User:Karen Howard
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Character Biography
At the age of twenty-one some find it hard to believe such a youthful woman is already a full doctor or that a woman with such a strict religious upbringing would be willing to become a mercenary. As a devoted Christan, she feels its her duty to go and help those trapped inside the demon overrun cities. It wasn't just her sense of duty that brought her into Hell on earth but concern for two of her friends whom she'd lost contact with; worried they might be in mortal danger, she signed up and plunged head first into danger with only a combat knife and body armor to protect her.
Standing at 5'6", she's not a very tall or imposing woman but her religious family finds her association with police, military, and mercenaries during her residency has changed her from a timid, meek young woman to someone a bit more confident and bolder then before; despite her small size, she is quick on her feet and has a keen intellect and sharp wit. She is exceedingly polite to those she just meets, speaking in a cultured, well educated manner. Due to her religious background, she is modest in her dress and actions.
She carries all her possessions in a pack on her back and keeps her medical supplies close at hand in a messenger bag that rests on her right hip so that she might help her fellow mercenaries in an emergency. Karen keeps her dark hair back out of her face in a ponytail and keeps forgetting to get it cut.
Journal
January
2007 Jan 24
(pending)
Not much to write about lately, just patrols, where I shoot at demons and secure buildings...
2007 Jan 15
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Feeling strong today so I did a longer patrol, secured the neighboring buildings, that sort of thing...
2007 Jan 14
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Still not feeling very well, but I did a quick patrol anyway; the demons affect on the weather is driving me insane, I never know how to dress before a patrol so I'm either sweltering or freezing!
2007 Jan 13
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Wasn't feeling too well, so I cut my patrol short and rested as much as possible...
2007 Jan 12
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I did my regular patrol, shooting any demon I came across and securing whatever building had its barricades torn down by stray demons. I'm still trying to figure out what about this is so appealing to Nicholas and Micheal... And with the body armor all we mercenaries wear there are few serious injuries for a doctor like me to tend to...
2007 Jan 11
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Hell City or whatever it's called is sounding more and more tempting -- so long as I don't have to gallivant around in a blasted sewer, I'd be happy...
2007 Jan 10
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I've been silently weighing the pros and cons of hopping on a helicopter to that Hell City I hear about, just to see what it's like; after how dull patrols can get, it's a tempting offer -- who knows, maybe I'll have someone to patch up!
2007 Jan 9
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Again I wasn't certain how to dress for my patrol and ended up soaking wet after a sudden thunderstorm turned to an icy sleet. Thankfully I managed to sneak a hot shower in and hope that it'll stave off the effects of exposure...
2007 Jan 8
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
The weather in this city is the freakiest -- we go from scorching hot winds to a blizzard in the span of a hour or so. No wonder new Mercenaries like me are constantly fighting off colds and the sort!
2007 Jan 7
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Another boring patrol; Nicholas wants me to go back down to the sewers, but never again -- I'll run out of shampoo rather swiftly if we kept mucking around down there as much as he wanted!
2007 Jan 6
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Patrol was for the most part uneventful -- the normal demons, resecuring buildings, checking barricades...
2007 Jan 5
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Due to the freaky weather, I find I need to maintain my weapons more often then normal; it wouldn't do for my pistol or shotgun to jam or misfire mid-firefight with a large horde of demons...
2007 Jan 4
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I went father out on my patrol, feeling stronger then before. The strange weather patterns have me worried though; is it because of all the active demon portals it is like this? One second hot, acrid winds trying to strip the flesh from your bones and barely a moment later, being buried under a blizzard? No wonder I'm fighting off a cold, my body isn't sure what to make of the strange happenings...
2007 Jan 3
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Even not feeling well I still did my patrols. My strength is returning but I'm leery to go very far out in my patrols and the sewers are off limits. The demons seem to have hit the buildings in the farthest reach of my patrol route hardest and took some extra time to get back to a more acceptable security level.
2007 Jan 2
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I still wasn't feeling very well when I woke so I stayed close to the Police station, patrolling the neighboring buildings and making certain they were secured. So far my efforts seem to be doing well -- I hear that the Gatekeepers can open portals if they can get inside buildings so I'm trying to regularly make certain that doesn't happen in the vicinity of Anza.
I just wish I knew how to close the blasted things...
2007 Jan 1
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I barely slept; the mercenaries I seem to be rooming with are rather vocal in their New Year's Celebrations...
"Happy New Year, Karen," Nicholas sounded far to chipper then should be humanly possible, especially after such a sleepless night and while tearing into a small group of demons that sprang up outside the Police Station's neighboring Hotel...
"Happy New Year," I grumbled and checked my armor as I reloaded. "Now pass me some armor if you have some to spare...."
He chuckled, slinging armor in my direction. "Not a new years person I see?"
