RP XSDF Roleplay Thread: Vanguard of Forseti

[MarineAvenger]

Love and Regret Part Two

Mark’s face fell slightly and he closed his eyes. She is really going to force me on this, isn’t she? He asked to himself mentally, Mark opening his eyes and getting up, going over to the bed and sitting down next to Tabitha. “Fine… if you really want, I will allow you… to do what you want...” He told her. “Just… make it quick.”

“I’m not going to make you do something you don’t want to do,” Tabitha looked aside, “I just thought it would be nice.”

“Sorry, I just am not that comfortable with this sort of stuff than others are.” Mark turned his own head.

“It’s okay, you can take your time. I can live without it.”

This is the perfect chance to study Tamearin psionics, though... Or would you prefer I make it known that you may be unwilling to satisfy your girlfriend's needs? Vindicta’s words ranged in Mark’s head, causing the scientist grumble. He turned his head and put his hand behind Tabitha’s neck, turning her and planting a firm kiss on her lips.

Tabitha squeaked a bit in surprise as she was kissed. Feeling a surge of emotions, she clasped both of her arms around him and tried to nudge his lips apart, escalating the kiss by a few degrees.

Mark was resistant at first, but finally allowed, knowing he had already made his decision. Mark pressed with his own passion, not allowing Tabitha to be in full control.

After several seconds, Tabitha drifted back a bit and broke off the kiss. She gave an earnest smile towards him, still trembling a bit with excitement. “Wasn’t so bad...right?”

“No… it wasn’t.” Mark admitted, looking away, though it wasn’t from embarrassment.

Tabitha scooted back a bit, and grabbed his hand. “Thank you,” she said with a smile.

Mark continued to look down and after a while he closed his eyes. “Tabitha… I need to be honest with you, I didn’t agree for tonight just… so we would be together…”

“What do you mean?”

“Unfortunately, my sister has saw fit to get involved with my private life, and has strong armed me into this. She… she wants you to partake in her psionic testing.” He told her bluntly. “She would have done something rather unsavory if I didn’t agree, and that is why I agreed to meet you.”

“Are you saying...you didn’t want to spend time with me?” Tabitha’s face fell, and she let go of his hand to scoot back again. “You don’t want to spend time with me?”

”N-No, that isn’t…” Mark sighed and he rubbed his eyes. “Damn that woman…” He mumbled. “I do want to spend time with you Tabitha, but I either don’t have the time because I throw myself into my work, or I am just not confident enough to go to you. I am not a man for romance, Tabitha… I never have been…”

“I never asked for more from you, I knew you were busy but I didn’t care because I actually was happy to be around you.” Tabitha became noticeably more closed off, and her skin began to flush into a noticeable purple. “I don’t know what to say…”

“I guess you don’t have to say anything, but I obviously do.” He affirmed to her, standing up. “I’m sorry, for trying to use our relationship for someone else’s gain.” Mark walked over and grabbed his coat, going for the door.

“Would you have ever dated me in the first place, without that?” Tabitha asked timidly. “Not...would you have the bravery to ask me, but would you if I asked you?”

Mark stopped himself as he reached for the door, lowering his head and letting his arm fall. “Of course I would have…” He muttered in a low tone, only for himself to hear. “I don’t know.” He stated loudly, reaching back out for the door and opening it. She doesn’t deserve this… but she also doesn’t deserve someone like me… Mark stepped outside and closed the door, standing there for a few moments, leaning back against the door.

Tabitha’s hair began to shift to blue as the door closed, and she scrunched into a ball against the back of her bed. As she felt the urge to cry, she quickly grabbed her hair from behind and threw it in front of her face, trying to hide it in case her roommate returned.

Mark stood there, looking down at the floor for what seemed like forever, sighing as he reached down and putting his hand down his shirt, taking out a leather necklace with the symbol of his mother’s close advisor. I am so confused… I don’t want to be forced to use her, but I also don’t want to let her go. I know if I walk away, I will never see her again but is this really for the best…?

Mark’s hand squeezed around the pendant as he closed his eyes and shook his head, putting the piece of jewelry back under his shirt and turning around, knocking on the door.

“What?” Tabitha shouted.

Mark felt a tang of guilt, and he opened the door, walking in and shutting it slowly, turning around and throwing his coat to the side, the scientist walking forward and sitting on Tabitha’s bed, just looking at her with an apprehensive look.

Tabitha stayed quiet for a few moments, then peeked out from underneath her hair. “Just...give me time…”

Mark continued to remain silent, but he crawled up farther on the bed, sitting next to Tabitha and looking down. He looked at his hand, and then looked to the girl next to him, reaching out and putting an arm around her, pulling her close and stroking her hair with his other hand.

She enjoyed the contact for a moment, but then began to pull away again. “It’s not over. Just please, just let me process this…”

“I wasn’t… I didn’t…” Mark gritted his teeth and he said, “I do love you Tabitha. If you had asked me a hundred more times, the answer would always be the same… I just… don’t want you to be hurt by being with me… I’m afraid that I’m not the right one for you…” He told her honestly, his cold demeanor from before having melted away.

“You don’t have to be afraid for me, Mark,” she asserted, the words coming out of her in a quick forceful breath. She pushed the hair from her face and fixed him with a stern look. “I can figure it out for myself, I wouldn’t come to see you if you were hurtful or you weren’t right.”

Mark looked at the Tamearin girl for a few moments, his face a little surprised, but it wasn’t long until he smiled. “You’re better to me than I deserve…” He told her, his body beginning to shake a bit from sadness. “I’m sorry…”

Tabitha nodded a bit, silently accepting the apology. She fidgeted a bit, unused to being assertive. “I think you should tell me everything about this, from the top.”

Mark involuntarily chuckled, wiping his eyes. “You’re really going to force me on this, aren’t you?” He asked, Mark taking up a soft smile and nodding his head.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
Betrayal: Part One

Cayden sat at the back of the bar, a bottle of whiskey sitting on the table half gone, a shot glass sitting in front of him filled with the brownish liquid. Cayden looked down at his arms, small patches of red still there that was the result of what he had done on the mission. I still don't know what exactly I did... but it was definitely the same as what happened in Brazil. With a sigh, Cayden down another drink, still not really feeling the effects of the alcohol. "Had to be the one thing that bastard passed down to me..." He grumbled, just sitting back and turning up the volume on his music player, listening to just some smooth country.

Without a word, a familiar red-headed Tamearin slipped into the seat across from Cayden. Unlike her usual angry or, when around Cayden, flirtatious expression, Korra had a look of concern as she searched for something to say in the wake of such a horrid battle. At first he didn't notice the Tamearin, but he finally did, he took the earbuds out of his ears and poured himself another glass. "Hey." He simply said to here, downing the shot.

"Hey." Korra tapped her fingers against the table. "I, um... O-O'Brien... asked me to see if you were okay while she talked to Mikhail and Sasha. I... not that she had to." The bartender walked over and Korra simply pointed to Cayden's shot glass. As he walked away, Korra bit her lip and asked, "Are... you okay?"

Cayden hesitated with his answer, and he simply shook his head. "No." Cayden rolled his thumb along the rim of the shot glass. "How could I be?"

"I-I... don't know." Korra shook her head, and suddenly slammed a fist on the table, hard enough to make her rub her wrist afterward. "Damn it! What was she thinking? She knew there were two groups, one with MECs. She knew the conditions were terrible. I don't care if she didn't expect that clown guy! So many people lost! If... if it hadn't been for you, Sasha, and that CO out there, everyone would have..." She closed her eyes. "We lost... so many..."

Cayden was silent, looking down at his own hands as if they were someone else's. "That's not true Korra... if I... if I hadn't have burned myself out so quickly... we probably would have lost more..."

"What... what do you mean?" Korra asked as she took the shot glass from the bartender. "Are you talking about that reflection thing? I was wondering why you never used it before, like when we were training."

"I... I knew something like it existed, I just didn't want to believe it. It was the exact same presence I remember feeling when... I was on the mission in Brazil. I am sure it was the same thing. B-But... it felt so... so wrong. I was filled with hate, and anger, and the only thing that went through my mind was to clear the battlefield of everything..." Cayden looked up at Korra with a horrified look on his face. "It didn't matter if it was friend or foe. If that CO had been in the way... I probably would have killed her as well... I can't control him... I can't control myself."

Korra, at a loss for words, simply grabbing the whiskey and poured herself a shot. She stared down at the drink, and muttered, "You... your first instinct... was to attack the enemy. That has to count for something... right?"

"Maybe, but he was just the highest threat at the time." The image of the enemy was still ingrained in Cayden's mind. "Maybe if I had just acted sooner instead of acting like a scared child... maybe I could have helped Sasha more... maybe she wouldn't be feeling the way she is now." Cayden grabbed his head and leaned against the table.

Korra closed her eyes and shook her head, silently wishing she had more experience with this. O'Brien would know what to say. Imitating Cayden earlier, she downed the shot of whiskey. She nearly dropped the glass as her eyes went wide and she erupted into a coughing fit. "What... what is... is this punishment?"

"It's whiskey. Everyone has the same reaction their first time." Cayden told her. He poured himself another shot and did the same for Korra. "You said last time you wanted to drink together, well now we are." He said solemnly.

Korra coughed a few more times, and shook her head. "I-I did... but I was hoping they'd be under better circumstances." She dipped her head a bit. "I-I'm sorry. I was supposed to try and... make you feel better. But I'm no good at this. All... all I can say is I don't care about what you did out there. I'll stick by you through it all."

Cayden looked over to Korra and he gave a hollow smile, reaching over and touching her hand. "Your a good friend, Korra..." Cayden sighed and he added, "Hey... You remember what I told you when we first met? Well... You see..." Cayden looked down and said, "I'm finally ready..."

Korra raised an eyebrow. She poured herself another shot and through it back, her cheeks flushing as the alcohol quickly took hold. "Ready? Ready for what? If there is anything I can do to make you feel any better..."

"Korra, you haven't... Slept with anyone on the ship... Have you?" He asked, his tone almost making it sound like a statement.

Korra opened and closed her mouth, caught off guard by the question. Her cheeks reddening even more, she muttered, "Um... well, everyone's s-so afraid of... I... no, I haven't. It... has been nearly a year, a-actually."

"Well... I'm ready." Cayden told Korra, his face serious. "I will take you up on your offer from before... I need to get this stress off my shoulders and... you seem the only person who could do it. You don't have to... if you have changed your mind."

Again, Korra seemed at a loss for words. Her eyes darted up and down, as if sizing Cayden up, both in body and in tone. "Well, I... it isn't that I don't... but you seemed pretty adamant... you know, with the whole big brother thing. Are you sure it isn't the whiskey talking?"

"Korra... it is very hard for me to actually get drunk. Let's just say it is a trait I got from genetics." Cayden looked at his shot and he drank it down. "I suppose it was stupid to ask anyways... but I just thought I would try everything. Like I said, I have no one I can really turn to."

Korra quickly grabbed Cayden's hand. "No. It... it's okay." She smiled. "I... if you really want to... I'm ready too."

Cayden stared at her a few moments before he nodded his head and got up from his seat slowly. "We should probably get back to the room quickly then. We are roommates so it isn't like people will suspect us walking back together. We just have to wait till we get in to actually... do anything." Cayden left his shot of whiskey on the table and he just turned and began walking away, hoping Korra followed.

Korra got up herself, stumbling a bit as she did, the pair of shots strong against someone with a low tolerance. She quickly followed after Cayden, a bit dizzy but able to walk.

Cayden put his hands in his pockets and he looked to the floor, having pretty much gotten the layout and where he had to go down over the couple of months on the ship. He didn't know what to say to the woman following him, but he did ask, "You... do want this, right?"

Korra rubbed her arm nervously. "I... I do. It... it has just been a while, and I'm nervous. Not... what you'd expect from a woman like me, huh?"

Cayden didn't respond at first, but as they rounded a corner he said, "I honestly had no idea what to expect. Can I... can I tell you a secret?"

Korra picked up her pace a bit, wobbling a bit. "O-Of course, Cayden. What is it?"

"I-I've never actually... done this before. I mean I have a lot of knowledge on how to, I have just... never actually done any of it with a woman before." He told her.

Korra stammered a bit, having to stop herself from reaching out for Cayden. "Really? Why not. You... you seem like the guy who could have anyone you want."

"I just never had the nerve to. My only long term relationship was in high school and I just never did it. After me and my girlfriend broke up, I didn't really date after that and before I knew it I was in the Rangers. There were no women in my unit, either." He explained. "Just... never happened."

Korra smiled. "I... I've never been someone's first. I... thank you for picking me."

"Not really a lot of options to be honest... but I am glad it is you and not someone else." Cayden said as they neared the room.

Korra head fell a bit, and she rubbed her arms again. She remained silent until they reached their room, stepping into the center common area.

Cayden closed the door and he turned to Korra, letting out a deep breath. "So... I guess we are really doing this, huh?"

"Y...y-yeah." Korra shook a little as she looked at the two rooms. "W-which... room?"

"Probably mine since I doubt Mikhail will be back anytime soon, and he is my only roommate." Cayden approached Korra and he put a hand on her shoulder. "You really don't have to do this... you can back out if you want..."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
Betrayal: Part Two

Korra jumped a bit at his touch, looking to the floor. "I... I-I... I want to. I really do. But... but do you... us this just about... getting stress off your shoulder. I... I've been... used for that before..."

