could afford the prices that the market demanded and were forced to hunt and garden constantly to survive and pay their taxes. Among these poor souls was a family with one son, a young man named Justin. Justin chafed under the overbearing injustice that dominated the kingdom, and he dreamed of a new life without fear or oppression. Hearing a story about a mighty dragon who owed allegiance to the kingdom, Justin determined to set out and find the dragon to request his help in rescuing the kingdom from the wily manipulation of Green-Eyes. Bringing a knapsack with a rough wool blanket, a single loaf of bread, and a waterskin, the young man set out to right the wrong done to his country.
The journey was perilous, with many jagged roads that led through dark forests, odious swamps and abandoned townships. He climbed hills with steep slopes, and braved storms that brought the wind and rain. Sometimes he would have to walk miles along a ravine or river to find a way across. But he kept his sight always facing the direction of Smoke Mountain, the home of the mighty dragon who could bring hope for his people.
In one place along his journeys way, Justin encountered an old woman who begged for food. Feeling compassion for the woman, he gave her the remainder of his loaf of bread, and she thanked him with a small silver ring that she put onto his finger. When hunger later struck him, Justin only needed to remind himself of the old woman to travel forward.
Along a dried riverbank, he encountered a young boy who was lost and thirsty. Justin took out his waterskin and let the boy drink the last few sips. He then directed the boy to the nearest village. The boy thanked him with a present of a threaded string bracelet, and both travelers went their way. Though Justins throat became parched, he remembered the boy and made do by lapping the morning dew from the leaves of the trees to reduce his thirst.
Then came the final step to his journey, climbing the stony path that led up to the peak of the mountain. One cold night, he came across an elderly hermit who shivered in the mountain winds. The hermit kindly gave Justin directions to the dragon, and Justin went eagerly upon his way. But the thought of the hermit living in such a dire place with no protection against the cold made Justin feel sorry, and he returned to the hermit to give him the wool blanket that had served him so well in his own journey. The hermit thanked Justin kindly, and gave him a small pendant to wear for good luck. Justin continued the dangerous climb up the mountainside, shivering in the cold without his blanket to serve as a cloak, yet knowing that he had done the right thing.
At last, Justin reached the cave he had been directed to find, and he stepped inside the darkness and walked for a long time. Then Justin reached the end of the tunnel and came into a vast and wondrous cavern that shone with golden light. This light emanated from the mighty dragon who stood on all fours, as if awaiting Justins arrival. Please, help free my people from the tyranny of Green-Eyes, he pleaded.
The dragon listened carefully to the tale of the young man, and was silent for a long moment as his eyes met Justins, as if to pierce his very soul. Then the dragons eyes shifted to the ring, and the bracelet, and the pendant. The dragon proclaimed, In your journey, you have suffered many things. You gave your bread to an old woman, you gave your water to a young lad, and you gave your blanket to a hermit. But in reality, you gave these things to me, for I disguised myself and tested you thrice before you have met me now. You have passed the tests, and I will give you the power to bring freedom to your people.
The dragon revealed a suit of armor, finer than any that Justin had ever beheld. It was made from the scales of dragons, in hues of orange and blue. The armor had wings that sprouted from the back, the wings of a dragon. There was also a shield and a sword, both of exceptional quality and workmanship. Long ago, explained the dragon, your people entreated me for help. I tested a man and found him worthy to become a Knight of Tergos - for Tergos is a dragon word, which means, Freedom. The meaning of the armors colors is this: orange is for the fire of courage to do what is right, but not in explicit bloodshed; blue is for justice and judgment made in righteousness. The one who wore the armor before you was a hero who drove away the tyrant who held sway over Moforia, and now you have come to inherit the dragon-power of the armor to become the hero who shall be known as Tergoknight.
Justin accepted this great charge and dressed himself in the colors of orange and blue, taking up the sword and shield of Tergoknight. He trained under the tutelage of the mighty dragon until he was ready, and then with a sweep of the armors wings, he carried himself off of the mountain peak and flew all the way back to his kingdom. The golems of Green-Eyes got in his way, but he dispatched them with his enchanted sword, cleaving their empty shells in half and continuing toward the castle. The battle was long and arduous, but he finally reached the castle where he confronted Green-Eyes and forced her to reveal the truth of her deeds.
But Green-Eyes surprised Tergoknight, for not only was she really a sorceress, but she had been the one who had brought the monsters into the city in the first place so she could trick her way into power! She summoned the horde of creatures again with her twisted spells, and Tergoknight fought valiantly to protect the king. His solid shield deflected the claws and teeth of the demons as he slew them left and right, though countless were their number. When all seemed to be lost, he finally saw that their source of power had to be Green-Eyes herself. He sprang forward and ran her through, and with a great cry she collapsed into dust along with her demonic minions.