"More like I don't like being woken up by all that gunfire at midnight when I'm trying to recuperate!"
"Ah... yeah... about that..." Nicholas laughed nervously and explained, "We just thought we'd bring in the new year with a little celebratory demon slaying."
"Men." I grumbled with a snort of disgust.
"Pfft, don't tell you you wouldn't have been out there too if you weren't a little under the weather."
"I have better things to do...like sleep. Or shower."
"Who sleeps or showers alone on new years eve?"
"I do," I growled in annoyance.
He chuckled. "Well if you'd like some company next year, I'd be glad to be of assistance."
"Only in your dreams, Nicky-boy, only in your dreams."
Nicholas shrugged. "Suit yourself... Although no one likes to be alone on new years..."
"Who said I'd be alone? I just said it wouldn't be with you, Nicky-boy."
"Oh that's harsh, who's the lucky guy?" He prodded.
"None of your concern," I replied, checking the sharpness of my combat knife.
"Oh come on... I promise I won't scare him off," he said with a smirk that was far from reassuring.
"I don't trust you as far as I can throw you," I drawled.
Once more Nicholas chuckled. "You trust me, otherwise I doubt you'd be relying on me to watch your back out here."
"That's a different sort of trust, Nicky-boy."
"Oh it is is it? Do explain to me this different definition of trust."
"I trust you to keep a demon off my back, but I don't trust you around any male I happen to like."
He grinned broadly. "Perhaps you need to find a more competent significant other?"
"Feh," I snorted.
There was an awkward silence before he broke it. "So... How are things between you and the southerner anyway?"
I glared at him. "None of your business! And stop fishing for information I'm not giving you!"
His chuckling grated on my nerves. "Alright alright... someone's touchy today..."
With a savage growl, I sprayed the small group of annoying ghouls before us with hot lead from my machine gun, decimating them. After that, we returned to Anza, where I went to bed early; I hope I'm not getting sick again...
December
2006 Dec 31
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
It was a less then festive New Years' -- I was still feeling rather ill, probably from running around in the ever changing weather, then in the sewers... But at least the others had fun -- at Midnight, I heard plenty of gunfire in celebration...
2006 Dec 30
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
Well, I was still feeling ill when Nicholas checked on me, so he made a trek to the hospital to get me some medicine. When he returned, I took a single pill...and was unconscious for the rest of the night and a good chunk of the day. Lovely...
2006 Dec 29
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I headed out to the nearest hospital and stocked up on medical supplies for the wounded Mercenary Nicholas and I had found. I returned to Anza and stocked up on armor and ammunition to help him. He was asleep when I made my way tot he Base and I went to work, treating his injuries and leaving him supplies. I had gone back to sleep after that and Woke later to head over to the training center; my aim's gotten much better.
When I returned to Anza, I saw Nicholas outside, taking potshots at the demons lurking about. He spotted me and gave me a cheeky grin as I joined him, "Well morning darling, about time you pried yourself from your pillow."
"You aren't dragging me through the sewers again!" I snarled.
"And I was up before you, tending to the mercenary we found last night," I informed him.
He chuckled at my less then enthusiastic opinion of his favorite hunting ground. "Oh well... I have something completely different planned for today."
"Like what?" I asked warily, still feeling nauseated from the stench of the sewers.
"I figure since we swept the northeastern side of town yesterday, we'll do the southwestern side today? Sound better than the sewers to you?" He asked teasingly.
"Much better. I was afraid I was never going to get sewer-stink from my hair!" I complained, viciously shooting an imp in the groin.
Again he chuckled at my expression. "You smell fine. We'll finish up this batch then head in for some supplies."
"Sounds good to me...." I eyed him warily. "...you better not be sniffing me in my sleep...."
He hooted in laughter. "I don't need to sniff your hair in your sleep to know you smell good... You load yourself up with enough scented shampoos after a sweep that the entire station smells."
Outraged, I kicked him in the leg. "I do not!"
He was nearly laughing in a hysterical manner. "Hey! I never said that was a bad thing... I'd much rather have you smelling like lavender than smelling like one of these little buggers." *kicks a ghoul's corpse*
"I think everybody would rather smell like lavender then to stink like a corpse..." I retorted.
"Then there you have it, you had no reason to kick me over a compliment..."
"I don't stink up the entire station. the Showers yes, the station, no!"
"Huh... Well if I can give a suggestion, you should use more of the stuff. I can't say any of us would mind if you smelled up the station... It can't be any worse than whatever's carried in on the wind."
"I feel sorry for the buildings with access to the sewers. I'd hate to be in them when those demon portals heat up the sewers...." I murmured.
He laughed. "True... I don't know how Sloop over at the Pararescue building handles that stench. Why he even bought the dump is beyond me."
"Maybe he has no sense of smell?"
"Lucky him eh?" Nicholas snorted in amusement
"Perhaps, but unfortunate for whomever he's around...." I replied drolly.
