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FOLLOW THE NOSFERATU
Role-Writing Fic (RWF) / Story
Created 12-01-2003 and completed 02-23-2004 by the HL Corps
Based on concepts by Larry & Andy Wachowski
* CHAPTER 1 * - Rainfall
Note by Jayman - We begin after the events of "The Matrix" (Part I). Along with the hovercrafts
"Argo" and "Mystery," the century-old hovercraft "Nosferatu" is on its way to broadcast depth after it and
its crew spent several days in Zion for a recharge. At this time:
• Our medic Avalon (acg) is on Zion before she joins the crew onboard in a few weeks.
• Captain Jayman and
Lieutenant Andromeda are in the cockpit.
• Commander Fall (First Officer and Senior Operator) and
Lieutenant-Commander Crystal are at the Ops Station (Core).
• New crewmate Veritas is in Quarters #4
(see the Nosferatu map).
* 1 * - The Path Begins
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
JAYMAN adjusts the ragged old-black cap on his shaved head, stares out the cockpit windshield down the dark tunnel.
JAYMAN: "So, what do you think of Veritas? It may her first ship, but she has potential."
NOS / CORE / FALL:
FALL slides the needle into CRYSTAL'S head plug and moves to the Operator's chair. It groans as she sits on it.
FALL: "What are you wanting today, then?"
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA scratches her head, and removes a stray hair from her eye.
"A lot of them got potential. We'll just have to wait and see how she handles her training. What did you had Fall do with her today?"
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
JAYMAN reveals a small smile.
"True... but I hate seeing those who seem to die a little more inside... Yeah, I told Fall and Crystal that when Veritas gets out of bed, they'll be training her... they know what to do..."
JAYMAN leans back in his chair, gazing at the streaking tunnel.
"How close are we to broadcast depth?"
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA sighs and leans forward, peering at the darkness.
"I dunno. Two, maybe three hours. If you want accurate time, ask Fall. She's a better pilot than us both."
NOS / CORE / CRYSTAL:
CRYSTAL is sitting in her chair, and stares at FALL, with eyes brightening.
"Well... may I... go for a crazy car-race?"
CRYSTAL smirks.
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
JAYMAN shakes his head.
"I won't bother her with it. We need her fully-focused as operator... You know how she gets whenever we leave Zion."
JAYMAN pauses, then adds.
"Maybe you should go down and check on everyone. I'll handle the Nos."
JAYMAN punches a few buttons, and takes over the controls.
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
"Sure."
ANDROMEDA unbuckles and gets up.
"Dinner is due soon. Whose turn is it?"
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
JAYMAN laughs.
"Actually, I think it was my turn!... Oh well, i'll let you pick one of the others... I'm not that hungry, but maybe i'll join everyone a little later..."
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA looks down, smiles and shakes her head. Then she looks at JAYMAN with a serious look.
"J, you need to take care of yourself better."
With that she leaves the cockpit.
NOS / CORE / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA steps into the Core (Ops). She sits down on one of the chairs. She looks at FALL.
"What are you two up too?"
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
After ANDROMEDA leaves, JAYMAN whispers sarcastically.
"Thanks."
JAYMAN knew deep down that she was right; in the dark windshield, he saw his distorted reflection -- he did seem to be getting thinner,
scruffier, even after the stay at Zion. He knew she cared, but he ignored her advice for now, just as he ignored whether the "One" was
real or not, and instead focussed on what mattered: the mission to free more minds. He punched the controls to accelerate the ship; and
with a gentle lurch, the EM engines roared brighter.
NOS / CORE / FALL:
FALL searches through the many diskettes piled on the Ops station.
FALL mutters: "I know I had that racing program somewhere ... Ah ha!"
FALL wields the disk in her hand. She looks at CRYSTAL critically as she puts the disk in the drive.
FALL: "You ready for this?"
NOS / CORE / CRYSTAL:
CRYSTAL grins. "You think I was just kidding?"
CRYSTAL's look was firm and excited. Like a child's who can't wait for playing with her new toy.
CRYSTAL notices ANDROMEDA: "Tell her, I'm not!"
NOS / CORE / FALL:
FALL nods at ANDROMEDA in greeting.
FALL: "We're waiting for Veritas to get her lazy arse out of bed. In the mean time, Crystal felt like stretching her mental muscles a bit."
FALL keys in a few quick commands onto the keyboard and watches CRYSTAL's code stream down the translator.
CRYSTAL's RSI appears in the visual output of the Construct. FALL awaits CRYSTAL's call.
