alphalogs | Daycycle 4 [Nov 11-15]

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Daycycle 4 [Nov 11-15]

DAYCYCLE 4

[NOV 11-15]

Mod Note: The RL Days to one IC Daycycle ratio is being changed from 3:1 to 5:1 as of this Daycycle. Each IC Daycycle from here on out will last five RL days. For months that have 31 days, this last day will be added to the sixth Daycycle for that month. (Ex: Dec 26-31st will be one Daycycle.).

MORNING

Troubleshooters in RM1102 will be woken up bright and early this morning as a squad of Internal Security Gray Ops come to arrest Abbie Mills for treason. She is taken from her assigned room and by the time that breakfast is over, all trace of her presence has been scrubbed. If one is to ask about the charges against her they will be told it is classified.

The majority of Troubleshooters seem a bit smug to learn of the first arrest of one of the Specials, though there are a few that actually seem a little more friendly. As if this somehow signifies that you aren’t all internal spies for The Computer. There are a few new faces this morning in the briefing huddle. Barry Allen, Gaius Maecenas and Lydia Martin were released from the Cloning center 24 hours ago and are joining the Special Troubleshooter ranks.

Today’s missions are more of the mundane nature, but as boring as they seem, they must be seen to.

Troubleshooter Team: Barry Allen & Lydia Martin
Mission: You are to deliver this 100-kilo spool of copper wire to the transformer station by transbot platform 12-YELLOW. The local quartermaster will sign for it. Be on the lookout for possible theft attempts. Intel indicates that the Free Enterprise group has been asking about copper materials as of late, most likely to aid some terrorist plot.

All other Troubleshooters: You are to report to your Service Firm positions for the day, until called on for Troubleshooter duty.

Intel

There was a recent security leak in Internal Security. The threat has been dealt with, but keep an ear open for anyone acting suspiciously in case they had accomplices. Report any and all forms of treason, even the possible intention of treason, immediately.

AFTERNOON

At 1400 Natasha Romanoff will be pulled from her Threat Assessment job and interrogated by Internal Security for information about Abbie Mills and her recent actions. It will be implied that Natasha herself might have assisted in a breach of security. The session does not go beyond accusations and she will be released after an hour if nothing suspicious surfaces.

At 1500 Matt Farrell will be pulled from his Encryption job and interrogated by Internal Security for information about Abbie Mills and her recent actions. It will be implied that he might have assisted her in a breach of security. The session will not go beyond accusations and he will be released within thirty minutes if nothing suspicious surfaces.

At 1530 Maria Hill will be pulled from her post as a surveillance operative for interrogation by Internal Security. She will not return to her station.

At 1600 Ray Palmer will be pulled from his Equipment Control position and interrogated by Internal Security about his mission with Abbie Mills on Daycycle 2. He will be asked if she acted strangely or displayed traitorous signs at that point. If nothing useful comes out of the interview, he will be released within thirty minutes.

At 1700 Parker will be pulled from her position as an Infiltration Consultant and will be told to report to Medical Services. There she will be evaluated for the possibility of a medication adjustment. If the physician finds no need to medicate he will give her a stamped note to return to her supervisor. If he does recommend medication it will be administered onsite.

EVENING

The Strobe, part dance club and part testbed for new power technologies, has reopened after an unfortunate closing of three months to rebuild after a terrible core meltdown. Many of the the Wagon Wheels residents are flocking out to the reopening to enjoy ear deafening music, seizure inducing light shows and overpriced drinks in test tubes.

Sleep aid gas is expelled into the sleeping quarters at 2100.

Barry pulls his gun out of his pocket and lowers it slowly to the ground. He can heard the creak of the truck door and wonders if Lydia must have heard. If so, she knows that this isn't going well. When she appears he shoots her a worried look. She's much more vulnerable out here than she was in the cab.

But she doesn't seem scared at all as she addresses the men in front of them. And is it him or is her jumpsuit a little lower than it used to be? The man with the gun smiles.

"Well, hello, gorgeous," he says, moving towards them. Barry's instinct is to get between Lydia and them and he takes a step forward. He's awarded with the sudden sensation of searing pain in his arm. When he looks down at it, there's a singed bit of his jumpsuit at his shoulder and a nasty laser burn across his bicep. He winces and slaps his hand over it, which only seems to make it worse.

"Stay where you are," sneers the first man as the laser moves back down to Barry's chest. He steps forward and picks up Barry's gun, then turns to Lydia holding out his hand. 'Where's your laser, sugar?"

Lydia gives a patronizingly disapproving look to the man. "Come on, now, take it easy on him, sweetie," she says and it takes a lot of effort to remain cool when he know that they're pointing the lasers at her partner. Her head tilts a little and she gives a doe-eyed look of innocence, shaking her head.

"I didn't get one...unless I'm missing something," she said dumbly, looking confused. "I just figured they gave the weapon to the man. I wouldn't know what to do with one of those things, anyway," she went on.