"Who knows, maybe he likes it that way? I can't say I've ever seen him with many others over there," Nicholas said thoughtfully.
"The smell probably drives them away..." I said cynically.
"Yeah... I don't blame them."
"Just thinking about that smell makes me want to vomit...." I said, shuddering.
He chuckled at my facial expression. "Then don't think about it... We don't need you vomiting all over the floor, this place smells bad enough as it is."
"Hard to not think about it when you mention the smell and you yourself smell a bit ripe...." I retorted.
"Oh I do do I? Maybe I could use a bit of that lavender shampoo of yours?"He asked teasingly.
"Its in the showers, go have fun..." I deadpanned.
"Don't worry, I'll even stick to a cold shower hon." He snickered with a broad grin.
Waitaminute! My eyes narrowed in outrage. "You said we had no hot water!"
He poked his head outside of the door to the showers and winked at me. "Whoops, I lied."
"You are deadmeat, you lying jerk!" I growled shaking my fist at the door.
"I'll gladly share the hot water with you if you'd like to join me." He laughed.
"Pervert!"
He yelled his reply over the sound of the shower. "Oh, you love me anyway... I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Take your time," I retorted, sitting on my cot.
When he opened the door, the entire floor of Anza smelled of my lavender shampoo. "Nothing like a nice hot shower after fragging a few demons, eh Karen?"
"You're a deadman, Nicky..." I mumbled from my place curled up on my cot.
He smirked at me. "That I may be... But thats what you and your little miracle syringes are for."
"Keep it up and you can drag Mikey out there with you and I'll stay here..." I mumbled.
"Oh come on, you know I'm only joking with you..." he reminded me. "Besides, there isn't enough to do around here to hold your interest for more than a few minutes."
"Not throwing up my MREs can keep me occupied..." I grumbled, my stomach rolling in protest.
"Pfft... C'mon, we'll see what we can scrounge up in a restaurant along the way..."
I groaned, pulling my pillow over my head. "Don't mention food right now..."
"Oh come on... they aren't that bad..."
"Don't wanna puke...."
"Alright fine... no more MREs..." He sighed. "Anyway, get some rest hon... We'll start our sweep whenever you're feeling up to it..."
And that was how he managed to get more demon kills then me that day...
2006 Dec 28
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
The drone and murmur of voices on my radio brought me to a half away state.
"Radio check, over," I could barely bake out the voice of Marlboro; it was my name that fully woke me. "Thank you Karen, if you're out there."
"I'm here, Marlboro. You're welcome. Be more careful next time, alright?" I murmured sleepily into my radio. Alright, so maybe staying out all night fighting demons in bad weather wasn't the brightest idea I've had in a while...
We decided to go into the sewers and Hunt; I went down earlier and wasn't that thrilled with it. Of course, Nicholas just had to make a joke about it was quite the romantic date...
"Nicky, you have always been such an oddball!"
"Pfft, you know you love me," he chuckled while peppering the Gatekeeper before us.
I didn't comment, too busy with keeping those bothersome ghouls back. It didn't take us long to wipe them out, the sound of our gunfire echoing in the sewer tunnels. When we were clear, i darted a head and found more demons waiting. I was already firing on them when Nicholas caught up with me.
"Try to keep up Nicky!" I scolded him playfully.
"Slow down, I don't need to be saving your nice ass all the time!" He retorted.
"If you spent the time fight that you spend looking at my posterior, you'd have a higher kill rate!"
"Ouch... touche darling, touche..."
We wiped out several small groups of demons and we came to a turn in the were. I could feel much accumulated on the soles of my boots and grimaced; I stopped to scrap my boots against the wall, hoping to remove whatever it is I've been walking in.
"What's taking so long?" Nicholas called back to me. "Admiring the view back there?"
"Scraping something I don't want to know about off my shoe," I replied, disgusted.
I joined up with Nicholas and he gave me a mocking bow. "Ladies first."
Rolling my eyes, I charged a head and froze, the fine hairs on the back of my neck rising. There was a demon portal... Ive never seen one before and it's terrifying. Nicholas opening fire on the demons waiting for us, snapped me out of my horrified awe and I added to the hail of hot lead.
"Karen, you're not allowed to wear tight clothes anymore -- I can't hit shit!" Nicholas complained after he missed another demon darting around in the shadows around us.
"Perv!" I declared with a haughty sniff.
"Hey, I never told you to flaunt it..." He retorted with a grin.
"I'm not flaunting anything!" I snapped, outraged.
"Pfft, says you."
I fumed and let loose with my shotgun, cursing under my breath at the combination of agility and clumsiness displayed by the demons around us.
"Not doing too well on the ghouls, hon, I'm not distracting you am I?" Nicholas asked me tauntingly.
