RP XCOM: The Story of Defiance.

[ZombieSplitter53]

Extrasensory

Alexia eyes fluttered open, and she slowly scanned the room around her. She noted the shapes to her left, one much taller then the other. In a weak voice, she muttered, "Hey Ayame... h-hey... Sunny."

"Hey, Alex," Sunny smiled at her injured friend. "How are... um, M-Modya was here... has been here almost the entire time. But we made him go take a shower and get something to eat before... um..."

"Before he collapsed and ended up in a bed next to you." Ayame grinned. "You've been here for two days, and he's spent ever minute he was off of training by your side."

Alexia blinked her eyes rapidly. What... what's wrong with my... She squirmed a little. "Why... why can't I move."

Her two guests shared a nervous look. Ayame scratched her chin. "Well... Jessica woke up twice since you've been here. Both times, she kinda... woke up screaming bloody murder."

Sunny nodded. "They've kept you on a lot of pain killers since then. You're so heavily sedated, I'm surprised you're even awake."

Wanting to be sure they weren't lying, and she wasn't actually paralyzed, Alexia slowly tried to lift her arm. She was relieved to find she could, but it felt like her arm weighed a thousand pounds. She looked up at Ayame in confusion. "You said Jessica..."

The Asian soldier chuckled. "Yeah... I was confused why you disappeared when you sister did. I figured you were just visiting her, but whenever I stopped by, you were gone. Sunny finally explained to me why Bruce Wayne was dressed like Batman."

Ayame nodded weakly. She slowly lifted her hand to her eyes, rubbing them. Sunny cautiously said, "Ammelia's okay. She hasn't woken up yet, but the doctors said she'll recover completely, thanks to you."

Alexia chuckled. "W-wasn't... me. Jessica did it all by herself." She sighed angrily. "She actually had the nerve to lock herself in a closet with a bunch of medical manikins in it, so if I tried to take over..."

"Why... would that matter?" Ayame asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's a long story." The injured lab tech looked at her younger friend. "Glad to hear Ammelia's okay. At least it wasn't for nothing. But how long am I in here?"

Sunny thought for a few seconds, choosing her words carefully. "The, uh... the doctors said you'll be out of here in a few days. But they said they'll need to k-keep an eye on you. That Meld d-did a number on your insides, especially your nervous system."

Ayame watched as her green-haired friend stared at them when they spoke. "Y-yeah... they said that they're afraid the Meld was trying a little too hard to 'improve' your... your senses... and..." Alexia continued to give her a curious look as she spoke. "What's wrong?"

Alexia shook her head. "I'm not sure. Just... colors..."

"What do you mean?" Sunny tilted her head slightly.

"It's... I don't know, I... whenever you talk, I see... make a noise... clap, or something." Alexia watched Sunny as she slowly clapped her hands together. "Weird... like, fireworks..." She closed her eyes, sighing. "That's really... distracting."

Still confused at what Alexia was talking about, Sunny looked into Alexia's drooping eyes. "M-maybe it is just temporary. You should... get some sleep."

Alexia nodded, and almost immediately fell asleep. Ayame rubbed the back of her neck. "What the h... heck was she talking about?"

"I'm not sure. We'll tell the doctors when Modya gets back." Sunny fell silent, watching Alexia sleeping with a worried look.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and Frostlich1228: “We have to stop meeting like this”

Ammelia sat in a wheelchair in the corner of her room, every once and awhile she tried to get up and walk to the other side, using the wall to help keep balance, but she only ever managed to make it a few steps before falling. She crawled her way back to her wheelchair after each failed attempt, slowly lifting herself up and trying again.

The door to the special medical room slid open, and Atka walked in. She seemed a bit surprised at Ammelia’s willingness to be trying to walk, despite everything. “Hey, Ammelia...”

She looked up at Atka and smiled, “Atka, it’s good to see you… Can you roll my wheelchair over here please? I might not be able to walk myself…”

The Inuit woman nodded, and walked over, pushing the chair to where Ammelia wanted to go. “Sorry I didn’t visit your earlier...I had a lot going on, but that’s no excuse,” Atka apologized.

“It’s okay, I heard about what happened to your family… I’m really sorry…” she said sadly.

Atka nodded slightly, trying hard not to let her melancholy show. “We’re at least getting closer to finding the alien base...and hopefully them. All I can really do is wait now, though.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find them…” Ammelia slowly raised her arm up and rested it on Atka’s shoulder.

“I know we will...though not unharmed or unscathed…” Atka sighed. “I shouldn’t burden you with my troubles, you have enough to deal with.”

“The sooner I can walk on my own, the sooner I can visit Jessica… and yes, I know I can just have the doctors roll me to her room., but I need something to help motivate me.” She said, struggling to stand up from her wheelchair.

Atka held up her hands in protest. “Hold on...I don’t want you hurting yourself or damaging the thing Jessica went through all of that for…”

“I… Do you think I should just take the wheelchair then?” Ammelia asked, sitting back down.

Atka nodded. “For now...give yourself some time to recover. Then you can try walking across the base…” she said gently.

“Yeah, It’s only been a day after all, I should probably take it easy… I just wish she hadn’t put herself through all that for me… She could’ve done permanent damage, or even died…” Ammelia rolled herself over to her bed and slowly picked up a bottle of water off of her food tray, lifting it up to her mouth.

“You’re too quick to blame yourself for everything and get wrapped up in guilt,” Atka said sternly. “You won’t do anyone any good if you’re always like that.”

“I’m not blaming myself… I just don’t want her to get hurt…” Ammelia took a swig of her water, setting it back down onto the tray.

“Well, I don’t think there have been many times I’ve actually seen you smile,” Atka responded

“What do you mean? I smile all the time. Maybe we should stop meeting on such poor circumstances and just hang out.” Ammelia replied, putting on another smile for her.

Atka’s expression lightened. “I would like that...I promise I will try to avoid getting impaled by lasers, but you have to promise to stop letting those Seekers get too friendly with you…”

“Maybe all they want is love, did you ever think about that?” Ammelia giggled.

“The same could be said for the Chryssalids…” Atka shook her head. “And I’m not really interested.”

“I don’t like those things… They are just horrific. I wonder if they were beautiful before the aliens got to them…” she frowned.

Atka shrugged. “I think I doubt that...though he doesn’t know their exact origins, from what Dante told me, it sounds like they were pretty savage all along.”

Ammelia tilted her head, “Dante?”

Atka blinked. “Oh, right...the Thin Man we captured that’s been helping us out. He came up with a name for himself a couple of days ago.”

“Dante seems like a fitting name, if a bit, evil sounding.” she responded.

The scout shrugged. “It was from a book he was reading that I’m not familiar with. You’d have to ask him, though its not really easy to get permission. That said, you ready to see Jessica?”

“Is she awake?” Ammelia said excitedly.

“I think so...I saw one of the doctors go in there, looking to talk I think. I think it might have been Desmond’s girlfriend...what’s her name...Elizabeth?”

Ammelia sighed to herself, “Do you want to go and see her together?”

Atka nodded. “That makes sense to me.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Synesthesia: Part One (MarineAvenger and ZombieSplitter53)

Elizabeth walked down the hallway of one of the wings of the medical ward and stretched her arms out in a fit of exhaustion. Patients came in and out daily now whether for something serious or minor but there was one patient she had been eager to see since she got wind a certain someone did something stupid. Elizabeth opened the door and walked in slowly. She looked over the room and saw Jessica laying in the bed with her eyes closed and a man in a long coat and weird hat in the corner also asleep. “That must be Modya I guess…” She muttered under her breath.