With Green-Eyes defeated and peace restored to the land, Justin was asked to remain the Tergoknight, to help watch over the kingdom as its former prosperity and fairness returned. And so he promised to serve for the rest of his days as a hero, but never once in his long service did he ever forget the compassion that had earned him the right to wear the colors of the Knight of Tergos. For, as the dragons say, a small stone can make many ripples in a pond, and so can small acts of kindness lead to greatness.
Just replying here to make a placeholder for the next MoFic short I have lined up. And to explain my idea: instead of writing out huge full-length fics for some of the plot points and/or random ideas that I have, I'm thinking of writing many events up as single-scene stories that are important enough to get a spotlight on, but not hefty enough for their own story and too isolated to fit comfortably into a major fic.
Some things to expect are the origins of Tergobot; True Red training Justin to be able to use his Moderator powers better; an RP Guild hacker/powerplayer gets in control of an RP Dome; and Terrornaut playing chess. These aren't the only ideas that I have in mind, neither am I necessarily writing them in the order that I have listed.
EDIT: And here's the first one, featuring True Red!
Timeline: shortly after The Return of Tergonaut and GM: Inferno
Come in.
Justin opened the door and stepped through into a modest office that was neat and well-kept. His eyes passed over the room as he closed the door behind him, glancing at a room that he had visited perhaps twice in his entire career as a Moderator. To one side were shelves with medical references and dictionaries, as well as some carefully-chosen books of fiction and non-fiction. The other side had windows that looked down over Sega Citys magnificent skyline, with the sun low over the horizon of this late afternoon day. The desk that formed the centerpiece of the rooms furniture was solid and oaken, with a few books held in place for quick reference by bookends at one edge of it. A Knuckles plushie sat on the other side of the desk, his massive fists leaning against the table with his legs to either side.
And there, closing a book and setting it onto the desk as he approached, was the woman known as True Red. She was dressed casually but neatly in jeans and a red T-shirt, and her straight black hair hung just above her shoulders with her bangs tucked to the sides to keep them from her eyes.
She nodded as she saw him enter. Welcome, Justin, have a seat, she said evenly as she gestured to the wheeled chair on the floor in front of the desk.
Thank you, maam, replied Justin as he took the edge of the chair and wheeled it around and under himself, falling back into it with a quiet plopping noise.
Dont call me maam, it makes me feel old, True Red said kindly but firmly as she stood up and pushed her own chair around the desk, and she sat again facing him. Just so that were clear, youre here to work on your concentration, right?
Justin nodded. I need to if Im going to be able to use my Moderator powers better. Vector sent me to you because youre a telepath, so concentration should be right up your alley.
Concentration isnt something that comes naturally, cautioned True Red as she put her hands together in front of her. Its like basketball. You need to keep practicing until youre good enough to play. So to get you started, Im going to need you to do what I tell you, all right?
Yes ma-er, TR.
Good. True Red got to her feet and stepped back around the desk, reaching over to open a drawer. She pulled out a yellow candy bag and ripped one end off, bringing it around the desk and offering the open end to Justin. Now take one of these peanut M&Ms, but when you put it into your mouth, I want you to-
Justin had already crunched on the candy before she finished her sentence, and he shrugged sheepishly as he swallowed down the sweet chocolate. Sorry.
Thats why I keep a whole bag of them, said True Red matter-of-factly as Justin plucked another one and placed it into his mouth. She took one as well. Dont chew, just suck on the M&M. Now close your eyes.
Justin did so, resisting the urge to repeat what he had done with the first M&M as he listened to True Reds instructions. Feel the M&M with your tongue. Its smooth right now, isnt it? Roll it around but keep from biting down onto it. Thats it. By now, the shell should be feeling a little rough; thats because your saliva is melting the candy coating. Keep rolling it around, feel the texture change...
Now you should be feeling cracks in the candy shell, and you can taste the chocolate through those cracks. Roll it around, do not chew but let the candy shell and chocolate melt away. You should be able to touch the peanut by now, and even taste a tiny bit of salt. Start feeling for the line down the middle of the peanut where it is divided into two halves while the rest of the chocolate and candy shell melts. Got it? Try to work at that division with your tongue...
Did you get it? Good. Now you can open your eyes and chew the peanut.
Justin crunched the peanut halves between his teeth as his eyes opened to find True Red chewing on her own M&M. So, uh, what was that about? asked Justin, a bit perplexed.
Were you thinking about anything else while you were letting the M&M melt in your mouth? asked True Red with a small smile.
Justin blinked as he thought about it. I guess not, I was too busy keeping it in my mouth.
