Niko Bellic | Network 002

[vengeance_driven]

[Public | Audio]

I would like to say that I do not intend to eat my hound. He is a good dog. He protects me.

Those are not all the words I said.

I won't eat my beast either. She keeps creepers away. I also wouldn't eat her if she didn't keep creepers away.

[Niko's explanations at their finest.]

Comments

[vengeance_driven]

I think it is supposed to be a part of every news cast from now on. Whatever happened with the spawners has been the most that is talked about. I don't even think people are mad for the skeletons, they are mad for losing the outside world.

[Dammit, why do the cops here have to be so nice? He actually feels a little guilty. He's used to awful ones- but the criminals he works with often aren't awful, either.]

Ah. Thanks. Hopefully you can figure out who did it.

[domesheriff]

They're going to be documenting us that much? [she doesn't sound very thrilled at that thought. but when he talks about losing the outside world, she frowns, understanding how they might feel about that a little too well] Yeah...I could see that happening. [after the dome came down, she saw a lot of people direct a lot of anger at it, after all, and it wasn't even animate. and that's to say nothing of their outrage at the soldiers when they stopped patrolling the boundaries...]

[she nods resolutely at his statement about the criminal] I'm sure we will. [inwardly, she doesn't feel that sure, but she tries to sound like she does. she pauses then, though, thinking about her conversation with Agent K. she'd been meaning to contact Niko, and this seems as good a time as any] Hey, Niko? Do you think I could ask a favor?

[vengeance_driven]

[He notes a bit of sadness there, and wonders if he brought up something that he shouldn't have. The request, though, surprises him.]

Sure. I'll help you out.

[domesheriff]

[his quick response surprises her, and she cracks a smile] Aren't you supposed to ask what I want first?

[still, she goes ahead and explains] I guess one of the big jobs of the security patrol here is keeping the wildlife on the other side of the fence. That wasn't really my area back home, and I've never seen anything like these animals anyway. Agent K suggested I should go out with you or one of the other guides to train a bit. [not wanting to take advantage of his kindness, she adds:] I could pay you what you charge for normal expeditions. I'd just be hunting instead of exploring, really.

[vengeance_driven]

It doesn't take much for me to decide to help someone out.

[So says the man that gave a prostitute 1000 just to go home to the midwest on.]

I wouldn't mind helping, but I also don't mind being paid a little extra.

I'll bring Pas. He's good security and you wanted to meet him anyway.

[domesheriff]

Well, thanks. [she's still surprised but also grateful] Okay! When would be a good time to meet?

[vengeance_driven]

Whenever. I am not a part of any current expeditions. [So his schedule is pretty open.]

[domesheriff]

[now that the idea if firmly in her head, Linda is eager to get out there. and so, she suggests:] So...maybe in a half-hour or so? Where should I meet you?

[vengeance_driven]

Ah...

Okay, by the resort. Give or take a few minutes. I need to find where Pas has taken my shoes.

[domesheriff]

[she nods, amused] All right, see you there.

[and shortly after, Linda is waiting outside the resort in her security uniform, her hair pulled back in a bun. she's equipped with the belt she brought with her from Chester's Mill, including her pistol and a flashlight. she just hopes she's ready for this]

SPAM

[vengeance_driven]

[Niko comes up to meet her, and he is less tidy. He's scruffy, with his duffel bag of guide goods over his shoulder. He's wearing a long coat with a high collar, leather, that looks tailored, but a loose turtleneck beneath that and worn khakis, fingerless gloves, and tennis shoes. With him is a dog whose shoulders are around his hip height. It's massive and looks like a great four-eyed wolf.]

Hey. [He announces and offers his hand in greeting. Pas sticks his nose out to sniff her.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda takes his hand with a smile] Hi, Niko. Thanks again for doing this. [and then she turns her attention to the dog, leaning down a little as he sniffs her] Hey. Good to meet you in person, Pas.

[vengeance_driven]

[He really isn't so used to cops being so genuinely friendly. It's welcomed, of course, he's a friendly guy, but he still feels more of a pang for his home. How much better it would be if more of the departments there were filled with people like these.]

