Ranger
Chapter 179: Playing
By Wanderer D
"Look, I might be the Communications Officer for XCOM now, but I did grow up with a fashion designer-turned involuntary mutant assassin, turned involuntary ADVENT bodyguard," Sweetie said to Sunset. "Not to mention high-end coverage of similar events as the one you're attending, and I'm telling you right now, this is what bratty young women wear these days to expensive parties."
Sunset looked down at her three-piece suit. "Whatever happened to frilly dresses with huge feathered hats or hilariously inadequate materials? I want to make a statement, dammit!"
"While you have the brat down, I still can't get you a meat dress like Lady Gaga's from about thirty years ago, okay?" Sweetie said, "So you'll have to make do with modern sensibilities."
"Meat dress? Seriously?"
Sweetie shrugged. "Don't ask. My sister secretly thought it was fantastic. She tried to remake it in her Anarchy Room."
Sunset gave her a look. "The what now?"
"Nothing. Trade secret. In any case, since you're dying your hair fully black, we can do a black and white combination like this one, with the ADVENT button in yellow," Sweetie said, "or we can try the all red single piece."
Sunset looked at the mannequin wearing the red "dress". "You understand that that leaves most of my chest, belly and literally down to just above my pelvis completely exposed on the front."
"It's a bit revealing, true, but the back and sides are well covered! It's classy as hell for ADVENT. Definitely something a young, up and coming lady of power and sensibility would use!"
"I suppose I could let people know whether I shave or not, but somehow, I don't think Bradford would be too comfortable with this one."
"Oh, come on, your dad will love it."
"He's not my dad in this universe."
"Whatever you want to call him then," Sweetie replied with a shit-eating grin.
Sunset rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"So, do you want to try the Miranda Special or not?"
"The what now?"
Sweetie shrugged. "That's what the Commander called it. She's the one that came up with the design, and I have to admit, the look is perfect."
"Slutty, yet slightly composed. Definitely ADVENT-Fascist Haute Couture."
"It's not that bad, I'm sure it'll hug your figure just fine."
"It's not the dress hugging me while wearing it that gives me the creeps."
"Look, no one would expect The Blood Witch to be wearing that. Can you imagine their faces when you pull out a sword and chop down a muton while wearing that?"
"Alright, I have to ask, where exactly would I hide a sword in such a way that people wouldn't notice it, while I'm wearing that?"
Sweetie blinked, then blushed. "I-I'm sure I don't know!"
"Right."
"Look, it's just what it is. You're not an average citizen. You're the daughter of—what by ADVENT standards is—a man in a position of a lot of power. A noble of the human species, so to speak. So you're taking it, and that's final."
Sunset sighed, glaring at the dress. "Fine. But only because it'll be worth it to see Bradford chew you and Chrysalis out for even making such a thing."
Sweetie smirked. "I'll take all victories, however small they are."
That night...
The Skyranger landed in the outskirts of the city of Innsmouth, a turn-of-the-century kind of town that had somehow managed to survive the conversion process that ADVENT had forced onto the rest of the world.
It had taken Rainbow Dash some effort to find a good place to land in the swampy area, and the constant yellowish fog hadn't helped much with visibility. It had taken some doing before she had been convinced that her precious plane would not sink into the murky waters.
"Alright people," Central said, meeting the eyes of team Menace. "We are meeting our contact in the town proper, but even if ADVENT hasn't rebuilt the city, it doesn't mean they're not active at all.
"We're moving in fast, but we cannot be spotted by any enemies." He turned to Sunset. "Make sure to let us know if anyone is approaching."
"Yes, sir!"
Bradford nodded. "Laetitia and Jane are both to meet their contact in the downtown, while Sunset, Elena and I meet with ours."
"I still do not like playing the role of your wife, Central," Elena growled, shouldering her bag.
"Aww, don't get angry at daddy, mom," Sunset said with a grin.
Elena glared at her.
"Sunset," Bradford growled, "don't antagonize… my wife."
"Right. Sorry dad."