Then you just concentrated. You could also call it meditation. True Red held out the bag to Justin. I want you to repeat that once in the morning and once at night, until all of those M&Ms are gone. Then come back to my office and well see how well you do with some of the lighter Moderator powers.
They both stood up, Justin clutching the candy bag in his left hand as he shook True Reds hand with his right. Okay, Ill do my best! Thanks.
Justin left, and True Red looked thoughtful for a moment after he left. She then took her chair back around to the front of the desk, took another bag of M&Ms out of the drawer, and opened it up along with the book she had been reading earlier. Time for my daily practice, she said with a small smile as she popped one of the candies into her mouth.
Offer
A Mofic Short
Written by Tergonaut
Guest-starring Mobius TetherBlood!
Timeline: A week after Grave of the Griefbringer.
Justin stood in front of the glass wall, looking out into the dark ocean. Light filtered down from above, barely giving shape to the underwater creatures that lurked outside. Bioluminescence glittered like starlight in the distance, the deep-sea trench barely outlined in the blue water. There was so much water, and freedom swam in it.
A freedom that Justin felt he couldnt have. He reached up and touched the glass, aware of the relative gloom of the observation room he occupied. The lights were dimmed, and he was hardly able to see his arm. An arm entirely devoid of hair
He tried to fight the urge, but he raised his hand up to his head, as if to run his fingers through his hair. But they touched the bare scalp where a full head of hair had been only a week ago. If anything, the texture of his head was rough and scaly with dry skin.
Justin sighed and dropped his hand to his side, blinking with eyes that were devoid of eyelashes. As his eyes opened again, they saw someone in the reflection of the glass. He then closed his eyes and shook his head. Go away. The answer is still no.
Wont even give me a chance to say hello? A fine way of thanking me for giving you that transporter device that lets you come here to Waterhole whenever you like. A-level access to all of its facilities, too. The mans voice was serene and easygoing, yet retained a note of nobility. Come on, Terg, I know youre grumpy, but its only your own fault for being so stubborn.
Justin opened his eyes and turned about to face the man, whose long hair and perfect physique were framed in the glistening black armor that he wore. His helmet, a great helm reminiscent of Greek designs, he kept under one arm. His eyes glowed white, and his handsome face wore a friendly smile.
Says the guy who keeps making the offer to me, replied Justin evenly, although his right hand clenched into a fist.
Touch. Not that Ill be able to do it for much longer. Only three more weeks, you know.
Like I can forget, TetherBlood. Justin narrowed his eyes. But itll be long enough to finish what Ive gotta do.
Maybe. Maybe not. Mobius TetherBlood regarded Justin. But this will be the last time Ill make you the offer. Join me as a member of the Cosmic Order of Templar Knights, and Ill remove your cancer from you and restore you to perfect health. Its that simple.
Justin gritted his teeth. No it isnt. I was used by kids growing up in school, I was used by the government against Stahlmansche, I was used by Stahlmansche, by Terrornauteven by you. And if I accept, it means that Ill have to be used by you, obey your every order, even if it goes against my conscience, even if I have to kill, even if it means the destruction of entire worlds. Well guess what, it isnt happening. Thats too high a cost for anything you could promise me.
Even if it meant being able to be with that girl you love?
Leave Cera out of this! shouted Justin. She understands everything now, about the cancer, about Tergonautwhy I have to fight. And she even understand that she may not be there when it ends. But shes still going to stay with me until the end.
TetherBlood raised a gauntleted hand to his chin thoughtfully. Well, suit yourself. The offer is of course open until the time of your death. But I think theres something I should tell you about this whole business with the Griefbringer. See, its an agent of Entropy you know, capital E Entropy, the kind that fanatics try to bring about by destroying the Multiverse and everything in it. The Griefbringer was a really powerful one too. But it was long before my time, and thats saying something.
Yknow, this is kinda interesting, but itd be nice if you got to the point, interrupted Justin.
The point is, the Griefbringers spirit and body are currently separated, but its seeking the body even as we speak and its already got a bead on it. Youll have to take it out before it can fully re-manifest as the Griefbringer or else Ill have to step in, which would have permanent ramifications for this entire planet.
Justin threw his hands up into the air, exasperated. Youre the all-knowing omnipotent god here, TBlood why dont you just take care of it now before it gets that far?
TetherBlood shrugged. Because of the rules. Just because Im the Guardian of the Multiverse doesnt mean that I get to meddle in mortal affairs whenever I like. And while this could develop into a case where I have to apply myself, the Mobius Forum World has always been able to take care of its own problems one way or another. Its peculiar that way, even when ultimate destructive forces are threatening it, it manages to survive. Whether or not individuals survive with it, however
I get it. I wont mess up.
