Faster Than Angels | Part 25.1
And just because I feel like it, another part on day after the one I just posted.
The referenced album title of Part 24.2 was the self-titled album by Them Crooked Vultures.
[s2_17.1: Part 25.1] Before The Incident... [Pt.1]
<22120611>
Thursday, June 11th, 2212
Omega Harbour, Perth, Australia.
11:06:54
Nikole had decided to take action against the spy working against Angelus, not realising that a certain someone had the same idea.
"Katsuo, come here. This is improtant." She told her.
Katsuo followed Nikole into the latter's car, as they set off for their destination.
"So what's going on?" Katsuo asked.
"I have obtained data that points to the spy masquerading as Alexandra Kotova. I need you and Halvred to investigate her residence, then meet me in front of Angules HQ, I want to inform Brandon what we can as soon as possible. And make sure Halvred is armed."
"Armed?!" Katsuo asked, slightly caught off guard.
"It's a precaution, we still don't fully understand what forces are at work."
"Oh, ok, I feel much better." Katsuo muttered to herself as she grabbed her phone.
They arrived at the house in no time, getting out of the car and walking up to the door. Katsuo held Halvred back as she inspected the door and it's surroundings.
"How do you think we're going to get in?" Halvred asked.
"Well, maybe this will work" She said, knocking on the door.
...
Nothing. She tried again.
"Hello?!" She yelled.
... "MMMPH! MMMPH!"
"Worth a shot, I g-" Katsuo started
"SHHH!" Halvred shushed her "Hear that?"
... "MMMPH! MMMPH!"
"Is that..." Katsuo whispered, "ohh... oh no..."
"We should check the back." Halvred suggested, reaching for his pistol.
The two walked around to the gate leading to the rear, and jumped over it.
"MMMPH! MMMPH!"
The muffled screams grew louder, more noticeable.
"...HERE! It's coming from here!" Katsuo stopped by a window.
Halvred knelt under the window and knocked a few times.
"Is that Alexandra Kotova?! One for yes, two for no."
"MMMMMPH!"
"Right." Halvred reholstered his gun, assuming that any potential ambush would've taken place by now. "In that case, hold on, we're breaking in."
He signalled Katsuo to go back. They returned to the front of the house.
"Kat, you know what to do..."
"Of course!" Katsuo said enthusiastically, unlocking the doors in no time at all. The two rushed in, seeing a bound and gagged Alex. Katsuo knelt down by her, removing the gag from her mouth.
"Yo, what's the security code?" Katsuo asked immediately.
"Huh? U-uh, 6852."
Halvred knew what Katsuo would ask of him, and ran up to the front of the house. He opened the control panel of the security system and input the numbers on the keypad, deactivating the alarm before it had a chance to go off. While he did that, Katsuo made work of freeing Alex.
"Th-Thanks. Really, I mean it. How did you know I was here?"
"Brandon, he found out about the spy. Are you able to walk on your own? Cause we need to get going now."
"Y-Yeah, I can manage. I am quite hungry, though."
"Okay, good. Grab a snack if you have any here, you can eat in the car."
Alex went directly to the fridge, grabbed a snack, and reset the security alarm, leaving her prison with her two saviours.
"Wait, you mentioned Brandon, does that mean-?"
"Yes," Katsuo cut her off. "We're heading to Angelus HQ."
Faster Than Angels | Part 25.2
The referenced album title of Part 25.1 was... well, the same as this part. Find out next time!
[s2_17.2: Part 25.2] ...The Stoica Incident... [Pt.2]
<22120611>
Thursday, June 11th, 2212
Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia
11:13:39
Text Message: we will be at angelus hq soon, we have something of interest to you.
Satisfied with all the evidence he had finally collated, Brandon headed out of his office, towards the spy.
"Alex, I need to talk with you."
"Of course! I need to talk to you too." She said with a smile.
"You do?"
"Yes, but I'll let you speak first."
"Okay... Snežana Stoica, you have been found out."
"Wh-What?! Who's that?"
Naturally, everyone was confused.
"The hell? What are you talking about, that's Alex!"
"It is nothing more than a very clever disguise. The person you thought was Alex is actually an international spy, working for a certain organisation to gather information on Angelus. I have proof on this, don't bother arguing with me."