"Hey, guys," Rainbow Dash called from the cockpit, "how about you get going before an ADVENT patrol notices us? Or even better, before the Skyranger sinks in this mud?"
"Right."
Bradford motioned to the others to follow. As soon as they were down the ramp and a few meters away from the Skyranger, Rainbow Dash took off.
The group started marching towards the lights of the small city.
"I expect, Mr. Wittbecker, that there will be… appropriate entertainment at your event for someone such as I."
Liam Wittbecker worked his hands together as he bowed deferentially to his guest. "O-of course sir. Only the best for my guests, and for one such as yourself, we will go beyond anything we've done before."
He watched as the tall alien walked around his library, stopping to study the large collection of ancient texts he had on his wall.
"Do I scare you, Mr. Wittbecker?"
"O-of course not, sir… you inspire me. I feel nothing but the greatest admiration—"
The alien laughed, a deep, rumbling, threatening half-growl. "You're lying, Wittbecker. I can feel your jealousy… taste it. Your father was an acquaintance of mine, if you recall, and he felt the same way. Despite everything I taught him."
Liam looked away, his hands shaking. "I-I know."
"I taught him all he knew. All he taught you."
"I know."
"Did I not gift you even more texts? Did I not save your family's quaint little town from the Elder's destruction?"
"We have served the Elders for centuries! They would have never—"
"They would have. Just as they destroyed the other families. But I stopped them, because like you, your father was jealous… but loyal."
"R-right."
"Entertain me well, Mr. Wittbecker, and I will grant you more of the Elder's secret knowledge. Knowledge that only two more know about."
Liam's eyes were wide. "Y-you mean?"
"Yes," the Warlock said, a serrated grin spreading across his face. "I will make sure you ascend. As promised."
o.0.o End Chapter 179 o.0.o
Welp, this mission is going to be a slaughter. Everyone dies, Chrysalis will just have to recruit new people to replace Sunset and the others. Luckily she has a backup Equestrian coming home soon.
Innsmouth, huh? I can't say I like the look of the residents. There's something fishy about this town...
This chapter made me laugh a lot. Sunset's fashion sense clashing with ADVENT sensibilities.
Apparently Rarity designed the Anarchy's Children outfits. That makes so much sense.
Elena is the mom. I wish I had not been drinking when I read that. I hope my keyboard can recover from tea spritz. And Bradford seems as comfortable with this cover as expected.
As we finally get the Warlock introduced in person via an exchange the target. This mission is going to get complicated...
I see what you did there
Innsmouth? Wittbecker? Elder secret knowledge? Well, I guess we're in the Mythos now. Good they have their own monster then, else I wouldn't put much stock in XCOM's survival
"That you understand that that leaves most"
"You understand that that leaves most"?
"design, and and I have"
"design, and I have"?
"had forced into the rest of the world"
"had forced onto the rest of the world"?
Only thing missing is the Hunter to join the party. It's such a shame that you never meet more than one at a time in the campaign. Could make for some crazy situations.
So, does that mean that Chrysalis likes to dress up her soldiers just as much as XCOM 2 players do?
Edit: Wait, if she wears something that is revealing in the front, won't that reveal her gem if she has one?
So we have Sunset, Jane, Central, and Luna vs. the Warlock and a ton of advent.
Innsmouth, sounds like a charming little town. I'm sure nothing will go wrong.
If Sunset is in a dress that... Daring, just where is her gem?!? You can't hide that in that dress, it's just not possible. Unless she is wearing a necklace or she can retract the thing inside her? Or did she put a glammer or on it?
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Well, if there ever was a time to bust out some references to the OG X-Com’s sequel “Terror From the Deep”, the next few chapters would be appropriate.... and just I’m time for Halloween too!
Blood witches, Advent, and Deep Ones, oh my!!!
There is so many things that can go wrong its looking like the Kremlin on flag day.
It doesn't go that low.
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The gem can go the same place she hides the sword.
"That you understand that that leaves most of my chest, belly and literally down to just above my pelvis completely exposed on the front."
Sunset doesn't have any scars from any of her near death experiences?
