RP XCOM: The Story of Defiance.

[DarkGemini24601]

Star Sight, Star Bright – Atka Ipiktok

Part 1

An icy, lifeless landscape stretched out before Atka's eyes, rugged and dusty. The Inuit woman slowly knelt down, reaching a gloved hand to pick up some of the frosty dust in her hands, and then release it softly into the air. Seeming to realize what she was wearing, Atka reached up to feel her faceplate. A... space suit? Where am I?

Although it was indeed what she thought it was, upon further inspection it appeared to be much akin to the flying armor XCOM used. Atka tapped the wrist plate, but the screen was blank, dead to any interaction. The jets did seem to be functional, a faint glow of Elerium present along the power tanks. This, along with two small lights on her helmet, lit up the otherwise dark landscape, illuminated mostly by the stars. And gazing up at those stars, the soldier slowly noticed the planet looming above her.

Brown and white gases swirled around the length of the massive gas giant, much stormier than they might appear on a NASA picture from afar. This felt more personal, more real. The reddish storm in the right of one of the middle gaseous bands seemed to gaze back at Atka, as if Jupiter was analyzing this human who had come so far. "Jupiter..." Atka muttered. "That would mean this is Europa, right?" A jet of steam from further along distracted Atka from her musing, and she started to walk to investigate.

Her eyes widened in surprise as the simple step send her several times higher than she would have expected. "Whoa!" Atka exclaimed, freezing up to allow herself to land on the dusty ground again. Wisely, she set her jets to low power, and used them to balance out her jumping height, though not too much. A slight smile creased her face as she bounded across the landscape again. "Sort of like flying... but more graceful."

After only a few more leaps, Atka came to rest by a small water geyser. She knelt down from a safe distance, watching as ice surrounding it was heated into water. Scientists always wondered if there was life beneath the surface in insulated seas... I wonder if that's true. "Though we have met aliens, so the question of if we are alone in the universe is already answered," Atka mused, standing up. "The question remains, though. How did I get here?"

"That is the question of the day, isn't it?" Atka's gaze quickly fixed on the speaker, stepping out from behind a rock. Even though he was clad in similar armor as her, the visor was clear, and Atka quickly recognized the reptillian face.

"Dante...?" Atka asked hesitantly. "I thought you..."

The Thin Man waved his hand dismissively. "I did. That isn't the point, though. Does this answer your question?" He grinned cryptically.

Realization slowly dawned on the XCOM officer. "This is a dream."

"Though your realization of it is interesting. As is the fact that you brought us here. I would correct your statement to a 'lucid dream'." Dante barely had to move his legs to leap onto a tall rock, looking down from the pedestal at Atka. "So, what's happened since I... you know."

"Well... we ended up meeting the Ethereals. And learned about their council of seven overseers under some 'Honored Overseer'. So far, we've captured two, killed one, and the fourth escaped," Atka explained. "And EXALT attacked our base, but Legion had joined up with us so we could repel them."

"Mind you, I only know what you're talking about since this is your dream. But good riddance to EXALT. As for two captures... seems a little reckless, doesn't it? And sparing one..."

"From what I saw of the footage of Acedia's fight, she didn't seem like much of a threat. Not so sure if we can convince the Council of that, though. Morrigan probably had an awkward report to make," Atka mumbled, before clearing her throat. She held up her glove to her face, even if she was wearing a helmet. "As for the two captures... I'm not so sure about Avarita, but I do have my reservations about Luxuria. Sure, she's been helpful, but it worries me seeing people forgive her for basically turning people into... sex slaves. Though she did help Brigid."

"And Avarita ended up killing some of your own soldiers. Usually combat entails swift retribution..." Dante shrugged. "I suppose I'm not one to talk. If not for your mercy, my life would have been a lot shorter. But... it does sound like people have been getting soft. What about Elene?"

Atka paused, getting quiet. I don't need to breathe in a dream under my control, right? The Inuit woman slowly removed her helmet, looking at the Thin Man honestly. "I certainly am not okay with the reckless genetic modification and cloning. I hope she'll dial that back over time, and to an extent she already has. But... regardless of what people say about her, I think she's a good person. She cares about her family, and genuinely wants to make the world a better place."

"How do you think the Council feels?" Reptilian eyes watched Atka curiously.

"I... bet they don't trust her. They don't trust any of us, honestly. They think of us as tools, but not even with a trace of camaraderie for their 'equipment' like Fay has," Atka responded, shaking her head. "I'm not a fan... but I haven't seen many good politicians, and that's all they are. Morrigan's our real leader."

"Perhaps. Now..." Dante folded his hands together. "What do you plan to do when things start to draw to a close?"

Atka shrugged, laying her helmet down on the cold ground. "I can't be sure. I'm confident we'll take out the seven and their master, but what then? We don't know who he answers to, or what the extent of their fleet is. Modya was only able to find out that they have some scary battleships."

Dante glanced behind a rock. "Mind explaining this one for me?"

A familiar central officer stepped out on cue. "Well, you remember how we ended up finding your family when they were captured, don't you?" Bradford offered.

Atka held her chin. "That was when my dreams started developing...oh."

A slight chuckle drew Atka's attention to her side. The original Isitoq and Buniq seemed amused, standing together. "You can be 'out there' sometimes," Buniq teased, Qamut and his brother soon following them.

Another figure stepped out of the steam vents. Wilhelmina raised an eyebrow, facing Atka. "Well, want to try it? This is a perfect opportunity."

Atka nodded. "Thanks, guys. Means a lot." She sat down on the icy ground, the images of fallen friends and comrades slowly fading into dusty. The Inuit woman shut her eyes, concentrating. A leader of the Ethereals... a powerful psionic presence. Make yourself known to me. Atka reached out, and faintly felt the presence of her mind touch the hyperwave beacon as a relay. Europa faded from view.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Star Sight, Star Bright - Atka Ipiktok (Guest starring ZombieSplitter53)

Part 2

A flash of light sent a nauseous feeling through the Major, knocking her to her knees as a new environment faded in. Two moons shined down through an ornate roof reminding Atka of the Hagia Sophia, though the glass was painted in the different colors of the visible spectrum. The ground itself was made of alien alloys, and furnished with purple carpets bearing unrecognizable symbols. Wish I had Jake here...

Atka stepped away from the hyperwave beacon her clairvoyant 'ghost' had passed through, and did a double take back up at the ceiling. Her eyes widened as a massive ship passed overhead. Rows of telekinetically-suspended plates adorned the visible underside, hundreds of open hangers. On these plates sat an assortment of round UFOs, the larger ones likely sitting in hangers further along. Great Spirit protect us! Is that their flagship?

As it slowly flew across the Ethereal sky, Atka slowly rose to pursue it, feeling weightless. Being a ghost is a little weird, huh... The top of the ship was just as ornate, but much smoother, gigantic symbols in the same language plastered over it, as well as the occasional structure peeking out, seeming almost like shrines. And upon closer inspection, Ethereals were indeed gathered around the odd structures, either doing research, praying, or peering at the stars.

One pointed straight in her direction, and Atka immediately shifted her position. They can sense me, can't they... I can't stay long. But their leader must be here... Indeed, Atka could feel an extraordinary power radiating from the bridge of the ship. She drifted slowly to arrive in front of the glass, a forward pedestal with a purple device floating over a screen on the bottom. And below the surrounding, sideways dome of glass, the void of space, and the homeworld below.

The Ethereal One at the pedestal was dressed in ornate, priest-like red robes with purple linings. His helmet was complex, and epitomized the concept of regalness with its ridges and curvature. Smooth, metallic shoulder armor held the robe in place, bearing vague resemblance to the armor of a roman centurion. The uber being quickly turned to face Atka as she immediately backed off, glimpsing him.

It… would seem I have a guest. Interesting. Do I know you, young one? Should I know you?

Atka’s eyes widened. Not good… I don’t even know how vulnerable I am like this…

Hmm… Atka… The Ethereal waved his hands. Human… Earth… sector 242-3A, Sol system. I heard that they had found a species with impressive control over the Gift, and they were not exaggerating. Are there many like you? I see a… Desmond… an Aya… several others… oh, my, so much potential! This is quite exciting…

Atka grimaced, shaking her head. Just how much is he getting?! The blue psion tried to back off further, desperate to disconnect herself and shift her thoughts away from compromising information. You… are their leader. The one who ordered the invasion of Earth, and all the horrors it brought upon us… or do you not even pay attention to what your generals there are doing?

Invasion? The Ethereal vanished from sight, reappearing a moment later behind Atka. What are my people telling you? It is not an invasion! It is a liberation! We are saving you from your sad, sorry existence without the Gift. His energy flared slightly, his tone turning angry. The Ethereal government would never be able to support a series of ‘Invasions’ for so long! So watch your tongue!

“War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength”? This isn’t ‘1984’… I would hope you’re more rational than that. Occupying our planet, killing civilians to cow us, and forcing power upon us isn’t a liberation. Atka closed her ‘eyes’ briefly. Come on, there has to be a way out of here…

The Ethereal raised his hand, and leash-like strand of energy extended from it and wrapping around Atka’s neck. You shall leave when I say you can! Who are you to judge how I conduct my Crusade. How I lead my people down the Path. I was put in charge of this war for a reason. Because the cowards down on the surface do not have the drive to do what is needed! If you are worthy, you will fight by our side. If not, you will die! If you are not strong enough to embrace the gift, you deserve to die!

It...becomes my business when my entire tribe is put to ruin because of your ‘Path’. You...have no right...to decide who lives...or who dies...of another species...of any species, even your own… Atka tried to peel off the tendrils of psionic energy to no avail. If I can’t...get away and my power drains...will I be pulled back, or…?

The Ethereal’s energy continued to flare, his hands closing into fists as he pulled Atka closer to him. You defiant little piece of NOTHING! You will hold your tongue, or I might just decide to dispose of all of your people. No one… speaks to the High General of the Path… like this! Your people will die, and I will force you to watch!

Are you… out of your...mind?!

Out… of my mind… The psionic being suddenly released Atka, floating back a few feet and looking up, his arms behind his back and his body language suggesting he was contemplating the question. In a much calmer tone, he stated, Does it matter? The Path is what it must be, and even I can not fight against its flow, as powerful as it may be. Why fight against that which must be? Who knows? Perhaps your people will surpass us, and claim Ascension for yourself. He slowly lowered his head, looking at Atka. But I doubt it. At any rate, I tire of you. Please, leave my sight, else I lose my temper again. I shall see you soon enough anyway. He slowly returned to his throne, his movement suggesting he had already forgotten Atka was there. The Inuit woman took a ‘step’ back, and the manifestation of her psyche slowly melted away, passing through the hyperwave beacon and returning to where it belonged.

Atka awoke with a start, and sucked in a deep breath as she slowly calmed down. “...maybe...that was a little...reckless...but now I’ve seen him. The one behind it all…” And the scope of their power, she added silently, the images of the Temple Ship and its captain still looming on her mind.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

ZombieSplitter53 and DarkGemini24601
“The Last True Warlord: Part One”

XCOM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1545 Hours, October 18th, 2018
Holographic Shooting Range

Ogedei considered the pack of six chryssalids before him, their legs clattering against the rocky stone of the cave as they charged towards him. Shots wouldn’t be enough, so instead he lobbed his grenade before turning and grabbing a handhold, lifting himself onto slightly higher ground. The satisfying boom took out two of the insectoids, and the other four leapt up at him.

Prepared for their impressive jumping height, Ogedei sent a blast through the first one, then the second, before being knocked back off the platform by the claws of the third. His armor wasn’t broken, but the sheer, savage force of the blow was enough to make him crash into the barrels beneath, crumpling a few. The two chryssalids leapt on him, but he managed to kill one with his gun before it was tossed away by the survivor.

Said survivor snapped its maw at the Balmdaar, murder in its eyes, but the proud warrior would have none of it. He grabbed the beast’s claws as it swung down again, and tensed his muscles before slightly snapping them and hurling the Chryssalid into the wall of the neighboring building. A crunch of scales accompanied it’s impact, but the equally stubborn creature got to its feet, charging again.

Only to have its head blasted off by the recovered plasma rifle of Ogedei. The Muton clattered his armored fist against his breast, giving a victory call. The dead chryssalids burst into fragments of light as the simulation canceled out, the terrain going away in a much less dramatic fashion. “Good to have old weapon back,” Ogedei thought aloud, though he would probably end up picking up the Plasma Dragons once they were ready.

“That was very impressive.” A black-armor clad Balmadaar slowly approached Ogedei, looking around the expansive room. “As is this facility. Had we been able to use something like this back home, we would not have lost to the dark invaders, I am sure.”

Ogedei turned to face the other Muton, and immediately put a fist over his heart when he saw who it was. “Yes…” the Balmadaar seemed unusually flustered. “Honored… Honored to meet you, Warlord.”

Conquest returned the gesture. “And I you. I must say, I was… a bit hesitant to meet you at first. I felt that your former position amongst the enemy was disgraceful. However, with some insistence from my associates, I learned of how you came to be here. You turned on your conquerors, risking your honor, not to mention your life, when you could not stand the dishonorable nature of your would-be master, and assisted in the rescue of many of the natives of this world that are much like we once were. You have earned your place amongst these warriors. I decided that, perhaps, I was being too… uptight, I believe the word would be.”

“Grateful for trust,” Ogedei responded honestly. “Hope that more free thinkers exist. Would be more open rebellion if existence of surviving warlord became known.”

“Indeed.” Conquest looked his Muton companion up and down, as if sizing him up. “Tell me, Ogedei… do you mind if I address you by your name?”

Ogedei shook his head. “Is acceptable.”

“If I may ask, Ogedei, how old are you?”

“43,” the XCOM Balmadaar replied. “Not old enough to have witnessed home, but father told of home and preserved traditions and honor.”

“Hm… in this, we are alike. I was born two years before our home was lost, so I was too young to remember. My father would share many a story of the time before the dark invaders came. Though, he also shared stories of how we fought. How these… Ethereals did not expect such a resistance from what must have been, to them, such a primitive people. It is why they still use us, because we are too mighty to dispose of. It would be a waste. But they had to effect our minds. Dumb us down so we would not fight back.” Conquest nodded his head towards Ogedei. “Perhaps they did not try hard enough. Or, perhaps, you are simply a cut above the rest.”

Ogedei shrugged. “Less modifications made to females. Likely due to less demanding role. Tactics preserved, but limited in unfortunate ways. Difficult, but not impossible to preserve old ways. Not helped by demoralizing insults, the ‘Elites’.”

“Hmph, Elites, my tail.” Conquest folded his arms. “That they dare to capture our greatest warlords, sample them, kill them off, then use copies is bad enough. But the greatest insult is to refer to them as ‘Elites’. Makes me sick. Especially since my father was in there captivity for a short while, and they surely made more than one Elite from him. I can only hope I face one some day, so he can look into the eyes of his enraged original’s son before I crush his heart with my bare hands…”

“Will be repaid in blood,” Ogedei agreed. “And have desire to join with… afterwards. Cannot leave now. Made promise to human here, but once war is won…”

Conquest tilted his head slightly. “What if I were to offer you a position by my side? Based on what I have seen, your skills are quite formidable. We could make a great duo.”