Better not. You know, that red-haired witch really ticks me off. Sure shes hot, but shes so smug that it makes me want to rub the freckles off of her face. So you better take care of it.
Justin looked up at TetherBlood, with a smirk. I will, although youre free to act on that urge. Youd have to take pictures and send em though.
TetherBlood smiled back. See, I knew I could make you get that frown off your face. But anyway, Ill let you get back to your moping just remember that the time could be better spent with your girlfriend instead of being here all alone. He brought his helmet up and placed it over his head, the long nosepiece and smooth sides of the helm obscuring his face save for the eyes. Anyway, got to get back to work in another dimension just drop me a line if you change your mind in the next few weeks.
Dont hold your breath. See ya, TBlood.
Goodbye, Terg.
And TetherBlood was instantly gone, leaving the bald-headed Justin to his thoughts as he looked back out onto the ocean, determination etching his brow.
Kind of regret not seeing this thread earlier.
I love MoFiction, but it's normally so long and detailed I pass over it due to time constraints or general laze. Nice to see some bitesized chunks of character development.
Aww man. When you said "Shorts" I thought you meant the kind you wear. XP
This fic is important to the overall Tergoplot and shows off one of Stahlmansche's key technologies that explains why she can get away with so much in the Mobius Forum World without being legally implicated.
Trapped
A MoFic Short-Short
Starring Stahlmansche
Written by Tergonaut, produced by TergoCorp. Industries
So, Boss, how is that red-haired broad gonna get here to meet with us?
The anthropomorphic bulldog behind the desk laughed cruelly as he flexed his cybernetic limb after flipping his cell phone closed. If youd think wit yer head like I do, Wicker, then youd be a lot better off, wouldnt ya? Youse didnt lissen to my genius scheme, didja? But Ill repeat it, since Im in such a nice mood.
He gestured with his arm at the mismatched group in front of him, a gang of thugs crowded into the business office at the top of a three-floor building in downtown Sega City. The decorations were Spartan, only a single shotgun hanging on a blank white-painted wall. Ya see, crime around here aint what it used ta be. Ever since that redhead Stahlmansche came inta town, shes bin goin round, treatinin us regular crooks inta joinin her. I is smart, see, I dont take that fake rep of hers bein all responsible citizenry. Sos I makes an offah to help her out, but only if she comes here by herself.
But Boss, she said shed be here? piped up a weasel dressed in black sweatpants and a sweat-stained shirt with a geeky logo on the front. He had a cyberjack implant at the base of his skinny neck, with a cable dangling from it, ready to jack in. He had wet brown eyes and a slightl overbite.
Just did, on my phone, Wicker! And even said shed be here, lickety-split! But what she dont know is, I got all three floors below rigged up with fancy lectronic gadgets an traps. Well trap her, and then get a big ransom offa her company to get her back! And the best part is we dont even have ta lift a fingah to do anythin, its all automatic as soon as the sensahs pick her up comin inside! We get a front-row seat with this here monitah.
The bulldog flipped a switch on the lopside desk, and a large monitor slid out of the ceiling with its screen projecting a camera view angled just above the outside door appeared, along with smaller images all around the edge of the screen showing the insides of the complex and revealing the various traps laid in store for Stahlmansche. Cage traps, laser traps, blade traps, spike traps, pit traps, and an automated battle robot with five arms, each tipped with a different deadly weapon.
Of course, what we dont tell her company is that Stahlmanschell be deaderndoornails! Then we get the money and that bossy broadll be out of ther way two birds with one stone!
The criminal crew joined him in a harsh round of laughter, before Wicker pointed to the screen. Hey look, there she is now!
And there she was, Georgia Stahlmansche dressed neatly in her business suit, her lush crimson hair tied back into a professional bun, her freckled face framed by the small pair of spectacles she wore on her nose. She approached the door and pressed a button on the intercom installed just outside the door. This is Miss Stahlmansche, ready to meet Mister Bulldog Branson, owner of the Shumway Deal Corp. Her voice was clever, calm, even a little cocky as she smiled up at the camera and even deigned to wave at it.
Branson pressed the intercom button on his desks control panel. Sos I see, Miss Stahlmansche. Come right on up, Im on the tird floor.
All right, I will see you shortly. That smile seemed to deepen, her ruby-capped lips sensuously confident though her pale green eyes glittered dangerously. She reached for the door handle, pulled it open, and glided inside.
The outside camera view on the monitor switched instantly to the next camera in the line, where motion sensors bristled along hidden clusters in the walls, ready to release a barrage of spears down the hallway that would stick her to the just-closed door. Branson and his men leaned toward the viewscreen, eager to see the results of Bransons bloody scheme
But Stahlmansche wasnt there. She was gone.
