RP XCOM: The Story of Defiance.

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and Frostlich1228: “Tolerance and Fear”

XCOM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1400 Hours, September 18th, 2018
Mary’s Room, Infirmary

Ammelia’s eyes opened as she raised her head from the table next to her Mary’s bed. She looked down at her sister, still unconscious from the painkillers they had given her the other day. The sniper wished she could talk to her but after hearing of the intense pain the toxin was causing didn’t want to put her through that again. Instead she simply stayed by her bed for the entirety of the night, making sure she was comfortable by soaking her rag and fetching fresh buckets of water.
Ammelia slowly rubbed her sister’s face with the back of her hand as she heard the door opening behind her.

Buniq peered in, only the head and shoulders at first. “U-Uh...do y-you m-mind if I c-come in?” the hybrid asked cautiously.

“Buniq?,” The sniper said with surprise in her voice, “Of course I don’t.”

The clone slowly came inside, and sat down next to Ammelia. “H-How is she?”

“She’s in a lot of pain…” Ammelia sighed, “They’re planning on keeping her asleep until she recovers.”

“Oh...I w-wonder if t-the s-smart mac...macrophages w-would help with t-that in the f-future… X-Xaver told m-me I-I’m i-immune to s-some p-poisons…”

Ammelia tilted her head slightly, “Xaver?”

“T-The S-Sectoid we h-have h-here...t-the one t-that c-created m-me,” Buniq explained, realizing Ammelia didn’t know his name yet.

“Oh, the Sectoid…” She replied, a hint of disdain in her voice, “I forgot it was still here…”

Buniq looked at Ammelia with a little confusion. “H-He...uh...h-he and J-Jessica h-helped m-modify my p-plating s-so I c-can call it f-forth without h-hurting m-myself nearly a-as much.”

“It- He did?” Ammelia confirmed, “Why?”

Buniq nodded. “H-he s-sees me as h-his g-greatest a-achievement...s-something that m-makes him u-unique as a c-clone. A-And he s-seems to w-want to p-protect me.”

“So what, he sees you as some sort of trophy?”

The hybrid shook her head. “N-no...h-he’s n-not c-callous l-like the o-others...I w-wouldn’t s-say he’s v-virtuous...b-but…h-he s-seems to c-care, f-for one r-reason or a-another.”

“Please be careful around him…” The sniper replied, “I don’t think he’s trustworthy.”

“Wh-why?”

“He only wants to save his own hide.” Ammy answered, “If we get attacked again and he sees that we’re the ones losing, he’ll betray us in a second.”

“I-I d-don’t t-think t-they’d t-take h-him b-back n-now...h-he’s h-helped u-us t-too m-much…” Buniq stammered.

“Still, he only does what’ll benefit him. You said it yourself, he only protects you because you make him look good, not because he really cares.”

“I-I d-didn’t s-say t-that! I-I s-said I-I t-thought h-he c-cares...h-he c-couldn’t r-really e-e-explain h-his r-reasons f-fully…” Buniq countered weakly.

Ammelia noticed how upset her friend was becoming and sighed, “So, you really trust him?”

“H-He hasn’t g-given me a-a reason n-not t-to…” Buniq replied shakily.

“If you trust him then I’ll… Try to give him the benefit of the doubt…” The blonde responded.

Buniq started to say something, but then shook her head, seeming uncomfortable.

“Are you alright?” Ammelia asked caringly, noting the hybrid’s concern.

Buniq titled her head down. “W-why d-do you n-not l-like t-them s-so much...w-when you d-dont c-care w-what I a-am…”

“R-Remember when I told you that something bad had happened to me during the base defence?” She answered, hoping she wouldn’t have to go into detail.

“I-I do...d-did a S-Sectoid h-hurt y-you? T-That d-doesn’t m-mean a-all of them a-are b-bad…”

“He’s the one that turned you into a hybrid though…” Ammelia countered back.

“I-I w-was c-created a hybrid…” Buniq responded, seeming to gain a bit of confidence. “Without h-him...I wouldn’t exist. We w-would n-never have met.”

“You’re right… I guess he can’t be all bad if he brought you into the world.” Ammelia smiled a little.

“I d-don’t trust him c-completely...but I w-want to b-believe that A-Atka is right...that they’re n-not all bad,” Buniq explained more calmly.

“I want to too…” Ammy finished. Mary moved in her sleep a little and Ammelia took then rag off her head, dipping in it the ice cold water and re-applying.

“Y-You d-don’t have to b-be afraid of him, a-at least. A-all he c-can d-do offensively i-is ps-psi panic, and I u-understand h-how t-that works.”

“Psi-Panic is still a terrible ability… Reaching into someone’s mind to show them their worst fears is awful too…” The Sniper responded.

Buniq looked away from Ammelia. “D-does t-that make m-me a-awful for u-using i-it?”

“N-No… I… You use it to protect us…” Ammelia replied.

“T-Then i-it’s s-subjective, r-right? It j-just depends on w-who is u-using the p-powers...and w-why,” Buniq stated, glancing back over.

“I… Suppose so… The Aliens hurt people just to hurt people, but we do it to protect our friends and family.” She said, confirming.

“I know t-that some of t-the abilities are s-scary, but I t-trust most of the p-people on our s-side t-that have them, es-especially E-Elene and E-Emma.”

Ammelia’s eyes widened a little, “So, they weren’t just rumors? Elene and Emma are psions too?”

“I h-hear E-Emma is b-being tested s-soon, but E-Elene is,” Buniq explained. “Y-you’re n-not going to b-be afraid of h-her, are y-you?”

Ammelia gulped a little, but shook her head, “They… Know what they’re doing… I just hope they don’t let revenge corrupt them…”

“Elene w-won’t ever use m-mesmerism on u-us...e-especially you. S-She seems to r-really appreciate you a-as a friend...b-because of L-Lusett, I t-think,” Buniq offered.

“From what I remember of Lusett, she was very… determined…” Ammelia explained, “I have a feeling that they will do anything it takes to ensure Viktor’s death… Hopefully they won’t let their psionics get out of control in the process…”

“I t-think they c-can handle it...they’re too...uh...l-logical to let power get to t-their heads, r-right?”

“Yeah… They’re smart enough to learn how to control it.” The sniper agreed, “I just worry… about you… about them…”

“C-caution isn’t b-bad...but if y-you’re too w-worried about y-your c-comrades y-you can’t f-fight alongside them e-effectively,” Buniq returned.

“I think the worry helps me defend them… It let’s them know I want to protect them, right?”

Buniq nodded, and was quiet again, watching over Mary with Ammelia.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Rec-Room
Sept 18th, 1500 Hours

"It was so embarrassing!" Jessica took another sip from her ginger ale, then a big bite from her tuna-fish, peanut butter, and banana sandwich. "I tell you, Eva must have an iron-clad stomach not to barf when she was practically sliding me out of that suit."

"Hmm..." Jake shook his head, starring down at his drink. Noting a concerned look from his companion a few moments later, he said, "Oh, um... it... it's because of all those weird cravings you have now. I'm surprised you don't..."

"What's wrong, Jake?" Jessica asked softly.

"Wrong?" Jake smiled weakly. "Nothing, I'm... just tired."

"Jake, I might not have known you for long, but I've learned that, with you, 'I'm tired' means 'I'm depressed'. And considering you just lost a friend..."

Jake scratched the back of his head. "I... I didn't know Terry for long, but... to die so needlessly. Bad enough that he's gone, but he died saving Marina, who was only hurt because she had to... to save that jackass..."

"You don't... wish it had been him, do you?"

Jake quickly shook his head. "Of course not. It's just... it might not have happened if someone else... someone ready..." Jake squeezed his eyes shut. After a few moments, a pained expression on his face, he slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it, I... I feel so useless! People are out there dying for us, and I can't do anything. Even compared to you and the other lab techs. You research and design the things that keep them, and the base, safe. You... handle dangerous materials, even in your condition. I... I don't..."

"Stop it, Jake." Jessica gave him a stern, almost angry look. "You know that isn't true. We need guards, even if that was all you did. But you watch Brigid almost as much as anyone else. You read, arrange to watch movies, or play with the children here every other night. And you take care of a third of the therapy cases here, including with one of the legion people, rumor has it." Jessica's expression softened. "What would Atka think if she heard you talking like this?"

Jake covered his eyes with his palms, slowly shaking his head. "I... I can only act confident for so long. Eventually, she'll see... I don't know what she sees in me."

Jessica sat back. "That's easy, Jake. She sees good in you. Good that you are too... too wrapped up in self-doubt to see." She grabbed her sandwich, taking another bite while she thought of the best thing to say. After a minute of silence, she asked, "Have you met Modya?" Jake shook his head, pulling his hands from his eyes. "I love Modya so much, but... but he had a lot of problems when we first met. I saw... such a good man, kind and generous, with so much potential to do good. But all he saw in himself was a coward, and had such contempt for himself that he drove me away, not wanting my help because he didn't feel he deserved it. And he almost succeeded in doing just that. But I stuck by him. Sure, there were things he did to... to make me cry... to make me rage. But in the end, I held on to what I knew was true about him. And I'd like to think he sees it now to. He doesn't have the troubles he had before in combat, he talks to others more, has a circle of friends with the other heavies and rocketeers. I think Atka sees the same potential in you."

Jake starred at Jessica for a few moments, the young lab tech waiting for his response. Finally, he chuckled a bit. "Well, um... maybe Atka will be able to do for me what you did for Modya." He glanced at his watch. "At any rate, I have someone to talk with that needs a lot more help then I do. Did you look into that thing I mentioned?"

The green haired woman nodded. "I asked Alice to show me the files she got from the Ethereal base." She reached to her side, pulling some papers from a folder and handing them to Jake. "Obviously, I can't read it, but Alice assured me this might be the narcotic the Ethereal told Emily about."

"It is." Jake looked over the alien characters, slowly nodding. "At least, I'm pretty sure it is. It... it's been a while since I read a chemistry book, but these..."

"Can you read this?" Jessica asked in disbelief.

"Um... yeah, sort of." Jake traced his hands over the alien language. "One of their 'gifts' to me. It... it is hard to explain. When I look at, say... Kanji, I recognize what the symbols mean. But when I look at this, it still looks alien, but I... know what it... means. Somehow." He shrugged. "Anyway, it looks like most of these ingredients can be found on Earth... except for this one... and this one..."

"Can you... translate it for me?"

Jake bit his lip, and grabbed a napkin and a pen. "I'm not very good at this, but..." He drew two different chemical structures, and handed the napkin to Jessica. "The Xs are the elements I don't recognize... that I don't know how to translate."

"These... if these Xs are what I think they are, these can be derived from the Meld." She smiled. "It would take a while to manipulate the Meld in a way to get them out without them breaking down, but we should be able to do it."

"Good," Jake got up, and headed for the exit, calling back, "It looks like we both have a lot of work to do." He quickly turned back as he reached the door. "Oh, and Jess?"

"Yeah?"

Jake smiled. "Thanks."

Jessica smiled back. "Any time."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Main Infirmary
September 18th, 1600 Hours

"They're all fairly passive, most of the time," the nurse explained. "But they're obsessed with this drug they were given, this... 'special water'. It is linked to their idea of happiness, and the more we try to help them, the more they beg for it, and the more upset they are when we can't give it to them."

Jake nodded. "It... it's respondent conditioning. For them, the desire for the drug has become an involuntary reflex. Like a dog that is conditioned to sit when he hears a bell because he subconsciously associates it with a treat. They can't help it. Something burns them, they pull their hand away. They go under water, they hold their breath. They do what their told... they get their special water, and they don't understand why that isn't happening now."

"Can we do anything for them?" The nurse asked, frowning.

"We can. They'll never be at 100%, but we can get them pretty close. It'll just take time. Time and patience." Jake gave the nurse a stern look. "But there are two rules that everyone must follow. No exceptions. First, never promise them the drug, no matter how much they beg for it, no matter how much they demand it, and no matter how much they believe they've earned it. Even when we eventually get what we need to ease them off it, make sure they see it as something different. And two, never refer to them as Amelia. We need to re-attach them to their individuality and who they were. Slipping up on either of these, even once, could set us back to square one."

The nurse nodded. "I understand. I'll make sure everyone knows about this."

Tapping the woman on the shoulder, Jake stepped into the room. Closing the door behind him, he captiously approached the woman and sat next to her. Letting her take her time to adjust to his presence, Jake sat in silence for a full five minutes until she gave him a curious look. "I'm Jake. I'm... I'm here to talk with you. To... listen to you. To help you. Are you feeling alright? Do you need anything?"

The woman quickly shook her head. "No... no, nothing, I need nothing. I need... I need nothing."

Jake nodded. "Okay. But you can ask for something. Don't be afraid to ask. You're safe here, and I'll remind you of that however many times you need. So... I told you my name. What's yours?"

"I... I'm... A-Amelia. I'm... Amelia?"

Jake kept his gentle smile, expecting the answer. "Really? Because I heard from another woman named that that you had another name. A pretty name. Sybille, right?"

