Blood & Dust - A Post-Apocalyptic Pseudo-Western Character RP
391 replies, posted
> "You will accompany me."
"Well.." Diplo started, "You could at least buy me dinner first!"
Everybody paused for a moment, Diplo's humor module had not stood the test of time evidently.
> "You two seem to be built for diplomacy. We will question them kindly at first, but if they grow belligerent or withhold information you may leave interrogation to me."
"Built for diplomacy? Baby I was practically.. Built.. For it.." Diplo paused for a moment, you could practically see the cogs turning in his head, "BUILT FOR IT!" The epiphany came at last.
"Diplo|776 Reporting for duty!" He stood proudly and saluted nobody in particular, "I was built to be kind and inquisitive in a non-threatening manner! And besides, worst case scenario we only need to do a little water boarding.. Now who am I seducing again?"
"You two seem to be built for diplomacy. We will question them kindly at first, but if they grow belligerent or withhold information you may leave interrogation to me."
Boombox looks behind him just to make sure Aegis is talking about him and not someone else. Built for diplomacy? Was Aegis even present during the train battle? "Diplo, tell this boy who I am!" he says aloud.
> "Diplo, my homie, tell this boy who I am!"
"Err.." Diplo turned to Boombox, "WHO are you exactly?"
They just survived an attack together and they don’t even know who he is. Boombox only shakes his head in frustration.
”Shit, man. I need to be around some educated motherfuckas. Now lemme break this down for your dumb asses.” He points to himself. “I am an assassin. I shoot people. Comprende?”
Aegis cocks his head between the two synthetics as they continue talking, not wanting to interrupt... whatever this exchange was.
"Diplo|776 Reporting for duty!" He stood proudly and saluted nobody in particular, "I was built to be kind and inquisitive in a non-threatening manner! And besides, worst case scenario we only need to do a little water boarding.. Now who am I seducing again?"
"Our current assignment is to haze the local bars for any signs of the criminals the Marshal is after. You will be questioning the locals as politely as you can manage." the unit states as he turns toward Boombox as he finishes his tirade. Had he been experienced in displaying emotion, he would have folded his arms at this point, but he instead chose to continue his expressionless staring before finally speaking.
“I am an assassin. I shoot people. Comprende?”
"You have taken personal offense to my assumption on your assumed functionality, yet it is my understanding that units such as yourself are built primarily for the purposes of low-profile and low-aggression engagements. As is evident by your design meant to mimic humans, to that end your diplomatic capabilities far exceed my own. After all, what good is an assassin if they are easily spotted?"
Slade listened to the other group's conversation since it was rather easy to hear them. He could take a wild guess why that one was called Boombox
"Good luck with your search, tin men." He looked back to the Marshall "Which den of fine citizenship are we hitting first? The bars or the brothels?"
"Moving on" Diplo rolled his eyes under his visor, "Shall we split up or..?"
"Moving on" Diplo rolled his eyes under his visor, "Shall we split up or..?"
"We are to stay together for maximum efficiency. As I recall you had no desire to face the locals alone." Aegis states before nodding at Slade. "We embark on our mission immediately."
Mariuz looked around as Masterson divided up roles, and groups and waited for everyone to get ready. Good ol' Eagle offered to accompany him and he appreciated it, with a nod towards the bounty hunter. Roadrash also was going to follow them, and he didn't mind. The guy could handle himself in a fight if it came down to it.
He asked them both, "Which way gentlemen? I propose the general store. Could be the best place to unload hardware, maybe sneaky backrooms or something I don't know. Thoughts?" He asked them with a questioning eyebrow.
Eagle did a thumbs up. "Lead the way, I got your six."
"You're right." Diplo replied stepping slightly closer to Aegis, "Lead the way big boy!"
"Which den of fine citizenship are we hitting first? The bars or the brothels?"
"The hotels. I don't think they'll be going near the brothels. The girls tend to latch their claws into you, and keep you there as long as they can. More time, more money spent." said Masterson, as the robots spoke nearby.
Once they had finished, the group divided up and went their own ways. They spread out into the settlement, searching for anyone that matched the pictures that Masterson had shown them as well as the freight container that had been taken.
The locals really paid them no attention. It was common for people from the west to head to Memphis on their way to Orleans or to other parts of the Bayou. The robots were the only ones that stood out, and even they didn't really get many looks.