“Is tempting, though have fought alongside XCOM long enough...creates hesitation. Not easy to leave comrades behind. Not yet, at least.”

Conquest leaned in close. “What if a warlord were to order you to come with him?”

“Would… have to comply, based on only remaining Warlord giving order in time of crisis.” Ogedei shook his head. “Would have to inform others of decision, though.”

Conquest reached forward, roughly hitting Ogedei on the shoulder. “Relax, warrior. I shall not pull you away from your current loyalties. Besides, if there is one thing that will pull the humans through this, it is the might of our people, even if it just from one of us.”

It was Ogedei’s turn to tilt his head slightly. “Not aware of others on base? The liberated females loosely lead by Kokachin?”

“Aw, yes, the females. It is too bad for our enemy they could not win them over, or the humans would not stand a chance.” Ogedei thought for a moment. “That name sounds familiar. Perhaps she is related to someone my father once knew. Could I… meet these females? This… Kokachin?”

Ogedei nodded. “Of course. Would warn of Kokachin’s pride… can sometimes be in excess.”

“Is that so?” Conquest nodded. “Then I will watch what I say.”

Ogedei thought for a moment. “If not here, then in main gym most likely.” He turned to lead Conquest to where he thought the females might be currently.

Conquest quickly followed answer, the anticipation on his face hidden behind his mask as he made his way through the base, ignoring the odd looks they received along the way.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

“The Last True Warlord: Part Two”

Upon entering the gym, they soon came across Kokachin and a few of the others lifting weights heavy enough to make many of the female soldiers on base envious. Their no longer ‘impromptu’ leader turned to face Ogedei and his companion as they came over. “Hello, stubborn one,” she said rather unceremoniously to Ogedei, before saluting Conquest. “And Warlord, “Conquest” as humans call you.”

“Stubborn one?” Conquest shook his head, and bowed slightly. “It is an honor to meet you. Conquest is indeed the name I was given, but you may call me Yarmisal. At your service, my lady.”

Kokachin smiled beneath her rebreather. “And as you may know, I am Kokachin of Öndör Alkh, daughter of Warlord Tömörbaatar, may he rest in esteemed glory.”

“Did not tell me you were…” Ogedei protested.

“Weren’t worth the effort,” Kokachin replied infuriatingly.

“Were you, perhaps, named after your mother?” Conquest asked. “If so, I believe I know who your father was. Our fathers fought side by side in many a battle.”

Kokachin nodded slowly. “Armor you wear does seem familiar. I have some memories of the war, unlike younger ‘grumpy’ over there.” Ogedei didn’t even try to stop her this time, just shaking his head.

Conquest chuckled a bit. “I am sensing a bit of animosity, Ogedei. Did you do something to insult her or her people?”

Ogedei shook his head. “Merely considers above. Perhaps resentment for being rescued rather than rescuing self.” This earned him a glare, but it felt vindicating to the male Balmadaar.

“Interesting.” Conquest looked back at Kokachin. “Tell me, mighty one. How might you fair in combat should you be chosen to fight alongside one such as myself?”

“I can fight as well as he can, if not better,” Kokachin replied, rolling her head in Ogedei’s direction. “Being daughter of warlord is not simply a title in Öndör Alkh.”

“Indeed.” Conquest nodded his head towards her fellow females. “And them? Are they all capable?”

“Not necessarily as tough, but those with me today can fight. A few of the rest cannot, but they have their own skills. A few have learned thing or two in engineering.”

“Excellent.” Conquest rubbed his hands together. “I am in search of an army. A resistance force to combat these so called masters of the galaxy. And while I count on my associates for much, we are now but four. Now, Ogedei has nobly decided to remain behind to assist the humans, but it seems I have an entire squad right here before me.”

Kokachin thought for a moment. “You’re serious? You want us to bolster your forces?”

Conquest nodded. “Indeed. And you, Kokachin, you could be my left hand, fighting side by side. You and I would make the greatest war couple since Arogin and Atemeus!”

Ogedei looked at Conquest a bit incredulously. “Thought that your resistance was more...guerilla than that.”

Conquest tilted his head slightly towards Ogedei. “Guerilla… out of necessity. But if I could form a new Balmadaar army, using these females as a start, and finding more like yourself who wish to battle against their conquerors, then perhaps we could truly stop these monsters.” Conquest offered his hand. “What say you, Kokachin?”

Kokachin seemed to consider the offer. “Would it not be easier to manage this alongside XCOM? Understand hesitance to rely on humans, but I am fond of their people of tribal descent. There’s that Major, and that one woman that talked to Ogedei. And we are only twenty-seven.”

World coming to an end? Spoke my name, Ogedei thought to himself.

Conquest considered for a moment. “I see your point. Though I fear the humans do not have the Balmadaar strength or will to see this through. They have potential, but we would work best on our own, supporting them in our own way.” He shrugged. “Of course, if you would rather stay with them as opposed to following a Warlord, I can do nothing to force you. We could always try and convince this Major of yours to come with us.”

Kokachin chuckled. “I doubt she would abandon XCOM. Do think that we could learn from the humans. They beat our lost forces regularly, and are very…” the female searched for the word, “...adaptable. If we were able to replicate enemy technology as they, we’d have been equally successful.”

Conquest seemed to fidget uncomfortably. “Per… perhaps if I were to show you our ship. We have made many improvements, and you will surely like what you see.”

“Do I see a lack of confidence from the mighty warlord?” Kokachin muttered.

Conquest laughed, though his laugh seemed somewhat forced. “I… never… lack confidence. The humans might not have realized it, but they made a wise choice with my name. Conquest by name… Conquest by reputation. Trust me, there is a reason why I have survived to fight this war for so long when many others have fallen.”

“I remember enough to know this: Warlords speak by action and might, not by words. Especially not...human phrase...’flowery language’, I believe? Disappointing that you seem to lack the might to back up the claims,” Kokachin chided.

Conquest scowled under his helmet, resisting the urge to squeeze his fists. In a calm voice, he said, “I would gladly show you how well I can… back up my words with action and might, if you need a demonstration.”

“I have no doubt you have some sort of skill, but I lack the assurance that you can truly do everything you claim. Even with all the tribes trying to work together, were beaten down by Ethereals. Bluster will only destroy us again.” Kokachin scoffed. “I was the only child of my father, so he told me that he would forge me into a leader anyway. You seem to be stuck in the mindset that only you can fight as a leader… at least Ogedei can see otherwise.”

“Is… that… so…” Conquest muttered. “Do you think you could do better?” He pointed at Ogedei. “Do you think he could do better? The one you insulted, and looked down on because he was not the child of a warlord?”

“I think I could do better, but he has potential…” Kokachin suddenly swing her fist at Ogedei, stopping just inches in front of his face, but the somewhat disillusioned Balmadaar still didn’t flinch. The female grinned, and returned to her normal posture. “He’s got the bravery. And you forget that the lineage of a warlord isn’t the most important thing. When a lineage fails to perform, the leadership is cleansed in blood, and a new Warlord rises over the carcass of the old.”

“Do… do you think you have what it take to rise over me?!” Conquest reached forward, grabbing Kokachin by the collar with one hand and raising a fist.

Ogedei’s eyes widened, and he hesitated for a moment, but then made up his mind. The Balmadaar slammed his own fist into Conquest’s side, pushing him back slightly, enough to loosen his grip on Kokachin.

The female shook her head, dusting off the front of her shirt. “Challenge me when I’m actually wearing armor, you coward.”

Conquest gripped his side, and glared at Ogedei. “You are wearing armor.” He turned to the other male Balmadaar, slamming his fists together.

Ogedei narrowed his eyes, balling his fists and facing off against the black-armored Muton.

“Shouldn’t...we do something?” Megan mumbled.

“You want to get knocked across the room?” Scarlet replied. “Just watch.”

Conquest shuddered in anger. “Do you… honestly think… this will end well?” He threw his fist straight at Ogedei’s face, all his strength behind it.

The other Balmdaar crossed his arms, the blow creating a dent in the green alloys. Ogedei winced in pain, but did not back down. “Prove you have courage to back down. And swallow pride. Otherwise, must fight no matter result.”

“Back down? To YOU!” Conquest threw two more solid punches, Ogedei barely able to block them. “I shall prove I have the might to beat you down. The only reason this fight will mean nothing is because it will be a titan beating a whelp!”

“‘Might wins battles, but wisdom wins wars.’ You lack the second attribute that I distinctly remember your father having,” Kokachin lamented.

Conquest’s fist stopped short of Ogedei’s face. The Balmadaar warlord stood in place for several moments, seemingly frozen in time. Finally, he slowly lowered his fist, and shook his head. “Do not… speak of my father…”

“It appears I have to, otherwise he cannot be saved from the disappointment of how his son is behaving,” Kokachin muttered. “I don’t see why the other three follow you in the first place.”

Conquest chuckled. “Is that so. Strange. I was wondering why I thought any of you would be of any assistance to me.” He turned towards the exit, calling behind him as he walked, “I see I was not wrong about you after all, Ogedei.”

The other Balmdaar took a step forward, but Kokachin shook her head. “He’s not worth our time. Sorry you had to see that this so called ‘Warlord’ is a piece of ömkhii baas. But, I think you have what it takes. I wasn’t lying about that, Ogedei.”

“Not...so sure…” Ogedei responded, watching the black-armored Muton leave.

Kokachin patted the warrior on the back. “Trust me, you do. All we need is to forge you armor to match warrior’s soul. Not empty and devoid of color like that bastard.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Primary Laboratory, Alien Containment Facilitiy
Oct. 18th, 2000 Hours

It is amazing what they held on to, not to mention what they allowed me to have! They even gave me a computer! MY computer! It is isolated, sure, but at least I can do a little studying and continue my work to a degree.

Well, I'm happy for you. Though...

W... what?

Oh, nothing. Just... I find it strange that the humans bothered to give you anything. I mean, they got what they wanted, and it isn't like you'd stop cooperating as long as you desire to see Emily...

T-true... perhaps they do not wish to incur my ire, in case there is some unforeseen thing they need in the future.

Yes... yes, I am sure that is what it is...

Alright, already, Avy, you've proven your point. The humans have shown to be trust worthy... some of them at least. Do not forget that you were captured because someone surrendered with his fingers crossed.

Good point... Luxxy, I have to ask, why is this what you asked for?

What do you mean? If... if you want something, I am sure I could still try and...

No, I'm fine. That isn't what I meant. I meant... even without the ability to read minds, I could tell how important the Commander's child was to her. Short of releasing you, I can think of any number of things you could have asked for that would have been more... 'costly', so to speak, but you likely would have gotten. Why settle?

This... this is what I wanted, I was... I was put on the spot, couldn't think...

With that impressive mind? Come now.

It... it was not that difficult a procedure, I simply... felt this was the most appropriate... payment...

Oh, I see. I thought it might have been you had a soft spot for that poor child. The satisfied emotions I felt even from here would say as much.

You... you tease me, Avy. Why must you always...

Because I am happy for you. I am... proud of you. Your actions have brought so much joy to me, and this is how I express it. I apologize if I offended you.

It... is okay, Avaritia. I was not offended.

Avaritia noted Dr. Vahlen as she walked into the room, immediately noted the strand of psionic energy flowing from her head. Tracing it back, he noted the form standing near the door, bending the light around her to render herself invisible, even to the Legion guards, but Avaritia could still see her aura of energy. I... I am afraid I must go. Keep up the good work, and... and I love you, Luxuria. Please remember that.

What... what did you just...

Avaritia closed off his mind to all beyond the room. As Dr. Vahlen started to prattle on about Avaritia's role in Brigid's recovery, possible rewards, procedures, and his health, pausing every so often as if listening to a response, Death floateed closer to the cell. So... I am assuming based on the way you are hiding that... that you do not bring good news.

Conquest wishes for us to leave soon. He seems adamant about our departure. Famine and I were hoping we'd have more time to convince him otherwise... but I see we were being fools. He is too stubborn, and will not change his mind. We have a... a-a weapon, one we need to test before we go.

I see. I... I would thank you for using it on me and not Luxuria, but I know you do not do it out of a courtesy for me. This makes me wonder why I was chosen.

You were chosen because... because you are more dangerous then her. Despite her recent actions, most of the humans continue to look at her with little more then distrust and contempt. But you have turned heads. There are those here that believe you are... 'not so bad', that you can be reasoned with. Not only does that make you a danger as one who could trick them into releasing you, but you... y-you distract them from the true terror of their enemy. As long as you are alive, the humans are at risk of not seeing the Ethereals, as a total, to be the monsters they truly are.

I see. Very good speech. Almost sounded rehearsed...

Don't... don't patronize me!

I... wasn't trying to, I'm sorry. I simply meant that they sounded like the thoughts of someone else.

Death shook her head, then shuddered all over. I... I can't do this. I... I agree with the humans. You... you could atone. And my insistence that you should try makes me partly responsible for this. I... I even believe Luxuria could atone, if she were to work at it. I... I can't...

You must! Death starred at Avaritia in confusion, and he elaborated. That you stand before me today shows the depths to which your leader will go to. I fear a backlash should you fail here. If you value you life, and the lives of the humans on this base, you will do it.

Death shuddered. I... this isn't a test, it... it is cold, blooded murder. How could I... ever forgive...

An illusion of Avaritia, solidified by telekinesis, appeared before Death. It reached down, and wrapped its arms around the young Ethereal. I already have. So I'm sure you can too.

Death slowly nodded. With a shuddering sigh, Death looked over to Dr. Vahlen. The mesmerized doctor slipped in Avaritia's meal, the capsule on top of it dissolving in the direct presence of the Ethereal's psionics. As the nano-bots made their way into Avaritia's lungs, the image of Avaritia faded. Death released her hold on Dr. Vahlen. The doctor simply watched Avaritia for a moment, the implanted memories keeping her from being confused. She started to panic, however, as the alarms for the cell started going of. As Avaritia's psionic energy started to dip dangerously low, she quickly turned the inhibitors down, then completely off, but it did nothing to help.

Keep your resolve, young one. You fight the good fight, even if it does not always seem so. You mission is true, but even someone on the right side can be in the young. Take note... of... of who you... would be better off... working... for...

Death shook her head, quickly rushing out before her emotions made her lose control and drop her illusion. This is what she told herself, but in truth, it was because it hurt too much to watch Avaritia clench his chest as he collapsed to the floor, gasping, wheezing, and finally, laying still.

==========

Avaritia? A... Avy? Luxuria paced around her cell, frantically looking back and forth as if there was something that could help her. Shen'lutusus! Shen, answer me! What... where are you... Shen! The Ethereal sulked down, lowering herself into her chair, and occasionally reaching out, trying to get into contact with her friend.

