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Post by Hazel 'Hobbs' Yeung on Aug 13, 2012 19:19:53 GMT -5
At long last, the bolts were in and it was done. Hobbs lifted the crossbow off the workbench, testing the weight in her hands. She thumbed her way up and down along the controls, pressing release switches and self cocking mechanisms here and there. She turned it over, testing the weight balance, peered down the length of it, and decided finally that she was satisfied with it. Now to return it to the Commander.
She strode down the hallways of the base in giant boots and came to the Commander's office door.
Hobbs shouldered the crossbow and leaned against the doorframe. She rapped sharply on the door with her knuckles, waited a few seconds and booted the door in anyway. Normally she would've kicked the door straight open first time around but as her 'Commander' Hobbs figured Logan would appreciate the occasional gestures of respect even if they didn't go far. Besides, she didn't want him to blow his ticker by having her barge right into his office like a hurricane. Best to give a warning of what was coming.
Today, Hobbs was in a pretty chipper mood. For her, anyway. She was still foul-mouthed and brash, but as least today she was doing it with good humour. Well... better humour.
She strode into the Commander's rooms, kicked the door shut with a chunky Doc Marten behind her.
"Finished your crossbow at last," she said, shouldering the weapon again and staring down the handle as she aimed the crossbow at the window. "I replaced the handle, as per specs. I also replaced the self cocking mechanism. There was nothing wrong with it but I figured while I had it apart it may as well be done to keep it running smoothly. Also added a laser sight, and first batch of custom bolts came through this morning if you wanna test them out."
She lowered the crossbow, reached back into her pocket and pulled out a roll of crumpled paper. "Also, I drew up blueprints for a defence system," she said, waving the designs around. "I dunno if we have the funding for something this big-scale though."
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Post by Vaughn Logan on Aug 14, 2012 0:43:28 GMT -5
Vaughn was standing next to his bed when she came in. He had thrown on a buttoned up black shirt lazily, but didn't button it up. He didn't have the time. Hobbs wheeled herself in without much notice other than a few knocks. He turned towards her, the shirt flapping around without control. Vaughn wore a black belt, and dark denim jeans with black work boots. He looked the crossbow over, and took it from her hands carefully.
He raised it up to his face and looked down the sights, activating the red dot sight. "Good work Hobbs," Vaughn said as he placed the crossbow down onto his bed. They may have their differences, but she was still a Hunter with duties, and she did them well. And for that she deserved credit. Old wounds are meant to heal, not be reopened.
A smile grew on his face when she held up the crumbled paper. He gently pulled it out of her hand and looked it over. "This is good work, I'll see what I can do about getting these supplies. When they come in I'll be sure to let you know. " Vaughn set the blueprints on his desk and looked back up to her. He placed his hands on his hips and looked at her.
"Anything else you need?" He didn't want to sound rude. But he was very busy, and if there wasn't anything she wanted to talk about or mention then he would have to cut the chitchat short and get back to work.
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Words: 261
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Post by Hazel 'Hobbs' Yeung on Aug 14, 2012 9:37:24 GMT -5
Hobbs raised an eyebrow as she plopped herself down on his bed.
"Sorry about the scribbles," she said, gesturing to the blueprints he'd taken from her. "I write all my notes in Chinese." The blueprints were easy enough to understand; steel panelling, electrical pipes, all that kind of thing was evident. But the nuances of her designs were outlined in the notes, which were in her father's language. It was a privacy thing. Not only did it stop some bright spark from reading her notes and stealing her ideas, but if any of the hunters went rogue, stole her work and decided to hand them over to the immortals, they wouldn't be able to read a damn thing.
"I don't need anything, but there's something else you might." Other than being needed to translate the blueprints, she'd brought something else for him. She put her right leg over her left knee, popped open the compartment behind a panel of polyethylene she'd built into the calf, and took out a handful of crossbow bolts. Six of them, three of each kind. They were standard bolts in every possible way, apart from along the shaft was a framework supporting a clear hollow tube inside. Three of the bolts contained a vial of silver fluoride solution. The other three had smaller vials suspended in the solution of the first.