Masterson, Slade, and Ozzy ended up traveling to the nearest hotel, the Riverside Hotel. Usually the first place that people coming off the train stopped, it looked a bit better than most of the other buildings around. If only a bit. It didn't have a bar like the hotel back in Dallas, nor did it have a fancy desk. Instead, it was a simple table, with a man in a ballcap sitting at it. He was fiddling with the internal pieces of his pistol, which seemed to be of the laser variety. Rather technical stuff, but not as difficult as working on a plasma weapon or anything.
The wallpaper on the walls was faded, and peeling in some spots. The floor creaked. There was a man asleep in a beat up chair in the next room, an empty bottle of tequila in hand. And this was supposed to be one of the nicer hotels.
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Jasper, Eliza, and Malin walked a ways, before stopping in the street for a moment. Jasper looked over to a nearby building, which bore a large red cross on it, then turned his attention to the two women with him. "Do you two mind if I head to the clinic over there? There's someone I need to speak to." he asked, thumbing over towards the building.
Eliza raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "You're a big boy. Why the hell do you need our permission?" she replied.
Jasper paused for a moment. "Good point. I'll be back." he said, before making his way over to the clinic and heading inside.
Eliza then turned to Malin. "Soooo...where you wanna go first? Hope its a bar or something, because I'm craving some good whiskey."
Malin smirked. "Perhaps the thieves had the same thirst as you do." She gestured at the street. "Lead the way."
Slade wasn't impressed by the hotel, but didn't care for it either. Finding a place that wouldn't throw him out was difficulty enough. He looked at the man tinkering with his gun on the table.
"You the receptionist?"
Mariuz, Eagle, and Roadrash made their own way over to one of the generals stores along the town's main strip. Walking up to it, the sign read "Memphis' Largest General Store". He looked back at Eagle and Roadrash, "Well this is a good of a place to start if any." He took out the picture of the supposed bandits, and showed them again to the pair. "These are who we're looking for, as well as the stolen goods. I suggest we just act like costumers, see where it gets us. Maybe ask for any...special cargo they got. Can't hurt." Mariuz checked his holster to ensure his pistol was ready and loaded, a store is hardly fit for his rifle incase things went south.
"Shall we gentlemen?" he asked one last time before striding inside.
Eagle nodded. "Let's do it." The bounty hunter entered the store, he thanked Mariuz on the way as if he was a stranger that had held the door for him. Casually and relaxed Eagle walked up to some shelves. Mostly basic crafting supplies for repairs at home. There was also a nice toolbox.
He glanced at the cashier before raising his hand. "Excuse me, you don't happen to have any hats around?"
Aegis stood there as the groups started to move out from the station, looking between Diplo and Boombox before he took a few steps in front of them. "Let us make our way to the bars. We will question every civilian in this town to reach our goal if it is necessary." the unit states, scanning the several buildings laid out before them with a lazy swivel of his neck.
In a matter of moments he found one that piqued his interest, trotting toward it with a purposeful advance.
Mariuz wondered in right after Eagle, and split up going to the left side of the store. He took in the view of all the inventory, and was pretty impressed. Most of the items were a lot more technologically advanced, and looked far cleaner than most of what he's seen in Dallas. Guess they don't have to worry about the sand and dust huh. He walked up and down the isles a couple times, looking through trinkets, food supplies, camping gear, even the odd firearm or two but couldn't see anything out of place that would hint at this place being anything but an ordinary store.
He made his way over to the front and tried to find the nearest figure of authority, and quickly spotted a tall, older gentlemen that was giving work orders out to some of the associate staff. Not a whole lot of them, but impressive enough the store had multiple people working. He walked up to the man and patiently waited for him to finish his conversation with his staff.
"You the receptionist?"
The man glanced up from under his ballcap, his brown eyes darting between the three of them. "Nah. I'm the security guard. Receptionist will be back in 'bout ten minutes. He's on the shitter. If you've just got questions or a problem with something, I could help. If you're lookin' for a room, wait for him." he said, before looking back down and continuing his work on his laser pistol.
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"Excuse me, you don't happen to have any hats around?"
The cashier, a teenage girl with long red hair and freckles, glanced over to Eagle. She bore a nametag on her shirt which read 'Nikki'. She motioned to an aisle towards the far left end of the store after a moment. "Last aisle. All the hats we got." she said, looking Eagle over as she spoke. "Haven't I seen you before? Few months back, I think."
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The taller man apparently was the manager of the establishment. Once he had finished giving out orders to the the associate staff, he turned to find Mariuz waiting to speak to him. "Oh, welcome to the Lancaster General Goods Store. My name is Elijah. I'm the manager. Is there something you need?" he asked, adjusting the glasses he was wearing to get a better look at Mariuz.