"It'd take more then you sashaying around in tight pants to distract me!" I snapped, switching to my machine gun and dispatching the last of the demons around us.
I stalked off and found a nest of demons. Immediately I set into them with my machine gun, peppering them with a spray o gunfire to keep them back. A couple minutes passed until Nicholas caught up with me, commenting cheekily. "Surprise meeting you here Karen -- miss me?"
"Hmph." I snorted. "Like a hole in my foot!"
"Love you too." He chuckled. "I'll take the Gates, you take the Ghouls."
"Of course..." I drawled, turning my machine gun to the annoying little ghouls that were jumping around.
It didn't take us long until we'd decimated them.
"Now wasn't that fun?" Nicholas quipped.
"Of course. Killing demons in a stinking sewer..." I muttered, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Fun."
The shadows of the sewers made it easy for us to get separated and I heard my radio crackle. "There you go wandering off again... What're your coordinates?"
I turned my flashlight to the wall, where the coordinates were displayed. "21S 10E, standing knee deep in demon corpses..."
"Well if you'll kindly take a few steps forward..." He drawled out. "You can be standing knee deep in demon corpses while the little buggers try to munch on you."
I sprinted forward and joined him i the slaughter of the demons he had encountered. After we managed to wipe them out, we backtracked, heading for the manhole we came down in. We'd arrived topside in the Piedmont Pararescue when he turned to me with a grin.
"Alright... Now you cannot tell me you didn't have fun down there."
"Fun? I'm covered in demon guts and who knows what else is down there! I need a nice, long hot shower!" I exclaimed in disgust.
"Good luck finding one of those," he snorted. "All we've had is cold for the past few days."
"Hmph, I bet you've been using that cold water a lot if you spend your time looking at my posterior!" I complained as we left the Pararescue and headed back to Anza.
"What can I say? I can't help but get a little hot and bothered when a nice ass finds its way in front of me," he remarked with a grin. "Hit the showers, we're going out for round two in a few minutes."
"You insatiable animal," I muttered while rolling my eyes, heading for the showers.
Getting clean tonight was taking longer then normal. Damn long hair...!
"Hurry up in there hon," I heard Nicholas call our from the other side of the door. "We aren't getting paid by the hour!"
I shuddered at the gunk I was finding matted in the ends of my hair. "I have something unholy in my hair!"
I heard the door open and he stuck his arm into the showers, holding a combat knife. "This'll work."
I shrieked in surprise and kicked at his forearm. "Out, pervert!"
"Okay, okay..." He chuckled, withdrawing his arm and closing the door. "Under the door then?"
"Yes. Pervert." I growled before mumbling under my breath about being surrounded by horny males.
There was a slight scrapping as he slid the combat knife under the door, handle first. "There you are... I've always wondered what you'd look like with short hair..."
I scooped up the knife and pulled me wet hair back with one hand, sighing; really, its about time I did this. "About to find out..."
Using the knife, I sliced off a chunk of my hair, dumping the handful of hair int he trash. I rinsed my hair again and dressed. When I left the showers, I was combing out my shorter hair; the previously mid-back length strands were now just past my shoulders.
Nicholas paused, looking my new haircut over as I returned his knife. "Huh, looks nice... You should keep it that short more often."
"I used to but when I was serving residency, I never had time to go get it cut." I said with a sigh.
"Well it looks nice... You ready to go yet?" He asked, shifting his weight impatiently.
"Yeah yeah..." I murmured, pulling my hair back in a tight plait, my scalp feeling lighter without the extra burden of my longer hair. "Wish I still had the helmet they gave me..."
Nicholas hummed and opened up one of Anza many lockers and pulled a spare helmet out and tossed to me. "Here you are, can't say I've had much use for it... Doesn't help when the little buggers are trying to chew on you..."
I caught the helmet easily.
"So long as it keeps the crap out of my hair, I'm happy!" I replied as I pulled on the helmet.
He grinned broadly. "Okay then, well lets lock and load."
"Lead the way, soldier-boy," I retorted.
"Soldier-boy eh? I like it..." Nicholas chuckled.
I mumbled under my breath, and he gave no sign of hearing me. We walked down the empty, dark sewers with only our flashlights for light.
"You ever get that feeling you're being watched?" Nicholas asked, breaking the quiet.
"Constantly," I agreed and glared at him from the corner of my eye, "Now stop staring at my butt."
He chuckled and we continued past a manhole until we came to a dead end; the beams of our flashlights played over the slimy bricks of the sewer wall.
"Well... this could be a problem..." I heard Nicholas sigh.
"Yup. Want to go upside? Get some fresh air?"
"Sure, it's a bit too quiet for my taste down here..."
"They must all be upstairs..."
"Clear, c'mon up," he called down the manhole.
"Good." *climbs up* "so...what part of the city are we in?"
