*Cracks his knuckles*

[Niquee]

*pokes* And he will update!!! *pokes again* Can't. Stand. The. Suspense.

Reality does byte.... That's why I hang out here and read Rico's stories. =^^=

[Crash]

Ooookay, so, no one's saying much.....
It's quiet around here. TOO quiet.
Did I miss something? Has everyone gone back to RL for the week, and I didn't get the message?

Anyway, I hope that Rico decides to post some more. I'm looking forward to some sort of truce between Keer and Rico, and I wanna see what's happening with Xe. Neither of them has spoken to him yet. And is it just me, or is Twap a lot calmer here than in the comic? Peace out, dudes.

Sweet Billie Holliday! Did I just post that with "Peace out, dudes" at the end? I knew it was late at night, but that's going too far! Next thing you know, I'll be listening to soft rock and growing a mullet.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Crash on 2002-04-19 21:28 ]</font>

[Rico Underwood]

Darn this keenspace, I swear it's slower than Rosie O'Donnell's metabolism.

I haven't been able to post this for like 2 days. But like I said duplicates are at Artail and now The Sonic Foundation as well.

Note: I recieved a rather odd comment... See what you guys think,

Um, it's a Matrix ripoff, but I suppose there isn't much you can do about that now. Make sure that you have something to say.

Chapter 7: Hero to Save Us

The tension broke, in the worst way possible. Keer swallowed so heavily you could see his neck move. I knew whatever was coming wasn't going to be anything easy, for either of us. The rodent's fists loosened and he seemed to lose his rigid stance, like a melting snowman he slowly reverting to a plain standing position and looking down at the floor with his eyes clamped shut. Locking in any emotion, hiding the things that his eyes would give away. I swore I heard a muffled whimper escape him before he said anything, but I wasn't sure if it actually happened or if, maybe, I somehow wanted it too.

Reguardless, he slid down to his knees as if finishing a hundred mile marathon, looking mentally exhausted, instead of physically. My own scowl was replaced with something between a sympathic furrow and a uncertain gaze. I more I learned about Ciaran, the more I regretted staying here. No... that wasn't it. It wasn't what I regretted, more over it was supressing my personality and letting the cold guise I'd been wearing take over. I'd told myself it was to protect my sanity. But the cold hard truth of it was I was being overly self centered, and the worst part was it'd hurt people. It had hurt people that I'd let myself care about, and that was the worst feeling in the world.

After a few moments Ciaran starting mumbling, more to himself than me, "Xe... Why the heck did it have to Xe... Rico?" He'd lifted his head and kinda jerked it to motion me over. I sighed, walking forward and kneeling down. After all this was partially my fault. Before I could open my mouth to ask the question he answered it, "Rico... Can you help me?"

[honestly I sat here for 30 minutes trying to answer this o.O]

I had no answer. Just a reaction, I knew what he meant. It wasn't about his injuries, or even Xe's injuries, it was about loneliness. It hadn't occured to me untill that moment. After he'd told me about what had happened between Twap and him it started to run though my head. I knew his position, I'd been there before. It was a cold lonely pit, one that would bury you if didn't crawl out. And then I remembered how I'd gotten the drive to crawl out, to live again. Adi, the only person besides Toby I really cared about, he'd stuck his hand down and helped me out. I wouldn't have made it out by myself, I'd have lost my mind... or worse. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else, like Keer had said, it wasn't fair.

That decided, I stopped zoning to respond, and found that I, or should I say we, had already reacted. A hug? My brain occupied meant my heart and commited the act. No words exchanged, no excuses, it just happened. It's said that dangerous situations bring people together, I guess this was as much proof of that as anything.

In a way it was the only bit of relief I'd had on this side of reality. In the back of my mind I knew we had a long road ahead of us. Maybe a friendship would give us a fighting chance against robotnik's minions, somehow I doubted it. Without Toby and Adi I'd be no match for those robotic killing machines. My only chance, our only chance, was to stay low and hide untill Tails and Rotor could figure something more out about the Gemini unit.

In either case it didn't look good. Xe was probably dead or dieing by now. Twap and the others would be killed as soon as the 808 unit reported back to its maker. And this point it was hopeless, enough to make you break down and cry. I tightened my grip on Ciaran and did just that. I had no way to find the thing killing these kids, no way to ride into the battle, guns blazing, and kill it. I didn't kid myself, I was no legend, I wasn't Sonic. I wasn't a hero. I didn't care anymore. I couldn't do this this. Rico Underwood was just some overgrown wimp with a gun, not a hero. We needed a real hero, a hero to save us.
[/quote]

[Rico Underwood]

Darn this keenspace, I swear it's slower than Rosie O'Donnell's metabolism.