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The bar that Aegis was marching towards was off to itself, at the end of a short street. It was inside of what looked to be an old restaraunt, which seemed to be how most buildings were in the new world after the war. A garage could be a restaraunt, a bank could be a gambling hall, and so on.
There were a few patrons standing outside, talking amongst themselves and puffing away on cigarettes as they stood near their vehicles. Most seemed to be mutants, but there was a pure human mixed in amongst them here and there. And one synth, which wasn't hard to tell because the skin that some of them were usually cloaked in had almost been entirely ripped away. Some of them paused as they watched the group of robots head towards the bar's front doors. The sign just above the door read 'Lancaster's Watering Hole', and the music inside could be heard from the parking lot.
Aegis had picked a nice target to investigate. Someone was bound to know something about the thieves here. And if they didn't, they could point to someone who did.
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"Perhaps the thieves had the same thirst as you do. Lead the way."
"Now, if I were a thief and were craving a drink..." said Eliza, her voice trailing off as she looked about. Eventually, she spotted a nice bar operating out of the basement of a nearby building. There was nothing to show where it was other than a small sign on the side of the building which pointed down towards a set of decending stairs sandwiched between the building and the one next to it. "I wouldn't risk going to one of the bigger places if I were them. Everyone and their fucking mother would see you and could tell others where you went. Lets try that place." she said, pointing out the underground bar and walking over towards it.
As Eliza and Malin wandered over and decended the stairs, the stench of cigarette smoke grew stronger. Along with the smell of hard liquor, and a hint of piss (which was coming from a corner in the stairwell.) "Oh yeah. This place is gonna be great." said Eliza, flashing Malin a toothy grin. They reached a large red door at the bottom, with a small marker on it that read 'Mike's Basement.' The name was appropriate considering where it was.
Eliza opened the door, motioning for Malin to follow her as she headed inward.
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The clinic was filled with various mutants and humans, bearing various forms of injury or sickness. Ranging from gunshot wounds to the common cold. And that was just the waiting room. Jasper proceeded past them, tipping his hat to a few of them as they glanced up to him, before pausing a window in the wall at the end of the room. The door next to it was locked. "I'm looking for a Dr. Amber Day. Is she still around?" he asked, looking down at the bald man at the desk.
"Yeah, she's still around. Your name, sir?" he asked, looking up from the paperwork on counter in the window. "Jasper Clarke. Could you tell her that I'm here? She'll know who I am." he said, removing his hat and running his hand through his hair. The man nodded, before turning about and heading into one of the other rooms of the clinic. A few minutes passed, Jasper patiently waiting and looking around.
Surprisingly, the clinic was rather clean. A sterile environment was always best when treating patients, and this place stacked up quite well to a true medical facility. The same couldn't be said about the facilities back in Dallas or Houston. The deserts of the wastes had a nasty effect on quite a few things.
Eventually, the man returned. "She said you can wait in her office. Its down that hallway there to the right. Last door on your left." he said, unlocking and opening the door next to the window. Jasper quietly stepped through, before the door was closed and relocked.
He journeyed to the room that had been pointed out to him, stepping inside. Amber's office was like that of the rest of the clinic, though much more organized in where everything was located. The desk was perfectly parallel to the back wall, and the chairs were perfectly aligned to the desk. There was a file cabinet in the coner, with letters and numbers on each drawer. A small green plant sat atop it. Even the paperwork on the desk and the pencils were perfectly straightened and neat. Jasper smirked. She still hadn't changed.
He stepped over and sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk, resting his hat on his knee. Now to wait...
Eagle chuckled and walkee up to Nikki slowly. "You have a good eye." He extended his hand and, after Nikki shook it, Eagle presented himself. "Name's Eagle. Famous bounty hunter. I currently hold the record for the highest amount completed bounties. Ever."
He leaned on the cashier station. "I also save cats."
Eagle then brought out the papers showing the wanted men. "Listen-" Eagle glanced at her nametag- "Nikki, you seem like a bright girl. I need you to help me out." He placed the photos in front of her and maxed out the scanning output of his ocular sensors.
"I'm looking for these men. They've stolen something. I'm a decent guy so I want to help them y'know, before they do anything stupid."
He gestured with his hands. "The thing they stole is potentially very dangerous. Hell, it could be dangerous for them to even be near it. If you've seen this men Nikki or if you know someone else who may have seen them you need to tell me."