She popped the polyethylene panel back into place on her leg and held the bolts up to the light.
"I figured you might like to be the first to check these out," she said, tossing him one of them."These are silver fluoride bolts. You see, when the bolt's fired the force shatters the glass vial along predetermined structures so that the silver solution leaks out and easily gets into the bloodstream." She held up one of the other bolts, now grinning. "These, however, are my mindbabies. The UV ammunition we have now are tracer rounds, so it's impossible to take a shot at a Vampire without betraying your own position in the process. A sniper's nightmare. Trust me."
She chucked one in Logan's direction for him to catch and examine on his own. "These use the same principle as the silver bolts. The glass vials fracture, but the capsule on the inside is ammonium chloride, and the liquid on the outside is sodium hypobromite in aqueous alkaline solution. When the vials break and the chemicals mix, the ammonium chloride oxidises, creating the chemiluminescence of... drum roll please... ultraviolet."
She allowed him a few seconds to absorb the quick chemistry lesson, to figure out that she'd manufactured liquid UV that would burn along the Vampire's veins. And just as a nice side-effect, she'd created a form of ammunition that didn't burn lines of light along the bullet trail.
She leaned back on his bed, crossed her arms behind her head and stretched out languidly like a cat. "Go on," she egged him on, smirking across her face. "Tell me I'm a genius. 'Cause I so am."
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Post by Vaughn Logan on Aug 14, 2012 21:55:46 GMT -5
Vaughn leaned up against his desk to face her. She had made her way over to his bed and promptly sat on it. She pulled out some new bolts she had designed that were intended to be more effective against the Lycans, and others for Vampires. These would come in handy. Although he preferred the quick and dirty method of a stake through the heart.
"This is good work Hobbs. But as a side note it will take more than a few silver fluoride bolts to take down a Lycan. The silver doesn't kill them, but it does hurt like a bitch. It'd take a lot more in order to take one down. Although I'd be aiming for the heart, and if I get a clear shot, the Lycan will be down before he or she can realize what the hell just happened."
As for the ultraviolet bolts, he had no complaints. He hoped for a good field test, but he didn't want these new bolts to be a reason to shoot a Lycan or Vampire without good reason.
He grinned at what Hobbs said, and let out a smile "Yes Hobbs you are good at what you do. I'd only hope that you learn to respect me for and what I stand for. Im not asking for you to agree with everything I believe in. But I do wish you follow my orders and treat me with some respect. Otherwise Hobbs, I have no problem."
Vaughn looked back at the blueprints, realizing the notes were in Chinese. He hoped she had a copy so she could put her plan into action when the supplies arrive.
"Hobbs, is there any differences between a Vampire, Lycan, and Human that could be detected through an xray scan?" He said as he brainstormed ideas aloud. "If so, and there is a breach in security, have automated gattling guns with silver-nitrate bulllets. As well as something for the Vampires. I can faintly see you putting them along those lines on the blueprints, and If you could explain that to me that'd be great."
He folded his arms and watched her once more. He figured she would have already thought ahead about security, and there probably was something in the blueprints about it. But considering the writing is in Chinese, and he was going off of merely a drawing it didn't hurt to ask questions. Besides, Vaughn had a feeling Hobbs had fun talking about this kind of stuff anyways.
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Words: 418
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Post by Hazel 'Hobbs' Yeung on Aug 14, 2012 22:50:49 GMT -5
((Wow, this is an insane amount of rambling for one post. Apologies.))
He mentioned that it would take more than one bolt to take down a lycan, and for the most part, Hobbs agreed. There wasn't much of the solution in a single bolt. If the solution had been a silver concentrate then it would be enough to kill, but it was a silver fluoride salt in an ethanol solution. Diluted, and only as part of a compound to begin with, there was just enough silver in there to hurt like a bitch. But werewolves were violently allergic, and if they got into the bloodstream the pain itself would slow down the werewolf enough to get in a headshot. More than one, yes. Two or three? Allergic reaction in seconds. Death in minutes once it hit the heart. The lycans' own higher heart rate would be their downfall.
