HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by JeffCvt »

I love how you took Jake and Lance and really made them your own already.

They just seem to fit so much better now into the force. (Well, not really fit in, but seem so much more workable as characters.)

Although I did state Jake had extensive knowledge of human and pet pressure points. You may have decided not to include this for reasons we'll find out later, but other than that I have nothing to complain about.

*Waits for the next update*
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by kavviyenta »

Not sure why you change Navy's residence but it's nothing big. I understand that her fur color is just like Garr, being bluish black. She's also a tactician but since this is taken by other units, I'm fine with that.

(Rub hands waiting to see how they interact)
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Honorable Intentions »

Shoot I had a lot to catch up on! Last I left off Peanut was with Volant. (Gotta say it was adorable that Volant became a fan of those Devil Dog comics, I wonder who HI Benson is :D )

Anywho I really like how all of these chapters turned out thus far. I can't wait to see how all of these new characters start interacting with eachother. I'm flattered you picked Archer and Eddie as the "point of view" team to help introduce the rest of these teams. I'm loving how you write those two. Can't wait to see what's in store for them.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Guys, thank you all for being so enthusiastic about these changes. Again, I did leave out something in their introduction, otherwise it would have been a reposting of a whole tread, and the reader would've gotten bored. So no, I didn't drop anything in terms of expertise and knowledge, and I will eventually find a use for those.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by D-Singer »

valerio wrote:He was insigned with the Navy Medal of Honor, first canine in history of military since Rags the Terrier…
That’s why he looked familiar!” Archer said. “Wow, this guy’s *the* hero. He must have saved something or someone definitely valuable for getting such a decoration.”
So does this mean Dasco adorns the Medal of Honor somewhere on him? Or is that just a detail of his for more formal occasions?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

As you said, that's the decoration he wears for the more formal occasion. He's a pro and surely not a vain guy :mrgreen:
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by D-Singer »

You really are spot on with portraying these characters. :lol:
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

My ADHD acted up about half way through, and HI updating isn't helping. So I'll get back to your update at a later time, but I can still say I like your modifications to Sarah and Iris's characters. Having their relationship established before the CIA is a good call.

I only hope her mistake in Japan is still a thing, cause I liked that part.

now, is Iris still in touch with her old owners, or are they completely cut off?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Glad you liked the modification. Yes, the Japan thing is still valid, and as of now Iris is officially Sarah's pet since her birth. All records have been modified with the Authorities' permission so that the animals' families are out of reach. But of course we don't know what homesickness can do... ;)
Oh, and don't worry about my update. HI comes first, always! Totally worth it! :D
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by GameCobra »

This has been a real mood-awakener this morning. <3

Like how you setup the family background on your own with my characters and used the middle-name as a reference to her father. =3
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

GameCobra wrote:This has been a real mood-awakener this morning. <3

Like how you setup the family background on your own with my characters and used the middle-name as a reference to her father. =3
*bows* glad to be of help for your mood :D
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

valerio wrote:But of course we don't know what homesickness can do... ;)
just remember that she'd never give up any sensitive information if she does contact them. She's used to covert operations.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Question: Will the security force be able to live at both the Nuclear Fusion Reactor facility and at Terrace High? Or just at the facility or Terrace High?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

oh, no, their quarters, a mini mall, everything they need is within the complex. They are allowed permissions of leave, in shifts, (that is, one single team at a time) once a week and for no longer than two days, with every mean at disposal for an immediate return to base in case of necessity. Forbidden to cut any contact with HQ during leave.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Sweet. Can only imagine what the armory will be stocked with. It really sounds like a fun place.

I remember you said this is the nuclear fusion plant. But I imagine there is a lot more to it. Like a large underground facility. Though it doesn't really look like it could survive a terrorist attack, especially a plane. I imagine the defenses/security measures will be explained for all scenarios later on right?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

yes, many more details will be added later on, during the tour 8-)
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

The image of the many battle hardened members of the security team being shown around on a tour by a way too perky Tour Guide makes me laugh. :lol:
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