I haven't been able to post this for like 2 days. But like I said duplicates are at Artail and now The Sonic Foundation as well.

Note: I recieved a rather odd comment... See what you guys think,

Um, it's a Matrix ripoff, but I suppose there isn't much you can do about that now. Make sure that you have something to say.

Chapter 7: Hero to Save Us

The tension broke, in the worst way possible. Keer swallowed so heavily you could see his neck move. I knew whatever was coming wasn't going to be anything easy, for either of us. The rodent's fists loosened and he seemed to lose his rigid stance, like a melting snowman he slowly reverting to a plain standing position and looking down at the floor with his eyes clamped shut. Locking in any emotion, hiding the things that his eyes would give away. I swore I heard a muffled whimper escape him before he said anything, but I wasn't sure if it actually happened or if, maybe, I somehow wanted it too.

Reguardless, he slid down to his knees as if finishing a hundred mile marathon, looking mentally exhausted, instead of physically. My own scowl was replaced with something between a sympathic furrow and a uncertain gaze. I more I learned about Ciaran, the more I regretted staying here. No... that wasn't it. It wasn't what I regretted, more over it was supressing my personality and letting the cold guise I'd been wearing take over. I'd told myself it was to protect my sanity. But the cold hard truth of it was I was being overly self centered, and the worst part was it'd hurt people. It had hurt people that I'd let myself care about, and that was the worst feeling in the world.

After a few moments Ciaran starting mumbling, more to himself than me, "Xe... Why the heck did it have to Xe... Rico?" He'd lifted his head and kinda jerked it to motion me over. I sighed, walking forward and kneeling down. After all this was partially my fault. Before I could open my mouth to ask the question he answered it, "Rico... Can you help me?"

[honestly I sat here for 30 minutes trying to answer this o.O]

I had no answer. Just a reaction, I knew what he meant. It wasn't about his injuries, or even Xe's injuries, it was about loneliness. It hadn't occured to me untill that moment. After he'd told me about what had happened between Twap and him it started to run though my head. I knew his position, I'd been there before. It was a cold lonely pit, one that would bury you if didn't crawl out. And then I remembered how I'd gotten the drive to crawl out, to live again. Adi, the only person besides Toby I really cared about, he'd stuck his hand down and helped me out. I wouldn't have made it out by myself, I'd have lost my mind... or worse. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else, like Keer had said, it wasn't fair.

That decided, I stopped zoning to respond, and found that I, or should I say we, had already reacted. A hug? My brain occupied meant my heart and commited the act. No words exchanged, no excuses, it just happened. It's said that dangerous situations bring people together, I guess this was as much proof of that as anything.

In a way it was the only bit of relief I'd had on this side of reality. In the back of my mind I knew we had a long road ahead of us. Maybe a friendship would give us a fighting chance against robotnik's minions, somehow I doubted it. Without Toby and Adi I'd be no match for those robotic killing machines. My only chance, our only chance, was to stay low and hide untill Tails and Rotor could figure something more out about the Gemini unit.

In either case it didn't look good. Xe was probably dead or dieing by now. Twap and the others would be killed as soon as the 808 unit reported back to its maker. And this point it was hopeless, enough to make you break down and cry. I tightened my grip on Ciaran and did just that. I had no way to find the thing killing these kids, no way to ride into the battle, guns blazing, and kill it. I didn't kid myself, I was no legend, I wasn't Sonic. I wasn't a hero. I didn't care anymore. I couldn't do this this. Rico Underwood was just some overgrown wimp with a gun, not a hero. We needed a real hero, a hero to save us.

[Rico Underwood]

Darn this keenspace, I swear it's slower than Rosie O'Donnell's metabolism.

I haven't been able to post this for like 2 days. But like I said duplicates are at Artail and now The Sonic Foundation as well.

Note: I recieved a rather odd comment... See what you guys think,

Um, it's a Matrix ripoff, but I suppose there isn't much you can do about that now. Make sure that you have something to say.

Chapter 7: Hero to Save Us

The tension broke, in the worst way possible. Keer swallowed so heavily you could see his neck move. I knew whatever was coming wasn't going to be anything easy, for either of us. The rodent's fists loosened and he seemed to lose his rigid stance, like a melting snowman he slowly reverting to a plain standing position and looking down at the floor with his eyes clamped shut. Locking in any emotion, hiding the things that his eyes would give away. I swore I heard a muffled whimper escape him before he said anything, but I wasn't sure if it actually happened or if, maybe, I somehow wanted it too.