With a small nod toward the weapon pointed at Barry, Lydia crossed her arms around her front, hugging herself, and strategically placing her arms so that they boosted her chest up. "He put our laser down, can't you lower that? You're making me nervous," she pouted, batting her eyelashes a little as she pooched out her bottom lip a little, brow furrowing with feigned concern. Please, for the love of fuck, keep your mouth shut, Barry, just don't say a word to contradict or question me right now...

Barry's eyebrows raise in surprise at Lydia's answer and he stares at her for a moment before looking at the men in front of him to see if they believe her. What does she have to gain by lying? Does she have the gun on her? Is she planning on using it? He can only see this situation getting worse with every passing moment.

The second man laughs, stopping just in front of Lydia and looking down at her so he has a particularly good view of her cleavage. "Quite the little actress we've got here," he says to the other man, though his eyes never leave Lydia's face or her top. "We know you were each given a pistol. I guess I'm just going to have to search you," he leered.

The first man moved over to Barry, pulling out some twist ties from one of his pockets. "Don't get distracted," he groused as he grabbed Barry's wrists and tied them in front of him. "We've got a timeline to keep."

Frowning slightly, Lydia gave a small shrug. "Okay," she submitted. At this point, she really didn't care whether they succeeded in the mission or not, so long as they got back in one piece. "Although, if you wanted to cop a feel, asking would've given you a better shot in the long run, cowboy," she replied breezily. "It's kind of a turn off when the guy calls you a liar."

She didn't like the fact that they were tying Barry's hands in front of him. She sort of liked the idea of having him as a backup if things went even further south and now that option was out.

"Listen...we don't want any trouble, boys," she said, stepping up and holding her arms out perpendicular to her sides as if to let them know if they were going to search her, she wasn't going to fight it. "You can have that stupid spool."

What was the worst that could happen? She and Barry would have to listen to a lecture or get sent to bed without supper? Please.

As the man approached, still leering, Lydia gave him and saccharine smile. "You cup me, I slap you," she chirped cheerfully. "Pat down is fine; you grab me and we're not cool anymore, honey."

"She's right," Barry said, as the man tightened the tie against his wrists. "Take the wire."

The second man stuck the pistol in his pocket and began patting Lydia down, taking his time and more than a little liberty. Barry could only watch helplessly. Without his speed he couldn't do anything to stop him. Or at least that's the way he felt.

"Hey, that's enough!" he said as the man worked his hands upwards, clearly not heeding Lydia's warning. The first man struck him from behind and Barry fell to his knees, gritting his teeth against his frustration. All he'd have to do to get free was vibrate his hands fast enough to break the ties.

"Leave her alone," the first man said, throwing a zip tie at the second man. "If she had a pistol you would've found it already. Tie them up over there out of sight and help me with this tire."

Lydia stood still, making zero effort to refrain from rolling her eyes at the way the creeper was taking his sweet time patting her down. "I think you missed a spot," she said dully, jaw tightening with annoyance. "You heard me, I wasn't kidding," she reminded him as his hands moved higher. Lydia's eyes were on his face and she couldn't help noticing how distracted with her body he was. Barry's complaint was endearing, but not helpful.

"I'm almost done," the first man countered, catching the wire with one hand while grabbing at her a little more roughly with his other. His distraction was good enough for Lydia. Her knee jerked up suddenly and roughly into his groin as she reached forward and snatched the laser out of his pocket. He grunted and dropped to his knees.

Lydia sidestepped him quickly to get out of reach and, hands shaking, moved the laser to point at the man closest to Barry while the first one writhed in pain on the ground. "I wasn't kidding about the no unnecessary groping," she said with a shrug. It was more than evident that she'd never aimed one of these things, but that didn't stop her front pointing it at him. "Just take the wire and go. You can have it, we don't want it. Just take it and go and nobody needs to get hurt. Not you, not him," she said nodding at Barry. "Please just take the wire and go."

"You don't have it in you," said the man near Barry as he stared Lydia down. He still had his own gun in his hand, though it was pointed at the ground.

Barry struggled to get to his feet. As the other man writhed on the ground, still groaning and cursing. "We don't care about the wire," Barry said, trying to keep his voice even. "You can have it."

The man looked at both of them and then at the man on the ground. "Alright, little girl," he said with a nod. "You two help me with this tire and I'll leave alone."

Lydia's finger itched on the trigger. "Oh no?" she asked. "I'm not helping you with shit and you've incapacitated his ability to help you, so it seems to me like we're at a bit of a stalemate. Take the wire and go. Or else we'll find out just what I can and can't do under duress," she said and even though her hands were still shaking, her eyes were cold and her tone was colder.

"You busted the tire, you want the copper, sounds like a personal problem," she added and her finger pressed against the trigger a little more. Please don't call my bluff, I really don't want to shoot you, because I'm afraid you'll shoot him and then I'll have to kill you and I really don't want to do that.