3.
First National Energy Research Laboratories, River Ridge – 7 days before the Breakthrough Press Conference

“Well, they certainly redesigned them since they were the Truman Labs,” Edward Pope Jr. said, looking at the citadel through the window. He had seen many pictures of the FNERL, but not one of them could convey its…grandiosity.
The enormous, white T-shaped building lay at the center of a square delimited by a tall, transparent fencing. Within the borders, strips of asphalt connected the core building with the other structures and to the river. One single asphalt strip ran in front of the citadel.
Just outside the citadel, five lines of pylons connected the switchgears and switches steel structure to the main power lines.
And, finally, to the left and right of the crystal wall, four large helipads were dislocated, and each was already hosting two models of Mil-Mi helicopters, a fleet that covered all necessities from hazard to rescue to transportation and refuel...
There were other things that the eye wouldn’t meet: one of them being the external defenses. Hidden firing turrets were ready to pop out and dispense punishment to the fools who thought to attempt a break-in. Other turrets provided a flak against missiles and military aircrafts. Edward’s imagination had gone as far as thinking there was Mazinger Z ready to emerge from the FNERL’s pool and complete the defense line.
The other was the ten humans and their animals – seven dogs, two cats, one wolf – sitting in the same helicopter that was carrying them to their assignment, perhaps the most important in their careers.
Ten teams, twenty specialists collected from the world of the military and investigative elites. To anyone else, they could seem overpaid mercenaries. They were ready to show anyone the error of such an understatement!
“…Again, what’s that wall made of?” Edward asked to his dog partner. He really detested the thick silence, his new ‘colleagues’ hadn’t spoken a word, and each one of them had examined him with those cold eyes, like…predators deciding in how many pieces to share the meal! “That science stuff really gave me a headache.”
Archer felt like digging himself a hole and disappear in it. He facepawlmed.
“Plasteel,” said a Bulldog/Labrador mix from his seat. The tag on his Dragonskin jacket read LANCE. “It’s a composite nano-structure originally created and patented by Nikolas Kotov and his staff at University of Michigan. It is composed of clay nanosheets intervowen with a water-soluble polymer in a brick-and-mortar alignment. It basically replies the kevlar’s properties, and since the walls you see are composed of billions of layers, the result is an almost indestructible structure. Of course, within the tolerance of a cruise missile or a single tank. But I don’t think someone would actually wager a full-scale war, so the walls are perfectly safe.”
“Oh,” Edward said, while the helicopter started the final approach.
Yay for starting the job with a great impression! Archie tought.

The Mil Mi-26M landed quite gracefully, despite her size. The doors opened a moment later.
The ten teams disembarked in an orderly fashion, with careful movements, as if expecting a surprise attack any moment. Eddie and Archer, too, instinctively made sure with their senses the area was clear.
“The contract said we’d practically live here,” Cathy said, looking around. She had only the slightest Russian accent, which gave her voice an exotic tone rather than a comical one –not that anyone sane of mind would mock her for such a ‘flaw’. “I don’t think I saw anything that could be related to a R&R area. You, guys?”
“Same here,” Lance nodded. “It’s obvious that the rest of the facility must lay—“
At that moment, bright white lights turned on around the helipad. A moment later, the whole pad started moving, accompanied by the sound of a titanic hydraulic mechanism sound.
“--Underground,” the dog finished.
Plasteel walls surrounded them, as the hydraulic platform slid down a tube. The group could only stare at what the FNERL was really about.
A citadel. A complex of interconnected buildings laying in a circular pattern and around the ‘pillar’ that was the Core Building’s underground facility. And suspended above that scenery, what looked like a complex, multilevel metal web where cars hanging from it ran to and fro, their lights making them look like neurons flashing around a neural pattern.
“This human is being really full of surprises,” Amar said, sincerely admired.
“Yeah,” Dasco said. “Except that this wasn’t his idea…well, not completely. Before its reconversion, this facility was one of the top-secret military installations, back when these were the Truman Labs. This is where uranium and plutonium were created for our nuclear arsenal. Codename: Poppy Field.”
“And they need all of this room just to run a nuclear fusion reactor?” Eddie asked.
“Most of you are used to spend a lot of time with fairly low quality standards, when it comes to living,” Jake offered and quickly answered, “No offense. But even the ‘middle-class’ lifestyle requires a lot of resources. Room, among these. The scientists, especially, need a good quality of life. We can be their guardian angels, but without them and their focus this place is just a big piece of junk. So, imagine this facility as a finely-tuned starship.”
“Cool!” Iris said. “So we’ll have our own holodeck?”
Lance nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we actually found one.”
“That, or a horde of zombies,” Sodina muttered. “I feel as if we were descending into a Resident Evil setup. And remember, I won’t hesitate to shoot you if you were turned into those things.”
“I am more worried about another thing,” Natalie said, sounding as if she was talking to herself rather than her colleagues. “This can’t work. I mean, even the best simulation can’t compensate living under such conditions.”
“And what would that mean, witch-doctor?” Marcus said, speaking for the very first time since they had gathered back in Washington DC. It was a deep, gruff voice that somehow tickled one’s inner ancestral fears –in other words, it was difficult to ignore the ‘Dire Wolf’.
The Schnauzer addressed her colleagues directly, this time. “I am fairly sure our job, despite what he have been told, is not about keeping this facility safe.”
No one replied to that, although no one exchanged puzzled glances –at this point, it didn’t matter if they’d agree with her or not, it mattered only that they had a contract to fulfill.
As long as their ‘superiors’ respected their part of said contract.