At the sound of her voice, Alexia slowly opened her eyes. Slowly turning her head, she gave Elizabeth a weak smile. “Hey… buddy…”

She returned the smile and walked up to her friend. “Nice to see you okay there Miss Lockheart… I was wondering what sort of trouble you two had gotten into, even for a good cause.” She pushed up her glasses and sat down in a chair she pulled up.

Alexia chuckled softly. “Hey… wasn’t my idea, though I guess I didn’t exactly try and stop it either…”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I always expected you to be the one to be the valiant heroine, not the other way around. I guess even Jess has her own courage in a...special way I suppose.” She looked over her weak friend and asked, “How has your body been handling the high levels of Meld? Anything strange been happening lately?”

Alexia nodded weakly, her head barely moving. “Um… yeah. They said they took the Meld all out, but I think it had some… strange side effects.”

Ellie raised an eyebrow and crossed her legs. “Oh really? What kind of side effects? Try to be honest with me Alex, I am a doctor after all.”

The young scientist scrunched her nose, thinking hard on the best way to describe it. “It’s… kinda like my sense of sight and hearing are… mixed. Whenever I hear certain sounds, I can see… colors…”

Elizabeth sat back and took in the info, trying to fit the pieces together best she could. “From what I read of your report, it seems that the Meld tried to attach itself to you nervous system. If enough had taken hold it may be messing with your cerebrum. If that was the case…” Ellie looked at her friend with a hard look. “Things may be worse than I am putting on but when it concerns the brain it is best not to take chances. If I can, I will try to get you in for some thorough testing but it may be hard to tell exactly how the Meld has bonded to you…”

Alexia put on an obviously fake grin. “I-I guess this is what happens when you put something that changes you into you body without telling it what to do, huh?”

The other girl gave an optimistic smile and sat forward. “At least you are the talk of the base. It is the little things that count I guess…”

Alexia shook her head. “In my experience, a lot of people talking about you isn’t a good thing. Does, uh, does this… thing I’m going through have a name?”

Elizabeth thought to herself a moment. “Other than stupidity, I don’t think there is a name for it...” She was stuck for a moment nothing coming to mind. She looked back to all the science fiction movies she had watch and always remembered the rather straight forward diseases and ailments in their literal descriptions of names. “How about...Synesthesia? I am pretty sure that is the medical term for this kind of condition.”

Alexia nodded slowly. “I guess I’ll have some research to do if this doesn’t go away.” She looked down momentarily, her expression saying she didn’t want to say something on her mind.

Elizabeth leaned forward and put a hand on her friend’s forearm. “We can do it together, after all...we are both women of science after all if you think about it. Plus you will need help in the coming days and I just so happen to know a highly acclaimed doctor who can help you out!” She said cheerfully, trying to bring the girl’s mood up.

Alexia smiled, but still seemed hesitant. “I know, though Jessica is really the brains… though she’s being pretty stupid right now. Maybe you should talk to her, if I can convince her to do so.”

“It might help but she is as stubborn if not more than you are, if I can help I will at least try.”

“But you are a doctor, and she’s hiding something.” The green-haired girl shifts her eyes back and forth. “She hasn’t been out since she woke up before I did, and she won’t tell me why. I’m getting kinda nervous, and I’m not the only one…” She glances over at the sleeping Russian in the corner.

Ellie looked back and forth between the two and she let out a sigh. “If she won’t talk to her boyfriend or even her own sister, what will make her cooperate with a girl like me?”

Alexia grinned devilishly. “You forget that she told you she got lucky before she even told me. I guess there is something about you that makes people want to tell you secrets. Something weird. Reminds me of my mom… in a good way, of course.”

Elizabeth shook her hand and slammed a hand against her head. “I swear, one drink with a green haired girl and I suddenly have become her personal therapist...fine I will do it!” She said reluctantly.

Alexia closed her eyes. After a few moments, she frown. “Hold on… stubborn little…”

 

[MarineAvenger]

Synesthesia: Part Two (MarineAvenger and ZombieSplitter53-Cameo Appearences From: DarkGemini24601 and Frostlich1228)

After a solid minute, she slowly opened them again. “H… hi, Ellie…”

She let out a sigh and waved her hand. “Why are you making life more difficult than it needs to be Jess? At least give me a weeks notice before you do something risky…”

“I didn’t have a week, Ellie.” Jessica looked away, hiding a bit of shame. “I had to save my friend. I’m willing to bet, if it was you on that operating table, Alex would have done the same thing.”

“I am not saying you did something wrong, I am saying give me notice before you endanger your life and give me half a heart attack…” She scooted forward and laid her chin in her hands. “Tell me what is wrong, Alex probably won’t let me leave until I do and I doubt bachelor number one over there is the right person to talk to…”

“I-I… just don’t want him to worry about me.” Jessica chuckled lightly. “It’s funny. I’ve searched all this time for someone to care about me like he does, and now I’m always afraid he’ll care too much.” She looked back at Elizabeth. “If I tell you, will you promise not to tell him, at least not at first.”

“You know I date someone around ten times worse than him don't you? Course you do, you were there, I won’t tell him I promise!”

Jessica nodded slowly. “Alexia already told you about the synesthesia, right?”

Ellie nodded her head. “More or less, though I had to rack my brain and sort through years of medical training to figure out the name of the damn condition…”

Jessica shrugged, the movement seemingly hard for her in her heavily drugged state. “I just happen to remember a lot of unusual things. My recall is pretty good. Not perfect, but really good. Goes with my photographic memory. So I knew almost right away that it was probably synesthesia, and the other thing was probably… misophonia…”

Ellie gave a pouty face. “You are making me recall 6 years of medical school that is best left in the past...well. Did you hear what I promised Alex or do I have to explain again?”

Jessica smiled lightly. “I don’t think some testing is going to help. Besides… the idea of testing out sound-emotion synesthesia wouldn’t exactly be pleasant…”

Elizabeth let out a long, drawn out sigh and shook her head. “Well I will try to help as best as I can, though if you are going to be trying to research this thing I want to help you. Even though you may not like turning to Alex or Mister Bear over there I am not either of them, so you have my full support!” She smiled, holding out a thumbs up.

Jessica smiled, but her smile quickly faded. She turned to look at Modya. “Thank you. But he needs to know soon too. And now that Alexia knows, she’ll tell him if I don’t. I just hope he’ll be as willing to support me like you.” She blinked rapidly to stop a tear. “I’m already so much of a handful for him to have to deal with. And this to it, and I wouldn’t blame him if he threw in the towel…”

Elizabeth got up and sat next to Jessica, taking a deep breath and sticking her finger in her face. “If you keep talking like that then he will throw it in. If you keep worrying he will reject you then you will have no time to enjoy that he is actually there! Even if he does leave, then it is his loss to give up on such an amazing girl as you...or rather both of you. So please, please for the love of all that is good in this world, stop worrying and just go for it!” When she was done she shifted her glasses and crossed her arms “What say you, Miss Lockheart!” She said in a demanding voice.

Jessica smiled at her short friend, the smile genuine this time. “You’re right, Ellie. Thanks.”

“You are damn right, I am right! Now, time for us to do something some what fun, as my shift is over and I have nothing better to do with my life at the moment!”

Jessica laughed softly. “Okay… but what? I’m not set to leave for another day or two.”

She took a deep breath as to give another speech but was stopped short as she was dumb founded. “No idea, but whatever it is it will be glorious!”

Jessica laughed slightly louder. Through drowsy eyes, she said, “H-how about a… card game. Alexia was playing… with Modya before they… fell asleep…”

She nodded and looked over the room. “Sounds good, but if you start to drool on them I am leaving!” She said playfully.