 

[Adrammalech]

// APPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS //
Emily Fischer
XCOM Headquarters – Barracks #4
Siberia, Russian Federation
7:08 PM

Emily looked over her new Blaster, fresh from the requisitions office she delivered Luxuria’s interior decorating list to. She gave an experimental point and began dreaming up ideas to make it hers, before tucking it away into her holster and heading out into the hallways. She made a beeline for her barracks, putting her gun onto the table and then going to her duffel to root around for her tools. She brought a screwdriver over and dropped into the seat, getting ready to tinker. Dallas walked in at that moment, his arms hanging low and his feet slightly unsteady.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah…no,” he replied, dropping into bed.

Emily walked over and kneeled beside him, rubbing his arm worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

“My little brother…his squad went M.I.A. I got the letter today.”

“Oh…I’m so sorry,” she put her hand on his back. “Where was he?”

“I don’t even know, that’s the kicker. We weren’t really close, my dad remarried when I was older. He just turned 1 when I enlisted…dad said he always told him he has a secret brother, out saving the world. He signed up the second he turned 18,” he gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “Only difference is that for my first three years I was fixing jeeps and delivering food crates in some forward base, he had…this.”

“Is there any chance he just fell out of contact? With the aliens messing with the governments and floating with the satellites…it must be a common problem.”

Dallas shook his head and he looked down at his feet. “It happened a month ago. They’re sending me the letter now because they don’t expect…”

“I’m sorry, Jack,” she frowned. “I wish I could say something that would make it all better.”

“Yeah…I just keep pushing, I guess,” he sighed. “Just another name in a long list.”

An idea popped into Emily’s head, a method she may not have considered using if it wasn’t for the display she had seen earlier in the day. She gave Dallas a quick kiss and smiled with a bit of mischief towards him.

“I know something that might help,” she said with a sad smile. “How would you like a massage?”

“I’m not sure,” Dallas sighed. “Not really in the mood for anything right now…other than flying to Canada and shooting every alien I see.”

“Come on, you’ll like it. Just you, me, and some sweet relaxation.”

Dallas gave a tired sigh, but couldn’t bring himself to fight her off. “Alright, why not.”

Dallas rolled over onto his stomach and Emily climbed into bed with him, preparing her mind and giving a series of light scratches over his shirt. Emily huffed a breath of hot air onto her fingertips and reached underneath his shirt, stretching her hands up his back. She gave firm rubs and little squeezes all the way up to his shoulders, and then back down to his waist. Her fingertips began to glow a faint green as they trailed back down to his waist, sending tiny and pleasant shocks through the nerve endings as she rubbed down. Despite the mildness of her touches, Emily focused intensely, exerting herself as she tried to both mirror and limit Luxuria’s ability.

“Does that feel good?” Emily asked.

“Y-yeah…did you go to school for this or something?”

“Nope,” she smiled. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s all tingly and refreshing…you’re really good at it…”

After a few minutes of the massage, she dropped down next to him, and Dallas turned towards her, a small smile growing on his face. Emily ran her fingers through his hair as she stared at him lovingly.

“Everything’s going to work itself out,” she whispered. “You’ll see.”

“I hope so…”

“And no matter what, you always have me.”

Her fingers began to glow again as she explored the chemistry of his mind, using the Ethereal knowledge in her mind to perfectly understand his biology. She released endorphins and activated serotonin, causing his body to relax and his smile to grow even further. He leaned closer, feeling a little impulsive in the engineered euphoria brought by Emily’s touch.

“I…love you, Emily,” he whispered nervously.

“I love you too, Jack,” she smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Emily took Dallas in her arms, and he wrapped his around hers. She gave him a kiss and let him rest his head in her shoulder, no longer focusing on her psionics. With a contented sigh, her eyes began to dim and she relaxed into the embrace, simply enjoying the moment – and the man that made her happy.

 

[BMPixy]

“THROUGH THE LICENSE OF HE WHO IS CALLED I AM”
Berlin, Germany
Just outside the Bundeskanzleramt
October 18, 2018
1727 Hours Local Time

With a sigh, Joachim Guack slid into the backseat of the Presidential limousine, closing his eyes for a moment as he closed the door behind him. He rubbed his temples slightly, trying to ease away the stress of being the head of state.

“Only four more years...” he muttered, shaking his head slightly as the vehicle pulled out of the parking garage and into the streets of Berlin. The man opened his eyes, and immediately wished he hadn’t, as the previously empty seats of the limo were now filled with six people.

“Well hello there, Mr. Gauck,” the Latino man across from Joachim said, leaning forward and resting his chin on the back of his hands. “I suppose you’ve had a stressful day? Well, guess it’s a bit more so now...”

“W-who... are you people?” Gauck stuttered, slowly reaching for the panic button under his coat.

“The kind of people who will give you a reason to panic if you hit that button,” the bulky Samoan on the President’s left snarled, staring down the German.

“Ah, excuse my friend, Mr. Gauck,” the Latino interjected, “Cars bring out the worst in him. If you’ll allow me to introduce ourselves, I am Germael, the man on your left is Gradhiel, the wiry man on my right is Kafziel. As for our female compatriots, the redhead is Jopiel, the African woman sitting between us is Rehael, and the lady to Gradhiel’s left- the one playing with the lighter- is Rampel.”

“What do you people want with me?” Joachim asked, attempting to assert some control over the situation. “Is this a kid-napping?”

“No, nothing so... barbaric, Mr. Gauck,” Germael replied. “Tell me, do you... believe in aliens?”

“Of course I do! A base of theirs was extracted from our country just a couple weeks ago, and they’re all over our news! What are you playing at?!” The President blurted out, trying a slightly aggressive approach to get his captors off-guard.

“No need for hostility, Mr. Gauck. Just seeing how well versed in the situation you are. You might call us... associates, of the aliens,” Germael explained, leaning back slightly as the limo hit a small bump in the road, prompting Gradhiel to tense slightly.

“Damn death-traps,” the Samoan muttered under his breath.

Germael ignored his comrade, and continued, saying, “Let’s just say our employers decided it best that we take a more... active role in the German government. I thought it best we started with the top, hence why we’re here before you now.”

Joachim swallowed slightly, tugging at his collar slightly. “I’ll have you know that I will not betray my country, for any reason. You are wasting your time with me.”

“Well, I’m sure your family would be displeased to hear that...” Germael replied, turning his head away from Gauck.

Panic seized the German, and he stuttered out, “W-what are you g-going to do to them?”

“Well, I’ve heard that Martin has been quite depressive as of late... it’d be a shame if he were to act on those feelings any time soon. And who knows, the grief of losing a brother and son may drive the rest to the same actions,” the Latino idly mused, shrugging nonchalantly.

“You wouldn’t...”

“Kafziel, show this man that I would.” Germael motioned to the wiry man, who nodded in turn. Kafziel then put a single finger to his forehead, and a tendril of orange energy snaked out from his head, towards Gauck. The German recoiled back, but there was nowhere for him to move, and the tendril connected with his skull.

A wave of existential dread overcame Joachim, dark words filling his mind. Useless. Pathetic. Better off dead. Coward. Why’d you leave her? Puppet. Suddenly Gauck shot a hand out for the door, just to open it and leap out and release himself from this torment, but a meaty hand from Gradhiel seized the President’s hand before he could do so. After agonizing seconds of this torture, the orange tendril vanished, Kafziel lowering his right hand. Just as quickly as it came, the dread vanished from Joachim’s gut.

“So, now do you believe that I would?” Germael asked, leaning forward and steepling his fingers under his nose.

“T-the hell w-was that?” the German asked, clutching at his head.

“The means we’ll use to ensure that you hold up on your part of the deal,” Jophiel said, her voice barely audible over the rumble of the vehicle.

“Essentially, what we want from you, Mr. Gauck, is your co-operation. We plan on bringing a new light to this world of yours, and you can help us with that. Of course, your part in the plan has not yet come to pass, and we can’t exactly have you potentially blabbing about this.” Germael paused, before turning to Rehael. “Rehael, program him.”

The African woman nodded, and then gestured at Joachim, a green wave of light extending out from the outstretched hand into the President’s skull. A wave of pain overcame the German, and he clutched his head frantically, trying to drive away the pain. After a moment, the energy faded, and the pain dulled to a light headache.

“W-what did you do to me...?” Gauck asked, straightening after the psionic assault.

“Just a little mental programming to ensure that you do not have a... change of heart, I believe the expression is? Regardless, Rehael, you mind testing it?” Germael looked over at the woman, who merely nodded.

“Duty prevails,” she said, her eyes briefly glowing green. Gauck’s headache rose in pain slightly, and he felt the need to do... something. Anything. He looked frantically over the others in the back of the limo, waiting for one of them to give him something to do. Dammit, why weren’t they giving him any orders!? Why aren’t th-

“Punch yourself once, in the face,” Germael commanded, and before Gauck could comprehend the order his fist was already embedded in his cheek, snapping his head to the right. But, regardless of the pain in his cheek... he felt good.

“Rejoice in service,” Rehael spoke, and the German’s headache dulled slightly. He put a hand to his hurting cheek, and the odd feeling of pleasure in serving faded.

“Well then, seems we’re all set, I’d say,” Germael said, leaning back in his seat. “I suppose it is time we make our exit. Rehael, if you would again?”

“Very well,” Rehael replied, and once more a tendril of green energy connected with the President’s skull. Joachim’s skull flared in pain, and he briefly lost consciousness from the sheer intensity of the pain.

Upon his awakening, the back of the limo was empty. Of course it’s empty, Gauck thought to himself, there was nobody here in the first place. Still, he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched. He rubbed his temples slightly, trying to ease away the headache that came over him. Probably just being paranoid.

 

[Adrammalech]

// PAST AND PRESENT //
Emily Fischer
The Dreamscape

Emily manifested a model of Luxuria’s Ethereal mask into her dreamscape, testing out the look, but failing to find a good place for it. She felt weird including her, but given her recent behavior and Emily’s growing ambition, she wanted to at least try it out. As she thought about it, the mask hopped to life, hovering high as the rest of the illusion Luxuria used materialized beneath it. Genetically identical as always, but decades different in style. It was solid in this world, a living and breathing thing manifested. She looked at Emily with concern and irritation, crossing her arms.

Stupid move. She stated plainly, her voice carrying the same subtle modulation as the illusions she had met before.

You again. You’re not fooling me this time. What are you?

The illusion sighed with annoyance. I swear, I’ve pointed this out before. Perhaps this is my fault, for choosing the people who agitate you as my form…

Who are you?!

I’m you.

Stop lying. And put my mask down.

No. You’ve already lost your way with XCOM, you won’t with the aliens too.

Lost my way? What are you talking about?

The illusion grabbed onto Emily’s arms forcefully, pulling her towards the edge. She pointed angrily down at the buildings below and then looked directly into her eyes.

Look! What do you see?

Uh…an Ethereal city, obviously.

No, you idiot…it’s your city. Luxuria’s mirage stepped forward and pointed towards one of the taller buildings, her fingertip glowing red and setting the entire building on fire. We have enough knowledge to take Luxuria just like she tried to do to us. We could easily survive with her psionics, and selling a bundle of XCOM gear to the right people would set us up for years. She put this city here so you could get used to her and merge with her.

Emily mirrored the illusion’s gesture and put out the fire, shrinking it into nothing.

It’s there because Luxuria wants me to understand them. I don’t want us to merge, I want us to cooperate.

Still holding yourself back, and for what? Only a handful of women have our experience, our drive. Only one has our unique position. And you use it all to try and make a status quo, chasing some incompatible ideal rather than improving. You’re pathetic.

My only drive is to survive and lessen suffering. If that gives me high willpower, so be it, but I don’t want to decide for humanity or the world.

You can’t lie to me, Emily. You wanted to change the world once. You ran away to change your life, and you did. You lived a new life, in new places, with a new name.

That’s different. I had to.

No! You wanted to! And you made it so! That’s what you DO!

I’m just a survivor.

You’re a killer, Emily. The aliens, the insurgents, and the mercenaries wanted to take from you. But you’re a taker, and you took them instead. Nico and Seb too. They wanted to change you, and you erased them.

That doesn’t define me…I had to do those things.

Of course, each pull of your trigger was forced. Just like you had to steal from everyone on the ships?

Yes. I had to steal to survive. People gave me gifts too, though. I liked people…

You use people! Idiots like Oliver for pleasure, romantics like Dallas for power. There’s a reason you’re so good at talking to people. Because you like it. You like smiling at someone powerful like Morrigan and saying “yes, sir,” knowing they’re doing exactly what you want.

No, no…I care about Morrigan, genuinely. She helped me and I owe her.

The illusion morphed away from Luxuria’s style, turning into Emily’s true look when she first arrived. She stood up straight with impeccable posture in her standard steel and leather armor, a conventional carbine in her hands and an old AP grenade strapped to her waist. Her hair was a little frizzier and her arms were a bit leaner, and she gave a comforting smile. The same smile she gave when telling her Commander she’d follow the rules, probing an untested Ammelia for her combat specs, or patting a stuttering Sunny on her head. Emily began to bare her teeth at the illusion, barely holding back the rage incited by its taunts.

And she’ll keep helping you, because that’s how you set it up, ever since the first time she called your name with Bradford standing beside her. Each and every time you talk, it’s engineered. You get raunchy around Mary, sweet around Sunny, professional around Desmond, comforting around Ammy, loyal around Dallas. You know they’ll like you and they’ll die for you. But you’d watch them all be erased if it meant you survived.

Emily cocked her fist and swung at the illusion, the image falling around it like water and punching her clean in the stomach. Emily stepped back to see the mirage in her combat stance, perfectly mirroring the martial arts she learned in Brazil.

No one is more important than us. XCOM gives you the gear, Luxuria gives you the power. All you have to do is take them both and walk away!

You’re wrong about me, whatever you are. About me, about Luxuria, about everything!

If I’m wrong, why do you have to hide your own wishes? You could’ve told Morrigan you wanted peace, but you didn’t, because you were afraid of being called a traitor. They’re all lemmings, and you know it, so you trick them into working with you instead – just like it always has been!

Emily flung herself forward again, her hands glowing with psionic energy as she tried to beat the illusion down. Each movement was one step too slow, and the mirage kept landing a punch or a kick for each mistake. Emily tried to grapple it, only to learn that it was far stronger than her, and found herself on the ground with the air knocked out of her body, her throat pinned down by its arm.

This is your mind, Emily! You can’t hide your lies anymore. You want to control your ‘friends,’ to use them for whatever whim crosses your mind. You don’t even need to believe it to do it, it’s in you. It is your nature.

N-n-no…I can change…

Why would you want to change?

No one…succeeds alone…

If that’s true, why didn’t you die the second you ran away?

Emily planted her feet on her doppelganger and flipped her over, scrambling away from the illusion. As she composed herself, she resumed her old capoeira stance, preparing herself against the mirage’s plan of attack. They paced around each other with angry glares and fake moves, waiting for the other to attack again.

You don’t change. You think you would be the same if Nico found you first, or if Seb had his way? You don’t change because you’re too strong to let them do it.

I’m strong enough to change myself, and that’s it. I’m strong enough not to let people impose their change on me. I’m strong enough not to let Luxuria take me.

