<DeathStar> Episode 24: 7:00 AM
* Ceres sighs and keeps staring at her sheets.
<Ceres> *SERA
<DeathStar> 6* The morning light shines down. It's a beautiful winter morning.
* Ceres sighs and keeps the guns locked, waiting to fire.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *twitches slightly*
<DeathStar> <Troopers> You have 1 minute to surrender.
* Ariel frowns at Sera, "...are you going to be alright, Sera?"
* Chad`Winters looks over at Kyouki. "What's wrong?"
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "They have Warren, I need my medicine... and I don't exactly forgive them for everything else."
<DeathStar> 6* The trooper pauses, then shrugs. He puts the gun against Warren's head. "Seems they don't care."
<Chad`Winters> <C> ....Fire on them.
<DeathStar> 6* Trooper pulls the trigger.
* Ceres pushes the button.
<DeathStar> 6* Trooper turns away from Warren's body
<Ceres> *Turrets begin to take out VI troops.
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers are suddenly shot up. They begin to pull back.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> <Don't let them escape Ceres.> *sounds confused for some reason*
* Ceres starts firing wwihtout remorse
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers are cut down and collapse. It seems they were counting on them not firing wiht a hostage. Within seconds, it's over.
* Ariel gives Sera a hug, kisses Zephyr on the forehead, and steps out of the room to try to raise any of the troublemakers on the comm.
* Chad`Winters begins limping towards the main entrance
<DeathStar> 6* Janus shuttles land.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads after Chad*
* Ceres looks at the door after Ariel leaves, a blush on her cheeks
<Ceres> *SERA
<DeathStar> 6* Medical troops begin to hop down, eyeing the mess of bodies. They hurry to Chad
* DeathStar` has joined #taw
* DeathStar` is now known as Chad`Winters`
<DeathStar> 6* The main medical trooper stops beside Chad. "Sir!"
<Chad`Winters`> There's a man, Warren Carmichael...
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *starts looking for Warren*
* Chad`Winters has quit IRC (Ping timeout)
<DeathStar> 6* Amongst the many bodies, it is hard to find one man
<DeathStar> 6* The medical troopers nod. "Where?"
<Ceres> *Ceres steps out, holding out her datapad, "Use this, he has a locator beacon."
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers nod, then move out to find Warren
<Chad`Winters`> ...Probably among the dead...6He lowers his head.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Warren..."
* Chad`Winters` motions to a medical trooper. 1"There's a female inside, suffering from Hypothermia...She needs attention right away.
<DeathStar> 6* The medical trooper nods, stepping inside.
<DeathStar> 6* One of the troopers tries to get Chad and the others onto the shuttle to be taken to the hospital.
* Ariel would have tried comming Warren first... failing that, Chad. And if he doesn't answer, she'll go down the list.
* Chad`Winters` begins limping towards the shuttle, then taps his comm.
<Chad`Winters`> <C> Yes?
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers find the body. Judging by their reaction, it isn't good.
<Ariel> <c> "What's happening out there Chad. I saw the fireworks before, and..."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads over* "..."
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers begin to carry out Erevis to the shuttle.
<Chad`Winters`> <C> Warren....Warren's dead. 6He clicks his comm off, pulling it out ofh is ear and tossing it on the ground.
* Ariel stares at the comm, silent.
* Ceres stands there, watching things numbly, probably blaming herself entirely.
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers lay a sheet down, out of curteousy, then they begin to wrap up things.
* Chad`Winters` steps onto the shuttle and sits down, holding onto Aya even tighter now
<DeathStar> <Troopers> We're heading to the hospital. Come on. 6They escort Ceres and Kyouki to the shuttle.
* Ceres lets herself be led, sitting, looking at Aya as she does
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr opens her eyes finaly, looking at the ceiling
<DeathStar> 6* The shuttle lifts up into the air.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr glances around, disoriented.
<DeathStar> 6* The shuttle begins to head back to the city.
* Chad`Winters` stares down at Aya, hiss emotion gone in his face
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis wakes up a bit as the shuttle jolts one time
* Ariel still stands just outside the door, looking stunned.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "..." *looks over at Erevis*
* Ceres looks at Zephyr silently.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr tries to rise, but can't. She lays back down
* Ceres is now known as Seraphna
<Seraphna> *Sera
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Don't try to move yet..."
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> Warren...where's Warren...and Chad....Oh God, the baby...
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "... I'm sure they're fine..."
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr closes her eyes. "I let the baby die."
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "No, you didn't."
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr says nothing, since Hotaru doesn't know
* Ariel slowly makes her way back into the room, hearing the voices.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis looks at them all. "What...happened?" 6she asks quietly.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "We did it, but..."