Jessica nodded, reaching over to grab the cards. She fought with everything she had, managing to get through two entire games of Go Fish before drifting off, cards still in hand.

Elizabeth smiled and gathered up the cards, putting them back in the box and laying them down on a table. She walked over to the door, but it opened before she could reach it.

An Inuit woman pushed a wheelchair containing Ammelia cross stood in the doorway, glancing over at Jessica. “Oh...I thought she was awake,” Atka muttered. “I suppose we can wait.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Lasting Effects

Dr. Tobias Russell stood down the hall from Jessica's room, glancing towards it every so often. By the way he ducked back when it opened, you'd almost think he was intimidated by a certain Russian coming out. As soon as the offending individual disappeared around a corner, Russell rushed forward, slipping into the room.

He frowned at the sight of the sleeping woman before him. Sitting in the chair next to her bed, briefly realizing it was the Russian's chair, and lightly shook the sleeping girl's arm. "Uh... Ms. Lockheart? C-can you wake up please?" Alexia dozily looked over at him. Seeing who it was, she rolled her eyes, and closed them again. With a deeper frown, Russell reached out to shake her again. "Ms. Lockheart, please..."

"I'm awake," Jessica mumbled. "I just needed to... collect my thoughts. What do you want?"

"I, uh, just wanted to tell you that, based on what you and Dr. Rinly told us, we did some analysis of the readings we've taken over the past several days. It looks like the misophonia you were afraid of was either psychosomatic, or it faded away as you nervous system continued to recover."

Jessica let out a brief sigh of relief. "At least that is one less thing to worry about. But why do I get the feeling the feeling there is a 'but' at the end of that statement?"

Russell nodded. "Well... your, uh, synaptic pathways have slowed their recovery. I believe how they are now is what, um..."

"What 'normal' is for me." The green-haired girl squeezed her eyes shut. "Which means any side effect I still have is permanent."

Desperate to change the subject, the doctor said, "Ms. Cross is recovering nicely. She was already trying to walk a day after she woke up. It was quite impressive. Have you seen her?"

Jessica smiled softly. "If you call twenty minutes of us crying and blaming ourselves for everything before I fell asleep like a narcoleptic, then yeah." She opened her eyes again, and looked at the doctor. "How much longer am I gonna be drugged up like this?"

"Just another day or so, when we are sure your pain is..." Russell bit his lip. "I'm sorry this happened. But it isn't that bad. We'll help you get used to it. And there were obvious complications, but Ammelia will completely recover, and be ready for her next mission with in a few weeks. All in all, it was a complete..." He clammed up at the look on Jessica's face.

Slowly, carefully, Jessica asked, "Why does your apology sound more like you're gloating?" She shook her head. "I get it. The ends justify the means for you." She looked away from the doctor, whispering, "Eventually, that way of thinking will come back to bite you. I just feel sorry for whoever ends up suffering when that happens."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Test Your Might

Ayame steadied her heavy weapon, focusing on the alien hologram behind cover a few feet away. From the side of the room, Aya shouted, "The idea is to spread the fire out around the target. Make it feel like all Hell has broken loose, and is concentrated directly around it. Make it feel like it has seconds to move before it's cover is disintegrated. But make sure you leave an opening for it. Remember, you aren't trying to hit the target, your making it move so it is easier for you teammates to hit it."

Ayame poured on the heat, following the instructions as best she could. She concentrated fire around the edges of the cover, but left the left side open. She smiled as the sectoid took the bate, running into the awaiting fire of the other soldiers training with her. "Alright! Fragged that bitch!"

"Good job, everyone." Aya stepped into the holographic forest. "Everyone gather together, we've got one more thing to do." The soldiers walked into a group, chatting with one another as they waited. Ayame ran up to the lieutenant. "What can I do for you, Ms. Kasagi?"

"Well, sir, I just wanted to ask you why I haven't seen you on any mission. I mean, with any of my friends... I mean, the soldiers I hang out with. I've watched your missions, and you're pretty good. Zero soldiers lost under your command, a pretty low injury rate. I just think..."

"We'd benefit from me teaming up with some of your friends." Aya stepped close to Ayame, speaking in a low voice so none of the other soldiers could hear her. "Because your friends don't need my help. Most of the soldiers I command aren't exactly the best of the best, and I'm there to make sure the live long enough to make a difference."

Ayame grinned. "So what your saying is, the less I see you..."

"...the better you're doing." Aya paced a friendly hand on her shoulder. "And keep up the great performance you showed here, and you'll be seeing even less of me."

Ayame laughed, turning to join the other soldiers. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of Sunny walking up, followed closely by her holographic friend, the latter carrying what looked like a giant med-spray. Sunny twiddled her thumbs at her Asian friend, and said, "C-can everyone gather together. I'm testing out an new attachment for the MECs. I-it's a kind of... restorative mist."

"I... don't think anyone is actually injured." A female soldier said, looking around at the other soldiers. "How will we know if it works, beyond 'feeling a bit better'?"

Sunny frowned, giving Ayame a pleading look, having not thought of that. Ayame nudged the other soldier on the shoulder. "Well that's a stupid question. One of us well have to get injured, or at least winded. I volunteer."

The lieutenant nodded. "Sounds good. How about you practice a bit of close quarters combat? Who wants to fight Ms. Kasagi."

None of the other soldiers volunteered. "Really?" Ayame scoffed. "Ya bunch of pu... pansies." She glanced at the blond girl standing next to Sunny. "How 'bout you, computer girl? I'm sure you can give anyone a challenge."

"Me?" Alice looked between Ayame and Sunny in confusion. "I'm not really programmed for fighting."

"Can you download some kind of program using the combat simulation programming?" Sunny asked.

Alice nodded, and disappeared. After a minute, she reappeared in her adult form, wearing a bright pink gi. "Ready," she said, taking a fighting stance.

The other soldiers snickered, stepping aside, but Ayame's expression was all business. She stood in her own stance, and Lt. Brea stepped between them, lifting her arm. She cut it down quickly, and Alice charged forward, sending out a flurry of hits.

As Ayame quickly blocked or pushed away the strikes, she laughed lightly. "Hey, girl, you remembered to hold back that strength of you. Ya gotta hurt me with skill, not by being stronger then a muton."

"Sorry, Ayame." Alice through a high kick, and Ayame quickly jumped back to avoid it. Before Ayame could fully recovered, she tried for a straight punch, but Ayame caught it with her palm. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

"If it makes you feel better, I was never able to beat my instructor." Ayame went on the offensive, most of her attacks involving her legs. After a flurry of kicks, she went for a fake punch, then did a leg sweep. As Alice dropped to the ground, Ayame went for a downward punch, but Alice quickly rolled to side and jumped to her feet. Ayame went for another flurry of punches, but quickly realized that Alice was having an easier time blocking her with every passing second. "Damn, you're memorizing my moves, aren't you."

"I'm sorry, Ayame. I can't stop being a computer, any more then you can stop from losing this fight."

"Oh, look who learned some sass." Ayame became more desperate, changing her moves up in an attempt to throw off her holographic appointment. She swiped her arm sideways, striking Alice in the side, but Alice grabbed her arm, using Ayame's momentum to through her to the side. Rolling, Ayame jumped back up, charging Alice. Throwing a solid punch with all her strength, Alice suddenly dropped into a split, punching Ayame in the stomach.

As Ayame dropped to her knee, trying to catch her breath, Sunny ran to her side, quickly followed by Alice. "Are you okay?" Sunny asked in a worried tone.

Ayame nodded slowly, climbing to her feet. She pointed at the holographic woman, her expression anger. "You!" Alice gave her an apologetic look, but Ayame quickly grinned. "We're gonna do that again whenever possible until I beat you."

