Truly an amazing story so far dude! Both Borealis Rising and Aurora Falls are incredible stories. I remembered the title of your story during class today, it was very painful to wait until the end of class. I finally got home and immidiatily started my reading marathon.
Keep up the good work, Bugzapper!!
Also is it okay if I putt all the posts in a document??
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it.
Please feel free to convert the story posts into a single document. As long as you don't post it on another site without written permission from me and UWE. it's cool.
Something made the Onos momentarily stop and turn around. It vented a terrifying roar, shifted its position and readied itself to charge. I guess it's finally worked out that I'm not going anywhere, so now it can give the crew its undivided attention. If I could throw something at this brute to keep its attention fixed on me, they might stand a fighting chance. Unfortunately, the only thing in arm's reach was what remained of my right arm. Better than nothing, I guess.
Desperately, I heaved the ragged mass of metal at the creature's ample nether regions. It was a clumsy, end over end throw, but it definitely found its mark. The Onos snapped its head around, roaring its displeasure at this pathetic affront to its dignity. That was all the distraction Héloise needed.
With a blood-curdling kiai, Héloise sprinted across a cultivation bed and launched herself at the Onos. With the breathtaking skill of a Minoan bull-jumper, she used her momentum to grasp the blunt maxillary horns on either side of its jaw and flipped herself clear over the beast's head, landing as lightly as thistle-down upon its massive back. Héloise shifted her stance deftly as the Onos bucked to shake her loose, its rough, scaly hide providing sure footholds as she practically danced her way towards its shoulders.
I have only seen her move like this once before, and even then, it sent chills of dread down my spine.
Her diamond thermoblade flared like a miniature nova, almost too bright to bear. She lunged forward, slashing into the Onos with a precise hand and deadly calm. Immediately, the Onos screamed in abject fear and agony; a high, pitiful jarring sound that seemed incongruous for a creature so immense. It tore at your very soul. It was a sound you would never want to hear again.
I found myself torn between admiration and revulsion. Héloise shifted stance once more, her tattooed face a placid mask of concentration. Her lean body moved and swayed, skilfully countering the Onos' terrified gyrations with an absolute economy of motion. I sensed that the butcher's work was done. No-one could hear that unearthly scream and remain entirely unscathed, although Héloise seemed impervious to its effects. Time to administer the coup de grâce.
Please.
In a blur of motion, Héloise's musubime unfurled. Her cybernetic Guardian Knot extended to a length of four metres, its ornate bronze-coloured metal tip whipping up too fast for human eyes to follow. It swayed briefly, seeking its target. Héloise uttered an explosive kiai, driving the razor-sharp tip deep into the gaping wound she had carved into the Onos' spine. The creature emitted a strangled squeal, shuddered violently and toppled sideways. In a final display of matchless skill, Héloise rode the corpse down as it fell, springing off lightly before it thudded to the floor. The remaining Onos roared insanely, wheeled about and charged straight at her. Héloise shifted kata with the fluid grace of a temple dancer, calmly preparing for the arrival of her next target.
JUNO, DIGBY and IANTO fired simultaneously, three perfectly-aimed hypervelocity projectiles instantly gutting the Onos. Its body crumpled and fell, skidding to a halt a few metres away from Héloise. For a moment, she merely stared at the obscene mass of flesh, her face still locked in its implacable mask of warrior's resolve.
At least, until she noticed that I was now covered in steaming chunks of Onos entrails. Charming.
This is the best page out of this or Aurora falls, by far! I'm amazed!
What about the unveiling of the Trident tech on Mister crazy? ( The crazy merc from Aurora Falls, cannot for the life of me remember his name. He fired on the planet, then got blown out of the sky.)
This is the best page out of this or Aurora falls, by far! I'm amazed!
What about the unveiling of the Trident tech on Mister crazy? ( The crazy merc from Aurora Falls, cannot for the life of me remember his name. He fired on the planet, then got blown out of the sky.)
This is the best page out of this or Aurora falls, by far! I'm amazed!
What about the unveiling of the Trident tech on Mister crazy? ( The crazy merc from Aurora Falls, cannot for the life of me remember his name. He fired on the planet, then got blown out of the sky.)