Reguardless, he slid down to his knees as if finishing a hundred mile marathon, looking mentally exhausted, instead of physically. My own scowl was replaced with something between a sympathic furrow and a uncertain gaze. I more I learned about Ciaran, the more I regretted staying here. No... that wasn't it. It wasn't what I regretted, more over it was supressing my personality and letting the cold guise I'd been wearing take over. I'd told myself it was to protect my sanity. But the cold hard truth of it was I was being overly self centered, and the worst part was it'd hurt people. It had hurt people that I'd let myself care about, and that was the worst feeling in the world.

After a few moments Ciaran starting mumbling, more to himself than me, "Xe... Why the heck did it have to Xe... Rico?" He'd lifted his head and kinda jerked it to motion me over. I sighed, walking forward and kneeling down. After all this was partially my fault. Before I could open my mouth to ask the question he answered it, "Rico... Can you help me?"

[honestly I sat here for 30 minutes trying to answer this o.O]

I had no answer. Just a reaction, I knew what he meant. It wasn't about his injuries, or even Xe's injuries, it was about loneliness. It hadn't occured to me untill that moment. After he'd told me about what had happened between Twap and him it started to run though my head. I knew his position, I'd been there before. It was a cold lonely pit, one that would bury you if didn't crawl out. And then I remembered how I'd gotten the drive to crawl out, to live again. Adi, the only person besides Toby I really cared about, he'd stuck his hand down and helped me out. I wouldn't have made it out by myself, I'd have lost my mind... or worse. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else, like Keer had said, it wasn't fair.

That decided, I stopped zoning to respond, and found that I, or should I say we, had already reacted. A hug? My brain occupied meant my heart and commited the act. No words exchanged, no excuses, it just happened. It's said that dangerous situations bring people together, I guess this was as much proof of that as anything.

In a way it was the only bit of relief I'd had on this side of reality. In the back of my mind I knew we had a long road ahead of us. Maybe a friendship would give us a fighting chance against robotnik's minions, somehow I doubted it. Without Toby and Adi I'd be no match for those robotic killing machines. My only chance, our only chance, was to stay low and hide untill Tails and Rotor could figure something more out about the Gemini unit.

In either case it didn't look good. Xe was probably dead or dieing by now. Twap and the others would be killed as soon as the 808 unit reported back to its maker. And this point it was hopeless, enough to make you break down and cry. I tightened my grip on Ciaran and did just that. I had no way to find the thing killing these kids, no way to ride into the battle, guns blazing, and kill it. I didn't kid myself, I was no legend, I wasn't Sonic. I wasn't a hero. I didn't care anymore. I couldn't do this this. Rico Underwood was just some overgrown wimp with a gun, not a hero. We needed a real hero, a hero to save us.

[TwoDifferentSox]

Yay, a new chapter, I've been already getting nervous, fearing the keenspace forums would be inaccessable for longer.

Where are these alternative forums to find, that you mention Mr Underwood?
Would be good to know where to find a backup of your story.
I've been wondering btw, have you planned the plot out yet? Do you know how long it will become?

And to the comment that it's a Matrix rip-off...well, there are vague similarities, but that are also given to several X-files or Outer Limits episodes too, or any other given movie/series involving sci-fi or violence or drama. *shrugs*
I can say, I never had the idea yet to compare it to the Matrix.

[Crash]

A Matrix ripoff? Some similarities, yes, but as Bono said,

Every poet is a cannibal
Every artist is a thief.

Everyone who is creative borrows ideas from others, but they use them to create something new. There are some fundamental differences here, and I think this guy's missing the entire point of the story-that it's about the characters involved, not so much the situation or the technology. The bit about "Make sure you have something to say" is odd-I see that there's a lot being said about Rico's character throughout the story. (esp. in the last chapter) Dismiss him with a wave of your hand and a contemptuous "Bah!" Or, in Rico's case, a wave of a loaded sidearm.

I like Chapter 7. It's good to see Rico still struggling, and succeeding, in reaching out. Don't let him get too soft, though! I don't want to see him in some group therapy session, talking about feeling validated or self-actualized or some such crap. So far Rico reminds me of John Wayne in some of his later roles-tough, but not emotionless. Good chapter!

