Thread: Deus Ex Machina (BlisteredBlood x darkangel76)

Maras teeth chattered as she walked along the nearly desolate and deserted street. It was freezing outside, the air so cold and crisp that it made her nose burn, her lungs hurt as she breathed in and out in and out. Pulling her coat more tightly about her body, she glanced around at everything, slowly taking in her surroundings. It was her first time ever visiting the Soviet Empire of Russia SER and she was more than nervous about it. Tensions between them and her home nation of the Empire of the United States EUS were rather strong, bordering on intense and becoming ever worse. Shivering, she looked up into the slightly darkening sky, the moon slowly rising overhead. The street lights were turning on, one by one, as the natural light began to change, casting an eerie bluish glow to everything and making her that much colder. Mara had come to the SER for a few reasons. One a direct result of the recent information shed dug up when doing research on a strange, yet intriguing mission that shed been called upon to engage in. A newer member of the EUSs resistance, having only been with them for two years since her eighteenth birthday, shed been given information regarding a project that had long since been thought dead. Abandoned. Shed been given files on The KalishnikovFreedman Project and the name of it had more than intrigued her. Kalishnikov. Shed never been one for science and the like, but that name. It was so close to her own surname, Kalish, that she couldnt help but wonder. As a result, she read up on the scientist, one of the SERs most renowned and was shocked to learn about the things hed been involved in, in the areas of cybernetic research, about the joint project creating the cyborg known as Deadman. At first, Mara wasnt sure what her thoughts were on the things the scientist known as Kalishnikov had been a part of. The original intentions had indeed seemed sound, humanitarian even. Humanitarian. That was something her father, Karl, had called her since a very young age. It was a title she bore proudly. Her curiosity still not satisfied, she eventually confronted her father. Shed moved out the day shed turned eighteen, wanting to prove to herself and everyone that she could make it on her own, be independent and self reliant. The move had made her father proud, though hed made sure she knew that if shed ever needed help, hed be there for her in an instant. A promise she knew full well hed keep until he no longer had breath in his body. In the confrontation, she asked him about Kalishnikov and that was when she learned the full truth of her familys origins and connections. Her father had left the SER the moment hed been able, defecting to the EUS and making a new life for himself. One that left all ties to the SER behind. The Kalishnikov legacy. Everything. He changed his last name, shortening it and eventually met her mother, Elizabeth Anderson, a woman hed die for, and married her. Upon learning this information, Mara knew that shed have to go to the SER to find out more about Kalishnikov and the project hed been involved in so many decades ago. She needed to know about her grandfather, his infamy, his vision, his creation. Something beckoned to her, something the little intelligence shed received from the resistance couldnt give her. It was personal and she knew damned well shed have to quench that desire before she could put a full out hunt for the item they wanted. The item termed Deadman. She honestly couldnt believe, once shed fully understood the history, that shed been the one asked to retrieve the cyborg. Deadman. Her grandfathers greatest creation before he died suddenly of a stroke. Suddenly, the wind blew and Mara felt the sting against the pale skin of her cheeks. Her blue eyes watered a little and she pulled her scarf up over her mouth. The warm, moist breath helped to heat her face a little, but only just. She didnt know how long shed been walking, but she figured she had to be somewhat near the place in which her grandfather had been reported to frequent before he died. Upon arriving in the SER, shed had to locate old relatives to learn that much more about her grandfather, details that no one else would know. Not even the resistance. Again the wind blew, harder, kicking up the whispy dusting of snow that littered the roads. Mara shivered and began to quicken her pace. She needed to get inside, if only just for a few moments to warm up. She could resume her search once she thawed out a little. Besides, she knew she was close. It was just a matter of finding the right building. The right warehouse. Setting her sights on the nearest unmarked warehouse, she headed toward it. As she moved, she did a quick check to make sure her gunblade revolver was accessible. Since joining the resistance, theyd taken it upon themselves to see that she was trained in combat and self-defense of some sort. She wasnt the most skilled when it came to hand to hand, but she proved to not be half bad when it came to wielding a gunblade, an elegant weapon still in the beta stages, a gorgeous marriage of the sword and gun. Perfect, Mara muttered as she neared the warehouse of choice. Finally, upon reaching the door, Mara heaved all her weight against the door and began pushing against it. Being only 54 and weighing at 110 lbs, she was a lithe and willowy thing, but she pushed against that heavy door until it finally began to give way. Creaking, she opened it enough so that she could slip inside. The room was dark, the air cold, but not as biting as it was outside. Letting out an audible sigh, she began to feel along the walls for a switch, something to turn on the lights of the place. It didnt take long, her delicate fingers eventually found the control panel. Smiling, she let them do their work and within seconds the room became illuminated. Pushing her dark hair out of her face, she let out another exhale and slowly turned around.