Alice smiled back, and Ayame slowly walked over to the rest of the soldiers. Alice held up the giagantic med-spray, and said in a cheerful voice, "Hold still."

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Healing Factor

Samuel looked over the human on the table. She was another native of this country, an ‘Indian.’ Not to be confused with Native Americans. “Honestly,” Samuel muttered to himself, “humans are such irrational creatures.”

The 26-year-old woman, whose name was Chandra, glanced over at him. What is he planning to do to me now? She wondered. The aliens had already tampered with her brain to awaken psionic powers. However, the kind-hearted woman was different than the ‘reds’, ‘blues’, and ‘purples.’ Her psi variant was a ‘green’ kind that the aliens did not seem to understand fully.

The Thin Man pressed a button on the computer, releasing Chandra’s restraints. “We have determined your abilities might be correlated to biokinesis and healing. Thus, a test.” He snapped his spindly fingers.

A man from Bangladesh was shoved into the room by a Muton. Samuel nodded, promptly pulled out his plasma pistol, and shot the man in the hip. Plasma seared through flesh, creating a grievous wound. Chandra’s eyes widened in horror. “Save his life. Or don’t,” Samuel explained with a grin.

Chandra ran over to the writhing man’s side, her eyes glowing a soft green. She knelt down, touching the corners of the wound, and tried to heal him. She accelerated the cell recovery rate and empowered the healing factors. In her inexperience though, she could not do it quickly enough to save the life.

The Thin man sighed as Chandra fell behind, and shot the man in the head, making her recoil. “Not good enough. Let’s try that again…” The corpse was dragged out, and an Inuit woman brought in, the same done to her. “Save the life. Or don’t.”

Again Chandra failed to be quick and efficient enough to save the subject. A third test subject was pushed in, Chandra’s cousin.

“N-no, please, not him!” Chandra pleaded.

Samuel just smiled and shot her cousin in the same spot as the last test subject. “Save the life. Or don’t.”

The green psion did her best, desperation, wavering hope, and practice fueling her actions. On this third try, the wound did, in fact, seal itself, and Chandra fell back exhausted.

Samuel’s grin widened. “Not bad.”

What did you want to do with the male? I-12 asked, standing nearby as Chandra’s cousin was taken away by the Muton.

He was scheduled for harvesting, correct? Do just that, and analyze how the healing affected his body.

Yes, sir, came the Sectoid’s reply.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

KITTY!

Brigid looked up at the large men and women surrounding her as she walked through the hallway. She was growing tired of being surrounded by grown-ups she didn't know. She had heard another grown-up talking about a "referee" part of the base. She wasn't sure what that meant, but also heard there were kids there. She wanted to play with some of them, but knew her mommy would allow it. She worried too much.

As they rounded a corner, one of the grown-ups looked back at her again. Brigid didn't understand why they kept looking back. Did they think she was going to wonder off? She promised mommy she'd be a good girl, so what were they afraid...

A flash a white flew across Brigid's vision. She looked around, her eyes stopping on the furry creature standing next to the wall. "Kitty!"

"Did you say something, honey?" The lady with brown hair asked.

Brigid looked up at her, then back at the kitty. Except, it was gone. "There... there was a kitty..."

"Don't worry, dear, you'll get to see your kitty after lunch."

Brigid pouted, irritated again that a grown up wasn't listening. She looked down the hallway, and spotted a furry tail running around a corner. She looked back at the grown-ups, already walking away, and decided to take off after the animal. As she ran down the hallway, her small legs moving as fast as they could, she rounded the corner, and saw the kitty slipping into a room. Brigid thought it was white, but it looked more grey now, like the color of the wall. She must have been mistaken before.

Brigid walked into the room, a large humming sound ringing out around her. The kitty stood a few feet away, and immediately turned to face her. It only stared at her, and its tail wasn't raised, nor were its ears back like Shalquoir when she was upset. Brigid still approached it with caution, remembering what mommy had said about animals she didn't know.

"Hi, kitty." She said cautiously. She smiled as she reached out, lightly tapping the animal on the head. "I'm Brigid. Do you have a name."

The animal shook its head. Brigid might have found it strange that it acted like it could understand her, but was too mesmerized by the really big ears on the kitty, like floppy rabbit ears coming out of normal cat ears. She watched as its tail flopped around, so big and bushy, it was as big as the rest of its body. "What are you doing in here?"

The kitty tilted its head, examining Brigid for a moment with its big, round, red eyes. It turned to look at the big, glowing machine in the room.

I was looking at this impressive machine of yours? Do you know how it works?

Brigid's eyes lit up. "Wow, you can talk!"

Yes. Tell me about this machine.

"Are you a magical kitty. Like in the cartoons?"

The animal turned back to Brigid, staring blankly. After several moments of silence, it nodded.

Yes. I am a magical cat. I am here to watch over this base, and make sure everyone is safe. That is why I must know how this machine...

"Does mommy know you're here?" Brigid asked, kneeling down by the magical kitty. It stared at her for a few more seconds, then shook its head.

No one can see me but you, because you are special. You can not tell them I am here, or I won't be able to do my job. They... It stared at her for a few more seconds. The grown-ups would not believe I am here to help. They... worry too much.

Brigid smiled. "I know. Mommy always worries I'm gonna get hurt."

My... mommy is the same. But I have helped the grown-ups countless times. I stopped a heavy crate from falling on a woman yesterday. A month ago... I stopped a generator from overloading.

"Wow, really?" Brigid's smile widened. "So you're like an angel!" The kitty stared at her for a few more seconds.

Yes. Something like that. It turned back towards the glowing machine. But this generator is new. I must understand how it works, so I can protect everyone if it malfunctions.

Brigid frowned, scratching her blond hair. "But... I don't know how it works. I don't even know what it does."

It supplies the base with power. The magical animal turned to face the young Irish girl again. Do you know who would know how it works.

Brigid quickly nodded. "When I first came here, they showed me a place on this floor with lots of big machines. Do you want me to ask someone there?"

That is okay, I shall ask them. But remember, don't tell anyone you saw me.

"I promise." Brigid rose her hand, her face serious. The kitty suddenly looked towards the door. Its fur turned black, and it ran into the shadows of the room, completely disappearing from sight. Brigid looked around, suddenly realizing that she was all alone in a strange room. She looked back at the closed door, frowning at the high doorknob. She started to look around for something she could climb on.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Adrammalech & ZombieSplitter53

Emily walked down the wing once more, staring back at the security guard who sat bored at the checkpoint as always. She had the feeling he was going to shout at her again the second she went for a doorknob. She walked past the windowed doors that she had already seen: the big blue generator, the bigger bright orange generator, and now a biggest deep purple generator. She looked at it curiously.

“Another one? Why do they build all of these next to each other, isn’t that tempting sabotage?” she whispered to herself.

She watched in the windows almost mesmerized, the little purple lights spinning around it, doing its esoteric generation with no oversight.

“Why’s this one purple and not blue like the other one? I should really take a look,” she said, convincing herself.

She turned the doorknob quietly and pushed the door, surprised at it resisting her. She looked confused at something blocking the door, pushing it harder and knocking over a couple boxes placed in front of it. Emily looked around a bit as she slipped inside, searching for other intruders.

A small body, nearly obscured by a box being carried, walked around the corner, seemingly oblivious of Emily’s presence, too focused on carrying something too big for her.

Emily looked surprised at the tiny figure, hearing ‘this is no place for kids’ in her head again. She walked around to try to get a look around the boxes.

“Hello, what are you doing there?” she asked.

