The Tavern

[duke]

The local tavern is the only place with full lighting still in it. A screen on the wall plays a repeating commercial like a broken record at a low roar. Bottles like broken everywhere and the pungent smell of liqueur fills the lower floor of the building. Many of the windows are shattered out. In the center of the room several tables are tipped on their sides and the wood floor is stained red. From what though you aren't to sure, either way it is discomforting.

upstairs there are several rooms all but one the door has been pulled from its henge. The rooms are in disarray and look as though they have been ransacked. Whoever was staying in these rooms hand been woke up in a horrible way.

You wake finding yourself sitting in a booth or bar floor of the tavern with an urgent sense of dread. Deep down inside you just know you are going to need to defend yourself. You just don't know what from yet.

[virgil]

Virgil awoke inside the booth. It's empty. Was I too drunk to wake and the bartender just said 'screw it'? Virgil looked down at the table. His MP5 was resting on the table, clip in. Virgil quickly opened his jacket. His pistols were in their holsters, spare clips and speed loaders in their place. He wasn't wearing his ballistic mesh. Odd.

Getting out of the booth, Virgil checked his gun and scanned the room. Tables were overturned, bottles were broken, and a wind blew through the shattered windows. Virgil slung the submachinegun's strap over his head and stalked along the booths, looking to see if anyone else is in there.

[Sibil Tucker]

Sibil opened her eyes, bewildered at her current surroundings. She was on the floor of what looked like a tavern. Hearing movement from the room she moved herself behind the bar that was next to her. Checking for weapons she only found her service pistol and one extra clip. Damn.

She looked around from where she was sitting; the smell was a bit sickening as though everyone had just poured their drinks on the floor rather than drink them. The floors were red; red like blood. Sibil shivered, what the hell had gone on here? And why couldn't she recall anything, not even a single detail. The last thing she remembered was being on the Esteem, now she seemed to be on a planet, in a damn tavern. Covered in alcohol, glass from broken bottles and windows, not to mention what might be blood all over.

This was not good.

Sibil heard the movement coming closer, she prepared herself, taking a deep breath. Pulling herself from the floor she held her pistol steady, ready to point it at the source of the movement. Seeing a man before her, with more guns than she had, Sibil felt herself begin to worry more-so. "Lieutenant Sibil Tucker, hold right there. You'd do well to tell me what the hell is going on here." She didn't yell, didn't want to attract any extra attention. Her hands were strong gripping her pistol and unwavering; but she felt the fear through-out her body, her eyes wide with that fear.

[duke]

With windows busted out and little other noise the apparent sound of gun fire rang out from a building not far from the tavern. Three shots followed by a brief pause then one last shot to finish out.

The sound could be heard for quite a ways and any hopes of being quiet were dashed but at least it hadn't come from the tavern itself.

[lindsiayers]

Everything hurt, was Lindsi's first thought as she struggled to wake up. Her head was pounding out some sort of unrecognizable rhythm that seemed bent on causing her as much pain as possible. She struggled between using her hands to block out the light and using them to push herself off of the dirty bar ground. After a bit of a struggle, she began to push herself up off of the floor, and sat there for a moment, a confused look on her face despite her eyes having yet to open. She felt around for a second more before opening her eyes. A tavern floor? How had she gotten here? She looked wide eyed up at the other patrons, who seemed to be nearly as confused as her.

She rubbed her eyes and gave a bit of a yawn, blinking away enough of her headache to function and try to remember. Remember how she'd ended up on the floor of the tavern. She'd been stopping here for the night, after visiting a client. She'd rented a room, and went to bed early in order to get up earlier to leave. But how had she ended up down here on the floor? She looked at the others, and then crossed her arms and rubbed her arms, hissing in pain as her fingers ran across a particularly nasty scratch on her right forearm. The fresh scratch stung but didn't seem to be bleeding anymore. She pulled the sleeves of her night gown down to cover her arms.