"B-but... I am Alex!" She said, getting rather frustrated.
Brandon just laughed at that, "Wow, you really didn't do your research properly! Even I know of Alex's secret ability."
"Secret ability? Of course I know about it!" She said
"No, you don't. See, this ability is involuntary, it happens under certain circumstances. One such circumstance just happened, yet her ability did not present itself."
"Brandon, just chill!" An employee said, still not understanding.
"It seems that no-one understands me. Fortunately, I do have the evidence that proves who she really is."
"So do we." A familiar voice spoke out. 4 people walked into the R&D room they were in: Nikole Carole, Halvred Erikson, Katsuo Tsukiko and... another Alexandra Kotova.
"Huh?!" The Alex that Brandon was speaking to squealed in surprise and fear. Her eyes however, did not change.
"I'd stand still if I were you," Halvred said, pulling out his gun, "or else I might have to add one hell of a marking to keep track of you two."
"Yes." Alex said, keeping still. She then turned to the other Alex at the opposite end of the room. "Hello, my doppelgänger. Guess the tables have turned!"
"Do you see now?" Brandon explained "I realised that Alex had somehow lost the involuntary ability to change her eye colour based on her emotions. Then Nikole came to me talking about a spy. That was when it finally clicked for me. You were not Alex to begin with.
"As for you, Nikole..." He turned around, stepping beside the other Alex.
"Wait!" The Alex with the two Syncline personnel stopped him, "Nikole is a trustworthy person, she saved me from Stoica."
"I know, I can see that. I was going to thank her." He directed his attention to Nikole, "Really, you have my full gratitude... and my trust."
While he wasn't looking, though, Snežana had disappeared, leaving Halvred perplexed as to why he was down one gun.
"Ack!"
<second scout | autechre_>
"Anyone move, and the bitch dies." A female spoke in a disturbing voice, void of any emotion. Snežana had grabbed Alex from behind and pressed her automatic knife to her throat. "Except for you three, get back now." She gestured at Katsuo, Halvred and Nikole. They all stepped back, but Halvred then rushed up at her. Snežana swung her knife in his direction, causing him to grab her wrist. The opening Halvred created allowed Snežana to kick him square in the diaphragm, causing him to drop to the ground.
"Hal!" Alex called out.
Brandon just smiled wider. "Ahh, now your true colours show. Hello, Snežana. Now, that is a really neat weapon, as is this." He held up a gun of his own, which Snežana would never think to make accounted for. "This is rather interesting! It doesn't take any bullets, but has the potential to take a person's life, like a traditional firearm."
She then realised that he was holding her gun. "Oh. That's why you stood beside me. You are very deceptive. You would do well as a spy."
"Unfortunately, I'd rather not stoop that low. Drop the weapon," He pointed the gun at her. "Or I will be forced to use violence. You know me, I don't like violence. However, if I feel that me or my team are threatened, I will have no choice." His face was as stoic as the spy standing at the opposite end of the room, yet there seemed to be some anger behind it.
"You cannot negotiate with me. You will have to kill me. Let's see if you can do it, Angelus... KKGUUAAUH."
What happened next was so fast, it was over in a second. While Snežana was talking, Alex had slowly raised her leg, then swung backwards, kicking her leg. Wile she swung her leg backwards, she raised her arm and grabbed the spy's wrist, twisting and pulling it in such a way that when she kicked her leg, Alex was able to drop her to the ground, disabling her. Finally, she stomped hard on her wrist, breaking it and making her lose her grip on her knife. She picked it up and pointed it at her.
"Don't... you DARE DO THAT AGAIN." Her eyes changed, a fiery angry red glow lighting up in her unique eyes. "What was it you said, 'move and the bitch dies'? Yeah, how's that?!"
"Hmph."
Snežana acted just as quickly as Alex, however, the latter was prepared. Just as Snežana sweeped her leg at her, she attempted to leap out of the way. She unfortunately got caught, but she closed up and threw the knife away in one fluid motion. Brandon stopped the skidding weapon and picked it up.