“OH!” Brigid dropped the box in surprise. She looked up at Emily, smiling. “I’m trying to reach the doorknob. I’m not tall enough. Can you reach it for me?”

“Of course,” Emily said, walking back to the door and nudging boxes away with her foot. “Where are your parents? Are you from one of the refugee families?”

Brigid gave Emily a curious look, still unsure what that word meant. “Am I? Um… I think my mommy is working right now. She’s always working. But some people were watching me. I left them to follow the k…” Brigid trailed off. Unsure about how to follow her slip up, she simply fell silent.

“Working? Where does she work,” Emily asked amiably, “I work here too, maybe I know her.”

Brigid thought for a moment. It wasn’t often she had to say her mother’s name. “Um… her name is Morrigan. She works… um, in her office, I guess.”

“Morrigan O’Brien? The Commander?” Emily’s eyes went wide.

Brigid nodded. “That’s her. Do you know her? I don’t know where her office is…”

“I’m familiar with her, but haven’t really talked to her,” Emily replied, “I think I know where it is. Why don’t I walk you back there?”

Brigid reached out for Emily’s hand. She stopped suddenly, and asked, “I can trust you, right?”

“Of course, your mom hired me, and it’s part of my job to make sure everyone is safe here,” she said reassuringly, offering her own hand.

Brigid smiled brightly, taking Emily’s hand without any more hesitation. “My name is Brigid.”

“My name’s Amelia, but you can call me Emily,” she said, returning the smile.

--------------------------------------------

Morrigan paced around her room in a panic. She couldn’t understand how the soldiers had lost her pride and joy. What part of ‘don’t let her out of you sight’ did they not understand. SHe shakily grabbed a glass of whiskey, quickly shooting it back as she considered announcing a base wide search amongst all soldiers and staff.

Emily then walked through the doors, beaming a smile as she looked around the room.

“See, I told you we’d find it,” she said happily, letting go of Brigid’s hand.

Brigid ran forward as Morrigan dropped to her knees, her face the picture of relief. Morrigan squeezed her child tightly, as though it had been years since she had seen her. “Oh lord, don’t ever disappear on mommy like that again.”

“I’m sorry mommy.” Brigid said, suddenly looking a lot sadder at the realization that her mother had worried about her so much.

Morrigan looked up at Emily. “Where did you find her?”

“Oh, she was wandering around near the generator rooms,” Emily replied quickly, looking between the two and smiling modestly. “You’ve got a little explorer on your hands, I believe.”

Morrigan shook her head. “The generator room. Why would you… you didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

Brigid shook her head. “No. I got locked in, but Emily let me out.”

Morrigan quickly rose to her feet, trying to regain her composure in front of a soldier. “I, um… I don’t know how to thank you… um, Emily…”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Emily shrugged, looking aside, “I know what it’s like to have an adventurous daughter. Kind of.”

Morrigan shook her head. “She’s usually not like this. She’s usually so well behaved. I mean… I’m sure she didn’t do it to misbehave, but she… but she didn’t get hurt, and that’s what matters, right?” The Commander smiled nervously, wondering how obvious it was what little experience she had raising her own child.

“Right, luckily you’ve built a pretty safe base here,” Emily replied reassuringly.

Morrigan chuckled nervously. “I’d say more lucky I have such observant soldiers. Did you follow her into the room? Why were you there, pray tell?” Her voice was one of curiosity, not interrogation.

“Just taking a look around, getting the idea of the layout. I like to keep tabs on things, since we expand so fast, and you never know if we have to rush somewhere for something,” Emily said casually, “and then I noticed her in the window, carrying a box to stand on.”

Morrigan nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. “But how did you get locked in? Why were you there in the first place?” She knelt down in front of her daughter, her expression more pleading then demanding.

Brigid thought for a moment, obviously not at Emily’s level of making up a quick excuse. “I… I thought I saw a kitty of in there.” Morrigan raised an eyebrow, and looked back at Emily for some kind of confirmation.

“I didn’t ask, to be honest,” Emily said quietly, “maybe she was just curious? There are a lot of glowing things in there.”

Brigid nodded. “Yeah. I think it was just a shadow, then the door closed behind me.”

“Well, try to stay out of trouble, okay.” Morrigan smiled gently. “What if Emily hadn’t been there to open the door?”

Brigid looked down to the floor. “I’m sorry, mommy. I didn’t mean to…”

“I know, dear. I know.” Morrigan kissed Brigid on the forehead. Standing back up and turning back to Emily, she said, “Now… what to do about you…”

Emily straightened her back a little, trying to look a little more professional than a moment ago. She looked at the Commander expectantly, not saying anything else.

“Now, I can’t go oweing one of my soldiers a debt for doing me such a kindness, right Brigid?”

The young girl nodded. “A proper person always repays their debts, big or small, m… mmmomitery or other.”

s“So… is there anything within reason I can do for you, Emily?” Morrigan asked with a big grin.

“There is something I’ve been thinking about, in terms of missions,” Emily said, looking nervously at the little girl beside the Commander.

“Sure… what was that?” The Commander asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Atka had a mission a while back by herself, a stealthy one” Emily said, scratching her chin, “I don’t know how much is in my file, but I spent a fair amount of my life sneaking around. So, I think I’d be suited for that kind of thing, whenever it’s convenient.”

“You like to go on a covert op if another comes up.” Morrigan scratched her chin in thought. “Sure… if that’s really what you’d like. Any particular reason? Just think you’d do a good job on it?”

“Pretty much,” Emily stated, “I think I’d do it well, and it sounds interesting to me. So it’s a win-win.”

“Well, you got it.” Morrigan vigorously shook Emily’s hand. Looking back at Brigid, she said, “Come on. I think someone missed lunch.”

Brigid smiled brightly and running to her mother’s side, grabbing her hand. She looked up at Emily and asked, “Did you want to come with?”

“Sure, I could go for lunch,” Emily replied with a smile, “if you’ll have me of course.”

Morrigan nodded, and Brigid grabbed Emily’s hand as well.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Pride

“Hey…” Nouja asked.

The Muton did not respond.

Hey… Nouja tried telepathically.

The Balmadaar turned, looking at ‘seagull’ suspiciously. It growled its version of a ‘hm?’

You were the one that refuse to kill my mother, right?

And? The warrior asked.

Thank you…

Pride of a warrior. The female ends up suffering a worse fate, Ogedei thinks.

Is that your name? Nouja asked, and was answered with a nod. Do you…know what they’re doing to my mother? A shake of the head from Ogedei. Why do you serve them?

We were conquered, Ogedei responded bitterly. Our leaders killed and copied. Our honor taken.

I guess you and I have something in common.

A strong nod. We are both proud tribal peoples, though we Balmadaar are nomads. Or were.

Ogedei…could I ask something of you? Nouja took his silence as a ‘yes’ or ‘maybe.’ If people come to save me, and they’re winning…would you help them?

You speak of the warriors that fight us?

Yes.

Perhaps. That is dangerous, and they may not win. Even if they find and beat us, they would kill me.

No! I wouldn’t let them.

… The Balmadaar gave its equivalent of a smile under the mask. I like that fire. Very well. Ogedei walked off after a moment more.

As Nouja severed the telepathic connection, she realized she could feel a faint presence. Wh-who is there? she asked, looking up, unsettled.

Atka stirred in her sleep, her clairvoyance having heard only fragments of the telepathic conversation. Now a vague link was established, though her sleepy thoughts were muddled. N…ja…m…Atka! …coming…save…

Nouja smiled, tears forming in her eyes. Sis…I’m counting on you…I-

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE? The connection was forcibly cut by the Sectoid Commander's powerful mind, and Atka woke up.

