Just a little bit for the prelude. Sorry if it's kinda rough - the muse just isn't in it tonight.
Benjamin and Gina at the time were in their hotel room doing mundane things. They were putting on some finishing touches after donning their new dress uniforms. That had been something recent that Ben had put into play, and he was eager to see everyone's reactions to the new uniforms.
Ben was carefully braiding Gina's hair. He was the only person that she trusted to do this. Certainly, she could do it herself, but Ben could do it better. And, who was she kidding? She honestly enjoyed the feeling of his hands gently, yet firmly working through her hair. She was working very hard to not completely turn into a puddle of bliss.
Gina suddenly stiffened. Ben froze, worried for a half-second that he may have grazed one of her antennas or pulled a hair the wrong way. That was forgotten with the words that came out of Gina's mouth next.
"We've been compromised!"
"WHAT?" snapped Ben as Gina turned to face him and hurriedly began to shake the braid out in favor of a simple ponytail.
"Cortana saw something funny and Midnight confirmed it. Someone's ganked the security satellites."
Ben's expression hardened. "Then they're already here." He reached to his neck and squeezed the in-line microphone that was connected to the ear bud in his ear and the secured radio in his breast pocket. Gina, meanwhile, began to open one the of steel-clad cases they had brought with them, labeled 'Emergencies Only'. "Anika, it's Ben. We're about to be ambushed... Good. Coordinate with the security staff. even if they're after what I think they are, they're gonna try and milk us for anything they can. Jess! Get me a secure line back home."
"Here," said Gina as she came over, now wearing body armor and carrying a set for Ben. He continued talking as he let Gina help him.
"Ruri! Black Rider! Code Sneaker! Spidey sense is tingling! Scramble two squadrons and use The Horn to expedite.... I don't care if the techs are still running optimization tests! A few hundred more meters per second isn't gonna do us any good now! ...Good, Blackrider out."
Gina went back to open another set of cases. "Jess?," Ben continued without missing a beat. "Get a triplet to security central and station twins in as many vital spots as you can. If these ass-clowns compromised our satellites then Skuld only knows what else they got."
Gina began loading several very large guns. Ben was so glad they had them right now.
"Captain Yamada, Blackrider. Have you been monitoring? ...Outstanding. Time 'til wheels up? ...Good. Try and keep her in one piece - she's brand new. Blackrider out."
That was it. His pieces were moving into position. Would they be there soon enough?
Gina handed him something then stood back. It was large and heavy and a dull gray color. Ben grunted under the exertion and then nodded to his lover and executive.
It was a small ingot of handwaviumized steel.
He felt his biomod begin to awaken as it called to the handwavium in the metal. It suddenly disintigrates into a fine gray mist suspended in the air. Next was that part Ben hated the most: From the knuckles in his right hand and all the way back to his elbow, his arm split lengthwise into three sections. It had been excruciating the first time he had done it. It was just as excruciating now. He'd simply kept on doing it to get used to the pain. Benjamin groaned as beads of sweat built up on his forehead.
At the very least, this part didn't last long. A binding chord formed and wrapped itself around his arm, but not his hand. Then the armor began to form, starting with the three wickedly curved spikes jutting from his shoulder blade - these would serve as the all-important fuel for when he used his shell bullet. And from the shoulder on down the armor formed up. Red, orange, and gold plating covered his arm, giving him the appearance of having a particularly large and showy cyber arm with a brutal and knuckley fist the size of a canned ham. It was undeniably mechanical in appearance, and yet possessed a certain organic appeal.
The transformation was complete. A dull throb ached in his right arm, but it was quickly fading. And then there was that presence in the back of his mind. Mischievous, lecherous... This was the 'Idle Hands' quirk. If he wasn't being conscientious about the right arm, it would do whatever his Id felt like doing. Such as groping pretty girls if they were in range.
Gina approached without fear. Even if it did grope her, she knew from past experience that she would be handled gently. Besides, it had already 'gotten to know her' and Ben seemed to be in full control. She offered him a huge hand cannon, which Ben accepted with the right arm. The grip fit in perfectly with his armored hand.
The hurrying had been accomplished. Now came the hardest part - the waiting. Without saying a word to each other, Benjamin and Gina both knew that there was not more that they could do. Jess would let them know where they would be needed. So, the two laid down on the hotel bed together, body armor, guns, and everything until they got the call.
