NationStates Jolt Archive

The sun crested the peak of Mount Hollad, beams of light searching out the dark places in the city below, reflecting off the tall, spindly towers that stretched toward the clouds. The light also fell upon a certain sleeping man. Ryan blinked his eyes open as the slow drum of music filled his ears. He sat slowly, stiffly, fighting every bit of the way -- his favorite part of the song was coming up.

we drift deeper
life goes on
we drift deeper
into the sound

Her voice was like that of an angel, soft and powerful yet at the same time invoking within him a joy and energy that seemed at odds with his prior lethargy. His head began to move to the beat without any input from his brain. This song was probably one of his favorites.

Finally the song ended and Ryan leaned over and grabbed his white dress shirt,” hmmm… lipstick, don’t remember that” tossing it aside, grabbing another one and continued getting dressed.

Ryan walked quickly out of his room to find Jessica and Brook curled up on his couch all wrapped up in a blanket. They looked so peaceful asleep, Almost a shame to have to wake them up.

Almost.

“Hey you two love birds wake up, we have things to do” Ryan said in his best “fatherly” type voice he could muster, the two groaned and Brook grabbed the pillow she was resting and threw it at Ryan. It missed by a long shot having gone in the exact opposite direction. “No time for games you two, don’t make me tip that couch over”

"Heya love-birds. Wake up. We have things to do," said Ryan in his best 'fatherly' tone. The pair groaned and Brook pick up a pillow and threw it at Ryan. It missed. In fact, it hit the floor a few feet from the couch, in the opposite direction. "No time for games. Don't make me flip that couch over," threatened Ryan, playfully

There was another groan as the two slowly unraveled from each other and got to their feet. Jessica swore beneath her breath, her head pounding with the after-effects of last night; she actually managed to get out a coherent sentence in between curses, "I'm amazed you're not doubled over after last night.

"Well if it makes you feel better, I don't remember a thing," he replied coolly, tossing Jessica and Brook their jackets, then putting his own on.

~~//**//~~

”Tell me again why I’m the only one who ever gets hang overs?”

A sleek black limo sped down the road towards the inner part of the city. Skyscrapers dominated the skyline. Jessica adjusted her sunglasses for the third time to block the sun better as she stared out the window while Ryan and Brook were busy talking business. She had a hang over and her stomach was growling, she did not like how the day was starting off.

“Ok, so is the invitation finished yet?” Ryan asked impatiently, his boyish smile making Brook blush.

“Done and sent, Ry “ Brook said quickly with a few final strokes on her laptop.

Jessica glanced over at the two as they continued their semi-formal banter playing no real attention to either of them; she was transfixed on Ryan’s features, his long black hair, his eyes, and his lips. It was well known she had a thing for Ryan but devil be damned if she would ever admit it. She quickly turned away blushing a deep red when she realized Ryan was staring at her puzzlingly.

The rest of the ride was uneventful as they drove to the Great Hall. The limo slowed to a dead stop outside a massive building, people were moving here and that in great haste as the final equipment was being carried in, speakers and lights of all sizes and shapes and a large crowd had formed outside in wait for the coming nightfall, A deafening roar of cheering came as Jessica stepped out of the black limo followed by Brook and finally Ryan.

He climbed onto the trunk of the limo looking over his people as they cheered “My Companions . . . my friends, tonight we dance!” he roared as the crowd cheered louder. Being finished satisfying his little ego trip he got down from the car and proceed with the two ladies into the Great Hall. The Great Hall as it was called was in reality a very large nightclub about the size of a stadium designed for occasions like this.

“I hope it’s big enough…” Ryan said after he let out a long whistle impressively.


*//~~//*


Respected Leaders.

I am Ryan Vangred, the appointed leader of my small country of Madrenon. I would like to personally invite you to the Festival of Sound, the largest event in my
country. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely
Ryan Vangred


http://img170.exs.cx/img170/1827/lead9ai.jpg
Ryan Vangred
Leader of madrenon

Traegan Stark read the forewarded message once, twice, then a third time. Un-be-lievable.

He was gonna get paid to party.

"Goddamn, I love my life!"

The note at the bottom of the forward had been attached by the Coordinator in charge of his "unit." See, he was an Administrator, now. It fit him better than military law.

Anyways, the jist of Coordinator Samantha McArthur's note was that he was to take pick one non-Administrator to accompany him...and he knew just the person.

He flicked a few keys and before long he was staring at the distinctly frightening eyes of 1st Lt. Jaime Coldfist.

"Hey, Jaime. Up for a bit of a vacation?"

If looks could kill...

"Fuck you very much, Ace. I'm in the middle of a goddamn evaluation, there ain't no way in hell you're pulling me off this one!"

Ace smiled. Jaime had begun to get way too attached to his platoon, never had time to kick back anymore, never -did- kick back anymore. Way too military. Disturbing, but then, that was Jaime for you.

"C'mon, Jaime."

That was when 1st Lieutenant Jaime Coldfist, CO 5th Platoon, E Company, 136th Battalion, Fleet Marine I Corps hung up on Ace Stark.

Ace shook his head and sighed...that kind of obsession had to be unhealthy.

