NationStates Jolt Archive

8th District, City, Corporatiao

The man's breath came tattered and irregular as he stopped running for a second to get his bearings. It was treacherously easy to get lost in City, the metropolis sprawled for miles in every direction, and the streets were all relatively similar. This one was crowded, with lots of pedestrian traffic, which was abnormal on a rainy day such as today. It was perfect for the man's current needs though.

Looking over his shoulder again nervously, he set off at a more reasonable pace for his 230 pound frame. Attempting to blend in with the crowd, although somewhat in vain for this hulking man, was his only chance of escaping the Watchman who had spotted him earlier.

Weaving his way through the crowd, the man felt more comfortable, more protected. The Watchmen would have more trouble taking him here... Here he had people to aid him if worst came to worst.

For as long as the citizens of City could remember, the Watchmen had enforced the Board's iron will with a violent twist. Men and women were known to disappear suddenly for the slightest of crimes, and those that questioned their where abouts tended to join them in mystery. There was little the citizens could do, the very laws that their keepers enforced denied them weapons, and where there was one Watchmen, there were enough to handle any situation.

Pulling off onto a smaller street, the man was able to move more quickly. He knew the area that he was in like the back of his hand by now, he had grown up here, and like all citizens, he had never left City. Taking the nearest left to him, the man arrived at his destination, an inconspicuous cafe on the edge of the 8th district. Walking in, the man was greeted by no one, as was common with the oppressed citizens.

Stepping toward the counter, the man ordered a drink and sat down. It would only be a matter of time until his contact arrived, and that time could be one of the most vital moments in the history of City.

(OOC: If someone would like to RP as the contact, I would appreciate it. The point of this RP is to have the man [name him what you will in your RP, I don't care] be the leader of a resistance group attempting to overthrow the Board and the Watchmen. Info on my nation can be found in my wiki [link in sig]. I would like the overthrow attempt to fail. Heh. I like Corporatiao the way it is, just had to introduce things.)

OOC: Now, you're looking for an outside country to provide aid to the rebellion?

(OOC: That's correct.)

OOC: Yeah. I can do that.

IC: Claudio silently approached the counter and tapped the man on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir," he murmurred, "I believe that this is yours." The briefcase was well made, and it was indeed engraved with the man's initials. It seemed exactly the sort of case that should be used to ferry important papers about the city into the hands of important officials. What it actually contained was something less dull.

Inside were satellite photos of the city as a whole, blueprints of several important government buildings, and instructions on how to build a crossbow out of ballpoint pens, and mix powerful explosives out of gardening supplies.

Claudio melted away into the crowd.

9th District, City, Corporatiao

After the contact had faded into the crowd milling about the cafe, Ben (the man) finished his drink, and walked off, leaving no rations cards as payment. No point in obeying any more laws, he already had the Watchmen after him. His time in City would be short, his superiors had to be informed that the Aeson had come through.

Stepping back into the street that he had entered the cafe from, Ben began walking quickly away. The sooner he got into 9th District and handed the case over to the leaders of the rebellion, the sooner he could get into hiding. Walking quickly north, the large man did not notice the dark figure in an alley that he strolled past, it's hulking form ominous.

Stepping incredibly lightly considering it's size, the form moved behind Ben, who was preoccupied with City's difficult navigation. A noise, silent and lethal barely disturbed the air. With a quick flash and the swing of an arm, the form had dispatched it's prey and taken it's prize. Ben lay bleeding on the floor, where hundreds of citizens ignored his writhing form. It was better than becoming involved. The Watchman, it's helmet cold and blank, hovered over it's dying prey for a time, and walked off, leaving Ben to City.

Message from City Resistance to Aeson Government:

We regret to inform you that our carrier was discovered dead on the edge of the 9th District. The Watchmen have taken your gift to us. How should we react?

"Claudio's been compromised. His contact's dead, sir."

"Calm down. Claudio can take care of himself. Now, how badly is he compromised? Do they know he's the contact, or are they still searching?"

"No idea, sir. But they have the briefcase."