NOS / CORE / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA gives FALL a tired but warm smile.
"Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes."
ANDROMEDA goes out of the Core.
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
As JAYMAN follows the twists and bends of the labyrithine passageways, he suddenly feels, above the soothing multi-engine hum, the stark and lonely near-silence...
JAYMAN tells himself: "Another couple hours."
Then with his slender eyes twinkling, JAYMAN punches a few buttons to his left, and the trance-beat of his favorite Matrix-downloaded tunes fills the cockpit and soothes his solitude...
JAYMAN murmurs: "That's better."
NOS / CORE / CRYSTAL:
CRYSTAL finds herself sitting in a Formula-1 car, at the start lane.
"Oh my..."
CRYSTAL looks around. Another three racing cars are waiting for the sign to go. She glances at the driver on her right. A face of an agent stares back at her, with an evil grin.
"Fall?"
CRYSTAL calls her operator, disbelieved.
NOS / CORE / FALL:
FALL has a satisfied, almost smug, look on her face as she watches the program run its course. It is of her own design, built for two reasons:
(1) to develop skill in evading Agents by whatever means available, and (2) to allow CRYSTAL the chance to speed freely.
As Operator, much of her time is spent on the Nos - driving simulations in the Construct allow her to break free of the monotony every once in a while.
In the Construct, the program ticks down the count until red light turns to green.
NOS / QUARTERS #4 / VERITAS:
VERITAS groans and turns over in her small bunk. A mixture of illness and nerves has kept her from making her debut with the rest of the crew.
"Damn nerves."
As the nausea subsides, VERITAS slips back into fretful sleep.
"Maybe a little later."
NOS / CORE / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA steps into the Core, carrying two trays with food and water. She hands one to FALL.
"There you go. Crystal, there's food for you back in the hall."
With that, ANDROMEDA leaves the core.
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
ANDROMEDA enters and sits next to JAYMAN.
"I thought you may have changed your mind."
ANDROMEDA gestures towards the tray of food.
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
His almost-hypnotic piloting-state broken, JAYMAN keys down the trance music, and softly replies.
"Thanks, you didn't have to."
JAYMAN glances at Andy, sensing an aura of tired sadless about her... then he glances at the bread.
"Although a bite doesn't sound half bad."
With his right hand, JAYMAN picks a piece of bread from her tray, and takes a bite. He glances back out the windshield, gently says.
"So how are the others? Are they ready to be at depth within the hour?"
NOS / CORE / CRYSTAL:
Still in simulation program.
"Alright."
CRYSTAL concedes decidedly, peering at the Agent on her right, throwing a determined glance at him. The Agent grins disdainfully. CRYSTAL's eyes narrow.
"OK, let's start the dance..."
CRYSTAL watches out for the lights, focusing with all of her nerves.
"Come on, girl, you can do it..." she murmurs.
Red changes into green, the adrenaline veins starts to rise in her veins. CRYSTAL steps on the accelerator, the engine roars and the car
launches into the race. The needle of the speedometer is getting higher and higher. The car dashes away by an Agent's car. CRYSTAL
focuses on the curve coming while another Agent catches up to her.
NOS / CORE / FALL:
FALL looks disdainfully into her tin before dubiously taking a spoonful of goop. FALL keeps a close eye on CRYSTAL in the Construct in case
anything untoward should happen. In the background, a loose wire repeatedly taps against the wall. FALL shoots it a nasty glare.
NOS / CORE / CRYSTAL:
The Agent's car is getting more and more near to CRYSTAL's car. The Agent speeds up and gets side to side to her.
He throws an evil and devastating look at her and is about to force her down of the road. CRYSTAL speeds up to overtake
her opponent, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. The speedometer's needle is almost at the maximum.
NOS / COCKPIT / ANDROMEDA:
"J, let me pilot for a while. Eat peacefully. Everybody else has eaten, I think. I'll take a tray to Veritas later."
ANDROMEDA starts to get up to switch chairs.
NOS / COCKPIT / JAYMAN:
JAYMAN smiles quietly.
"Nice try, Andy... trying to dodge my question by changing the subject... I suppose the others aren't ready, are they? Maybe I'll have to--"
Suddenly, the long-range sensors blares -- BEEP-BEEP!! BEEP-BEEP!! -- throughout the hovercraft.
"Shit!"
In moments, JAYMAN focusses and keys up the long-range holographics.
"Dammit, three sentinels! We have to warn away all ships in the--"
Suddenly, JAYMAN recognizes the fourth image, and a rare rage fills his burning eyes.
"Dammit, not again, not the Argo."
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