When the klaxon sounded, they knew it wouldn't be long.
Benjamin and Gina at the time were in their hotel room doing mundane things. They were putting on some finishing touches after donning their new dress uniforms. That had been something recent that Ben had put into play, and he was eager to see everyone's reactions to the new uniforms.
Ben was carefully braiding Gina's hair. He was the only person that she trusted to do this. Certainly, she could do it herself, but Ben could do it better. And, who was she kidding? She honestly enjoyed the feeling of his hands gently, yet firmly working through her hair. She was working very hard to not completely turn into a puddle of bliss.
Gina suddenly stiffened. Ben froze, worried for a half-second that he may have grazed one of her antennas or pulled a hair the wrong way. That was forgotten with the words that came out of Gina's mouth next.
"We've been compromised!"
"WHAT?" snapped Ben as Gina turned to face him and hurriedly began to shake the braid out in favor of a simple ponytail.
"Cortana saw something funny and Midnight confirmed it. Someone's ganked the security satellites."
Ben's expression hardened. "Then they're already here." He reached to his neck and squeezed the in-line microphone that was connected to the ear bud in his ear and the secured radio in his breast pocket. Gina, meanwhile, began to open one the of steel-clad cases they had brought with them, labeled 'Emergencies Only'. "Anika, it's Ben. We're about to be ambushed... Good. Coordinate with the security staff. even if they're after what I think they are, they're gonna try and milk us for anything they can. Jess! Get me a secure line back home."
"Here," said Gina as she came over, now wearing body armor and carrying a set for Ben. He continued talking as he let Gina help him.
"Ruri! Black Rider! Code Sneaker! Spidey sense is tingling! Scramble two squadrons and use The Horn to expedite.... I don't care if the techs are still running optimization tests! A few hundred more meters per second isn't gonna do us any good now! ...Good, Blackrider out."
Gina went back to open another set of cases. "Jess?," Ben continued without missing a beat. "Get a triplet to security central and station twins in as many vital spots as you can. If these ass-clowns compromised our satellites then Skuld only knows what else they got."
Gina began loading several very large guns. Ben was so glad they had them right now.
"Captain Yamada, Blackrider. Have you been monitoring? ...Outstanding. Time 'til wheels up? ...Good. Try and keep her in one piece - she's brand new. Blackrider out."
That was it. His pieces were moving into position. Would they be there soon enough?
Gina handed him something then stood back. It was large and heavy and a dull gray color. Ben grunted under the exertion and then nodded to his lover and executive.
It was a small ingot of handwaviumized steel.
He felt his biomod begin to awaken as it called to the handwavium in the metal. It suddenly disintigrates into a fine gray mist suspended in the air. Next was that part Ben hated the most: From the knuckles in his right hand and all the way back to his elbow, his arm split lengthwise into three sections. It had been excruciating the first time he had done it. It was just as excruciating now. He'd simply kept on doing it to get used to the pain. Benjamin groaned as beads of sweat built up on his forehead.
At the very least, this part didn't last long. A binding chord formed and wrapped itself around his arm, but not his hand. Then the armor began to form, starting with the three wickedly curved spikes jutting from his shoulder blade - these would serve as the all-important fuel for when he used his shell bullet. And from the shoulder on down the armor formed up. Red, orange, and gold plating covered his arm, giving him the appearance of having a particularly large and showy cyber arm with a brutal and knuckley fist the size of a canned ham. It was undeniably mechanical in appearance, and yet possessed a certain organic appeal.
The transformation was complete. A dull throb ached in his right arm, but it was quickly fading. And then there was that presence in the back of his mind. Mischievous, lecherous... This was the 'Idle Hands' quirk. If he wasn't being conscientious about the right arm, it would do whatever his Id felt like doing. Such as groping pretty girls if they were in range.
Gina approached without fear. Even if it did grope her, she knew from past experience that she would be handled gently. Besides, it had already 'gotten to know her' and Ben seemed to be in full control. She offered him a huge hand cannon, which Ben accepted with the right arm. The grip fit in perfectly with his armored hand.
The hurrying had been accomplished. Now came the hardest part - the waiting. Without saying a word to each other, Benjamin and Gina both knew that there was not more that they could do. Jess would let them know where they would be needed. So, the two laid down on the hotel bed together, body armor, guns, and everything until they got the call.
When the klaxon sounded, they knew it wouldn't be long.