"That's not too major a problem. Nothing there that can lead back to us. And Claudio won't talk, even if they catch him. Arrange to have another briefcase delivered, but pull Claudio out of there."

"Yes, sir."

(OOC: Thanks for voting, Aeson.)

4th District, City, Corporatiao

Branko looked over his shoulder. It was far too automatic now, the Watchmen had even more of a hold of him than before Ben's accident.

Branko's best friend, and he had given his life for the rebellion. Sometimes it made Branko wonder how long it would be before it was his turn, but such dark thoughts were useless in such an already bleak situation, they only made life even less liveable.

Rumors had begun to spread throughout City, terrible rumors of darkness and despair. Before the incident, the citizens had thought life could not become more terrible, but apparently the Board was planning on doing just that. Barcodes, databases, and constant vigilence would be the basis of Corporatiao in the future, at least those were the rumors. It just made Branko's job all the more important. His superiors had sent him here to make a solid contact with their Aeson suppliers, and that was what he'd do.

He just had to wait.

And watch for the Watchful.

Antony rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was getting old for this cloak and dagger stuff. But he was still the best man for the job, and it was still a job that needed doing.

He carried a bag this time, where Claudio had carried a briefcase. The contents were approximately the same, however. He left it on the stool next to him and ordered a tall glass of water, never making eye contact with his contact.

The water finished, Antony put the glass on the table and left, leaving his bag behind. Now for that long promised vacation.

[OOC: First time playing NS, or are you an old-bie reincarnated?]

(OOC: A very oldie reincarnated that never RPed much, SEA, and I'm glad to see someone so experienced as yourself watching.)

4th District, City, Corporatiao

Branko sighed as his contact faded into the crowd, just one more face that know, but never meet. His business was not suited to the best of men, much less himself.

Taking the bag swiftly from the stool, and handing the barkeeper a one tenth ration card, Branko exited the cafe, looking all about him for potential danger. The Watchmen could be anywhere, and if he was taken by surprise, he would no doubt end up just like Ben.

Setting off at a brisk pace, the brown haired, more averagely built Branko blended into the crowd rather nicely, and his years past life of crime epitomized that fact. Eerily quick, no citizen could match his skill with a knife, and rumors had somehow spread through City's streets that he had even taken on a Watchmen. These rumors were unfounded, of course, but Branko had surrendered trying to correct them long ago. The people of City needed a sign of hope, any hope, that someone could defeat the undefeatable, conquer the unconquered. Branko was, in rumor alone, that man.

Walking swiftly down a side street, even Branko's trained eyes and ears could not, or rather, would not, notice the all-too-familiar form following him pace for pace. This Watchman, however, had more plans than just death. He would follow the cub to the den, and then report to his masters. The Watchmen would soon quash this foolish rebellion for good.

(I'm not very experienced, but I'll give it a try.)

Victor Nicolae, a wealthy businessman and philantropist, walked the streets of City with his typical confident stride. He was openly pro-government, but secretly did all he could to support the resistance. He was even friendly with several Watchmen, something even members of the government usually did not do. His sabotage efforts had been undetected as yet, as far as he knew.

He noticed a member of the resistance walking towards him with a Watchman close behind. In a move no one could detect as being feigned, Nicolae suddenly faltered and fell directly in front of the Watchman, tripping him.

"I'm so sorry," Victor begged, helping the Watchman up.

"Watch where you're going citi...Oh. Mr. Nicolae. You must be more careful." The Watchman looked down the sidewalk, but Branko was out of sight. "I must be on my way." The watchman nodded to Victor and walked off in the direction Branko had gone.

(OOC: Haha, nice post, way to screw me up.)

4th District, City, Corporatiao

As he was walking quickly away from the drop spot, Branko heard a disturbance just behind him. In terror, Branko noticed two forms entangled on the ground, but he only recognized one. The most recognized form in City. Turning back around, Branko ran quickly out of sight, and kept moving. Whether chance or intended, the citizen who had tripped the Watchman had possibly just saved his life, and maybe even helped the future of the rebellion. He sent silent thanks to the man and his clumsiness, and set off, more quickly this time, making sure to watch his back. The Watchman would not give up that easily, and headquarters was still almost a mile away.