Quietly and gently, she reached up for the side of a booth and pulled herself to her feet. Wooziness hit her for a moment, her nails digging into the wooden chair, but it quickly subsided, giving her more time to think. Think. How had she ended up on the floor? She remembered a commotion. Late at night there was some sort of commotion. And someone had dragged her downstairs. She remembered now. The bar keep had come into her room and dragged her downstairs, concerned that the commotion was the result of an Anti-Alliance protest. He hadn't wanted her to be hurt because of her occupation. It was a kind gesture. She must've fallen asleep under the table she was hiding under while waiting for him to come back. Where was he now? she wondered, concern beginning to set in.

Had all of these other people also come here to hide out? And why was there blood? A lot of blood. Broken bottles. Had there been a murder? Had she slept all the way through a murder? She'd been tired but- this was insanity. She looked at the screen and it's maniacally repeating commercial. Something about a vacation spot on the Fringe. She watched it carefully repeating it's selling points over and over until the gunshots rang out. The noise made her visibly jump and she had to fight every bone in her body to not climb back underneath the table.

[fiona]

Oh my, you think you're lookin' pretty
But they've got their pistols too
Tucked down beneath their shoe

a new sensation
World annihilation
Moving to the music
Patiently it's waiting

Drip.Drip.Drip.Drip.

The constant dull ping had become a gentle lull; Pulling Fiona into and out of a deep sleep. Feeling the weightlessness, and the sweet embrace of the dark. Then being jerked back into the light as the pain surged through her body. "what-....the..Mmm" wrapping her arms about herself, rubbing her hands along the cold skin of her arms. She had fallen asleep. The ash covered floor, littered with dirt and pools of dried blood. Papers, and old bits of clothing. Her vision slowly came into focus, her face scrunching in disdain. The light that shone dull from the side pressed colors around the border of her eyes.

Fiona brushed away the hair that had lightly matted to her face. A cold sweat wrapped around her like a wool sweater. Rolling over to her stomach adjusting the position she was in, taking the pressure off of her swollen wrist. She was petrified, yet her demeanor proved otherwise. Upon realizing that where she was; wasn't where she was supposed to be.

The walls were painted in dark brown paint, definitely showing signs of wear. Leaning against the wall in the far corner of the room, The only door blocked with a large desk. "How... did that.. get there..?" The better question was.. what was it keeping out?

Leaning up she let a loud sigh breathe through, and began running her hands through her hair, trying to think. The darkness hid her frown as she closed her eyes again and rested her head against her pressed knees.

"Where is Ceren...and Roark?.. I hope they're Okay...." before she could close her eyes to squeeze back the tears; All alone.. again Her eyes winded in recognition of what she was hearing. Her ear drums ringing as the dull noise echoed.

The sound of Loud pops?...Gunshots even?...couldn't be.. Fiona still sat there waiting for another one to go off; Her heart jumped to her throat, and her mouth dried up. When it didn't happen again, she realized that whoever was down there would either be dead, or have the idea to come in. Meaning they could help her out, or... kill her. Pressing herself against the wall as she stood up, Fiona inched closer to the door with her ear pressed to the side and listened her breath steady and low.

"An-...anyone..T-h--there?...."

[virgil]

Virgil looked into booth and found a young woman with a pistol pointed at him. She identified herself as an officer. Virgil lowered his gun. "You tell me. I just woke up. People call me Virgil." The crackle of gunfire echoed from outside. "That your people?", Virgil asked although the look on her face indicated it wouldn't be that simple.

From another booth, a blonde poked her head up. Virgil gingerly made his way towards her. "Are you alright, Ma'am?" It reminded him of Athens. Too many people killed too quickly to loot. Scared locals crawling out of their hiding holes. There was another voice coming from inside the building.

"We need to find out what's going on here."

[Sibil Tucker]

Sibil lowered her pistol that she had on the man before her. He wasn't on the wrong end of all of this, that much was obvious. She heard the gunfire, it made her jump. "Not my people, that I know of. I don't recall anything about why I'd be here. Before this I was on a cruiser, the Esteem. We were in the black, not close to any planets.." Sibil sighed and rubbed her temple with the hand not holding her pistol, this situation was rough.

