Crisis teamwork
Hello everyone, it’s Animeman73. Well, the Roll of the Dice challenge has been fun. But the time has come for the grand finale. And the finale is Akamaru Stiles Stillinski. But on Discord he’s known better as Kiba.
His Genre of choice was Adventure/Mystery, and his word of choice was switch. That presented all kinds of possibilities here. I hope Kiba and you enjoy the end result. Let the final Roll of the Dice story begin.
The flying car for the G.W.A. Legion dropped downwards and landed. A black woman in the grey and red Legion attire approached the car. The vehicle opened and out of it stepped a woman with metallic blue hair also dressed in legion attire.
With her was a humanoid lizard-like creature. The woman smiled as she approached. “Sorry Horatio and I called you back so soon like this Rachel. I know it’s only been a short time since that nasty business on Mars.”
Sergeant Rachel Beck of the Legion waved it off. “It’s fine Lamika, I mean Commander Wallace. You were one of my best mentors at the Academy so this is the least I could do.”
The black woman then looked at the reptilian. “Officer Sssuldarth, I presume?”
The reptilian saluted. “Reporting for duty ma’am,” he acknowledged.
She nodded and stated, “At ease mister.”
The reptilian did so. “So why did you ask Captain Stark to bring me out here?”
“Don’t look now but more of your past has come out of the woodwork.”
The blue-haired woman’s face paled. “Commander is Simon…”
Wallace raised an eyebrow then shook her head. “No Simon Wendall is not in the New Portland Convention Center.”
Rachel’s face eased. She looked on said Convention Center. “God this place brings back memories," she commented.
"This is where that Incident with that new form of Slam was a few years ago. So, what’s the problem now?”
Rachel looked at the brown-eyed black woman who shook her head. “Zachary Randolph is in there. And he’s taken the Ambassador for the Margravian people hostage.”
Rachel’s face paled again. “That psychopath in activist clothing doesn’t do anything but cause trouble!”
Lamika Wallace nodded her agreement. “We figured that out when he infiltrated the Academy on Ribosh-12.”
Ssuldarth added, “If I may Commander. As I recall the Margravians are that feline-like race. They seek membership in the Galactic Worlds Alliance.”
Lamika nodded, “That would be correct Ssuldarth. And it’s no secret that Randolph and his ilk want to see the Alliance broken up.”
Rachel rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“Also abandon all space travel and isolate Earth from the rest of the galaxy. All because he believes it’s a grand hologram. One cooked up by some unnamed alien slave masters.
"I remember his rants from the first time. Nice to see some things haven’t changed.”
Lamika explained, “The problem is that lunatic's gotten smarter.”
She fished out a device from a pocket and pressed some buttons on it. 3-D holograms appeared on the screen. It showed a familiar black-haired psychopath in his paramilitary attire. With him were several other men.
In the room were human and feline humanoid captives. All had ropes around their ankles and wrists. Cube-like devices had the ropes wrapped around them.
Rachel's face furrowed. "Ropes, Randolph restrained them with ropes? That's rather primitive and what are those cube things?"
Lamika shook her head. "That's what has us disturbed. Our hackers managed to get into the security systems.
"Those devices transform into small jet packs. And if they pull at their ligaments hard enough…"
Rachel grimaced in disgust. "Dear God, a gruesome and painful death. Zachary's going the extra light year this time."
Rachel and Ssuldarth grimaced. “Primitive, bloody, and exactly what this perp would do as I recall from your talk of him Rachel.”
The blue-haired woman nodded, “You’re correct Ssuldarth.”
She thought for a moment.
“Knowing Randolph, I’d guess he’s still after his agenda. But if he doesn’t get it killing the Ambassador would lead to an interplanetary incident. That could spark a war between the G.W.A. and the Margravians.”
“That would be a disaster,” Ssuldarth stated.
“The Margravians are as powerful as us. A war between our people would come to no good for anyone. Except of course the tyrants.”
“So based on your initial assessment can you guess why I called you?” Wallace asked.
“Because I’m the one who’s stopped his plans before, and I can deal with him. But we’ll have to be very careful. Because that lunatic has set things up so if he doesn’t get what he wants he’ll see everything burn to the ground anyway,” Rachel observed.
A thought came to Ssuldarth. “Were your hackers ever able to get an understanding of the inner workings of those devices. The frequency etcetera.”
Lamika looked at the reptilian and nodded. “Yes, they did but why?”
Rachel looked at her partner in puzzlement. “I need the schematics as soon as possible.” He requested.
Sssuldarth looked at the blue-haired woman. “All right you big lizard, what’s on your mind?” Rachel asked knowing her partner was up to something.
“I recall you said Randolph’s biggest mistake last time was as the human term goes, he puts all his eggs in one basket?”
Rachel had been pondering ways to go about this. But the reptilian’s observation brought a memory into sharp focus. “That’s right. When he took control of the Academy, he had his full control from a single mobile computer. That proved his undoing.”