At the same time, she leaped up, dashed over to Katsuo and grabbed her by the throat, strangling her. She was becoming more desperate, and more careless, as she didn't notice Hal was starting to stand up again. When he went for a sleeper hold, she dropped Katsuo, who collapsed to the ground, coughing. Immediately, Nikole rushed to her side. Snežana had swung around to strike Hal, but only swung at air while he ducked down. Hal made a point with his three longest fingers, and executed her abdomen with surgical precision, and grabbed his gun back on her way down.
Meanwhile, Brandon made his move. "Give up, now." He advised coldly, flicking the automatic knife open. Halvred backed away from the open blade, with its owner walking up to her and pointing it directly at her face.
Snežana looked up at the seething man... and shivered. For the first time in her life, she felt fear. Fear for what would happen, what lengths he would go through to get what he wanted. His unsmiling face was blank, showing not one emotion, but it was clear that there was extreme fury behind his mask.
In the same cold, calm, yet anger-filled voice, Brandon continued, unblinking. "You- no... no-one has ever seen me when I am down right furious, when I am pushed off the edge. Right now, however, I am dangling precariously on that very edge." His voice had reached it's coldest as he gave out his final warning: "I have killed people before, I will not hesitate to end you... Run."
Part 87: The Eternal Miko of Mystic and Divernity
Faster Than Angels | Part 25.3
The referenced album title of Part 25.2 was... again, the same as this part. I'm sorry.
[s2_17.3: Part 25.3] ...The Incident's Conclusion [Pt.3]
<22120611>
Thursday, June 11th, 2212
Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia
11:19:58
"I have killed people before, I will not hesitate to end you... Run."
Filled with an intense fear, Snežana became paralyzed for a few moments, finally leaping up, and just began running. She ran for her life through the complex. Brandon signalled to Alex, Katsuo and Halvred, beginning to give chase, but the escapee grabbed a key fob from a rack. She continued running, madly pressing the unlock button. Finally, at the end of the room, a vehicle responded, opening it's canopy.
She jumped over the door into the open cockpit of the Tsunami prototype and shut it once she had settled in. She jammed the key in the slot and turned it, starting the unique vehicle. She set off at top speed through the R&D department, straight at her pursuers.
"NO!" Brandon yelled.
Almost all of them jumped out of the way of the speeding vehicle, except for Brandon. He jumped at the low car in an attempt to leap over it. He landed on the car, still running, which tripped him up by it's higher velocity. He landed on his back on the floor.
"Ow." He said after a few seconds, "Maybe I should not have tried that." Slowly, he got up and spun around. "Not on my watch." he shook his head slowly, then ran off in the direction of the car.
The slim, sleek vehicle raced through the building, driving down the ramp leading to the multi-story parking garage. Brandon followed, taking the elevator to the ground floor of the garage, where his Razer.X hypercar was parked. He entered the car and started it up as quick as possible, flooring it out of the garage.
<massacre | savant_>
The small unpainted vehicle shot out of the garage, tilted as it turned out onto the road, maintaining a sort of elegance to it. The much more normal-designed Razer.X, while not as elegant, was smooth in its exit out of the garage.
Both cars seemed to be equally matched. The Razer.X had the sheer power, and the Tsunami had the light weight, so both had a rather high acceleration. However, as the hypercar increased in RPM, the more power it gained, until it started to catch up to the tiny vehicle. Suddenly, the cockpit shifted to the left and the tiny machine darted in that direction.
"Ngh!"
Brandon had a hard time pulling his car around the corner at that speed, but it wasn't an overly heavy machine, so he was able to manage it. Along that straight, he pulled out his smartphone, opening an app that allowed him to control certain Angelus cars, the Tsunami being one of them.
As his speed allowed him to be beside the tiny racer, he tapped a portion of the screen.
Click.
"Huh?!"
The door and canopy was locked, as Brandon tapped other areas of the controls, causing other things to happen to the car as he slowly disabled it. First came a high-pitched whine as the engine revved to max, the gear being set to neutral. As the car slowly lost speed due to the lack of a drive gear engaged, Snežana looked back as Brandon hit the brakes of his Razer.X, as he tapped the screen again.