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Malin followed Eliza into the basement. Yuck. She wasn't one to complain but damn, this basement smelled. The patrons must be too drunk to notice. "I'll check with the barkeep."
Eliza nodded and Malin walked up to the bartender. "Hey," she said before placing her badge on the desk, followed by the photos. Lastly she placed a small amount of credits on the desk.
"Have you seen these men?"
"There is a problem alright. You can guess by the badges that we aint here for rest and relaxation, but we are looking for someone." Slade showed him the pictures "You seen any of these fine individuals come by here?"
Diplo moseyed up to the skinless synthetic and attempted to strike up a conversation,
"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?"
Aegis trails behind Diplo, standing silent as he eyes up the group outside of the bar. In his head he did various calculations on threat assessment of these locals, not finding it proper to act and blow what little cover they had by immediately questioning them. He would see how far the plucky synth could get first.
Name: V3-R0 'Veronika'
Picture:
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/240129/00f6bc5b-e520-4ae4-b230-bc4ebebb3480/image.png
Physical Description:
2 Meters tall. lanky, skeletal body structure with a Narrow, camera-like head
Birthdate: 2127
Race: Robot (BRP-24AK3M Model)
Profession: Mercenary. Former wanderer, Retired PAA Officer.
Bio: Created in the vast factories of former Ukraine over 100 years ago, originally built as part of the then-advance BRP-24 series of combat robots, an officer variant specifically. V3-R0 (Nicknamed 'Veronika' by it's comrades) was part of the Second-generation of autonomous Infantry robots that we're build with advanced learning A.I and we're once the pride of the PAA's Eastern Bloc Corps. However, the BRP-24's successes were soon over shadowed by their prohibit cost and control issues regarding their complex intelligence cores led them being supplanted and eventually completely replaced by the newer and simpler BRP-32 series of robots in fully robotic battle groups once the Third World War had truly begun.
Forced to heavily divided their stretched military forces, most of the existing BRP-24s we're forced to integrate various elite units. Veronika's one being that of the 17th VDV Paratrooper platoon and was given the responsibilities of acting as the unit's secondary command officer, often tasked with calculating and executing battle maneuvers that we're desperately needed to ensure the unit's continued survival through the deadest war that Man's has ever waged. Veronika fraught heavily in many fronts of the war, from Soul to Kiev and countless other operations through the various theaters and fronts of the all encompassing war.
Veronika survived the all planet-wide conflict mostly intact compared to many of it's robotic brethren that had suffered a far worse fate. As one of the few BRP-24 left operational by the 2140s, Veronika had gain an unique perspective of itself and sense of self-preservation that was rather alien at that time, for most of it's robotic comrades room for growth was either limited by the simplicity of their manufacture or hard-coded with dozens of laws and protocols built into their digital minds that forever shackled their minds to a life of servitude.
But by pure chance, Veronika was spared of such, due to both it's intellect and lack of hard restraint, it's mind was allowed to truly flourish and developed an rather cynical and snarky demeanor inside it's cold, metal shell. For when Veronika eventually learn the trade of the rebuilding bodies both mechanical and biological in addition to destroying them not just for the mere necessity but because of it's own burning curiosity for purpose and the mystery of life itself in this chaotic world.
Nonetheless, Veronika continued to faithfully served alongside it's remaining comrades till the last of their eventual deaths years after the war's end in the ruins of the formerly American held territory in Alaska, leaving the few shattered remnants of the PAA forces behind to wanderer the lands for an new purpose besides that of endless conflict in this new, broken world.
Veronika's then lived an solitary existence by it's lonesome for many years, rumbling through the long dead battlefields and desolate cities for something to shine light on the nature of existence, constantly scavenging these forgotten war-zones for whatever it needed to survive while avoiding others for an short while. Eventually, after quite some time scouting out and watching from afar, Veronika begun to approach other wanderers and the then gowning communities. Interacting with various travelers and settlers, even the preforming occasional odd job for some but always made sure to never stay in one area for too long.
However, Veronika soon offered it's services to some as surviving on the act of mere scavenging got increasing slimier by the year as nearly everywhere had been picked clean and the replacements needed for an BRP-24 model robot ain't cheap. Veronika has thus calculated that the services of an veteran war-bot such as itself would prove to be profitable enough for it to acquire the needed resources that are required for it's continued existence and then some.
Now, after serving as an caravan guard for over 5 months, Veronika has once again found itself alone in the settlement of Memphis. Seeking out jig to sustain itself and earn an fair bit of cash.