4th District, City, Corporatiao (RPing as the Watchman)

The Watchman's accident with Mr. Nicolae had been unfortunate, but not terribly unfixable. Contacting his comrades in the direction of Branko's last moves, the chase would soon be back on.

4th District, City, Corporatiao

Stopping to see the time, Branko realized how far behind he had really fallen while trying to take a less conventional route to his destination. Looking backwards, his heart sunk.

Turning the corner, speaking to another of it's kind, was the Watchman that had been stalking him until this point. Seeing him, the pair made chase down the narrow alley, their armor glinting in City's neon lighting.

Turning back around, ready to make a hasty retreat, Branko realized yet another terrible truth. He was facing a solid wall, between a rock and a hard place. Quick on his feet, Branko's knife came out of it's sheath, glinting in the same lights that the Watchmen did.

Slowing down, realizing that their prey would not make a hasty retreat, the Watchmen approached their blade wielding enemy, no fear in their minds. Totally confident, the two nodded to each other, and the one that had followed Branko on his long journey through City's 4th District stepped forward, indicating a duel.

Dropping the bag behind him, Branko dropped into his fighting stance, his blade just before him. As his eyes scanned his enemy for a weakness, any weakness, they found little but for the armor's obvious weakpoints. Hard to reach, and harder to penetrate, the battle would be difficult. And there was always the second.

The Watchman's eyes examined his puny prey through the tint of his helmet, taking in all it's weaknesses. No armor, little offensive or defensive weaponry, this would be an easy battle. It's wrist blades desheathing themselves, the hulking Watchman threw itself at it's prey with full force.

Dodging the attacker's blow with speed unknown to even himself, Branko was quickly and decisively ahead from the start. His dodge put him behind his attacker, and slightly below. The armpit was one of the few weakpoints in the armor of the Watchman, and Branko had made that his primary target. Close to the heart, the Watchman's own body would bleed itself to death. Stabbing quickly at the temporarily open joint, Branko felt a satisfying squelch, and smelt blood, the blood of his enemy.

Crumpling to the ground in shock and pain, the first Watchman looked the first citizen to kill his oppressor in all of City's history in the eyes, and died.

Stepping forward to his next opponent, Branko breathed heavily. He had just made history, but it would mean absolutely nothing if he lost his own life two seconds later. The second Watchman carried himself exactly as the first had, a sign of their elite training and ability. Minute differences in armor wear were noticable, but not one thing else distinguished one from the other.

Examining it's prey in a new light, but still with no fear, the second Watchman sized up the injury to it's comrade. The weak points. This would be necessary information for the Board. Victory was essential to notifying the Board of faulty armor, and so, victory was absolutely essential.

It's blades revealing themselves, this Watchman played more conservatively than it's deceased partner. Moving slowly forward, it would not allow it's weaknesses to be easily exploited.

Branko, alive with adrenaline from the first fight, was impatient is waiting for the Watchman to strike first, and so did so himself. Swinging high, then low, left, then right, the Watchman began to feel his normal advantage taking hold. The foolish citizen was wearing himself down needlessly, his blows glinting off his enemy's armor and off his parries.

Finally tired, Branko backed away, realizing the folly of his last move. He would need to draw the Watchman to him, and beat him as he had done to the last one. Dropping into his defensive stance, he was successful.

Annoyed with the time that this battle was taking, the Watchman lunged at his prey, making the same fatal mistake his partner had made, only with more painful results for Branko. Caught by one of the Watchman's blades in the side, Branko was hardly able to swing his own blade around quickly enough to catch the Watchman in his joint, ending it's life alongside it's partners.

Unable to realize the reality of defeating two Watchman alone, Branko collapsed in a heap, blood pooling out of his side.

Message from City Resistance to Aeson Government:

While our contact was found in a terrible condition, your supplies have reached us safely. We thank you.

Rumors spread quickly about the defeat of the two Watchmen, and Victor assumed it had been the work of the man he had helped. He could feel the excitement among the people as he walked the streets, and he was itching for another chance to help the resistance.