"No clue..." He murmured, pulling out his GPS to check the coordinates. "Looks like... Fourteen blocks north of the Pararescue building..."
"Then we're at the edge of the city. I heard there's a big sinkhole east of here..." I murmured thoughtfully.
"Shall we?"
"Lets. I've always wanted to see one..." I replied.
The trek was fast and we only paused a few times to shoot at any demons that got in our way.
"Okay, here it is..." Nicholas proclaimed as we shined out flashlights down into it. Strange, i thought it'd be more impressive. We climbed down inside and were beset by demons. After battling them, we climbed up a piece of land at the corner of the city jutting up over the sink hole.
"Huh, prime piece of real estate here..." Nicholas commented.
"Yeah right..." I snorted, eyeing the demonic portal there.
"Well you've got a prime view of the sinkhole... Who knows... might be a lake sometime?" Nicholas muttered thoughtfully.
"Perhaps...when the demons go away..." I agreed.
"Yeah... the little buggers tearing through the halls might be a problem. That gate'll have to be closed..."
"Yes. Too bad we can't close it..." I sighed forlornly.
"Yeah, I still don't know how we're going to win this if we can't close these god-damned gates..."
"Language!" I snapped at him, giving him a sharp kick to his kneepad.
He laughed at my outrage. "Ahh, hey! I'm being truthful... They are from hell after all."
"Don't take the Lord's name in vain or I'll feed you to the demons!" I scolded him harshly.
"Alright alright..." He wave his hands in a placating manner. "But they have been damned by the Lord..."
"Good. So long as we understand one another...." I growled as we climbed down from the peice of land.
Nicholas cursed under his breath. "Yeah, heads up... More of the little bastards on the way."
I turned towards them, gripping my shotgun. "Let show them why we're here...."
After we dispatched the demons, we explored around often playing 'tag' when we were separated. I heard Nicholas curse over the radio.
"Found a downed merc!"
I shivered; the last time I dealt with one was when Micheal had been killed and those demons were so looking forward to devouring him... I couldn't let that happen to a fellow mercenary. We met up in Hoadley Base, where Nicholas was setting the mercenary's body on a cot. I checked his identity as he began to secure the building.
Lance Echo. Interesting name. Automatically I reached into my medical bag and plunged the Resurrection Serum straight into the body's heart, injecting the syringe's contents to get the heart started. Nicholas turned around as I discarded the used syringe and I took over the security of the building while he checked on the rousing mercenary.
After it was very heavily secured, I made use of the limited medical supplies to tend Lance as Nicholas went though his supplies to set aside armor and ammunition for the man we'd rescued. After I ran out of medical supplies, we prepared to leave for Anza.
"Good luck buddy," Nicholas said; I wasn't sure if Lance could hear us; he looked to be partially asleep.
"God be with you, friend," I murmured, making certain he was comfortable before leaving the Base.
The trek back to Anza was fast paced and I was exhausted; I'm a medic, not a field combatant. I better find more medical supplies tomorrow...
"Okay, so that wasn't so bad was it?" Nicholas asked.
"Meh," I yawned. "At least we saved a life..."
"Yeah, the kid looked pretty green... Wonder if he'll make it through the night?" Nicholas murmured. I repressed m irritation at his lack of confidence in my skills securing buildings and tending to wounded.
"Hopefully. We secured the building, left him armor, bullets and patched him up with all the medical supplies I carried. He looked worse off when he was dead -- that's why I resurrected him right away." I murmured.
"True... But I still would've liked to have gotten him back here where we could treat him a bit better..."
"Sorry, I panicked..." I growled in annoyance.
"Don't worry about it, hon, it's not easy keeping your head when the forces of hell are crawling all around you."
"And seeing you lug around a dead body..." I added.
"Hey, its all part of the job... We can't go around reviving our fellow mercs into dangerous situations now can we?" He said with a confident grin.
"Of course not, that'd be foolish..."
"Then there you have it, It was necessary to lug his body out of there. Don't worry about it... We all screw up one time or another." he said with what he must have thought to be a reassuring pat on my shoulder.
"We put him in a safe building, gave him armor, ammunition, and theres several hospitals and police departments nearby." I stated.
"True... but still, it has to be quite the disorienting experience to wake up alone and wounded in a strange place you've never seen before."
"True..." I sighed.
"Anyway... It's late, and you should get some sleep. We can check up on him tomorrow if it makes you feel any better."
"He'll probably be gone to whatever safe house or base he has tomorrow, but we can check if you like..." I replied, yawning hugely.
"Meh, we'll check then... I'll see you tomorrow, sleep well, hon," he said with a cheeky wink.
"Sleep well, Nicky..." I mumbled, too tired to do much aside from shuffle to the shower to rinse off and bed down on my cot...