Cayden looked at Korra for a few moments before he had to look away, letting his hand slip away. "If I am going to be honest... yes... but you are a friend, someone I trust. I probably wouldn't have asked you otherwise." Cayden sighed and he turned to walk away. "This was a stupid idea..."

Korra considered letting him go for a moment, then rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him and pressing against his back. "It's okay. Like I said... I want to. I hope I didn't... hurt the mood."

Cayden shook his head and he turned around in her arms, putting a hand on the side of her neck. "Alright..." He leaned in for a his, using the other arm to pull the woman close.

Korra gladly accepted it, and held for a long time. When they pulled apart, she giggled a bit. "Wow, that was... that thing with your tongue. I liked it."

Cayden chuckled himself, and he reached out, holding Korra's hand. "Well... we have all the time in the world for more where that came from, the soldier only stopping to open the door. When Korra entered, he quickly threw off his shirt and went in after her.

Korra kicked off her shoes and threw off her own shirt, her apprehensions seeming to disappear as she ran a hand across Cayden's chest. "I ever tell you how... incredibly handsome you are?"

Cayden smiled. "I think a couple of times." He said, as he pulled her close, shivering a bit when her skin touched his. "And you really are beautiful..." As they got to his bed, he gently let her down, his head becoming fuzzy. Any doubts he had vanished as he progressed them further, not thinking about anything but the now. "I hope I can satisfy."

"No matter what happens... you already have," Korra half whispered, passionately kissing him.

Later that night...

Cayden pulled the covers over himself and Korra, their day of fun unfortunately having to end at some point, the soldier just staring up at the ceiling as the woman next to him laid on his arm. Cayden breathed heavily, finally having run out of energy.

Korra nestled her head against his chest, and chuckled a bit. "I thought you said you had no experience. You could have fooled me."

"Is that what a year without getting anything feels like?" Cayden asked in kind, smiling to himself. "I am surprised just how much stamina you have... you never show it in training." He teased.

"Ha ha." Korra closed her eyes and closed her eyes. "We should probably get dressed... but I really don't feel like it. Good thing I'm so far from my Sahc-diy-deuh, considering how many times..." She weakly lifted her head. "You feel any better?"

Cayden's smile faded and he sighed, pressing his head against her neck. "Thank you... for being there." He whispered, wrapping his arms around her; holding her.

The sound of the door in the common area opening made the two look towards the door, as did the sound of someone walking towards them. "It's probably Mikhail," Korra whispered. "Tell him to come back later."

Cayden groaned and he sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking at who entered, his eyes suddenly widening when he realized who he was looking at.

"Cayden, I wanted to see if..." Brigid's eyes widened as well, darting between the two before her. "I... you... I was seeing if you... were... I... y-you..."

Cayden didn't know what to say, he didn't know what to feel at the particular moment. He felt angry, he felt guilty, but most of all, he felt confused. Only one thing came to mind. "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Brigid's voice cracked as she tried to put on a serious expression, and failed miserably. "I was told you came here a while ago from the bar. I-I wanted to see if you were okay... and to apologize for the other..." She shuttered as she stared at Korra, seeming to realize for the first time who she was. "K-Korra... you... Cayden..."

Cayden didn't say anything, knowing very well only trying to deny the truth would make things worse. "Brigid." Korra sat up too, covering herself with an uncharacteristic amount of modesty. "You said you were finished with Cayden..."

"I was mad!" Brigid suddenly snapped, squeezing her fists. "But... but you knew the truth!"

"You said I was wrong!" Korra insisted. "And Cayden needed someone, so we came here to..."

"I-I don't want to hear it!" Tears fell from Brigid's eyes. "H-how... how could you?"

"Wha... what do you mean how could I?" Cayden yelled back, a little taken aback by her anger. "Last time I checked, you wanted nothing to do with me! She was there for me, and she is the one who helped me." He threw back at Brigid. "She was willing to, even though it... it was my first."

"What do you mean, your..." Brigid's eyes widened again, the tears coming faster now. "Korra, you..." She held her chest, as though she had been stabbed. "You... you knew about us. You knew... and yet you still..." She turned around, pushing the half open door aside with enough force to nearly break it.

Korra reached out. "Brigid, please! I'm sorry! I... I didn't know that it meant... I'm sorry! You weren't... supposed to..."

"And that would have made it better, you tramp!?"

Cayden got out of the bed quickly and hastily put on his clothes, storming out of the door. "What are you talking about, Brigid? There is no us, there never was an us! I was never yours to lose in the first place!"

"But I wanted you to be!" Brigid sobbed, wiping her eyes and sniffling. "It... i-i-it's all my fault, isn't it? I never told you the truth about us."

"The truth about what?" Cayden asked, not yelling but having asked in a low tone.

Brigid didn't look at him. Couldn't look at him, the pain in her chest threatening to drop her to her knees. "I... I-I cared about our friendship so much... too much to risk it by telling you... how much I truly love you."

A huge stab of guilt punched through Cayden's chest and his face showed it for a brief second, but he quickly covered it up with anger. Cayden took a step forward, yelling, "You... Y-You should have told me you idiot!" He yelled at her. "If you knew me as well as you proclaimed you thought, you should have known I would never throw away our friendship like that! I-I would have never..." Cayden balled his fist, and he turned around, throwing a small ball of fire that hit the wall and left it slightly warped with a scorch mark outlining where it hit.

Brigid lowered her head. "So... it's time for me to apologize for you screwing Korra, huh?" She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, and walked to the exit.

Cayden's face grew only more angry and he ran to the door, blocking her exit. "Your not just running away from this one, not after that!"

Brigid glared at him, her eye twitching as she reached into her side pouch. "Move... now."

Korra looked at them from the other doorway. "Brigid, please."

Cayden reached for the necklace hanging out of his shirt. "You really want to do this O'Brien?"

"Absolutely." Brigid quickly lifted her hand, Cayden catching a flash of two pills, one red and one blue, popping into her mouth. Her energy instantly started to skyrocket, small bits of electricity sparking off her as her telekinetic energy made Korra and Cayden feel heavy.

Despite the weight on him, Cayden took off his necklace and felt as his own power instantly fill him, being fueled by his majorly skewed emotions.

Do it. A voice in the back of Cayden's mind said.

No! I don't need your help, I don't ever need your help again! Cayden yelled in his mind, but nevertheless, a new energy surged within Cayden and he held out his hand, a familiar looking sphere taking shape with ease, much to Cayden's surprise on his own. "You don't want to do this, Brigid!" He yelled.

"No. You don't." The violet aura around Brigid collected over her shoulder, so dark it looked black. It took the shape of a large crow with glowing red eyes. The crow dug its claws into Brigid's shoulder, drawing blood, and screeched at Cayden. "Get... out... of my... way."

Cayden gritted his teeth, so hard he had not realized they began to grind together. Cayden rushed forward and he threw his right hand out, but before the ball of rotating energy struck Brigid, it popped like a bubble and instead, Cayden grabbed the collar of Brigid's shirt, pulling the woman towards him despite the massive surge of oppressive energy he felt and he pressed his lips against hers, despite the blood on her mouth, and he quickly pulled away. "You stupid, indecisive, Irish dumbass, I love you too! I can't let you out that door because I don't want to lose you!" He yelled, his grip on her tightening. "I slept with Korra because I was scared, and I didn't know if I could count on you or not!"

Brigid pressed her fingers to her lips on shock, looking up at Cayden as the Crow flew up behind her, joined by another, then another, then another. "Oh... god, Cayden..." Her body shook. "I'm sorry..."

Cayden pulled Brigid closer and he hugged her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I didn't sleep with Korra because I loved her... it was only a one time thing to relax, because we were both friends... I'm sorry, alright!" He yelled.

"I-I know, Cayden... I shouldn't have..." As she spoke, Brigid's voice deepened, and sounded more mature. Her eyes glazed over as the murder of crows clumped together, forming a human-shaped mass of feathers. "R... run..."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
Betrayal: Part Three

Cayden didn't let go of Brigid, holding her even more tightly. "What the hell is going on!?"

The feathers fell from the figure, revealing what appeared to be a gorgeous older woman, one nearly an inch taller then Cayden. Her nearly bare chest, only slightly bustier then Brigid herself, was only covered by a few dark purple feathers. Like the crow before, she was made of violet energy so dark it looked black, except for her intensely glowing red eyes. From her back where a set of wings, like giant crow wings.

The Reflection lifted an arm, its hand suddenly warping and growing, resembling a cross between a human hand and a bird's talon. "Release her! Now!" The Reflection yelled, her voice coming from Brigid's lips.

Another reflection? First Sasha, then me, now Brigid... just what the hell is happening to us? "I can't let her go!" He yelled back. "And I won't let her go!" Cayden yelled defiantly.

"Then you can die." The reflection flexed her hand. "I have good aim."

The reflection took a step forward, and suddenly cried out in pain, a surge of electricity slamming into her back. "Run, Cayden!" Korra ran. "Get Brigid to..." The reflection extended her arm towards Korra, lifting her by her neck with telekinesis.

Fuck it, this can't go on any longer... I need your help! Cayden yelled in his head. When there was no response, he was worried immediately. Come on, this is no time to be hiding I need your help! Once again, there was nothing, and Cayden could feel some of his power slipping.

"Damn it... I said get your ass out here... Viktor!" Cayden yelled, his surge of power immediately returning as he grabbed a hold of it and forced it back to him, a small pillar of flame rising from behind Cayden and out stepping a man who was a lot bulkier than Cayden, sharing many of his facial features wearing a black shirt and tan military fatigues, having a shaved head and knife hanging at his neck, a dark red glow surrounding him.

The once unrecognizable figure that fought alongside Cayden, the same one that had haunted Cayden for years, now stood in his full glory, ready to protect his summoner, Viktor's aura waving around him as if an organic fire. Viktor looked over himself with a smug look.

Finally...

"So... this is my true reflection..." Cayden stated, the stories his father had told him coming back to him about his long dead uncle. The soldier growled angrily and he yelled, "Don't just stand there, protect Korra!"

Viktor shifted his gaze over to the woman that seemed to be using her powers on the other and he growled, his much deeper and lasting longer as he ran at the crow woman.

Brigid's reflection turned to look at Cayden's, releasing Korra and holding up her hands. Two orbs of telekinetic force formed in them, and she grinned at Cayden. Still speaking through Brigid, she said, "You have quite the dark force trapped within you. But it will not stop me. Since you won't release her, I can either kill you or kill everyone. I know which one she'd choose." One of the orbs burst in her hand and she frowned. "I just hope you have more control over your energy then she does."

"Korra, hide!" Cayden yelled as Viktor neared Brigid's reflection, Viktor opting for just using his bare hands at the moment.

Korra nodded, holding her throat as she rushed into the other room. The reflection tossed the telekinetic orb at Viktor, shouting, "Last chance! Release her, or face a goddess's wrath!"

Viktor smiled, holding out his hand and grabbing the orb, confining it with his own telekinetic energy and shoving it towards the reflection.

The crow woman held out her hand and easily crushing it. "Very well. I would sooner kill everone here then allow you to harm my master any more." A violet tendril over energy moved from her into the other room as she prepared another, much larger attack.

"I'm not harming her, I am protecting her from you!" Cayden yelled at the crow woman, "You are the only one putting her in danger, we only were having a stupid fight."

Let me fry 'er...

"Everything is fine, you just have to go, she is in no danger!" Cayden pleaded.

"I cant, you moron." The reflection rolled her eyes. "Her energy is out of control." Korra walked out of the other room, her eyes glowing violet. She lifted her crackling hands to her head, and the reflection said, "Give Brigid the yellow pill in her pouch, or I kill this one."

"Could have just started with that." Cayden growled and he reached over and went searching in her pouch, finding the pill and forcing open Brigid's mouth, pushing it in there. "There, now release Korra!"

Korra dropped to her knees, holding her head. The reflection's feathers started to drop to the ground and dissipate. "I didn't want you to know. She released me while angry at you two, so I wanted you to release her so I could kill you. I changed my mind because of how insistent you were on protecting her."

Cayden didn't respond, but Viktor seemed to laughed in amusement, dissipating the fire in his hands and crossing his arms.

Brigid's reflection ignored Viktor, as if he wasn't even there. "I am trusting you to make this right," she said to Cayden. "She loves you, and that is the only thing that kept me from killing you outright; unlike your reflection, I am still a part of her being." She pointed at Viktor. "Keep that thing under control. It is dangerous, and it has no one's best interest in mind, not even yours." Her wings disappeared and she fell to a knee as Brigid started to lose consciousness. "Control yourself... or face... the wrath... of The Morrigan..."

Cayden grimaced as he looked down at the woman in his arms with worry. Cayden sat down and he pulled Brigid into his lap, sighing in relief as Brigid's reflection disappeared. After she was gone, Viktor grumbled. The pillar of fire flared up and like that, Cayden's reflection left as well, leaving behind a ring of soot and a messed up room.

Don't force me out again...

Cayden narrowed his eyes and he looked down again, brushing a piece of hair out of Brigid's face. "You there, Korra?" He asked without looking up.

"Y... yeah." Korra wobbled to her feet, and walked over to the other two. "S-sorry. She was too strong for me. Is O'Brien alright?"

"I don't know..." He said, looking at her with concern. 'This is all my fault... if I had only been more open minded and noticed... and I even dragged you down with me... some friend I am."

