Shepard sighs as Gabriel takes his leave. It was hard not to follow him. Really hard. But as the angel gets further and futher away Shepard feels the urge subside somewhat.
He turns back to his companions and activates his comms. "I uh... I'm not really sure what came over me, there. I'll admit, I've been feeling a bit weird since we got here. I had some kind of flashback or something when we first started talking with Mary."
Falcon nods as Marconi speaks then turns towards Shepard to make sure he is included. ”What are your thoughts Shepard? We are talking about completing the primary mission first and returning for more information, not abandoning this altogether.”
Shepard stands with his arms folded, listening to his squadmates. He kicks a small stone to the side and snaps his head to attention when Falcon addresses him.
"Well... I can't say I agree with Marconi's suspicions. Angel or not, I think he really does want to help and means well. I'd vote that we stay for dinner, but..."
A bitter taste assaults Shepard's taste buds as he forces out his next words. "I'm not in charge here. You are, Falcon. If you give the order, I'll follow it."Why was that so hard to say? They might be right, after all.
Shepard wrote:He turns back to his companions and activates his comms. "I uh... I'm not really sure what came over me, there. I'll admit, I've been feeling a bit weird since we got here. I had some kind of flashback or something when we first started talking with Mary."
Falcon is concerned at the mention of a flashback or something. We don’t know a lot about his history or abilities. Could it be PTSD….or a premonition? Hell, even before all this craziness I believed guys in the field who felt something.
Shepard wrote: A bitter taste assaults Shepard's taste buds as he forces out his next words. "I'm not in charge here. You are, Falcon. If you give the order, I'll follow it."
Falcon can hear the bitterness come through his words. Yeah, I was like that when I didn’t like orders. Damn, I think I may still be like that.
Falcon moves closer to Shepard both to show support and to help guide him/stop him from running. ”I can understand that you want to stay and I hope this is on the up and up, but I’ve learned not to trust anything on first site. If it is agreed I will go tell Gabriel and we can get moving.” Falcon puts his hand on Shepard’s shoulder. ”And I may outrank you. That gives me final say, but we are a team and I respect all opinions and abilities here. I want to hear about your flashback once we are moving.”
Falcon moves back a bit and waits for the agreement before moving off towards the vehicle.
(Rolls Carried Over)
Liam points out, "Gabriel already gave us permission to leave if we needed to. Seeking him out would not change anything."
(Showing when he said it)
Sum of All Fears wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:06 am
He looks at Falcon, "Of course. There is nothing to forgive. There is nothing wrong with having or expressing ones emotions. These are trying times after all. If you do have to leave so soon after arriving I understand. Please visit when you have more time. I will do all I can to keep those here safe." Falcon feels a little uneasy. He's not sure why. Maybe it's the way everything here is. He wouldn't hesitate to call it Eden. but it feel so out of place given what they've experienced. Maybe he's just being cynical, but it feels 'too' good. You know that you haven't told him why you are there. Only that you are on your way to an important mission. Would this be something you could come back to?
He continues, "We should simply prepare to go and then return after our main mission is finished. Our stop here we only intended to spread good will. If there is, as there appears, more going on here, then it will take longer to sort out than we have time to spend doing so. Therefore, returning when we do have time is the proper response."
DTG wrote:
Date: 2 March 2099 Time: 2330 Temp: 22F Blue Zone Distance: 4.5 miles
You all load up to depart the area. Falcon has his robots flank the vehicle once more as the depart. Leaving the farm in the rearview an unease comes over everyone as they get about a mile or so away from the area. Liam is still working to come to terms with what he witnessed and felt. While he felt compelled to believe Gabriel, Liam's own uncertainties with in himself and his prior experiences have created friction in his own mind.
Shephard is less enthusiastic about leaving, but falls in as a good soldier would. Shephard is especially upset about the missed opportunity to learn more from Gabriel. Shepard is fully convinced Gabriel is a real angel and just like the one mentioned in the lore of the old bible.