Lamika meanwhile had headed off and grabbed an officer in full siege attire. A few minutes later he delivered a holographic device to them. Lamika handed it to Sssuldarth. “Here see for yourself.”
Rachel watched Ssuldarth look over it, and a big toothy grin flashed on to the lizard man’s face. “Well Zachary Randolph, it would appear you have as the saying goes slipped up?”
“What have you uncovered?” Rachel asked.
“There’s a central kill switch for Randolph’s devices that powers everything. If we destroy that switch…” he explained leaving the sentence unfinished on purpose.
Rachel picked up on it at once. “We’d shut his devices down and could save all the hostages. But it’ll take precision timing.”
Ssuldarth nodded his agreement.
“It will Rachel. But I would ask something. Do you trust me enough to place dealing with that kill switch in my hands?”
Rachel smirked and added, “Part of being a Galactic Legion member is to trust in your teammates. I trust you Ssuldarth.”
The reptilian bowed and answered, "I thank you for this trust in me."
“That being the case, I’d say we’ve got the beginnings of a plan. Now, the question is how to draw out Mr. Psycho in activist clothing.” Rachel thought out loud.
The blue-haired woman went silent for several moments. . Her mind racing with ideas. Then it came to her and a cat-like smirk crept on to her face.
A few minutes later Rachel Beck walked towards the convention center. Although nervous she kept herself calm. Even as she saw the siege teams around the center looked very nervous.
Come on Rachel none of that lone wolf stuff. It’s like Simon keeps saying. You have to learn to trust in others because no one can do everything by themselves.
She approached the door to the convention center and opened it. The center itself was very quiet.
Then she heard the footsteps coming her way. Two men and a woman in paramilitary attire approached armed with X-40 laser rifles.
Good quality weapons though not the best. But that leaves the question how'd Randolph get a hold of such good tech, the blue haired woman thought.
The three soldiers aimed their rifles at her. “Don’t move Legion pig!” one of them snapped.
Rachel recognized the voice at once. “Well-well-well Garrett Moore. The traitor who joined up with Randolph all because you were jealous of me.”
“You’d better watch yourself Beck because I’m a hair’s length away from blowing your damn brains out here and now!” he snarled as he shook in rage.
From a communications device came another familiar voice. “Stand down brother, that scheming Legion cretin wants you to shoot her. Stay frosty my brother, stay frosty!”
The man sighed and answered, “As you command Brother Randolph.”
The other man asked, “What should we do with this woman sir?”
“Bring her to me, it’s time to show her how much of a mistake she made coming in here by her lonesome.”
The woman approached Rachel and got behind her.
“Move pig!” she snapped as she shoved Rachel with the barrel of her laser rifle.
The Sergeant raised her hands and said, “All right, all right I’m moving.”
She let them lead her down a hallway to one of the many convention rooms in the facility. They shoved her into the room. What Rachel walked into was a scene of pure tension.
She noted the Margravian ambassador, and his people still tied X-fashion. The cube-like devices blinking with a single red light. Other Margravians huddled together.
More paramilitary people held rifles to them and the humans in the room.
Rachel saw the raven-haired man with a big scar on his right cheek. He wore the same paramilitary garb as the others. But he had a black sash around his body.
The man turned and approached in a casual fashion.
She snorted in disgust. “Well-well-well I see you’ve still got that little scar I gave in our last encounter Randolph," she spat.
The Legion member felt pain shoot through her as someone hit her from behind with a rifle and knocked her to the ground. “You will speak to Brother Randolph only when spoken to!” The woman hissed.
“At ease Clarissa,” Randolph said in a casual tone. “She’s harmless now.”
Rachel shook the pain off and got to her feet. By which time Randolph was on top of her and looked down on her. An arrogant grin spread across his face.
“I see you’re still as smart-mouthed as I remember Beck!”
He shook his head and sighed, “It’s a pity you didn’t join our cause. You’d have made a great ally in the war to free us from the grips of the Alien Overlords who control us.”
He shrugged and said, “Oh well, you can witness the beginning of the end of the G.W.A.”
He nodded at the two men watching the hostages. They stepped in front of them and readied their weapons. As much as Rachel wanted to panic, she forced herself to remain calm.
Steady girl, Zachary wants you to panic and slip-up. Come on Sssuldarth I hope you’re getting ready for whatever it is you’re planning.
Rachel shook her head and stated, “I knew it, I knew it! You are so predictable Randolph!” She spat in derision.
The man glared at her. “And what’s that supposed to mean?” He snapped in a threatening tone.
Rachel snickered in derision. “You're intent on this insane idea of yours. All to start a war between the Margravians and the G.W.A. so you can watch everything burn to the ground.”
The man answered in a smug tone, “Of course, it’s the only way to make humanity see things from my perspective.”
Rachel’s face hardened in disgust.
“And I don’t suppose you give a damn about the men, women, and children whose lives you’ll destroy! All in the course of fulfilling that insane goal?”