“I will save you…” Atka whispered to herself. “You and everyone else…”

 

[MarineAvenger]

The wind whipped around the snow as if they were like feathers on the breeze of a spring morning. The kids were playing merrily in the snow as the grown ups watched from afar, from the cover of the snow and sipping on hot beverages. Holiday lights adorned the railings of the buildings as if they were a scarf of green with dazzling lights blinking in synchronization. The snow on the ground was cold to the touch and was crunching with every step she took. When she went to take a step she slipped on something and landed face first into the brisk powder that was on the ground. Something wet fell down from her face and she sat there, her butt being barraged by a front of freezing water. She felt something grab her from behind and lifted her up, scraping off the blistering cold that had invaded her warmth. She looked up at a warm face smiling down at her, and the man held out a hand. She took it gleefully, the cold no longer a problem, as the star in her life took her away, away from the cold.

 

[MarineAvenger]

The sun beats down on one of the rare days that it had actually been hot during the summer. Birds chirped and cars went down the roads, everyone with a smile on their faces. The man walked besides her once more, holding her hand and guiding her along the walkways to their destination. She looked over at the lake that they were passing and the families of ducks swam together as on-lookers threw them bread. Her face saddened at the sight, her family never really being around to do stuff like that. The man saw her expression and he knelt down, giving her a hug and kissing her forehead. They walked over to the lake and bought some bread to throw into the lake. The girl's expression lightened and man picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, her own little pedestal on top of the world. She felt happy as the sun was over the buildings and the light glittered on the water like gems. She threw the bread and the ducks happily took it. She giggled and she felt like she had a place where she could belong.

 

[MarineAvenger]

A Patch Job

Elizabeth sat bored in her office, just waiting for the troops to return from the massive mission that they were undertaking. She thought about what things they could find and how much she would dread the coming days. She pulled a bulky, gray game system and played her favorite game to just past the time. Her face softening as she remembered her late uncle. She had been finding herself day dreaming about the things that they used to do more and more as she recalled that his birthday would be coming up in the next couple of weeks. Her last life ended as she mistakenly jumped into a pit and she put it away as she heard the door open. When she turned around she saw the big man who worked with Desmond.

"Hello Elizabeth, I was wondering if you could treat a cut I have." Ryan took a seat on the exam table and Elizabeth walked over to examine him. "I may have cut my hand while I was helping with some machinery down in engineering."

She took his bleeding fist and opened his fist as a large cut revealed itself. "I thought you worked with Desmond? What were you doing in engineering?"

He screamed out in pain as she wiped an alcohol soaked rag across the wound. "I...I work in engineering as well, aside from being a part time soldier and a lab hand, I work the heavy machinery we have here and help construct the big rigs we have like the generators."

She took out a roll of gauze and began wrapping his hand. "You seem to work harder than even Desmond does. What is it with all the men on base having to prove themselves?"

Ryan smiled. "Actually,it is very manageable for me. I am only a soldier when I train and am sent out on missions and the whole engineering thing is an on call sort of job, I just do it when they need me."

She shook her head. "I don't like engineering. It is always dangerous work, I hate it..." She finished the wrapping and she took a seat back in her chair.

Ryan looked over at her and he waled up to her kneeling in front of her. "What is wrong Elizabeth? I have never seen you this down."

She shook her head. "My uncle died shortly after I left for XCOM, he was a geothermal engineer in Sweden and something went wrong at the plant. He was killed, and his birthday is coming up in a couple weeks, I don't know, I guess I am a little down."

He put a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Hey, it is alright. If he really loved you that much he wouldn't want to see you so down like this, just look at what you have found here."

Her expression grew even more sullen and she looked down. "He was my only family, all my other family members had abandoned me or died. Even the fact I have met so many great people doesn't really give me any consolation though."

"You don't have to forget him. Don't remember him for his death, remember him for how he was in life, and remember that these kinds of things get healed with time, don't dwell on it too much, okay?"

She nodded her head, wiping away a tear and he stood up. "Thank you Ryan, I see why Desmond respects you so much."

He looked back at her and he smiled. "In time you may find why so many respect him as well. You were lucky to have him in your life, he has a way of making you want to follow him, a way to make you want to help him out..." He trailed off and waved a hand and he closed the door, leaving Elizabeth to her thoughts.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Midnight Mischief

Brigid stirred in her bed, the feeling of something touching her feet waking her from a light sleep. She drowsily looked to the foot of her bed, and jumped at the sight of a pair of round, red eyes staring at her. "M... Mr. Kitty! Y-you scared me." She slapped her hand over her mouth, and glanced over to the bed to her right, making sure she didn't wake her mommy. She was cranky if she didn't get enough sleep.

I am sorry. I did not intend to startle you. I require your assistance.

Brigid lazily looked at the clock, reading a quarter past twelve, then back at the white animal. "But Mr. Kitty, it's the middle..."

You told me you saw the engineering section... the room with the big machines... when you first came here. Why did the... grown-ups show it to you?

"I, um... it was a tour. They showed me all the big places, so I could see all the cool things here, and so I'd know where I shouldn't go."

As I thought. I would like for you to bring me to these places. I would like to take a tour.

The kitty jumped off the bed, but Brigid remained seated. Kitty returned a few moments later, giving the girl a curious look. She frowned, and said, "I promised mommy I wouldn't go anywhere dangerous again. And I can't break my promise."

Kitty watched Brigid closely, staring at her blankly for several seconds.

You are right. You can not break your promise. That is why you will only show me where everything is. We will not go inside.

"But... I'll get in trouble if I go out by myself."

Kitty stared at her for a few more seconds.

You will not be caught, I can assure you of that. And if you do, is it not okay to get in a little trouble in order to help me? Remember, I am here to make sure everyone is safe. But so much has changed, and I must know where everything is for me to do this.

Brigid reluctantly nodded. She climbed off her bed, and slipped on her favorite pink bunny slippers. She quietly walked out of the room, looking back at her mommy before closing the door.

The pair silently moved through the halls of the base, most of the staff asleep. The majority of those awake were located in the labs, engineering, infirmary, or central. However, the hallways weren't completely abandoned.

Stop.

Bridget quickly stopped at a corner, peaking around it. "Um... there's no one there."

There will be.

A grown-up, dressed in clothes like the people that watched Brigid everyday, walked out of one of the rooms. "How did you know?"

I am magic, remember? Now when I say go, run to the other side of the hallway as fast as you can. He will not see you.

Brigid swallowed hard, but nodded. After a few moments, the man cracked his knuckles. Go. Brigid rushed forward, even though she was sure the man was going to see her as she passed. As she reached him, he lifted his arms, stretching and yawning with his eyes closed. By the time he opened them again, Brigid had already turned the next corner.

As the young blond tried to catch her breath, she looked down the hallway, but couldn't see kitty. She felt fur brushed her leg, and turned to find the strange looking animal standing next to her. "How... how did you do that?"

I am magic, remember? Come.

After a few minutes and another bit of stealth maneuvering, they reached a large room with windows Brigid was barely tall enough to see through. "Um... this is the... the lab school."

The... lab school?

Brigid nodded, sure she was remembering it right. "Yeah, this is where they study with the things they find, and then take tests with stuff before going to the machine room.

I see. The laboratory. Shall we go inside.

"Is it... dangerous?" Brigid asked nervously.

It is not. Kitty watched the door for a while. After a couple minutes of silence, he stood up and started walking away. We can not enter without being caught. We shall have to come back at another time.

The confused Irish girl rushed after him. "How do you know..."

I am magic, remember? Come.

As they neared engineering, Brigid timidly asked, "Can... can I be magic, too?"

Kitty stopped suddenly, turning to face his companion. He looked her up and down, walking around her a few times, and starring into her eyes.