2006 Dec 27
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
The sounds of a ghoul clawing at the barricades of Anza woke me from my sleep. I rose, shouldering my machine gun and stepped outside to find a handful of demons waiting with a Gatekeeper leading them. I went work, firing at the ones that was foolish enough to come close. However, without my first cup of coffee in the morning, my aim was a bit off...
"Howdy!" a voice called to me as I sprayed the demons with bullets from my machine gun. I looked from the corner of my eye and saw a man called AlexYeager; I had seen him before at one of the training centers.
"Hello," I replied, continuing to shoot at a particularly annoying imp.
We managed to clear the area and then more showed up. I got fed up at firing at them mid-yawn and retreated back inside the Police Station for a cup of coffee. All the fog doesn't help matters either! In fits of boredom, I explored around the Police Station and searched inside the building; finding a couple radios, I gave one to Micheal when he showed up.
Micheal looked in bad shape, so I tended to his injuries, greatly depleting my stash of medical supplies. Really, he and Nicholas need a keeper!
Looks like that's going to be my job, eh?
I decided to head out, patrol the area after growing bored. I wonder if theres places I can find something with a bit more taste then powerbars and MREs...?
Ah well. I was pausing every now and then to engage any hostile demons I found and I found plenty; several buildings... Well, they gave me the strange sensation, like there are demonic portals inside...
"Radio check, over," the static filled call surprised me as I was mid-shot. Dammit, I missed!
"A little busy at the moment..." I replied, barely pausing to aim at the Gatekeeper before me as I sprayed him with bullets from my machine gun.
"Holler if you need help, Karen," It surprised me that the person knew my name then realized the voice was familiar -- the man from yesterday.
"Will do, Marlboro," I acknowledged him before inquiring, "Know anyone needing to be Resurrected?"
"Sorry, lass," he apologized, "All my guys are surprisingly healthy."
"Do let me know if you hear anything...." I sighed and returned my full attention to the demons.
I returned to Anza to repair my body armor and stock up on bullets; it seems I'll always be a better healer then combatant.
"Radio check." The now familiar voice roused me from my nap. Now what...?
"Anyone about?" Asked a new voice.
"Ah, PJ. We meet again," Marlboro chuckled over the radio.
"Hello, feel like joining Operation Weghorst?" The newcomer asked, the radio crackling slightly.
"Same deal as before?" Marlboro asked; there seemed to be eagerness in the static-filled voice.
"Drink and demons, yeash."
I rolled my eyes as I shifted my weight on my makeshift cot. Really, what that all men concerned themselves with? Booze and guns? Then again...perhaps its better that way. Deciding to do something useful, I went out on patrol, barricading whatever buildings I came across. As I did so, I noticed...there are a lot of strip clubs!
"Karen, you still around?" Came Marlboro's gruff voice over the radio as I secured the Yerba Buena Building.
"This is the Weghorst requesting back-up, need to go get ammo and armor..." came the unknown voice from before.
"Of course. What do you need?" I replied over the radio, shoving a sofa into place with my shoulder.
"Either someone to stay and look after Weghorst or an ammo and armour runner," was the answer from the gruff-voiced mercenary.
"As I was. Already got him," came the unknown voice. "Gah you weren't speaking to me were you?"
"I've got plenty of both and medical supplies if you have wounded," I acknowledged.
"PJ, I'm on the way. Need the lat longs. Karen, can you heal at 23S 4E?"
"Nope, just got two sleepers I wanna keep safe." the unknown man, PJ, replied.
"Cancel request, got someone awake here. Thanks anyways!" Marlboro sighed.
"Alright. Be careful out there," I cautioned over the radio.
"Will do, you too."
"Give me a building name, Marlboro," I requested as I shoved a mattress in place on the barricade.
"Forsmann medical clinic. it's very heavily secure, but he's hurt bad," Marlboro informed me.
"On my way," I murmured, exiting the club and taking off full speed to the medical clinic.
"You're an angel, Karen," Marlboro praised me.
"Glad someone thinks so," I chuckled, swiftly tending to the patient I had found waiting for me; he was unconscious and had bled heavily from vicious looking wounds. I swore under my breath as I treated him. "I'm going to need more supplies if I'm to get him back to full health..."
"Well, he's at a hospital, if that helps out," Marlboro reminded me. "Sure there's some supplies there..."
"Thankfully. Any casualties where you are?" I asked, frowning as I tended to the unconscious man.
"Found a supply depot... very far away," interjected the unknown voice Marlboro called PJ.
"Just the demon kind, Karen," Marlboro chuckled over the radio.
"On my way back to the Weghorst," PJ's voice crackled over the radio.
"Good to hear, Marlboro," I chuckled.
Running out of medical supplies again, I searched the medical offices and nurses stations once more for supplies to continue treated the critically injured man.
"Found a downed merc, brought him back and revived him." PJ updated over the radio.
"Right decent of you, PJ," Marlboro chuckled.