The lightweight car jerked with the force of it's own braking power, Brandon's heavier car shooting past it. To compensate, Brandon turned sharply, spinning his car around, stopping in a parking bay to the side of the road. When he came to a complete halt, he pushed the final button and swiped the top, which powered down the car, and locked the settings, so Snežana could not turn it back on and drive off.
He exited the car slowly, locking it, then walked over to the runaway concept. He looked down at his phone, then casually tapped two buttons.
Click.
The canopy unlocked, then swung open.
"GH-!"
Immediately as it did, Brandon grabbed her by the top she was wearing.
"Now, if y-..." He was cut off by Snežana thrusting a fist at where his head was moments before he dodged out of the way, pushing her to one side as he did so. The first moment he got, he held her arms down, continuing to speak as coldly as he did a while ago.
"... as I was saying... If you are done with your little joyride, we can go back to HQ."
"Y-you told me to run!"
"I said 'Run', not 'Steal a valuable car and race off with it'. You wasted your last chance, both you and the Tsunami are going back.... what?"
Brandon was cut off once again, this time by Snežana laughng loudly.
"I...I just remembered something! If I get caught by them... whatever you do to me... will be nothing compared to what my organisation will do."
Brandon's cold, serious face slowly grew to a wide smile
"H...Hahaha... Is that so! Well, then! In that case... I will let you go. You can flee then, at the cost of fear of being caught by your organisation!"
"...w-wait. What?"
"You can go. You will no longer be able to use Angelus as a shelter any longer. You can flee, but don't ever think of returning. You will live a life of fear, fear of getting caught by the organisation, of being tortured within a centimeter, nay, a millimeter of your life. This is the path you chose, I hope you're happy."
Snežana just stuttered and spluttered, her voice unable to come out. Finally, she was able to get 4 words out.
"Let... me... keep... Tsunami!"
"...You want the Tsunami? ......fine. I feel merciful today."
Brandon then tapped his phone a few times, unlocking the Tsunami completely.
"There, now leave, and never return."
"Y-you have my word!" She said, speeding off, leaving Brandon to get back in his car and return to Angelus HQ.
------------
As Brandon walked back to the R&D room, where he saw Nikole taking off her coat and giving it to Kat, along with a bottle of water, while Hal looked deep in thought.
"Hey, are you okay?" Brandon asked Kat.
"Of course I am, I'm invincible." She replied.
Brandon laughed, then turned to Alex.
"How about you? Nothing broken?"
"Well, I did get cut when I disabled the spy, but it's minor, I'll be fine. What about Snežana?"
"I have faith that she'll never return."
"You... mean?"
"We came to an agreement, she might regret the decision she chose, but that is not my problem."
Halvred snapped out of his trance, not at all looking as relieved as the others, and signaled Brandon to meet him around the hall.
"Is there anything else I need to worry about, you look troubled." Brandon asked.
"Mind telling what you planned on doing just now?"
"Pardon?"
"What in the hell were you doing? Brandon Smith, pure as can be, waving a gun, laughing and-"
"Just when do you have any ground to judge me? You step in, a gun's the first thing that comes out. Good god, you look like the reincarnation of Gandhi, you really do."
"My gun wasn't loaded." Hal chimed in the first chance he got. "See, I've not been around many lovers, but I know the fighters like a professor knows arithmetic, and I have a bit more of an idea of who the most dangerous are."
"Oh, you think I'm dangerous?" Brandon felt just enough shock to hold back his laughter, "Okay, Sun Zsu, you've got my attention, just what is so important that you just have to tell me now."
"There's a saying that's been going around among private military workers, usually when one get's called a crazed gunman. 'To be an assassin is to have a job; to be a crazed gunman is to have a mental illness'. And as it would turn out, I've never met someone who was both hired as a mercenary on top of being a psychopath."
"So because I've just now picked up a gun, that makes me a psycho... that's some grade A scrutiny you got there."
"You've already admitted to killing people, and you sounded damn proud of it! When I see a trained and seasoned military spy shivering at the sight of someone who has a weapon and couldn't care less about how to use it, what so you expect me to think of that person."