"Ah well...maybe...."

Fifteen calls later, he finally had his partner.

"Hey, no problem, man. Meet me at the pad tomorrow morning, we ride at oh-eight-hundred."

Jeremy Cartier wasn't a bad guy, really. He was just a bit on the wild side, but then, all of Kael Stark's Special Unit types were a bit crazy. You had to be. Kael's boys routinely went up against the nasty types that filtered into the Supremacy, mostly on Horatria. Special Unit saw more action than the goddamn army, what with the constant turmoil on Horatria...

They were also -very- good at what they did. The casualty rate was high at first, but after one had survived twenty ops and become a veteran, it leveled out to almost nothing. That was physical casualties. Psychological turnover was high.

As such, vacation and paid leave was more or less available at request. At least when it was requested by people like Cartier, who'd been on Special Unit since it had formed.

The "core players" knew themselves, they knew when they needed a break. So it was childsplay for Jeremy to get away...because he did need a break...

Ace had his number two, Jeremy got some leave...everybody was happy.

Oughta be a damn fun trip...heh...heh...heh.

A short fat pasty-faced man quickly paced over to the trio, he wheezed in-between words as he sat down in a chair that was at a nearby table. “ahhhhhh welcome, welcome, I hope my little masterpiece is up to your standards?”

“It’s beautiful, Phil I especially like what you did with the roof “ Ryan look up at the high arcing ceiling, it almost was too much for words to describe. The ceiling was one giant screen, a beautiful field of stars and a orange nebula was being zoomed in upon, faster and faster it moved as the specks of dust turned into planets revolving around a giant sun. It did not stop yet as it veered off away from the solar system towards the unknown.

Brook and Jessica just gasped as they watched it in awe. Jessica always had a love for the stars and Brook just loved everything with a childlike innocence.

“That’s not all I to show you come, come next we have the VIP room” Phil stood up with a sparkle in his eye his pace quicker than before as the trio followed behind him. After what seemed to be minutes they reached the top of spiral staircase leading to the VIP room.

“Wow…” Brook stepped into the VIP room, huge wasn’t a word to describe it; the walls were lined with one-way windows looking out onto the dance floor. Panels displayed dancing women placed at each corner.

“Ah yes, we have a fully functional bar, one way windows, a pool table, furniture, a dance floor, and room for 50 guests.” Phil boasted loudly as he looked out one of the windows

“You’ve out done yourself Phil, you really have” Ryan gave a nod to the bartender as he sat down at the counter. Jessica had joined brook as the checked everything out excitedly.

Ace and Jeremy stretched and rose from their seats as the Drive Cutter finally touched down in Madrenon. The trip had been long and uneventful...deathly boring. It had best be bloody worth it...

Ace grabbed his attache case, tossed his jacket over his shoulder, and stepped out of the cutter, Jeremy was a few moments behind him, having to drag his hardcase out of the overhead bin.

At any rate, they both set foot on solid ground and stretched...

Ace looked over at Jeremy, "So. This is it, eh?"

Jeremy nodded, "Yup. Looks like it. I hope to god that this party is worth it. Would be a pity to come all the way out here just to get drunk and wake up in bed with a not particularly attractive woman..."

Ace smiled, "Your curse, Jeremy. Not mine."

Jeremy snickered, "Yeah. I wonder if these ladies prefer the skinny shrimpy goth look or the fit, muscled look....?"

Ace shrugged, "Doesn't matter. You're a freaking Biokineticist, Jeremy. I'm stuck like this."

Jeremy snorted, "Fat load of good that'll do me. Shit, Ace, if I did a full body resculpt I wouldn't have anything left for when I got a girl! Anyways, I've rarely ever had trouble before. Chicks dig the Halfling Ascended, y'know."

Ace smirked, "Oh yeah. Silver eyes, Silver hair, perfectly tuned bodies, hundreds of years of experience...yeah."

Jeremy flashed a knowing grin, "I say we go it together. That way I oughta wake up with at least one reasonably attractive woman."

They both laughed.

Yeah...it oughta be worth it.

A black sleek limo speed along the tarmac toward the ship and the two strangers, Rebecca hated wearing a uniform, especially when she had to meet foreign delegates, half the time they were staring at her ass and the other half was busy spent staring at her chest. Messaged her left temple softly, she mumbled to herself quietly she didn’t even know who these people were.

The limo slowly came to a stop several feet from the strangers. Rebecca quickly checked herself in the mirror and tugged at the bottom of her uniform. Ok, time to put on a welcoming smile she reminded herself nervously as she opened the door and took a delicate step out of the limo.

“So, you two must be here for the party” Rebecca called out cockily as she strode over confidently, she stopped holding out her hand and giving a quick glance over both of the men, the silver haired one in particular “I’m Rebecca Leust, a pleasure to meet both of you. If you would be so kind as to follow me I will take you too your housing for the duration of the event or if you prefer to Ryan Vangred”

She turned after the pleasantries were done and lead the delegates to the limo with the occasional sway of her hips. I’m a damn tease… she scolded herself playfully.