Hey, whered she go?! Branson flipped through the screens, even checking the outside view twice more before displaying every camera view again. Wicker, check if weve been hacked! She mayve brought company!
Wicker checked the computer console integrated into Bransons desk, and shook his head. If wed been hacked, this circuit would have blown and all the traps would have gone off, Boss, reported the weasel minion. Not even Stahlmansche has got a hacker better than me, so theres no way that could be it.
But none of the traps are goin off! Branson irritably checked the screens again. And there aint a sight or sound of her! If she was still walkin, sheda ran inta at least all of the traps on the first floor!
Just at that moment, the door to the stairs leading to the second floor swung open as if entirely by itself. WHAT? I demand to know whats goin on here?! Bransons temper was being sparked by the expensive security system he had paid for being as useless as a pile of toothpicks, but what made it worse was that there wasnt a reason why!
She must still be down there! Wicker exclaimed. Maybe usin some kinda cloaking device?!
How can this be? The cage trap shoulda swung in and trapped her tight against the wall, squeezing her ta death! And that noose trap shoulda caught her by her pretty little neck and strangled the life outta her! Thats it, you boys go down there and figger out whats goin on!
Wicker and the others immediately shook their heads vigorously. Those trapsd kill us, Boss! wailed a scrawny armadillo. Its suicide ta leave this room!
Wicker pointed to the screen. Shes opened the door to the third floor, Boss. I think. Or at least it opened itself.
Thats it! Im through playin games with her! Im settin off all the traps on the tird floor! Branson pressed a series of buttons on his console, and eagerly looked up at the screen to see the results of his ploy.
Nothing. The screens showed empty hallways with the devilishly-clever traps hidden away in the walls, floor and ceiling.
Branson smashed the desk in half with his metallic arm, breathing hard with frustration. Open that door! Branson roared, and the armadillo complied for fear of subjection to the bulldogs raised cybernetic limb. The door to the office was swung open, and the entire gang peered down the corridor.
There she walked, entirely untouched and unruffled as she stepped down the hall. Her footsteps made slightly echoing noises in the empty hallway, and the crooks all gaped in amazement as she walked into the office without a scratch. They pulled away from her, suddenly superstitious of this woman who had evaded their Bosss carefully-laid plan.
Stahlmansche smirked as she looked at Bransons stunned expression. Oh, is something the matter? Did I dress wrongly for this engagement?
HOW?! bellowed Branson, astounded and unable to express any other inquiry.
Stahlmansche reached up to her cuff link and undid it, holding up the simple gold ornament, a squat cylinder of yellow metal. I like to call it a forger, she explained patiently as she elegantly clicked a hidden button and the top flipped off to reveal micro-circuitry inside. With it, I can make myself completely invisible to any and all electronic sensors. It doesnt make one invisible to the naked eye, but unlike a cloaking device, it works flawlessly even against motion or heat sensors. Even audio sensors cant hear what I say when I want it to. It even prevents remote signals from going totraps.
Branson growled. Youse knew all the time I had a trap, didnt youse? And youse waltzed in witout even blinkin an eye! But too bad for ya, youse alone here now! Get her, boys!
Wicker ducked backed into one corner as the rest of the crew charged. In the next instant, there was a sonic boom, and a blue blur shot through the top of the stairs and down the hallway, setting off traps as it went but going far too fast to be stopped by them, even the laser beams that could carve through solid steel. The cerulean streak circled Stahlmansche as gaping slashes appeared in the criminal horde until their bleeding bodies were all laying about on the floor, utterly lifeless, with a blue feminine android standing over them, her head like a rounded helmet with a visor wrapped around the forward three quarters of her head. Her fingers were sharp claws that dripped red, staining her armor purple.
Why youse! Ill stop youse! Branson leapt for the shotgun on the wall, murder in his beady eyes.
Wicker trembled, wide-eyed, as he saw the smooth curvy robot twirl with her claws. A flick of her finger blades, and Bransons cybernetic arm and the black-barrelled shotgun sliced directly in half. Branson tumbled over in shock, and couldnt even resist as his muscular frame was hauled up by the dainty droid and tossed into the hallway. She shut the door to his screams as the trap doors in the hallway snapped open and death flew out of them.
Stahlmansche turned to Wicker, her smile wicked to his eyes as she approached him, placing one upturned fingertip to the edge of his chin. Dont worry, Wicker Carbanski. You were right; I didnt have a hacker better than you. But now I do.
The words sunk into Wickers mind, and he was at once relieved and afraid. O-Okay, Miss Stahlmansche, you win. I give.