If you were really strong, you’d take her power as your own, and be twice as strong as before!

I’m not the one in a cage.

No, it’s worse. You’ve made your own cage and call it home!

The mirage dashed forward with a roundhouse kick and Emily caught the leg in midflight, pulling her hard onto the ground. The illusion got back up only to be rewarded with Emily’s boot crunching into her face from another spinning kick, and she sailed back down. Emily looked down spitefully at the fake version of her, blood streaming from its nose from the last attack, the bones around its nose rearranging to repair themselves in the mental world. She pulled it to the edge of her platform by its hair, wrenching it up to its feet and struggling to push it off. As the illusion struggled, it was clear that its strength had left it.

You can’t…you can’t get rid of me, Emily.

You said it yourself, I’m a taker.

And I’ll be here to remind you. Deny who you are as long as you like. Pretend to be selfless and domesticated. But I’ll be here, waiting for when you want something. As your upbringing, as your desires, as your best interests. It’s only a matter of time.

It’s going to be a long fucking wait.

She shoved the illusion over the edge, watching the image of herself tumble down into the cityscape, vanishing into a plume of smoke. As it disappeared, ideas of love, loyalty, and a greater good flooded her mind unrestrained and bled into the world around her, the new prospects intimidating her in their imposition, their permanence. After a moment, her jaw hardened and she nodded resolutely, walking back to the center of her platform. It didn’t matter what fears stood in front of her or what prices the ideas came with, she was going to commit to them, for better or worse.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

I-290
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Oct. 19th, 6 p.m. (Local Time)

Rebecca rubbed her eyes, the strain of starring at computer monitors all day making her feeling like her eyes were going to fall out. "I really think I'm getting too old for this job," she muttered.

"What? No," her driver called back. "What are you now, fifty-five, fifty-six."

Rebecca narrowed her eyes. "Watch it, boy."

Then man only shrugged, the big grin on his young face reflected in the rearveiw mirror. "I'm just saying, Ms. Carter. I always thought the minimal age for your job was sixty, so you should be proud that you're one of the youngest old farts."

"You know I could fire you at any moment for any reason, right?" Rebecca folded her arms. "Tell me, Mason... you do remember what happens to people who a fired when they have your kind of knowledge, right?"

"Oh, come on, Ms. Carter, you can't fire me. What do you think the chances are of you finding someone who is as honest with you as possible."

The older woman sighed. "I suppose so..."

"Besides, you and I both know you can't help but check me out when ever I bend..."

"DON'T... push your luck, boy." Rebecca hid a smile. "Maybe if I was twenty years younger," she muttered to herself.

"You same something, Ms. Carter," Mason asked, looking back. He swerved to the right as a horn warned him he was drifting into the next lane.

"I said keep your eyes on the fucking road, you moron!"

Mason frowned. "Oh... now that's just mean..."

"You'll get over it, assuming you don't kill yourself in a car accident first," Rebecca answered dismissively.

After a half hour of banter and back and forth, they pulled up to Rebecca's luxury apartment. Rebecca waved, heading inside as the driver took off, the woman scoffing as the vehicles wheels squealed. "Man drives a limo like a sports car..."

A wave to the doorman, nods to neighbors, a quiet elevator ride, and a short walk brought her home. As she flipped her lights on, a faint whine made her sigh. "Yes, yes, mommy's home. Shush up." She slowly pulled off her heals and stepped carefully, not wanting to trip over the frantic pug pawing at her legs.

She didn't even bother to take off her business clothes, simply dropping into her chair and allowing the pug to curl up in her lap, lest he start whining loudly and upsetting the neighbors. She looked at her reflection in the T.V., noting the grey hairs that stuck out against the black hair and dark skin. She gave a frank look to the Savannah sitting next to the television, and said, "Tell me the truth. Do I look old?" The feline jumped of the counter, quickly climbing onto the seat and rubbing his face against her. "Yeah, yeah. That's your answer to everything."

A knock on the door sent the pug running, and was already waiting to jump at the woman who stepped in. "Hello, pogi! I just took you for a walk an hour ago! Why do you always act like you haven't seen me in years?"

"Because he's a dog?" Rebecca laughed as she walked over. "What's up, Susan?"

"Just brought you some dinner. If I didn't, you know you wouldn't eat," Susan placed a decent sized bowl of home made chili on the table.

Rebecca shrugged, and grabbed a spoon. Sitting at the table, she asked, "So, Jeff feeling any better?"

"He's getting there," Susan answered. "But they keep calling to ask when he's coming back to work! And I say, 'he has the flu and a sinus infection, not to mention he's still recovering from his injuries when those damn space men attacked a while back! He's doing what he can from home, what more do you want?' And all they say is 'so, what, about a week?' I tell you, they can't do a thing without him."

Rebecca laughed. "Yeah, I hear you. But at least they're not firing him for things out of his control. I got this one jackass, can't go into too many details, of course. Anyway, we've got this woman heading this project. Not perfect, but doing pretty good considering the stress and difficulty and whatnot." She took a large bite, too eager to speak to really chew much before trying to speak again. "This dumbass is trying to convince everyone on the board she needs to be terminated because she isn't doing things exactly how he wants it down. I mean, what is the point of putting someone in charge of something if you're not going to trust their judgement."

Susan grinned. "Maybe he's the one who should be terminated."

Rebecca nodded eagerly. "That is exactly what I said!"

The two continued to chat for a while. Once Rebecca was done eating, the headed into the living room, their show about to start. Before entering, however, a large explosion gripped the building, then another, then another. Rebecca looked out the building, a small alien craft pointing directly at her apartment. She dived to the side, but her friend wasn't so quick. The wall was obliterated, Susan along with it.

As the dust settled and Rebecca pushed debris away, wiping the blood out of her eyes from a large gash on her forehead, she looked away in terror at the smoking remains that had been her closest friend. As she struggled to get her bearings, she slowly stood up, and turned her head towards the sound of crunching glass. Two Thin Men, two Sectoids and a Muton stood before her, weapons raised.

"Rebecca Carter?" One of the Thin Men asked.

Of course it is her, this is her room, and she fits the description. Who else could it be?

"Shut up, I was just being sure!" The Thin Man raised his weapon. He was thrown off by Rebecca's sudden charge, his shoot just missing her left. The woman ducked and dodged around the aliens with impressive speed, and seemed to go straight for the Muton. She reached out to eat, and the mighty being kicked hard. Rebecca practically flew across the room, smashing into her television and crashing to the ground, the electronic device smashing inches from her face.

"What was that supposed to..." The Thin Men started before being cut off by the an explosion, the Muton's grenades going off. Rebecca slowly looked up at the remains of the aliens, only the Sectoid that was farthest from the explosion still alive. She reached out, yanking the plasma pistol off of the severed arm that had landed near her, and finished the last alien of before it could recover.

She stood up again, then immediately collapsed, pain shooting through her likely broken left leg. As she searched for something, anything, to use as a splint, she could hear the sounds of the UFO approaching the gaping whole in the wall. Grunting in pain, she dragged herself along, tossing the plasma pistol away just as it was about to self-destruct, grabbing a hidden pistol in the kitchen, and moving into the hallway, trying to get as much distance as she possibly could from her attackers.

 

[Dahlexpert]

The fallowing is a collaboration between Dhalexpert & ZombieSplitter53

The lines between friend and foe are blurry

X-COM Headqaurters
Primary Lab, Alien Containment Facility

Morrigan impatiently tapped her foot, watching as the techs went over the readings, over, and over, and over again, but each time, they came up empty. She rubbed her brow, and wondered if her decision to cut back on the whiskey was a bad idea. “Just… just find it, okay? He didn’t… just die for no reason!”

Ashley entered the facility and saw Morrigan being stressful. “Wow you look like crap, how have you been, red?” Ashley said with a smile.

“Hello, Ms. Van Dam. Tactful as always.” Morrigan sighed, and rubbed her temples fervently. “I’ve… been better, honestly. You’ve heard the expression about fixing one problem, just to have another crop up? That… seems to be my entire existance here.”

“Yeah, that sounds like my life as well. Ever since the Ethereal that was in the U.S died, the aliens have been running rampant, which means more work for my family and pretty much any mercenary that holds a gun. Not only that, but we still have other countries on top of that. because certain people see this as an opportunity to cause some trouble for the police.” Ashley rubes her head. “Damn, I have a lot of work to do after this war.”

“You and the rest of the world.” Morrigan shook her head. “I’m sure the incidents in the liberated countries are them trying to compensate, and say, ‘hey, we’re still a threat.’ Probably pooling their resources elsewhere, though. That’s what I would do.” One of the techs looked up from the computer and shook his head. “CHECK… AGAIN! I don’t care if it’s the tenth time, figure it out! It is you job, isn’t it?” She had to resist the urge to threaten to fire him like a douchebag boss in a cheesy comedy.

“Dare I ask what’s going on? Is this something to help us track the last remaining Ethereals?”

“I more worried about the ones we have now… or had now.” Morrigan shuddered in irritation. “This is to track down what happened to Avaritia. He’s… he’s dead.”

“What? How did one of the Ethereals that we have captured and constantly monitored suddenly died? How the hell does that happen?”

“I don’t know!” Morrigan snapped. “And neither do any of these mor…” The Commander placed her hands over her eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry. It is… all a mess. Dr. Vahlen said she was just talking to Avaritia about his recent help and giving him his meal when… his psionics just stopped working. And without them, the Ethereals’ bodies can’t maintain themselves. He was dead before we could get the cell open.”

Ashley rubbed her head. “I see. I can’t do your job. Fuck how does one suddenly die? Oh crap, you do realize that if those idiots in the Council find out about this they're going to be pissed right?”

“Will they?” Morrigan chuckled. “This… this might come as a surprise to you…” She watched the techs work for a few moments, then headed towards the exit. “Follow me. Away from… certain ears.”

“Of course there's too many ears here anyway.” Ashley followed Morrigan. “So, where are we going?

“To the pub.” Morrigan led Ashley to the rec-room, waving off any soldier not smart enough to note her sour expression. She sat at the bar, and ordered a bottle of whiskey and a cola. With the chatter and music as a mask, she muttered, “I’m sorry. To be honest, I trust the soldiers on base more than the civilian staff. Not to… spread paranoia, but I’m sure plenty of them are more loyal to the Council then me. That shouldn’t matter, but I’m starting to suspect that it does.”

“It might. Since you and the Council aren’t on good terms, they might try something. But… no, they won’t do anything reckless to you. Besides, you have so many people loyal to you, I doubt any one here will follow any Commander they put in charge. Besides, do the council know about our super soldiers, like Eva and Desmond?”

“My dear, I believe they know just about everything, and more.” Morrigan took a shot of whiskey. “The Council has opposed my use of the Ethereals as living batteries and sources of information. They believe it isn’t worth the risk. Either that, or they are too consumed with revenge to care. If anything, Avaritia’s death will make them happy. It… it makes you wonder if…”

“Yeah, it seems to convenient that an Etheral would suddenly die out of no where. We might want extra security for our last Ethereal. But if the council does try to pull something, everyone here supports you, so if the council even thinks about replacing you, they’re going to have some trouble.”

“Thanks, that… that actually makes me feel better.” Morrigan smiled at Ashley. “So, what were you doing there, anyway. Another chat with the Ethereal? What did you talk about the first time, anyway?”

“Well, the first time we talked, I, like everyone else, wanted to know why they’re attacking earth. Then Lux said that I’m the same as them, which of course pissed me off. The second time, I entered her mind and gave her the illusion of freedom by letting her out of her cell and showing her our world. Then she showed me her world, and it’s nice a planet with no war, and every one is communicates with each other. it sounds like a world I want to live on. Hell, she even offered me to join them.”

Morrigan laughed. “Yeah, she tends to do that. And what did you say?”

“Um... I said, that I might join them. You know, after this war is over, I mean.”

 

[Dahlexpert]

Morrigan raised an eyebrow. “You… you’re not admitting to regretting which side you are, are you, Ms. Van Dam?”

“What? No! No, I’m on your side, Morrigan, and on the side of humanity. One hundred percent. However, I think that someone needs to change their race. I want to change them. I want to see good in them. Just like I do with everybody. For instance, you remember your favorite lunatic, Scarlet, my cousin right?”

“Aye.” Morrigan took another shot, almost on instinct.

“Well, you're gonna pass out from shock once you hear this. Scarlet has a kid a little 6 year old girl.”

“A kid?!” Morrigan laughed, then held her mouth. “I… I’m sorry. I don’t want to sound rude, but… I don’t see Scarlet holding a steady boyfriend. And… I don’t remember a six year old kid mentioned in her file.”

“That’s because it happened when you got rid of her. See, this war left a lot of kids orphaned, So Scarlet without me knowing adopted this kid out of pity, and I have to say she’s not as craze no as she was when she was here. Don’t get me wrong she’s still violent as hell and still loves killing people, but she calmed down just a little bit not a lot but enough.”

“Well… good to hear,” Morrigan said sincerely. “And I see your point. I’d like to think that Avaritia showed that, despite everything the aliens have done, they aren’t irrevocably evil. I’d… I’d like peace, I really would.” She sighed, and took a slow drink of the soda. “But no matter how reasonable the average Ethereal might be, I have little hopes for their current leaders. Especially from what I’ve come to learn about them.”

“The same could be said for our leaders, and I mean the Council, not you. I mean, since before I got here, I’m guessing they don’t like you, and now, after everything we did. We destroyed the alien base, destroyed EXALT, saved Russia and India, and captured and killed plenty of Ethereals, and survived the base getting assaulted, not once, but twice. You would think they would be praising you as a leader.”

“Yeah, it… it is almost… suspicious in its own right…” Morrigan lifted her shot glass, but didn’t drink, only starring down. “They… they’re not hiding anything. If anything, it is almost as if they want me to hate them. Want me to turn on the or something. It’s… bizarre, to say the least.”

Ashley grabbed her shot glass and downed her drink.”Yeah. it’s weird. It’s like they're planning to make you quit. But I know you, Morrigan. You won’t quit no matter what. But I would like to know what happened to that Ethereal, you would think security cameras would have seen something?”

Morrigan shrugged. “Vahlen didn’t report anything strange, but it is worth a try. Not like I have any other leads.” She sighed. “I’m just worried, no matter what we find, it won’t please our other Ethereal. She’s high maintenance as it is, but thanks to Emily, she’s been doing better. After this, though… I have no idea what to expect.”

“Yeah, I don’t wanna think about that. Hmm... well then, we’ll get to that when we get to it. Now, back to the Council. There's nothing to worry about, Morrigan, they can’t fire you. Hell ,about eighty-five percent of the base is loyal to you, not to mention Legion, so you have nothing to worry about.”

Morrigan sulked a bit. “What if… they try to starve us out? I mean, we are in the middle of Siberia, after all. What if they said ‘hand of O’Brien, and we’ll give you more food’. How long do you think loyalty would last then. Hell, how long until I turn myself in for the sake of everyone else?”

