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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 17:09:36 GMT -5
Natasha almost threw up again and held hear head, shaking a little. "God damn drugs," She muttered. "I need to get to that ladder and climb out of here."
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 17:12:28 GMT -5
"Why don't you come back to the mission, and I can take a look at you." Thomas said.
The shambling hooded men behind him were busy doing something with the corpse of those two she had shot.
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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 17:14:48 GMT -5
Natasha decided not to investigate what was going on with the corpse and and turned to Beckworth. "Alright, that'd be good. Lead the way."
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 17:21:41 GMT -5
Thomas nodded, and then stopped and approached the bodies, muttering a brief prayer, and making the sign of the cross before he moved on.
Thomas led Natasha across what seemed like a desert of garbage, before reaching a tall bombed out looking concrete structure. A large bed sheet dangled from a balcony. A massive cross was painted on it with black paint.
Natasha saw two men standing outside the building. They were dressed largely normally, except for the black chest rigs carrying rifle ammunition, and the weapons which were slung over their shoulders. Each man had a white cross pinned his shoulder.
"We are still relatively new here," Thomas said, "But we are making progress."
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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 17:28:59 GMT -5
"And who are you exactly?" Natasha asked, studying the two guards closely before following Thomas inside the building.
The Chuck can definitely count on me paying him a visit...
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 17:31:55 GMT -5
"I told you. We're on a mission." he replied.
Natasha noticed a pamphlet by a side table which read "THE CHURCH OF THE NEW HOSPITALLERS WELCOME YOU!"
Another pamphlet informed her, "THE CNH exists to provide security and medical treatment to the downtrodden, suffering and spiritually lost."
"It's been a struggle. The locals here don't care for much organization or anything like that. So we've had to limit our efforts."
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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 17:35:56 GMT -5
Natasa looked at the pamphlet briefly before turning back to Thomas. "And how long have you and the CNH been here? As a matter of fact, how do people end up in a place like this?"
She had seen poverty but never to this extent.
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 17:38:07 GMT -5
"Some are hiding from something, others have no where else to go, and some prefer it here." he said honestly. "They are not all sick, you understand. You just saw the worst of the worst, as it were. There are people running stores, and building houses, and having families here, just like anywhere else. Just without any regulation... even less than what exists elsewhere in Undercity."
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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 17:43:08 GMT -5
"So it's an anarchic state?" Natasha asked, raising one eyebrow. "'Cause to me it sure doesn't look like a commune. And what exactly is the sickness? Those fellas back there didn't act like they were all there... in the head."
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 18:45:07 GMT -5
"They're not," Thomas replied. "Vets mostly. Chinese nerve toxin. Expensive little piece of territory the Spratley's turned out to be," he said. "We've taught them to make a living as refuse pickers, since its a job that no one else wants to do, and they aren't likely to be bothered much. Life span isn't long on most of 'em, maybe a couple of years for the really hardy ones. That's why there's no sense getting torn up about the one's you shot. Spared them a few more months of pain, mostly."
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Post by Flex on Aug 10, 2012 19:43:27 GMT -5
"But..." Natasha paused, thinking on it for a moment. "Wouldn't it just be better to put them out of their misery, if they're in so much pain?" She shook her head. "Only the ones that want to die, of course. Not that I care."
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 10, 2012 19:53:09 GMT -5
"It's still murder," Thomas said, "Something which, for some reason I get the impression you are accustom to. But is our job to make their last days as peaceful and serene as possible."
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Post by Flex on Aug 11, 2012 7:50:01 GMT -5
"Huh, can't be murder if they want it," Natasha replied, before dropping the topic. "You're right though, I'm not new to killing. And whoever dropped me down here will find that out soon enough."
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Post by The Stranger on Aug 11, 2012 23:21:15 GMT -5
"How did you end up down here?" Thomas asked.
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Post by Flex on Aug 12, 2012 20:39:11 GMT -5
"Some asshole drugged me," Natasha replied, closing her eyes for a long moment, trying to clear her head and almost throwing up again. "Something... insane... next thing I know I was in the trunk of a car. Then down here, where you found me."
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