There was suddenly another person; a blonde woman. She heard a voice from another room, a female voice. Things were getting more complicated; Sibil hoped that one of these other people would know what's going on. "I agree Virgil, something is very wrong here. If you'll tend to the woman there," Sibil nodded her head towards the blonde one,"I'll go see about finding the owner of that other voice." The officer made her way in the direction that she thought the voice might have come from.

[Dani Kingsley]

The quiet hum of machinery lulled Dani into calm relief, the feeling she most closely associated with happiness. The controls of the Trinity were splayed out before her practiced hands, the pilot's chair comfortable and filling her with a feeling of belonging. Before her, the Black stretched as a void full of intrigue and promise. The only place she felt normal.

Suddenly, an alarm began beeping. First one, then another. The dials spun before her, the ship shifting and bucking wildly as if it were being struck, the noise suddenly becoming a cacophony almost too loud to bear as Dani struggled to maintain control...

and then she was falling, falling into the Black. She tried to rake breath into her lungs, but it wouldn't come. How was she still alive?

The pilot jerked awake, sputtering and gasping as if she had been drowning. She was lying prostrate in a booth, and she gripped the sides to pull herself up into a seat position. Her big boots swung out, not quite touching the dirty floor, and she exhaled sharply as she glanced around the tavern. Why was she here?

She had no recollection of being anywhere near a tavern. The dull roar she had heard as she was waking was coming from a screen where some ridiculous commercial was repeating itself. Pinching the bridge of her nose between two fingers, she sighed and leaned forward.

It was then that she realized there were people talking; she could just barely hear the voices under the sounds from the commercial, but she could not make out what they were saying.

Standing, she began moving slowly towards them. One of her boots skidded in the dark, coagulating liquid on the floor. It was mostly tacky and dry, but she had hit a particularly heavy spot. With faster reflexes than most would think her capable of, she caught herself before she could hit the floor and stared at the mess. She knew what it was without even having to study it too hard. Shakily shoving a toothpick into her mouth, relieved she still had them with her, she began walking towards the group of strangers.

She did not realize that quietly coming up on a group of armed and scared people might be the wrong move. Dani was pretty inept when it came to understanding others, and the condition the tavern was in made her very nervous.

Her clothes were dark and slim, but not tight, her pants tucked into her boots. She had no weapons; she did not need them.

[James Durham]

James felt the calm breeze on his face as he stared at his family's house from the field in their front yard. Birds were chirping, bugs were flying around. The sun felt nice on his face as he walked through the field. Suddenly the clouds became dark grey, and the sky turned the blackest he had ever seen. There was a loud crack as lightning shot through the sky, a few seconds later there was another crack this time it was a gun. James jerked awake, he had fallen asleep in a tavern and someone had slammed into the table he was at.

As he stared at the person he quickly recognized the silhouette of Dani. He got up from the table and moved toward Dani, as he did he heard voices in front of them. Dani was walking right for them not thinking about the dangers of walking toward a group of people in the dark. James quickly grabbed her by the arm and whispered, "Shh do not scream it is me James." He stepped next to her and reached inside his coat, "How about I lead from here? Will that be okay?" He says with his normal relaxed smile. He begins to walk toward all the voices that are in front of them. As he got closer; his hand still on his gun, "Okay do not be alarmed there are two people coming forward...a man, me. And a female, a friend of mine. My name is James Durham and I mean you no harm...unless you mean to harm me, then well I'm not responsible for what happens."

[duke]

In front of the Tavern a horrifying sight was unfolding. A man laying in the street, dead as dead can get, began to move. He began to stand up. Those who saw him would notice his neck was torn to shreds his left arm missing except the stump of a bone striped of the flesh and his leg broken.

As he stood he began to limp toward the office building where the gunshots had come from. He gave out a blood curtailing shriek that was shortly replied with the shriek of hundreds more. looking at the roof top across the way several "things" that looked like him stood up and looked down toward the tavern.

Whatever they were they knew someone was here and they were looking for them.