Ace looked at the girl, looked at Jeremy, looked at the girl's ass, looked at Jeremy, looked at the limo, looked at Jeremy...and shrugged.

Jeremy smiled and motioned for Ace to lead the way. If there was a fight, Jeremy would take lead. If there was a woman, Ace was the undisputed master. They were nothing if not logical...tee-hee.

Limos didn't really impress either of them. Because Ace rather jaded as far as the "universally acknowledged symbols of power" went. There was little a limo could do but look "imposing." Ace Stark didn't want to look "imposing."

Jeremy wasn't impressed because Jeremy's personal vehicle was faster, could carry almost as many people, and was actually more expensive. Because it was a light tank.

Very little impressed Jeremy Cartier these days...but it didn't matter.

So Ace and Jeremy followed Rebecca back to the limo. With their undoubtedly longer strides (partly because both men were over six foot tall, partly because they were both from two-gee planets), they caught up to Rebecca shortly.

Jeremy might not be leading any efforts as far as Rebecca as an individual was concerned...but he -was- the strategic CO...

"We'd prefer to meet Mr. Vangred. We won't be requiring any lodgings, I don't think. We'll be operating out of our ship, I suspect."

Ace confirmed that with a nod, trading smiles with his Gunslinger friend. You can take the man out Special Unit, but it tended to look better if you didn't take Special Unit out of the man.

They'd also packed a pair of Malice gravcycles for transportation...but they weren't about to mention that when the locals had gone to all this trouble for them.

Ace then took over, "And yes, we're here for the party. I'm Ace, this is Jeremy. But if you have to fill out any paperwork, I'm Administrator-Cadet Commander Traegan Stark, and he's Captain Jeremy Cartier. I suspect we're both very pleased to make your acquaintance, as well."

Ace would bestow upon Rebecca his trademarked "you make the first move" smile.

Rebecca made herself comfortable on one of the seats running along the side of the limo, it didn’t leave much to the imagination, the mini-bar ran opposite to Rebecca, and a fold down television. She leaned over grabbing a bottle of Long Road Wine from the mini-bar, taking 3 glasses she poured the liquid into each glass. Long Road Wine was a concoction of several different alcohols, as the name suggested it was best tasted during a long travel.

“Here you go boys, Ryan Vangred gives this as a gift to you, Cheers” Rebecca raised her glass before taking a long sip. The limo drive glanced at the rear view mirror before speaking up “Miss Leust, we’re going to have to take the longer route due to the festival.”

She sighed heavily; she knew things like this never went over well with delegates. Something about the need for everything needing to be perfect or else the nation was “uncivilized”

“Well gentle I’m afraid it might take a while, it seems as the festival of sound grows in popularity, the earlier it begins each year.” She turned to her guests shifted her right leg over her left, her finger playing with the top button of her uniform absent mindedly.

“Since this could take a while, lets get to know a little more about each other…” taking another sip of her drink, smiling devilishly.

Ace directed his practiced leer at her while Jeremy busied himself with the laptop he'd drawn out of his hardcase. Unbeknownst to their escort, he was checking the subdermal comm-units.
(dis be radio stuffs)
"Test one, test one. Can you hear me now?"

"Shut up, Jeremy. You want her or should I?"

"All yours. Appetizer, eh?"
---
"Bah! Jealousy of my skill will get you nowhere."

Ace slid in a bit closer to Rebecca, but not unusually close.

"I think I'd like that."

Rebecca took another careful sip of her drink, the effects of the drink were starting to take hold, she was never much of a drinker but it was good to indulge in things every once and a while. Her eyes wandered between to two men as ace moved over beside her a sly smile coming over her features.

“Mr. Stark and Mr. Cartier, you haven’t touched your drinks. If I didn’t know better I think you want me to get drunk.“ She gave a quick wink and took another sip gingerly, moving closer to Ace “So, Ace where did you get nickname from?”

____________________________________________________


Ryan leaned back on the couch listening to the music flowing from the large speakers in the corners of the VIP room, Jessica sat down beside him holding a cup of coffee with both hands. She glanced over at him while taking a sip.

“Think anyone gunna come?” Ryan side slowly opening his eyes staring at Jessica, lazily, moving his behind his head using it as a pillow.

“You mean delegates and such?”

“Yeah...”

“Don’t worry about them, if them come they come, if they don’t then they missed out of a good party and anyways you got bigger things to worry about… like your people.” Jessica felt her cheeks warm up she wanted tell Ryan the truth but she couldn’t work up the courage. She took a long sip of her coffee.

“You right Jessica how’s your hang over treating you?”

“It’s better, say where’s Jessica?”

“No idea, probably taking a tour with Phil.” Ryan yawned as he laid back again closing his eyes again. The party would start soon he needed to be rested.

Ace smiled.

"Well...that depends on who you ask. The bare-bones of it is that I...slept...with somewhere between five and twenty-five women on the same night and brought every single one of them to orgasm."

He smiled, "Personally, I can't remember. That whole night is a blank. I remember walking into the club...then I remember waking up the next day with an incredible hangover. When I wandered downstairs, one of my friends who'd been there said "Hey, Ace." Or something like that, anyways...and the name stuck."