The platform completed its descent. A part of the tube slid open, allowing the new security teams to walk out. The air smelled fresh, and just at the right temperature. What hit them was also how this miniature Coruscant was…silent. Whatever life it hosted, it didn’t show off for sure. Only the hisses of the cars moving along the rails produced some audible noise.
They were immediately welcomed by a woman –medium height, brown hair, eyeglasses…in short, the most common face you could plaster on a human being. She looked like the type who could disappear in a crowd of three people. Definitely, she didn’t look like DR. STANWICK – OVERSEER, as the plastic tag on her white coat claimed. The same tag that showed the stylized atomic particles orbiting around a shining nucleus.
“Gentlemen,” the woman said. “Welcome to Xanadu, our clean little secret!” her joke was rewarded with a series of blank stares. “Got it? Clean energy and all…”
Blank stares.
The woman adjusted her eyeglasses. “*sigh* I swear, one day I’ll find someone who appreciates it, and not because of rank reason,” she said to the male yellow Labrador standing beside her. A dog wearing a similar coat, and a tag reading EINSTEIN. A tag with the same green bar of the woman, which meant he too had access to every corner of the facility.
“In their defense, Mom,” the dog said, “I believe they were born without any sense of humor. Or they wouldn’t be doing this job. And please, no jokes about me being a lab dog.”
“Fair enough, love,” she said. Then, assuming a more formal tone, “Gentlemen, please follow me. I’ll give you the tour before introducing you to your commander.” She turned and walked toward a car large enough to accommodate the whole group.

“Xanadu is not only about nuclear fusion, as you may have realized already,” Stanwick said, once the car had started automatically. “Our motto is We are building your Future. Here at the FNERL we work on the top solutions that soon will change the market. Energy is the very blood of progress. Transportation, smartphones, space missions, domotics…everything requires energy. But alas, physical laws can’t be rewritten.”
“So you work to circumvent them?” Jake asked.
The woman nodded. “’Optimization’ is the key. From superconductors to high efficiency rechargeable batteries, to quote a couple. You can’t actually imagine how much money Xanadu is worth. We want to make sure that oil is relegated to the chemical applications, as long as it lasts.
“Now, another secret of Xanadu is its architecture. Building clusters are colored in function of the research branches. The reason the nuclear fusion facility is green is not only because it’s about clean energy, but also because – as you may have understood – its juices feed every other application. Yes, including Blue Cluster, the one dedicated to air & space research. Gottschalk thinks really big, he wants to bring one of these babies on the Moon, honest, as first step toward Mars colonization.”
“What’s the Red Cluster about?” Flare asked. He liked the red, it fascinated him since, as a pup, he got to light up the road flares for the Police…
“Oh, that’s the ‘Star Wars’ Cluster. You’ll get to use some of the weaponry they have developed there.”
Dasco and Marcus exchanged a grin. “Heh, not so ‘clean’ a secret, after all,” the wolf said.
Stanwick didn’t surely blush for that remark. “It’s business, plus it can help save life of our boys oversea.”
“Do you work with genetics, bio-engineering and the stuff?” Iris asked. Biowarfare, the spook of the spooks. Her CIA training was making alarm bells ring loud in her head right now! Much to her horror, she saw Stanwick nodding!
“Oh, yes, we do: there are interesting developments awaiting in the energy production and optimization though living organisms, from informatics to meat cloning and nanotechnology. That’s the Golden Cluster for you. So please, refrain from shooting wild around here, each misplaced bullet can cost us a billion dollar each.” She chuckled.
Blank stares.
The woman shook her head. “Seriously, guys, what was the last time you laughed.”
Marcus smiled. Somehow, it looked worse than a growl. “I could tell you. Do you have a barf bag handy?”
“Thanks I’ll pass. Anyway: White Cluster down there is your home guys. There you’ll find anything you need for your comfort and your training. And I mean, anything. From your new toys to food, room to shoot, etc. Don’t judge by the size, you’ll be surprised.
“We have been spending time in more cramped places, ma’am,” Eddie said, admiring the modern accommodation waiting for them. Except for the colors, it didn’t look different from the other Clusters—
“Say,” Jake exclaimed. “Are you related to Mordecai Stanwick, perhaps?”
The woman nodded. “Yes! He’s my grandfather, do you know him?”
“Only by reputation, actually. He saved quite a few lives, back at the Lucky Charm Grove. Lance and I have been working at the Babylon Gardens police force.”
The woman laughed. “Oh, don’t I know it! I owe it to him, if I am here today: he covered most of my student expenses with his military funds. That’s how he ended up working as volunteer in that old ‘shelter’. It was the first time they saw a wrinkle of disgust and a frown cross her face. “He gave me Einstein saving him from that place. That Foster guy did a miracle, and that’s why I am here as well: not only for the incredible scientific opportunities, but also because I can contribute to change the human/animal relationship.”
The car stopped over the building’s roof. The door opened.
“What you are meaning?” Amar asked, while everyone was getting ready to disembark.
“He will explain it to you guys,” the woman said, pointing at the human/animal team waiting for them.
Both wearing full body armor.
Both wearing a beret.
Both sporting the white security tag…and the double bars of Captain on their chests.
A tall Hispanic woman.
And a black wolf.
“Welcome to Xanadu, grunts,” the wolf said, his arms crossed behind his back. “From today on and until you succeed or die we are your superiors: she is Natalie Domina. I am Temno.”
Last edited by valerio on Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Marcus smiled. Somehow, it looked worse than a growl. “I could tell you. Do you have a barf bag handy?”
Oh God that was too perfect! And his reaction to the new weapons and etc. And the description of the facility is great. So many fun toys and places this facility has to offer.