“We can go hunting. Hell, you bring in some of my people and some of Atka’s people. We will live. I mean, getting food will be a challenge, yes, but we will survive. You have any other ideas of what the might get rid of?”

Morrigan shrugged. “I… I don’t know. Other then that, we could make it out here for quite some time on our own. To be honest, I’m more concerned with how some of them soldiers might feel if they were told I wasn’t the Commander any more, and supporting me is treason.”

“Well let’s see our main stars. Eva is dead loyal to you after you saved her kids and helped her defeat EXALT, so that’s her and Legion. Me and Atka are loyal to you, you saved Atka’s family, and allowed my wife and kid to stay here. Desmond you helped out a lot, and let his clan come here. Ammelia is loyal to you. Ayame is loyal to you because you saved her life, so I’m sure that’s our toughest. We’ll stand by your side no matter what.” Ashley said with a smile.

Morrigan smiled back. “Your… your optimism is contagious. Thanks.” Morrigan stood up, and stretched her arms. “Alright, I’ll try not to mope as much. For everyone’s sake.”

Ashley pat Morrigan’s back. “That’s the spirit, now I’m sure you have other things to take care of. Me, on the other hand, I have to go back to teaching Cassia other languages. Oh, teaching a kid a new language is hard.”

“Then, I wish you luck.” Morrigan headed out, her step a bit lighter than it had been before.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
October 20th, 0200 Hours

Conquest watched as the automated system moved the ship to the main launch bay with satisfaction. "Finally, we can get back to what we do best; fighting on our own terms."

War and Famine nodded, though the latter noted the sulking shoulders of Death. "What's wrong, shrimp? Soon enough, we'll be out of this stuffy base, and you'll be able to freely stretch your psionic muscles. I know it must have been hard to..."

It wasn't hard. I... I enjoyed people not judging me for once, having a reason for people trusting me. Now... now we go back to being outcasts, or worse... we go on to be just like the beings we fight to stop...

Famine frowned. "Don't worry. I'll make sure we only use it on those that are a direct threat to us, never..." Death only dipped her head further. "What... what happened?" Death didn't answer, and Famine looked over at Conquest. "What did you do?"

==========

Aya watched the security footage carefully, pausing it every so often to rub her sore eyes. She decided to watch the footage of Avaritia's actual death again, having found nothing before hand. It all seemed the same, until she noticed something different. A distortion in the footage, like something was wrong with a specific area. She froze on a specific spot, and started running through various spectrums.

==========

"Are you crazy?!" Famine stomped over to Conquest. "Not only do you force her to dirty her hands on your behalf... not only do you threaten to ruin EVERYTHING we have with the humans for the sake of your TEST... but you use it on a captive, defenseless..."

"The Ethereal was guilty of too many crimes to count," Conquest interrupted. "His death was deserved, no matter what his position."

"But we don't kill defenseless enemies!" Famine stood with his face inches from Conquest's. "If you did this, I have every reason to believe you'd..."

"You will follow my rules!" Conquest screamed back. "Without question! Is that clear?!"

"I will not take part in genocide, no matter what!" Famine snarled. "And I'll be damned if I let you..." He was cut off by a massive Balmadaar hand wrapping around his throat.

==========

"Yeah, she said there was something wrong with it," Jake said casually. "Damaged during training."

"And was there?" Eve asked. "And if so, what?"

"Yeah, it needed repairs, and..." Jake hesitated. "Um... I... I can't remember what the problem was, only that I... I fixed it."

Eve leaned forward. "Now, this is very important. Did you find something wrong with it before... or after it was removed?"

==========

"Now, you listen to me very carefully." Conquest squeezed tightly, pulling Famine close. "You work for me. You would be nothing if not for this resistance. So you will do exactly what I say, when I say it. If I want to wipe them out, we wipe them out. Is... that... clear?"

Famine weakly nodded, and Conquest violently threw him to the side. As the reptilian alien gasped for air, Death rushed to his side. I... I am so sorry, I...

"No..." Famine choked out. "I-I'm sorry... I should... have known..."

"Get up!" Conquest barked out. "Gather your things. We're leaving."

==========

"From what we can gather, his psionics simply... switched off," Jessica explained. "And I might know how... or at least, I have an idea."

She motioned for Morrigan to look through a microscope. "What is this... it... this is a nanobot, right?"

Jessica nodded. "Yes, one of ours. It is one of several that I found that had malfunctioned, and not broken down like they're supposed to. Probably because they were tampered with."

"Found where?" Morrigan asked, sure she already knew the answer.

"In... the Ethereal's blood stream." Jessica swallowed hard. "And... on a whim, I called engineering to see if... all of the medisprays were accounted for."

==========

Conquest turned as he moved to enter his ship to see the approaching Morrigan. "Commander! Come to see us... off?" A group of security guards and soldiers flanked her, raising their weapons at the Muton warlord. "Interesting send off..."

"Did you make a bio-weapon with our nanites, and test it on Avaritia!?" Morrigan practically growled.

Conquest sighed. "Please understand, Commander. It only disables psionics temporarily, and thus is only harmful to Ethereals. I would never..."

"That isn't the point!" Morrigan raised a rifle of her own. "How DARE you use me to make something like this without my consent! What do you plan to do with it?"

"I only plan to use it against..."

"He plans to wipe out all of them." Famine stepped to the side. "He wants to wipe them out, combatant or civilian, every man, woman, and child."

Morrigan's entire body shook. "How... dare you..."

War suddenly stepped in front of the ship, four plasma dragons raised. Conquest laughed. "We're leaving. Maybe you can stop us, but how many of you, including your Commander, will die before you take out myself, a four armed titan, and one of the strongest..." He watched as Death slowly floated towards the Commander, her arms raised in surrender.

I am sorry, Commander. The young Ethereal stood before Morrigan, bowing her head. I am ready to accept full responsibility for my actions, and I am willing to help you make sure he does as well.

Morrigan watched as Famine approached as well, bowing his head. She smiled slightly, nodding her head. Conquest snarled. "You... Damn traitors!"

War fired, the shots from his lower arms hitting the ground in front of the soldiers while the shots from the upper arms hit a large crane behind them, blowing it up. He quickly ducked into the ship before they could recover, but Conquest hesitated long enough to pull his oversized plasma pistol, firing at the disoriented Death.

"No!" Famine slammed into Death, knocking her to the side. The super charged plasma punched through his light armor, stomach, back, and armor again, and had enough charge left to punch into the Commander's stomach. Both fell to the ground, the latter screaming in pain, the former in too much pain to do so himself.

As the ship lifted into the air, Death rushed to Famine's side, her hands glowing green. Famine used what was left of his strength to slap her hands away. "Heal... her..."

I-I will! But she isn't as injured as you! I can save you first, then...

"You... probably won't... be able to... save me... and you might... lose her... or run out of energy... before you can save her..."

Tears ran down Death face. Please, I... I can't...

"Heal her now, you might save... one... heal me... m-might lose both... she is... more important... I'm just one... they need her... please..."

Death shook her head, and had to forcefully push herself away from Famine. Several soldiers raised their weapons as she approached their Commander, and she violently pushed them to the side with telekinesis. Placing her hands on Morrigan's stomach, she concentrated. The damage was deeper then it appeared, and it took longer then she thought it would, but after a couple minutes, the wounds were healed. She sent a biokinetic shock through the woman, her heart restarting and Morrigan shooting up, gasping for air.

Death quickly returned to Famine's side, placing her hands against him. After only a few seconds, she dropped her hands, and slowly shuttered. She fell atop her fallen friend, sobbing loudly as the horseman's ship blasted the hanger door open, and flew off.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
"Independent Resolution"

X-COM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
Office of Morrigan O’Brien
Oct. 20th, 1000 Hours

Morrigan took a deep breath as she carefully, ever so carefully, sat in her chair. It had been a pain in the neck to convince the doctors to let her go. “Whoever thought of doctors overriding COs should be dragged out into the street and shot,” she mumbled to herself. A curious Shalquoir tilted her head slightly, and Morrigan waved her off. “I’m fine, just a bit sore. Psionics did most of the look.” She tried to ignore what seemed like an unconvinced look from the cat, sure it was just paranoia on her part, or at the very least, paranoia on the cat’s part.

There was a knock on the door. “Commander?” A familiar voice asked quietly.

Morrigan perked up a bit. “Atka? Come in, come in, please.” She sat up straight, and folded her hands.

The XCOM Major walked in, and sat down in the chair. “I...heard about what happened to you. Are you alright?”

Morrigan grinned. “My? Oh, yeah. It’ll… it’ll take more than this to keep me down.” She patted her stomach, and flinched a bit. “B-besides… ouch… besides, you had a much rougher time than I did.” The smile quickly faded from her face. “I… I’m sorry about Mr. Smith. I know you’ve worked with him for quite some time now.”

Atka clenched a fist. “Yeah. But we know who is responsible. The question is… what are we going to do about it?”

Morrigan sighed. “Good question. The prime subject is riding my ass right now. What with a recent alien death, the trouble with our… former guests, and now a failed mission with two totalled SHIVs, a messed up android, a lost soldier, and a ‘dead’ political diplomat…”

“What do you mean a political diplomat? He was planning on taking Carter by force, kill my squad if he had to!” Atka slowly calmed herself. “What sort of lies did they tell you?”

“Lies? No lies, of course.” Morrigan shrugged, her tone clearly sarcastic. “He had no idea who you’re talking about. Apparently, the Council didn’t send anyone. You sure you didn’t fight some mind controlled humans, or perhaps just hallucinate? After all, my people can’t be trusted any more than I can.”

Atka shook her head. “I’m not in the joking mood right now. We can’t just sit idly by after what they did. Rebecca talked about how the Council was afraid of us going rogue, but I think they just created a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Indeed…” Morrigan sighed again. “It all seems so convenient, too. I wish I could simply assume that they are just really, really stupid. But I’m not sure that is the case. Everything seems to be a step in the direction of us turning against them. This mission, the way my little spokesman has been acting, your encounter with those soldiers… all of it seems to equal us hating the Council, and our dearly departed Rebecca, or as far as they know, informed me that it is much the same on the other side. Acts to turn them against us.”

“What could they possibly gain by doing that?” Atka muttered. “They’d have to devote all their resources to developing a ‘counter XCOM’, and in doing so they’d be the death of all of us. They can’t be working with the aliens, either… otherwise they’d have fought together out there.”

“And yet… Ms. Carter believes they were specifically there for her, which means the aliens must have gotten their information from the Council.” Morrigan leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. “I… I believe the aliens have influence in the Council. It is hard to believe, but… but there are so many different members from all over the world. Any number of them could be working with the aliens, and it would only take one person to spy on the Council, know their every move, know our every move through them, and influence them to turn on us.”

“If that’s true… we can’t follow their orders anymore,” Atka stated bluntly. “Even if we find the ones responsible for this incident, who is to say another isn’t under their influence?” The Inuit woman sighed. “It puts us at risk with conflict with them, but it’s still better than damning all of our efforts by playing right into enemy hands.”

“Agreed.” Morrigan leaned over the desk. “As far as they know, however, Rebecca Carter is dead, killed in the crossfire of the attack by the soldiers they swear weren’t sent by them. And as a… well, former Council member, Ms. Carter knows certain passwords and backdoors into the Council’s systems. So while the Council is still under the impression that we are under their control, I figured turnabout is fair play.” She grinned. “Not a big fan of it in most situations, but maybe we should spy on them like they spy on us.”

Atka nodded. “That would be the best course of action. If we can find the problem, we can eradicate it. I’d rather not contend with another EXALT in the form of the Council members under the aliens’ influence.”

“I’m glad you agree. I’d like to know ahead of time if we are walking into a trap, and at least this way they don’t know that we know.” She reached into her desk, pulling out the shattered remains of the listening device that was installed in her office. “They spied on me long enough. It’s our turn.” She frowned as she stared at the device, suddenly looking troubled. “I… I feel like a hypocrite…”

Atka looked at the device uncertainly. “What do you mean?”

Morrigan looked down a bit. Her arm fidgeted, and it almost looked as though she would throw the device, but she quickly dropped it back into her drawer. “I… I-I…. almost… did the same thing to… t-to Legion…”

“That isn’t your fault, since that was probably part of all of this,” Atka growled. “They’ve been pulling our strings over and over… even before the Council turned out like this, we shouldn’t have just consented to follow a bunch of shadowed faces.”

“Yeah… though that only makes me feel the fool for following them the way I did.” Morrigan smlied at Atka. “I… I should have done what I’m going to do now. Focus on the people close to me. The people who have always been honest, who work for me, work with me. The… the people I trust with my life, and the people I would give my life for.”

“You’re correcting your mistake now. That’s what matters.” Atka shook her head. “This is how we should have run it all along. We’re supposed to be defenders of humanity, stopping this unprecedented threat… and that should mean we’re unchained by the ambitions of anyone. We shouldn’t have to answer to people that are too busy quarrelling to do anything for anyone else. In the past, we rarely even got any orders from them that weren’t just restrictions. We’ve gotten this far of our own merit… that says something about our course.”

Morrigan nodded in agreement. “Well… yeah. You’re absolutely right. We’re not people from all over the Earth here. We’re all… just from Earth. And we’ve done fine on our own accord.” The Commander chuckled. “We’ve done all the work, and they expect the glory. Well, this is our job, or pain, our suffering, and our loses. So damn it, we’ll do it on our terms.”

Atka finally let herself smile slightly. “Yeah. And it’s only a few more to go. The last three Overseers, their leader… and then that being I encountered the other night. He’s powerful… but I believe that we’ll be able to handle him, working together. Without the distraction of a false authority.”

Morrigan leaned back in her chair. “Tell me about him? You said he was powerful, and intimidating. Did he reveal anything… I don’t know, personal? Something about him as an individual, or a leader?”

“Well… he tried to act calm, philosophical like the Honored Overseer described him… but all it took was me describing things as they are, the injustices they’ve caused… and he blew up,” Atka explained. “He may be powerful, but he’s as arrogant as possible, and has a quick temper.”

“Hmm… perhaps something we could use against him. People don’t think clearly when they’re raging.” Morrigan frowned. “Believe me…”

“You’re talking about what happened here during the mission?”

Morrigan shook her head. “I’m… talking about my own experiences with anger. Others might have forgiven me, but I haven’t forgotten. I can’t, lest I make the same mistakes again.”

“Like I said, it’s better to move forward than dwell on the past. The same… goes for Kris. I’ve lost a lot of people, but I can’t let that stop me from doing what I have to.” Atka held up a hand, the beginnings of a telekinetix helix infused with power winding up from it. “If I don’t do everything in my power to bring this war to an end, their sacrifices might be in vain. And that’s something I cannot allow, no matter what.”

“As long as we never forget.” Morrigan closed her eyes. “When I think of all those names… I usually do it when no one is around. You know, don’t show weakness to the troops and all that. But, I often visit the memorial myself. I… I stare at those names, read them carefully, or after another. And I think to myself ‘this… this is why we can’t fail’. Everyone of those lost men and women are watching down on us, cheering us on. So no matter what happens, no matter who we have to fight, no matter how hard things get, I’ll never give up, and let their deaths be worth nothing. I owe them more than that.”