I... believe you can. But I am not sure. If you continue to help me, I will do what I can to give you some of my magic.

Brigid smiled, an excited look on her face. "Really? You promise?"

I promise. Come.

They reached engineering, and they both peeked inside. "This is where they make all the big machines, and the guns, and the robot cars."

And what about the soldiers in the big, metal suits? Where are they made?

Brigid thought for a moment, unsure. "I... I think down stairs. But I don't know where."

Below this room, I would imagine. Come, we shall see if there is an elevator inside.

Brigid quickly shook her head. "Mommy told me it was too dangerous to go in there. I promised I would never, ever go in, even if someone told me to, unless she told me to herself."

Kitty turned to face you, and stared at her few a few moments. He then stood up, walking down the hall.

You should not break your promise. Let us move on.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the infirmary. "This is where all the hurt people are."

How advanced is you med... how well can you heal the sick and hurt people?

"Well..." Brigid scrunched her nose in thought. "Mommy says she is surprised all the time how much we can help people re... rrrecover from. Did you want to go in and see?"

That will not be necessary. I believe we should... Kitty watched as Brigid yawned loudly. I believe we should get you back to bed.

The sleepy child nodded, and drowsily followed behind the strange animal, heading back to her room. Once they made it back, she carefully opened the door, making sure her mommy was still asleep. She quickly climbed back onto her bed. As kitty jumped to her side, she smiled. "Did I do good, Mr. Kitty?"

You did, thank you. With this knowledge, I can now do an even better job protecting everyone.

"Can... can I get those magic powers you promised?" Brigid asked timidly

Kitty stared at her for several seconds.

Soon, I promise. I must prepare. And we are both tired. They would not work if I gave them to you when we were tired. Sleep. I shall see you again.

Brigid nodded, and laid back. She closed her eyes, and sleep quickly started to come to her.

Brigid?

The child slowly opened her sleepy eyes. Not seeing the cat at the foot of her bed, she sat up and scanned the room, finally finding him on the bed to her right, sitting next to her mother's head and starring intently at her face. "What's wrong, Mr. Kitty?" Brigid whispered.

You're mother is the Commander of this base, right? How much would the base suffer if she were to die.

Brigid's eyes widened. "W... w-why would you ask that?" She asked, frowning deeply.

The animal turned its head, starring intently at Brigid.

I want to know because it is my job to protect people. If many would suffer if she was lost, I would protect her even more.

Brigid relaxed, smiling. "Oh... I'm sorry. Um... I heard mommy tell Mr. Brantferd that if she was gone, that things would be bad here. She said the Council men would take over, and they would do bad things to everyone, so they could beat the monsters."

So if she was gone, they would not hold back? They would not let morals stop them from fighting the monsters?

Brigid nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

I see. Thank you. You should go to sleep now.

Brigid laid back down, and drifted off to sleep. Kitty watched her mommy for a few more minutes. He then turned black, and jumped of the bed, heading for the small cat-sized door he had used to come in.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Rebuilding from Ruin”

As the doctors walked out of Aya’s room, finally satisfied with all of the various poking and prodding they had done with her since she had returned from India, she looked down at her bandaged arms. Carefully removing the wrapping, she gave her burned limbs a curious look. She was sure she had caused a lot more damage to them, and had been in no condition to heal them, but they didn’t look as bad as they should, no more than second-degree burns. She shrugged, closing her eyes and placing her left hand on her right arm, concentrating.

The door slid open again as the newly-christened Sergeant Ipiktok walked in. She made her way over to the chair beside Aya’s bed, thinking she was asleep currently. Atka still was shaken up after what she had found on the surface, having only gotten minimal sleep. The rest of her restless time was spent helping the abductees make themselves at home in the section of the base created for them.

Aya opened her eyes, and smiled gently at Atka. “Hello, Ms. Ipiktok. How… are you holding up?”

The Inuit woman seemed somewhat surprised at her recovery, reminding herself to thank Chandra for what she did. “As well as can be expected, I guess...though I can’t bring myself to visit the memorial yet. Twenty-two...is a lot of names.”

Aya nodded. She kept a neutral expression on her face, but it was obvious she was struggling to do so. “I’m… I know how you feel. So much death, so much loss. We can only hope it will be worth it in the end.” She examined her arms again. “Did… you do this?”

Atka shook her head. “All the people we saved...I have to believe that was worth it. After all, it was one of them that did that. You have Chandra to thank for the healing; she used some sort of...biokinesis, I think. Accelerated your healing rate.”

“I can see that.” She placed her hand over her arm again, a soft glow emanating from it. “Quite amazing, actually. I have a similar ability, though I am afraid I can only heal myself. I will have to thank this Chandra. If it wasn’t for her, I likely wouldn’t have survived.”

Atka nodded slowly. “I...know this probably isn’t something you want to talk about...but...what happened up there? What in the world were you fighting that was capable of wiping out an entire squad?” And one with a psionic soldier that’s probably more powerful than me on their side, she added to herself, not wanting Aya to feel guilty.

The blond woman frowned, shaking her head slightly. “I’m gonna be asked about that eventually. I might as well get my facts together.” She looked up at Atka. “You saw the crashed alien ship, right?”

“I did…I wish we had outfitted the dropships with some form of defense. I’m guessing you were the one to shoot that down?” the scout responded.

Aya nodded. “But not without a fight. The thing showed up like a bat out of Hell, took out two of my men before we could react. I chucked a lot of energy at that thing, and it barely grazed the shield. Tried again with some more power, and I took it down, but I was pretty spent after that… And the… the ship was…” Aya trailed off, looking down.

Atka was silent. What was in it…? she wondered.

Aya shook her head. Half whispering, she said, “It was so stupid of me. I guess, like some amature, I figured it would be over as soon as that ship hit the ground. If there were any aliens inside, my men could finish them off without me. There couldn’t be more than a couple sectoids, a few Thin Men, maybe a Muton or two. And they would be confused, dazed from the crash, even if they didn’t fall far. So I dumped so much energy into that attack. But… but then the doors opened… and…”

“...all hell broke loose?” Atka asked quietly.

Aya gritted her teeth. “That ship was packed. Like sardines in a can. They poured out, opening up on us, like demons assaulting us straight from the gates of the Inferno. My men fought with everything they could, even with it so obvious we were outclassed, outgunned, and with practically no cover aside from a few dunes. And I could barely move. I’m only here because the SHIV covered me. I begged its controller to help the others, but they didn’t listen. I guess that’s both the benefit and curse of being in charge. You get protected while the people you are supposed to be commanding are slaughtered.”

“Sometimes it’s harder to be the one that lived than the ones who died…” the Sergeant replied grimly.

Aya chuckled grimly. “I… I’ve lost people before. I could handle it before. But its been a while since that’s happened. Do you… do you know what the worst part of the whole thing is?”

Atka merely gave her a questioning look, not having the heart to say anything.

“It’s the knowledge that you could have done something.” Aya looked down at her hands in disgust. “It is the knowledge that you had the power to save each and everyone of them, and failed. If you failed because of some ambush, or from a simple, unforeseeable mistake, it is one thing. But to know that if you hadn’t been shortsighted, if you had used your damn head!... they would all still be here. But instead, you watched helplessly as the people around you fell. Mutons beating them to death, Sectoids frying their heads as Thin Men put them down like animals. I… I couldn’t… but I could have, if only…”

Atka closed her eyes for a moment. “If what? If you had the ability to time travel and change it? I don’t think you can...what’s done is done. I have mistakes I wish I could fix, but I just can’t. The fact is...what Gamma did…they died for all of us, civilians and Alpha, Beta, and Delta alike.” She opened her eyes again. “If they had failed, we would have been outflanked and killed in the middle of a fight for our lives against the Titans. Their sacrifice was not in vain.”