"Well, mercs in distress... That's why I always have a spare serum on me at all-times..."
I nodded, my agreement with the man's statement unseen.
"Merc is back to full health and should have enough armor and ammo to get to the nearest police department or supply depot."
"I owe you one, Karen. You need help ever, you let me know. Don't forget, you're always welcome with Gods of Men." Marlboro reminded me.
"Weather warning, 'tis getting snowy..." PJ informed us.
You heard "Ello to anyone that might be out and about."
"Killswitch. We meet again," Marlboro rumbled.
"I'm here. What do you need?" I asked, pausing in securing the hospital.
"I need nothing, just to talk," the man, Killswitch, laughed over the radio.
Hearing that I wasn't needed to help anyone, I tuned out most of the conversation, continuing to secure the hospital.
"You need credits or anything? I'll more than happy to help ya," a voice, Killswitch according to my comm, whispered in my ear as I shoved a couch into place. I arched a brow. Now why does he assume I need help? Because I'm female?
"Hmm, I should be fine, but it would be nice for us to receive credits for securing buildings! That seems to be the most I'm doing lately..." I whispered over the comm to Killswitch87.
"Weghorst's clear, bored now..." PJ whined over the radio, catching my attention.
"Sewers always have fun inside." Killswitch suggested.
"So you're due for a nice sewer crawl..." came the voice of the man I had met earlier, AlexYeager
"I know I am." Killswitch laughed over the radio.
"Lazy, but safe..." PJ murmured. "No sewers, I'll wait for Demons to come to me..."
"Well, I thought that since you asked if anyone needed help, I would return the question. Kill demons. Its the next big thing." Killswitch87 whispered to me over the comm, chuckling.
"anyone got some spare med packs, armor and time?" PJ asked.
"Why wait when you can take the fight right to the enemy?" Killswitch quipped.
"'cos I've got sleepers." PJ retorted.
"Where you at James?" Killswitch asked. Ahh, is that PJ's real name?
"Weghorst pub, 24 s 23 e, found a downed merc in need of resupplying."
"Be right back with more medkits." Killswitch chuckled.
"Radio Check," A new voice interrupted.
"Lima Charlie, MercVII" Marlboro identified him.
"I have time, armor, ammo, and medical equipment. Where am I needed?" I asked.
"ooh trust me, I do plenty of demon-killing... most the buildings I'm securing have demons inside or outside..." I whispered to Killswitch over the comm.
"What's the local time in Piedmont right now?" Marlboro asked.
"9S 11E" was the answer to my question.
"Trapping demons inside is fun," Killswitch whispered over the comm to me, chuckling.
"That it is, that it is..." I whispered back to Killswitch87.
"I like the sewers more though, anything can jump out at ya and there's not many places for them to run. Hehe..." Killswitch chuckled over the comm.
"OH YEAH 30 CORPSES BABY!!! COME GET SOME!" MercenaryVII yelled over the radio.
"Aww - it's so cute when they leave the nest..." AlexYeager laughed.
"Only one merc at Moffett, I never thought I'd see the day..."
"Sounds like fun... I might try it now that I have a flashlight..." I whispered to Killswitch87 over the comm.
"I have arrived 9S, 11E from my previous location. No one's here. What's the building name to confirm my destination?" I broadcast over the radio.
Killswitch87 whispered to me over the comm, chuckling. "If you want I can go with ya, show you the ropes and stuff like that. If not just tell me to shut up."
"Will do," I whispered back.
"Will do....tell me to leave you alone?" Killswitch chuckled over the comm to me.
"9S 11E Condominiums" MercenaryVII confirmed.
I slipped inside the Condominiums next door and found a small group of low level demons waiting. I took the out with ruthless efficiency before patrolling the other Condominiums around me.
"Returning to base!" MercenaryVII informed us over the radio.
"The Condominiums are clear of demon presence," I informed them over the radio.
"Roger that, Captain. Merc out."
"Anyone want a metallic object?" Killswitch asked, glee in his voice as it crackled over the radio.
"No, thank you" I retorted.
"I'll take one," Marlboro chuckled.
"Where are ya M.Man?"
"7S 9E Haslett Warehouse," Marlboro replied.
I set out from the condominiums, wandering around for a bit and taking potshots at whatever caught my attention. The snow is falling steadily, blanketing the city under a thick over of white.
"Don't think this means you'll win the Festival. But thanks" I heard Marlboro say.
"Oh damn ya got me," Killswitched laughed over the radio.
"So Captain what the plan?" MercenaryVII asked.
"If it moves and it ain't human, kill it." Marlboro ordered over the radio.
I rested inside the Haslett Warehouse, restocking my ammunition and repairing my armor.
"Merc Out...Base of Camp..1S 12E Balboa school...Happy Hunting!" MercenaryVII informed us over the radio.