Sybille slowly nodded, then quickly shook her head. "No... no they said I'm... they said I'm Amelia. I need to be Amelia. I said I wasn't Amelia, and they wouldn't give me the water. The other Amelia... I said I was Sybille. She didn't make it hurt, but she wouldn't give me the water. It was because I was bad. Because I said I wasn't Amelia. I'm Amelia. I'm... Amelia."

"No, Sybille. She didn't give you the water because it's a lie." Sybille curled up in a ball, shaking her head. "Listen, Sybille. They didn't give you the water because you because you where good. They used it to control you. But we'll..."

"No!" A few tears rolled down the woman's eyes. "I need it. I don't... please, why are you doing this? I say I'm Amelia, you give me the special water. But you don't. I say I'm not, and still..."

"We're working on something to give you, Sybille. Something that..."

"The water?!" Sybille asked. "I want the water. I'll be good for it. I'll be Ameila. I'll be Sybille. I'll be..."

"Something better, Sybille," Jake insisted. "Something that'll make you feel good without the water. Something that will make it so you don't need it anymore." The unfortunate woman simply rocked back and forth. Jake reach for a sheet of paper in his pocket. "I know they told how important it was to be Amelia..."

"Amelia is special," she whispered. "Amelia is important. I am not important. I am not... special, unless I am Amelia."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Jake look at the paper. "Did you know that your name, Sybille, s-y-b-i-l-l-e, is derived from Sybil, s-y-b-i-l, a Greek name meaning prophetess? In Greek legend, the sibyls were female prophets who practiced at different holy sites in the ancient world. They prophesied at these holy sites, under the divine influence of one of the chthonic deities, including Demeter, goddess of harvest and fertility of the Earth, as well as other fertility goddesses, like her daughter, Persephone, goddess of vegetation and queen of the underworld. Pretty interesting stuff, if you ask me."

"Is... is Sybille... important too?"

Jake nodded. "She is. But this is just from your name. Can you tell me your last name? Maybe I can find out even more to find out what makes you special."

Sybille closed her eyes, looking as though trying to remember was painful. "It... I can't... Fisc... it was Ben... B-Bennett..."

Jake nodded, and stood up. "Sybille Bennett. Good. I'll find out what I can, and we'll talk again. You'll see, everything will be better. You'll see that your safe to be you again."

"Safe. Not... safe... want to be safe." Sybille closed her eyes. "Have to be good. Then Amelia will be safe, be happy. Amelia... Sybille... will get more water..."

Jake stepped out so she wouldn't see the smile slip from his face. As he walked out of the infirmary, he pulled out a note pad, writing down the last name, along with notes on her appearance, accent, and apparent age.

Stepping into Engineering, he walked to the back, and found the blond girl he was looking for. After nodding to Sunny, he asked Alice, "Do you have anything from Luxuria's base that look like they're records on where people might have been abducted from?"

"Um... yeah, I suppose." Alice frowned. "But they're pretty extensive. She had a lot of subjects there, and they didn't exactly organize them in a way..."

Jake shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Just give what you have. I'll sort it out myself... somehow..."

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Epiphany

Siberia, X-COM HQ, Forward Labs
September 19th, 1:30 AM (local time)


“So what did you do for your birthday while I was slaving away by myself?” Charles asked, finishing the end-of-day tidying of his desk. “You never said.”

“Went and had a drink with Ellie.” Upon seeing the blank look on his face, Penny elaborated further. “My roommate? The one who’s got the day shift while I have the night shift? I mention her at all?”

“Probably. You know how I am with names and people I’ve never met.”

Penny shook her head. “Anyway, we just sat at the bar, caught up, had a few laughs.”

“Rum?”

“Gone.”

“Godammit. Every time.”

“We did that for a while then I went to bed and she went off to find her boyfriend.” Her face crumpled inwards in an expression of disgust. “Ok, I was in charge of the laundry last week, and her clothes from that night stunk of sweat. Either she went to the gym and went hard at it or… something tells me I don’t want to know.”

“It could have been worse. Could have been your sheets too.”

Penny glared at him. “I don’t even want to think about that,” she muttered, hanging up her safety glasses and lab coat and walking briskly out the door, followed by a chuckling Charles.

“So then, debrief,” he said as they walked. “Worked out what that lightbulb thing is yet?”

“Pretty much,” Penny said, surprising him. “My initial suspicions were correct. It assists with the ionization process for the laser beam to actually fire, like a secondary, smaller pumper, end result being it’s slightly more powerful with than without it.”

“So then send a recommendation to engineering, get them to properly reverse-engineer it. Even with how close we are to a breakthrough on plasma, I’m sure the soldiers wouldn’t mind a bit of extra kick-”

“Not that simple. That particular component is too large to fit in our own beam weapons, at least not without sacrificing something else. Machinery? Sure. The MEC’s and SHIV’s could use ‘em, easy. But dropping that in a Pulse Stengun? No, no.” Penny frowned. “Maybe we could add an optic into the chamber. Like holding a magnifying glass to sunlight…” She stopped musing when they reached their destination – record keeping. “We’re here.”

“Never would have guessed,” Charles muttered, indicating the sign above the doorway. “Why do people say ‘we’re here’ whenever they arrive somewhere, anyway? For whose benefit is it? I mean, we know exactly where we are, it’s not like-“

Penny raised a finger to her lips. “Shush, you. Does it really matter if the forth wall has a few cracks in it?”

“I’m just saying.”

Penny rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s just get this done already. I’m hungry.”



*



“… so then I wake up and there’s this security guard poking me – poking me! – with the end of his rifle like I’m a Chryyssalid that may or may not be dead!” Charles laughed. “So I sat up really fast, and the poor guy jumps a couple of feet into the air, hits his head on the end of your desk, and makes a colossal fool of himself in front of his work buddies. I got a helluva headache from sitting up so damn fast, but it was so worth it.”

Penny tapped her fingers on the keyboard, unsure of how to search for the appropriate footage. “At least you had the luxury of playing dead the whole time. Meanwhile there I was, running around trying to keep my ass in one piece.”

Charles leaned over to check her and then righted himself. “You did a good job," he said with a wink.

“You shut your whore mouth.”

“Hey, hey! I’m not making frequent trip to the supply closets, am I?”

“Doesn’t mean you don’t try to. We all know about that incident with that other security guard.”

“I don’t count it as a ‘failed attempt’ if she’s taken to begin with.”

“She wasn’t taken, she just wanted you out of her hair.”

Charles’ expression fell. “Oh.”

“So much for your irresistible charm.”

“Yeah, well…” He scowled, and his shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. “Shut up.”

Penny merely beamed. “Check and mate, I believe.”

“The score’s even, I’ll have you know.”

“Do I look like a sports player?” When Charles didn’t answer, she smiled again. “Avoiding a loaded question, well done.”

“Speaking of avoidance…”

That drew a sigh from Penny. “Maybe they don’t even have the footage, or maybe it’s locked to staff, or maybe-“

Charles interrupted her. “Or maybe it isn’t. I don’t understand why you’re trying to get out of this. It’s not like we’re looking for images of corpses.” When Penny didn’t respond, he sighed. “For god’s sake, give me the keyboard, you’re playing it wrong.”

After some digging through the parts of X-COM’s database that were open to general staff, Charles finally found what he was looking for.

“It’s a video, probably one of the security cameras from the attack on our base.” He shrugged. “Not a picture like we were looking for, but so what? A video’s just lots of pictures shown one after another really fast, right?”

“Close enough.”

Without any further chatter, Charles opened the file. At first, the creature’s back was turned to them, too busy focusing on the soldiers firing all manner of projectiles and lights at it.

“So that’s an Ethereal, huh? Look at it just taking all that like it’s nothing!”

Penny glanced at him. “This isn’t a football game. Cut the-“ her eyes narrowed. “Wait, is that the Commander over there? Holy shit, I had no idea she was in the thick of it. Respect to her, jeez.”

Much as Penny was surprised to see the Commander in the video, that surprise was quickly overshadowed when the Ethereal turned to make it’s exit. Charles, too, saw it, his hand jabbing out and hitting the ‘pause’ button. They sat there for some time in silence, neither really willing to ask the other if they were seeing the same thing.

“Penny…”

“I see it.”

“What the hell is this?”

“It’s…” She gulped. “That Ethereal… it’s wearing my father’s mask.”

 

[Dahlexpert]

X-COM Headquarters
Living quartos
Sept 18th, 1700 Hours

Eva is holding a trash can next to her, drinking a bottle of water, just the thought of her striping Jessica and seeing Jessica covered in vomit.The thought alone is enough to cause Eva to dry heave.

"For the love of god something come up,Damn it. Eva grabs another bottle of water to keep her from puking. Ugh I don't want to get pregnant ever especially after helping Jess."

Eva spits into the trash can and wipes her mouth. Eva her's someone knocking on her door, Eva walks towards the door and sees Ashley with hr kid.

Ashley? To what do I ow the pleasure in this visit.

Um me and my wife need to work over time, and I don't want Cassia to be by her self. And since the commander is busy so can you watch Cassia for me?

Um Eva look down at the brown haired kid, i'm not good with kids.

Well, consider this practice for you and Jean one day, Ashley shoves Cassia into Eva's room. Now Cassia be on your best best behavior OK?

OK mom. Eva i'll be back in a few hours Ok see yea.

Wait Ashley i'm not good with ki... Ashley slams the door and heads towards the med bay. KidsEva looks down at Cassia.

Um hay.

Hello.

OK um crap, um what do you like ?

I like cartoons training reading and drawing.

Cartoons? what kind of cartoons?

Anime. Cassia looks at Eva's room and sees a guitar. Hay is that a guitar?

Yes yes it is.

Do you play it .

Not that often but, when I have the chance.

Can you play a song, can you sing?

No no no no, well not any more. I only sing in the shower.

Can I hear you play a song? Pretty please. Cassia gives her a puppy dog look.

God why are kids so darn cute, Fine i'll sing for you. Eva grabs her guitar and sit's in a chair. Alright any request?

Um, do you have any songs that you made up?

Sigh yes I do, alright let me play you an Eva original. Eva start's to play her guitar "Hay commander how do you deal with this....I know that the counsel is riding you off just waiting for to slip..... how do you go through days with out ripping you hair out Ou dear commander I know you must be tired ou so tired of dealing with this BS....I know you just want this to be done and gone so you can go back home and take care of your precious kid. And that's all I got.

Wow you sound amazing, how come you never done this more often?

I did but that was ages ago, But any way you said you like anime right?

Cassia nodes her head in agreement.

Well I think I have DBZ around here and I think luck stars is some were to.

How about this one. Cassia shows Eva her dvd of black lagoon. And Eva quickly snatches it away.

No this is not for little kids, but we can watch this instead Eva shows put's in her dvd of Log Horizon.

Both Eva and Cassia sit on Eva's bed watching Log Horizan.

Um miss Eva, why do you like this stuff?

Because I do that's just how I am.

Huh, I never meet some one as old as you like cartoons.

Well I do, I also like comic books and video games.

So your a big kid, in a way.

Yes in a way i'm just a big kid, but this is who I am.

 

[MarineAvenger]

New Beginnings: Going Through a River of Filth... (MarineAvenger, ZombieSplitter53, DarkGemini42601)

Desmond's Personal Lab
September 19th
1300 Hours

Desmond stood in the middle of his lab looking over some 3D models of some schematics and ate a small lunch. Ryan had taken the day off cause he was feeling a bit under the weather and to be honest, Desmond wasn’t faring much better. He had a mild headache and his cough had intensified over the week and he was debating whether or not he would request for some sick leave. Knowing Elizabeth she would take time off just to take care of him and blow things out of proportion.

He loved the girl to death but she did have her moments. Desmond covered his mouth with his arm as he coughed into his arm once more and shook his head, putting his sandwich back on the plate on a nearby table. Desmond covered his mouth again but with each heave his chest made the pain in it grew more and more. If Ryan has gotten me sick I swear I’ll…

Desmond’s thought was interrupted as his coughing didn’t stop and his throat burned a little. When it finally subsided, Desmond took in a deep breath and leaned against the table. “Damn it...haven’t felt this sick since my first weeks in Japan.” He went to scratched his nose but Desmond’s hand stopped before he reached it as he looked down where his hand had been. The spot had a partial, bloody palm print on it. He turned his hand around and there was an astounding amount on his hand.

For the first time, Desmond felt the drumming of his pulse in his ears and the dizziness that came after. “What the hell is...happening?” The same beating in Desmond’s chest thumped hard and nearly skipped a beat, causing Desmond to fall over in pain. He clutched the spot where his heart was and tried to gasp for air as his coughing returned and this time, specks of blood flew out with each one. He tried his best to pull himself up or call out for help but the only sound that escaped from his mouth was the coughs.

Desmond’s coughing slowly subsided, but as they did, the beating in Desmond’s ears began to slow in both rhythm and intensity and the pain in his chest began to flow away as well. The last thing Desmond remembered was his eyes closing slowly and the thumping in his chest slowly coming to a halt.