Korra reached out and placed her hand on Cayden's friend. "You forgot who you're talking to. I... I was sure Brigid had feelings for you, even if she wouldn't admit it. I can say she said I was wrong... that I thought I was wrong, but I... I shouldn't have..." She dropped her head, a few tears dropping to the ground. "I used you... as much as you used me. Maybe more. You were in a fragile state of mind. And now... I've ruined everything."

"Brigid will forgive you, Korra. She may not seem like it, but she is horrible with holding grudges against friends... and I don't hate you... you gave me a fun time, one that I won't forget. Thank you." He said, turning to look up at her.

Korra smiled faintly. "I hope you're right." She leaned forward, kissing him lightly on the cheek. She stood up, and asked, "Think we should take her to the infirmary, or just let her rest?"

"Probably keep her here. I mean... how would we explain all this." He laughed, gesturing to the mess of the room the fight had caused. Cayden rubbed his mouth and couldn't stop. "I don't think enchilada night could pass this off."

Korra chuckled, and took Brigid from Cayden, having little trouble lifting the light woman. "I'll go lay her down and help you clean." She walked over to their half of the room, slipping inside.

Cayden grasped his head, having a slight headache, the events of the day still trying to make sense in his head. It was not long until he stood up, and looked around, deciding the first step was flipping the overturned table back into an upright position.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
Betrayal: Part Four

Several hours later...

Brigid slowly opened her eyes, taking a moment to look around and figure out where she was. As the memories flooded back, she sat up, glancing around the dark room. She noted Sasha and Korra, asleep in their beds.

She climbed off her bed, nearly falling over from the lack of energy. A bit confused, she grabbed the pouch off her side table. She looked inside, noting what she suspected; one of the yellow pills was gone. Sighing, she liked her dry lips, and stepped out into the commons area.

There was still some evidence of the battle still around, feathers on the floor as well as the ring of soot on the floor. All the furniture was put back in it's place though, luckily almost no damage to the furniture.

Next to the door, Cayden was sitting against the wall next to the girl's room, his head hanging to the side as he was softly breathing in his sleep. Brigid stared down at him, her initial expression one of anger. However, as she looked around the room, she felt a pang of guilt. Grabbing a bottle of water, she crouched down before Cayden, lightly brushing his cheek.

Cayden's eyes slowly opened at her touch, and when he saw Brigid, he immediately stood up. "What are you doing out of bed? You need your rest." He told her, holding her arms.

"You're right. I do." Brigid sat against the wall next to him, and sighed. "So do you, though. What are you doing over here?"

"Well... I was waiting to see if you were going to wake up, but I sort of nodded off myself." He said with a small smirk. "So..." He said awkwardly.

Brigid slowly shook her head. "I... I'm sorry for what I did. I was angry... and that was no excuse. But... after you slept with Korra, I... I can't..." She slowly looked back to Cayden. "It couldn't have been completely nothing. There... had to be something there to push you to her."

"There was... is... nothing between us. She was just... the first one there, and her previous offers loomed in my mind. It was something I had never done before. It was just an unfortunate series of mistakes..." He told her, looking down.

Brigid pulled her legs close, resting her chin against her knees. "So, you... you're saying you had no idea how I felt? And... you didn't have those feelings for me before I told you?"

Cayden was silent for a few moments, but when he looked over to Brigid he asked, "Do you... remember the camping trip we took... the one with me, you, Leo and Beth... that one?"

Brigid slowly nodded. "Of course. I... I enjoyed my training with you father. But... to be honest... I think that camping trip was the best part of the whole thing."

Cayden nodded. "And you remember what happened in the tent, right? After I opened up to you?"

Again, Brigid slowly nodded. "We kissed."

Cayden nodded as well. "After that... I did have feelings for you, but I had just gotten out of a relationship with someone else and was finishing high school, not to mention you had your own things going on." Cayden rubbed his hand. "I did care for you... but those feelings just sort of fell away after we separated, and I regarded it as nothing but you helping me out. I had just thought we would remain friends here, I didn't know your feelings stuck."

"I didn't either," Brigid whispered, mostly too herself. "I... I just kept denying it. Mostly because I was afraid you wouldn't return them. My brother's girlfriend... she warned me I could miss my chance if I didn't say something. Guess... guess she was right."

"Do you hate me?" Cayden asked simply.

Brigid stared forward, and slowly shook her head. "No, Cayden. I don't hate you. We were both at fault... just one more then the other. And I'm still trying to figure out who that was." Her eyes glanced over to Cayden. "After... what I almost did... do you hate me?"

"No, I don't..." Cayden scratched the back of his head. "Do you... still... you know... love me?"

Brigid side, pushing her head down so she was practically talking to her stomach. "I... I do. But after what happened... I can't just forget." She sniffled. "I need time."

Cayden laid his head against the wall, just staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah... this is just... a lot, a things considered. I-I am... curious about something though..."

"What's that?" Brigid looked up at him, wiping her eyes.

"What... what exactly were you going to do... after you had found me today? You know... if I hadn't... slept with Korra?"

Brigid sat in silence for several seconds, unable to respond at first. She finally said, "I... I promised my brother and his girlfriend that, if they gave their relationship a chance, I'd give ours a chance. I... was going to fulfill that promise."

Cayden chuckled grimly, and he ran a hand through his hair. "Half a day late..." Cayden shook his head and began to sob.

Brigid looked at him in surprise, never expecting to see him cry. "Can I... can I tell you the truth? Because..." A tear rolled down her cheek. "Because there was another reason I... I hesitated."

Cayden nodded, trying to calm himself down as he wiped his eyes.

Brigid looked down again, starting to sob herself before she even started talking. After a few moments, she was able to choke out, "I... I-I used... to... be in love... with Mr. Desmond..."

Cayden stopped his crying and just began to laugh again grimly. "Wh... why am I not surprised? Even my love life isn't free from him..." Cayden didn't stop his laughing, just putting his face in his hands. "So is that why you actually fell in love with me, because you couldn't be with my father?" He said an accusing tone. "W-Was all that other stuff you were saying just lies before?"

"No!" Brigid shouted, more horrified then angry. She jumped to her feet, then fell over again, too weak to stand. Landing hard, even for one so light, she held her shoulder in pain.

Cayden -even in his fit- was up and at her side, picking her up and looking at her wound with worry. "I shouldn't have kept you here... I should have gotten you looked at." Cayden sat her up and looked at her wound, having to rip apart the sleeve of her shirt to show the bare shoulder, crusty from dried blood. "How are we ever going to make this work... how is anything ever going to be normal?" Cayden mumbled to himself.

"With patience... and understanding." Brigid looked at Cayden with pleading eyes. "You... you have no reason to believe me. But you aren't some... some consolation prize. That night, when we kissed... that was the night I stopped loving your father. I was never sure why before, but it is so clear to me now. It was because of you! You had everything your father had, and so much more! Desmond was just a silly, youthful crush, but you could give me everything I ever wanted!"

Cayden looked down, her continuing confessions only making him even more guilty. "A-And why... were you so upset when you learned Korra was my first?" He asked, not wanting to ask the question but he needed to know everything she had been feeling and thinking.

"Because I felt betrayed." Brigid pulled away from him, weakly climbing to her feet and turning her back to him. "I... I know I had no right to be. I thought it was proof of all my fears. I... I didn't know how I'd go on after I found you. And... and because..." Her shoulders slumped. "Because she's... she's so beautiful. Because you were obviously happy with her. Because she could give you things I never could. I... I'm just some short, flat-chested, temperamental, indecisive brat that always gives you a hard time."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
Betrayal: Part Five

"Did I ever complain?" Cayden asked her, standing up himself. "I-I mean... ever seriously complain?" Cayden walked behind Brigid and reached out his hand but stopped himself, pulling his hand back before he touched her.

"You are beautiful, Brigid, and sure, Korra does make me happy, she is an amazing person, but she doesn't make me as happy as you do, she doesn't annoy me like you do. Yes... you are short, and temperamental, and an indecisive brat... but it makes you into something Korra could never be for me. Besides... big chests aren't all they are made out to be." He joked, taking a step back from Brigid with a sad look, knowing it was useless.

Brigid stood in silence for a moment, thinking. She turned around slowly, and said, "Cayden. I... this isn't over. You... you hurt me. But you also stood against the worst part of me. Literally. You refused to let me go, even though all signs said it was over. I... I can't simply forget this... but I won't give up if you won't. I... I love you too much for that."

Cayden looked down at the floor, and he shook his head. "I-I don't..." Cayden didn't know what to do. He walked up to Brigid, just standing there a foot away from her. "Can I just... have one more chance... to show you how much I love you?" He asked, rubbing his arm.

Brigid smiled, walking over to him and placing a hand on his arm. "Yes, Cayden. I... I'm not going anywhere. And we're not even to Forseti yet. You'll get your chance. Just... just don't sleep with Sasha or Alice or anything."

Cayden smiled with her, placing a hand on her arm and giving a sad look. Quickly, Cayden grabbed hold of Brigid and kissed her again, this time finding it hard to pull away, a couple of tears escaping him as he prolonged the kiss until she gave signs of wanting to stop.

She let him hold her for a bit, even if she didn't get into it. When she finally pulled back, she ran a hand across his cheek. She walked over to the door to her room, but turned back before opening it. "You... y-you saw everything on her, right?"

Cayden looked down. "Y-Yeah... I... I did." He stated embarrassed.

Brigid took a deep, shuttering breath, and mumbled, "Can't believe... another guy gets to..." She reached down, grabbing the bottom of her shirt and lifting.

Cayden's eyes widened and he asked, "W-W-What are you doing?" Diverting his eyes before she had completely raised her shirt.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up! And don't turn away!" Brigid tossed her shirt to the side, whoever had changed her not bothering with a bra. "Large breasts may be fabulous, but tiny breasts are wonderful too! All boobies are beautiful!"

"You don't have to say it so loud!" Cayden pressed, groaning and finally looking at Brigid.

Brigid left herself bare long enough to give Cayden a short glimpse, grateful the lights were low, before wrapping her arms around her chest. "W... w-well?"

"W-What do you mean, 'well'?" He said, a little surprised by how forward Brigid was being. "You still look beautiful... just without a shirt..." Cayden muttered. "It doesn't change how I see you..."

"Th... thank you!" Brigid opened her door. "D-dummy..." She quickly stepped inside, closing the door.

Cayden rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the clock that hung on the wall. "Two in the morning... well, it has to be five somewhere... I just don't know whether or not I want to forget this day or not." He said to himself, walking out of the common room and out into the hallway, needing to do something to occupy his mind.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

"Commander..."

Somewhere in Subspace (March 14th, 2044)
The Einherjar (11:59 A.M., Earth Standard)
Floor 3: The Situation Room

Commander Astasha Streczyk stood in front of the room's large screen, where in a minute the Council Spokesman would be displayed. There was apprehension in her stance, Astasha wringing her hands behind her back, feigning simply having them clasped. To strengthen this facade of calm while hiding her tell, Streczyk had requested her second-in-command stand a few centimeters in front of her rather than behind.

Lieutenant Commander Frederick Mason was distraught, but while Astasha was concerned with the reprisal that might come from her failure and saddened by the death of her troops equally, for Frederick his mood was brought down primarily by the latter. He had chosen the troopers that went on Operation Static Crow, and although Astasha had been the one to maintain the decision to send mostly PFCs rather than primarily specialists or even special ops, the Englishman still felt responsible.

Both had their own private considerations:

What sort of punishment might I be facing? How can we fight an enemy with technology that far outstrips our own? Astasha wondered.

Who were those commandos that attacked us? What did they want, taking into account what their leader said about "proving they could beat us, exactly? Frederick attempted to discern from what he knew.

Both were snapped back to reality as the screen sparked to life. Gone were the days when the Council of Nations hid their identities from their officers. Sitting at a hardwood table was the spokesman, George Carter. He was an African American man in his late forties, though he disguised his younger appearance with dye that made his hair appear as if it were just beginning to gray. He felt that this, along with his formal dark gray and black clothing, gave him a more professional look.

George fixed the gaze of his intense brown eyes on the Commander of the XSDF, and addressed her in a measured, deep tone. "Commander Streczyk," He addressed her, separating the two syllables by putting emphasis on the end of each.

"Spokesman Carter," Astasha returned. "I trust you have read the report on Layrinxa 2 I submitted thirty-six hours ago?" She asked, even though it was a formality; if he was calling, he had.

The Spokesman nodded grimly. Nine of your number dead to unknown troops bearing the markings of no faction we are familiar with, and outpost L-A001 lost to the same group," George echoed. "I don't fault you for that, although it will be hard convincing the families of the deceased to share my view."

The Commander relaxed slightly. "I'm glad you understand. We didn't anticipate such as strong force in collusion with the pirates."

"That is the end of my sympathy for you, however," George cut in coldly, making Astasha freeze. "Didn't anticipate what was clearly a trap? Did it not cross either of your minds that with all the recent incidents involving space pirates working together for goals they had never attempted in the past... That there would not be a bigger picture to it all?"

Both the ship's captain and her first officer were deflated, though Frederick managed to speak up while Astasha's protests were caught in her throat. "We... apologize, Mr. Carter, although I realize that doesn't make up for our failure."

"I have no real quarrel with you aside from that, Colonel Mason," Carter asserted, looking at the Englishman with a shake of his head. "You have performed admirably. Commander Streczyk, on the other hand..."

"You can't be honestly considering doing something rash because of one mistake..." Astasha protested as calmly as she could.