And then he talked about mutual respect. Hobbs sat forward and sighed. He just had to make the conversation turn all serious and depressing, didn't he? Could he not just praise her endlessly for her genius? She ran a hand through her short, dark hair.
"Listen, chief, I know that with this whole Commander gig you need as much support as you can get. And you have my back, honest. You can count on me when I think that your call is the best one, and just like every other gunslinger in this place, I'll respect you when you start showing us that you're someone to respect. But don't expect me to ignore bad judgement. You can certainly count on me to call you out on your bullshit or challenge your ideas, even when you don't want me to. But as long as you prove to me that you're someone I can follow, I will. But... back at the meeting? There were plenty of valid, honest reasons why we should be killing the immortals, and you didn't acknowledge a single one. You just keep bleating on about how they're misunderstood people and we shouldn't be harming them, but if you're going to dismiss my arguments at least provide a good rebuttal, don't ignore them completely."
Hobbs propped her elbows on her knees when he asked her about physiological differences visible in x-rays.
"X-rays?" Hobbs echoed, frowning. She racked her mind for a few seconds, trying to think of anything about bone composition in immortals that would show up in an x-ray, but there was nothing. Other than lycan skeletons becoming wolf ones when they transformed, but then it was way past x-ray time when that happened.
"No," she said. "Nothing. I mean, there might be a greater percentage of strontium or carbon isotopes in weres and a lower carbon isotope count in vampires, but you'd need specialised equipment and weeks of investigation to discover stuff like that. And even if you could tell the difference, you don't want to be pelting your hunters with x-rays whenever they enter or leave the base, they'd all get cancer." She stared at him, wondering why he didn't realise that last bit before.
"They do have greatly different heat signatures, though," she said, and patted down the abundant pockets of her cargo shorts. She pulled out the pair of thermal imaging glasses and threw them to Logan for him to catch and try on. "Thermal vision glasses; another of my gadgets," she said. "Moore and I tested them out a while ago. A vampire heat signature is colder than a human's, showing in blue in thermal imaging. They don't vanish completely because there are still enzymes at work in their body and they show up. Werewolves have higher heart rates, faster metabolisms, and hotter core body temperatures. They show up as reds and oranges in thermal vision."
Hobbs got up, rolled her mechanical ankle around in its socket and went over to him. She stood over the blueprints. "I've incorporated this into the designs. It's basically a hermetically sealed antechamber that you step into before you get into the base proper." She pointed to the air ducts detailed into the image, and what looked to be blobs around the ceiling of the chamber. "Powerful UV lighting and gas pumps keeping the air saturated with silver compounds, so a vampire would burn and a werewolf would choke in there long before they get in. And of course heat signature detection so that anyone not registering as having a human heat signature is locked out and the security protocols activate."
She sank back down onto the foot of his bed again, wondering why the hell he hadn't yet buttoned up his shirt. "For hunters," she continued, "a multi-layered security system consisting of voice recognition, retinal ID scans, thumbprint access - gel, I might add, so it can't be faked - facial recognition software and password code entry. Hunters have to enter at least three of these to gain access to the base. Obviously, doing all five would be overkill and I think getting everyone to agree to a complete database of voice recordings, retinal scans and thumbprints is going to be impossible. Some people are pretty defensive about people taking records of them."
Oh yeah, bitches. Who deserved a raise? She did!
On the outside, she was calm, looking at him with a small smirk and a totally deserved air of accomplishment.
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Post by Vaughn Logan on Aug 15, 2012 4:17:40 GMT -5
((I didn't write as much as i'd like to. I was occupied in a funny skype call xD))
Vaughn leaned back onto his desk with his arms and legs crossed and watched Hobbs as she explained everything to him. She liked being right, and didn't let back on anything Vaughn said. When she could she seemed to knit pick at everything he said and didn't let up. It was as if she found it fun to prove him wrong. Or maybe she enjoyed the attention. Or she may even have a low self-concept of herself, and prided on being right. Whatever the case Vaughn didn't care. It was no skin off of his back that she acted the way she did. Some people were more difficult.
