A New Pilot Enters the Field (Benjamin rp 1)
Nov 22, 2019 9:29:36 GMT -5
Dave D-Flipz and Abdul bin Hussain like this
Post by vastrix on Nov 22, 2019 9:29:36 GMT -5
In a small Texas border town with Oklahoma, Benjamin Phillips sits in a pub in the shadow of the wall. He’s been playing cards for the last few hours and raking in the cash from all comers, despite his usual luck. The pub is crowded, smokey, and dingy. Benjamin sits back in his chair with a cigar in his mouth as he looks at his latest hand.
Unlike the other hands he’s had, it’s not a winning hand. Well, he has a pair of Aces but that’s about it. Two out of the other three players have folded to his bluff and the one remaining player in is a Corporate stooge from some big company that helped rebuild Mexico City into a shining beacon of technology.
Benjamin swallows, putting in a larger bet. He’s hoping to bluff the Corporate man out of his hand as he’s put in more than what the man can afford. The Corporate man smiles and tosses a data spike into the pot.
CORPORATE: You win the hand, you can have the critter that data spike goes to.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: You’ll forgive me if I take a look at the stats before I dive into this.
The Corporate man motions to the spike that Benjamin reaches for. He splits it into the access port in the back of his neck and looks on in awe at the massive creature described. Part elephant, part tiger, part Black Mamba, and maybe even a bit of human in there? It was an expensive critter to say the very least. The Corporate goon must have a good hand in order to risk Corporate property like that.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: Welp, it’s only money. Show ‘em.
The Corporate man turns over his hand. He’s got a King, but nothing else going for him. Did he just try to bluff Benjamin? Ben can’t hide his excitement when he reveals his pair of Aces to win the pot. The Corporate man seems sad, but smiles good naturedly about his loss.
CORPORATE: Shame about the hand, but I’m sure you’ll be a good fit for him. Shall I take you to him or you want to keep playing?
Benjamin looks to the other two players who call it a night right then and there. Benjamin takes a drag off of his cigar and stubs it out before finishing off a mug of cold beer. He stands up with a laugh.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: These fuckers cut out on me and you look to be fresh out of cash. Let’s do this shit. Maybe I can make some money in the gladiatorial pits with this beast.
CORPORATE: Oh I bet you can. I bet you can. Let me get ahold of my driver.
The Corporate stooge sends a text message, gets up and heads to the front entrance. Benjamin collects his winnings and follows. He sees an armored limousine pull up and the Corporate stooge gets into the back. Benjamin follows him into the car where the Corporate stooge immediately pours a pair of whiskeys.
CORPORATE: Driver. Take us to it.
The limo takes off as Benjamin takes his first sip of whiskey. He smiles at the Corporate man.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: I never got your name.
CORPORATE: I never gave it. It’s Kyle Streaker.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: So I’ll be linked to this...Sharsho...cybernetically? I’ll do what I want it to do in the fighting pits?
KYLE STREAKER: That’s the whole idea of the Warforged. You gain a critter, you control it in the circle to try to defeat the other critter. It’s like playing a video game, but with live creatures.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: And people can bet on the outcomes of these fights? I mean, I won a lot of money tonight, but I owe a fair bit more.
Kyle smiles wide like what Benjamin has just said was the most interesting thing in the entire world.
KYLE STREAKER: Oh course! There’s a thriving gamblers’ community where it concerns the battles of the Warforged.
They come up to a large building that has a massive field with a electric fence surrounding it. That’s when Benjamin sees part of the creature that he will be controlling in future fights. Nearly fifteen feet tall and weighing as much as a bull elephant, the creature is impressive in life. It strikes a rabbit with its mouth on the end of a long trunk, watching as it dies quickly before swallowing the rabbit whole.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: That’s what mine now, eh? Impressive. When will I get my first fight?
Kyle Streaker pulls a data spike out of his pocket with a grin.
KYLE STREAKER: Funny you should mention that. We’ve an opponent lined up for you already. Angel Reed and her creature, Dema.
Benjamin narrows his eyes, taking the data spike. This is seeming less and less like a win at a poker game and more like a set up. His instincts from serving his years in the Texas militia are screaming at him to get out the limo and run, but the gambler in him screams even louder that this is a “sure thing”. He slots the data spike and frowns.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: This is what my Sharsho will be facing? Six and a half tons of fighting muscle against a two hundred pound nothing? It’ll be like me fighting a fly! This Angel looks like a model missing a runway. This Dema looks like she should be fighting for her rights as a citizen rather than a creature. Who am I to judge though?
The limo pulls over in front of the building and the driver opens the door for Ben Phillips and Kyle Streaker. Benjamin pockets the data spike on his opponent and exits the limo right behind Streaker.