[He pats Pas heavily again, and the dog barks once. For as alien as the hounds look, they are also very Earth-doggish.]

Hey ah...

What are you looking for help with in particular? I brought all my sh- stuff with me. [He makes a half ass attempt to be polite.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda catches that attempt and smiles, amused, as she straightens] Whatever shit will help me learn to deal with the dangerous animals out there. What's effective against them?

[vengeance_driven]

Spiders are rickety. You can shoot them pretty easy. But I'll have to let you start when we go out- if I shoot them, Pas will tear them apart.

[If she wants to see that dog go from sweety to snarling hellbeast, that's how you do it.]

With the skeletons, it is best to aim for the head. Other parts do damage, too, but the head is just bigger and easier to aim for.

Come on, lets go find a spider for you to practice on. [He nods toward the road, intent on leading her out towards the fence gates.]

[domesheriff]

[she nods at his instructions, following after him] All right, sounds easy enough. So, I take it the spiders just bite. But I heard the skeletons shoot arrows. Is that true?

[vengeance_driven]

The spiders can also jump at you, but yes.

So, for today? I bring extra armor. [He hands her what looks like a heavy poncho.] Not pretty but it will help.

[domesheriff]

Wow. Thanks! [she's genuinely grateful for the loaned armor. she was wishing she'd been able to check the station for that riot gear they got back in 2001 before coming here--one of many things she wishes she'd been able to pack, really, rather than arriving with only what she'd had on her at the radio station]

[she awkwardly pulls on the armor over her uniform, trying to adjust how it rests on her relatively small frame] Anything else I need to know?

[vengeance_driven]

Just your gun. It only takes a few shots. The rest I will show you.

Do you want to go a little at a time or dive right in to the hard stuff? [When they reach the gates, it's looking mostly clear. There's just some wild animals milling around, grazer's patiently eating and ignoring them as if they aren't there. They aren't particularly startled by people.]

[domesheriff]

[she pulls the pistol from the holster at her waist to hold beside her, ready for when she needs it] Got it. And I don't mind diving in if it's really just shooting.

[because Linda is an excellent shot, so she knows she can rely on those skills at least. not to mention, the closer they get, the more eager she feels to see how she can do with this...]

[vengeance_driven]

Then let us go poke one of these out in the field with a stick.

[Though it takes a little walking towards the ruins before they see one, a giant spider the size of a small horse coming scuttling out of the old structure. It doesn't attack, and Pas is even ignoring it.]

It's in the daylight, it won't do anything. But during the night it would. If you shoot it, it will start coming at us- might as well get started. [He gestures its way, then prepares his own weapon in case it comes at her too fast.]

[domesheriff]

[she smiles at that. it's what she's here for, after all]

...whoa. [Linda knows Boone showed her a spider over the communicator, but seeing it in person is still a shock. she nods at Niko's instructions, though, but she's thinking the same thing he is] Watch this first one. I need to get an idea of how fast they are.

[that said, she raises her pistol and starts firing. her first shot hits the spider easily, but then it charges in their direction, and it is faster than she anticipated. her second shot falls harmlessly behind it, but it's far enough away still that she has time to adjust and fire again, taking the spider down at what is perhaps the edge of a "safe distance"]

[Linda lowers her gun with a relieved sigh] Okay, they're definitely fast.

[vengeance_driven]

Nice job, though. It's still good range. Especially for a first try.

There aren't many out in the day, so we might need to go find some dark patches. It's a little bit of a walk, so lets go looking.

[Especially so they don't get caught after sunset.]

[domesheriff]

Thanks. [she knows she has to do better than that, though, so she adds:] It'll get easier once I get a better idea of how they move.

All right. [she follows his lead, her gun still in her hand in case anything comes at them on their way]

[vengeance_driven]

[Normally he'd be driving, but even walking he gets a little conversational.] So, you're a small town girl. I came from a village originally. I wasn't too cut out for the big city, but so far this is my size.

It was a little bigger with the tourists. Now it is less.