“Let’s end this then,” Atka replied. “On our own terms.”

 

[Frostlich1228]

Frostlich1228 & ZombieSplitter53: “With Great Power Comes Great Possibilities.” Pt. 1

X-COM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
Soldier Barracks, Room of Mary Thomas
Oct. 20th, 1100 Hours

Mary sat on top of her bed, fiddling with the deactivated drone in her lap. She rotated and flipped it but couldn’t find any way to reactivate it. The engineers had decided that they had plenty of drone parts to work with and allowed Mary to keep her new friend, but neglected, or at least forgot, to tell her how to turn it back on. Mary had assumed it would be as easy as flipping a switch, but when she found nothing on the outside of the body, she realized that it wasn’t going to be that simple.

A slight bang come on the door. On the other side, Mary could hear Ayame yell, “Yeah, this is my room! You look at my file or something? And get your hand off me!”

The door opened, Ayame escorted by an irritated looking soldier with a black eye, who practically pushed her in. “Just try to stay out of trouble, or else.”

Ayame snarled at him. “Just watch you fucking tongue, or your left eye will match your right!” The soldier rolled his eyes, slamming the door before leaving.

Mary turned towards Ayame, tilting her head a little, “Heh… He ‘iss ye’ ‘off ‘er ‘sumtin?”

Ayame scoffed. “I… when I heard about your mission, I… I made a fuss about wanting to go on it with you. Might have succeeded, too, if… if that jackass hadn’t made a comment or two… using a certain ‘D’ word. I… I haven’t come to see you since you got back because I was… ahem… in the brig…”

“‘Eh.” Mary shrugged, “Se’ ‘oes ‘at mean ye’ in’nt see the ‘ission?”

Ayame shook her head. “No, Jake was able to sneak in a t.v. thing so I could watch it, though…” She frowned. “I almost lost my head when the footage cut out. I mean… it was hours until we heard from you, and even longer until word got to me. I… I was hopeful, but I started to assume the worst for a while there…”

“Yeh…” Mary replied, “Good ‘ing sh’ ‘in’nt just off es’ ‘en she ‘ad the ‘ance… So… ‘ow much ‘ave ye’ ‘eard ‘bout what ‘appened durin’ ‘at ‘ission?”

Ayame sat down on the bed. “Well, I… I heard that you were in some kind of trance, that you guys broke out of it… somehow, and that the Ethereal escaped when she realized she was losing control.” She gave Mary a worried look. “W… why? Did I miss something?”

Mary gave Ayame a slight smile before saying, “Th’ ‘eason we ‘ere able te’ break out ‘as th’ ‘act ‘at eh’ stole ‘ome of ‘er power dur’in th’ dream.”

“What do you mean?” Ayame scooted a little closer to Mary. “How much ‘power’? Do you… still have it?”

Mary nodded, “‘’Eh dun’t know ‘xactly ‘ow much ‘eh took… Eh’ dun’t e’en know if ‘ats what ‘aused et’ or ‘ot but ‘et ‘urns out e’hm…” Mary paused, then smirked, “‘Eh Psion…”

“R-really.” Ayame’s eyes widened a bit. “So, you got the fancy mind powers too? Like, the mind messing attack and the shields and fireballs and whatnot?”

“Mmhm.” Mary responded, “Though, eh’ ‘ink eh’m eh’ green ‘ionic… ‘Ant te’ say ‘at ‘eans eh’ll be a’le to heal ‘eople an’ stuff…”

“That… that’s awesome!” Ayame frowned, and laid back. “Damn… everyone gets powers but me. But at least I get to be so close to someone with them…”

Mary’s smirk grew more mischievous, “Dun’t ‘orry Ay’me, eh’ ‘ow that ‘at ‘thereal uses green ‘ionics, ‘aybe ‘eh ‘an get ‘er te ‘each me ‘at trick ‘eh ‘ers…”

“Oh yeah?” Ayame looked up a bit at Mary. “Like what?”

“Like ‘etting meh acti’ate ‘ell th’ plea’ure ‘enters en yer’ ‘ody…” Mary answered, laying down next to her.

“Oh!” Ayame smirked back. “That sounds like fun. I… oh, what about Ammelia?”

“‘At ‘oes she ‘ink?” Mary confirmed, thinking for a second, “I’m ‘ot ‘ure… She’s ‘ot act’in scared ‘eh me, she ‘oesn’t ‘eem te’ be react’in et’ all…”

“Well… she could be hiding it for her sister’s sake.” Ayame thought about it. “Though… she loves Buniq, and she was honest about it with her. So… so maybe, she’s started to recover from it. Maybe she’s started to see that psionics are like any other weapon, and can do good when they’re in the right hands. Like Atka’s, or Buniq’s. Or yours.”

Mary rolled over to look at Ayame, “Wait, th’ prin’ess es’ shagg’in at chryss’lid ‘irl? Eh’ ‘ew she ‘ad ‘eh ‘irlfriend an’ ‘ose two ‘ere close, buh’ ‘eh ‘uess eh’ ne’’er ‘ut two an’ two together.”

Ayame bit her lip. “Oh, I… I hope I didn’t just… blurt out something that was supposed to be secret.” She cleared her throat. “But… but I don’t think they’ve gotten that far, and… a-and Buniq is a really nice girl. Sure, she’s a bit on the timid side. Like… like really timid, actually. But don’t let the alien bits fool you, she’s a great person. I think Ammy is as lucky to have Buniq as Buniq is as lucky to have Ammy.”

“Eh’m ‘ure she’s ‘ice, she e’en visted meh’ in th’ ‘ospital, beh’ timid? Eh’ ‘aw ‘er ‘earing through ‘ones durin’ th’ ‘ase defence wit’ ‘ose claw eh’ ‘ers, she in’nt’ ‘eem timid en’.” Mary stated, trying to picture the hybrid as timid and shy.

Ayame smiled. “Good to hear. I’m sure you’d like her.” Ayame scooted a bit closer. “So… what did the Ethereal do exactly. Something about dreams, I heard. What did you dream about?”

“She ‘ried te’ create eh’ para’ise ‘or each eh’ us to ‘eep us in ‘er trance es’ ‘ong es’ she ‘ould.” She spoke, “Eh’ ‘as liv’in wit’ my ‘dopted father ‘gain… ‘fore he ‘ent meh’ ‘ack te’ th’ or’anage…”

Ayame looked at her sadly. “Were… were they at least happy memories?”

“Yeh… ‘Till she ‘ade ‘im hit meh’...” Mary sighed, “ ‘At’s when eh’ ‘ew it ‘as fake…”

Ayame clenched her teeth, scoffing. “Damn it. I can’t believe she got away with it all.” She gave Mary a reassuring look. “But we’ll find her again, don’t worry about it. And when we do, eve if I have to do it myself, I’ll make sure you and Ammy get the last laugh.”

“Eh’...” Mary sat up, lowering her head a little, “Ay’me… ‘An ye’ eep eh’ secret?”

Ayame nodded slowly. “Of course, Mary. What is it?”

“Eh’ ‘eel ‘ike if eh’ dun’t ‘ell ye’ it’d be ‘ike lyin’ te’ ye… ‘Ike eh’ ‘in’nt trust ye’ ‘nough te’ let ye’ know…” Mary swallowed.

Ayame nodded again. “I promise, I won’t tell a soul.”

“We… ‘Cedia in’nt get eh’way… We ‘et ‘er go…”

Ayame chuckled grimly. “I… what? Why? I… don’t understand…”

“Et ‘as th’ prin’ess’ idea…” Mary admitted, “She ‘ad us ell’ un’er ‘er ‘ower, beh’ she in’nt ‘ill us… She ‘ould’ve trapped us ‘en night’ares but in’ead she ‘ried te’ ‘ake us all happy… ‘En th’ ‘opelessness on ‘er ‘ace as we broke free… Th’ way she je’ gave up... Eh’ ‘uess Ammy ‘oundn’t go ‘ough wit’ it…”

Ayame shook her head. “I… I mean, okay, I get it, she wasn’t as bad as the others, but… but she still trapped you. And just because she didn’t kill you, doesn’t mean she wouldn’t…” Ayame rolled on to her back, holding her hand against her head and starring up. “Wow, I… wow.”

“She e’en let ‘ell ‘er ‘ervants go ‘en we ‘ere ‘bout te’ ‘ill ‘er… She in’nt ‘ave to…” Mary rested her head in hands, “‘Aybe et’ ‘asn’t the ‘ight call… beh’... E’en if she ‘oes ‘ome ‘ack, we ‘ow ‘er only trick… ‘Aking ‘er ‘own eh’ ‘econd ‘ime on’t be ‘ery ‘ard…”

Ayame looked back at Mary, smiling at her. “Well… I guess you’re right. And you have a point. I’d like to think Ammelia is a good judge of character, even when it comes to aliens.”

“I’d ‘ike to too… Beh’ eh’ dun’t ‘ink e’en she ‘ows ‘at ‘er ‘oice ‘as th’ ‘ight one… She’s ‘een ‘eep’in to ‘erself e’er ‘ince she ‘ot back…”

Ayame frowned. “You think we should have a talk with her? She might be upset, and unsure, or even scared.”

“Yeh…” Mary said, standing up, “Eh’ ‘ink she ‘eeds ‘omeone te’ ‘alk to.”

Ayame stood up with her, holding the door open. “After you.”

 

[Frostlich1228]

"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilities." Pt. 2

Mary and Ayame walked out the door and down the hall towards Ammelia’s room, at this time of day, most of her roommates would be out and about, allowing them to talk to private without the risk of someone overhearing. When they reached her door, Mary knocked a few times, “Ammy? Ye’ en ‘ere?”

A voice could be heard from behind the door, “Mary? Yeah, the door’s open…”

Ammelia’s sister opened the door and saw her sitting on her bed, her knees close to her body. She looked up at Mary, then at Ayame standing behind her, “How are you guys, doing?”

“Better then you, by the look of things.” Ayame pulled up a chair. “Word about base, and your sister, is you’ve been keeping to yourself all of a sudden. What’s up?”

“Just some… things on my mind… I’m fine…” Ammelia replied.

Ayame scooted closer. “Oh? What kind of things? You can tell me. I’m… I’m good at keeping secrets, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“I…” Ammelia's look became more distressed, “Just some things about the last mission… It’s nothing…”

Mary looked her sister in the eyes before speaking, “Ammelia… She ‘ows… ‘Eh told ‘er…”

Ammy’s eyes widened, “What!? Why? Mary, you know how Ayame feels about the aliens… Did you think she’d agree with you?”

Ayame rubbed the back of her neck nervously. “Well, now that you mention it, I have sounded like… a bigot lately, haven’t I?” She shook her head. “But, after everything that has happened, with the capture Ethereals, and those two horseman aliens, and everything, I… I started to think people like Atka might be right, and maybe we should have a more open mind. And. Mary… made a good case for why you let her go.”

“Good case or not… If she comes back and hurts more people their blood will be on my hands… It’ll be my fault… Just because I was too weak to do what I needed to do…”

Ayame reached out, grasping Ammelia’s hand. “But you did what you felt was right. You… did what probably was right. And, if anything, this makes me feel better. If you beat her, and she escaped, she might come back for revenge. But if you beat her, then showed her mercy… showed her why she was wrong to look down on humans… that’s all the more reason for her not to fight us again.”

“Maybe you’re right… But… I lied to the commander… She’d never trust me again if she found out, and in the worst case, the council could have me removed from the project for disobeying orders… I really messed up…” Ammelia replied, burying her face in her knees.

Ayame moved to her side, wrapping her arms around Ammelia. “It’ll be okay. We’ll give the whole thing time to blow over. If you still feel bad about it, still feel guilty, we’ll talk with the Commander. You, me, and Mary. I… I’m not saying I know everything about her, but something tells me she’d understand if we explained it all to her. And don’t worry about the Council. With how things have been with them, I’m better them wanting you out would be all the more reason for the Commander to keep you in.”

“I… Thanks Ayame… I guess I should probably wait until the Commander is less stressed to tell her the truth…” Ammelia said, lifting her head up and giving Ayame a smile.

“‘At’s th’ spirit!” Mary spoke, joining in the hug.

Ayame grabbed both of their hands and pulled them to their feet. “Come on. I think Ammy’s been locked away here by herself for long enough. Let’s go get something to eat.”

“Mmhm… That sounds good.” Ammelia said, nodding.

“‘Ere’s one ‘ing ‘eh ‘anted te’ ask ye’ ‘ough prin’ess.” Mary said, looking at her sister.

“Yeah, what is it?”

“‘Ow do ye’ eel ‘bout me ‘eing eh’ psion?” She asked.

Ammelia took in a breath, “I… Don’t care…”

Mary’s eyes widened slightly as that wasn’t exactly the response she was expecting, “Ye’ dun’t?”

“No, I don’t…” Ammy confirmed, “I know you’ll use your new powers to help people. I’m not worried at all.”

“Heh…” Mary chuckled a little, “‘Ell, ‘anks.”

“Don’t mention it.” The sniper responded.

“Well… glad we cleared that up.” Ayame positioned herself so only Ammelia could see her face, and gave her a quick wink. “Come on. My stomach is growling.”

“Yeh… ‘Ine too.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Inquisition

Las Vegas
11:02 PM, March 3 2018


“After water board torture and kicking his balls…”

The prisoner coughed, a dusty smell entering his nose. His eyes cracked open to see a dark room, blinds over the only window, artificial, yellow-red light shining through the slits.

“After hours of smashing his face into walls…”

Groggily, he shook his head, trying to clear those last remnants of fog. Trying to move his arms revealed he was tied to the wooden chair he sat in. If you asked his 'friends', they’d likely suggest he was used to it, given the tastes of his wife.

“They finally realized just what did the trick…”

For the first time he noticed the singing. It was behind him. Male. Australian accent. Haggard voice. And yet there was a lightness to it, a cheerful undertone. Almost mocking.

“When they threatened to cut off –“

His mind jumping to rhymes for ‘trick’, the prisoner looked at his crotch in alarm.

“… Santa’s beard so thick.” The singer chuckled. “You have got a dirty mind.” Footsteps approached from behind, and were soon followed by a firm grip on the prisoner’s shoulder. “Apologies for the anachronistic choice of song, but I needed to get your attention. It’s nice to see you’re awake.” When the singer walked out from the shadows behind the prisoner and into the dappled light, the prisoner attempted to suppress a gasp. He failed.

“You’re supposed to be dead!”

The Judge turned around and smiled, his mouth the only part of his face visible behind his trademark mask. “I know. It’s put a huge dampener on business,” he said, seating himself in an identical wooden chair across from the prisoner. He leaned forward, resting his right hand on his knee, pointing the handgun it held lazily at the prisoner. “Now, even more so than a mere few days ago.”

“Where are we?”

“We could be anywhere.”