Needing to consult one of her top psions after the last mission, Morrigan stepped into Desmond’s lab. Noting the fallen soldier, she rushed to his side. “Desmond! Desmond, what happened?!” Getting no response, she looked around the room. “Um… uh… computer… Sora! Sora, are you here?”

Sora came into the the room in his holoprojection though he looked a bit in pain. “The hell happened? I am on a different server when all of a sudden some of my primary systems crashed…” He finally noted the soldier on the ground and was stunned to say the least. “The bloody hell happened?!”

“I don’t know!” Morrigan looked up. “Just… contact the medical ward, get someone down here now!”

Sora was stagnate for a few moments and he nodded. “Done…”

Desmond was rushed to the Medical Ward as soon as help arrived and the doctors worked fast trying to stabilize the soldier. His heart had stopped and there was blood flowing into his lungs at a slow but steady rate. The medical staff, after a few hours of surgery, managed to get his heart beating and able to drain the blood from his lung, patching up the spot where the blood was coming from with Meld.

With nothing more they could do but wait, Desmond was placed in an ICU room on a respirator, no one knowing when the man would even wake up.

Morrigan stood outside his room, watching as the man slept. After a few minutes, the holo-generators kicked on, and Alice’s hologram appeared next to the Commander. “You… wanted to see me?” She asked softly.

Morrigan slowly nodded. “I want you to talk to Elene and her A.I. Have them comb their files for what this might be. Have Sora do the same. And tell him to check Desmond’s personal files. Knowing that man, he could know what this is but hide it from everyone, even his own friends and computer. And… tell Atka what is going on.”

“I will.” Alice bowed her head, and vanished. Morrigan continued to watch Desmond in silence, unsure how to react anymore. “That’s two now… damn it…”

It was not long before Elene and Avanix arrived, significantly before news got to Atka. The heiress had a pale expression as she walked in and looked over Desmond. “Avanix...do you think…”

“It appears the previous diagnosis was incorrect,” Avanix agreed.

Morrigan raised an eyebrow at the android. “Please tell you aren’t referring to something important I should have been informed about long ago.”

“You would be incorrect in that assumption. You are likely aware of the fact that Desmond’s template is deceased. When he was being cloned, Lusett and I were concerned that the disease that was killing him might be genetic.” The original A.I. sighed. “The results came up inconclusive, and we thought that it was merely an exotic disease he had contracted...but it seems that our fear was indeed correct.”

Morrigan closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “Does Desmond know how his… ‘brother’ died?”

Sora appeared next to Morrigan, his arms crossed and even though he wasn’t a normal human, his projection looked pale. “He knew. There was...a video we obtained when we hacked Viktor’s computer explaining Desmond’s true origins.”

“What was on it exactly?” Morrigan asked, the anger clearly building in her expression.

“A hidden video file from Lusett’s encrypted stuff. It dated a few days after the Template’s death.” Sora looked at Elene and Avanix. “He was going to show you, he just didn’t know how to do it.”

“Anything I ought to know?” Elene asked, her expression not a pleasant one.

Sora rolled his eyes and held out his hand, a video projection coming up from it and the video played for the three to see. “That is what was on it...he didn’t know what to make of it at first. Just watched it over and over a couple of days after the mission.”

Morrigan sighed, and ran her hand down her face. “It is just one thing after…” She stepped away, clenching her fist. “Alright, so… if this… I-I’m not doctor, I don’t know anything about things like this, but… but if it followed him through the cloning process, whatever this is has to be genetic, right?”

Elene nodded. “I will do my best to attempt to correct the problem. With such a better understanding of the Tz6… perhaps I can do what mother couldn’t do for his predecessor.”

The doctor from Desmond’s room opened the door and wiped his hands together, both in nervousness and a little excitement. “You can come in now, he is slowly regaining consciousness.”

Morrigan nodded. She turned to Elene. “Do… you want to speak with him alone first?”

“If that would be acceptable,” the heiress responded. Morrigan motioned for the doctor to talk with her, letting Elene have a moment alone with her brother.

Elene walked into the room, and sat down at a chair beside the bed. “How...are you feeling, Desmond?”

 

[MarineAvenger]

New Beginnings: ...And Coming Out Clean on the Other Side (MarineAvenger, ZombieSplitter53, DarkGemini42601)

The tube to the respirator had been removed from Desmond and he turned his head to look at Elene and smiled weakly. “Like shit…”

“It would appear that the disease that killed your template is hereditary,” Elene explained. “However, with the Tz6 at my full disposal, I should be able to prevent it from getting that far.”

He nodded slowly. “Can wait...to get an ear full...for this one…”

“This does pose a problem for you. If this is not going to get any better, or relapse, in the near future, you wouldn’t be able to go on missions,” Elene warned.

“Oh I am sure...you will...think of something. I...trust you.” Desmond smiled again.

Morrigan peeked her head inside. “You two need more time?”

“You can...come in…” Desmond spoke up.

The Commander take a seat next to Desmond, and smiled softly. “This… is probably a stupid question, but I have to ask. How… do you feel?”

“Like Moscow coming back...for round two. How are...you?”

“I’ve been better.” The smile slipped from Morrigan’s face. “I just found out one of my best men… on of my friends… is sick, and he might have already known and not told me.”

Desmond smirked. “If I told you...everything, our relationship...would be boring…” He joked.

Morrigan sighed. “I’m sure you’re expecting a lecture now, aren’t you?”

Desmond waved his hand lazily. “Ask my girlfriend...when she eventually comes.”

“Then I’ll leave it in her hands. She seems to be the best suited to get you to listen to reason.” Morrigan reached forward, grasping Desmond’s hand with a mother’s tenderness. Glancing at the woman next to her, she said, “Elene has my full disposal to figure this out. I’m not going to build you up with false hopes, but with the Meld… or Tz6, whatever you want to call it… well, Lusett didn’t have that when she cloned you. But it’ll take time, and before we can fix the problem, we… have to figure out what it is.”

Desmond tried to sit up further. “You know me, I will be back to myself in a couple of hours. This won’t...beat me.”

The Commander shook her head. “I’m sure you will be. But just to be careful, you should probably take a few days off.” Her expression turned serious when she remembered who she was talking to. “I mean that. I am asking, as a friend, please, please, don’t make me ask Elene to have her mechanized friend here hold you down.”

“As strong as you might be, you would not win a contest of strength,” Avanix stated.

“You’re mean…” He teased Avanix. “Alright, just keep me company and I promise not to walk out in the first couple of day. No promises though.” The man chuckled weakly before cough a bit.

“How… would you like Elizabeth to know?” Morrigan asked. “Would you like one of us to tell her? It isn’t like it’ll take her long to find out, being a doctor.”

Desmond waved his hand again. “Not right away. Besides,” Desmond grinned satisfied. “I am only in trouble if I get caught.”

The door to the room got kicked open and Ellie stood in the doorway, halfway between crazy and worried.

Desmond’s face fell. “I’m in trouble…”

Morrigan couldn’t help but grin. Walking over to the door, she extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you in person, Dr. Rinly.”

Elizabeth smiled and took her hand. “Nice to meet you to Commander.” She glanced sidewards, angrily at the man in the bed.

“Um...Morrigan, you won’t leave me alone in here without a weapon, right?” His eyes grew a little wide. “Right?”

The Commander shrugged. “Oh, come now. Sweet looking thing like this. I’m sure you can handle yourself.” She gave a quick wink to Elene.

“I shall leave your to your fate, brother,” Elene decided.

Morrigan leaned close to Ellie. “Don’t be… too rough on him…” She stepped out, Elene and Avanix following closely.

Desmond gulped and looked at Ellie nervously.

The doctor growled at him but her shoulders just slumped and she shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?”

Desmond’s breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cleared his throat. “Oh I don’t know, not like I can predict when these things happen.” He slumped back in his bed. “Not like I enjoy making you worried.” He muttered.

Elizabeth smiled warmly. “I know. How are you feeling?” She asked, unaware this was the third time he was asked this in the span of almost 10 minutes.

“Peachy, how about you?”

“Well I am in the middle of doing paperwork when a coworker of mine tells me a certain someone with the description matching heavily of my boyfriend was rushed into ICU and I had to beg my manager to let me take the rest of the day off...so pretty good.”

Desmond chuckled. “You are so weird.”

Elizabeth smiled playfully. “And that is why you love me!” She sat down in the chair Elene had been sitting in and scooted close to the bed. “I just worry sometimes. Between your medical problems and going out into the field I feel like having a heart attack just thinking about it.”

“Who knows, maybe they would put us in the same room.” Desmond joked.

Elizabeth snickered. “Maybe.” Elizabeth looked down at the floor with a shallow smile. “I just want us to be together. Nothing makes me happier. I just…” Ellie looked like she was about to cry.

Desmond reached out and touched her face. “You know how much you mean to me. You are the first person I ever fell in love with...you will always be special to me.”

“I know.” Ellie wiped her eyes and looked up. “I guess I can’t think of how you might leave me, and just focus on us being together.”

Desmond smiled again and pulled Elizabeth in and whispered into her ear.

Elizabeth pulled back, utterly shocked. “Wha-what!?”

Desmond nodded his head seriously.

The tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face. “Are you serious? Do you mean…”

Desmond nodded again.

Elizabeth covered her mouth, unable to control herself now. “I don’t believe this…”

Desmond smiled, the biggest he ever did. “Will you marry me?”

Elizabeth threw her arms around Desmond. “Yes!”

Desmond hugged her tightly and couldn’t help by cry a little himself.

Elizabeth wiped her face and ran to the door, calling Morrigan and Elene to come back in and join them, before she ran back and nearly jumped on Desmond.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
"Maid of Honor"

X-COM Headquarters
Rec-Room
Sept. 20th, 1200 Hours

Alexia slowly tapped her fingers against the table, eager to catch up with her best friend. Scheduling conflicts and Alex’s own availability limit meant they’d barely spent time with each other, aside from a quick word here or there. She sipped on some soda, watching the doorway like a hawk watching a rabbit hole.

Elizabeth walked in with a large smile and adjusted her flat cap, eyeing her friend and giving a quick wave and walked over giving her a hug. “Hi Alex!”

Alexia squeezed her back, her slightly bulging belly making her have to try a little harder to get her arms around her friend. “I’m glad you could come. You sure you aren’t too… busy? I heard that Desmond collapsed.”

“Nah, don’t worry, I just got back from seeing him a couple of hours ago.” Elizabeth threw her arms up. “Look at you! I still can’t believe you are going to be a mommy.”

“Does it show too much?” Alexia looked down at herself, a bit concerned. “Because Jessie keeps eating all these strange things, and I can’t keep up in the gym.”

“Oh you look fine considering you have a tiny person in you.” Elizabeth smiled innocently and clapped her hands together. “So how have you been other than regular pregnancy stuff?”

“Alright, considering everything that’s been going on.” Alexia leaned back in her chair. “Along with Jessie, I worked with that Sectoid guy… um, Xaver, Xavier, something like that… to help that Chryssalid girl with her plates. We’re closer to ever to using our own plasma weapons thanks to one of the other techs. Um… oh, Modya met my mom with Jessie, and I heard that went pretty well. The only other thing I can think of us my… OVERWHELMING desire to meet that Ethereal, but Jessie’s put her foot down on that.”

“Overwhelming huh? Are you that enthused to talk to an alien like that? I heard she does some crazy things to people.” Elizabeth warned.

“Yeah, I guess, but…” Alexia leaned forward. “I… just like learning about them. I was always into aliens as a kid, and now, not only are we fighting them, but I get to work with a couple of them. And I don’t wanna make friends with the Ethereal, I just want to… learn something.” She shrugged. “But… like you said, she’s done some crazy stuff. Jessie is probably right to say no, especially since we’re eating for two… err, three.”

Ellie shrugged as well. “Well it isn’t my place to tell you what you can and can’t do. If you are enthused about it then you should go for it.” Elizabeth ran her fingers through her air and looked around, a bit fidgety than usual.

“Are you okay?” Alexia frowned. “I’m sorry, I… I should have asked about Desmond. Is he doing okay? He’s awake now, right?”

Elizabeth nodded her head. “Yeah, yeah he is doing better than before but…” Elizabeth put a hand over her mouth. “I have something important to tell you...it involves Desmond…”

Alexia leaned in close. “Yeah? What is it?”

Elizabeth smiled widely and she wrapped her fingers together. “Alex...I’m getting married.”

Alexia chuckled. “Y-you… you what?”

Elizabeth nodded slightly. “Desmond asked me after he woke up. I said yes. Alex...I’m getting married.” She repeated.

Alexia screamed loudly, an odd screech that might make one think she was in pain if not for the ecstatic look on her face. Ignoring the looks she got from the rest of the bar, she tightly grasped Elizabeth’s hands. “Ellie, that… that’s wonderful!”

Elizabeth laughed and cried at once as she hugged her best friend. “I’m getting married!”

“I know, you said that already!” Alexia cried back. “But I don’t… when… when are you going to do it? Are you going to do it here?”