<Chad`Winters`> Things got complicated...
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis pauses, nodding. She asks nothing more
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... do you think I'll ever be able to handle this?"
* Seraphna sits silently
<DeathStar> 6* The shuttle comes into range of the city.
<DeathStar> 6* It lands on the hospital room.
* Chad`Winters` stands up from his seat and moves off the ramp, limping inside
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers get Erevis off the shuttle and begin to cart her inside.
* Ariel speaks up quietly, "Warren...'s... gone."
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr looks at Ariel. She stares in disbelief
* Chad`Winters` makes his way down the staires towards the infant ward.
* Seraphna blinks and looks up at Ariel
* Seraphna shakes her head
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *doesn't seem to know who to follow*
* Seraphna is doing it furiously in denial./
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Warren..."
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr closes her eyes and just cries. Too much overload.
* Ariel sorta... flops, next to Zephyr's bed.
* Chad`Winters` steps onto the infant ward floor and moves to the newborn babies room.
<DeathStar> 6* The nurses nod to Chad as she steps in
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *eventually follows Erevis*
* Chad`Winters` puts Aya in her crib. 1"Take care of her for me..."
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis is put in her own room to be treated for the hypothermia
<DeathStar> <Nurse> Is this the Aya Winters baby?
<Chad`Winters`> Yes...
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr finally stops crying. She grabs onto ARiel and holds on
<DeathStar> <Nurse> We were praying for her safe return. You're a lucky man. 6She smiles, moving over to Aya
* Seraphna sits there, fists clenched, wanting to say something, anything.
* Ariel does her best to comfort Zephyr, trying to ignore her own pain.
<Chad`Winters`> Luck doesn't last forever...6He steps outside heading towards the ER ward.
* Seraphna finally just hurls her pillow into a walla and lays back in frustration.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "She'll be fine, right...?"
<DeathStar> <Doctor> Of course. We just got to get her warmed up and her vitals going. 6He nods to Kyouki. "ARe you family?
* Chad`Winters` stops, bending over slightly as he rubs his left thigh.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *pauses a moment* "I guess so."
<DeathStar> <Doctor> Sister? 6He goes to jot it down in his notes
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Something like that."
* Chad`Winters` resumes walking again
<DeathStar> <Doctor> We'll let you know more later. Get some rest. You look tired.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Alright. Thankyou."
* Seraphna sighs, an od sound from her lips.
<Seraphna> <...Warren... Kane... Ceil...>
<Alicia> <Hotaru> <They won't be forgotten.>
* Chad`Winters` steps into the ICU room where Serena and Zephyr are, blood dripping from the cuts in his tact suit, a bandaged right hand that's slightly soaked in blood again and a limp in his walk.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr keeps holding onto Ariel, looking up at Chad when walks in
<Seraphna> <...Oh... you can hear me.>
* Seraphna looks up at Chad, her pillows busted on the floor.
* Chad`Winters` glances at Serena, taking note of her condition then over at Zephyr. 1"I....I'm sorry.."
* Ariel looks up slowly at Chad.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr just closes her eyes.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *wanders the hospital, looking dazed, and tired, but not exactly wanting to sleep right now*
* Chad`Winters` looks at the expression on her face, his head lowering.
* Seraphna shakes a bit, looking at Chad
<Chad`Winters`> I just...6He shakes his head in shame. 1"No...there's no excuse..."
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> Is Aya okay? 6She asks numbly, still holding onto Ariel as if she were a liferaft
<Chad`Winters`> Yeah...
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Two out of three..."
<Ariel> "...I'm glad to hear that."
* Chad`Winters` looks over at Serena again. 1"I'm glad you're safe Serena...."
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "... we all are."
* Chad`Winters` he pats his hand on the doorway then turns, walkign out.
* Seraphna nods weakly
* Seraphna reaches her hand out, sighing
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr watches him go, then lays back on the bed. It's hard to tell what she's thinking
* Chad`Winters` begins limping towards the lobby.
<DeathStar> 6* The Janus troops begin to arrive with all the dead bodies. They pull up and begin to pull them off.
* Chad`Winters` uses the wall to help him walk as he makes his way down the stairs
<DeathStar> 6* The troops begin to set up teams to ID the bodies and get in touch with their respective kin.
* Seraphna looks to Zephyr, <Can you hear me...?>
<DeathStar> 6* There's nothing. It's like Zephyr doesn't exist. Strangely, Ariel would feel the same void as well
* Chad`Winters` steps into the lobby then moves over to a bench and sits down, placing his face in his hands.