[Rico Underwood]

NOTE: This is starting the denounment. And the not-so-fun parts. Remember the little vision Rico had during the last trip courtesy Gemini? Well that did mean something. Oh and ah... Prepare for war. o.o



Chapter 8: Running to End It
After what probably amounted to years of therapy we both stood up. By the look in his eyes Keer was thinking the exact same thing I was, "Lets get Xe and the others." The words seemed to float in the air for a second as I wordlessly nodded, my own head to full to speak. About a half hour later we'd put on what warm clothes we could find and were well on our way into town when several loud, echoing pops could be heard. By now the sound was no mysterious to either of us. "Gunshots," I muttered grimly as Keer took off in a half limp, half run. I followed suit, easily catching up to the rodent because of his injuries.

"Die you metal moron!" The battle cry echoed through the streets as we neared it. My mind was playing tricks on me, I knew the voice but its was not possible. Rounding the next corner proved the impossible possible. Adi stood a few dozen yards away pumping shot after shoot into a robot. Suddenly something darted out from behind him and behind the bot. Then ran at us after stopping not a half second by the attacker.

The resounding explosion was impressive, but not as shocking as what I was looking at. The creature responsible for nuking the bot had skidded seeing me and slipped falling down and sliding to a halt in front of me. "Toby?" The word fell out of my already open mouth. The young rabbit looked up shaking the snow off his head, "Rick? You're alive!" Not a second later Adi was running over. I picked up Toby and gave him a hug, Adi rolled his eyes and pulled out another gun similar to his. Then shoved it into my pocket saying, "The berreta won't do jack to these things. From the specs we got in Robotnik's fortress they have better armor. You need ballpoint rounds to kill 'em. Use that gun."

Keer grunted and pulled my gun out, "figures, we even have crappy weapons." Adi glared over, "Who the hell is that?" Keer looked up and glared right back. Sensing the tension I let Toby slid to the ground and spoke up, "Adi, Keer, not now, you can flirt later. Now how the heck did you guys get here." I directed the last sentence at Adi. Who was already blushing. He soon recovered, blinking and letting out a sigh, "The attack was successful, I guess."

What the hell that mean? He was hiding something. "You guess?" He nodded, "I guess it was too easy." Keer cocked his head, "According to Rico you guys were assualting some overweight dictator's castle or something. How can that be easy?" Adi wrinkled his nose and layed on the sarcasam, "Considering he's here along with most of his bots... It WAS damn easy. Almost like he wanted us to go through."

The confusion was setting in, I was starting to lose my cool was well, "Through what? Adi what the hell is going on here?"
Adi cringed, "I knew he hated beening yelled at but he was making no sense." The gerbil snarled, "Richard I did NOT come here to be growled at! If you wanna play hero, then thats fine! Just don't crawl back to me when you're lieing half dead in a ditch somewhere!" The words cut like a knife, tearing through my chest and needling my heart. "Aid... I... I'm sorry. This whole mess has me tense as it is. And when you stop making sense its even worse..." The gerbil sighed, "Alright... I just lost my nerve, thats all. That wizkid brother of yours can explain it better anyway."

All eyes turned to the small yellow rabbit, who at the moment had dug a snack out of his backpack and was happily in the process of eating it. Adi slapped his hand over his face, and I couldn't help but laugh a little. As if suddenly aware he was being stared at the boy stopped mid chew and looked around.

Keer shook his head, "Boy, you weren't kidding when you said that kid liked to eat." Both Adi and myself chuckled at that one. Toby quickly swallow his bite and shoved the rest back into his bag, trying to look calm while doing it and only looking more silly. By the time he was on his feet all three of us were trying to muffle laughs.

His news quieted those emotions though, "Rick, its bad. When they entered the fortress only a skeleton guard was on duty. I kinda tagged along..." He looked sheepish for a moment but continued, "We found some kinda gateway. Of course after Rotor said that probably were all the bots where Sonic just jumped in automatically. Tails ran in after him before we could stop him. Sally made us all wait though, and then Sonic came back half frozen and blabbering about robot's. When Tails' wasn't with him Adi shoved Sally aside and ran through... I kinda followed."

I spoke my mind, "So you're actually here, not a product of gemini like me?" Toby nodded, "Apparently Robotnik thought the device didn't work, and for all his purposes it didn't. Gemini can project dead and living material. But for some reason the power core's of his robots failed to work when they were exposed to the node. Think it was a failure he scrapped it." I replied quickly, "So how do I get back to normal?" Toby smirked, "Easy, according to Buttnik all we have to do is wait till you get back and deactivate the node."