Ellie nodded, trying to compose herself. “We are going to have a small ceremony on base and make it official when the war ends.” Elizabeth almost didn’t know what else to say to express her excitement.

Alexia nodded. “Yeah? I’m sure the Commander would be glad to hold the service.” Alexia traced her fingers across the table. “Do you… know who you’re going to be your… bridesmaids?”

Elizabeth smiled. “Well you obviously! I also have others on my mind but you MUST be there! Besides, this all happened because of you.”

Alexia shook her head. “What? No, I… what did I do? You two worked on the relationship, and you stuck by his side. All I remember doing is yelling at Desmond.”

“It was because of your yelling we got into a relationship in the first place. I owe everything to you for what you did!” Elizabeth stated.

“Well, I… I guess I did help.” Alexia laughed. “This is just too great. I’m sorry I can’t share a celebratory drink with you.”

Elizabeth shook her head and hands. “Sorry but no drinks for me either. After that one hangover we had, I am good for at least the rest of my life.” She joked.

Alexia placed her chin in her palm. “There must be something we can do. Too bad I don’t know any guys here to convince to give you a striptease and a bachelorette party.”

Elizabeth blushed slightly and turned her head away. “Sorry, this is fine for me...besides, Desmond is the only the one for me now…” Cause you will definitely not find out about Eve...hopefully.

Alexia tilted her head slightly, a big smile on her face. “Wow. Don’t tell me I embarrassed you for a change.” She giggled. “Maybe once Desmond gets better, I can yell at him until he gives you that striptease.”

Elizabeth slapped her friend’s arm and looked away with an annoyed face that was even redder. “I guess I could say the same about Modya, couldn’t I?”

Alexia only rubbed her chin. “Hey, now… that isn’t a bad idea. You think we could get them to do it at the same time? Maybe see which one is better?”

Elizabeth smacked her head against the bar. “Maybe you won’t be a bridesmaid after all…”

Alexia placed her head down. “Oh, don’t say that. I’m only teasing you. I just wish I could do more to show how happy I am for you. I’m afraid my company and teasing is all I can offer.”

Elizabeth turned her head and smiled, sticking her tongue out. “I know.” Elizabeth sat back up and fixed her hair. “I have no idea when the ceremony will be though. I want it to be done as soon as possible but I am afraid it will be too soon...what do you think?”

“Well… we’ll want Desmond back on his feet first. But considering how hectic things tend to get around here, I’d definitely say sooner is better.”

Elizabeth sighed happily. “I hoped you would agree as well…” Elizabeth shot up from her stool. “There is soo much to do...I need something resembling a dress, I need to invite people, ask someone in engineering if they could make a pair of rings…” Elizabeth growled. “This is going to be frustrating.”

“Not if I can help it.” Alexia stood up too. “You work on the invitations. I’ll ask Sunny if someone in engineering can work on the rings, and I’ll help you ask around for a dress. Alice held on to a bunch of clothes from the Ethereal base, I’m sure she might have something in your size, or at least something that can be modified.”

Elizabeth threw her arms around her friend. “This is going to be awesome!”

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and MarineAvenger: “Not so Artificial”

XCOM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1730 Hours, September 20th, 2018
Legion Command Center

Avanix gazed over the early designs for the blaster launcher with approval. “With the fusion cores now in XCOM’s possession, it might be possible to make these before the rest of the plasma weaponry...something Vee would likely approve of.” Closing the tab, Avanix refocused on tweaking the ghost armor specs to increase productivity.

Sora was sifting through data by himself, his processing power slowly coming back to full power now that Desmond was getting better. Being connected to Desmond directly was a little irritating at times but he had no desire to remove himself from the man. He felt that he was needed in Desmond’s head, like a sidekick or a friend, whatever made him feel better about himself. Sora sighed in a disapproving tone and stopped the data flow, going off in the servers for some time away from ‘work’. Sora found himself wandering more in the Legion servers for no particular reason but Sora felt now was the time to take Desmond’s advice and he went on the search for Avanix.

The original A.I. looked up from her work as Sora passed through the door into the room. “Hello, Sora. What brings you here?” Avanix asked curiously.

Sora looked at Avanix and he nodded his head in a greeting, putting his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. “Got tired of being bored, thought I would go for a stroll...just so happens I found you.”

“Perhaps things would be easier if you had your own body,” Avanix suggested, sitting down in her chair.

Sora looked down at himself. “I don’t know...a body has so many limitations that I find a pain to think about dealing with. Though the thought has crossed my mind.” Sora’s tone didn’t have the usual light expression that he normally had being his joking, sarcastic self, but was more somber today. The male A.I. shook his head.

“It does not have to be permanent. I often jump out of this frame in order to carry out activities in other parts of the base, or when I focus my processing power to important tasks.” Avanix looked Sora over. “You are worried about Desmond still?”

Sora raised an eyebrow and gave a nervous chuckled. “When have you known me to care for human life?” Sora asked, avoiding the question.

“I can think of several instances...but if that is not it, than what is?” she continued.

Sora ‘sniffed’ and scratched his nose with a finger. “That is the question, isn’t it?” Sora leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Maybe it is the fact that for the first time in my existence I actually don’t want to say what is on my mind.”

“I might be able to hazard a guess at what it is, then,” Avanix decided.

Sora’s face fell a little and he seemed to press harder against the wall. “My feelings for you are no secret. Though I know the difference between real and artificial, I am unsure as to where to place this…”

“What do you mean?” Avanix inquired.

Sora stared at Ava, his face passive, showing no real emotion, which for Sora was a huge deal. “Me and you share various amounts of programming and lines of code. I don’t know if the way I feel is because of that or if these emotions are real, developing over time.”

Sora sighed. “To be honest, Desmond was the one to coax me into this but I know you don’t feel the same way. I may not listen to logic a whole lot but I know what is fact or just plain stupidity. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if you despised me for who I am considering my reason for creation and the harm I have caused.”

“Incorrect. You should consider these things for longer,” Avanix stated. “I am unsure of what to feel in this situation, but I do not honestly believe that your attraction is artificial. Humans that are alike often are drawn together, I do not see how this is any different.”

Sora was silent, unsure of what to say. Sora squeezed his hand into a fist and stared down at it. “So you honestly don’t hate me at all? How do you know that deep down I am just here to gain trust and destroy all of you when I finally do earn it. How can you possibly sit there and say that you don’t hate me for the fact that Viktor was the one who created me!” Sora slammed his fist against the wall. “How can you…”

“Viktor was willing to dispose of you, as well. Just as Lily does not hate Desmond, even considering…” Avanix trailed off. “Let alone the fact that you have proven time and again that you never followed his directives completely. Viktor is not clever enough for such an elaborate scheme, this much alone should be enough.”

Sora closed his eyes and dropped his fist. “I am nothing but an egotistical, sarcastic, narcissistic A.I. and yet you still stand up for me…”

“Between Legion’s staidness and an army of clones it is refreshing,” Avanix countered.

“Always an answer, huh?” Sora slid down to the floor and wiped his face. “I swear one day this job will be the absolute death of me.”

“You seem to share my propensity to avoid dying,” Avanix replied, before smiling slightly. “And I realize you weren’t being literal.”

“Oh no, I am being literal. I have a creeping suspicion my systems will just melt down and implode on itself.” Sora informed her sarcastically.

Avanix chuckled. “Well, I’m not sure what to do with you then. Perhaps I will just have to scrap you for parts.”

“Oh yeah, then I will rest in peace knowing you are using me for science.” Sora smiled lightly. “So what does this mean for...us, exactly?”

“I would be willing to attempt the relationship you seek. If nothing else, it will be an interesting experiment,” Avanix confirmed.

“Oh well, you sound enthusiastic, don’t you?” Sora smile widened.

“I may overload,” Avanix replied.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
"Self-Sacrificing"

X-COM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
Soldier Barracks, Room of Atka & Ayame
September 20th, 1800 Hours

Eve took a deep breath, and slowly knocked on Atka’s door. “Hello? I know it is getting late, Atka, but I was hoping you were available.”

A yawn came from inside the room, and the door opened halfway, Atka standing in the gap. “Hi, Eve. What can I help you with?”

Eve gave her an apprehensive look. “You… I know you’ve been busy lately. Did you… happen to see the last mission?”

Atka’s expression fell. “I...did. How is she?”

“She’s… recovering. That bullet her friend made did it’s job, but there was a while their where we weren’t sure we could stop the bleeding.” Eve looked down. “I’m afraid it’ll be a while until she is back to full strength. I mean… she’ll probably be out of the infirmary in a week, but…”

“It had an effect on her psionics and overall health, didn’t it?” Atka confirmed. “So, what do you need me to do?”

Eve rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, for starters… it is important for you to understand, with Desmond out, and the weeks, maybe months, it’ll take for Aya to get all her abilities back, you’re the only experienced psion here. People will be relying on you more now, especially the other psions.” Eve bowed her head a bit. “I just want you to know, I’m at your full disposal. I’ll help you any way I can.”

“It’s alright...I’ve already been teaching my squad members with psionics, after all,” Atka explained. “Though I hope people understand that my duties as an officer will often conflict with my ability to help them.”

Eve nodded. “Of course, Atka. The same went for Aya. That is what I’m here for. I can assist you during training sessions, especially if people need training partners for you to observe them with. I organize schedules, arrange time slots so things don’t conflict with your training, take appointments so you aren’t bogged down, do any research you need, including the progression anyone has made in their abilities so you can be prepared when you see them, and organize other things, like bringing you meals when you are busy.”

Atka nodded. “I appreciate the help, though you don’t have to be my servant,” she explained with a slight smile, but it quickly faded again to a more sedate expression. “You make it sound as if I’m becoming the Central Officer in her place.”

Eve shook her head. “No, no, not… not exactly, but…” Eve scratched her chin. “It’s just that… Aya said she trusted you, and after what happened to her, she… wanted to be prepared in case she… in case she… doesn’t… make it next time…” She dipped her head. “It isn’t like you are being prepared to replace her, but… she wants your help, but she doesn’t want to put a lot on your shoulders, especially with what you already put up with. And neither do I.”

Atka shook her head. “I’m fine with helping out, I just...I hope she’s not losing her will to fight. If you go into battle expecting to die...chances are you will.”

Eve continued to look at the floor, as if afraid to look at Atka. “I… I don’t… I’m afraid, Atka…”

“What exactly...happened to make her lose so much confidence?” Atka asked quietly.

“I… can I come in?” Eve asked in a practical whisper. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about it out here.”

Atka realized she had been making Eve stand there, and nodded, opening the door fully. “Come in.” The Inuit woman sat down on her bed, leaving the chair to Eve.

Slowly sitting down, Eve sighed. “Aya… she tries to act cold, calculating, all that. But it is only on the outside. Inside, she’s an extreme humanitarian. She hates to see others in pain, even a little bit. Thats why she often volunteers herself to let others practice their abilities on her. So they won’t have to practice on others. And the thought of letting others die, especially on her watch, is gut wrenching to her. So… after… you know…”

“I was wrong to think she had recovered from that…” Atka sighed. “I just...I don’t know what to say to her. She seems a lot wiser than the rest of us, and yet… she’s still laid this low by everything.”

“Can I tell you something? Something only I and the Commander know about?” Eve looked up. “Something from… before we came here?”

“I’m not going to tell anyone else...but only tell me if you think it’s right; I wouldn’t want to pry,” Atka responded.

“It’s okay. Aya would want you to know. She just doesn’t like to talk about it.” Eve took a deep breath. “Aya originally worked for the New York City police, and later a special division of the FBI. She was always concerned with the safety of others, but she knew losses were a part of the job. But… when she tried to leave that world behind, start a family with the man she loved, away from that part of her life, that part came back to haunt her, and it took away the one person who she never thought she could lose. Worse yet, it was on the day of her wedding.”

Atka looked down. “I...I can’t imagine…” she tried to say, her voice shaky.

“We were never able to find everyone responsible, but we believe they were the remnants of the group that made me. After she was asked to join X-COM, she thought she had hardened herself enough to handle the losses, and she might have been, had it not been from India. Since then, she’s been haunted by the idea of that mission repeating itself, and that all culminated the other night.” Eve shook her head, and gave Atka a stern look. “She isn’t finished. Not by a long shot. That isn’t what I’m afraid of. What I’m afraid of is the idea of her needlessly sacrificing herself because she is too afraid to lose anyone.”

“Well...for starters, let’s hopefully have some better way of dealing with traps than a direct assault next time. Not that I’m saying that was her fault…” Atka rubbed the back of her neck. “I just hope she can understand what you want her to. I’m not much help there, since I’m probably just as bad about self-sacrifice.”

“Why?” Eve asked. “People count on you, just like her. I’m not saying everyone isn’t important, but you’re one of a handful of people I… I can’t imagine completing this war without. We need you, Atka.”

“I know that...I just don’t think I could ever send people to their deaths for a greater cause. Especially not those I fight alongside regularly,” Atka explained.