KYLE STREAKER: I’m sure you’ll do marvelously. Let’s get you in and jacked in to Sharsho so you can feel him out. Get to know what he can do with a pilot.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: Well? Can’t get any worse.
Benjamin heads into the building while Kyle hangs backs a little and gets on the phone.
KYLE STREAKER: The new pilot is in. He owes too much money to say no.
Unlike the other hands he’s had, it’s not a winning hand. Well, he has a pair of Aces but that’s about it. Two out of the other three players have folded to his bluff and the one remaining player in is a Corporate stooge from some big company that helped rebuild Mexico City into a shining beacon of technology.
Benjamin swallows, putting in a larger bet. He’s hoping to bluff the Corporate man out of his hand as he’s put in more than what the man can afford. The Corporate man smiles and tosses a data spike into the pot.
CORPORATE: You win the hand, you can have the critter that data spike goes to.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: You’ll forgive me if I take a look at the stats before I dive into this.
The Corporate man motions to the spike that Benjamin reaches for. He splits it into the access port in the back of his neck and looks on in awe at the massive creature described. Part elephant, part tiger, part Black Mamba, and maybe even a bit of human in there? It was an expensive critter to say the very least. The Corporate goon must have a good hand in order to risk Corporate property like that.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: Welp, it’s only money. Show ‘em.
The Corporate man turns over his hand. He’s got a King, but nothing else going for him. Did he just try to bluff Benjamin? Ben can’t hide his excitement when he reveals his pair of Aces to win the pot. The Corporate man seems sad, but smiles good naturedly about his loss.
CORPORATE: Shame about the hand, but I’m sure you’ll be a good fit for him. Shall I take you to him or you want to keep playing?
Benjamin looks to the other two players who call it a night right then and there. Benjamin takes a drag off of his cigar and stubs it out before finishing off a mug of cold beer. He stands up with a laugh.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: These fuckers cut out on me and you look to be fresh out of cash. Let’s do this shit. Maybe I can make some money in the gladiatorial pits with this beast.
CORPORATE: Oh I bet you can. I bet you can. Let me get ahold of my driver.
The Corporate stooge sends a text message, gets up and heads to the front entrance. Benjamin collects his winnings and follows. He sees an armored limousine pull up and the Corporate stooge gets into the back. Benjamin follows him into the car where the Corporate stooge immediately pours a pair of whiskeys.
CORPORATE: Driver. Take us to it.
The limo takes off as Benjamin takes his first sip of whiskey. He smiles at the Corporate man.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: I never got your name.
CORPORATE: I never gave it. It’s Kyle Streaker.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: So I’ll be linked to this...Sharsho...cybernetically? I’ll do what I want it to do in the fighting pits?
KYLE STREAKER: That’s the whole idea of the Warforged. You gain a critter, you control it in the circle to try to defeat the other critter. It’s like playing a video game, but with live creatures.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: And people can bet on the outcomes of these fights? I mean, I won a lot of money tonight, but I owe a fair bit more.
Kyle smiles wide like what Benjamin has just said was the most interesting thing in the entire world.
KYLE STREAKER: Oh course! There’s a thriving gamblers’ community where it concerns the battles of the Warforged.
They come up to a large building that has a massive field with a electric fence surrounding it. That’s when Benjamin sees part of the creature that he will be controlling in future fights. Nearly fifteen feet tall and weighing as much as a bull elephant, the creature is impressive in life. It strikes a rabbit with its mouth on the end of a long trunk, watching as it dies quickly before swallowing the rabbit whole.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: That’s what mine now, eh? Impressive. When will I get my first fight?
Kyle Streaker pulls a data spike out of his pocket with a grin.
KYLE STREAKER: Funny you should mention that. We’ve an opponent lined up for you already. Angel Reed and her creature, Dema.
Benjamin narrows his eyes, taking the data spike. This is seeming less and less like a win at a poker game and more like a set up. His instincts from serving his years in the Texas militia are screaming at him to get out the limo and run, but the gambler in him screams even louder that this is a “sure thing”. He slots the data spike and frowns.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: This is what my Sharsho will be facing? Six and a half tons of fighting muscle against a two hundred pound nothing? It’ll be like me fighting a fly! This Angel looks like a model missing a runway. This Dema looks like she should be fighting for her rights as a citizen rather than a creature. Who am I to judge though?
The limo pulls over in front of the building and the driver opens the door for Ben Phillips and Kyle Streaker. Benjamin pockets the data spike on his opponent and exits the limo right behind Streaker.
KYLE STREAKER: I’m sure you’ll do marvelously. Let’s get you in and jacked in to Sharsho so you can feel him out. Get to know what he can do with a pilot.
BENJAMIN PHILLIPS: Well? Can’t get any worse.
Benjamin heads into the building while Kyle hangs backs a little and gets on the phone.
KYLE STREAKER: The new pilot is in. He owes too much money to say no.