"Hobbs," He said after she finished. "It's alright. If that's how it's going to be then that's the most I can ask for. As long as you follow my orders and have my back like you said, then I'm fine with it. About the meeting I mean disrespecting me in front of everyone. That's fine if you have differences, or points you want to bring up, but I don't appreciate being talked down to. I believe I made some valid points, it's up to you if you didn't listen to them. But honestly I don't want an argument. This isn't about our differences, this is about your recent tech work."
Why did Hobbs make him out to be a bad person? He had no intent on having the x-rays be so extreme and prevalent that it would cause cancer. But whatever. As he stated earlier he didn't care.
"Heat signatures you say? I remember that being mentioned before by my father." The Lycans and Vampires no doubt already knew they could be traced by heat signatures.
Vaughn then sat up when Hobbs starting to talk about the added security measures that had been added to the Compound. They were good, he was proud that she was making good use of her time. He knew she would have anyway. But knowing it still gave him a good outlook on her.
"Good work as always Hobbes. I'll work as fast as I can to get the supplies in for you. This place will be pretty hard to break into thanks to your security advancements. Again, thanks."
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Words: 375
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Post by Hazel 'Hobbs' Yeung on Aug 15, 2012 10:32:32 GMT -5
"Pointing out people's mistakes ensures that they won't make the same one again." Hobbs threw her hands up in some open-palmed gesture of goodwill. "And I just think you're making a big one with the whole 'don't hunt immortals' thing right now, so forgive me for digging my heels in." She would've continued. She should've continued. She should have pressed on with the matter and tried to make him understand just how reckless, how stupid she thought his plan was. She should've told him how many casualties she'd estimated. But Hobbs knew that he was just as stubborn as she was. Even if she laid out a beautifully planned, poignant, heart-wrenching argument, he wouldn't hear it. He could take the hunters in any route he wanted, but if it ended in destruction Hobbs was ready to jump out of the ride at any moment. Just a shame she wouldn't be able to take anyone else with her.
He thanked her again for the work, but Hobbs said nothing. She'd spent the last week working non-stop on the bolts, the plans, and the crossbow, and she was used to getting a single 'thanks' for her hours of hard work. It didn't get her down. The techie never gets praise. So even if he didn't realise how much she'd put into it, she did, and she knew she deserved a few days off work to chill out. And heaven forbid anyone want her to do anything else for them. I mean, although that was her job, sometimes enough is enough for a while, y'know?
"Hey, you know that big stack of records you talked about burning at the meeting?" Hobbs asked him. "You do realise that there's a digital copy on the systems, right? And if you're as diligent as I am you'd have made a backup copy for yourself before doing anything like deleting the digitals. So all that stuff you said about having a fresh start was just bullshit, wasn't it."
Hobbs snorted a laugh. "Cute idea, though. I bet everyone bought it." She eyed him quietly for a moment, before adding, "And, just curious about the records, but how much do you know about me?" She'd been meaning to ask him since that night at the gym, and bringing up the topic in front of everyone at the meeting wasn't ideal. Now could be the best chance she'd ever get to find out what he had on her.
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Post by Vaughn Logan on Aug 16, 2012 4:17:30 GMT -5
"Until a war breaks out and innocents are hurt, thats the way it's going to be. I respect your opinion Hobbs, and it's a good one. But please, try to trust me." He looked down and noticed his shirt was unbuttoned still. Hobbs had come in while he was in the middle of changing his clothes. Vaughn took off his shirt and walked over to his dresser, searching for another one.
"I don't have the backups anymore Hobbs. All I have left are pictures of each person with their name, that's all. I literally have nothing left." She then asked him what he remembered from her record. He grabbed a dark brown shirt and spoke before putting it on. "I know about your happenings in Afganistan, and your first encounter with the immortals. Other than that I don't quite remember. I've been trying to forget since It's not necessary information anyway. The past doesn't matter, all I care about is the person in front of me. You get your jobs done, that's all I could ask for."
