#Windvale catches him

[xx-w1ndv4l3-xx]

OOC: Content warning! Plenty of violence in this one and it’s a bit graphic, I’ll leave a TLDR in the tags for anyone who doesn’t want to read that.

{Audio recording begins}

Fuck fuck fuck why did I do that?! Just need to get out of here and get to DOJ, give myself up, get this recording ou-

BANG

{Clangs of a mech/hardsuit approach}

Fuck!

You think I’m stupid Raindance? You think I can’t see my own Ra damned code?! You’re dead, you understand me? Worse than dead even!

I’m done doing this! This is over! Union knows where we are, no matter what happens, you lose. I’d rather be in the corrupt hands of Union then waste another second of my life with you and these Anthrochauvanist scum!

Lose?! Are you stupid!? I don’t know how to tell you this, but neither of us are ending up in Department of “Justice” hands, do you get that! You don’t get to fuck me and go schmooze off back into Union hands.

You petty little rat, it’s fitting you pilot a goblin you know. Because you’re nothing more then a greedy, unbearabl- HCK

{The sound of someone slamming to the floor. There’s distant gunfire, and yells of battle}

Petty? You want petty, you backstabbing little coward!? I’ll show you petty!

HOW’S THIS. FOR FUCKING. PETTY.

{Windvale’s yelling is punctuated by the sound of metal on flesh}

{The audio feed goes silent save for static and pained whimpers}

Please… I just want to go ho-

{A pained yell as the sound of bones popping is heard}

Your staying with me Raindance. We’re both getting off Etruscia tonight. Together. You and me, because you said we were partners, and partners don’t leave each other behind.

{Windvale pauses, breathing heavily}

Time for plan C.

{End of recording}

[nhpregulatory-official]

This is Arthur, we’ve got the after action report. You probably already saw everything but… it was bad. This guy’s a genuine monster, but we’re all alive. I’ll just let the recording play.

- Arthur Whitehorse

{Begin Audio visual playback} :

{Sounds of explosions and battle, Union Liberation squadron 167 “Five Man Band” approaches last known location of Lancer Hoshone Turakkis “Randance” and Terrorist [ALIAS NOT FOUND] “Windvale”}

Come on people, we’re almost there! Sevak! Prism! Lemon! Keep us covered! Ashlyn, we’re going in! Windvale’s right where we want ‘em!

Yes sir!

- Command recieved. 👍

Don’t worry Torchbearer, we’ll keep the ‘chauvs off your back!

Thanks… let’s and this Whitehorse.

Let’s.

{The recording quality dips severely for a moment as the two enter a ruined building, after a quick firefight with two Assault Class mechs, the two find a large hangar. Inside is a Starfarer class personal cruiser, a Goblin Class frame, and Lancer “Raindance”. Raindance is in poor health, his face covered in bruises and dried blood with a bomb collar around his neck. Windvale holds the pilot in a chokehold}

Jesus the Buddha Christ…

Well well well, if it isn’t the CorpsePilot, and who’s this? You wanted to bring a friend? I brought one too!

{Unintelligible groan}

Windvale… where do you think this is going to go? You think I care if this… this backstabber does?! Kill him for all I care! Besides, you’ll be shot down before you even breach atmosphere!

You see, that’s where your wrong-

{Torchbearer steps towards Windvale}

Don’t fucking move! Another step and your cockpit gets painted red! I don’t think you, or your friend here wants to see that, huh?

What are you talking about?

Shut up and listen. You too, I know “Hosh” here was getting chummy with the folks upstairs.

{The Goblin frame stares directly towards the recording device on the mech}

I have a deadman’s switch. It’s set to pop my partner here’s head. Then turn the neural port I gave Ashlyn into something that’ll put a Tokugawa’s reactor to shame, then, it’ll detonate every explosive I’ve set across the city. Yeah she’s mostly rubble but we both know how many civilians are still in here. That’s quite the body count you know, so I recommend you step back. Now.

You son of a bit-

Ashlyn! Step back, it’s not just you at risk here, but everyone in the city. The rest of the team included. Do as they say.

{Both mechs step away from Windvale}

Yeah CorpsePilot. Do what I say. So here’s how this is gonna work. I’m getting on that ship, and I’m leaving the system. If anyone even looks at me funny, everything goes boom. You two don’t move from this spot either, or that’ll make the corpse part of CorpsePilot more literal than usual. As for you, partner? I suppose after all this, it’s only fair to let someone else decide what to do with you. I’ve gotten what I needed from you.

{Windvale throws Raindance to the floor}

Anything you need to tell me CorpsePilot? I get the feeling we won’t be seeing each other for a while.

I’ll find you, you sick freak! This isn’t over!

When is it ever. I’ll catch you on the flipside CorpsePilot, and you, partner? I’ll never forget our time together! It’s been fun Etruscia, but I’ve got better things to do then stay here!

{Windvale bows, and enters the spaceship, as it starts up, and flies out of the hangar, towards the sky.}

I- Command did you get that? What the hell are we supposed to d-

{Torchbearer exits her mech, and unholsters her service pistol, pointing it towards Raindance}

Give me a reason not to.

Ashlyn wait-

Give me a reason! You killed Ashlyn! The real one, you killed her friends, you betrayed everything she stood for! So give me a reason not to avenge her right now!

{A prolonged period of silence}

… I can’t, just get it over with.

{Another long silence, before Torchbearer raises her service piston to the roof and fires three shots, before collapsing to the ground.}

{Torchbearer is heard sobbing as Whitehorse exits his chassis, and approaches Torchbearer}

Command, we need an extraction as soon as possible. It’s… it’s over.

{End audio visual playback.}

GREETINGS. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. YOU DID WHAT YOU COULD. GET CALLSIGN TORCHBEARER TO THE MEDICAL WING AND WE WILL ATTEMPT TO DISARM HER IMPLANT. IN THE MEANTIME WE WERE ABLE TO PLANT A TRACKING BUG ON WINDVALE'S SHIP. HE WILL NOT ELUDE US FOREVER. YOU DID WELL, HORSEMEN. TIME TO REST. SIGNED - [MAG-MELL]