"I don't want to hear it." George narrowed his eyes. "I know you have friends in the Council, Streczyk, particularly our Asian members. But don't think for a moment that I am going to let your fans direct my decisions. I have consulted with the Council of Nations on your performance, as well as the XSDF's backers."

Backers...? Astasha thought with a sinking feeling.

"You have a lengthy history from even before your command of the Einherjar of complaints from extraterrestrial staff. It's no mystery that you bear grudges, but your mistake was not there. I couldn't care less about your personal beliefs, but I draw the line with reports of..." George went on, "...threatening a Devolina with expulsion from the beginning of the Einherjar's journey, among other miscalculations..."

"She's a troublemaker!"

"And an effective soldier. Not to mention her presence in our ranks strengthens positive relations with Tamaer." The Spokesman shook his head, leaning back in his chair and sighing. "You've also kept a powerful psion our of your active ranks due to concerns about her admission, despite the fact that she passed her entrance exams. Not to mention that you demoted one of your division heads after openly antagonizing them, relegated a soldier that had been recruited as a soldier to property..."

"Don't you start with me about that bullshit!" The Commander snapped. "My decisions..."

"Are leading the XSDF to disaster, both diplomatically and internally," Carter finished. "My decision has been made, Commander."

"You had no right to tell Exalt what transpired in the first place!" Astasha railed desperately.

"Astasha Streczyk, you are relieved of command of the Einherjar and the XSDF. You will be assigned to a new location upon arrival in Forseti." Astasha rendered speechless, George added, "Frederick Mason, you will be taking her place with Captain... Colonel Abigail Kirchner as your second, at least for the time being."

Astasha paled, whispering, "You fool... You can't..."

The Council Spokesman folded his hands together. "Do us proud, Commander Mason. I have faith in you." With that, the screen turned off and the room's lights turned back on.

Frederick and Astasha both took a full five minutes to come to terms with what had just transpired. The former Commander then slowly turned to face the new one. "You... You can't screw this up, understand, Mason?"

"I don't... intend to..."

"You can't!" Astasha yelled, before calming her shaky self down. "I was wrong about Forseti. The claim on it has to be connected to what happened on Layrinxa 2. I'm certain of it. If you want to... play nice with xenos and machines, that's your prerogative, but promise me.... you won't be too lenient. If you don't run a tight ship it will be the end of us should this conflict worsen."

"I won't," Frederick confirmed, taking in a deep breath. "I will keep everyone in line, but I can't lead as you do."

"Fine then," Astasha muttered. "Just look out for humanity where I no longer can. Good luck, Mason. I think you'll need it." With that, Astasha left the room to take in fully the loss of her command.

Frederick was left in silence, and slowly leaned against the wall. I'm... The Commander of the XSDF now... is this what you were preparing me for, Aya? He wasn't allowed to be alone with his thoughts, as the door opened awhile later and Fleet Coordinator Addington Khumalo entered, having been informed about the change of leadership much to his immediate relief.

Addington saluted. “Commander.”

I’m not sure how I feel about being called that… “Khumalo. What did you need?”

“I just wanted to… well, remind you that there are things you should take care of in the recent wake of Streczyk’s departure,” The Fleet Coordinator noted.

The Commander sighed. “You’re right.” He rubbed the back of his neck, doing his best to banish his doubts. “First of all, I want Ezra Exalt released immediately. We have no reason to keep him locked up any longer. Secondly, Brigid O’Brien should be restored to an active role. We’re going to need her power now more than ever… despite whatever incident happened the other night.” Frederick shook his head. “Lift the final warning from Devolina, and… there are some people I’d like to speak with.”

Addington raised an eyebrow. “All right, just remember in the future that you have a secretary for this stuff… sir,” The South African mentioned. “Who?”

“Cassia Van Dam… we won’t be taking her to New Alcatraz… provided she can agree to a few things. I’ll handle that myself, and I’d like to have a discussion with Vindicta Exalt about restoring her position. Tell Dr. Cross I wish to speak with her in regards to recent events. I think the psychiatry team will be busy more than ever now.”

“Anything else?” Addington asked half-sarcastically as he mentally jotted things down.

Frederick’s expression grew grim. “Just be on high alert. After what happened on the 12th, I’m beginning to grow suspicious that we may be facing an armed conflict soon. I hope I’m wrong, but… things have certainly escalated further than expected.” It may be necessary to speak to Anderson as well, and get information from the Overseer at this stage… I need to know more about the faction laying claim to Forseti, if possible, and see if there are connections between them and the commandos and pirates…

 

[Alzdude28]

Adapt and Improve.

March 14th 2044
Einherjar, Deck 8,
Lab 3,
1144 GMT


“Readings are good from that test. Once more, please.”

Al smiled as he flexed the new prosthetic again, a cluster of wires leading from various open panels to a terminal, where a young engineer was monitoring the results carefully.

As the limb moved, digits and graphs on the screen shifted. making a quick note, Brienne stood up from her seat and moved closer, removing the leads and closing the panels. “In terms of its basic functions your arm is fully functional Mr… er… Al. I’m guessing that as you requested an engineer rather than a technician for your tests, there was something else you wanted doing.”

“Yes.” The drake started. “The ‘claws’ on this are worthless. I couldn’t get through anything tougher than a few centimeters of wood with these… Also… on a more personal note, my people are quite… proud… of our markings.” He gestured at the tattoos that covered his left arm. “I was hoping you could get hold of some paint for me.”

Brienne sat down again, slightly taken aback by his bluntness. “Well… paint is no issue… I’m assuming that you will want to do that job yourself, as for the claws, may I have a look at both your natural ones and the ones on the prosthetic?”

With a slight grunt of acknowledgement Al extended his arms towards her. Brienne took them gently in her hands and inspected them closely. “Interesting… your natural ones seem to be made of something harder than claws on anything from Earth… As for the prosthetic, it looks like high carbon steel, printed, not milled or forged… It’s what I’d choose…”

Al interrupted her at that point “I guess I should expect that from a human… you have no idea what a gift natural weaponry is.”

“What do you mean by that?” Brienne asked, with a quizzical expression.

“Look at you. It’s a wonder that your species survived. Your bodies are unsuited to fighting.” Al leaned back and took a cigarette out of a pocket.

Brienne quickly snatched it out of his hand. “Sorry, you can’t smoke here.” Putting it down on the table between them she continued. “So the issue is that the prosthetic isn’t tough enough?” She pulled a notepad out of her labcoat and the pencil from behind her ear and started making a quick sketch, muttering to herself. “Carbon-fibre? no… Zero alloys… that would be good… If I can get hold of enough…”

While she worked, Al leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the paper. As he watched the shape of a hand and claws took shape, surrounded by small notes and numbers. At one point Brienne looked at him and said “I don’t suppose you’ve heard of the Wolverine… no… never mind… stupid idea.” Then started working again.

After about half an hour she looked up again and saw that he was still sat there. “Sorry, I… er, don’t need you here right now. I’ll have a technician send the paint up to your quarters. Call back tomorrow morning.”


Enherjar, Holo-room 1
2132 GMT


Al finished programming the console and started the simulation. A mountain landscape sprang into life. Tall pines surrounded him, with patches of snow here and there. He knelt on the dry earth ground in the centre of a clearing, by a large campfire, the smell of smoke and resin heavy in the air. It wasn’t quite like home, but it was close.

After a moment's reflection, he placed three small tins of paint in front of him and picked up a small brush. “Close enough…” he muttered (in High Dreaconian) to nobody in particular, thinking for a moment about the inks, dyes and the bone needles that he and the elders had used to mark his skin all those years ago.

“Ts’kan vesh takkan strek na rezhan…” He began to chant as he began the markings, with a blue stripe running from the shoulder to the elbow, mirroring the one on his left arm.

“Ts’kan vesh hakne kestak lek-tahn…” Another, horizontally across the knuckles then again at the wrist.

He continued the ritual, daubing on red and dark yellow as well. After a few hours work he finished the chant and threw a handful of earth into the flames, and drank a glass of vodka he had brought with him from the bar. It was a poor substitute for the fermented berries that were traditional, but it sufficed.

All too soon, the time he had booked was nearly over, so he ended the simulation, brought up the lights and regarded his handiwork in the light. Patterns, Dreaconian runes, images and colours intertwined along his metallic arm. That’s how it should be he thought, before going back to his quarters for the remainder of the night.


March 15th 2044,
Einherjar, Deck 8,
Lab 3,
1017 GMT


Brienne answered the door swiftly after hearing Al knock. “Good morning Al, the arm’s looking good.” she said, looking at the carefully painted markings.

“Thanks.” The drake replied. “How’s the design going?”

“It’s not just a design anymore.” Brienne slid a case along the desk, “I worked late last night and knocked these together.”

Al leaned forward and looked into the case. Inside were four long, slightly curved, zero alloy claws. He picked one up and turned it around in his hands. “I’m impressed. What are these bits on the side?” He asked, running a finger along a carefully milled groove.

“Fullers. I got the idea from human swords and knives. It will stop your claws getting stuck during combat.” She grabbed her toolkit and set to work installing the new ones in their sockets. “I’ve got a few other ideas for upgrades, but they need time, and I’m afraid I can’t spare enough to develop them at the moment, but I might be able look into them in future.”

When she was finished, Al flexed his fingers, feeling the weight and balance of the upgrade. “Not bad. Not bad at all.” When she heard this Brienne smiled.

“Want to try them out?” She asked, holding up a sheet of steel, about a centimeter thick.

“My pleasure.”

Al took the metal and put it against the legs of the desk, then flexed his ‘muscles’ drove his arm forward in a powerful jab, claws held rigidly in front of him. With a loud clang the sheet split, the claws punching clean through. Al pulled clear and then looked at the four holes.

“I like it.”

 

[BMPixy]

MarineAvenger and BMPixy:
“Sinking In Between”
Somewhere in Subspace, Aboard the Einherjar
1321 Local Time; March 14th, 2044
Floor 13, Wing C

Ezra walked through the hall of the soldier quarters, a small smirk permanently on his face as his release had left him in a good mood. His room was close by, and even though it wouldn’t be much different from his cell since he didn’t have a roommate, he still thought it better than the people who had lost theirs. “Makes me feel kind of guilty seeing as I got released due to the Commander screwing up that mission… hopefully things will be a little bit more loose now, I have a lot of time to make up.” The android thought out loud, turning the last corner, his room the last one down the hall.

He stopped in front of it and sighed, opening it up and walking inside, not bothering to close the door. Barely anything was in the room that identified it as his own, everything so neat it might as well have been no one had lived there. “Home sweet home, I guess…”

“Ah, so this is your place,” a voice echoed out from behind Ezra. “Didn’t take you for the showroom home type, but hey, what do I know?”

Ezra hung his head low and chuckled, turning around on one foot and keeping his hands behind his back. “Just because I may not seem like it, I do keep things tidy. Though the fact I haven’t been in here for a prolonged amount of time may also contribute.” The android then put his hands behind his head and grinned. “Nice to see you again…” I win.

Elicia replied with a cheeky smirk of her own, stepping into Ezra’s room slightly. “Heard you just got let out of the slammer, figured I’d might as well swing by and see if the isolation didn’t run you mad,” she said, shrugging slightly. Suddenly remembering the small tupperware container in her hand, she added, “Oh yeah, a li’l ‘Welcome back from jail’ gift.” With that, she tossed the container towards Ezra.

Ezra caught it easily and he stood up straight, raising an eyebrow. “After all I have done to make a rep for myself and you think a small stay in a closed room could drive this guy mad? Nah, not a chance.” He looked down at the container and asked, “What is this?” As he popped the top off.

“Chicken tikka masala,” Elicia answered with a shrug. “Chicken chunks, mixed in a curry sauce with a bit of tomato soup thrown in for flavor. I consider it one of my better dishes.”

“Yum… haven’t had curry since my schooling abroad.” Ezra smirked and turned around to look at the table with the couch in the center of the room. “Would you care to share with me? I would rather not be alone… I need some sort of human interaction other than Van Dam.” Why did she have to get released too? I mean, come on… so close.

“Eh, I already had lunch, but I might as well stick around,” the Anglo-German said, rubbing the back of her neck slightly. “Besides, who in their right mind would turn down an offer of company from an ex-con?” she added sardonically, stepping further into the room.

“Oooh… come now, not like I stabbed a guy…” Ezra shrugged his shoulders. “Yet.” He sat down the container on the coffee table and gratefully accepted an eating utensil from Elicia. “So… how have you been since our first… illustrious chat.”

“Eh, I’ve been doing decently enough, given the circumstances,” she replied non-committally, sitting down across from where Ezra placed his meal. “Been doing some training, managed to grab some neurology books from the medbay, but nothing all too much. I’d ask the same of you, but I can likely guess that it’s something along the lines of ‘played handball with the ball while listening to harmonica music’, or something.”

“No, unfortunately harmonicas aren’t allowed in the cells, it is a strangely… specific rule. Preferably, I would have liked a tin can.” Ezra took a bite of the food and his eyes actually widened a bit in surprise. “Wow… that is good.”

Elicia perked up a bit at that, a smile growing on her face. “Really? Huh, and here I thought without all my usual spices it’d be a bit subpar. Can’t believe I forgot to stock up on ghost pepper back on Novum,” she said, the latter more to herself than to Ezra.

“Hm… a girl who likes a little spice. Was that why your face was so red last time we talked as well?” Ezra asked with a cocky smirk and a chuckle.

“Please, normally my food needs a rating of a few million on the Scoville scale before I can even taste it,” Elicia shot back. “You just caught me a bit off guard back there, that’s all.”