The freckled woman withdrew her hand and actually laughed joyously, reminding Wicker of a girl he had once loved in his Sega City High School days. Then you are mine. And you will have access to the best technology my company has, but only on the terms that you remain completely loyal to me. Betray my trust, and Im sure you understand the consequences.
SureBoss.
Well, dang. All of my stories in this thread were reformatted so there aren't quotation marks, italics, or anything else special to make it pretty. They kept the paragraphs though.
I'll probably repost Dungeon Runthrough on my DA account and start making the short-shorts DA-exclusive. So stayed tuned.
EDIT: Well, thanks to Arikyrenne I am able to access my old topic. I'll be grabbing the text directly from there and overwriting stuff to here when I next have a good opportunity. Maybe I'll still post things here yet!
EDIT 2: Here's the story!
Dungeon Runthru
A MoFic Short
Written by Tergonaut
Produced by TergoCorp. Industries
Guest-starring Jason Rapidfire!
Timeline: Sometime before Grave of the Griefbringer.
"Hurry up, Jason, it's coming fast!" yelped Justin as he and his red-quilled hedgehog companion dashed together down a stony corridor. The echoing sound of his voice hardly made it above the rumbling roar of the spike-encrusted roller that chased after them, filling the hallway with its wide body as it rolled down the natural incline of the rough floor. Light shone from smooth oval stones embedded in the dark brown stone at irregular intervals.
"Just remember, it wasn't my idea to go this way," panted Jason as he ran alongside Justin, his sword belt's sheath banging against his side with a frantic rhythmic jangle.
"I'll make a note of it!" answered Justin, glancing back before turning back forward and wishing he hadn't taken a look. Then he looked ahead and wanted to look backward again.
"Hole!" shouted Jason as the mismatched pair ran headlong toward a giant gaping rectangular opening. A thin strip of floor straddled the walls on either side, but there wasn't a ghost of a chance that Justin and Jason could use it to walk across, much less run across while being chased by a giant spiked rolling pin of doom. The pit was clearly too long to jump across either.
"Maybe it isn't too deep!" shouted Justin back. "Let's j-UMP!"
For a moment in time, both human and hedgehog leapt and hung into the air, their screams of adrenaline accompanying the rumble of the spikes rolling behind them. Then they dropped like stones down the deep, dark abyss as the roller sped along the corridor, riding along the thin strips to go over the hole and continue toward its destructive goal. As its roaring dimmed in the distance, so too did the shout of the two explorers.
The silence punctured with a "choom" sound, following by the winding of a rope as a grappling hook leading a cable shot up from the pit and latched onto a stone in the ceiling with a clack. The cable went taut with a snap, and then shivered as a whirring sound slowly rose from the dark hole. First a Glock handgun appeared, the cable sticking out of the barrel as it rewound. Then Justin came into view, gripping the gun with both hands, and holding on for dear life onto Justin's legs was Jason.
"Entirely too close for comfort, if you ask me," sputtered Jason as he looked back down the pit.
"I'm so glad I'm alive, I could kiss you," joked Justin.
The withering scowl from Jason alone was worth it; Justin's laughter echoed through the cavern.
* * *
The unlikely, mismatched pair found themselves going down the same tunnel where the roller had gone; they soon found it embedded into a spot carved out of the wall for it, its silvery spikes deep in the earthy wall. The corridor continued in a passageway that circled around the roller path, and they soon found themselves in a moss-covered cavern. The green plants around them produced a soft bioluminescence that lit the way, though casting weird shadows that danced about as Justin and Jason disturbed this organic ruin with their presence. Unlike the dry jewel-studded dirt tunnels, there was a sweet-smelling odor like dried syrup wafting in the tunnel, and some plant outgrowths dispelled small amounts of visible spores from their angular spout-like bulbs.
"So, uh, Vector never told me why you suddenly wanted to go on a Segan dig," said Justin, his voice slightly echoing around the damp environs as they walked, their feet squishing in the plant growth that covered the path.
"You haven't already deduced it for yourself?" asked Jason, then he continued, "I married your sister, remember? Such events are often a time of financial strain, and I decided to acquire extra funds by taking on a side job."
"But you're a lawyer! Don't you get paid enough doing that?" asked Justin, partly teasing as he smirked.
It was Jason's turn to smirk as he replied, "Somewhat, but I need the exercise. Sitting in a courtroom all day tends to atrophy the muscles, and with Modesty's diligent exercise routine, I'll be hard-pressed to maintain my figure, much less keep up with her."
"Ah-HA! So it's vanity rather than cash that's the problem!"
"Or just practicality. Surely you recognize the health benefits of daily exercise, since you always get up early to jog every morning."
Justin shrugged expressively. "Hey, I gotta josh ya. It's an inlaw's job, you know? How is Modesty doing, anyway?"