Though by immediate thoughts after reading the last part was, "Oh @#$%..."

So now I'm curious as heck to know about the Captains of the security team. So bow we have two wolves...curious about how this will play out between Marcus and Temno. Especially since we know nothing about Temno and Natalie.

So looking forward to the next chapter...and the next amd so on.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

Cerberusx wrote:
Marcus smiled. Somehow, it looked worse than a growl. “I could tell you. Do you have a barf bag handy?”
Oh God that was too perfect! And his reaction to the new weapons and etc. And the description of the facility is great. So many fun toys and places this facility has to offer.

Though by immediate thoughts after reading the last part was, "Oh @#$%..."

So now I'm curious as heck to know about the Captains of the security team. So bow we have two wolves...curious about how this will play out between Marcus and Temno. Especially since we know nothing about Temno and Natalie.

So looking forward to the next chapter...and the next amd so on.
we do know something of Temno if you read Lightwolf's fic. but Natalie we know much less about.

I'd comment on your portrayal of my characters, but they didn't do much this update, so I don't have much to comment on.
still, I'm excited.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Given his precedents (read Lightwolf's PoP fic!), i thought Temno'll be perfect for the job :mrgreen:
As for Natalie, she had a brief apparition at the end of that fic, and a mention in mine, so she's a blank board. For now... 8-)
I will be giving anyone his/her due space, with time, guys. I can't just cramp everyone in every chapter, or it'll become a wall of nothing like in a 'Walking Dead' season 2 filler. :lol:
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

I wasn't saying you should have paid more attention to her, just that I didn't have any comments on what little was presented here like Cerberus did
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

I was being facetious.
Bazinga! 8-)
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Only you Val.

Now I need to read Lights fanfic...I'll need to do it before the next update...
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

Cerberusx wrote:Only you Val.

Now I need to read Lights fanfic...I'll need to do it before the next update...
good luck, it's pretty long. nowhere near as long as Val's, but it is pretty long and epic.
valerio wrote:I was being facetious.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Took me a little over two weeks to get to page 46 so Lights fanfic will be no problem.

P.S. I'm willing to bet Marcus might not get along with Temno now that I think about unless there is an understanding, especially dealing with experience and etc. After all out of all the animals there Marcus has had the longest military career of 9 years, nearly a decade. And lots more training and field experience, all of which has been quite bloody.