“Oh, I am sure that is all that was.” He affirmed in a totally exaggerated tone. “So, have you finally reached an answer to my question from last time?” Ezra asked, sitting back, crossing one leg over the other and intertwining his hands like some sort of doctor.

“Nah, haven’t really thought about it that much, to be frank,” she responded, scratching her chin in thought. “Generally have better things to be doing than wondering whether or not there’s interest behind certain actions, y’know?”

“Harsh.” He stated. “But well, to be on the honest side I wasn’t serious the first time we met. It was merely me just having fun with another person who had finally come to visit who was not family.” After a few moments, Ezra’s eyes glanced towards the floor and he took a deep breath, looking up at Elicia with an analytical gaze. “I now realize that I may have been wrong in my first impression.”

“Oh?” Elicia asked, cocking an eyebrow curiously. “Well, least I can appreciate you coming clean about that, but that does leave me wondering what the next turn of events will be.”

“Your very arrival may have already set certain events into motion if you believe that sort of butterfly effect. However, I am more an in the moment kind of person, where nothing is predetermined. I say what happens here today is merely of your own volition, and that anything that comes after will be in both of our hands.” Ezra couldn’t keep his serious tone for long. “I know, not really something you would expect someone like me to say, but see… I am full of surprises you would not come to expect.”

“Yeah, you certainly have thoroughly shattered my expectations.” Elicia chuckled, leaning back slightly. “Seriously, you could probably proposition me right now and I wouldn’t even bat an eye.”

“Alright then, will you be my girlfriend?” Ezra asked, leaning back himself after taking a bite of chicken.

 

[BMPixy]

Elicia sputtered, caught off guard by the statement. “I-I didn’t mean seriously!” she stammered, her face flushing a bright crimson.

“I think you batted an eye there.” Ezra stated with a largely amused expression. “Then what would you say in kind?”

“I…” Elicia trailed off, taking the time to think and regain her composure. “It’s certainly an interesting offer, and you are quite the interesting guy…” Shaking her head, she finished, “But I have to refuse.”

“Hm, I expected that.” The android shook his head and said, “Though I will say if I wasn’t as interesting a person, me and you would have absolutely nothing to talk about. So, switching gears before it seems like your heart explodes, have you thought of more questions to try and satisfy your curiosity about me?”

“Yeah, actually, one just popped into my head,” the medic replied, sitting up. “What prompted the change from ‘just having fun’ to… this?”

“I’m sure you have heard the phrase, ‘Curiosity killed the cat.”? Well, so far curiosity hasn’t killed the Ezra. In fact if you had said yes, I would have just said have a nice day and saw you out. You certainly are a free spirit, if not a little domineering.”

“Or maybe it has killed you, but satisfaction brought you back. People always forget that part of the saying,” Elicia said with a shrug. “Regardless, I guess we’re both creatures driven by curiosity, in that case.”

“Quite.” Ezra sighed in disappointment as he finished off the last of the food and he set the container down on the table and placed the lid back on. “Would it surprise you I have not been with a lot of girls before?”

“Given your rep, yeah it’s a bit surprising,” Elicia said. “But not wholly surprising, considering I once had a similar rep with about as little evidence to back it up.”

“Oh, so calling me a liar are we now? Well, it is the truth. You would be surprised how shallow and desperate some women are, though I have found a few good ones, even though they seemed rough at first. You were one of them, though you were a lot faster showing your good side than others.”

“Well of course, I’ve got nothing but a good side!” Elicia boasted jokingly, flexing to emphasize her point. “But seriously, hearing such a thing doesn’t really surprise me. I mean, Sturgeon’s Law does state that 90% of everything is utter shit, including people.”

“You polish a turd to shine but it doesn’t change the fact it is still a turd.” Ezra stated, standing up and beginning to just idly pace around. “Do you care that I am an android? Did that even register when you were making your choice?”

“Nah, not particularly,” Elicia answered with a shrug. “I mean, the fact that you’re an Exalt played into that decision more than whether you bleed blood or hydraulic fluid, and I honestly couldn’t care less about somebody’s family name.”

“Hm, well at least that is another question off my list then. And it is actually neither, it is a special compound that… you know what, doesn’t matter.” Ezra shook his head. “Point is, quite a few of my relationships ended once it was known what I was. It is actually nearly impossible to keep the secret once you get far enough.”

“And so I suppose that adds into the worry that naturally comes when you debate over asking someone out, thus decreasing your perceived chances?” Elicia queried, glancing up at Ezra.

“It does. Honestly, it became such a bother that when I asked a girl out I would just come right out and say it before I even asked. Answer was always the same, and I am sure you are smart enough to figure out what the answer was considering you gave it yourself. Most of the time I didn’t give two shits afterwards, but there were a few I tried to plead with, ones that I actually cared about. Soon it just became wanting someone to say yes. When I finally met you, I was actually hoping your answer would be no. Even though I want someone, I don’t want someone desperate who appears to have merit and be worthwhile.”

“Yeah, I suppose that reasoning has merit,” Elicia replied absentmindedly, swinging her legs up onto the couch and leaning back on the arm rest. “But that begs the question: if you were so intent on finding the right skirt to chase, why join the XSDF?”

“Cause I was bored, really. I mean my mother gave me some options but fuck corporate life, none of my family’s dealings interested me. What better place to go then space? Besides, I watched a lot of old sci-fi shows when I was ‘younger’ and there are always hot girls in space.” Ezra answered truthfully, his eyes resting on Elicia as if implying something.

“You could have always hopped on one of those colonial ships, seen the galaxy that way,” Elicia offered, not noticing Ezra’s stare. “Besides, even though Kirk may have picked up plenty of girls, none of them stayed for long. You really wanted that kind of thing?”

“I just want… something.” The android said, reaching down into his pocket and pulling out his pocketwatch, opening it and staring down at the inside cover. “Even androids are capable of happiness, though it seems to many times the odds are against us. Hermes doesn’t really count considering he is a special case but it just seems like no one wants to give us a chance. Hell, I even tried picking up women for just something physical and it always seems last moment they find out and run off as if I am some sort of plague. Really does hurt you know!” He stated, as if it was common sense, the android closing up the watch and putting it away.

“Yeah, I understand where you’re coming from there - at least theoretically - but you have to remember that the first image that pops into most people’s head when they hear ‘android’ is a T-800 or something. Not something most people want to do the horizontal tango with, from what I assume.” Elicia shrugged slightly. “Not that that excuses their behavior, just explains it. Us meatbags oft times get scared of what we don’t understand, y’know?”

“All too well. Though a funny misconception is that Terminators are not androids, literally just robots.” Ezra scratched his head. “So what, are you saying you would go down on an android because you don’t see them as murderous death robots bent on enslaving humanity now?”

“Well, I don’t include the ‘murderous death’ part in my description…” Elicia trailed off, before chuckling and shaking her head. “Kidding, kidding. But seriously, if I were to go down on someone, whether or not they were an android wouldn’t matter. Call me old fashioned, but I like to have a bit of a connection before I make that kind of connection.”

“I just need a name and age, and that is about the height of my standards, though even that hasn’t helped my problem. In my case, usually my earlier most relationships were puppy dog ones, and it sort of gets out you are an android once that is revealed. Luckily, my rep as a class clown allowed me to remain in high standings with my peers. Point is, when you are someone like me experiencing love for the first few times, when you get rejected over and over it sort of doesn’t leave you room to form a connection before the other person leaves.” The android scratched his head, finally retaking his seat and laying down with his hands as a pillow. “Sort of see the problem now?”

“Yeah, I have been fully awakened to the troubles of being a hyper-genius artificial intelligence looking for love in a world ruled by meatbags,” Elicia replied, only somewhat joking. “Still, can’t let you get yourself down over that kinda thing. I mean, if the iron is impure, all that means is that you just have to fold it more to make great steel. Something like that, I guess.”

 

[BMPixy]

“That… is the most… horrible analogy I have ever heard, and please never try something like it again. But thanks… I think.” Ezra said, scratching his cheek a bit.

“Tough crowd,” Elicia muttered to herself. Speaking up, she added, “No problem. Just remember that even the mightiest of trees can be felled by enough swings of an axe. Does that make more sense?”

“Oh, that one makes sense, it is just incredibly stupid.” Ezra noted, sitting up and leaning forward on his couch with a grin.

“Hey, you try coming up with original metaphors on the spot,” Elicia shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at Ezra. “It’s a hell of a lot harder than you think.”

Ezra stood up and walked about half way to Elicia. “Is that a challenge?” He asked her, crossing his arms.

“More than just a challenge,” Elicia replied, sitting up, “it’s a challenge that I’m willing to stake food on you losing!”

“Oh, really… so if I lose I have to cook the food for you?”

“Yep! Winner decides the dish the loser prepares. Deal?” she offered, extending a hand towards Ezra.

“And what’s to stop me from intentionally losing so I can just subject you to the worst cooking imaginable?” Ezra pointed out to her, a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Two things, actually. One, I could easily put your pasty metal ass in a full nelson if the situation demands it,” Elicia explained. “Two, due to a rare genetic quirk, my tastebuds only have a third of the sensitivity of a normal human’s. There’s a reason I put absurd amounts of spice in my food, after all.”

“Hm… seems like a very odd quirk. Though I understand considering I could turn my taste off at anytime.” Ezra grinned even wider.

“Eh?” Elicia asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion at Ezra’s expression. “What’re you implying there?”

“Oh, nothing it all. Just merely saying that I could not taste a single thing if I chose not to. Could come in real handy, seeing as I could say anything and no one would be the wiser.”

“Are you implying- Fick dich ins Knie!” Elicia exclaimed, suddenly jumping to her feet and grabbing Ezra by the shirt collar. “What’re you implying about my food!?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Ezra asked calmly, his grin still not receding.

“You didn’t even taste it, did you, you verdammt arschmade?” Elicia shot back, pulling Ezra down to her eye level. “I slave away for hours, gathering all the necessary ingredients, and this is the reward I get?”

“No, this is.” Ezra pressed forward and quickly kissed Elicia, only doing it for a couple of seconds and putting a finger on his chin. “Hm… cherry. No, I say my taste buds are working just fine.”

Elicia stumbled back, heat spreading across her face rapidly as she came to terms with what just happened. Catching herself, she rested a hand across her forehead, and said, “I… I gotta go. T-thanks for the company.” Before another word could be said, she was already out the door.

“Hmph.” Ezra took a seat back on his couch and leaned his head backwards, looking up at the ceiling. “Ezra two, Elicia… zero.” He stated, smiling and sighing in content.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Concern to Worry, Worry to Fear

Cafeteria, Einherjar
Somewhere in Subspace
March 14th, 1:12 PM


“At least none of you were permanently injured,” Samantha offered, continuing the consumption of her meal.

“Physically, maybe not,” the Volomi captain retorted. “But my pride has indeed taken a blow. We were sent to fight for the woman, and we had yet to even meet her. And then you top it off by asking we spare someone who may well have been plotting to wipe out my entire people mere years ago.”

Isaac, who’d been hoping to eat with Samantha alone, gently cleared his throat. “I know that may be difficult to swallow, but it’s unfortunately how it is for the time being.”

Kearichi glared at him. “Was that supposed to be a joke?”

“Kearichi,” Slora chided. “Calm yourself. We are here to watch, not necessarily to meet with-“

“Then we are wasting our time,” her guard snapped. “I’ve ‘watched’ the previous Commander send a cripple to deal with our arrival. I’ve ‘watched’ her send us into battle with little regard for our lives other than sending someone else-“ He indicated Samantha, sitting flummoxed on the other side of the table. “-to do that for her. And then there was the more recent debacle with this clown fellow. It only pleases me that she has been replaced.”

The former Overseer frowned, understanding the alien’s tone if not his words. “It’s rude to speak in a language other members of the conversation don’t understand, you know.”

Slora gave Kearichi a look before turning back to the humans across the table. “I apologize,” she said. “The discussion was largely private.”

“But it brings up a point,” Samantha said, waving her fork towards them. “How come you two can speak and understand our language? As well as people with your mouths can, anyway.”

The princess shrugged. “The knowledge comes from my mother. With our people connected on a mental level, she is able to disseminate knowledge and understanding through the network, so that we all know and understand. If she knows your language, she can ‘teach’ us too.” Her mandibles curved downwards. “Of course, that has the unfortunate side effect of limiting us to her knowledge. We don’t understand many of your colloquialisms, for example. And if she happens to be wrong, then our entire race is liable to make that blunder.”

Samantha tilted her head. “So do your people have an education system then? I mean, it sounds like that would be useless.”

Slora nodded. “We have to exercise our minds in order to cement the link, otherwise our connection becomes… fragmented. And for physical tasks, we still require training, since everyone’s body is different. I can’t pick up a shotgun and instantly know all of Kearichi’s tricks, for one.”

“Indeed,” the guard captain said. “You still have much to learn in that regard.”

“I thought she did quite well,” Samantha interjected.

Kearichi nodded, surprisingly amiable suddenly. “She exceeded my expectations. And for the most part, remained sharp.” His expression turned to one of slight disdain. “However, you panicked upon being fired at. You will need to learn your confidence, Slora.”

Slora simply nodded meekly, returning to her slab of meat.

The Huntress frowned at the display, finding it odd that the guard had authority over the one he was guarding. “If I might ask, what experience do you have?” she queried. “From what I’ve heard, your people haven’t had any wars of any kind within your lifetime, and yet you say you’re a combat specialist.”