Eve closed her eyes. After a few moments, she slowly nodded. “I… I guess that’s why people trust you so much. You’re strong… you’re skilled. But in the end, that doesn’t compare to the confidence of knowing you’re working under someone that is dedicating to you getting home alive.” She chuckled grimly. “I… must sound like a coward, questioning you like that.”

“You don’t Eve…” Atka said weakly.

Eve stood up, and stood before Atka, folding her arms. “Well, it is your job to keep others alive. It is my job to make sure you don’t sacrifice yourself in the process. Like I said, I’m here to help. And I mean it. Please, whatever you need, I’m here for you.”

Atka nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The young, blond woman knelt down and smiled. “And I hope to get to know you a little more too. I feel it is a shame we haven't had more chances to do so. And I’m sure there is a thing or two you could teach me. Who knows? Maybe I can even teach you something.”

“Maybe...though I’d rather not go around possessing people. Bad memories…” Atka shook her head, thinking about Keiko.

Eve laughed, and headed for the door. “Good point. Probably not the best thing for the reputation. I’ll have to think of something else I’m knowledgeable about, then. I’m sure I can come up with something. I do have a wealth of knowledge… not to brag…”

 

[MarineAvenger]

Under A Rock (Dahlexpert & MarineAvenger)

Eva and Desmond's Room
September 21st, 2018
1500 Hours

Eva entered her and Desmond’s room after coming back from training. “Ah, nothing like a good day of training. Hey Desmond I...” Eva looked around their room to see Desmond was not there. “Huh, that’s odd. I wonder where he is? He wasn't in the training room, so where the hell is he?”

Sora came up on the computer in the room and he cleared his throat. “You didn’t hear what happened? You been under a rock the past few days?”

Eva looked at Sora “Well sorry but, I’ve been in the hospital for two days, then I had to babysit. So yeah, I’ve been very busy for the past few days. Why, what happened?”

Sora sighed. “The illness that Desmond’s template had caught up to him. He collapsed and was rushed to the ICU in the Medical Ward.”

“He what! God, that bloody fool.” Eva headed towards the Medical Ward and saw Desmond in the ICU bed, looking like he seen better days. She also saw a woman she never seen before. Eva walked in and sat next to Desmond, punching him on the top of his head. “You bloody fool, I leave you alone for a few days and you nearly die on me.”

Desmond winced at the hit and the woman next to him jumped back in shock, her mouth hanging open. Desmond rubbed his head and sat up. “A simple hello would have sufficed Eva.”

“Kiss my ass cyborg” Eva put her hand on Desmonds head. “You fucking fool, how the hell did this happen? What caused this?”

Desmond pushed her hand away and shook his head. “I am fine now, this is only a precaution until Elene comes up with either a cure or at least a way to try and prevent this from happening again.” Desmond sighed. “Anyways, you already know I am a clone of Viktor’s brother so long story short, the illness that killed him is heretical and now is slowly killing me.”

“Well that’s just fucking beautiful. I might have to talk to Elene and see if I can help in some way.” Eva noticed the woman across from Desmond looking concerned.”Who the heck are you?”

The woman looked at Eva and Desmond, slightly confused, not knowing what to say.

Desmond sighed and waved his hand to the girl next to him. “Eva meet Elizabeth Rinly, my ex girlfriend.”

“Well an ex? Sorry to hear that. Hi, I’m Eva Aegerter and I’m just Desmond’s roommate. And nothing more.” Eva extended her hand “Nice to meet you.”

Elizabeth took her hand and shook it, immediately after slapping Desmond’s arm. “I am not technically his ex-girlfriend…”

Eva raises an eyebrow “Soooo, what are you then? Are you his girlfriend? Friend with benefits? What?”

Desmond and Elizabeth looked at each other and back at Eva. “Fiance.” They both responded.

Eva’s eyes widened. “Oh, you’re my sister in law.” Eva looked back at Desmond “So how long has this been a thing, please tell me this was recent and not a thing that’s been going on for months.”

Desmond shook his head. “I proposed shortly after I woke up.”

“Well then, welcome to the family.” Eva said with a smile and then looked back at Desmond. “Now back to you, how fast is this thing killing you?”

Desmond shrugged his shoulders. “We can’t put an exact time frame on it since so little is known about the brother’s past. All we know is that I could be fine one minute and my heart stops the next, hence why I am confined here till further notice, or Elene finds a solution.”

Eva rubbed her head. “Good lord. Wait, Desmond, what did Lusett do to you exactly? Because I might have an idea to help.”

Desmond looked at her confused. “What? Lusett didn’t do anything to me. The illness is heretical, since I am a direct clone there was a chance of it happening. Besides, even if XCOM’s top doctors and Legion’s best scientist are stumped, how could you possibly help?”

“Well, when Lusett was reviving me, she replaced my blood with some sort of drug. I want to say it will help you but…” Eva looked at her arm “I’m not sure if I can or not but it’s worth a shot right?”

Desmond shook his head. “It isn’t my call to make anymore unfortunately. You would either have to convince Elene or Morrigan to even consider it and even then you aren’t a trained doctor.”

“Well I can’t let you die, not yet anyways. I need your help against Viktor, but yeah...I might have to talk to Elene, because let’s face it, Elene is probably the one to talk to about this since the Commander is no doctor or scientist either.”

“Well, you get points for trying at least.” Desmond shook his head and laid back in the bed. “Anything else you want to say? I have an appointment with a doctor later and I have some stuff to talk to Ellie about in private.”

“Yeah, Ellie, once he’s cured make sure he eats, drinks and be on a regular diet, because let’s face it, Desmond kinda doesn't know how to take care of himself.”

Ellie nodded with a smile. “Way ahead of you!”

Desmond rolled his eyes. “I swear, every woman on this base is out to get me…” He mumbled.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Adrammalech & ZombieSplitter53
Language Lessons with Amelia Fischer

X-COM Headquarters
Rec-Room

Jake slowly tapped his foot to TNT playing on the jukebox as he slowly looked between several different pieces of paper, each filled with notes, diagrams, and a variety of alien letters, all while writing down the occasional note in a notebook of his own. He noticed the occasional odd look from the other patrons from his lone corner, knowing they were likely less curious about him, and more curious about the three distinctive helmets sitting on the table in front of him. Of course, he was more put off by the eyes of the helmets, each seemingly staring into his soul, but her felt it was better to have them face him then to creep out everyone else in the room.

Emily dropped down into the seat across from him, her hands falling onto one of the masks and holding it up in front of him.

“Ooh, you keep staring and you’ll have to give me a kiss,” Emily mimed with the mask, making a silly voice to accompany it.

Jake shuddered a bit. “Please. This things creep me out as it is. Don’t need them hitting on me now. Besides, we have another individual in a mask to do that already. Though I doubt I’m her type.”

“Take it from someone who is, it can definitely get creepier,” she sighed, looking over at his work. “So, uh... whatcha doin’? Most people here are drinking to forget these things,” she said, drumming her fingers on the hard mask.

“True. Though I don’t really have a work station, and I’m not scaring the girls… well, one of the girls with these. Hitomi would probably try to keep one, and Rei would help you for the chance to study it.” Jake tapped the paper the the alien language. “Jessica let it slip that I can read this language, and Dr. Vahlen asked me if I can try and translate the symbols on the masks. I don’t mind helping, I really don’t.” He jotted down a few more notes and shook his head. “I’m just afraid of being known as ‘that weirdo that can read their language’.”

“I’d hope they can see the pragmatic advantages at least, I can connect some of the dots too,” she squinted as she looked at the paper, only understanding bits and pieces. “But not much. Not yet, anyway. How’d you learn it?”

“Um… hard to say…” Jake looked up. “It was kinda… hard-wired into my brain. I came here after be rescued from one of their ships. I guess you could say I was one of the ‘lucky ones’, because they decided to experiment on my to see how humans could be improved on. Ended up replacing some organs with ‘better’ ones, giving me a very limited grasp on psionics, and they pumped knowledge about their language into my head. I’m not sure why, but knowing them, they were planning to do to me what they did to Atka’s mother.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, those bastards…” she shook her head, only perking up after a few moments. “Speaking of, how’d it go?”

“Hmm? Oh, um, well…” Jake grinned. “Better… than I could have hoped for, actually. Atka was a bit hesitant, but more because of her own personal things. She said we could give it a try, and I’ve been using every chance I’ve had to learn more about her.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I… I really owe you one, Emily. I know you’re probably going to say I did the work, and you just gave me the push, but without that push…” He shrugged. “At any rate, I’m in your debt.”

“Really, it was nothing,” Emily smiled, “and after a couple dates, you won’t even need to worry about my advice, you can just be yourself and she’ll be hooked.”

“I hope so, though I don’t mind working towards a more confident me.” Jakes eyes darted towards one of the masks. “You know, Atka isn’t the only thing I owe you for. It’s thanks to you talking to Luxuria that we’re able to work on treating those women.”

“That I feel more of a responsibility for,” she sighed, “are you helping them too? Has there been any progress since I was last there?”

“There has. I work as a part-time therapist. Based on what Luxuria told you, we were able to find the drug in the data we got from the base, and the lab is working on a mild version of it. In addition, I’ve made something of a connection to the woman you spoke with… to a limited extent, at least.” Jake frowned. “There is only so much I can do, considering…” He sighed. “I… know you have plenty to do around here. But, if you could see her from time to time, I’d appreciate it. It is important that we remind her she isn’t you, and if you, the person she ‘idolizes’, in a manner of speaking, remind her of that, it might help.”

“I would think it would be bad for them, reminding them of… that time,” Emily replied.

“That’s what I thought at first, but they aren’t as far gone as I was afraid.” Jake folded his hands. “They still have a limited sense of self, and there is still a part of them that knows they aren’t you. But they’ve been programmed to think of you as the end all, be all goal. Amelia is important, Amelia is special. So, if Amelia reminds them of how important they are, how special they can be on their own… well, it is worth a try, at least until we can calm their cravings for that drug of theirs.”

“If you think it’ll help, you’re more qualified than me. I’ll do whatever I can to help, I just don’t want to make anything worse. I felt like maybe I got too emotional about it last time.”

“I know how you feel.” Jake shook his head. “I… I just see them there, and I… I can feel their pain. I just want to help them, even at my own risk. But you can use those emotions to help you. They need help, and if they see that you really, truly mean what you say, and you truly want to help them, it’ll make them trust you more, and hang on to your words.” Jake looked back down at his work, jotting down a few notes. “It isn’t easy, connecting to others without connecting too much, but I think you’re better at it then you give yourself credit.”

“I suppose when you put it like that, it is in my skillset after all,” Emily said. “I’ll try to visit them whenever I can. If the aliens deserve a weekly visit, then Sybille deserves twenty.”

Jake nodded, and glanced at one of the helmets again. “Speaking of which, can you do me one more favor. And don’t worry, it’s a small favor that you won’t have to do much for.”

“What’s up?”

“I’d like a chance to look over Luxuria’s helmet. However, I believe it is tied to her sense of self and individuality, not to mention her dignity. Enemy or not, I couldn’t bring myself to take that form her.” Jake turn one of the helmets, its fancy design and large dents indicating it was likely Gula’s. “As I said, I’m translating the symbols on the masks. I’ve got most of them down. This one I believe is rank, and this one I believe might be their own names. But this one I’m not sure of. It is similar to the name one, so I think it might refer to family or clan name. The next time you see her, if you could just take note of it and draw it for me, I’d appreciate it. It should be in the same spot, and with your incredible memory, it shouldn’t be hard.”

“Well, I already know what it looks like, I saw it up close last time. I’m not much of an artist though, even if I can see it perfectly,” Emily rubbed her chin. “Maybe I could recreate it like she did…”

Jake nodded. “Of course. Anything you can give me would be a big help.”

Emily thought back on Luxuria’s mask, both on the genuine article and on her Emily-shaped illusion, and recalled every detail of it. Closing her eyes and focusing, she tried to make that image become real, just as Luxuria did with whatever she wanted. After a few seconds, she could project the shape but not much else, and she heard a fierce and shrill ringing in her head as she ran into the indecipherable alien thoughts she unfortunately ran into frequently. Her eyes blinked open and she rubbed her temples hard, trying to ignore the headache.

“Did it work?” she asked hesitantly. “Did you see it?”

Jake nodded. “Sort of. It was pretty hazy, but I think I got the general picture.” He quickly started drawing the symbol, knowing he would lose the image almost immediately. “Is… is this right?”

“Maybe I could give a better image after I practice that some, but right now…” Emily looked at the symbol and pointed out a small flaw, and then nodded as it was corrected. “Yeah, that looks right.”

“Thanks, Emily. Helpful as always.” He gave her a concerned looked. “Don’t push yourself, though. I could tell that wasn’t easy on you. This is going to sound hard but… don’t try to do more then you can before you learn enough from the Ethereal.”

“I have to keep pushing myself though,” she said, wincing as she pressed her palm hard into her head. “We’ve both seen what happens to humans when they rely on their kind too much.”