Do you discovery write? Or have you had this all planned out from when you started Borealis Rising, or even Aurora Falls?
Since Bugzapper started Aurora Falls before the Degasi logs or even the Precursors were implemented, I'm pretty sure that a good deal of Aurora Falls and Borealis Rising were written on the spot.
Since Bugzapper started Aurora Falls before the Degasi logs or even the Precursors were implemented, I'm pretty sure that a good deal of Aurora Falls and Borealis Rising were written on the spot.
Absolutely correct. I've been writing these stories 'on the fly', essentially trying to keep pace with Subnautica's narrative development.
And yes, it has definitely been a 'seat of the pants' experience. Already have an ending mapped out, but we'll see where it goes.
Héloise snapped out of warrior mode instantly. She kneeled down beside me, and gently began clearing away the reeking filth spattered over my body. Her tears flowed in absolute silence. Suddenly, I felt deeply ashamed to be found in this disgusting condition. I moved my arm feebly, attempting to reassure her that I was still vaguely functional. She drew back with a gasp, momentarily startled by this unexpected motion.
"I'm still here, Love. Thanks for saving what's left of my hide." I whispered gratefully.
JUNO, DIGBY and IANTO arrived a few seconds later. JUNO inspected me thoroughly and sighed.
"Doesn't look good, Sir. You have sustained catastrophic damage to your lower torso and drive systems. Your isotopic thermal converter is offline and internal power reserves are currently at 26 per cent, falling rapidly. Coolant reserve is currently at 41 per cent. Primary energy cells One, Three and Four have been totally destroyed." JUNO paused, as if tallying up my final bill. "There is no other choice but to remove your memory core before its matrix deteriorates, Sir. Do you concur?"
I nodded cautiously, a chorus of damaged servos protesting every step of the way.
"I concur, Commander. Mission log has been duly updated, and reads as such: The android form of Acting Captain Alexander Fergus Selkirk has been damaged beyond repair as a direct result of enemy action, rendering Mission Commander Selkirk physically incapable of exercising full and effective command. In accordance with Alterra Company regulations, I freely acknowledge all obligations in this regard and hereby relinquish all command functions, effective immediately. The artificial intelligence entity designated as JUNO has been nominated to assume full command upon my deactivation and will freely relinquish those duties upon my subsequent reactivation at full capacity, timescale indeterminate. Addendum: Let the record also show the following Torgaljin Corporation security personnel are officially listed as killed in action: Armin Mikhailovitch Polyakov, Ran Harlo, Kobus den Bakker, Kassim al-Fuad, Cormac Harrigan, Jespen Haraldssen. Dated, Mission Year 2277 C.E, Sol 125. Local time, 0425 hours. Alexander Fergus Selkirk, out."
Héloise gazed sadly into my eyes. She blinked fresh tears away, desperately fighting for control.
"Don't go, Chérie..." She looked up at JUNO beseechingly, "You can repair him, no?"
JUNO shook her head. "Not here. We can't even transfer him to the nearest repair facility without causing even more damage to his systems, no matter how carefully we do it. As I said, our only hope is to retrieve his memory core and keep it connected to a suitable power source during the transfer process. Any complex memories created since the Captain's last backup will be lost entirely. Pure data can be replaced easily enough, although his aggregate sum of experiences beyond that point will be severely diminished as a result. Entire blocks of recent memory will cease to exist. An extremely unpleasant situation, to say the very least."
I interrupted hastily, lest Héloise get entirely the wrong idea.
"It's true, lass. I can't be repaired, but I can be rebuilt. In fact, I can be upgraded in practically any respect. A more impressive physique, paired with increased strength, speed and agility... Slightly more attractive features, perhaps? If there's anything you'd like changed, now's the time to say it."
"I love you just as you are." Héloise's eyes twinkled impishly. "Une minute, there is one little thing..."
With the explenation of Selkirk losing data and key memories I'm picturing a Bugzapper variant to the movie Multiplicity. Different versions of Selkirk get created, yet each one is a slightly less inferior version of his once fine self.. until eventually were left with a model that's stuffing a slice of peeper anchovie pizza into his wallet....
Now on a serious note, I thought that it would have been Héloise that ends up joining the Selkirk "movement" after being fatally wounded in the assault.