"She is doing exceptionally well. She has been very busy as a Moderator, and with our different jobs, we don't often see each other. Sometimes she'll be gone for an entire day or so before I get to see her again. There seems to be something else she's involved in, some project of Vector's, but she's being tight-lipped about it so far. I am certain she will tell all when the time comes, of course, but it does make me feel concerned. She is so willing to put herself in danger if it's for a cause, it's almost as if she-"
"Enjoys the thrill of living on the edge between life and death?"
Jason glanced sideways at Justin. "I suppose you already know how she feels about that, since you and her were once the same person."
"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot that we told you about that," said Justin. "She really surprises me sometimes just how different she is, even if it's only been a while since we split. But she's a tough cookie. It's kinda hard to tell a woman 'please be careful' if that same woman can bench-press trucks."
"That it is," agreed Jason. Then he pointed ahead. "Look there, it appears to be a door."
The pair approached a double-door that had a split right down the middle, running vertically between the two heavy plates of some silvery metal. The metal was dulled with age, but still reflected the hazy emerald light from the plants around it. Moss grew at the edges of the doors where they came out of the walls of the cavern. Etched into the metal on a panel were several of the concept-pictures of the Segan hieroglyphs.
Justin raised his left arm and pressed buttons on the oversized compwatch he wore, and a circular halo of yellow light formed in a two-dimensional screen around the compwatch. The holographic screen began scrolling through Segan glyphs as a scanning ray emitted from a tiny hole in the side of the compwatch, filling in each carving with lines of white light before changing shape and going to the next one.
"So what do these writings explain?" asked Jason as he crossed his arms, watching. "Maybe it says 'Service entrance only.'"
"Could be," admitted Justin. "I don't recognize some of these, and they're in the middle of others that I can read. It'll take time to figure out the exact context of the words as they're used here."
Jason's quills on the back of his neck pricked up, and he suddenly whirled around, his sword drawn. "How much time?"
"Huh?" Justin looked up from the glyphs, wondering why Jason was so jumpy all of a sudden. "What's the matter, you've got all day, ri-"
There was a slithering sound and they saw green leafy tendrils snaking their way through the thick moss toward them. They were mobile vines, probing the air with a double-pointed tip that resembled a pair of sharp thorns stuck together at a forty-five degree angle onto the end of each vine. They were ribbed, and about as thick as garden hoses, with three-pointed leaves that budded from segments of the vines. There were at least ten of the tendrils, all of them reaching toward Jason and Justin at a deceptively relaxed pace.
"Not enough," quipped Justin as he turned back to the panel, letting his compwatch scan it as he pulled his handgun out of its holster. "You'll have to cover for me; I'll get the door open."
Jason's hand slipped easily to his side, where he gripped the handle of his sword and drew it with a song of hardened steel. The golden hilt, elegantly shaped into a fleur-de-lis, reflected the light from the bioluminescent plants and the glow from Justin's compwatch. "You do that," he said as he raised the keen blade in front of himself with practiced ease. "I articulated the need for exercise, and now here's my opportunity."
The vines darted forward with lethal speed, staggering so that each vine attacked in turn. Jason easily sidestepped the first one and whipped his blade out through the cable-like vine. A disturbing screech came from further down the tunnel past the remaining tendrils as the injured limb withdrew into the undergrowth. But Jason kept at his footwork and brought his sword down in strokes to match each successive attack by the tendrils as severed ends piled up on the ground around him.
"Just what kind of monstrous abomination is this?" asked Jason as he continued to evade and slash, panting from the effort. "It doesn't seem to be in short supply of limbs to attack me with."
"I don't know whether it's something the Segans left behind to protect this place, or if it's just some freaky creature that decided to set up shop here," replied Justin, as if holding a rather casual conversation in a living room. The compwatch itself whirled the yellow circular screen around, matching each symbol faster and faster. "Either way, it looks like it's determined to keep us from getting through here. My gun won't be much use against it unless it's got some central nervous system I can zap with my CAPs."
"If those shrieks are any indication, it does have one-Hah, have at you!-but we'll have to draw out the creature. It seems to have an innumerable quantity of these vines."
"You're good with that sword, right?"
Jason would have rolled his eyes in exasperation was he not in the middle of staying alive. "No, I carry it around for kicks. You can see what I'm doing with it, right?"
"What about being thrown through the air while slashing all around?"
"Just what are you on abo-HEY!"
Justin's fingers curled around the red hedgehog's sword belt as he hefted Jason up, pulling him back out of the way of the vines that lashed out from either side. "Good, you're lighter than you look. Are you ready to show them the power of teamwork?"
"This is hardly the time to be flirting," spat Jason as he thrashed, which only caused him to rock back and forth by his belt ineffectually.