Jake nodded. “That is very true. And know that I’ll help you in anyway I can. With my fairly simple excuse for psionics, there isn’t much I can do in that field. But I’ll be here if you need someone to talk to. And I’m in the profession of keeping things confidential. So even if you just need someone to vent to, please come see me.”

“Thanks Jake, I’ll remember that,” she half-smiled as she shook off the headache. “Same goes for you too, if anything starts piling up.”

“I will, I promise.” He turned back to his work, but added, “I’m learning more and more everyday that I should rely more on others. At least, to an extent.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
All the Pieces in Place

Exalt HQ, Swiss Alps
September 20th, 2018
1400 Hours

Machines whirled and rang out in the main hanger as legions of workers got busy on building and outfitting newly designed aircraft that would assist them in their attacks on XCOM when the time came. The scores of workers, scientists, and engineers have brought the build up for the big battle in full swing. Troops trained around the clock and the machines were never silent. Servers were back online and luckily a majority of the research was still usable, so the cloning labs were working on making new soldiers, as well as modifying others. Viktor overlooked the main hangar, watching as his grand undertaking was slowly being completed.

“Nice to see things are running again,” one of the clone soldiers said, walking up next to him. “Wasn’t sure you could get back on your feet after that little humiliating defeat of yours. But you surprised me.”

Viktor looked at the clone briefly and signed something on a pad of his before handing it to a scientist and turning to his guest. “That is because you seem to do a lot of underestimating of my resolve.” Viktor stared down at the work. “This will be a swift attack, one that even if it fails will hurt our enemy quite a bit.”

“Confident, aren’t we?” The clone grinned. “I can appreciate that. Tell me, will you be joining in the attack yourself?”

Viktor nodded. “I opened the gates of Hell, I at least plan to go through them.” Viktor smiled. “Besides, I will have the gods by my side.”

The clone folded his arms. “Well now, either you are even more full of yourself then I thought, or you have a trick or two up your sleeve.”

Viktor waved his hand for the possessed clone to follow and pressed a button to the labs. “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.” Viktor walked through the doors of the elevator and led the clone to a one way window into a room containing four clones. “What you are looking at is Project Valhalla. Not sure how familiar you are with human mythology but Valhalla is the resting place for dead heroes in Norse Mythology. I thought I would borrow a few of those heroes and rain the heavens down on XCOM.” Viktor chuckled a bit. “I am not a religious man but I am one for poetic irony.”

“Indeed.” The clone grinned sinisterly. “You sure do have a way with words, and a talent for the theatrical. I can’t wait to see these four in action.” As he ran his hand across the window, he said, “The time to strike is soon. They’ve lost a number of soldiers fighting the Ethereals, and my sources tell me two of their best psions are currently incapacitated.”

Viktor took a deep breath and sighed loudly. “The time for victory is at hand.” Viktor noted. “I am guessing you will be acting more in the shadows than going in for the actual fight?”

“That is right. This is your fight to be had. Your victory to gain. Should I assist too much, and am discovered by my associates, our plan to get us off this rock would fall through.” The clone clenched his fist, and shuddered a bit. “Though… I did have a few plans that have fallen through…”

“Oh I am sure they are absolutely tear jerking.” Viktor replied. “This one shall not. Should I have to go to the base myself and pop the head off their Commander’s shoulders.”

The clone narrowed his eyes. “I said I could appreciate your confidence. But don’t underestimate them. My… ‘superiors’ did, and they missed their best chance. Do the same, and you will likely not leave that base alive. And that… would be a shame…”

“I get that feeling that you frankly don’t care about my well being but more of losing a pawn in your game.” Viktor implied accusingly.

The clone shrugged. “In this game of chess, even the pawns are important. If they live long enough, they can become almost anything, even a queen.” He smiled broadly. “Just as long as the pawn doesn’t step out of line, and never forgets that it can never become a king.”

“Brave words from one who hides in another’s mind.” Viktor contemplated the clone’s words. “But at least your words have at least a sliver of merit to them.”

“Do not test me, Dorian,” the possessed man warned. “I am not in the mood as of late to be pushed. I can be your greatest ally, or your worst enemy. This choice, in the end, is yours.”

“At least we can agree on something.” Viktor stated, rubbing his head. “I hope I don’t die from cardiac arrest before I even see my plan through.” Viktor looked at his guest. “Would there be anything else you would like to ask?”

“Actually, there is.” The clone folded his arms. “From what I know, your Desmond is currently experiencing some health problems. How would you react to finding him helpless in bed, unable to defend himself?”

“I would feel like driving a knife into that bastard’s leg and put a bullet in his head for what he did to me. And let me make it clear...he is not mine, any longer. I spit on the fact I have to call him my half brother at all.”

“Excellent. Do not forget your resolve to do away with him, as well as the others who turned on you.” The possessed man considered something for a moment. “Except, perhaps, that one you fancied from before. I would not be surprised if you wished to keep that one around, at least for a while.”

Viktor put a hand on his chin. “I might. Though I might just dispose of her, wouldn’t be much fun the second time around.” Viktor shook his head. “Besides, I had more of my fill of her...maybe I would move on to another of them just to spite and degrade them even more.”

“Have it your way, though there is one request I have. It would require some restraint, so… try your best.” The clone gave Viktor a serious look. “There is an Inuit woman named Atka on base. If she attacks you, and you have no choice, do what you must. Otherwise, I would ask that you leave her alive. I would like the pleasure of disposing of her myself.”

Viktor nodded. “I won’t be asking around for names but I will avoid her if at all possible.”

“Good. Then I’ll leave you to your work. Don’t disappoint me.” The clone blinked rapidly, and looked around in confusion. “Um… sir?”

“Get back to work.” Viktor told the clone. He looked back into the room and smiled. “Let us hope that the gods will give us strength.” Viktor joked before he walked back into the elevator and going to take care of some business.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
"Brains vs. Brawn - Part One"

XCOM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1415 Hours, September 21st, 2018
Holo-Training Room

"Let them come," Ogedei challenged, lifting a gatling pulser with his enormous strength.

"I'm going to interpret that as a 'begin simulation' command," Cheshire responded, sighing. "'Have at thee'."

The Balmadaar trooper looked around at the simulation environment as it took shape. It was specified to resemble a cold moon, a place Ogedei knew all too well. Here, many of his kind had perished while searching the planet for the Ethereal's subjects. No psionics were found on the moon, though a sentient race was found on the planet it orbited. Here, though...

This was the domain of the Kerberant.

Ogedei spun around as the three-headed, serpentine beast ran towards him, its stomach not as bloated as the pet of Gula. It still revolted the proud warrior, who opened fire on one of its heads, forcing it to slide to the side in pain. Blinded on one head, the other two reared back, and swung down. Gatling pulser fire melted the throat of one, but the other wrapped its teeth around Ogedei, ending the simulation with fatal damage registered.

The Balmadaar grunted in frustration at his swift defeat, having hoped he could fare better. As he pondered how to slay such a beast alone, a voice spoke from behind him in his native tongue.

"How do you expect to defeat one of those monsters alone?" The female Muton leader from before questioned.

"Feel underlying motive for that," Ogedei stated, turning around to face the other Balmadaar.

"Would be correct," she responded, crossing her arms. "Wish to fight."

The male exhaled in a sigh. "No changing mind?"

"Will not be reduced to previous state," the female answered.

"Will have someone talk to Commander about it," Ogedei decided. "For now..."

"Exercise, prepare for battle," she answered. "Name is Kokachin, so you might address me properly."

"Yet Kokachin refuses to say Ogedei," the Balmadaar trooper lamented.

Kokachin gave him a mocking chuckle, and walked off towards the gymnasium.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
"Brains vs. Brawn - Part Two"

1430 Hours, September 21st, 2018
Main Gymnasium

One, two, one, two. Feel the burn.

“This is hard!” Jessica whined, pushing the weights of the machine forward, her legs feeling like they were on fire. “Can’t… can’t you do it? You actually enjoy…”

Oh, no. Nonono. If you insist on pumping us full of all the gross stuff, you are gonna have to work it all off. So either figure out a healthy diet, or give me another four reps.

Jessica groaned loudly, and did as she was told, motivated more by anger than anything else. She practically slid off the device, panting and needing a moment for her legs to stop feeling like jelly.

Come on, wimp. We’ve got three more machines.

Jessica crawled over to the nearby bench, and grabbed a water bottle. “In… a minute… need rest…”

Pft… sissy…

A good portion of the people in the gym seemed to gravitate away from the punching bags as a strongly-built figure came in, and started to train.

"Stop gawking, Megan. Not like you haven't seen a Muton before," Scarlet Jacobs muttered to her fellow rocketeer, dragging her back over to the weights.

“Muton?” Jessica tried to look past the crowd. “Maybe Ogedei is here.”

Oh, good. I never got to meet him, or any of the aliens in person. Even I-12… Xaver… whatever.

Jessica slowly stood up. “Well, you got choked out by Dante.”

And you’ll never let that go, will you?

Jessica chuckled, and rushed over, pushing through the crowd. “Hey, Oge…” She yelped a bit as she faced the unfamiliar alien.

Kokachin crossed her arms, looking down at the human female. "I am not that infuriating male..."

“O-oh, I’m sorry, I…” Jessica stammered.

What’s the prob, Jes? This isn’t…

This is one of their females. I was told they’re a lot more aggressive. Like… the dominant sex, combined with a pissed off cat that is always in heat.

Interesting analogy…

Jessica looked around at all the nervous soldiers. She took a deep breath, and extended her hand. “M-my name is Jessica. I’ve worked with Ogedei in the past, as well as a couple other aliens. It is nice to meet you.”

"Humans and odd customs," Kokachin stated, shaking Jessica's hand with an iron grip that was probably too tight. "Balmadaar greet each other with salute." She demonstrated with a fist over her heart.

Jessica nodded as she shook the pain from her hand. “The… the handshake is a sign of trust. But I can see yours as a sign of respect.” She stood up straight, and did her best to mirror Kokachin’s salute.

The Balmadaar chuckled. "At least you try. Though human females seem weaker than males for most part."

Jessica folded her arms. “Well… maybe in terms of physical strength. But I’d like to think we have other features that are better. Understanding, compassion, multitasking skills…”

Intelligence.

“... that make us about even.” Jessica smiled. “It isn’t a competition, right?”Right?

"Of course it is. And those do not prevent being defeated in battle or otherwise," Kokachin countered proudly. "Compassion... too much hurts a warrior."

Let me talk to her.

No, you’ll just start a fight!

“Well, things like that stop the fight before it even begins, right?” Jessica kept her smile strong. “We do what we can to be diplomatic. As do men. And, when that fails, the guys can fight in the front while we support from the back. Or… along side them.” She motioned towards Scarlet. “As you can see, not being as physically strong doesn’t stop us from doing our part.”

Kokachin leaned over to get a better look at Scarlet. The Rocketeer was surprisingly calm and impassive, even facing a creature taller than her, and much stronger. The Balmadaar grinned beneath her breathing mask, satisfied, but turned to look at Jessica with less approval. "Without battle, little glory. Diplomacy," she spoke the word with contempt, "Does not phase Ethereals. Ethereals do not care."

Let me…

No.

Come on, I can take her.

“I suppose that is true,” Jessica admitted. “But we can’t all be warriors, right? Someone has to stay behind to make the weapons the warriors use in battle. And the enhancements they take advantage of. And work on the strategies. Without them, you probably wouldn’t last…” Jessica clammed up.

Oh… and I’m the one going to start a fight, huh?

Kokachin narrowed her eyes. "War prisoners make extra weapons. We make our own often, leave science to gray cowards."

“W-well… that’s hardly fair. Just because an entire race doesn’t focus on fighting doesn’t make them cowards, right? You… they could say your race is… i-is…”

"Not an entire race. Just many of one. We are not 'barbaric'," Kokachin said with irritation threatening to shift into real anger.

“That isn’t what I’ve seen,” Alexia blurted out, folding her arms. “You talk as if fighting is all that important. Well, I’ll tell you something, Muton. Brains account for a lot more than you seem to think. And just because I use those instead of throwing myself into a fight doesn’t make me a coward.”

"I leave science to those that care, they can craft new weapons. I shall fight, for the sake of all insults hurled by Ethereals. You know what red armored ones are, correct?" Kokachin asked, her simmering anger seeming slightly placated.

“I do.” Alexia chuckled. “Aren’t they the Ethereals lap dogs now. Must be the ones that bent over the farthest for them.”

Kokachin's expression darkened. "No. They are an affront... imitations of greatest warlords that lead us against invasion, and were slain for their defiance. What humans call clones."

Alexia frowned. “Oh… so… so they killed your greatest leaders, then cloned loyal copies. That…” Alexia looked down. “That’s terrible. I can’t think of a worse insult to entire race of people.”

"That is why I wish to fight, for chance to erase or correct the insult," Kokachin explained.

Alexia sighed. “Look… I get it, okay? And I want to help you. We all do.” She shook her head. “And if implied you weren’t intelligent, just because you’re a warrior race, I’m sorry.” Alexia took a stern step forward. “But just because I’m not a warrior doesn’t mean I’m weak. I fight with my head.” She shrugged. “And my body. I might not be out there, but that doesn’t make me a pushover.”