<DeathStar> 6* Meanwhile, the Tsivrixsh shuttle leaves the planet.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... how is everyone...?"
* Chad`Winters` shakes his head and stands back up, moving to leave the hospital.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... I see."
<DeathStar> <Janus Commando Leader> Sir. We've finished clean up at the missile silo.
* Chad`Winters` nods. 1"Where's Warren Carmichael's body?"
* Seraphna sighs tiredly
<DeathStar> <Janus Commando Leader> Of course. Hold on. 6He moves past one body that's IDed as Hodges
* Chad`Winters` follows along, eyeing Hodge's body as he moves past it.
<DeathStar> <Janus Commando Leader> Here. 6He motions to one body bag.
* Chad`Winters` nods to him, then unzips the bag.
<DeathStar> 6* The Commando stands there at attention.
* Ariel wouldn't notice about Zephyr, unless she sensed that before... right now, she's cutting herself off completely. Doing her best to submerge her own feelings, so she could be strong for her daughter.
* Chad`Winters` pulls the bag open and glances inside
<Seraphna> <Glad at least someone can hear me...>
<Seraphna> <I wonder if they'll ever figure out who helped Warren...>
<DeathStar> 6* It's some guy with a bullet hole in his head.
* Chad`Winters` tilts his head slightly. 1"This...This isn't Warren Carmichael.."
<DeathStar> <Man> Oh? I'm sorry. Must have been a mix up with the IDs. 6He stares at the man, then moves to another bag. "This one."
* Chad`Winters` limps over, opening the bag quickly and looking inside
* Seraphna mutely yawns a bit, slowly sitting up
<DeathStar> 6* Yet another stranger.
<Chad`Winters`> No...This isn't him either...6He looks over at the commando. 1"Double check the bags..."
<DeathStar> <Man> Sir, this is his datapad. 6He reaches in and holds it up
* Chad`Winters` reaches out, grabbing the datapad.
<DeathStar> <Man> His hands were tied behind his back and everything, sir.
<Chad`Winters`> ...It's not him.
* Seraphna walks over to Zephyr
* Chad`Winters` glances around, looking quickly.
<DeathStar> <Man> .... Men. Search every body now. 6He orders. They begin to open body bags.
* Seraphna taps Zephyr's shoulder.
* Chad`Winters` moves to another bag, ripping it open and looking inside
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr glances at her.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads over to the commotion*
* Seraphna looks at her oddly, as if at a loss of what to do next.
<DeathStar> 6* The door to Zephyr's room is pushed open
* Chad`Winters` moves to another one, opening that one.
* Ariel glances towards the door
<DeathStar> 6* Warren walks in, holding a freshly prescribed bottle of pills. "Doctors and making you wait for relief." 6He rolls his eyes, hobbling in.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr stares.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Warren?! ... wow."
<DeathStar> <Man> He's not here, sir. 6He notes grimly.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "No body...?"
<DeathStar> 6* The Commando shrugs at Kyouki
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Hmm.."
<DeathStar> 6* Warren looks at them. "What?"
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "We... umm... thought you were dead."
<DeathStar> <Commando> I just followed the beacon like Miss. Connor ordered.
<Chad`Winters`> You're sure you grabbed every body?
* Seraphna turns and stares at Warren
<DeathStar> <Commando> Yes, sir.
* Seraphna points at him
* Seraphna points more!
<DeathStar> 6* Warren pauses, raising a brow. "I caught a ride with Ceres' shuttle."
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr leaps out of bed, grabbing Warren, even though her stitches threaten to break
* Ariel is half stunned, "......Chad said you were dead..."
* Chad`Winters` stands upright, rubbing his face.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> *laughs* "You always were the type to... Hey, Zephyr, be careful..."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... you think...?"
<DeathStar> <Warren> What does Chad know. Really. 6He grunts as Zephyr squeezes him, then pops a pill.
<DeathStar> 6* The Commando turns toward Chad. "Sir---" 6 Suddenly a gun shot rings out.
* Chad`Winters` lets out a sigh, either of frustration or possible relief.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "What was that?"
<DeathStar> 6* The Commando stares. "SIR!" 6He eyes the bloody mass of Chad's chest.
* Chad`Winters` stands there, then looks down at his chest, his hand moving to it and touching it.
* Seraphna looks about, hearing the shot.
<DeathStar> 6* Skaad lowers the sniper rifle. He turns and walks off from the roof top.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren glances up
<Chad`Winters`> I...I...6He falls down to his knees, his face beginning to grow white.
<DeathStar> Season 8 ends
Session Close: Thu Jan 04 20:00:26 2007