"Weeeeee," laughed Killswitch, the static of the radio crackling in his glee.
"Radio check," Marlboro rumbled over the radio.
I fumbled sleepily with my radio. "What is your need?"
When i got no answer, I yawned and shouldered the strap of my machine gun, leaving the Warehouse to head back to Anza, where my cot was waiting. Mmm, sleepy...
2006 Dec 26
Anza Police Station, Piedmont City
I was dropped off on the roof of the Sentinel Housing Complex, I exited the building and made my way to Saint Joseph's Hospital next door to stock up on medical supplies, just in case I did come across my friends in bad condition. Outside the hospital, lurking among the dead bodies was a creature I recognized from my debriefing as a Ghoul. Having never seen one before, I froze up; it attacked my, but my body armor kept me safe. The attack snapped me out of my momentary lapse and I darted into the Hospital.
"Howdy," a rough, masculine voice startled me as I searched a nurse's station. Startled, I looked around before realizing someone was whispering to me over my secure comm. "Nice day for killing." Fumbling with my equipment, I looked at the sender and saw the call-name was MarlboroMan5119.
Licking dried lips, I pressed the call button and replied calmly, not knowing what sort of man I was speaking to. "Perhaps it is, but I tend to prefer patching people back together to killing...."
He chuckled in my ear; I shifted unused to having a male voice whispering in my ear. "Right noble of you. Interest you in a fire team?"
Fire Team? What was that again? I couldn't recall right away, but right now I had to find medical supplies so I could patch up my friends. Turning my attention to a doctor's office, I replied, somewhat distracted. "Mmm, perhaps later. At the moment I'm here to pull a couple friends of mine back to the land of the living..."
"Like I said, noble." I couldn't tell if the rough, husky voice was approving or disapproving of my vague answer. "I'll be around if you change your mind"
"I'll keep you in mind..." I replied and added as an afterthought. "Until then, good Hunting..."
With the conversation over, I hurriedly searched the hospital, finding two Resurrection Serums along with the medical supplies I could hurriedly gather. Packing them away in my bag, I hurried out of the hospital, heading southeast for Anza Police Station, which is where they've set up as their headquarters. It was outside the Yerba Buena Building I saw my friend Micheal lying among the dead bodies, a Ghoul lurking around, sniffing at the corpses hungrily.
I sprang into action, reaching into my messenger bag to pull out one of the Resurrection Serums I had tucked away. Kneeling by Micheal, I slammed the needle into his chest, piercing his stopped heart; depressing the plunger, I carefully pulled the empty needle free of his chest, turning warily with my combat knife to eye the Ghoul. Micheal was on his feet swiftly and pushed at me.
"Inside Anza, now!" he ordered and I took off for the Police Station.
I waiting inside for Micheal and he asked for my remaining Resurrection Serum. I was confused, but gave it to him anyway.
"I'll go get Nicholas, you fix your armor and stock up on ammo -- we get back, we'll give you a proper weapon."
After he left, I complied, repairing my damaged body armor and finding as much ammunition I felt I would need; I packed a few shells, just in case there was a fight against the demons and a shotgun wielding mercenary ran low. While I waited, I nibbled on a couple powerbars and washed them down with water from my canteen; I silently debated about renting an apartment while here.
It would be nice to have a place...
Micheal returned with Nicholas and I got a good look at both of them; they looked terrible and I used up the medical supplies I'd found before to patch them up and it still wasn't enough. So, I trekked out to the closest hospital, Southern Pacific Hospital. There I found as much medical supplies as I could carry and more Resurrection Serums, just in case I ran across any other mercenaries in my friends' position. I also managed to find four flashlights, which might be useful.
On my way back to Anza, I came across Nicholas standing in the burnt out shell of a building near Anza, fighting off a small tea of demons. With a sigh, I sprang into action, leveling the machine gun they had given me at the nearest Gatekeeper and opened fire.
"Really, Nicky, running around without backup!" I scolded him in a good-natured manner. He mumbled something I couldn't hear over the sounds of our weapons and the shrieks of the demons.
It didn't take long for Micheal to join us; during a reload period, I passed Micheal one of the flashlights I had found. We three only returned to Anza due to low ammunition and our bodyarmor needing repair. But we left quite the pile of corpses.
How exhilarating! The boys were charged up and headed off for a place called Hell's Gate, leaving me to train and take potshots at the lower-level demons. I was perturbed to find that the other flashlights I carried were gone; perhaps I lost them during the firefight?
I spent my time wandering around, fighting whatever I came across, clearing out unbarricaded buildings of demons and securing them afterwards. It was a long night and the weather was odd -- it'd hear thunder booming in the distance then there's been such an unusual, oppressive heat. Is it because of the demons, I wonder?
Oh well. Until I can get a place of my own, I guess I can catch some rest here in Anza...