Not to mention that our dear author has allready said that when the bodies are assimilated they lend thier memories into the massive collective that is the "big bad". Polyakov with that much hatred towards Selkirk, Héloise and company was actually given the reigns to his own "creation" who knows what kind of horrors could be awaiting them still.. or if we have actually heard from Polyakov and his blue meanies for the last time?
phantomfinchWest Philadelphia , born and raised on the playground is where I spent most of my days.Join Date: 2016-09-06Member: 222128Members
Does Selkirk still have his warranty? Could save a fortune with the repairs, and with the whole memory thing, he should of backed up his drives and saved his documents more, nobody's fault but his own.
Héloise leaned slowly forward until our helmets touched. Judging by the enigmatic smile she wore, 'right now' might be a good time for a spot of tactful radio silence. Purely for propriety's sake, of course. To their credit, the crew took great pains to politely ignore this brief but intimate exchange.
"Frankly, I'm shocked at your indelicate suggestion, Madame Maida. You wound me." I grumbled.
"Foof. You are not taking me seriously again, my Captain. I can tell." Héloise said haughtily.
"You're sure about this?" I enquired quietly. "It's a mighty big ask, at least as far as I'm concerned."
"Absolutement." Héloise declared emphatically.
JUNO sighed, tapping her wrist PDA in mock exasperation. Yes, the clock's ticking. I know.
Always the stickler for correct form, JUNO braced smartly to attention. "Any final orders, Captain?"
"Aye. If you'd be so kind as to hose me down a bit before doing the deed, I'd be verra grateful. Wouldn't want to go out honkin' like a public privy. Not the most dignified way to clock off, ye ken?"
"Certainly, Sir." JUNO replied. "However, I was in fact seeking more detailed guidance from you regarding the final stages of our mission. What are your orders, Sir?"
"First off, expend all of our onboard stocks of Enzyme 42 in this area. I'm guessing there's one final Hive somewhere in here, and it's a fair bet those Onos were protecting it. Terminate the Hive with extreme prejudice, and then douse this entire area thoroughly. Most importantly, mind that you scour the access corridor that leads to the Precursor facility. There's no need to go any farther than that. Keeper of Memories can deal with anything appearing on his side of the force-field."
"Very well, Sir. IANTO strongly recommends that we flood the Lava Castle after our departure. This will permit more effective dispersal of the Enzyme. I will be able to remotely operate the pressurisation controls once we have re-routed power to the necessary systems. When water pressure inside the base has equalised, the main sub bay's cargo doors can be opened. This will allow indigenous life forms to gain access to the facility, and enable them to deal with any remaining traces of the Kharaa organism in their own way."
"Nicely done. That should prove quite beneficial in the long run. Sooner or later, Father of Tides will meet up with Keeper of Memories and have a grand old chinwag. No doubt all of that weighty Precursor knowledge will be put to good use eventually. I only hope that those folks remember all that we've tried to do for them, rather than what's been done to them. With any luck, they'll think of us kindly."
IANTO loomed over me.
"I'm sorry, Sir. We've run out of time. I have to remove your memory core now." He said quietly.
"Fair do's, lad. One last thing... Win or lose, I'm powerful proud of you all. Be magnificent."
Comments
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it.
Please feel free to convert the story posts into a single document. As long as you don't post it on another site without written permission from me and UWE. it's cool.
Desperately, I heaved the ragged mass of metal at the creature's ample nether regions. It was a clumsy, end over end throw, but it definitely found its mark. The Onos snapped its head around, roaring its displeasure at this pathetic affront to its dignity. That was all the distraction Héloise needed.
With a blood-curdling kiai, Héloise sprinted across a cultivation bed and launched herself at the Onos. With the breathtaking skill of a Minoan bull-jumper, she used her momentum to grasp the blunt maxillary horns on either side of its jaw and flipped herself clear over the beast's head, landing as lightly as thistle-down upon its massive back. Héloise shifted her stance deftly as the Onos bucked to shake her loose, its rough, scaly hide providing sure footholds as she practically danced her way towards its shoulders.
I have only seen her move like this once before, and even then, it sent chills of dread down my spine.