Keep in mind I now absolutely nothing about Temno.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by D-Singer »

So little to actually critique on, yet it’s still there. All I’ve got is that Dasco may have been a little more inclined to comment on team members like Marcus upon first impressions, if anything to at least ‘test the water’. But, like you said, actual use of each characters personalities in the story is going to take more time.

Something I wish I wasn’t fixed for considering the speed of updates :/
Cerberusx wrote:I'm willing to bet Marcus might not get along with Temno now that I think about unless there is an understanding, especially dealing with experience and etc. After all out of all the animals there Marcus has had the longest military career of 9 years, nearly a decade. And lots more training and field experience, all of which has been quite bloody.

Keep in mind I now absolutely nothing about Temno.
This kinda confused me. If you know hardly anything about Temno, where exactly is the assumption for conflict between him and Marcus coming from?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Just a feeling I have is all. I could be completely wrong though. Yet Marcus might not simply like the others too. Simply keep it professional and nothing more or he could end up butting heads with others on certain matters. Especially job relayed, skills and etc. Oh and the fact he has a high kill count and will terminate enemies with extreme prejudice.

Again it's just a feeling I've got. Could be wrong though.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

4.
Codename: Xanadu, c/o First National Energy Research Laboratories, River Ridge

Archer and Edward,
Chance and Clayton,
Iris and Sarah,
Sodina and Catherine,
Flare and Fredrick,
Lance and Jake,
Amar and Elsa,
Natalie and Caleb,
Marcus and Damien,
Dasco and Rusty.
Seven dogs, one wolf, two cats, seven men, three women.
That was, in numbers, the elite force who had signed a contract believing their job would consist in securing and protecting a top secret, high-tech installation.
They were in for a surprise.
Starting with their superiors, a Hispanic woman no one had heard about and a black wolf many of them knew about.
And nothing good about him.
Nevertheless, they all stood there on attention, disciplined. Their job didn’t consist in questioning a superior, whoever he or she may be.
Even if that superior was Temno the Walking Death.
“Stop looking at me as if you had seen a ghost, grunts! There is a reason I am here, and it is that I am good at a job: infiltrating, sabotaging, kidnapping, killing. Well, four jobs actually, while four of you could make one decent me.
“You were told you’d play mall cops for this place, right? Wrong! I hope you have read the fine prints, the one written in nanocharacters, because those constitute your real engagement. Our employers, the heads of the Gottschalk-Milton-Foster Unlimited, are rightfully paranoid about the business they are running here at Xanadu. They have installed enough safety measures to keep a small army at bay.
“But of course, as often happens with top-secret facilities, the weak link is those who work there. People need to get out from time to time, they need to talk with families, friends, play pretend they are ‘normal’ people instead of valuable eggheads each worth some ten million dollars and years of expertise and studies.” Temno looked in the eyes of each of his underlings.
“You will be their babysitters, grunts. You will be spending more time out there than down here. You will make sure that each leave shift goes smooth from beginning to end. You will be authorized to overrule any local authority if necessary, the paperworks have been filled already. You will be authorized to use extreme prejudice. As long as your protégées are fine…or offed should they betray. The top brass don’t want another Rosenberg case, and they have good reason to: it’s not only about business, it’s about leading the US of A into the first Energetic Revolution.
“And, the top brass also stated it clearly, the plan is to help start a new civil revolution: they want to use the juices of Prometheus to turn River Ridge into a Babylon Gardens with the commodities of Terrace High and the attitude of Foster’s shelter. In other words, several steps up the ladder toward equality between humankind and furkindred.
“I am the top dog because I spent my life working for the baddies. I know how they think, what they can do with our kind, and how far they can go either in the name of business or fanaticism. Thus, when I say ‘jump’, you’ll jump so high as to hurt yourself in the downfall. When I say ‘play dead’, you better get a heart stroke and a crash cart handy. Not necessarily in that order. And if you feel like turning your back at me, you better have your tail hanging low. Questions?”
Apparently, no one had.
Temno nodded. “Well, good to see that you seem intelligent.” He snapped his fingers. Natalie walked to the group and started handing out an envelope to each member of the team. She definitely didn’t look as if she liked that chore.
“I’ll show you your quarters now. When we’re done, read your assignments and shifts. You’ll discover that the combatant teams get first shifts. That’s because I want our logistics to start studying strategies, so you brainiacs don’t think you are less important here. In fact, your planning is essential to prevent mistakes.”
At those words, Lance felt a pang of guilt. He had made one mistake, back then, and it had cost the life of the human who now lived only in his memories…
“Once the envelopes are open, you have one minute to read and memorize. After that, they’ll self-combust. Now follow the boss.” He turned, offering a confident high tail.
“I already am hating him,” Amar said in that low voice of his. He had seen that attitude too often among the many humans that had bullied him.
“Put yourself in line,” Lance said. The guy reminded him of his first owners, farmers who wanted to make a badtail watchdog out of him.
“Just one arrow…” Archer whispered. The hunters who had exploited his marksman talent looked like boy scouts in comparison.
“I like him,” Marcus said. “Good Alpha. He smells like confidence. And his fame is well-founded.”
“You aiming for the rank of Beta?” Dasco asked him.
A grin. “No need to. I aim to be myself, as usual.”
The group entered a large elevator. Once the doors had closed, Iris asked, “Permission to speak, Sir.”
“What’s up, spook?”
“Is there any reason to think there are infiltration in the research staff already?”
“Do you mean, if we have any suspects? The answer is yes, everyone is suspect of espionage and treason until proven innocent. Your team and Panderov team, together with Jacks, Torrance and Jones team, are supposed to do the brains first things first. Whoever may have fooled Human Resources must be good, believe me, but they cannot have put you into the equation.” Temno grinned in an almost…playful way. “That is why you will be good pets and apes and won’t tell anyone about your specialties. Or I’ll use your tails to hang you.”
Iris nodded nervously. “Yes. Sir!”
The doors opened on a big living room –in fact, a living room that occupied the whole floor! Top-notch furniture and electronics, including ShoWalls™ replicating sceneries of an Irish green plains.
Catherine didn’t look impressed. Instead, to the black wolf, she said, “That’s why I was invited to this party. You needed what my father passed to me.”
Temno nodded. “In terms of knowledge, you are the repository of some quite interesting secrets. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s fall, the KGB forces didn’t really dissolve. They rather reorganized themselves, keeping their old dinosaurs in charge either in the new FSB offices or in politics. And your father inherited from Fomin a lot of useful information Gottschalk may find useful for counter-intelligence. That is why I want you to be bosom buddy especially with Beckett team. Any problems with that?”
The woman chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, no, Sir. It’s just that I wish my father was alive: he had a tasteful sense of irony.” She addressed Sarah and Iris. “We’ll do our part for the country…comrades.”