Falcon is just glad to be leaving. nothing really made sense there. it was too nice. Not to be trusted.
You make your way about 7 miles from the target city of Pontiac before you stop for the night. It's taken much longer then it would have before everything went to shit. Destroyed cars and roads made the travel less then ideal. The evidence of the desperate people fleeing along the road is evident by discarded suitcases. Knickknacks and personal keepsakes left by the side of the road in favor of more practical items. Even the occasional corpse here and there preserved in the cold snowy environment. Luckily the vehicle has been able to take all of the terrain challenges thrown at it with no issues.
It's late as you all set up camp in a small field just off the road. The group has paused at a tree line that opens into a field for a few hundred feet before the field hits the road. As you all get ready to bed down for the night one of Falcon's drones sends him a message, "Anomaly detected at the road."
At the same time Liam feel's something strange. It feels like the bluezone is near him for a moment, but then fades. Something just opened up and quickly closed near them from the direction of the road. It's unlike any feeling you've had before. Like something disturbed the fabric of reality.
The road is 800 feet to your east across an open field. There is a wooded area to your north and west with the open field extending to your south. You are currently located on the wood line with your vehicle providing cover from the road.
Liam spends much oft he trip organizing his thoughts. He will, once we stop, express them to the others.
Liam will begin, "There were many inconsistencies in the situation we encountered. The very first is that Gabriel came to speak with us if he had something else he was supposed to be doing, he should have had his followers ask us to wait because their leader would want to speak to us, but was busy."
Liam will continue, "The second is his appearance. He looks like the modern image of an angel, but that is not the original description of how an angel would appear. By earlier descriptions, an angel of his rank, an angel of the Throne, has four pairs of wings. One at his feet, one at his hips, one on is back, and one on his head. He wears no clothing, because he is innocent, and uses his wings to cover his feet, groin, and face...the latter is covered because the glory shines through him blindingly and the wings covering his face lower the glare so humans can bear to look upon him. His Appearance was a lie, and he should have so stated...that he assumed this form for the comfort of those around him or some such."
Liam will add, "The third is his statement that Satan changed the event from God's intent, that would mean Satan would need to be more powerful than God. On the face of it, this must be false if God is all-powerful and all knowing. If he had claimed that the Lord had left a narrow and difficult path to heaven and that wide and easy are the paths to hell, that would be reasonable."
He concludes, "Next, he called the abilities I have Divine Abilities. He should have called them gifts from the Divine and explained that Man, being created in the Image of God, possesses the potential to act similarly to the creator. Finally, when confronted, he asked to wait until morning, but also asked us to join him for dinner. If he would be available for a meal, he would have to be available for a brief walk after blessing the fields. There is no reason to wait for morning unless he needs to do something to hide from or alter my perceptions."
He looks anguished, "His honesty is so apparent, I am forced to believe that he thinks he is telling the truth, but that he, himself, has been fooled. He may even be the very angel who acted as herald in biblical times, but if so he has been lied to for thousands of years, and his belief has been used to fool humanity for as long."
Perception: 18% /
1d100: [79] = 79
JIC:
1d20: [1] = 1 /
1d100: [61] = 61
+2 v HF, +2 v Lethal/Non-lethal Toxins, +6% vs Coma/Death, +2 vs Magic, +2 vs Insanity, +2 vs Psionics
Gymnastics – Back Flip (80%):
1d100: [12] = 12 (In case of pilot fail)
Detect Ambush (50%):
1d100: [92] = 92
From the turret Falcon watches the farm as they drive away. Looking for any oddities or anything that may catch his eye. We will be back. Either to help Gabriel, or help his followers, I don’t know which yet.
After listening to Marconi’s evaluation Falcon takes a moment and is about to give his own. Then pauses, Shepard, what do you think? You seemed more inclined to stay and hear him out. Oh, and you mentioned something about seeing something?”
He then leans against the back of the turret watching for any signs of danger as he listens and ponders his own suspicions.