Vaughn pulled the shirt over him and put on his boots, looking over at Hobbs. "So, interested in going on a hunt with me? Maybe then I can prove myself to you." It didn't take long for him to let out a small laugh, since he was kidding and just pulling her leg (she only had one good one).
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Words: 239
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Post by Hazel 'Hobbs' Yeung on Aug 16, 2012 8:23:08 GMT -5
So, not entirely the whole kit and caboodle, but he knew enough. She'd doubted her police records would be on there, and there was no need to record what university she went to or what subject she did; that much was fairly obvious from her tech expertise today. But her military records? They lapped that shit right up here. Soldiers were praised for their training and Hobbs didn't want to be a part of that.
She watched him remove his shirt and put another one on. He'd only just put on the first, was he that fussy about his fashion ? Afraid the colour didn't bring out his eyes?
"Well, if you do ever want to know what someone's deal is, you now know who has backups," she said, rolling her shoulders around in their sockets. Hobbs didn't believe in deleting files. Everything, if kept, could be useful, as backups, reminders, progress tracking. Especially with information as valuable as personal records, she was glad she made copies before Logan wiped the lot. She stretched, stood up. "Oh, and if you let that information about me slip, it'll be you I'll start hunting."
She swiped up her thermal glasses again, stuck them along with her hands into her pockets, and walked towards the door. She opened it, stuck one foot out, and then paused in the doorway. She looked back at him. "Have you ever been to war, chief?" She meant real war, not whatever pseudo-conflict this thing with the immortals was. Had he ever been to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel or Palestine? Did he have any idea how this could end if he wasn't careful?
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Post by Vaughn Logan on Aug 16, 2012 20:57:44 GMT -5
He didn't know if he liked the idea of her having backups. He got rid of them for a reason. But he supposed it couldn't hurt, especially in case of an intense situation. Plus, removing them from his computer just meant that he wouldn't be tempted to read up on somebody. If he needed to he could always access the Compound database and get them directly from Hobbs. But that would take more work and time, time that Vaughn didn't necessarily have anymore. With all of the work he had to do to get the Compound ready for a potential war, he didn't get much time to think, sleep, or eat. The only real food he's had in the past few days is a pie from a diner. Despite it being a delicious pie, it wasn't healthy nor appropriate for one's health or diet. Perhaps there was some healthy aspect to it considering the pies he had been eaten were apple, blueberry, or some other form of fruit--But then again with all the sugars, syrup, and other preservatives it was probably safe to say that it wasn't healthy at all.
Vaughn could feel his stomach grumble from the thought of the pies. He couldn't remember the last time he had a REAL home cooked meal. Then again with being a Hunter (let alone a Commander), having a home cooked meal wasn't a luxury he could afford.
"Good to know Hobbs, thanks for the tip," He watched her get up and start to get towards the door before she turned and spoke again. A grin ran up his face as he replied, "Now we wouldn't want that." Perhaps he had found out Hobbs' style, and how to communicate with her compared to other people.
His thoughts came to a complete halt when she asked him if he had ever been to war. He had often thought about it, but instead was pushed by his father to go to college and get a degree. Vaughn knew his father had served, and didn't want that life for his son. Although Vaughn was drilled and trained in similar techniques to prepare him for becoming a hunter--His father was a little paranoid like that. Vaughn still had a childhood, but he had a different life than most. One that drove most of the women in his life away. Perhaps it was for the best, Vaughn thought. He knew that having a woman might just become a distraction and get in the way.
"No Hobbs, I haven't. But I'm doing what I can to prepare ourselves if the Lycans and Vampires end up going to war. We don't have the space to house lots of people from the city." He had never thought of the realization of it, but he was right. If the Lycans and Vampires did end up going to war, the citizens would undoubtedly be involved. Despite all he could do, they simply couldn't house every single civilian in the Compound while trying to maintain the troops. It just simply could not be done. Right now, it was that simple fact that gave him a chill up his spine. And perhaps a glimpse of what is to come.
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Words: 540
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