“You can’t have taken me that far…”

The Judge smiled again. “Wrong. You don’t, after all, know what day it is. Or what time. There are chemicals which can induce comas for… weeks, on end. Who’s to say I haven’t taken you to the other side of the world?” He leaned back in his chair, the latter creaking slightly. “But I’ll humor you. We’re still in Vegas, Mr. Parish. You’ve only been out a few hours.”

‘Mr. Parish’ swallowed. “So you intend to release me then? You would have gone further had you intended to kill me.”

Again, the smile. “That depends on your answers, and how… forthcoming, you are. Isn’t that right, Samuel?”

Another hand clasped Parish on the other shoulder. This one didn’t bother wearing a mask or covering. His face was memorable enough. With a grin, he said “I’m sure our comrade here knows this already.”

Parish forced himself to look away from the menacing Russian and back to the menacing Australian. “This is about your… late wife, yes?”

The Judge’s hand twitched, and he grunted. “Once upon a time, yes. But it's time to move on.” He leaned forward again. “Now, there is something else that concerns me. Something more sinister than a simple hit.”

The hand left his shoulder, and Samuel began pacing between the two. “It may or may not surprise you to learn that my friend here has family still alive. Namely, his daughter. Though he keeps out of her life as much he can, largely at her request, that doesn’t mean we don’t still keep an eye on her. More specifically, the Overseer keeps an eye on her.”

“But there was something that always puzzled me,” the Judge continued. “Shortly after she left to pursue her own life, she disappeared from the Overseer’s radar. For a few weeks. Then she reappeared in exactly the same place she’d disappeared from. As if nothing ever happened.”

Samuel stopped pacing. “Given that she’s never done so since, despite obviously wanting to, we suspect that this was not by choice.”

“And you think I had something to do with it?” Parish asked nervously.

“No. You're small time. No offense. But that plays into your favor.” The Judge shifted in his seat. “You hear things. Things that people wouldn’t dare say around the ‘big hitters’. I thought you might have heard something.” His tone indicated that his ‘thought’ might be more like a conviction.

“I hear a lot of things –“

“I’m sure you do.”

“You must understand. No one would dare go after your daughter. Not after the retribution that followed your wife. And after the Overseer kept up the hunt after your supposed death… it’s inviting trouble.” Parish swallowed again.

“Go on.”

“So when people start talking about it, you’re quick to shush them. That kind of talk goes loud, and someone’s getting a hit on them. Never good for business if a customer gets shot in the middle of the casino, yeah?”

“And keeping this kind of talk from the Overseer isn’t inviting trouble?”

“Like I said, bad for business if someone gets shot in the middle of the casino. Nobody wants that.”

The Judge looked as offended as someone with a quarter of their face showing could look. “I’m much more subtle than that. I’d do it in their own rooms, at least.” He frowned. “Not sure about Samuel here, though.”

Samuel looked at the Judge, annoyance clear in his expression. “I can be subtle.”

“Oh really? Name one time.”

Samuel was silent for a moment, and finally shrugged. “First time for everything.”

The Judge merely laughed, and looked back at their prisoner. “Continue.”

Parish cleared his throat. “There’s one… such incident… that sticks out. This was a few years back. 2008 or so. There were some men drinking heavily, spending money. They were small fry. Thugs, really. Muscle.”

“Names?”

Parish shook his head. “This was a decade ago. You expect me to remember that?”

“You said the event stuck out.”

“Only because they got touchy-feely with my ground staff towards the end of the night. They were escorted off the premises afterwards.”

Samuel blinked. “’Touchy-feely’?”

Parish shifted. “I am very protective of my ground staff.”

The Judge raised an eyebrow, though behind the mask it was invisible to the others. “You dress them like whores, force them to endure the resulting attention , and yet you claim to be protective of them?”

Parish scowled. “Say what you like. Some of these women would be on the streets were it not for my employment.”

The Judge glanced at Samuel. “We got a messiah over here.”

Samuel rolled his eyes and looked at Parish. “Do you remember any of their connections?”

“Triad.”

“Triad? In Vegas?” the Judge interjected.

Samuel shrugged. “Any criminal worth their salt comes here at least once in their lifetime. City of sin and all that.”

Parish shifted uncomfortably, still aware of the gun in the Judge’s hand. “You could of course check my ledger from that year. I think it would have been around May. The names would be in there.”

“Perfect!” the Judge said with a winning smile. “Exactly what I needed to hear. You won’t mind if I confer with my friend here, would you?” Without waiting for an answer, he rose, and moved off into the shadows, with Samuel following him.

Once they were deep in the darkness, Isaac stopped and turned to Samuel. “Thoughts?”

“He’s withholding. Not telling us the full story.”

“I agree. We’ll watch him, see who he calls and what he destroys. Anything else?”

“We should have followed this up sooner.”

“I didn’t think much of it to begin with. She tried to get away all the time, not like she didn’t have a motive.”

The Russian grunted. “Maybe, but if she had succeeded once, did you not think she would have done so again? She never even came close to success from then on.”

“And you think someone got a hold of her.”

“Yes.”

“Am I not supposed to be the paranoid one here? She’s my daughter after all.”

“Is it paranoia when we’re actually getting somewhere with this investigation?”

“We have a couple of thugs who were saying big things. So what? They do that all the time.”

“That,” said Samuel, “sounds suspiciously like denial.” Ignoring the sudden wave of hostility, he continued. “And we don’t know that it’s nothing until we have a look. And with these aliens…”

“… now is the best time to stir up the pot.” Isaac finished. Behind his mask, he frowned. “Bloody hell. Aliens. Of all the things I thought I’d have to deal with in my life…”

After a few more minutes of discussion, the two men returned to the lit area, the Judge returning to his seat and Samuel assuming position behind Parish.

The Judge was silent for a moment, causing Parish to start fidgeting. Then he spoke. “You’ve helped us today. Without much coercion. For that, you have my thanks. You’ve earned your freedom.”

With that, Samuel began untying Parish, the latter exhaling in relief. “Your mercy is likewise appreciated,” he said, rubbing his wrists.

“I would, however, advise against trying to make my presence known. I’m sure you understand.”

“Perfectly.”

“We’ll be around to take a look at your files. For now, Samuel will escort you back.”

“Excellent,” Parish said, turning around. “I’m sure my workers will be wondering where I –“ A fist silenced him, the blow knocking him out and sending him sprawling across the wooden floorboards.

Isaac whipped off his mask and glared at Samuel. “Are you deaf? I said ‘escort’, not ‘punch’!”

Samuel shrugged, hefting Parish over his left shoulder. “Punch, escort. Same thing.”

“No wonder the hookers here hate you.”

The Russian laughed and left, taking care not to bump his quarry ‘unnecessarily’ on the doorways. Isaac sat in silence for a while, mulling over the relatively polite interrogation. Funny how a dead man can scare people a few years on.

Despite his arguing with Samuel, a feeling of unease was beginning to grow on him. There were too many inconsistencies. Even Penny herself didn’t seem to know where those precious few weeks had gone. At least that’s what the subtle probing into the issue Maria’s agents had revealed.

But that was some time ago. Surely there was nothing to worry about after a decade?

So why was he nervous?

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Odd Bedfellows

The ice clattered against the side of the glass as Nick greedily but carefully raised the scotch to his mouth, feeling the satisfying sensation of it pouring down his throat. When it didn't have an immediate effect, he quickly reached for another, and a chuckle from the doorway made him jump. "You should slow down there, boss. We need you at least somewhat sober."

"Oh... Rachel..." Nick waved his hand towards her, as if shooing away an insect. "Not... not today, I'm not in the mood. Maybe tomorrow."

"Oh? You don't have time for little ol' me?" Rachel seductively walked towards him, and he recognized that familiar grin, prompting him to pour that drink and down it even faster. Rachel walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck, her bosom pressing against his head. "So... tell me what's wrong."

Nick shuddered. "I... I can't... this is so much more work then you said it would be. Too much pressure. I... can't..."

Rachel scoffed. "Can't what? You wanted power, I got you power. You wanted money, you have money." She stepped to Nick's side. "You wanted authority, I got you a position amongst the most powerful people on the planet." Her hand glowed green as she reached down to Nick's waist. "You wanted a cushy desk job with a simple-minded bimbo for a secretary that you could screw, and you have just that."

Waves of pleasure shot through Nick. "I-I... I-I know, I... I'm just worried th-they might..."

"Find out? They probably already have..."

"W-what!" Nick squirmed in his seat, then panted heavily. "Y-you said... the Council..."

"Not the Council, you moron." Rachel scoffed, wiping her hand vigorously against her hip. "That gathering of imbeciles you call this world's leaders wouldn't know something was amiss if one of them was replaced by a Sectoid wearing a fake mustache." She sighed as she looked at her skirt, mumbling, "Damn, that's gonna stain."

"Then who, X-COM?" Nick chuckled nervously. "But, they... they said the target died during their confrontation with those soldiers? They're already in hot water with the Council as it is, why would they purposely claim to have failed such an important mission?"

Rachel rolled her eyes as she climbed onto Nick's lap, placing their faces close together. "Oh, you poor, simple-minded man," she said, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. "Even if that is true, what makes you think the good lady didn't tell them something before she died?" She patted him on the head like a child, saying in a baby voice, "Dis is why your men should have shooted at dem instead of talking, silly."

Nick snared, slapping her hand away. "I... I didn't want it to be too obvious. A-and besides, your people failed to take out..."

Rachel slammed her palms against Nick's chest, and he could literally feel the life draining from him. "You watch your tongue, you little shit! I've put a lot of effort into putting you in your luxurious position, and I lost one of my best, most powerful, most idioticly-loyal healers, so shut... your... mouth!" Nick weakly nodded, and Rachel went back to caressing him, her mood back to flirtatious like it had never changed. "Don't you worry about X-COM, my little Nicky. We have plans to draw them into a little trap. We'll see how they like it when one of our generals catch them by surprise. Not to mention our planned attack on one of their allies."

Nick gasped for air, asking, "W-what... d-do you... w-want me... to do?"

"Just keep that little Council in line." Rachel pushed herself up onto the desk, slowly pulling the buttons loose from her blouse. "Keep the pressure up. And have your spies in X-COM keep their eyes open. Keep at it, and I promise you, when this is all over, you will be the most powerful human on the planet. Not much, when compared to our might, but better then anything you could ever achieve alone."

Nick nodded. "A-alright. Just... j-just warn me the next time you plan to stop in, okay?"

Rachel pouted. "Oh... but where's the fun in that?" A quick flash of violet in her amber eyes, and the woman looked around in confusion. Noting the state she and Nick were in, she gasped. "Oh, Mr. Rocha! Is it twelve o'clock already?"

Nick grinned. "Why, yes, Ms. Johnson, I believe it is," he answered, pulling off his tie.

 

[Adrammalech]

Adrammalech and ZombieSplitter53: "A Game of Ambassadors"
X-COM Headquarters
Primary Infirmary
Oct. 21st, 0930 Hours

Morrigan silently looked into the guarded off room, knowing said guards might drawn attention, but not wanting the wrong person stepping into the room and seeing a dead woman. She sighed, wondering what would be the best course of action right now. Coming up empty, she simply stepped away, heading towards the exit.

“Commander!” Emily called from behind her, rushing by the people in the wing and trying to catch up to her. “Hey, uh… fancy seeing you here.”

“Ms. Fischer.” Morrigan turned to Emily, putting on her best smile, though she knew it wouldn’t be much. “You feeling okay? Or are you here visiting a squadmate?”

“Squadmate, and the captives. Both are looking up, thankfully,” Emily smiled, touching her fingers together. “I actually wanted to talk to you too, I was about to head towards your office.”

Morrigan nodded. “Of course. Come on, we’ll go there now.” Morrigan led the way out, eager to be away from prying eyes.

“Yeah, it’d be better there,” Emily nodded, looking at all of the people in the wing. As she trailed along, she realized she didn’t have much in the way of small talk at that particular moment. “So...how are you doing?”

“I’m… alright, considering…” The Commander lightly pressed her stomach. “Just the usual stress. Though I’m alright, considering all the support people like you and the others have given me.” She smiled at Emily. “How about yourself?”

“Pretty good… I have a lot on my mind, but the physical portion of things is going well,” Emily nodded.

“Good,” Morrigan simply said. She nodded to her secretary, holding the door for Emily and locking it behind them. “So… what’s on your mind?”

“Well…” Emily shuffled her feet, visibly uncomfortable. The peculiarity of telling the truth with nothing in return was the one thing her past self and present self had in common. Failing to find a perfect way to approach it, she dropped her hands and blurted it out. “I lied!”

Morrigan was taken aback a bit by the outburst. She smiled slightly, and walked over to her desk, leaning against it. “Alright… about what, pray tell?”

“When we were talking to Avaritia, you asked me the last thing he said...well, I actually asked him a question and I didn’t want you to hear it, because I was afraid to be judged. But I said I would trust you, and I do. My reflex was just to lie...it’s my nature, I guess.”

Morrigan rubbed the back of her head. “Well, I… I realize that is a part of who you are, at least from what your file says. Though I’d like to think you’re honest with me about the things that matter.” She smiled a bit wider. “Do you mind if I ask what he did say? Promise not to judge, or at least, I’ll try not to.”

“I wanted to know if peace was possible. I know negotiating with the enemy can make me look like a traitor, and peace would make my job obsolete… but I’ve seen the kind of decisions they make, and how it’s corrupted them,” Emily gave a tired sigh. “They’re…severe, and we’re close to making those kinds of decisions too. I needed to know if there was a middle ground.”

Morrigan frowned. “I see. Ms. Fischer… Emily… I understand why you’d be hesitant. But I know you aren’t the only one on base that feels that way.” She placed a hand on her chest. “Now, it is my job to think of the enemy as that and only that, the enemy. But despite everything that has happened, if I thought there was a chance for peace, and I knew, for a fact, that the other side would hold it up, I’d go for it. I… I find it very, very unlikely, but I’m not going to start shouting treason just because you desire a solution that doesn’t involve more pointless death.”

“Thats a relief,” Emily sighed. “I was all for killing them too, and then…well, you know. Avaritia said it was possible, but not until their leaders die. Ira, Invidia, Superbia, whoever’s pulling their strings… if anyone’s pulling their strings.”

Morrigan nodded. “Then we have our goal. Stop those three and an one above them, and… hope that the other Ethereals listen to reason.” The Irish woman sighed, rubbing her brow. “It’s just a shame… if there was anyone that could act as an ambassador, someone who could speak for both sides, it was him…”

“What do you mean ‘was?’” Emily asked, tilting her head.

“We were… keeping it quiet for now, not knowing how people would react, but… but it’ll get out eventually anyway.” Morrigan gave her a grim look. “Avaritia is dead.”

Emily looked a little disappointed. “Suicide? I thought I was getting through to him…or did we just have to get rid of him? I know not everyone liked having a second one.”

Morrigan shook her head. “No, I doubt he’d have killed himself, no matter how depressed he was, and I would have informed you if he was going to be executed. He was… assassinated, I guess would be the best way of putting it.”

“Assassinated? By whom?”