Special Skills or Attributes:
Cold Steel - DEF Tech base value 10 instead of 5. Enemy CH rolls do half damage.
Cunning Intellect - Bonuses to CH Actions towards all mechanical/medical actions.
Stats:
HP: 75
ATK: 5
DEF: 12
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In the bar of Lancaster's Watering Hole, Veronika stood in the rear of the skimping through the pages of an old book as it leaned on the establishment's rear wall. Occasionally glancing over it's fellow denizens before turning it's lenses back to it's book.
"Oh, welcome to the Lancaster General Goods Store. My name is Elijah. I'm the manager. Is there something you need?" he asked, adjusting the glasses he was wearing to get a better look at Mariuz.
Mariuz sized the man up and responded. "Yes sir, my name is Mariuz Wanjiku, I'm a deputy with Marshall Masterson from out West, Texas specifically. We are currently after a gang of thieves who stole some very important cargo and we have recently tracked them to this town." He took out the picture of the suspects and showed it to the manager. "This is a rough photo of who we believe they might be. Do you recognize any of them? Your cooperation will be very appreciated, if not rewarded if we find these guys."
Veronika concluded reading the torn and blacked book, finishing the whole thing in about half a minute. It's was that of an cautionary Tale, something written to teach the youth an lesson in respect.
Veronika has found the old book a few days ago on it's tavels, always interested in the recovery and Discovery of the Forgotten literature the old world. Ever curious for what information that can be gleaned from them.
Nevertheless, Veronika pull out it's duffel bag and careful sat down the book alongside many others before getting itself ready to head out on the road again.
However, Veronika spotted an rather interesting individual standing outside the bars entrance. Another being of both steel and will as itself. An Rarity found these days, Veronika took a spilit moment to scan the subject before taking an step closer. An old pre-war law enforcement model in strikingly good condition.
Veronika then slowly rose it's hand in air, facing towards the other robot. It's mechanic hand acting similar to that of an hand waving gesture.
"Greetings." Veronika softly spoke in an artificial, feminine voice towards the fellow machine. "You don't seem to be local around here...you a traveler?"
"Greetings." Veronika softly spoke in an artificial, feminine voice towards the fellow machine. "You don't seem to be local around here...you a traveler?"
Aegis turns his gaze from Diplo and the skin-lacking synth to face the automaton addressing him. A quiet whir emanates from his head as he processes and scans the model in front of him, nothing too familiar striking his memory banks as he stands silent for a few moments. All it could surmise was that this was a military model of sorts, so he nodded his head positively to her question.
"Good day to you." Aegis states, voice a synthesized series of deep tones and electronic reverberation. "It is true, I am not from this locale. My primary function was to operate as law-enforcement in the state of Texas. My county was more or less devastated, as a result I have been forced to expand my jurisdiction to other areas. Currently pursuing criminals of the state who have stolen an important item."
Veronika nodded, "Interesting." the robot muttered as it lowered It's hand and began to lean on the side of the building. It's electric eye now looking directly at Aegis's metal face.
"So...," Veronika said with it's left hand rised, "do you or your gang of 'lawbringers' require any additional guns? Because if you're hiring, Ill be willing to give it an shot."
"So...," Veronika said with it's left hand rised, "do you or your gang of 'lawbringers' require any additional guns? Because if you're hiring, Ill be willing to give it an shot."
The differences between the two units were like night and day, Veronika being far more emotive and fluid with its movements than Aegis, who has elected to just stand in his position rigidly and completely static. "That would be a question for Marshal Masterson. I am not the commander of our group of law enforcement officers." he states. "However, he has been giving the position of deputy to all sorts of individuals - and I am certain that he would not turn down a capable unit."
Veronika was interested in this particular machine, it remind Veronika of it's simpler BRP-15/16 robotic brothers back during and before the war, always direct and to the point. Bringing back a feeling of familiarity. Yet, it also felt some of Sorrow for it. As an greater mind was forcibly shackle to a life of diligence and servitude.
Nevertheless, Veronika put these feelings to the back of it's digital mind. Instead focusing on the new task at hand.
"Understandable," Veronika stated, it's lens scanning that of the hard drit ground and lower parts of it's fellow machine legs, the iris closing on it's singular eye. Taking a second before refocusing its glaze back onto police bots face.
"Question, where would I find this 'Marshall Masterson' if I had further interest in joining your unit?" Veronika asked, it's arms now crossed.
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