"Are you threatening me? If so you picked a hell of a time and place-"
"This situation is beyond me. I could not do anything to you, even in defense, so I can only warn you. Pay close attention to yourself, and seriously think about what you do. The sooner you learn this, the more likely you are to be lucky to not have to pay attention to everyone else."
Halvred went back to the crowd before Brandon had a chance to retort, who brushed of Halvred's words and acted as though they never spoke.
"Let us recuperate, and find out how to fix this mess. However, we also need to continue preparing for the first F12000 Omega Harbour race."
Part 88: Trancending Spirit
Faster Than Angels | Part 26.1
The referenced album title of Part 25 was The Incident by Porcupine Tree.
[s2_18.1: Part 26.1] Stoica's Great Reward
<22120623>
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2212
Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia
"Hi! Sorry to just drop in on you guys!" Catherine had entered Angelus' HQ to see the team, and speak with her new best friend.
"It's fine, how are you doing?" Brandon spoke.
"I'm alright. You guys know the next race is at-"
"Nilokeras Fossa, Syncline's home course. Doesn't seem like anything we can't handle."
"Great! I'll see you there then!... Ah! Is Alex here? I also wanted to catch up with her some more."
"Uhh, yes... but... well, you see..."
At that point, Alex walked past.
"Alex! Hi!" Catherine said in her usual energetic tone.
Alex just stared at her, blushing profusely and her mouth opening slightly. "Huh? Wh-who are you?"
"Haha, very funny. How're you doing?"
"I... No, really... who are you?"
Catherine's face turned to shock, she looked back at Brandon.
"There has been a little... incident, shall we say. The Alex you have been interacting with was not really Alex."
"What? Th... This.... This is just some horrible, cruel joke, isn't it? I know how you feel about the AGRC!"
"I would not joke with a kind hearted person such as yourself. Please, allow me to explain."
Brandon sat her down and explained everything to do with the spy. Naturally, Alex sat with her.
"...wow. That... really happened?" Catherine asked.
"Yes. I... truly am sorry for what happened." Alex said, looking away from her.
The shock that remained on Catherine's face soon turned into a large smile.
"It's fine! We can start again!"
"You can, I'm starting for the first time." Alex laughed.
Seeing that they were getting along well, Brandon left them to catch up, walking to his office. As he entered, he found a small package that one of the guards told him about, after scanning it for anomalous and hazardous materials. He opened it up, pulling out a holo-bar and a key fob. Holding the key in his right hand, he opened the holo-bar with his left.
"Brandon Smith.
"This past time I spent with you was a lie. I doubt anyone would know your true colours. So that day, I fled. I fled because for the first time as a professional spy, I was scared... and I usually have complete control of my emotions.
"In any case, I shall not be returning, not even to pick up my belongings... that's where the key comes into play."
At that point, Brandon stared at the key in his hand, then back at the letter.
"All the things I left at Angelus is now yours. My knife, my gun, and my old car are yours to keep. Do whatever you want with them; keep them, destroy them, whatever. They're yours now. The 4th floor of the parking garage should be where the car is.
"Speaking of cars... I'm treating the Tsunami well. I made changes to your design for a reason: I loved the initial design, and I wanted it. You just gave me the perfect time to steal it.
"In any case, I leave you with this final piece of information:
4F 45 45 4C 54
56 4C 20 4C 49
45 20 53 20 56
52 41 54 41 45
54 52 49 43 2E
"-Snežana Stoica"
Brandon scratched his head at the last part, then thought 'Screw it, I'll figure it out later. First order of business is the car.'
He made his way to the parking garage, going up to the 4th floor like the letter advised. There, he found the car 'Alex' drove, a 2210 Aston Martin. Brandon pressed a button on the key fob and the car responded to it. He opened the door and looked in it, then looked in the boot and engine bay. Satisfied there wasn't any anomalies attached to the car, he walked back to the main building, finding Alex.
"Alex, c-... wait, where's Catherine? I expected her to still be here talking with you."
"Ehh, we spoke for a while, but she had to return to work."
"Alright. Anyway, could you come with me for a moment."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I have something to give to you."
"Uhhhh, okay."
She got up and walked with Brandon, who escorted her to the 4th level of the building's multistory carpark.
Brandon dangled the key fob by placing the keyring around his finger. "I have this key. Can you guess which car it belongs to?"