“Well… by Death.” Morrigan rubbed the back of her head. “Well, to be more fair, by Conquest’s order. Evidently, they were developing some new virus that shuts down someone’s psionics. And the Ethereal bodies can’t function without their powers to keep them alive.” She scoffed. “Developing a bio-weapon, using our nano-bots, and I was none the wiser. Pathetic…”

“They had me fooled as well, for the one time I met them. Is Luxuria okay?” she asked, trying to make the question sound as impersonal as possible.

Morrigan nodded. “Yeah. Either they only had enough for one, or thought only one test was needed. But I… I-I haven’t told her yet. I don’t know how, nor do I know how she’ll react.”

“I’ll handle it,” Emily offered. “I think I can break it to her softly. I’m getting better at understanding their gestures and such.”

“Thanks.” Morrigan sulked. “Sorry, Emily. Kinda dropped the ball on this one. I’m sure there was more we could learn from him, and no matter what he did, the thought of using him for such a terrible weapon doesn’t sit well with me.”

“It’s not your fault. They’re on their own now,” Emily noted. “Whatever their plans, they’ll have a harder time executing them now.”

“Well… half of them, anyway,” Morrigan mumbled.

“Half?”

Morrigan nodded. “Yeah. Conquest and War are gone. Famine and Death abandoned then, and Conquest tried to put them down for it. Succeeded with Famine.”

“So Death is still here…?” Emily looked aside. “I think I’ll keep all that from Luxxy, for the sake of simplicity…”

Morrigan nodded again. “That’s probably for the best, especially considering her role in Avaritia’s death.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “Still… hard to be overly critical when she was being pushed by her superior. I know, if you did something bad under my orders, I would hope the blame would go more towards me. Though I’m not sure everyone will agree with that.”

“I think an Ethereal would agree, given their love for ‘delegation,’ but we know Luxxy is a bit more impulsive than the others,” Emily thought out loud. “Not that she could do anything, but still… just easier for everyone to keep her in the dark.”

“Right.” Morrigan closed her eyes. “What… what do you think the chances are of her remaining cooperative after this?”

“It seems like she’s hoarding favors with you and I. I don’t think that’d change immediately, but I’m sure a bill is coming soon for all of them…”

“Indeed.” Morrigan smiled softly. “Though I feel you deserve a favor or two yourself. Just don’t let it go to your head.”

“Don’t worry, I’m thinking clearer than ever,” Emily grinned.

Morrigan walked over to Emily, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m counting on you, as usual. If anyone can keep her calm, it’s you.”

“Can do, ma’am,” she nodded. “Thanks for the talk, it’s comforting knowing you trust me, even with these new ideas.”

“Anytime, Emily. Just paying it forward.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
“Big Brother: Part One”

X-COM Headquarters
The Brig
Oct. 21st, 1000 Hours

Death stared forward from her cell at nothing in particular, the events of the past week going through her head over and over again. Here she was, captive again, no where to run. Even if she could, she had no where to go. Her allies had left her, the closest thing to family was dead, and she was facing responsibility for a crime that already tore at her. She sighed, and looked down at her inhibitor, thankful that she had at least been trusted to not be stuck in one of those energy-draining cells. There was a vacant one now, thanks to her.

Desmond pushed through the doors to the brig and he walked a little piss off, going to find the cell in which he heard the Ethereal had been put in, not telling the Commander or anyone in advance that he would be making the visit. When he eyed the guards, he stepped in front of them. “I want to see the prisoner.”

The guards exchanged a look, and the shorter one mumbled, “M-Mr. Walker, it’s actions nearly cost the Commander her life. We can’t just…”

“I can be a very persuasive person. Whether or not I am pleasant or not is up to you. Now let me see the traitor or I will bother the Commander herself that you wouldn’t let one of her senior officers do an interrogation.” He pressed.

Both the guards swallowed nervously, and stepped out of the way without another word. The taller one quickly pointed, letting Desmond know to turn left.

He gave them both a look and walked in the direction they pointed and called out before he rounded the corner, “And make sure no one listens in. This is going to contain sensitive information so until I come out, no one. And no getting close, I can more than handle myself with the likes of her.”

“Y-yes, sir!” The both called out.

Rounding the corner, his shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh of relief as he made his way looking for the cell of the alien prisoner.

Sensing Desmond’s presence, Death’s head shot to the side. She suddenly sulked back, childishly attempting to render herself invisible. Her wrist mounted inhibitor on too high for that, she simply huddled in the corner, hiding her head.

He stopped in front of her cell, turning his head to look inside and then turning his whole body. “You know, not only can I see you, but inhibitor or not I can still feel you.” He called in to the cell.

I… I know, I… it is a defense mechanism, I suppose. It… it didn’t work against them, either. Though I… so rarely had a lot of room to hide back then… I am sorry…

“Sorry for what? Sorry for the hiding, or sorry for what happened?” Desmond asked, getting closer to the bars.

F-for… what happened. She skirted a little farther back, pressing against the wall. I am guilty of a serious crime. I murdered a captive, one you had use of, and who was defenseless. I violated everyone’s trust. I… I nearly got the Commander killed. I… I am sorry.

Desmond didn’t say anything as he twirled a key in his finger and put it in the cell door, stepping inside and closing it behind him. “You think I care about an apology?” He got closer to Death and stated at her. “I don’t need one...cause you don’t deserve to be in here.” He held out his hand to her.

Death slowly raised her head. I… I don’t understand. Have I not committed a crime? Several, in fact?

“They said the same thing when they found out I use to work for EXALT and I am not in a cell, now am I?” He got closer to her and held open his arms to her. “What I should be asking you is if you are alright?”

Death slowly took his hands, rising to her feet. With her power suppressed, she stood on her shaky legs, something she was obviously not used to. I… I am healthy, physically. Though… I have lost a dear friend. It weighs heavy on my mind.

He help the ethereal and brought her in for a hug. “I-I know how it feels...to lose a friend. To think about what you could have done different or if you could have saved them...I feel the same thing everyday.”

Death sighed, the action unfamiliar to her, but comforting. Th… Thank you, Desmond. I… I will try to be strong, for his sake. Though I am unsure what I should do now. I… I have lost the only home I ever knew, and even if I am not kept a prisoner here, no one will trust me after what I did.”

“Well I trust you. I don’t care if I have to hide you in my room or the lab, but you don’t deserve to be stuck in this cell.”

Death shook her head. I do not understand. Why are you not angry? Even if you were once in my place, I still did something wrong.

“Because I know your character. You would never do something that extreme unless your were forced into doing it. You don’t blame the gun for killing a person, you blame the shooter, and from what I have have heard, this Conquest was the shooter.”

I see… thank you. She looked around the cell. So… what happens now?

Desmond sighed. “No idea. I was here for a little while before I was released, and it took even longer to try and get people to trust me again. I could put in a good word for you but I have no idea what it will do for your situation.”

“Ahem…” A familiar voice cleared their voice, a certain red-head tapping their foot at the door to the cell.

Desmond’s head fell. “Of course the one factor I forget every time being the Commander…” Desmond sighed to himself. He turned around and greeted Morrigan like the situation he was in wasn’t scaring the shit out of him.

Morrigan pointed down the hall. “You, uh… you want to explain to me why I have two scarred looking guards trying to stop me from coming over here, Mr. Walker?” Her tone was serious, but she didn’t look the part.

“Maybe they saw a ghost?” He looked around and said, “Okay...maybe I was a little too intimidating but it worked.”

“Indeed.” Morrigan shook her head. “You know, Mr. Walker… you could have just asked. Though… I suppose that isn’t your style.” She nudged her head towards the Ethereal. “What do you think?”

“Well, from the sounds of things, you were a little...indisposed, and I wanted to see a friend who need me. Sorry if I went behind your back...and having to make the guards get new pairs of pants.”

Morrigan covered her mouth to hide a smile. “I see. So, I… I have a job for you, if you don’t mind acting the part of sitter.”

“I already watch after Brigid and whenever I am with Ellie it is like escorting another little girl so this won’t be a step too far away. What did you need?”

Morrigan nodded. “Good point.” She looked at the slightly apprehensive alien. “You’re not off the hook. But I can’t deny the fact that you put yourself in danger switching sides, and you were forced to lose a friend in order to save me, even if he told you too. I decided, since it worked so well with Ms. Kasagi and Atka… I’ll release you on a limited basis. Your movement about the base will still be restricted, and you will need to report to Mr. Walker on a regular basis. But, I… I don’t feel right locking you up here.”

Death looked between Morrigan and Desmond. I… I… I mean, of course! I mean… I mean, thank you. I… I promise, I will stay in line. I will follow every order, and I will… I will not defy your trust again.

Morrigan pointed her finger. “And stay away from the alien containment facility.

Death nodded. Of course.

Desmond smiled and turned to Death. “It seems we will be spending some more time together after all. Am I right to assume you want to leave as soon as possible?”

The Ethereal nodded again. Yes, please. I would like that very much, Mr. Walker.

He raised an eyebrow at the Commander and twirled the key in his finger again. “So I have your permission then?” He smirked and said, “Dear lord I have been reduced to asking my CO for permission, what have I become!” He exclaimed as a joke.

“Oh, God forbid you turn into an actual soldier with rules and chains of command.” Morrigan grinned, and headed out. “Have fun with that. But don’t forget. You’re responsible for her.”

“When have I ever let you down?” He called out to her optimistically before putting the key in the lock and opening the door.

Mr… Walker? May I ask something of you?

“Need you even ask my friend?” He stated as he turned to look at her.

Another of your soldiers pointed out that my personification as the harbinger of death leaves… something to be desired in terms of sociability. That, and the… dissolvement of the horsemen leaves my title of ‘Death’ to be unneeded anymore. I would therefore like… not to be referred to that anymore.

Desmond nodded. “Understandable. Who shall we refer to you then as?”

You may refer to me as Jan’tiala. Or Tiala for short, if you wish.

“Tiala, huh? Alright, that works for me.” He smiled. “And you know, Mr. Walker is a bit formal. You could just call me Desmond you now.”

As you wish, Desmond. Jan’tiala bowed her head. I am at your disposal. I give you my word, I shall not stray again.

 

[MarineAvenger]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
“Big Brother: Part Two”

“Come on, we can probably continue our last discussion now that we have free time. I believe it was your question this time around.”

The young Ethereal followed closely behind Desmond. If it is alright, I would like to ask you about the woman you are said to spend much of your time with. Some people said you are to be married. Is that to say your people come together for more than just procreation? Do you have as much affection for each other as you seem to with your allies?

“If not more so. Me and her love each other very much. I guess I could even say I owe my life to her. And yes, our people do marry. For some people, they do it just because, but some people do it because they are truly in love with one another. Do your people not have marriages?”

They have unions much like yours. There is no direct translation, though I believe marriage would be close. My people love, though the close relationships your people have are not as common amongst mine. I… I suppose it is something that they have cast off, with some many other things. But, despite what she might have done, I believe my mother was one of those capable of such love. I hope that I am as well.

“It is all about finding the right person to be with. When you know, you just know. If you have to think about it then it isn’t worth it.” Desmond chuckled and he rubbed his forehead. “Now I really know I am becoming soft.”

Do not worry. I think your words are kind, not soft. Jan’tiala looked up at Desmond. May I… meet this woman some time? I would very much enjoy seeing you two together.

“Sure, I just warn you she is not like me. And not in a bad way either.”

I will keep that in mind, Desmond.

“So now it is my question I guess…” He clapped his hands together and tried to think of a good one. “Uh...what are you willing to tell?”

You are my closest colleague now, Desmond. Asking me anything, and I will be completely honest.

“Well…” Desmond rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know, I have a lot of questions and not sure which ones to ask that is all. What do you like to do in your free time?”

Free time? Talia thought for a moment. I… usually don’t have a lot of ‘free time’. I… I suppose I enjoy studying. I may not enjoy the species I was born into, but I do enjoy the vast amount of memory I have. I therefore learn all I can about the species we come across. At the time being, I am learning about… well, you. And humans. I… I do have a hobby of sorts, though you… may find it odd.

“I doubt that extensively, but I welcome you to try.” Desmond told her with a larger grin.

I… I like to study the various governments, social structures, and ways of life of different worlds, and document the various ways the Ethereals could have approached each of them in the interest of peace, and brought them onto their ‘Path’ without hostility. Unfortunately, they… usually require the Ethereals to be more open minded, and to be capable of taking no for an answer, and it is obvious too late for any of them, but it… entertains me nonetheless.

“That isn’t odd at all. In fact, there are people on Earth whose job is basically along the lines of what you described. Your turn.”

I wish to know the extent of your cloning technology. It is quite useful amongst my people, at least when it is not being used to create tools of war. And it has given them the ability to survive centuries with those bodies of theirs. And yet, your people do not embrace it, despite the leaps and bounds I am told the… I believe they are called Legion… have made. Why is this, when such technology has been in development for so long?

“People are afraid of it. Of the moral implications, the scientific implications. It may sound strange but...I am really no longer a fan of cloning. I saw what it did with EXALT, and I know the pain it brings. I am not condemning it, I just don’t think it is necessary for humans.”

What about… partial cloning? Such as organs for those who need them? Would that not be acceptable? Though… I suppose the existence of that might tempt some to go beyond. Still, I do not believe it is something would should give up on completely, simply because the wrong people abused it.

“No, I believe partial cloning is alright. Just as long as it is not abused like you said I could see it doing wonders for people.”

Jan’tiala nodded as they reached Desmond’s lab, stepping inside. She looked around slowly, taking it in again. So… this is my home now. I… I have had worse.

“I can probably get a few pillows and blankets and make you a nice cushy bed for you. Geez, I am treating you like a pet now.”

It is okay, Desmond. Better treated as a pet then a lab animal… or a tool.

“Huh...maybe I will teach you to roll over next and give you some treats if you are good.” Desmond chuckled. “I am sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

Do not push your luck. Else this pet might snap at you.

“I am scared for my life, really.” Desmond stated plainly, as he hugged the Ethereal again. “And you know you can talk to me anytime right?”

I know, Desmond. She hugged him back. And thank you. For everything.

“Of course, anytime.” The door opened behind them and Desmond’s head fell. “Oh you have to be kidding me…”

“Am...I interrupting something?” A voice called out from behind Tiala and the black haired doctor stood with her hands on her hips and purple eyes a bit angry.

Interrupting? No, we were simply bonding, hugging, and… he was treating me like his pet. Jan’tiala bowed her head towards Ellie.

Desmond slapped his face and tapped the Ethereal on the shoulder. “You said you wanted to meet her...well there she is. Jan’tiala, meet my...uh, fiance, Ellie.”

Ellie just stared at Desmond through squinted eyes. “Like a pet, huh?”

If… if it makes you feel better, I said I would bite him.

“Don’t tell her that!” Desmond exclaimed as a bag went soaring past his head. “And it isn’t what you think damn it!” Desmond’s face fell as he turned around and ran as Ellie chased after him in a circle around the room, yelling multiple threats at him all while the waving a wrench she had grabbed off one of the tables and a needle in the other.