Dead for Good.

[Makiaveli]

Well I will post my first attempt at a story here in a sec. I wanted to take a moment to say that I really appreciate Tae's help on this. She spotted the obligatory typos that I was blind to, as well as offered some good advice on the first couple of drafts. This is my first attempt at an actual story. I've done lots of bios for characters in various PnP games, even some long ones but they were just bio type stuff. This happened at this age, and this person did that etc, that kind of thing. Ok, enough stalling...here goes....

[Makiaveli]

Dead for Good

"Thanks Tae, I miss this stuff when I'm out running the wilds."

"What's that? Well, I need to work on.... all right I did promise. After all you've done for me, I guess I do owe you a little background on me. Teach me to keep my mouth shut next time."

I say this with a rueful grin.


"Going all the way back, I came up out of the pod with no real memories to speak of; always thought of myself as lucky that way."

"Yeah, I know, but those people have to wonder what happened to their families, if that is who they remember. Sure I sometimes wonder, but it makes it a lot easier late at night not to have faces floating around in my mind that I can't name or even know if that was my son or just some neighbor kid."


"The real secret to my background is that I was first contacted by the Techs; even thought about joining up with them in the beginning."

"Don't look so shocked, I was clueless remember, didn't know Shiva from ****. At first I just provided manual labor. Then one day one of the Techies had some gadget that pissed off all the crabs in the area. Some kind of sonic field I think he said. Anyway, I held them off with a shovel long enough to some guards to show up. After that, he kind of looked out for me. He helped me figure out, or maybe just pick, my name. It's just a vague memory, or maybe I just want to believe that, but when I heard him mention Machiavelli during a lecture, the name stuck with me. And the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was right. I later learned that I spelled it wrong, but even that seemed right. Maybe it was a family name that changed over the years or maybe I'm not as tough as I like to think and I wanted some connection to the past. So long story made a bit shorter, with his help I got my hands on my first crossbow. I think they thought it wasn't much of a weapon, and so I got it cheap. I'll spare you the details, but I traveled with them and saw how they operate. Eventually I wandered off on my own. Wasn't sure what I was looking for at the time, but I knew I wouldn't find it with the Techs."


"Damnit, Tae. This mead of yours gets my tongue flapping too much."


"Anyway, I know some people think I'm anti-mutant since I don't hold with the Chota much, but that's more to do with methods than ideology. I have issues with them the same as I do the Enforcers. They both believe that violence is the solution."

"I saw that look, and I guess those words may sound odd coming from a man carrying a rifle like mine. I didn't say violence never solved anything. I just don't believe it should be the first option. One reason I spend so much time running thru Lightbearer territory. Don't really hold with all that mystical mumbo-jumbo, but it beats the idea of killing anyone who doesn't agree with you right away. As to the rest of the big ones, I don't really hate them either. Most Techs truly believe that their way is the best way to save mankind. They still have to be stopped, but doesn't mean I have to hate them. Now the Travelers, I take them one at a time. Some are OK, but others are fertilizer."


"Even we Vista have problems. Like the whole Nature argument. Should we embrace what is or what was? I mean Pre-Fall a lot of these animals and bugs didn't even exist, but now they are a part of Nature. Or at least so I believe. I know others think that Nature and nature don't always coincide. But if we try to make things "right", how do we know we won't screw it up like the Old Techs did? Or do a even better job at making it worse? At least now we still have people around; might kill us all off next time."


"Bah, sometimes I prefer Fang here to people. Don't get me wrong, plenty of individuals I like. It's people as a whole that get to me. There's just something about people, get enough of them in one spot and they're going to argue over something. Even the Tribe doesn't agree all the time. 'Course I think that was kind of the point. At least that's why I joined up. We may not all agree on how, but we all agree that we will try and make the world a better place."


"You may be right. Hell, that probably is the most words I've ever said at one time. Must be the company."

I flash a rare smile.

"What do you mean the rest of it? You mean that thing with Ramon? That was just the usual thing with him saying the only good Tech is a dead one.."

With a deep sigh I give in.

"Ok, ok. Quit giving me that look. You always could see right thru me. Most people would assume if I say that many words they actually got me to open up, but you see right thru the bull."

I take a moment to collect my thoughts.

"I think it's this guy I met on the road earlier in the week. That's where I got this knife from. Say, you wouldn't need a new knife would you? Needs sharpening, but the handle's in good shape."

"Hey can't blame me for trying to change the subject."

"Yea, I guess I would have made a lousy Traveler."

We share a chuckle.

"This wasn't the first guy I killed obviously. That's just part of life now. I just think I could have done something different. Found another way."

"Yea you're right, of course he started it, so no I don't have anything to feel guilty about. It's just that he was some punk kid who got lost on his way to that Enforcer camp to the west to join up. I tried to talk him into coming to the Heap with me just to rest up before he left and maybe talk to a few people before he made up his mind. Can you believe he thought I was trying to lure him here so we could kill him; all because the Enforcers work with the Techs? I wished him luck and got up to leave, and that's when he went for the knife. What really gets me is he was just a kid, maybe 17 - seemed to be a decent sort, just wanted to make the world a safer place by fighting the "bad guys".