Alex looked around, then her eyes snapped wide open in shock.
"I... I recognise that car... I've seen it before. It's that... devil woman's car." She said, pointing at the Aston Martin.
Brandon pressed two buttons on the key fob. Once again, the car responded, unlocking and opening the doors.
"Get in, I've wanted to experience these cars."
"Uh... you sure?"
"Relax, I checked it out earlier. It's clean."
"Right, but why do you want me to ride with you?"
"I'll explain later, just get in."
With a sigh, Alex sat in the passenger's seat of the car, as Brandon got in the driver's seat. He plugged the key in the slot and started the car, driving off to Omega Harbour for a test run.
Part 90: Awakening (had that title already smh)
Part 91: s(he) be(lie)ve(d)
Faster Than Angels | Part 26.2
The referenced album title of Part 26.1 was Some Great Reward by Depeche Mode.
[s2_18.2: Part 26.2] Human After All
<22120623>
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2212
Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia
The Aston Martin flew out of the garage, heading towards Omega Harbour.
"This feels... unique. Very solid. Then again, it's a proper GT, not a supercar like most of Angelus' cars."
"I agree, but it feels kinda... boring."
"Really? Huh, I agree it's not as fun as an Angelus or a Katana, but it's still quite fun."
When they entered Omega Harbour, Brandon was able to plant his foot down, the car responding well to it, accelerating to it's top speed of 325km/h before the first corner. It took the wide, banked corner at top speed, but Brandon had to slow down for the tighter U-turn. He turned into it, hard, shifting down and stomping on the brake a few times.
"What are you trying to do?" Alex asked.
"Trying to get it sideways." Brandon explained, looking down at the centre console and pushing a few buttons, before holding one down and saying, "Ah, found the traction control. You're off, great."
Brandon then broke into the following right hander, planting his foot down as he was in the corner. The car slipped, entering a beautiful slide, which Brandon kept under control. Racing the rest of the way around the course, Brandon exited through the fork halfway down that the short and medium courses used.
"Okay, that was fun. Let's get back now, I have things to discuss with you."
------------
When they returned, Brandon told her his intentions.
"This car, I'm giving to you. Keep it, sell it, crush it, it's up to you."
"I'd love to have a car... but not this one. Too many bad memories. I'd rather crush it."
"Not even sell it? You could get a decent amount for this."
"Maybe. Whatever. I just don't want to see this thing again. Besides, I have my own ideas for a car I want."
"Fair enough, then. I'll sell it and give you the cash I get for it, I won't accept no for an answer to the money thing."
"[sigh], sure... listen. I... just want to thank you for all you've done for me. Really, I didn't think I deserved all this, especially from you of all people... but I am grateful to you."
"Heh... um, thanks."
"Right, let's get out of here." She said, getting out of the car.
Brandon followed, getting out of the car, locking it up and throwing the key to Alex. She fumbled for a second before dropping it.
"Sh*t... I'm such a mess today... [sigh], I guess I'll just come out with it... I-I've been... thinking about... dating."
"Dating? Wait... you don't-?"
"Don't what?" She asked, before getting what Brandon meant, "Oh... no, I'm a lesbian."
"Ah, alright then. I was going to say, I still have feelings for Tarah."
"But she's gone now... you should let go."
"I have my reasons as to why I can't... you have feelings for Catherine, don't you?"
"The moment I saw her... I just... wow. A-And the more I knew about her, the more I fell for her." She smiled, as an image of her crush filled her mind.
"Okay... and you're telling me... why? Is it because I know her through... the other's interactions with her?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Well, there's nothing I can tell you that will help you any further, you guys just seem to naturally get together, so I'd say... just keep doing what you're doing."
"I know that!" She snapped back, "I... I just want to know... like... when should I ask her?"
Brandon just stared at her, "... whenever you feel the time is right. Have you not been in a relationship before?"
"I have, once before... but it was definitely not like this."
"No?"
"No. My first relationship was so meaningless, so horrid, I kinda got put off relationships, until now."
"Hmmm... well, I do think you should give it another shot. You two get along so well, you have good chemistry."
"Okay... I'll try."