Something tells me the second the warlock notices sunsets magic or Laetitia's psionics things are going to get interesting. Lets see what kind of character he'll be. The type to notice and set up a trap or the type that hates facades and will face them head on. I expect the former tbh.
Bradford the dad, Elena the mom, and Sunset the bratty child. The perfect dysfunctional family may I say.
So we will finally met the Warlock. Things already gone to the gutter before starting.
The warlock has shown his face...well this op is going to be hell in a hand basket. What else could go wrong?
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I thought of that too, but I think the Blood Magic grants healing to the degree that it's not a problem. I think it was mentioned in one of the earlier chapters, around when Laetitia was introduced to care for Sunset.
Oh, he'll be entertained, for sure...
Is this gonna get cthulian?
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why do i get the feeling someone else will crash the party that's not xcom?
I had to take a moment and picture this for a second. Trying to picture Outrider in anything but her coat and mask was difficult. Well worth it though, because I had to force down the laughter at seeing her in a dress and calling Bradford ‘honey’.
This can’t be anyone but Sombra. Doesn’t fit Tirek or Discord, and he just FITS the Warlock so well.
So, Innsmouth... Looks like Menace is in some deep trouble now.
9239934 Fixed!
Heh. This is shaping up to be a lot of creepy fun. I don't like horror, in general, but I'm looking forward to seeing first the variety of embarrassing antics in the party, and then seeing how it all goes downhill in a range of disturbing ways.
I understood that reference.
Also, nice to see Sweetie adapt to her role enough to snark about it.
The forecast seems overcast, so expect some shadows over Innsmouth. I'm sure most of them are only clouds. Most.
In any case, between the disguises, the Warlock, the Deep Ones, and a neckline that doesn't plunge so much as it spelunks, this is sure to be a mission to remember.
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Google told me that's from the Citadel DLC. I haven't played that yet, so thanks for the reference image. I started playing Mass Effect again from the first game because of your stories and a few others, and I think that DLC comes with EA Access (playing on Xbox), so I'll get to it eventually.
Great chapter as always, though I am wondering if a mission type mod could be made to simulate VIP capture or kill like this and is taking place inside a building with your operative wearing tuxes and dresses. Reinforcement or weapon/equipment drop can be selected would be a cool feature.
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Now all we need to know is if the Warlock is Sombra, Tirek or Discord.
The horns kind of imply Tirek, and it would fit, so we have at least some glimpses into his character. Sombra never had enough of a presence to have a character assigned and Discord... well possible, but doubtful.
Good to see some inclusion of cthulian horror with a splash of terror from the deeps. So long as we don't see any Lobstermen at least.
This went end well for both sides. And Sunset's comment about the clothing, priceless! Anarchy's Children do look cool, but impractical in protection.
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Wow, I see what Sunset means about demonstrating to everyone that she shaves.
Considering, that to the Elder's, Humans are lower than scum, and barely worthy of being experimented on, ascending in this case could mean any thing.
From lift you up by your throat to place you on a hook, to hideously mutate you till you can do something useful. That's an easy promise to keep. ....
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Don't say that, Now there will be Archon Waiters And Muton Doormen all dressed up.
Edit: Is there an Xcom Formal wear Mod out there?
And then everyone lived happily ever after!
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And Vipers are there for "entertainment" if you know what I mean.
I'm getting the feeling more and more that the Elders are just patsys for Sombra.
So the traditional sword added in from Tactical Legacy is...an oversized kukri knife.
Well that's one reason to revisit the "machete" joke.
Misplaced quotation mark, you know where.
I have a dreadful feeling that Innsmouth is going to feel like Newfoundland this evening.
As soon as I saw the word "Innsmouth", I sighed. I've heard enough Lovecraft stories to know where this is going, and it's nowhere good. Thankfully everyone brought their oversized fish craving knives.
Well this is going to be a fun party, throw in a (Former) Nazi Ghost Rider and your set
The Warlock and his allies are recruiting i see...
Bloody hell, at least this one knows loyalty is very valuable