"Ah, I see by the look in your eyes I forgot to mention he didn't have a collar. So yea, he's dead for good."

[DarkTreader]

*applauds*

I agree with the edits and line breaks. Much cleaner copy than the first one I was passed ^_^

[DarkTreader]

... Thanks, Lamech.

Can't you just say that you liked the story? Is it -really- so hard?

[DarkTreader]

As I'm in no mood to argue with you... To keep from totally ruining Maki's thread and to put things back on topic, I reinterate the story is good. Can't wait to see more from you.

[Stedfast]

Nice job Makiaveli be interesting to see where you go with it. :)

[Oriin]

Nice to see someone else get into story telling.

Gratz Makiaveli :cool:

[Taelanna]

Yay Maki!! Glad you decided to post it. The presentation of one side of a conversation is a pretty unique approach that's seldom done well....you pulled it off though. Gratz!

Now...don't stop writing! :D ;)

Peace, Tae

[Makiaveli]

Thanks all. I'm hoping I can get motivated to work on a second piece. Have an idea or two, not sure what if any will gel. Now it's your turn ;)

[Database82]

Keep it coming Mak. :)

[flora]

Cool beans :)
As others have said, first of all it's nice to just see more different stories in this section. As to the piece itself, I ended up glancing the written lines and spent more time trying to imagine what the other character would be saying, which was pretty cool.

[Makiaveli]

Cool beans :)
As others have said, first of all it's nice to just see more different stories in this section. As to the piece itself, I ended up glancing the written lines and spent more time trying to imagine what the other character would be saying, which was pretty cool.

Cool. :) I was initially going to try to do both sides, but then I realized I suck at conversations, and this was before I even mentioned the idea to Tae. I tried to make it where you could get the gist of what she said without repeating it.

As to the "rest" of it as someone mentioned, kind of wrote it as a one off piece. It was initially going to be more of a manifesto but it wound up just me talking about the other factions which looked kind of boring. So I stuck in the killing thing to show the human side, and the no collar thing just hit me while I was typing and thus the title finally showed itself to me. I do have an idea or two, and I will be reading all the fiction here, both official and unofficial to try and spark some ideas. I have one idea for a collaboration but that's still kind of nebulous at the moment.

Anywho, like I said, now it's you guy's turn. And gal's :D I'm still hoping Flora will write some more....

[Stedfast]

Anywho, like I said, now it's you guy's turn. And gal's :D I'm still hoping Flora will write some more....

Looking for the rest of us to write huh? ;)

[Makiaveli]

Looking for the rest of us to write huh? ;)

Well yea!! The more the merrier :D If me and Bloodewing can do it, any one can!! ;)

[Stedfast]

Well yea!! The more the merrier :D If me and Bloodewing can do it, any one can!! ;)

I guess I'll try your challenge then, Ok let me see what I can do. :D

[Makiaveli]

I guess I'll try your challenge then, Ok let me see what I can do. :D

Hey can't be much worse than me ;) Sides, most of us here would be happy just to see you try, and I promise to flame to the best of my ability anyone who disses your work :)

[Stedfast]

Ok Mak I've done mine even continued it your turn. :) please continue.

[Makiaveli]

Ok Mak I've done mine even continued it your turn. :) please continue.

Well my story doesn't lend itself well to picking up where I left off. I'm trying to percolate the story of when I came out of the pod, but that's very much a brain project at the moment :(

[flora]

Well my story doesn't lend itself well to picking up where I left off. What if he's not dead? What if he turned into a zombie! And he just crashed into your tent!!! BBBRRRAAINS...

[Makiaveli]

What if he's not dead? What if he turned into a zombie! And he just crashed into your tent!!! BBBRRRAAINS...

Nah, I kille.............aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggghhhhhh !!!

[Stedfast]

So good you are working on a second story then.

[OnassisRyan]

Nice write Maki, I liked the little twist at the end how the kid wasn't wearing a collor, But what of your crazed antics with that LB Onassis . =p

[Makiaveli]

Nice write Maki, I liked the little twist at the end how the kid wasn't wearing a collor, But what of your crazed antics with that LB Onassis . =p

Hmm I missed this comment...must have gotten into a big rant somewhere and it didn't show on the next "new posts" click.

Make ya a deal Onassis, you start posting again, and I will try writing again :P

[Makiaveli]

Yea yea, bumping my own story, but I wanted to see what some of the new people thought of it...

[Stedfast]

Yea yea, bumping my own story, but I wanted to see what some of the new people thought of it...

I think really you are trying to start the numbers race again? jk :rofl:

[Makiaveli]

I think really you are trying to start the numbers race again? jk :rofl:

LOL Well I could...you haven't got that far ahead of me :P

[Sataps]

Darlene. I cant believe this is happening with your dog. You will hang onto God really tight and He will direct your path and this will be worked out for good.

MtRider praying for this serious scenario to turn around for the best