The next room, one level down, was the dining area. A 5-star chef could have only a wet dream about that salon. The animals, in particular, were sniffing at the air and the so many promises of alimentary pleasures. Heck, even the furniture smelled tasty!
After that, down the stairs and into the gym level. Same logistics, a whole theme floor. Despite everyone knowing that there was no contact with the outside, this place didn’t transmit any claustrophobic sensation.

When they reached the sleeping quarters, many one mercenary frowned.
“Is that a joke?” Sarah asked, at the sight of the tall mattresses forming a single, square structure occupying the room.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Temno asked.
Chance examined the place. He pushed his paws against the mattress. “Memory foam,” he purred. “Wish I had this, back when I used to scavenge for food in Afghanistan.” He sat up the mattress…and disappeared into it as if he had been swallowed! Only his tail was still sticking out. “Weee! Come on, guys, sleeping together is not a bad thing!”
Jake, Sara and Catherine seemed uneasy about it. “I still think that ‘privacy’ should not be an option,” the CIA woman said.
“Heh, where’s your team spirit?” Caleb asked. “Sleeping together gives us an advantage.”
“Being a whole target for enemy fire?” Jake asked.
“No. Faster reaction times, which can be prove fatal for the enemy, considering our training. The moment one of us is aware of danger, he or she can warn the others faster than running from room to room… Of course, if there was anyone with the means to come here and try to off us. Not to mention that we all are basically social. This is supposed to help us bonding…and checking each other, develop trust.”
Temno seemed satisfied. “Your degree at work. Now let’s get going before someone starts asking embarrassing questions about romance.”

The ‘holodeck’ looked just like something that could come out of a Star Trek movie: a naked roof, nothing but dim lights everywhere. “Unlike the ShoWalls™, which are basically low-energy graphene screens, this place eats up a gazillion watts. Worth it, according to the eggheads. There are time limits to its use, so you will play nice and set up a calendar without trying to kill each other. The enemy would die laughing knowing you did their job over a toy. And now, let’s go to the armory. And stop drooling!” he added, upon hearing the unmistakable sound of drops and Pavlovian pants.