The man’s face darkened, “It’s not insane it is fact I’ll sacrifice as many of these brainwashed fools as I have to fulfill my goal.
"I will free humanity from the Alien Overlords who control us!”
The man started to chuckle. “And what’s best about this is you’ll witness everything that happens. Right before I take personal pleasure in killing you myself!
I get to fulfill my agenda of liberation. And I get the chance to get even with a certain blue-haired freak of a woman! One who ruined my plans to blow up that academy of GWA Legion pigs!”
Rachel snapped, “You need to get a hobby Randolph!”
The man pulled a blaster from his belt and aimed it at her. “You’re starting to test my patience, Beck! Search her then start the final sequence. Begin with the Margravian Amba….”
The insane military leader never had the chance to finish. They heard someone readying a laser weapon and fire a bolt of energy. Everyone dove to the ground as the bolt raced for the Kill switch/power source to Randolph’s murder device.
The bolt struck and caused a massive explosion. Rachel heard the device shut down.
Sssuldarth deactivated the light reflector on him and opened fire. The other paramilitary people in the room never had a chance to react. They got hit by the stun bolts from Ssuldarth’s blaster rifle.
All collapsed to the floor unconscious.
Rachel scrambled to her feet. She elbowed the woman who tried to grab her and slid to the right. She grabbed the paramilitary woman.
Rachel twisted around to flip her opponent off her feet and sent her crashing to the ground.
She grabbed the rifle as she saw Randolph aim his blaster at her. She summersaulted out of the way and to her feet. He tried to turn his blaster on her.
But the training Rachel had received from Simon and Master Moreau paid off. Her quick reflexes allowed her to aim and pull the trigger of the blaster rifle she held. Randolph screamed in pain as the bolt knocked the pistol from his hand.
Setting it to stun she fired again catching him in the chest and knocking him to the ground. Rachel ran over to check Zachary Randolph. He was still breathing but out cold.
The female Legionnaire sighed and stated, “By the book.”
She then turned to look at her partner. “Great timing Ssuldarth, I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”
“Randolph acted sooner than I thought but it all worked out.” The reptilian observed.
Rachel nodded her agreement. “Yes, it did.”
The sergeant pressed a button on her camouflaged communicator. "Sergeant Rachel Beck to Commander Wallace. Randolph and his people are down.
"We've deactivated the murder devices and all hostages are safe."
Lamika's voice answered, "Copy that Rachel, Good work to you and Ssuldarth. I'll send in the clean-up team to secure the perps, the Ambassador and the other hostages."
Rachel ran over to the Tawny orange furred Margravian in a Red and green robe. She untied him and asked, “Ambassador Chrawr are you uninjured?”
The feline-like humanoid got to his feet and massaged his wrists and ankles. “I am fine and I thank you for your rescue.”
The feline’s face furrowed. “Your name is Rachel Beck am I correct?”
“Sergeant Rachel Beck, at your service your Excellency. This is my partner Sssuldarth of the Ssslovanian people,” she explained.
The Feline-like creature looked over the two. “I see having differing races with shared ideals contributes to a healthy society. Know that when I make my report to my Government, I will see you two and the G.W.A. painted in a very favorable light.
"I can tell that my people joining this alliance will only serve to benefit us all.”
Rachel nodded and answered, “Thank you sir. Now let’s free the rest of your staff and the G.W.A. members so we can get you back to where you’re staying.”
The Ambassador sighed in relief. “I look forward to returning to the New Benson Hotel. Their facilities there are quite enjoyable.”
As Rachel and Sssuldarth began to untie the others more Legion members came in. The Reptilian noted, “Well looks like you’ll have that chance to go out with Simon tomorrow evening after all.”
Rachel sighed and asked, “Okay Ssuldarth spill it! How did the water cooler learn about Simon and me?"
“You know your friend Mary-Anne from the High-Tech crime unit? You two have been friends since the Academy as I recall.”
Rachel grimaced. “Mary-Anne, oh no! What happened?’
"Well, she and her husband were having a date night. They went out to the big Taekwondo match at Portland Central Coliseum. The match between Tyler North and Chan Sanchao.”
Rachel’s face furrowed as she continued her work. “What about that match?”
“Well Mary-Anne and her husband saw you afterwards. First you had dinner with Simon, then walked down to the Willamette River wall. And she saw um…the lip lock as she called it.”
Rachel flushed several shades of red. “Mary-Anne you gossip, I’m going to hurt you!” She growled in annoyance between gritted teeth.
Well, there you have it folks. There’s the last story in the Roll of the Dice challenge. I hope you enjoyed this, and I hope Kiba enjoyed this story too.
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Well, this Roll of the Dice challenge has been nice but now it’s time for me to get on to other things. I’ll do more challenges in the future. Because I know free content helps attract readers.
Until next time I’m Animeman73. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. The Dice have rolled, and all bets are off.
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