Edited 2015-11-26 06:04 (UTC)

The man stared at Lydia for a long moment and then took a step forward to reach down and hoist his partner up. Barry moved over to Lydia's side, watching her hands shake.
He watched the two men move to the truck and begin working on the tire.

"Thanks," Barry said, his voice low as he stood beside her, still trying to free his hands. "Where is your gun?"

For a second, Lydia was afraid he was going to call her bluff, but he didn't and she took in a sharp, shaking breath as he helped up his fallen comrade and moved toward the back driver's side tire to fix it.

She kept her gun trained on them both, her eyes flickering toward Barry as he approached her. Instead of responding to his gratitude, she nodded to acknowledge it, her lips pressed together as she willed herself to find words now that she didn't have to use them as a tool.

"Wedged between the seat cushions," she whispered back as calmly as she could manage.

Barry swallowed, his eyes moving towards the front of the truck. If he tried to get to it, he knew he'd attract the sight of the two thugs repairing the flat tire. They might think that he and Lydia were trying to take the truck back and start shooting. His shoulder was proof that the lasers were just as painful and as powerful as bullets.

"Do you want me to hold the gun?" He asked. His hands were still tied, but he could maneuver them into the correct position if he had to. That and he'd had some gun handling experience from the academy.

Lydia's finger twitched on the trigger a little, not pressing on it nor pulling back; just twitching nervously. Barry asked whether she wanted him to hold it and the resounding answer was yes, but she shook her head anyway.

"Then it looks like you're able to function and the point I made to keep us from having to help them is moot," she whispered.

She stood still beside Barry, the gun unmoving from the loose aim she had on the men as they worked, and when they finally finished, she stiffened with worry, but they got into the truck and a few minutes later, they took off without another word and Lydia's hands started to shake around the gun even harder than they already had been until the thing fell from her grip and dropped into the sand with a dull thump. Her chest was heaving as she gasped for breaths she hadn't realized she'd been holding on and off that entire time.

"I can't believe that worked..." she confessed breathlessly, bending to pick up the laser again and turning toward Barry. "...I should be able to melt that off, but I'm gonna need a little slack to work with, I think...as soon as my hands stop shaking..."

Barry nodded silently, his eyes on her expression. He didn't know her, but it seemed like she was barely holding it together. They stood in tense silence as the men finished up and then left.

He let out a slow breath and desperiately wished he could offer Lydia a hand as she gasped for air. "We're okay," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "You did it."

He nodded sympathetically. "Take your time. I know this is a dumb question, considering the situation, but are you okay?"

Lydia's hands are held out in front of her, one of them loosely holding the barrel of the laser and they're still shaking, but at least it's not so bad. ...it's bad. No, it's bad. She's in pieces on the inside right now and she realizes that she really would've killed those men if she had to and the very idea of that; of killing someone, even to survive, scares her. The idea that she could is terrifying. The idea that she would makes her feel sick.

Lydia ignores the question for the time being and takes a deep breath, finally taking his hands and guiding them as far apart as they'll go. She pushes the nose of the laser right up against the zip tie so that it covers the entire surface area of the tiny chamber and flicks a finger over the trigger, quick and light. The zip tie snaps and drops to the ground and whether Barry likes it or not, she needs to know that she's okay or that she'll be okay, or just something. His arms are free and she's barely on her feet because she's trembling so hard, so Lydia hugs him.

Hiding her face against this practical stranger's chest, she pretends that he's Stiles and that he'll know exactly what to say to make her feel better and Lydia closes her eyes, shaking her head against him. "I'm so freaking far from okay it's not even funny," she confesses, voice muffled against his jumpsuit.

She doesn't answer, but she does take his hands and move them apart as much as they'll go. It's not far, but it's far enough for her to get the barrel of the laser gun between them and free him. Barry lets out a low breath of relief and then the next thing he knows, she's hugging him.

He relaxes his arms around her, hugging her for a long moment. "That's okay," he says, his voice low. "That was not okay in any way."

He rubs her back lightly in what he hopes is a comforting gesture.

Lydia lets herself fall apart in Barry's arms...but only for a minute. She gives herself a minute and then she shuts it off again. She hates feeling weak. She hates feeling vulnerable.

I'm not like you guys. I don't have claws or glowing eyes or super senses. I just have voices in my head.

Clearing her throat, Lydia lets go and steps back, holding the laser loosely out to him. Her hand is still shaking, but she tells herself if she doesn't see it, then it isn't really happening, so she moves her eyes to his face and makes an effort to look neutral when she does. "I don't want this..." she admits. "...and I wasn't paying attention...I don't know which way we came or how to get back, so I really hope you do..."

He nods, reaching out for the laser and putting it in one of his pockets. He says nothing about the way her hand is still shaking. "We came from this way," he said, with a deep breath. "About two miles."

It's not too much of a walk, but it's more than he'd been expecting. At least they don't have to worry about having to move a big load of copper wire.

He glances back at Lydia. "We should probably start walking."

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Daycycle 4 [Nov 11-15]

DAYCYCLE 4

[NOV 11-15]

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