The lights opened in rapid sequence about something that seemed to have popped out of a Matrix scene.
Imagine a library.
A library devoted to destruction in its many portable forms. Rack after rack over rack of all possible instruments of death, the light reflecting on the cold metal like against the carapaces of deadly creatures waiting to be awakened.
“I love my job,” Eddie said, expressing what everyone was thinking. Even Natalie and Caleb, whose choice of weapons seemed ridiculous like a little kid’s list in front of the grownups games, was seriously impressed.
Temno stepped aside, much like a butler. “Your pick, gentlemen.”
Everything was lined carefully, so a trained person could easily find the kind of item he was looking for. In Archer case, his choice went to a PSE TAC 15 Crossbow. “Ahh, now that’s more like it!” he was grinning from ear to ear.
Eddie was perplexed. “I thought you liked your own bow.”
Archer nodded…and tossed the weapon to his human partner. “This is what you will be using, dude. You heard Stanwick: bullets can do millions in damage. This kind of weapon is made for accuracy: if you misfire with this babe, you better go back to kindergarten. Hey, guys, what did you take?”
Dasco was working with an assault rifle with integrated grenade-launcher. “Sir?” he asked to Temno. “Permission to ask a stupid question, Sir.”
The black wolf walked to him. “No such things in this line of job. Ask away.”
The King Shepherd looked around. “Not even during my last assignment did I see such a choice. Are we actually expecting a war?”
Temno nodded. “One week from now, when Gottschalk and Lindberg will disclose Prometheus to the world and announce their animal rights-oriented agenda, this place will be like the hottest chick saloon in a town that hasn’t seen a woman since the Civil War. Your job will be as tough as it comes. This stuff is intended to make it clear we’re loaded for dragons. Cave canem and the stuff.”
“We’ll be dealing with two kind of attackers,” Iris explained, while checking a double-barreled colt. An innocuous-looking weapon, given their job. The description on the rack explained its two bullets were loaded with a new explosive which turned them into veritable grenades. Ouch. “The fanatics, who will want to kill our protégées, and the smart ones, who will want to kidnap them. I assume their families are here as well, Sir.”
“Correct. Their immediate relatives and pets, at least. Cover the potential most precious hostages.”
“Speaking of which, this is where we come in,” Caleb said, while checking an X-12 stun gun. “A hostage crisis, considering the stakes, will be a nervous thing. We’re talking highly motivated agents, people who will strike a deal only if given no other chances, and even then without a forecast of success on our side.”
“That’s why you’ll find some of your standard equipment useful,” Temno said, walking to a rack and taking…a small plastic box. He tossed it to Natalie. “Here, put them on.”
Natalie frowned, then opened the box ad saw it contained… “Contacts?” Nevertheless he put the lenses on. They felt quite smooth on her eye—“Whoa!”
Superimposed to her vision, data flows ran over the objects she was looking at!
“Gottschalk GT Augmented Reality contacts. Short range, precious when you need a HUD without a cumbersome attire. Wonders of nanotech.” Sarah, pick up that. He pointed at a box marked GT CA-X01.
The woman opened the box. It contained a sort of poncho, or full body cape…made of a smooth, almost frictionless…plastic?
“See the button on the neck? Press it.”
She did so. The cape disappeared. Or, rather, Sarah felt it in her hands, but it was effectively invisible! “Awesome.”
GT Camo-X01, or ‘Harry Potter’s Cloak’ as the eggheads love to call it. Ten minutes of total stealth mode. Excellent for recog.”
“I thinking I’ll have one of that then,” Amar said, picking up a box. As a pointer and scout, it would be of great help for the most difficult situations.
“Wish I had one when I used to scavenge for food,” Chance said, helping himself to one sized for his kind.
Marcus selected a Kukri knife that looked like a small saber, and strapped it downward on his chest. A Beretta 92 went to his chest. Another combat knife and an M249 SAW completed his body arsenal.
Dasco didn’t seem convinced. “How are we supposed to do our job, outside? Sir.”
“As you’ll see in your instructions, you’ll be escorting the eggheads in small groups to predetermined destinations, so that you can herd them along a known environment. No exceptions, no dispersions. The eggheads know it, you enforce it. They take their time to study a proper destination so that they can enjoy their time with their families, friends, etc. And you make sure they stick to that choice. We have our rescue teams ready for any greater emergency, and don’t worry, you won’t have to take care of every single scientist, your babies are the members of the Prometheus team. Our ‘secret service’ will take care of the others.”
“Smoke and mirrors,” Natalie said. “We’ll draw inevitably the hostile attention to one research team while the rest of Xanadu can move around more safely. Because if something happens to Prometheus, at least Gottschalk can keep doing business with the other teams.”
Temno nodded. “Smart girl. Do you want a bone? Are you grunts already done with your shopping?”
“Permission to speak, Sir!” Eddie said, putting down his crossbow.
“Granted.”
“We are not ‘grunts’, Sir. I am ready to do my job, but I’d like to be addressed with some respect. And why should we take orders from a known criminal? Because you got expertise? I’ll bet that Marcus here or even Dasco got enough of that to teach you something!”
The silence that fell in the armory wasn’t ‘awkward’.
It was more like that tension that came when you saw a pack of sharks circling their prey, knowing blood will be tasted soon.
It was good to know you, stupid human! Archer thought.
The black wolf examined the human from head to toe with eyes that spoke ‘What specimen of idiot are you?’. “Edward Pope Jr., right?”
Eddie blinked. “Uh. Yes?”
SUPLEX!
A second later, Eddie was looking at his Captain starting from the less noble parts.
Temno crouched down, his arms on his thighs. He was grinning. “That was from Mr. Blaine. He told me to tell you that next time you don’t aim into your bowl, you’re gonna have a ton of troubles. Want me to repeat?”
Eddie felt bells ringing in his head and his back ached horribly. “No, Sir,” he croaked.
Temno stood up and offered him the paw. “Good boy! Now come up, you grunts must still rest, refuel and meet your quarries.”
Eddie ignored that demeaning term, as he grasped the paw and let the wolf help him—
RE-SUPLEX!
When the wolf crouched again, he was grinning with a dangerous light in his eyes. “And that was from me. This is not an effing democracy, Mr. Pope; you better remember it, or I’ll make sure your precious uncle will find you in his spaghetti with meatballs. What do you have to say now?”
“I think I need a wheelchair. Sir.”
Last edited by valerio on Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by kavviyenta »