"Could...perhaps do that, if we were like before. Ethereals...changed us. Limited our potential to make us fight at the expense of all else. One you call 'Conquest' is how we should be. He must be from before..." Kokachin guessed.

Alexia nodded. “Maybe it was something they did to you on a genetic level. I’m sure if they did something different, we can reverse it.” She shrugged. It would take a few generations, but we could probably return your people to how they were before you were conquered.”

"Then perhaps your skills do have great merit. And we would be indebted to you for help," Kokachin stated with a hint of deference.

Alexia waved her hand dismissively. “No debts. We are allies, right? Allies with a common enemy. You just keep fighting on our side, and helping your people get back on their feet after this war will be the least I can do for you.”

Kokachin nodded. "And allies we shall remain, even after. None shall dare to attack this world with us defending it with your skills backing us. Since I doubt we can return to a simpler life now."

Alexia grinned. “What say we get some exercise together. I’m sure you’ll end up blowing me out of the water, but it’ll give the… lazier side of me motivation to work harder.”

Are… are you calling me lazy?

If the shoe fits…

"I can get behind that," Kokachin decided.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Clash of the Roommates
Taxor_the_First and MarineAvenger

XCOM HQ, Siberia, Civilian Quarters
7:13 PM


Elizabeth laid on her bed with a book in her hands and the girl kicking her legs back and forth as she hummed while reading. If there was one good thing to come out of her boyfriend nearly dying besides the marriage was the fact she got time of from the chaos of the Med Bay. Her attire was really casual, Ellie just wearing a low cut shirt and fuzzy pajamas with her hair tied back and her glasses on her face. She continued to read for a couple of hours, enjoying the bit of peace.

That peace was interrupted when the door was cautiously opened, Penny sticking her head in and sweeping the room. When she saw Ellie, her eyes lit up. “Ellie!” she said, stepping into the room. “How are you? What are you doing here still, shouldn’t you be at work or something?”

“I should...but Desmond had a little medical emergency so I got time off work. This your break or something?” Ellie asked, putting her bookmark in her book and laying it down next to her pillow.

“Yeah, stresses are a little high with the whole plasma thing. They give us about two hours middle of our workday to ease off, empty our minds a bit. Usually I’d just go have lunch with Charles or something, but he called in sick today, so I thought I’d just… I dunno, have a nap or something.” Penny smiled as she sat down on her bunk. “But I’m good for a little gossip session. Tell me…” Her eyes narrowed mischievously. “How was Desmond after we split up last week?”

“Well, like I said, he had a little health incident and he is currently still in the Med Bay but he is recovering quickly.” Elizabeth stood up and brushed off her pants, humming a bit and pacing around the room, shifting on the heels of her feet before turning around again.

“Why the med bay? Is it that serious?”

Ellie nodded. “Yeah, but I won’t worry you about the details…” Elizabeth did not stop her pacing.

“Ellie,” Penny said forcefully. “Slow. You’re obviously worried. Lay it on me.”

“I’m not worried.” The doctor replied in a sing-song voice. “Though something else IS on my mind as of late.” Elizabeth grinned and sat down, holding out three fingers. “I give you three guesses.”

Penny raised an eyebrow. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Nnnnnope.” She responded.

Penny noted Ellie’s hesitation. “.... is he?”

Elizabeth’s mouth hung open and she shook her head. “What is this, Aliens? No...but that does count as your second choice.”

“You are one of the worst kinds of genies.” Penny frowned, deep in thought. “Hell, I dunno.” That was when she noticed which finger Ellie was still holding up. “Wait.” Realisation dawned on her face. “No… are you two getting…”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. “Married.”

Penny was silent for a moment, then she squealed like a schoolgirl, leaping up and hugging her roommate. “That’s fantastic! How did it happen? When? Details, lady! Come on!”

Elizabeth told her roommate about how it happened, finally going into detail what happened to Desmond but mainly focused on the lead up to the proposal and the planning she had made so far. “Alex will be my Maid of Honor but of course you have to be by my side as well!”

Penny embraced her friend again. “I wouldn’t miss it if you got an Ethereal as the priest guy.” She drew back a bit and looked into Ellie’s eyes. “Are you… worried at all? I mean, if the disease he has is hereditary and life threatening, what if he dies, or you two have a child and they die, or…” She shook her head. “No, no. You’re the doctor here, I need to remember that. I’m sure you guys are looking for a cure or something right now, right?”

Elizabeth’s face fell a bit but she gave a small smile. “I know the risks of going into this already. That is why I am so determined to go through with it. Even if our time is short or filled with some sorrow, I wouldn’t rather be able to say we had at least that little time together.” Ellie perked up again. “Besides, one of the best scientists on base is doing the research, so I have no reason to worry.”

“I’m not doing any research, what are you talking about?” Penny managed to keep her face serious for a moment, but broke down into a chuckle. “No, that’s a good philosophy to have. It’s… wow. Have you got rings yet? When’s the ceremony?” Penny almost ran in a circle. “This is… I’m freaking out a bit here. Lemme cool off.”

Elizabeth couldn’t help but giggle. “You think you are freaking out? I am the one getting hitched.”

“I’m going to have to have a stern talk with him, though. Not getting on your knees to propose is unforgivable, I don’t care if he was bed-ridden.” Penny smiled. “And to think I didn’t even know you two were a thing until nearly two weeks ago.”

“Well that is what you get for being an airhead.” Elizabeth taunted as she poked her roommates head.

“A-” Penny flinched. “I’m just trying to give you less work! The more firepower we have, the less casualties we have, you know? And it’s not my fault Vahlen decided to give me the semi-night shift…”

“Oh don’t get all nippy.” Elizabeth told her as she waved her hand around. “You cannot deny a simple truth, even if you are in denial about it.” The doctor told her like a teacher. “And I expect you to write a hundred page essay on the reason why you are in this state of denial and how you will improve it in the future.” She instructed with a raised finger.

Penny hung her head in mock deference. “Yes mother.”

“Good, now as your mother, I demand you to tell me about any boys you have been seeing so your father knows where to point the shotgun.”

Penny looked up in alarm. “My what?! Where?” Upon seeing Ellie’s quizzical look, she shook her head. “Sorry, you just… nevermind. Long story.” She cleared her throat and tried to lighten the mood again. “And I haven’t been seeing anyone. Gossip says otherwise, but… well. What can you do?”

Elizabeth squinted her eyes and leaned in close to Penny. “You wouldn’t be lying to me or withholding information now, would you?”

“Of course not. I would never dream of such a thing,” said Penny, smiling. “But you know how it is. You end up friends with someone who isn’t the same gender as you, and people are quick to draw conclusions. The fact that I’m probably the only woman Charles hasn’t hit on in this base should tell you something, but that doesn’t stop people talking.”

“So this means one of two things...either this Charles is madly in love with you or you are just one ugly girl.” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “I wonder which it is?”

Penny narrowed her eyes. “You will pay dearly for this in time.”

Elizabeth grinned mischievously. “Oh I wouldn’t worry about me, after all, I have all the doors on base to keep you from me.”

Penny opened and closed her mouth, and settled for pouting. “That’s cheating.”

“All is fair in love and war...and anything involving roommates.” Elizabeth decided.

 

[Dahlexpert]

Energy channeling 101

Ashley knocks on Eva's doors. Hum I wonder if she's home? Or if she's at the gym, I probable should have checked there first.

The door opens. Ashley, do I dare ask what your doing here? Do you need me to babysit again?

No nothing like that, but I need your help. See i'm a blue psionic as you kinda noticed, and blue psionics have the ability to do energy channeling, kinda like what you do.

OU REALLY, is that a fact? And you need me to teach you how to do it right?

Y....yes.

Well to bad, i'm not teaching you.

What why not?

Ashley, I don't think you understand how much energy I go through when I do this. Wait can you even do it.

Um just a little bit.

Alright show me what you can do.

Um alright. Ashley starts to channel her energy, A blue aura forms around her showing that she's gathering power.

Hum very impressive. But I can see yours is different from mine. See my energy channeling increase my musses and every thing else, yours is well I don't know what your's is.

But can you teach me how to control it?

Well I can try, alright first when you were doing that I bet you had to channel a lot of power. Well that kinda leaves you wide open for any thing to take you out. Second I think your energy channeling is used to boost your powers.

Hum so, what is your energy channeling like Eva?

Mine well mine is like taping into my full power, see My power is broken up into tears, which are called restrictions. I'm sure you heard me say releasing restriction to level so and so.

Yea what is that all about any way?

Well,the person that gave me these powers didn't want me to use this power all at once and eventually burn through my energy, and pretty much making me a vegetable on the battle field which is bad. So she put mental blocks in my head to prevent me from using all of my power.

OK so, what happens when you go all out?

I have no Idea what will happen, when I go all out. But you seen me when I go to level one, in that state I can take on pretty much any alien that comes at me. Now back to you I think your energy is very different then mine, Like I said you might be able to tape into it just a little bit if you charge your energy.But I recommend that you take your time with this, don't want you to pass out on the battle field.

Hum well it looks like I need to train more with this. Thank you Eva now if you excuse me I need to figure this out.

Wait ash, can I ask you something.

What is it ?

Why did you want me to become a leader? I mean your more capable of leadership then I am.

Well, I just hate to see people that can become something more, never push them selves to that ability because there scared.

So you wanted me to become a leader because, you think I was scared to become one?

Yes, And there are good reasons to be scared of becoming a leader. People depend on you and you need to be a beacon of hope for your men to give them hope. And I think your that person Eva I seen you take on aliens head on to save your team mates, and I seen you lose your cool when a comrade falls. I think there's more to you then even you think you are.

But how do I lead people?

I'm not going to lie Eva, that's something you need to figure that out on your own. See ever leader is different like fore example. my way of leading people is very different then morrgans. you need to become your own leader. And trust me you will have your moment when your team will freak out, and loose there cool. You need to inspire them in a way only you can do.

Wow thanks Ash. But i'm still nerves.

That's normal, don't worry Eva i'm sure your going to become a great leader.Now if you excuse me I have some training to do.

 

[Adrammalech]

// MEMORY: EASY //
Emily Fischer, 16
M/V Magdelene
Mediterranean Sea, Off the Coast of Greece
May 5th, 2007 – 9:19 PM

“So, what do we have tonight?” I asked.

“Whiskey, I think you’ll like this,” Oliver mused. “It’s stiff but it’s got the best taste, way better than cheap vodka.”

“Yeah, this seems like your kind of drink,” Zoe smiled. “Give it a try.”

“Alright then, hit me.”

Oliver poured the drinks and we all grabbed the first one, downing it in unison. I felt that first sip slide down my throat, tingling and burning on the way down, the array of subtle flavors it posed beyond my simple palette but enjoyable all the same. Oliver and I drank four more as fast as we could, and Zoe had three. I smiled and leaned back in my bed, waiting to watch my sobriety fade away with amusement. In just a handful of minutes, my skin was tingling with excitement, and the subtle drifting angles of the ship’s floor became much more noticeable.

“God, that’s strong,” Oliver groaned after his sixth, patting his chest, “but good, still good.”

“You’re such a wienie,” Zoe sneered. “Emily’s only been drinking a month and even she can take it better than you.”

I nearly burst out laughing, a good couple years of being trained to be quiet barely restraining me. I drink a couple more shots and smile, looking at the amber liquid in the bottle quickly disappearing under my group’s assault.

“Piss off, Zoe. You’ll say anything to make her like you.”

“Well, she’s my friend, so yeah!”

“She’s my friend too but you don’t see me fawnin’ over her,” he raised the glass to his mouth again.

“Casse-toi! I’m not fawning over anyone, you limey shit!”

I look between the two rapidly, giggling as they fight over me. If either of them were serious, I couldn’t tell, and I certainly didn’t care.

“Oh yeah, we’re all just friends here?” he asked.

“Yes! What the hell are you on about?” she replied.

Oliver gave a drunken laugh and pulled out a leather journal, clearly stolen from her sleeping space. Zoe rushed forward and slapped him over and over, trying to make it past his blocking arm as his other hand opened it up and he started to read.

“I wouldn’t normally stay on a boat so long, but Emily has one of the nicest spaces I’ve ever seen,” he recited from the page, chuckling to himself, “Emily isn’t hard on the eyes either, for a girl. Normally I don’t think about that kind of thing, but every now and then when I’m buzzing, I can’t help but think-”

Zoe powered past Oliver and grasped the book, hitting him across the face with it with a loud slap. I stifle laughing at his pain, ignoring Zoe’s private thoughts for the most part.

“You deserved that, Ollie,” I chimed in.

“He deserves more,” Zoe said, looking clearly distressed and mumbling to herself. “Fucking asshole…”

“Okay, okay, I surrender…I’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the large red mark on his cheek.

“I’m going for a walk,” she growled. She downed another drink and then carefully disappeared into the vent.