Her diamond thermoblade flared like a miniature nova, almost too bright to bear. She lunged forward, slashing into the Onos with a precise hand and deadly calm. Immediately, the Onos screamed in abject fear and agony; a high, pitiful jarring sound that seemed incongruous for a creature so immense. It tore at your very soul. It was a sound you would never want to hear again.
I found myself torn between admiration and revulsion. Héloise shifted stance once more, her tattooed face a placid mask of concentration. Her lean body moved and swayed, skilfully countering the Onos' terrified gyrations with an absolute economy of motion. I sensed that the butcher's work was done. No-one could hear that unearthly scream and remain entirely unscathed, although Héloise seemed impervious to its effects. Time to administer the coup de grâce.
Please.
In a blur of motion, Héloise's musubime unfurled. Her cybernetic Guardian Knot extended to a length of four metres, its ornate bronze-coloured metal tip whipping up too fast for human eyes to follow. It swayed briefly, seeking its target. Héloise uttered an explosive kiai, driving the razor-sharp tip deep into the gaping wound she had carved into the Onos' spine. The creature emitted a strangled squeal, shuddered violently and toppled sideways. In a final display of matchless skill, Héloise rode the corpse down as it fell, springing off lightly before it thudded to the floor. The remaining Onos roared insanely, wheeled about and charged straight at her. Héloise shifted kata with the fluid grace of a temple dancer, calmly preparing for the arrival of her next target.
JUNO, DIGBY and IANTO fired simultaneously, three perfectly-aimed hypervelocity projectiles instantly gutting the Onos. Its body crumpled and fell, skidding to a halt a few metres away from Héloise. For a moment, she merely stared at the obscene mass of flesh, her face still locked in its implacable mask of warrior's resolve.
At least, until she noticed that I was now covered in steaming chunks of Onos entrails. Charming.
Nice shooting, guys.
I don't know...
Is it better than the first meeting of the Sea Emperor?
What about the unveiling of the Trident tech on Mister Tomar?
And the Rock Puncher, PRAWN suit fighting?
This last page is awesome, don't get me wrong, but there were some pretty amazing that have happened to Selkirk.
I would rate this 8.9 on epic scale. Relatively speaking.
Invigilator Galen Tomar.
Ah, thank you very much.
Do you discovery write? Or have you had this all planned out from when you started Borealis Rising, or even Aurora Falls?
Absolutely correct. I've been writing these stories 'on the fly', essentially trying to keep pace with Subnautica's narrative development.
And yes, it has definitely been a 'seat of the pants' experience. Already have an ending mapped out, but we'll see where it goes.
"I'm still here, Love. Thanks for saving what's left of my hide." I whispered gratefully.
JUNO, DIGBY and IANTO arrived a few seconds later. JUNO inspected me thoroughly and sighed.
"Doesn't look good, Sir. You have sustained catastrophic damage to your lower torso and drive systems. Your isotopic thermal converter is offline and internal power reserves are currently at 26 per cent, falling rapidly. Coolant reserve is currently at 41 per cent. Primary energy cells One, Three and Four have been totally destroyed." JUNO paused, as if tallying up my final bill. "There is no other choice but to remove your memory core before its matrix deteriorates, Sir. Do you concur?"
I nodded cautiously, a chorus of damaged servos protesting every step of the way.
"I concur, Commander. Mission log has been duly updated, and reads as such: The android form of Acting Captain Alexander Fergus Selkirk has been damaged beyond repair as a direct result of enemy action, rendering Mission Commander Selkirk physically incapable of exercising full and effective command. In accordance with Alterra Company regulations, I freely acknowledge all obligations in this regard and hereby relinquish all command functions, effective immediately. The artificial intelligence entity designated as JUNO has been nominated to assume full command upon my deactivation and will freely relinquish those duties upon my subsequent reactivation at full capacity, timescale indeterminate. Addendum: Let the record also show the following Torgaljin Corporation security personnel are officially listed as killed in action: Armin Mikhailovitch Polyakov, Ran Harlo, Kobus den Bakker, Kassim al-Fuad, Cormac Harrigan, Jespen Haraldssen. Dated, Mission Year 2277 C.E, Sol 125. Local time, 0425 hours. Alexander Fergus Selkirk, out."
Héloise gazed sadly into my eyes. She blinked fresh tears away, desperately fighting for control.