The male Volomi scoffed, and indicated the various signs of damage to his carapace. “Is it not clear that I’ve been in combat before?” he challenged, pointing to several gouges in his shoulder. “Hunting on our homeworld is a dangerous pastime.”

Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Your people still hunt?”

Kearichi nodded. “Our larger settlements have farms of domesticated animals, but transporting fresh meat to our further out, far smaller settlements is difficult to do in an economically effective way. Most of our archaeological outposts in the ruins of other hives need supplies, so they hire hunters to find prey and bring it back for them.” Proudly, he pointed to his chest. “I was one of the best. If you ever hunt on Volos, you’ll find many of the animals there are extremely intelligent, and like to work in packs. Coming here, it’s merely a matter of avoiding lasers and bullets rather than globules of acidic venom.”

Both of the humans stopped eating. “I… take it your wildlife is dangerous, then,” Samantha said.

“Very,” was the response. “Most of the species that were around before the Purge have gone extinct, and the few that survived usually underwent centuries worth of evolution in the space of a few generations. Most of these evolved to be predators.”

“Like?” The Huntress tilted her head, intrigued. “Give me an example.”

“Oh no, here we go…” Slora muttered, resting her head on one hand.

Kearichi grinned, an odd sight, and leaned into the table, as if confiding a deep secret. “There is one that stands out, in my memory at least. A creature we call a Jaxil. Tall, reptilian-avian predator capable of limited flight, and with talons sharp enough to rend through solid rock. The head is a mess of cartilage and feathers, so we usually hunt them by striking them in the head with either an object or a shard.”

Isaac frowned. “A shard? Of what, glass?”

“You misunderstand,” the Volomi huffed. “You would call your version ‘bullets’. Our weapons function by shearing off sharp pieces of metal. We call the individual pieces ‘shards’.” He frowned. “Does mean we had trouble making our weaponry very long range for a while. But that is off topic. It was a Jaxil we were hunting that caused most of these scratches in my shell.” Wistfully, he touched one such gouge on his arm. “It was a cunning specimen, certainly. Led us on a merry chase through the ruins of the U’tvo hive. Eventually cornered it, only to find it had cornered us. The fight we had-“

He was interrupted when an official tapped Isaac on the shoulder. “Call for you in the communications room,” the official said. “Said they’d wait for you to get there.”

“Bloody hell,” the cripple swore, backing out from the table. “My apologies,” he said to the Volomi, “this is likely a very important call. I need to take it.”

“We understand,” Slora said, nodding. “We should return to our training anyway. If we’re fighting foes that are technologically superior to us, we’ll need every edge we can get.”

As he rolled away, Isaac wondered (not for the first time) how this last fact sat with his own daughter. Probably not well.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Communications Room, Private Terminal
1:28 PM


“What do you mean, dead?” Isaac demanded. The Overseer sighed.

“I mean their bodily functions have ceased operating,” they responded with a somewhat snarky tone.

“Funny.” The cripple massaged his brow. “How many?”

“Two dozen, give or take. The Courier survived a bullet through the head, but he’s in an induced coma, recovering. Several have merely gone missing, but when was the last time that meant something other than death?”

“Any link?”

“None. All agents were investigating different things, on different planets. The only thing I can think of would be that they were all attacked at roughly the same time, but the variance between them leads me to believe this is nothing more than coincidence.”

“Hmm.” Isaac frowned, placing a hand on his chin and stroking the stubble. “I can see a link.”

“You can?”

“Yes. I’m surprised you haven’t seen this yourself.”

The Overseer exhaled impatiently. “Yes, yes. Get on with it.”

“They were all your agents.” That shut the information broker up. “That’s the main link here. This wasn’t about targeting an agent, or hindering their investigations. This was about damaging your operations.”

“Nonsense,” the Overseer responded. “That would imply whoever killed them…” He quietened, the idea suddenly seeming more plausible even as he spoke. “… knew they were my agents.”

Isaac sat back. “I’d do some spring cleaning of your networks if I were you.”

“I agree. I may relocate as well. If our agents are compromised…” They left the rest unsaid. “This does, however, leave one question. Who? Who is targeting me?”

“Maybe it’s related to the whole Forseti thing,” the former Overseer suggested. “It would make sense. The pirates are directly targeting the Einherjar, and they’ve demonstrated they have access to tech that is more powerful than our own. Their link to whoever is claiming Forseti is unproven, but I have a nasty feeling it’s there. These attacks on your networks are just more evidence that there’s someone –or some group - with a lot of resources and a chip on their shoulder out there, and I’d be honestly surprised if they weren’t the ones laying claim to Forseti.”

“Then I will find them,” the Overseer stated. “I will discover who they are. And I’ll start with this ‘Trickster’ you ran into. Someone with a name like that is likely to be an important player, or a trusted operative at the very least. He certainly seemed capable from the footage I’ve seen. It is likely that the remainder of the squad would not have survived were it not for the discovery of several Reflection users among them.”

“A welcome surprise,” Isaac agreed. “And if I know my daughter, the gap in weapons tech will be closed with a great degree of speed.”

“Assuming she stops wallowing in self-pity.”

“I beg your pardon?”

The Overseer grunted. “I have devices in her lab. I heard her bemoaning the fact that someone is apparently better than her. It was likely something to do with the new weaponry the pirates were using.”

Isaac rolled his eyes. “I’ll leave that job to her husband. He knew what he was getting into when he married her.”

They were silent for a moment. “It would appear, then, that I am to move to a war footing,” the Overseer said at last.

“That would probably be best.”

“Very well. I will alert you and the new Commander if something arises.” With that, the call dropped, and Isaac was left staring at a ‘call-ended’ screen. Not that it had shown anything interesting before.

He frowned, leaning back in his wheelchair. Attacks on the Overseer’s networks. Pirates with technology far outstripping their own. The replacement of the Commander. His brow furrowed further. “We’re in chaos,” he murmured to himself. “Part of me thinks this was their plan all along.”

 

[Dahlexpert]

Somewhere in Subspace, Aboard the Einherjar
1421 Local Time; March 14th, 2044
Floor 13, Wing D

Noire laid in her bed, dreaming about her family back on Earth.

<Noire? Do you want to help mommy with cooking cinnamon rolls?>

A child Noire yelled yes, and helped Eva with cracking some eggs. She saw her father, Jean, making French toast and pancakes. Noire remembered the smell of her breakfast that she smelled ever since she was a kid.

Noire also remembed having her dad question her first male friend. She felt so embarrassed at the time, but she knows that he had loved her.

She woke up and saw she had slept past her alarm, noting it was the afternoon, at least in Earth time. "Ugh, god damnit, it’s two in the afternoon?" She sighed. "I’m already late for my talk with my family. Well, it’s two on earth so maybe it’s a good thing I’m waking up now. Everyone should be out and about by now." Noire took off her clothes and headed to the shower where she saw a familiar face.

Cassia looked at a naked Noire. “Oh Noire, I would say your breast got bigger since I last saw them."

"Ahhh! Ca… C-Cassia?"

"The one and only. God, it’s been a while since I saw a rack. I mean, my jail partner was annoying. He..."

Noire hit Cassia with a bucket. “Are you a fucking moron! I mean, what you did was beyond reckless, and stupid! You are my better and my teacher, and Brigid’s friend. Were you not thinking about us when you did what you did?!”

Cassia rubbed her head and sighed. "Okay, I’m sorry for what I did. Trust me, it won’t happen again."

"That’s not good enough." Noire got a wicked smile. "You need to be punished."

"And what are you going to do, Noire, whip me?" Cassia saw a sponge in Noire's hand. "Noire, wait. Let’s talk about this. I’m clean, I don’t need a bath."

"Oh? No, you're still filth,y and you smell of dirt and grime. Let me clean you!"

Cassia pushed Noire and ran for the door, but Noire tripped her and dragged her to the bathtub.

A bit latter, Cassia and Noire left the bathroom. "Alright, I will never do that again, just don’t bath me again."

"As long as you learned your lesson. So mentor, are you going to train today?"

"No, I’m just going to sleep in today. I need to feel a real bed, and after that, I need to make a call to my family and settle some things."

"Like what. What do you need to settle?"

"I’ve been away from home too long. I have also been leaderless for longer. I need to call my tribe's leaders and they will give me my new orders."

"What about the XSDF. Don’t you follow orders like a solder?"

"No, I don’t care for the XSDF, or the people in it. If they want to join, that’s their choice. My leaders are the only ones that give me orders."

"Cassia, who are your leaders? I mean, you seem to follow no one but yourself."

"Don’t worry about that. Anyway, go and train. I need to handle some things." Cassia left the room.

"What is she hiding? Why is Cassia on this ship? I mean, she doesn’t care for the military or anyone else... but a few people? What’s her angle?"

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Mangrale & ZombieSplitter53
The Cyborg & the Android: Part One

XSDF Battleship Einherjar
Hanger B
March 15th, 1230 Hours

Narcisse stood still and clasped his hands around the the upper bar of the metallic, fence-like barrier of the somewhat elevated path overlooking the primary ground floor, which was vibrant with the sounds of routine maintenance as it was in days before, but very little else in the way of conversations.

Many of the engineers were understandably concerned with the events on Layrinxa 2, and were simply not in their usual, lively spirits. Some, understandably enough, had chosen to carry on with their work in their attempts to take their minds off the tragedy. Still, the trace of anxiety that hung in the air was easily picked up by the man from Brittany, this not being his first time in an XSDF hangar.

The lone pilot was normally not one to regularly view the public combat logs. But, at the vehement insistence of his flightmates, he relented and watched, much to his subtle horror. If he seemed preoccupied and distracted before, he was all the more so today. His daily routine of simulation training, small arms practice and time in the gym seemed to pass him by as a series of barely conscientious motions.

He had originally come here to take his mind off matters. But the brutal images of combat were too vivid to dismiss. And not all of them were from the recording. He just stared in the vicinity of the space’s center, at nothing in particular, with a dazed look about him. What little emotion he showed appeared to suggest he was contemplating something unpleasant.

His current apparel differed from his last ensemble, with the noticeable lack of his favorite brown trenchcoat. In its place was a shorter, dark green coat that ended before his knees. It also featured black, leather patches at both sides of the shoulders and a splayed collar with an interior lining of white cotton. Under his open outerwear, he wore a light, grey turtleneck sweater with shallow, vertical, indented lines running down its length. His trousers complimented the coat nicely both in coloration and styling.

Narcisse's concentration on nothing in particular was broken by the sound of two individuals arguing nearby, behind one of the fighters.

"You vacant, apathetic moron!" A woman yelled. "Are you trying to kill someone? This goes to Dr. Tanaka's private craft!"

"Geez, chill out," a bored sounding man responded. "What's the difference?"

"Are you insane? You put that power core in that ship, and you'll blow the thing up! Might as well plug a toaster into a fusion reactor. Thought that does sound like something..."

"Hey, I don't have to take this from..." The man cried out in pain. "Jesus! Let me go, you psycho bitch!"

At the onset of the argument, the french cyborg blinked in bewilderment, for a second believing that the mystery woman was referring to him. He pondered whether or not the altercation was any of his business. It really wasn't. But curiosity got the better of him and he took his hands off the barrier.

What could be going on? he thought as he worriedly took the steps from the path to the main floor. He then repositioned himself so he could at least see what was happening.

The tall woman wore a basic engineer uniform, her silver-blond hair tied up in a bun so as not to be pulled into any parts or machines she was working on. Despite not looking very imposing, including to the man she was arguing with who appeared to have at least eighty pounds on her, she was able to drop him to his knees by squeezing his fist, pushing back an index finger he had likely been pointing at her with her thumb.

"L-let me go, or I'll tell the foreman!" The woman did let him go, but shoved a computer pad in his face. "The hell is this?"

The woman scoffed. With a slight British accent, she said, "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, and assuming you've just been too lazy to update yourself on new ships since your graduation, and not that you don't care who you kill. Read this! Memorize it down to the punctuation marks, or I will inform foreman of the half dozen mistakes I have had to correct for you over the last month!"

The man took the pad, and the woman turned and walked away. Instead of doing the same, the man took several steps toward her, squeezing his fist as he approached her.

Bellrose was out of the way enough to not be readily noticed by the pair. At the realization of just how violent the augment had become, he crouched behind a large, movable engineering receptacle containing tools and equipment located yards away from the male engineer. He was, however, able to see the apparently British woman's impressive and fearsome display.

He inched the heavy container closer and closer to them, from the man's side, unnoticed. Just as he was wrapping his head around her strength and skill, he noticed the intent of the engineer coming towards her from his quickened pace and how he reached into his belt to grab a foot and a half long, specialized wrench.

Without even a second thought, Narcisse bolted from his cover and rushed from the underside of the craft next to them, flanking the engineer and grasping his wrench equipped, right hand.

"Wh-whoa what the fuck!?" the would be assailant screamed as the cyborg forced him to his knees and wringed his wrist until he was forced to drop the tool.

"I apologize for this..." the pilot assured him with very little enthusiasm, fixing his left arm around the engineer's neck and gripping his right hand with his. "... but I'm not one to take chances."

The woman turned back, quickly assessing the situation and stepping back towards the pair. She picked up the wrench, gently placing it back in the man's belt and smiling. "And now I have a witness. Get out of here! Now!"

The man shakily nodded, as best her could in his position. He ran off as soon as he was released, and his would be victim smiled at her protector. "Thanks for watching my back. I've been told I give people too many chances."