Hooray for two posts! :)

BTW, you might want to have either Temno's human partner be called Domina or the schnauzer Navy to avoid confusion with similar naming. I'm sure their nicknames or codenames like Andy will be used later on.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Yes you're right. Domina and Bean will be.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Nice. Love the "Terminate with extreme prejudice" part. This is unfolding so nicely. Can only imagine what other fun guns and equipment there are. Oddly enough the underground facility reminds me of a few things to be honest. Now I've got a few ideas for a few more story ideas.

Also the thing with Marcus being Beta was neat and the possible competitiveness Marcus amd Dasco might have. While I was reading I actually thought you were going to give Marcus some outrageous weapon(s) to use. Like the M-32 or a portable minigun. Cause you know there is no such this as overkill! XD

None the less this is awesome. And Marcus is sticking with heavy weapons.

Now I really need to read Lights fanfic quicker.

P.S. And Eddie mentioning the criminal part about Marcus and Dasco was quite good.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Tnaks. I've seen homepages with increeibly portable heavy stuff, so I'll make sure to update their weaponry from time to time. After all, being fashion is part of the fun :mrgreen:
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Obbl »

I am so excited to see my characters!!! :D (Elsa hasn't said anything yet. You know her so well :lol: )
The interactions have been so great so far, and Amar is totes the best! :D (No prejudice on my part at all. Nope.)
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by RandomGeekNamedBrent »

heh, great twist on what they're actually doing. Especially for Iris. After what happened in Japan, she's gonna have to be extra careful not to get too attached to whoever she's protecting in case they turn.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by D-Singer »

Two updates...in one day?

Jeez, you went all out... :?
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

So Val are you going to do chapters focusing only on a few characters at a time or something? I'm curious about how this will work. And how will the squints feel about being guarded by the security teams? I feel like they won't be big fans.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

Except for the general background (how it starts and what there should be at the end) I don't usually have a detailed program in these things, i tend to follow the story's lead. Yes, I am a bit weird.
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by valerio »

fair warning: next update, you'll have to tolerate one last 'shopping list' featuring our dark knights with their full standard attire and definitive weapons of choice (I found a homepage speaking of really cool stuff!) 8-)
Thank you for your patience
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Re: HOUSEPETS! THE SERIES Official Thread

Post by Cerberusx »

Sweet. Can't wait to see the characters in there full attire/gear with their weapons.

I'm also really curious about what the Red Custer has developed weapon wise. After all who can ignore all those fun toys.
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