"Don't go, Chérie..." She looked up at JUNO beseechingly, "You can repair him, no?"
JUNO shook her head. "Not here. We can't even transfer him to the nearest repair facility without causing even more damage to his systems, no matter how carefully we do it. As I said, our only hope is to retrieve his memory core and keep it connected to a suitable power source during the transfer process. Any complex memories created since the Captain's last backup will be lost entirely. Pure data can be replaced easily enough, although his aggregate sum of experiences beyond that point will be severely diminished as a result. Entire blocks of recent memory will cease to exist. An extremely unpleasant situation, to say the very least."
I interrupted hastily, lest Héloise get entirely the wrong idea.
"It's true, lass. I can't be repaired, but I can be rebuilt. In fact, I can be upgraded in practically any respect. A more impressive physique, paired with increased strength, speed and agility... Slightly more attractive features, perhaps? If there's anything you'd like changed, now's the time to say it."
"I love you just as you are." Héloise's eyes twinkled impishly. "Une minute, there is one little thing..."
*chuckles fiendishly*
It depends on what The Voices tell me.
"What was that, George? Becoming too popular, you say? Yeah, okay."
Dammit...
...
Now on a serious note, I thought that it would have been Héloise that ends up joining the Selkirk "movement" after being fatally wounded in the assault.
Not to mention that our dear author has allready said that when the bodies are assimilated they lend thier memories into the massive collective that is the "big bad". Polyakov with that much hatred towards Selkirk, Héloise and company was actually given the reigns to his own "creation" who knows what kind of horrors could be awaiting them still.. or if we have actually heard from Polyakov and his blue meanies for the last time?
Why?
Little thing..... Hehehehe.....
Stay classy bugzapper.
Selkirk's going to die. And I killed him.
One does one's best.
It couldn't have been...
Could it?
"Frankly, I'm shocked at your indelicate suggestion, Madame Maida. You wound me." I grumbled.
"Foof. You are not taking me seriously again, my Captain. I can tell." Héloise said haughtily.
"You're sure about this?" I enquired quietly. "It's a mighty big ask, at least as far as I'm concerned."
"Absolutement." Héloise declared emphatically.
JUNO sighed, tapping her wrist PDA in mock exasperation. Yes, the clock's ticking. I know.
Always the stickler for correct form, JUNO braced smartly to attention. "Any final orders, Captain?"
"Aye. If you'd be so kind as to hose me down a bit before doing the deed, I'd be verra grateful. Wouldn't want to go out honkin' like a public privy. Not the most dignified way to clock off, ye ken?"
"Certainly, Sir." JUNO replied. "However, I was in fact seeking more detailed guidance from you regarding the final stages of our mission. What are your orders, Sir?"
"First off, expend all of our onboard stocks of Enzyme 42 in this area. I'm guessing there's one final Hive somewhere in here, and it's a fair bet those Onos were protecting it. Terminate the Hive with extreme prejudice, and then douse this entire area thoroughly. Most importantly, mind that you scour the access corridor that leads to the Precursor facility. There's no need to go any farther than that. Keeper of Memories can deal with anything appearing on his side of the force-field."
"Very well, Sir. IANTO strongly recommends that we flood the Lava Castle after our departure. This will permit more effective dispersal of the Enzyme. I will be able to remotely operate the pressurisation controls once we have re-routed power to the necessary systems. When water pressure inside the base has equalised, the main sub bay's cargo doors can be opened. This will allow indigenous life forms to gain access to the facility, and enable them to deal with any remaining traces of the Kharaa organism in their own way."
"Nicely done. That should prove quite beneficial in the long run. Sooner or later, Father of Tides will meet up with Keeper of Memories and have a grand old chinwag. No doubt all of that weighty Precursor knowledge will be put to good use eventually. I only hope that those folks remember all that we've tried to do for them, rather than what's been done to them. With any luck, they'll think of us kindly."
IANTO loomed over me.
"I'm sorry, Sir. We've run out of time. I have to remove your memory core now." He said quietly.
"Fair do's, lad. One last thing... Win or lose, I'm powerful proud of you all. Be magnificent."
JUNO smiled warmly. "Thank you, Sir."
+++PROGRAM TERMINATED+++
Manly tears were shed.