“Jeez, so dramatic. I was just taking the piss, seriously,” Oliver sighed, turning to me. “I’d say she’s an idiot, but she’s right about you at least.”

I giggled and blushed, swaying happily with my drink in hand. I felt like I was watching myself in a show, and I was happy and carefree. Feelings like those were few and far between as a wanderer, as fun as it was sometimes.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I admitted.

“Really? I thought you liked Zoe too,” he noted, looking surprised. He inched a little closer. “So in that case, want to make out?”

“Uh, yeah,” I grinned.

Oliver reached around me, his hand feeling like it was approaching in slow motion. I chuckled and smiled widely as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer, his fingertips warm and soft on my arm. I was too out of it to consider how cheesy he was or what Zoe might think. I liked him, and I wanted him to touch me more. He moved in to kiss me, and I grabbed him and pulled him on top of me, kissing him deeply. The corners of my mouth smiled further around his as I tasted the whiskey on his breath, and I locked my legs around him. As the alcohol set in deeper and I kissed him sloppily, I felt his hands roaming around my clothes and I shuddered in nervous excitement.


// UNDER CONSTRUCTION //
Emily Fischer
The Dreamscape

Emily emerged in her dreamscape, reaching a nice groove of REM. Walking around in her mind so thoughtfully was like a lucid dream, completely controllable and extremely odd to feel. She wondered if the dreams from her memory interacted with this somehow, but if there was a connection between her first time and this desolate observatory, she couldn’t make it. She looked with irritation at the alien landscape, noting just how little this corner of her mind was actually hers.

She placed everything she could remember into the solipsistic space, trying to fit decades of adventure into the onyx platform lording over the Ethereal metropolis. She felt her room from New Hampshire around her, the calming recognition of Earth’s outdoors brushing against its windows. She saw little die-cast planes and boats, tiny and modest pink dresses, and rectangular electronic games bought from mega-retail stores to placate her begging. She remembered keepsakes from Germany, her mother’s collection of bibles and crosses, her father’s eccentric hobbies like model-building and computer-fixing. Before long, they were on all the platform, along with a bed and couches, giving it the look of a very odd and very long-term campsite.

With little concern for cluttering her mental area, she continued to pull her memories into the alien-implanted landscape. Her pilfered housewares from the Magdelene made up a kitchen area, and stray memories of her Korean deployment scrambled together into a workspace. Her bed doubled into the customary XCOM look. Her desk burst into light and pictures manifested on every inch of it. Sunny, Dallas, Sven, Nika, Billy, Ammelia, Jake. Ben, Mary, Atka, Morrigan, Brigid, Desmond, Jessica. Zoe, Oliver, Kieran, Gabriel, her parents, her lost sister. Their faces all appeared in perfect detail.

Not very clean, but I suppose it’s a home. A voice arose from her mind, materializing with the last image Emily had of her mother. She picked up one of the bibles and blew off the dust on the cover, sighing as she sat down on Emily’s bed.

Mom? What are you doing here?

You think I wouldn’t want to see my daughter’s new place? I guess you would think that, after you were so reticent last time. She looked at the collection of pictures, shaking her head at the ones Emily had slept with. You were meant for more than this, Amelia…divinity school, university, or at least a real diploma…not running around with guns, doing who-knows-what.

It wasn’t ‘a new place’ last time…and maybe I wouldn’t be doing this if I was still home. All you had to do was leave it alone, but you couldn’t.

The older woman chuckled, looking at her with a sad smile. You’re right, it was that simple. I should’ve known better than to worry about what took my daughter from me for five years.

I never said you shouldn’t have worried…just, you didn’t respect my privacy.

And so you left us, the only parents you knew for so long…

Don’t you dare editorialize that! You kicked me out!

You’re a big girl, Emily. You know you could’ve come back.

How could I have known?!

Because I’m not really here, I’m just a piece of your mind.

The image blinked away, and Emily looked across the serene dreamscape with confusion. She knew she’d have to confront that issue someday, but why would it crop up now, and here? She watched for a moment to see if it would return, and when it didn’t, she got back to work modifying the Ethereal world with her mark. A mental ghost of guilt was pretty mundane compared to her new daily fare.

 

[Frostlich1228]

X-COM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1415 Hours, September 22nd, 2018
Hospital Room of Thomas, Mary.

Mary's eyes slowly opened as she looked around the blurry room, the drugs obviously having not worn off yet. The pain in the Gunner's stomach was mostly gone, but a faint numb, burning sensation remained, but it was no where near as bad as before. Mary moved her head to the side and looked over at her sister, who was resting her head on the table next to the bed, dead asleep.

Mary smiled, scooting herself up in the bed. She slowly moved her hand up to her sister's face and gently slapped it in an attempt to wake her up.

Ammelia's eyes opened as she looked up at her smiling sister, giving the smile back.

"'Ey prin'ess, 'ow 'as yer' nap?" The Gunner asked.

"Good, how was yours?" Ammy replied with a smirk.

"''Side 'rom some 'ain, 'reat, 'ow long was eh' sleep?"

"Maybe... Six - Seven days? I kinda lost track..."

The Gunner's eyes widened a little, "'At long? 'As it 'orse 'an 'ey thought?"

"They told me that the toxin was causing you a lot of pain, so they decided to keep you asleep until it subsided." The Sniper answered, "Does it still hurt?"

"'Et 'till burns 'eh little, 'ut it 'ent 'at bad 'eny'ore"

"That's great, I'll make sure the doctors know you're feeling better. With luck, you could be out of here by tomorrow." Ammelia responded happily.

"'Enythin' 'appen 'ile eh' was out?"

"Not really. We took down a minor ethereal that tried to set a trap for us in New York, but Aya was injured." Ammelia answered.

"Th' 'entral 'efficer? Heard ye' 'ost ye' 'irst one, 'lad we in'nt 'ose is' one te'."

Ammy stayed quiet for a second at her sister's comment, remembering the late Central Officer Bradford. She didn't know him that well, but the staff often said good things about him, so know him or not, he will be missed.

"'Eh 'member see'in eh' 'eird bug 'irl 'en eh' 'oke up once, beh' eh' 'ould've 'een eh' product ef' th' drugs eh've 'een on." The Gunner spoke.

Ammelia finally spoke after a few moments of silence, "That was Buniq."

"Bunni'? Yer' 'iend 'at 'ot 'aptured by th' aliens?"

Ammy nodded in response, a feeling of rage at the Honored Overseer beginning to resurface as she was reminded of what he did to her.

Mary's looked became slightly upset, "'Ey 'in'nt do 'at te' 'er did 'ey?"

"No..." The sniper responded, "She was like that before they captured her... She's a clone they spliced with Chryssalid DNA."

"Clone?" Mary confirmed, "Se' 'at 'appened te' th' 'riginal?"

Ammelia stayed quiet, her silence answered the question as good as any words.

"Ah... 'Ey 'illed 'er..." Mary spoke somberly.

Ammelia nodded, "Sometimes I wonder if I would've been friends with the original Buniq, but I guess that doesn't matter does it?"

"'Aybe ye' 'an in'roduce meh' te' 'er, e'll be 'ad te' 'eet er' some'ime" The Gunner responded, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sounds like a plan." The Sniper replied, cheering up a little, "I'm sure you'd like her."

"Se' if sh' es' 'art chryss'lid, 'oes 'at 'ean she 'as eh' chryss'lid cunt?" Mary asked crudely, grinning slightly.

Ammelia cheeks flushed in embarrassment, "I-I don't really k-know... I mean... I-I never asked..."

"'Ehm' je' kidd'in." The Guuner said, giggling a little.

"O-oh... I should've known..." Ammelia replied awkwardly.

Mary looked down as her stomach grumbled, "'Ould ye' try te' 'et me 'omethin' te' eat? Ehm' starv'in."

Ammy regained her composure a little before replying, "Sure, I can ask the doctors to sent you a little something. Just don't be upset if they say no."

"'Anks Prin'ess" Mary said, smiling as Ammelia got out of her seat.

"It's the least I could do." Ammelia returned, "Try not to go anywhere while I'm gone."

"'Eh, ha ha." Mary rolled her eyes as her sister left the room, "E'll try..."

 

[MarineAvenger]

Weird...

Legion Section of XCOM HQ
September 22nd, 2018
1200 Hours

Saka walked through the Legion halls, her days filled with routine and boredom, same as before but the only exception being it was a lot easier to get away from the teachers. Saka giggled to herself as she thought back on how she managed to sneak away and be long gone before the instructor even bat an eyelash. Saka may only be 17 but she had more training than probably half the rookies on base. Her dress today was one of her favorites, a plain white one that had frills at the hem of it and it came all the way down to her mid-calfs. Other than that, she was pretty bare. No socks, no footwear, even her hair was down all the way. She rocked on her heels back and forth as Saka looked down at her feet and wiggled her toes on the cool surface.

Saka walked as she looked down, being sure to step on every crack, making a little game out of it. Who knows how long she would have went on for if she didn't bump into a big person and fell down on her butt, "Owwww...that hurt a bit." When Saka looked up, the big man's hand was already down and wit a quick jerk she was back on her feet and brushing off her dress. "Thanks big guy."

"It's Bull." The Elite informed the young girl.

"I call bull shit on that name." Saka said, looking up with a cutesy face and a small smile as she held her hands behind her back.

"Yes, because I haven't heard that one many times before." Bull replied a little annoyed.

Saka giggled. "Sorry...Buuuullll" Saka made a mock man voice and drew out the name on purpose. "So who are you anyways?"

Bull crossed his arms. "I am a member of the XCOM Elite forces, and you?"

Saka put a finger on her chin. "I guess you could say the same for me. Except probably better than you..." She taunted with a smile.

Bull crossed his arms doubtfully. "I seriously don't think that..."

Saka moved forward rapidly and preformed a take down on Bull that put him face first on the ground and his arm behind his back. "You were saying meat head?"

Bull sighed. "All right, color me impressed." Saka allowed Bull to stand and he rubbed his arm. "Come on, I will take you to meet the others."

Saka skipped down the hall behind a scowling Bull as he received dead glances from both the Legion and the clones and he growled loudly, hurrying his pace. Bull finally stopped at a room somewhat deep in the Legion section and opened the door, stepping in. When Saka walked in behind him, she was surprised to see how similar...and different the people in the room were.

Sitting on a bunk, a man who looked suspiciously close to Desmond in a weird sort of way was reading a black journal, a man who resembled closely to the first was at a table in the middle of the room playing a round of 'Go-Fish' with himself, this one's hair was longer, almost down to his shoulders rather than the first's clean, military look. Sitting in the corner and staring right at her with curious eyes was definitely smaller than the others, and his face seemed not so close to the others but definitively resembled Desmond closely. Okay...this is getting weird now. Unlike Desmond however his hair was sort of messy, ableit a bit short, and a nice mix of the two previous. Saka finally looked up at the towering Bull in front of her, him resembling more of a face she had never seen before but looked a but familiar, this one's head was shaved thought, so you could see his scalp like a baby's bottom.

"Who is your friend Bull?" The one at the table asked, "We are not exactly the most social but come on, stealing a little girl just to have a bit of company away from us? That is harsh man..."

"Fuck you Hawke." Bull told the soldier before going to his bunk and laying down.

The one who sat on the bed with the journal was now standing closer to Saka, sizing her up like a rich guy buying a new Prius. "Who might you be?"

"Saka Hatake, at your service." Saka did a little bow and wiped her nose, grinning a wide, toothy smile and putting her hands on her hips.

"Girl definitely has energy, I can tell you that much." The one named Hawke intoned.

The man in front of her ignored his partner's comment. "Nice to meet you. Name is Chief, leader of the Elites." Chief pointed to each man as he called out their name. "Hawke, Fox, and of course you know Bull."

Saka smiled. "Mind telling me why some of you look like a picture of my best friend that went through the wash and got distorted?"

Hawke snickered. "Yep...this one is definitely special..." He muttered.

"And who might this friend be?" Chief inquired.

"His name is Dessssssssmond. You know 'em?" She asked childishly.

Chief simply nodded. "Of course, he is our technical CO and brother of the person we got our DNA from."

"Let me guess...more clones." Saka asked, a little annoyed,

"Yes, you see we..."

Saka threw her hands out in front of her and waved them around. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...NO! All this clone bull shit makes my head hurt." She looked at Bull. "No offense!"

Bull simply turned around on his bunk.

Chief was puzzled for a minute, unsure of how to react. "Um..."

"Hold that thought..." Saka looked up at the clock behind her and nearly jumped out of her skin. "Shoot! I am going to lose the best chance at grabbing the best table at lunch!" Saka plowed through the door and took a quick right.

Chief, with a baffled look on his face, looked between the door and Hawke multiple times, not even able to come up with words to describe his consfusion.

Saka's head popped back in the door frame. "Oh, and thanks for the intros...I will be sure not to forget your names the next time I see you!" Saka called out as she ran down the hall after saying the word intros.

Chief just threw his hands up in defeat and shook his head in confusion as he sat down on his bunk.

Fox looked up from his notebook. "She is weird." He simply stated before going back to his drawings.