"You know how to do that?"

Toby nodded and mimicked swinging a baseball bat. I rolled my eyes and felt a grin sweep over my face. Keer let out an exasperated sighed, "I hate to interrupt, but we got other problems. Like finding Xe and the others." Adi nodded, "Not to mention Tails. Sally will skin us all if he gets himself hurt." Nodding I tossed the pistol Adi had given me to Keer, "I got that shotgun Tails sent, I don't need this too." Adi snorted, "Then take one of mine at least, in case your boomstick can't do its job." Nodding the four of us headed for the hospital. The wind was started to die down and my head was starting to unfog. With Keer, Toby, and Adi here I could start to concentrate on the situation more.

Walking with them my mind wandered. Robotnik was here, his bots were here, Xe and Tails were missing. And we hadn't heard from Twap, Erin, and Apollo in what seemed like years. Suddenly a light appeared admist the gloom, somewhere around the next corner. On sheer gut instinct I ran at full speed around the nearby doughnut shop and into the alley.

There is was, the whimper, I remembered it from the trip, th lights. I wander deeper in to the dark alley and saw a figure huddled by a dumpster, a dirty white cloth wrapped around a cut on his leg. It was a fox, with white, orange and grey fur. He looked about 13 or 14... and had a razor in one hand. My bad trip through Gemini came rushing back. I had seen this all before and knew how it would end if I didn't do something soon. Taking off I make like a place kicker and punted the razor off down the alley. The youth yelped and grabbed his hand as I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

He growled struggling to get away, "Lemme alone! I wasn't gonna use it you! It was for me! me!" I gave the kid another quick slam and got in his face, "Shut up and listen you little wimp. I know things may not be perfect but if think cutting yourself is gonna help any then you're as dumb as you look. Now grow some balls." That said I tossed him aside and turned to walk away, grinning as I did.

"Hey! Wait up!" The fox said running after me. I stopped and chuckled, knowing what was coming. "Look man, I really wasn't gonna do it... I mean. Well, you know." I nodded, despite his explaination I knew all too well. "Just shaddup and come on. Eh... What's yer name anyway?" The youth smirked, "Jamie... er... Jamie Hielmann. Hey why'd you do that anyway?" I looked back and grinned, "Would you believe I saw it in a movie?" Jamie shook his head as we entered the street. The others were standing impatiently, Adi groaned as we came into view, "Man... Rick would you stop trying to be every orphan's big brother? We'd can't afford to tote ANOTHER one around." Toby wrinkled his face indignantly, I did the same growling, "So you saying I should have left you with your parents then?" The rodent's face lost its smirk fast, "Rick I didn't mean ta..." Holding my hand up I shook my head, "Just think before you talk, ok?"

Keer shook his head, "Rico can we get going?" I nodded and the group started off toward the hospital again, the new addition filled us in who he was. Apparently his parents where just that, parents. He'd run away because he didn't think they loved him and all that angsty stuff. He found out later that the streets were less loving. I would have lectured him, like Adi proceeded to, but even I wasn't that hypocritic. His story was eerily like my own, as if maybe that weird trip meant something.

The thoughts burst as Keer suddenly groaned. the grouped stopped and whirled around. Keer had his hands on his face and burst out, "Why are we walking? My car was back at the apartments! We could have been there hours ago!" I shook my head, "Keer... the police towed it off, you're dead remember?" The next groan was even louder, and followed by muttered curses. The trip continued on, Jamie was overly talkative, which kept Toby busy. Adi and I stayed back with Keer, wordless as we walked through the white desert.

[TwoDifferentSox]

So Robotnik and his robots are invading Furriston?
I wonder why they're after Keer, Xe & Co.
The appearance of the new character Jamie is rather suddenly, I'm interested in seeing what role you appointed to him, Mr Underwood.

And in case the keen-forums stop working again, could you post a link to the forum where you're posting the chapters too?
Would be nice, yes.

[TwoDifferentSox]

So Robotnik and his robots are invading Furriston?
I wonder why they're after Keer, Xe & Co.
The appearance of the new character Jamie is rather suddenly, I'm interested in seeing what role you appointed to him, Mr Underwood.

And in case the keen-forums stop working again, could you post a link to the forum where you're posting the chapters too?
Would be nice, yes.

[TwoDifferentSox]

[Rico Underwood]

sure

http://mb.artail.net/YaBB.cgi?board=son ... 4;start=20