Her calm manner only added another layer to the ever growing mystery surrounding the woman, and the frenchman's eyebrows and expression reacted accordingly. But he suppressed his concerns and calmed down enough to offer her a surprisingly enthusiastic smile.

"I'm just glad you're safe, miss. If anything... I might not give people enough chances..." His eyes lowered to the ground, before returning to hers. After a short pause, his face started to carry a sense of curiosity and he considered how to express his thoughts. "Still, seemed like you were handling yourself well... very well."

The woman chuckled, rotating her arm. "Yeah, I... I had some gene mods a few years ago. Gives me a hell of a grip. Um... I'm Alice Fischer. Engineer. I work both here and in main engineering?" She offered her hand. "And you have my thanks, sir."

Just like many times before, the off duty AFC looked conflicted at the offer. But he gave in and shook her hand which clearly had a lot of strength behind it, watching her face to see her reaction, with anxious expectation. "My name is Narcisse Bellrose, Seraph pilot of Penguin Squadron. Very nice to meet you."

Alice's eyes darted down to his hand, her smile remaining friendly. "That is quite a grip there. You're a cyborg, right?"

He exhaled in amusement, his smile thinning s little. "Yeah... I'm sorry for that... I didn't mean to grip that tightly... control still needs work." He rubbed his right arm with his left hand, clearly uncomfortable.

Alice gave him a concerned look, shaking her head. "No, you didn't... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply you hurt my hand or anything. I've just looked with Cyborgs enough to recognize them fairly quickly. If it's any consolation, your body seems well made."

"Um... thank you?..." Narcisse replied. He wasn't used to receiving compliments on his appearance and wasn't sure how to take it. He raised his hand and observed it a little. "I guess I haven't really made any effort to hide it, have I?

"And why should you?" Alice looked behind her and said, "I have to work on one of the ships. Mind keeping me company for a bit? My... ahem, assistant isn't here anymore to keep me amused by asking about things he should know every five seconds."

Bellrose was naturally surprised by her proposal. "Oh?... Well... um sure... if you don't mind someone as inexperienced as me around. I only know how to fly these things, not maintain them."

"Of course," Alice said with a chuckle, leading him through the bay. "I have to apologize. I fear I made a poor first impression. I'm usually a much more pleasant person to be around, but his recklessness just... I don't know, set me off."

"You have nothing to apologize over. The way I see it... Oh wait!" In a moment of embarrassment, Narcisse recalled the wheeled tool rack he moved and hastily dashed to put it back to where it was supposed to be, before rejoining her. "S-sorry for that (clears throat). So as I was saying, he's the one who should have been taking his duty to the ship more seriously." He grinned, but was very flustered. What was that about first impressions?

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Mangrale & ZombieSplitter53
The Cyborg & the Android: Part Two

Alice giggled lightly, either unaware of his lack of comfort or trying to look past it. "That is very understanding of you. But... that seems to be you in a nutshell. I could help but notice you apologizing to the man you were disabling."

"Oh, you heard that?" Bellrose nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes well... I don't know... I guess I'm not used to... fighting crew members. I wanted him to know that I really didn't want to hurt him. I just wanted him to calm down, that's all." He smiled, tentatively. "Sorry I don't think I'm making much sense."

As the pair walked over the one of the Seraph's, Alice looked back at him. "What do you mean? It makes perfect sense. We need to be united, especially now. You have a level of restraint that I find impressive. I have a few friends that could take a lesson from you. One in particular would have probably just punched him in the back of the head!"

The pilot gave a hopeful smile, a tad more at ease than he was. "Thank you mis- I mean Alice. I try." Narcisse looked at the Seraph, getting momentarily lost in its hull. "Although I should have probably tried harder in the past..." he mumbled to himself.

Alice ducked down, opening a panel on the underbelly of the craft. "What do you mean? You rub someone the wrong way at some point?"

Narcisse was kinda startled at how Alice had heard exactly what he said. He tilted his head, at odds and knelt down near her. "Something like that... at various times in my life. And as much as I'd like to say that none of those times were my fault. You know... just on Progressus, when we stopped there I had a... run in.... ruined my favorite overcoat." He smiled and laughed softly. "Guess that's why I can't have nice things." He chucked louder, initially meaning what he said to come across as some kind of joke.

Alice chuckled with him, reaching into the Seraph and pulling out a small power cell. "I can empathize with you there. I can think of a few 'run ins' I'd like to avoid. Let's just say I'd be lucky if all I lost is a coat." She glanced at him. "I hope you didn't get into any trouble."

The cyborg opted to hold on to the power cell and, once in hand, moved his fingers thoughtfully around its surface. "Sure I did, but at this point it'd feel kind of strange if I didn't get into trouble now and again," he jested. "Don't worry about it... and, if that assistant of yours is any indication, try and be careful. This body of mine is meant to be replaceable, but I doubt yours is."

Alice hesitated for a moment as she pulled the replacement cell from her pack. "Y-yeah... I guess. Doesn't mean you should be reckless, though. Even if you can take a beating, we need you in top form. Especially after losing so many soldiers. That's why I got so mad before. You risk yourself every time you fly one of these out there. The least we can do is make sure you equipment works properly."

This one believes he suspects you, Mistress Alice.

Alice frowned. Relax, Dinah. He's just making small talk. You don't have to suspect everyone.

Narcisse looked to her passively, still in a relatively easy going manner. "And I do thank you for all you and the others have done in that regard. The work ethic you guys have is simply remarkable, despite what’s happened…” he said, the ending phrase sounding melancholy due his recollection of the mission footage. “I have to say: from the looks of things, everyone seems to be holding up better than I am.” He took a deep breath and readjusted his glasses, reverting back to a more contented tone. “Ah still. I haven’t let things keep me from performing my obligations thus far. And I doubt I ever will. It’s the least I could do.”

"Good to hear," Alice responded in a solemn tone. "The last mission had so much fallout. I have three friends at odd terms with each other, another who... who is being watched carefully to make sure she doesn't hurt herself, and everywhere I look, people are losing their cool. Those of us who can keep a cool head need to do so, and lead by example... n-not to put pressure on you or anything."

"I assure you, I am no one's example. Not a very good one anyway. In the end, perhaps I'm not as deeply affected because I didn't get to know them personally." Narcisse began to share her mirthless manner. "There's always plenty of examples, what they need is a friend. And they have a very good one from what I could see." A smile crept on his face.

Alice smiled herself, but gave a sad look as she ducked her head back under the ship. "You... um... you seem kinda... sad, Narcisse. Like you lack confidence. I hope I don't make you uncomfortable."

Narcisse eye's widened for a moment at being called out, but his smile hardly faded. "It's not you, really. I'm always uncomfortable, as the girls I work with will attest to. I suppose, in a way... conversations..." He waved is left hand continuously as he gathered his thoughts. "... scare me, a little. Might say something I shouldn't. Who knows? In a small way... sometimes I prefer going on my own. Does that make sense?"

"I suppose. But... it gets lonely." Alice pulled her head out, the sad look still evident as she almost seemed to talk to herself. "It might be easier to go it alone. You can't make a fool of yourself that way. You can't hurt anyone... and they can't hurt you. But at the end of the day, you'll... just be lonely. You'll wish you had someone to talk to, some... to call your friend."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Mangrale & ZombieSplitter53
The Cyborg & the Android: Part Three

Her sentiments struck him and he flinched subtly, his grin falling. "Loneliness... that's..." He shut his eyes and scratched his head abruptly before opening them in a soft motion. He spoke in a calm voice. "I'm... not concerned about what others do to me. Others... may worry about what others do to them, and that's fine." Narcisse stood up and looked down at her in unsteady resolution. "But me... no I'm worried about what I might do. What I want... isn't important."

"Is it because of that body?" Alice closed the panel and climbed to her feet. "Are you afraid you'll do something to hurt someone? Or... is because you already did? Or feel like you did?"

Narcisse's expression, in a small way depicted his struggle against the terrible urge to run away. "This body may be synthetic, but it obeys my command. Every decision. Every mistake. It isn't the problem. It's the reminder. I didn't have to choose this design." He set aside the power cell and raised his arms from his sides. "It's so I never forget what I did."

Alice stood in silence for several moments, then cautiously approached him. "We are defined, in many ways, by the actions we've taken... and the choices we've made. But they don't have to be who we are. You shouldn't forget past mistakes, but you also shouldn't let them hold you back. I know this might sound strange, coming from someone you just met, but you seem a good person. Much more so then you seem to think of yourself."

The pilot smiled warmly but in a manner that showed he wasn't in total agreement. "Maybe I need to be held back. The first thing you saw... was me with my arm around another man's neck. One lapse in concentration and he wouldn't be alive right now... My failure... I could never make it right..." He pulled back his right sleeve to expose his entire pitch black arm. "Some things can be lived through. This isn't one of them."

Alice placed her hand on Narcisse's arm. "Anyone with a great amount of strength can make that kind of mistake. Great power leads to a great opportunity to abuse that power. But look into my eyes. Do you really think... you could ever hurt me?"

Narcisse hesitantly looked into her eyes fleetingly. He seemed hurt by the thought and rushed his hand away, his light-hearted facade moving toward faint gloom. "No, I-I wouldn't. But like I said before: I'm not one to take chances." He walked a few steps passed her and recollected himself. He looked towards the ceiling, as if imagining the space that lie past it. "Besides, out there are good, real, magnificent people, living happily." He then looked back at her tenderly. "Isn't that happiness enough for me? Who am I to ask for more?"

"No, it isn't enough," Alice said in a forceful tone without facing him. "Everyone deserves happiness. If you want to help others find theirs, that makes you a good person. But that can't be all there is. I don't care who you are, and I don't care what you've done, Narcisse. You deserve to be happy. But... but you'll never find it unless you believe that yourself."

Narcisse paused, the mantra that had sustained him for so long finally being called into question. He sighed bitterly and took a few cautious steps toward Alice, shaking himself out of his self assassinating tirade. "Oh Alice, I'm so sorry for that... venting on a perfect stranger... you didn't deserve that. I often get moody at times like this. But it'll pass," he said consolingly, trying to cheer her up. Once by her, he tried to position himself so as to face her, smiling widely as he did. "Your friends need you to smile when you're with them. So how about showing me you can? Come on."

Alice couldn't help but do so, smiling widely. "You're quite the charmer when you try to be, you know that?"

The notion caused Narcisse's face to redden, and he lifted his head away, slightly embarrassed. "I-I wasn't trying to charm you o-or anything! It's just that sometimes I've noticed I smile widest when others are happy." He looked away with a confounded frown. "That's all..."

Alice nodded. "I understand. And that is very sweet of you." She walked over the Seraph, grabbing the used power cell and her tools. "Don't change the good nature in your heart. Just... don't be afraid to do something for your own happiness every now and then."

Narcisse came to his senses and took a few steps after her so she could hear him. "Thank you Alice for having me around. You know... it really does make me happy to... assist someone after a... high casualty mission. I had my chance before and I let it slip by... and I thought I could never have a life like that. And well... thank you." He shook his head. "W-will you need help with anything else?"

"Not today, but..." Alice shrugged, smiling brightly. "If you're around on my next job, you can help me then... if you'd like. Maybe I could even teach you a thing or two about maintenance, and you can show me some basics on how to fly one of these lunckers."

Narcisse cheerfully nodded once in the affirmative and accommodatingly clasped his hands together. "Well, if you don't mind having..." He stopped mid sentence to sighed thoughtfully, then grinned at her. "... I would like that... very much, Alice. Please give my best, warmest wishes to your friends... Till next time." The cyborg motioned as if to salute, but chose to wave instead.

Alice chuckled, waving back. She walked off, muttering, "Sweet guy," under her breath. Behind, the faint image of a cat the same color as the ground could be seen following after.

Narcisse pondered whether or not he was supposed to shake her hand before they parted, but decided that she was far enough away and carrying several pounds of items anyway, so he stopped worrying about it. He looked on for a second as she walked away, an appearance of slight suspicion on his otherwise warm face. After a half minute of this, a thought occurred to him. She seems nice! he concluded under a pleasant expression. Is this what life would be like if I stayed... He then walked in the opposing direction, heading out of the hangar.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Missed Revenge

XSDF Battleship Einherjar
Holo-room One
March 10th, 2044
1045 Hours

"I do hope I am not cutting into your training hours. It is... just so difficult to move about the ship on my own."

Brigid smiled as she typed on the computer terminal outside of the holo-room. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll get that approval any time now. The new Commander might be strict, but he is much more understanding than the last one "

Volupta nodded. "That is good news, though I admit a bit of curiosity that compels me to wish I had met the last one."

"Some things are better left to curiosity, Mistress," Tee offered.

The Humiliata watched her escort, noting a slumping in her posture compared to previous encounters, as well as an inability to maintain a smile. "You seem... I believe the human term is 'down'. What troubles you, child?"

"Nothing," Brigid half whispered. After an awkward minute of silence, she suddenly asked, "Have you... ever cared for someone who... you felt betrayed you... but they're sorry, and didn't realize how you felt?"

Volupta steepled her fingers, a motion Brigid hand learned was similar to a human rubbing their chin in thought. "It... is hard for me to say. You see, my people are pretty forward with our thoughts, so that is unlikely to happen to us. There are those that are actively deceptive, but this does not seem to describe your situation." The Humiliata bowed her head. "Apologies. I'm not sure I have the experience..."