"I'll take that as a 'yes,'" chuckled Justin as he pulled back, then heaved foreward. At the last moment, the thrusters on the bottoms of Justin's sneakers ignited, giving a powerful boost that Justin used to launch Jason as he released the swordshog.
Jason flew headlong through the writhing tendrils as they lashed about. Despite his protests, after being thrown he demonstrated his incredible skill and natural hedgehog agility by curling up into a quill-laden ball. He held the sword out with both hands, and the wicked edge extended the arc of his slicing spin. He became a bladed crimson tornado and tore through the middle of the vines, ripping and tearing each one in multiple places along their sinuous limbs.
A moss-covered lid flipped open, and a large thorny maw emerged, a series of red eyeballs peering from the lips of the leafy green creature. The creature's breath was the source of the sweet smell in the plant-ridden tunnel, sticky saliva dripping from the stalactite-shaped upper teeth. With a freakish shriek of pain and hunger, it lunged forward at Jason's speeding form.
"Bull's-eye!" crowed Justin as he aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. A blue-tipped bullet streaked out with a thunder crack that echoed down the enclosed tunnel. The projectile sparked and crackled in midair, brighter than the bioluminescent plants, and sped past Jason like a lightning bolt and into the dark dripping mouth of the chlorophyll creature.
The green monster cracked its jaws open even wider as it became enveloped by pulsing electricity. Paralyzed, its cry died out and it stared in bewilderment as Jason, seeing his destination, uncurled and held his sword out in front of himself. The hedgehog went right into the mouth, past rows of pointed thorny teeth and doused with the syrupy fluid dripping from the roof of its mouth, and his sword tore through the back of the creature's neck with him following shortly after in a spray of viscous goo. The abominable plant gurgled as it withdrew back into the hole, and all of the vines that remained curled up and budded to form new flowers in the tunnel. Their petals glowed softly pink in the now-quiet tunnel.
Jason picked himself up, spitting out sticky fluid as he dragged himself over to the door where Justin had turned back to his task of deciphering the Segan runes. "You, Mr. Hobbes, are an opportunistic, freeloading, reckless philanderer!"
"I love you too, Jason," replied Justin with a cheeky smirk, and then he tapped a button on his compwatch that sent a beam of light into the central glyph of the door. The creaking of gears and screeching of age-old metal drowned out Jason's angry spluttering as the twin doors slid apart, revealing the treasure trove of the Segan ruin.
Jason and Justin stared into the solitary chamber beyond, then turned slowly to look at each other. Their big grins matched each other, and they gave a whoop of joy before running headlong into the room. "As you might say in the vernacular," stated Jason, "'totally worth it!'"
* * *
Vector leaned over his desk to examine the golden statuette as Justin and Jason waited patiently in seats in his office. "Fascinating," muttered Vector as he turned the lifelike statue around on its pedestal; it was the perfectly shaped form of a beautiful Segan woman, dressed in a loose flowing robe. Like all Segans, she was proportionately built like a human, but this particular statue displayed her with the distinctive features of an echidna, including long slender quills that ran down her head and formed a beautiful head of "hair," in which was a single gorgeously-detailed flower just above her left ear. The pedestal that supported her had a series of glyphs running around the cylindrical sides, and a slot in the bottom that looked very much like a power outlet.
"The sheer monetary value of this alone will be worth a lot to the Sega City Museum," noted Vector with satisfaction. "Not to mention that it may be a work of art representing either the beauty that all Segans sought to emulate, or perhaps it is the sculpted portrait of one of their greatest leaders." He looked up, his snout exaggerating the gesture as he looked down its length at the two. "I trust it wasn't too much trouble to obtain this?"
"Not at all," said Jason and Justin together.
Vector sniffed the air. "Say, do either of you smell maple syrup?"
Justin snickered as Jason got up from his seat. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to take a shower."
Justin called after Jason. "Say hi to my sis for me! I'm sure she'll help you get that off."
A parting scowl, and Jason shut the door behind him.
I LOVED that story, mostly because of your use of Simales. Were learning about that in School.
I'm guessing you were talking about Hitting Where It Hurts, the first of the stories in this thread. If you read down a bit, you'll be able to find more stories.
I'm working on another short so hopefully I'll get that up soon.
Oh yes, Terg! I forgot to mention the short's name. Sorry! And I only read like a few paragraphs of "Hitting Where it Hurts" but through the beggining I noticed alot of simales. It's amazing that you can turn a boring story of a girl just hitting here punching bag into an exciting story. But correct me if I'm wrong, because that was a long story. It might not have been just a girl punching her punching bag. But the beggining would have been short and boring if you hadn't used simales and described it very well. Bravo!