[lindsiayers]

Lindsi watched as a woman woke up next to her. She blinked silently at her, narrowing her eyes as she tried hard to recognize her. But she was almost certain at this point that none of these people were particularly familiar. They all looked... normal. Or at least like someone she'd feasibly pass in the street, but none of their faces were in any way familiar. Her thoughts were scattered and confused as she struggled to piece the scene together without over-reacting. The blood, broken glass, it all added up to something violent. And messy. And murder.

She bit against her bottom lip against the preposterous idea, but continued to try and think of anything else. The sound of a man's voice made her jump once more. She stared at him, shock, fear, and confusion swimming in her eyes, and for a moment she seemed unable to comprehend his words. Just staring at him. But as soon as she began to register his question, another problem arose. How to even answer him? It wasn't likely he understood signing, and probably would just confuse the signing for random, scared hand gestures. Which, to be perfectly honest, was about all they would amount to anyways. After all, she was trembling pretty terribly in her silk slippers.

Finally she made a movement, placing her open palm to her throat and patting her neck, while slowly shaking her head no. She hoped desperately he would understand, as she didn't see any spare scrap of paper in the tavern that wasn't covered in one sticky liquid or another.

But her gestures were interrupted by the sudden arrival of a rather strange man and his female friend who seemed even stranger. He had his hand on his gun, and the slightly intimidating stance made her entirely uncomfortable and her trembling all the worse. But her consideration of the new arrivals was cut short by terrible screams coming from outside. The sound caught her attention. Perhaps someone else was waking up outside. Alone and terrified. Her caring and compassionate nature had her at the window's edge- staring out upon the blood soaked streets. She watched as someone rose and quickly realized this wasn't just someone waking up from a nap. This person was waking up from death it's self. It's body seemed already in a state of decay, and was missing at least one limb.

She stared. And stared. As he shambled towards the tavern. Suddenly a sound broke through her intensive concentration on the moving dead man. An unearthly shrill shriek that seemed to be bent on robbing her of her hearing as well. Her mouth went slightly a jar and she suddenly found herself unable to move. As though fright had seized her where she stood. Was this Hell?

[James Durham]

James walked forward slowly as not to alarm anyone. None of the people made any move toward him or Dani. Durham did noticed a woman emerge from a booth and look at him. All of the sudden there was a scream from outside and the woman ran to the window to see what was going on. He looked back at Dani and gave her a nod that meant he would be right back.

James walked toward the window to see what all the noise was about. As he made his way toward the woman he noticed that she had a look of terror on her face. James looked out the window to see a man screaming and moving toward the tavern. The man was torn to shreds and had the intent to kill in his eyes. James had seen that look in plenty of eyes in his life. James placed a hand on the woman shoulder and gave her a gentle smile, "You may want to move away from the windows." He glances back out at the man then back to the woman, "Is that a reaver? What exactly is that?" He asks as he knocks out a small part of the window and points his gun out of the broken glass and fires at the man aiming at his chest just below his right shoulder.

As he does he turns and motions for the woman to follow him back toward Dani, "Well ma'am I do not believe we have met. If you didn't hear my name is James Durham, and you are?"

[Sibil Tucker]

As she moved through a hallway she heard a man's voice, more people. The man named James Durham apparently had a woman with him as well. Sibil assumed they were heading for the main area of the bar where she'd left Virgil and the unnamed blonde woman. Then she heard it...a terrible screech, followed by what sounded like tons more.

Sibil suddenly didn't want to be alone.
Her blood ran cold.
Her body trembled.
They sounded close.
Too close.
Then there was gunfire.

She made a decision, she'd go back to the others. The more firepower the better. "Bring yourself to the front of the tavern, there's more of us here. Though I'm afraid we don't know anything so don't bother coming out with questions. Just bring all the firepower you've got on you. Name's Lieutenant Sibil Tucker." She spoke to no one, hoping the owner of the voice they'd heard earlier would hear her. Sibil hadn't yelled but she hadn't whispered either.

With that she backtracked, making her way back to the group out front with her pistol still drawn. "What is it, what's out there?" Sibil whispered, hoping someone had a clue as to the source of that horrible scream.