Brigid waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. You barely know me. It isn't my place to put the burden of those questions on you anyway."

"But what is the point of my lengthy life if I do not impart wisdom on the youth." Volupta placed a hand on Brigid's shoulder. "It sounds like a matter that requires patience and understanding. I am no couple's therapist, but what I am is a scientist. Study him, like you would any experiment. View his behaviors, his interactions, both with you and others. Start with a hypothesis. Tell me... what would you prefer the turn out to be?"

Brigid chuckled. "It isn't very scientific to start with a bias... but I guess I'd like for us to be right for each other."

Volupta stepped back, nodding her head. "Then that shall be your hypothesis. That he is the right one for you. Now is simply a matter of proving or disproving. Remember; vigilance, close observation, and patience."

Brigid nodded back. "Alright. I'll take my time. I have a suicidal roommate and her distraught brother to help with first anyway... sorry. Again, not your problem."

"It is perfectly fine," Volupta insisted.

The petite Irish woman finished her typing, and the door opened, revealing a coliseum-like room. "So... why him? There were six... seven... well, eight major ones to go with. Why start with him?"

"Simple." Volupta stepped inside. "I disliked him the most. He wasn't the worst, but at least she had her schemes and treachery to amuse one." She looked back. "Um... by 'she', I meant..."

Brigid held up her hand. "I know. Anyone who knows about them would know. I have to look at her mask every time I visit Dr. Tanaka. I guess my other question would be... why do this at all?"

Volupta stopped, contemplating the question. Stepping to Brigid's side, Tee said, "I believe I can answer that. The Ethe... Humiliata have a saying. 'Those left standing in history are those left standing at the end of the battle'. Simply put, it means those that we remember are the victors, and they are the ones who tell their stories. As you know, the Mistress has missed fifty years of history, and wishes to learn of the Human-Ethereal Subjugation War from all angles, including those that normally are ignored. My question for you is, will this work?"

Brigid pulled out a set of data cards, spreading them like playing cards. "It better. I had to do a lot of trading, pull in a number of favors, offer several more, and flirt with a very unsavory pilot who wouldn't stop trying to undress me with his eyes to get them."

Tee nodded. "Forgive me. I do not mean to sound as though I do not believe you. How... accurate will it be?"

"The scans of these bases were very detailed. As for him, he had... well, some considerable damage upstairs after what they did to him. But post mortem scans combine with recorded scans in his computers, as well as psyche reviews and physicals, including the Ethereal equivalent of MRIs, that became public in 2034, means we can approximate his personality with only about a 5% discrepancy."

"5%... still could lead to a great margin of error, but it is fairly close." Tee nodded in approval.

The trio walked past the center of the room, Volupta looking around. "What was this room used for?"

"A certain three headed, slime coated beast. Killed, like, two or three of our guys before we could take it down. It even ate a friend of mine... and she wasn't happy about that."

"I... can imagine so." Volupta responded, believing it was a dark joke. "The Kerberant is a fierce creature indeed. Did you discover its weakness? That the mucus covering its skin is highly conductive?"

"By accident, yeah." Brigid shuttered as the reached the end of the room. "I just hope we're prepared if we ever have to fight one again."

"I simply hope you will not have to fight another one." Volupta turn to her companion. "Do you... mind waiting here? If he is programmed to believe the war is still active, he will not take kindly to a human."

"Of course." Brigid sat against the wall, pulling out a computer pad. "I'll be here when you're finished."

Volupta stepped into the throne room, looking down at the nervous Sectoid by her side. It is only a simulation, you know.

Yes, I am aware. But I heard stories of his cruelty. And not only to his Sectoids. He seemed to have a preference of torturing those weaker then him... particularly the young.

Yes... I am aware. Volupta looked up. "Begin program."

A chime acted as confirmation, and a few moments later, a figure walked in from a back room. Freezing in place at the sight of Volupta, he mentally shouted, Who... who are you!? How did you get in here!? He glanced at the markings on her mask. V... Volupta'Aergianmacaria? You... you're supposed to be...

Dead? I'm afraid not, Purnal'phagial. Or do you prefer Gula. From what I know of human languages, it is fitting. You always were a glutton, seeking more then you deserved at the expense of others.

Purnal glared at her, his energy flaring. Do not presume to know me. It has been a long time since you were cast out, you despicable sympathizer. I shall be rewarded for laying you dead body before our exalted High Commander. Guards!

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

He looked around in confusion, no one coming to heed his call. Volupta removed her mask and pretended to look around in confusion. Now, where could they be? Oh... right... I destroyed them all before coming here.

The gluttonous Ethereal took a step back. You... you lie! You are no more powerful then your mother! The reports from your attacks...

...Grossly understated my strength. As you said... I've been gone for quite some time. And why would they lead you to believe I was anything more then a nuisance. Besides... you can't sense anyone beyond this room, right?

Purnal scoffed, but realized she was right, not knowing it was because they simply hadn't programmed anyone else into the holographic base, aside from humans in the holding areas. He suddenly lashed out, sending a trio of violet energy tendrils that combined into one as they struck Volupta's head, but they had no power behind them. They were only a diversion, however, as Purnal lifted a group of chairs and computer terminals with telekinesis and flung them at Volupta.

Quick on the draw, Tee typed on his computer pad, and a simulated telekinetic shield rose to protect his mistress. Volupta raised her left arms, and another computer input hit Purnal with a biokinetic attack far stronger then Volupta would likely be able to do on her own.

Purnal tightly held his stomach as Volupta shook her head. Panting under his mask, he muttered, If you're going to kill me, just do it already. Because I'll never...

With pleasure.

Volupta rose her arms again, and Purnal frantically stumbled back, falling over a chair that had fallen behind him. Wait! Wait! I'll tell you whatever you want! Give you what you want! J-just... please don't...

Predictable, spineless coward... Volupta took a step forward. I have a few questions. Why are you here?

What? We... we're for the same reason...

Not the Ethereals. You. Why are you here? Purnal contemplated the question for a few moments, and Volupta 'hit him' with another attack. No lies! Tell the truth for the first time in your miserable life!

Okay! Damn it! My... my mother. She was... she was respected amongst the Council of Elders. When she died in the last battle with the resistance... they honored her last wish to give me her position. Trust me, I was no happier about it then... He cried out in pain. Stop!

You're lying! Volupta glared at her holographic victim. Walking over to him, she violently pulled his mask off, and looked into his terrified eyes. I read all about that. The reports said they were going to give the position to Carthigi, and that while you were begging for them to chose you, you used your mother's death to convince them. Now, why would a lazy moron like you want all this work?

Purnal coughed, spitting up some blood. Because... because I thought it would be over and done with in a matter of months. And then I'd get... I...

Volupta made him writhe in pain. Tell me!

Humans, alright! Purnal coughed and hacked. I'd get humans. Initial reports show they had a high potential for psionics, which meant energy I can feed on. Happy? I came here because I was promised all I could eat.

Volupta scoffed. That, and to get you sick kicks torturing those weaker than you. Made you think it somehow made you strong. Just made you look all the more weak.

Judge me all you want. Purnal spat a mouthful of blood to the side. You got want you wanted. Leave me be.

I can never get what I really want. My seclusion resulted in the being taken from me.

What... what are you...

Volupta lunged at the hologram, gripping his head tightly. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she yelled, You murdered her! And I've dreamt of revenge for so long!

I... I don't...

6.4 cycles ago. A Kilanthy freighter carrying the remnants of their people. You attacked them! You destroyed them! They were refugees! Mostly children and non-combatant adults, but you destroyed them all! And.... a-and my best friend... who I had known since I was only two cycles old... did you enjoy murdering her?! Was her death quick, or did you take your sweet, sickening time?!

Purnal's eyes widened with realization. No.... i-i-it wasn't... Tien'lyssigan... the humans call him Ira. It was him! He commanded the attack! A-and his daughter...

Again, Volupta used the computer to send waves of pain through the hologram, too lost in her rage to realize the futility in it. Don't lie to me!

I'm not! Purnal pleaded. It was Acra'siathi! Her father commanded the attack, and she led it! Please! Stop!

The attack stopped without Volupta giving the signal, and Tee placed a hand on the Humiliata's arm. Mistress, please. That is enough.

I did not tell you to stop, Tee. Hit him again!

Mistress... I can't...

Do it now, or so help me...

Volupta! Volupta turned to stare into Tee's eyes. You are going too far.

Volupta shook her head. He is a hologram. It isn't real.

But you are making it real in your head! Tee's eyes softened, and he reached over, gently placing his hands on his mistress's cheeks. This... is not you. You are an eccentric, scatter-brained, over-enthusiastic plant lover who constantly drives me crazy with her random ideas and schemes... but keeps me by her side by her unwavering loyalty and commitment, even when she has to face her entire race. Please... enough.

Volupta slowly nodded, releasing Purnal and standing up. "Computer. Activate termination program."

Purnal's injuries were suddenly healed, and his mask reappeared on his head. What... how did you... A group of soldiers appeared before him, one with blue hair and a wicked smile, cracking her knuckles before flooring Purnal with a powerful right hook.

----------

The program ended, and Volupta exited the holo-room and headed back to hydroponics.

Some distance behind, Brigid whispered, "Is she okay?"

I... believe she got the information she wanted. But it was a lot harder on her then she thought it would be. Tee gave Brigid a worried look. Is... is it true the former Overseer of Asia is... is now a top official in the Humilliata government?

Brigid nodded. Uh huh. And rocking a human body at that.

Tee sighed, and gave is mistress a sad look.

 

[Dahlexpert]

XSDF Battleship Einherjar
March 15th, 1230 Hours

Cassia tapped her fingers, looking at the screen. After a few minutes, three faces showed up. "Hello mom. Axton. Mustang."

Ashley looked over her daughter. "Cassia you look different. You look like a wornout warrior... you look tired."

Axton also looked at his niece. “Cassia, you look like someone that's seen too much. Like you lost yourself... like you forgot who you are."

Cassia fell to her knees and tears started to fall from her eyes. "I’m sorry. I have lost my way. Ignored the path that was set for me. I have become a mercenary with no purpose. I now live to kill. Years of being out here has made me colder. I became ruthless. A murderer. I am not worthy of the name Van Dam."

Mustang looked at Cassia and, pissed at what he saw.“ARE YOU STUPID? Your last name has nothing to do with greatness. Our last name is just a name. Our tribe, the red hawks... it's also just a name."

Ashley shook her head. “Cassia, you seem to have forgotten who you are. You are a Van Dam. Yhe names is just a name. The people in that tribe are remarkable. The reason I was okay with you traveling the galaxy is because I knew you would adapt to the environment, Cassia. Among all of our people, I knew you would be fine in space."

Cassia looked at her consoles. “But I’m just a murderer now. Just a common mercenary.”

"A common mercenary? A... common mercenary?" Axton rubbed his head. "Cassia, my sister chose you to go into space because she knew you could handle it. As much as you try to run from it, you are the leader of our people now. Our young no longer look to Ashley for leadership. The look to you. You inspire them to go to the stars and make there own name."

Ashley shook her head. “Indeed. Look Cassia, I’m not going to live forever. You must lead our people to this new generation. Where space travel is a real thing. Where we can navigate the stars. You must go through your own trials and to lead our people. Because of you, Cassia, most of our own are going to the stars and living on colonies. That’s because of you."

Cassia stood up and wiped her tears away. “Yeah... okay. I will do you proud, mom. I will lead our people to this new generation, I promise you that."

"I know. Now, Axton? Mustang? Can you give us some time alone? Axton and Mustang left the feed, and Ashley looked back at her daughter. "So... aside from that, how have you been?"

"I’ve been good. The XSDF hired me to help them with this new colony, and tame the wildlife."

"Of course, and you need my permission to take orders right?"

Cassia nodded. "Please."

Ashley sighed. "Very well. I, Ashley Van Dam, tell you, my only daughter, that during this mission, you will act like a solder... weather you want to or not. Your Commander's orders will carry the same as my own and you will act like a Captain of the Van Dams; you will act like the highest ranked in our village when dealing with your fellow soldiers, and you will lead them whenever possible. Am I clear?"

“Yes ma'am. I will act like the warrior that you made me, and prove my rank to these people.”

"Good. Now then, I expect you to not act like you aunt Scarlet, gods rest her soul. I expect you to act like yourself, Cassia. You are not me or anyone else, you are you. You’re a warrior. Someone that earned the privilege to leave our village and fight new enemies. I trust you to act like a Captain, the rank that was given to you in our village."

"Yes ma'am. By the way, Brigid is here on the.".

"Really, I never thought Morrigan would allow Brigid to join the military. Though, knowing Brigid, she would have joined no matter what Morrigan thought."

"Yeah, Morrigan didn’t know about it until recently."

Ashley rubbed her head. "I see. Brigid became a little trouble maker. You make sure to take care of her, okay?"

"Yes mom. It’s good to hear from you again. How is the Ethereal home world?"

"They're very polite, even though their planet was nearly destroyed during the war. Still, their planet is still beautiful. The gravity is heavy here though, so it takes some getting used to."

"Glad to here you're enjoying yourself. When do you think you will be going home?"

"Probably soon. I’m on a Starship right now, on my way to Earth, so in a few months."

"That’s great to hear. I look forward to seeing you again. I’ll talk to you later mom."

"Yeah, I’ll see you later. I love you Cassia. I know I don’t say that much, but I do love you, and I'm extremely proud of you."

"I know you do mom. I’ll see you later."