Aya nodded. “I… I know… Of course they didn’t. They saved you. They saved the rest of the people on that mission. They saved those innocent people. And they saved me. Gave me the time I needed to recover my strength. To get back on my feet, and make such every son of a bitch there pay for what they did to my squad with their lives.” Aya’s eyes glowed faintly, a flicker of flame appearing in her right hand.

Is that...the same look I had? What Modya feared from me? Atka wondered, a cold feeling in her chest. “A-are you going to be alright?” she asked, her voice wavering.

Aya nodded slowly, the flame dissipation and being replaced by the faint glow of her healing powers. “I will. I just needed to talk to someone, to have someone tell me what I already knew, but was too upset with myself to admit. Thank you for that.”

“Right…” Atka replied hesitantly. “I guess my grief over losing Wilhelmina seems pretty petty now…”

Aya nodded. “I heard about that. But from what I heard, there was little you could have done. That you face such terrible creations, and only lose two people, only one from you squad, in that fight is impressive.”

“Well...we had three squads to fight with. Though losing Grant...isn’t good. With only Amanda left...I expect we’ll have pressure from the Council to find further volunteers.”

Aya nodded again. “we’ll have to deal with that when the time comes. In the meantime, I have something else I need to do, once I get out of here. If it is okay with you, of course.”

Atka nodded. “Yeah.”

“Despite how my part of the mission went, I was still given a promotion to Captain.” Aya looked into Atka’s eyes. “Which means there is an opening for a Lieutenant.”

“If...you think that should be me…” Atka said hesitantly. “Foulke has a lot more experience than me, being older.”

Aya smiled. “I am considering him for an officer status as well. But you currently outrank him, and have had a chance to prove yourself more. If he deserves to be an officer, he will prove it with time. But considering your performance during that mission, I feel it would be a crime not to give you the opportunity.”

The scout nodded. “I...I won’t let you down, sir.”

 

[BMPixy]

A Canopy of Stars
624 Hektor, Jovian L4 Lagrangian Point
Listening Post ADFX-01

Requesting status report from outpost ADFX-02.
Error, relay not receiving report request.
Re-attempting.
Continued failure to receive request.
Conclusion, hyper-wave relay has been de-activated.
Possibilities threefold: accidental damage; rebellion resulting from operational freedom; capture and destruction by native insurgent efforts.
Disconnecting from system.
Report to Honored Overseer.

The Sectoid Commander disconnected from the psionic headset, pushing itself away from the console. News could be troubling. A-65 was unlikely to rebel, but lack of direct orders had been known to result in putting self-improvement and preservation above objectives. Silicid campaign had shown this behavior well.

With a gentle shove the Sectoid Commander drifted forwards through the confined halls of the listening post. Artifical gravity was not deemed a necessity in the construction of this post, estimated occupational duration was 2.5 target orbits at most before de-commissioning for either upgrade a part of extended native suppression campaign or completion of objectives.

A hand shot out to grab a handle, stopping the Sectoid’s momentum while simultaneously sliding open the door to the command deck. Honored Overseer would not be pleased with the news, but for an Ethereal One they were surprisingly reasonable. A gentle swing and the Commander slowly drifted into the room, before stopping itself on a handle-bar on the ceiling.

Honored Overseer? There has been a development at ADFX-02.

The Ethereal One arose from their meditation, ceremonial robes drifting gently from the sudden motion.

What is it you wish to tell me of, G-21?

Contact has been lost due to de-activation of the Hyperwave Relay. Possibility of accidental damage, but also code skitarri and code secutor.

Does G-21 possess any words of wisdom in regards to the handling of this situation?

Would dispatch scout craft to site of ADFX-02. Would request permission of the Honored Overseer in the use of their personal craft for hyper-wave cloaking to ensure safety of dispatch team.

G-21 speaks as I thought it would. Permission is bequeathed, but on one condition, that this Ethereal One would travel with the vessel.

Reasoning, Honored Overseer?

Should A-65 have taken the path of the skitarri, this Ethereal One’s arrival would be used to strike fear into the rebellious elements and regain dominance of the Queen. If the New Ones below were to have taken ADFX-02, then a new location for an outpost would have to be found. If maintenance, we can bring supplies.

Logic without question, Honored Overseer. Preparations of craft shall be made and honor guard alerted.

May the Gift continue to bless you and your kind.

With a small bow, G-21 exited the command room. Balmadaar Elite would have to be alerted, supplies loaded, and a message would need to be sent to the Highest One alerting them to the situation. Perhaps the last should be performed first, the Balmadaar were feeding at the moment, and after what had happened to G-20...

The Sectoid Commander shuddered instinctively at the memory. A quick shove pushed it down towards the hyper-wave relay. With hope, all of this would be due to a slight mishap with a clumsy Balmadaar. With hope.

 

[Adrammalech]

// INCOMPLETE //
Emily Fischer
XCOM Headquarters – Common Area
Siberia, Russian Federation
12:41 AM

Concurrent with Operation Triumphant Vengeance.

Emily threw the dart recklessly, the metal tip clanging against the wall.

“Maybe not like you’re trying to kill someone,” Dallas said.

“How are you so calm?” Emily snapped back.

“How are you so angry?”

“There’s a team of like thirty people out there, slaughtering those alien shits in their own living room. And we’re here. Playing darts. Doing nothing!”

“You know a lot of those soldiers might not be coming back,” he said solemnly.

“I don’t care. They have the abductees. The leaders. I want to neck lift one of those sectoid pricks and just squeeze every last squeak out of it. For what they did to Billy, to Ammy, to everyone!”

Emily tossed another dart angrily, the tip bending as it hit the wall. Ben walked in from the other end of the common area, holding a stack of papers under his arm.

“Things are loud up there,” Ben noted.

“You got in there?”

“Yeah, they always need something delivered. They don’t even notice me, usually.”

“You’re more like me than I thought,” Emily mused, “what was going on?”

“A giga-something, a titan-something,” Ben said, “I heard Bradford say that they destroyed their command center or something to Vahlen before I had to leave. There’s way more jargon up there than I’m familiar with.”

“Almost sounds like they won,” Dallas replied.

“We’re never going to ‘win,’ they’re all over the place, especially in India. It’ll take decades for things to be normal again.”

“Then you should be calmer, there will be plenty more missions.”

“I want that mission,” she said petulantly.

“There were a lot of K.I.A. too,” Ben mentioned. “I’m glad you guys are safe here, to be honest.”

Ben walked away, looking through his stack of files. Dallas sighed loudly.

“What’s wrong with you today, Dallas?” Emily asked.

“This war’s just forced me to think. I’m in my forties and still running around killing things…other people are fighting for their families and for their home, and I’m…”

Emily looked at him worriedly.

“I’m just tired,” he finished.

“You’re not fighting for nothing,” Emily said, “you have us. And tons of civilians.”

“I know, it’s just… I joined CAF when I was 18 and never looked back. The end of the world as we know it reminds you of what you haven’t done.”

“Have you visited Ammelia yet?”

“No, I was going to go with Nika but I had training…”

“You should…we all should, soon. It’ll remind you you’ve got a family. Maybe not a normal one, but still a family.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he said sadly.

Emily moved forwards and held his hand awkwardly.

“Hey, we’re in this together, remember?” she said.

“You’re right,” Dallas replied, cracking a small smile, “You guys are my family. My strange, well-armed, muscular, and nationally diverse family.”

Emily tapped him encouragingly on the back, causing him to straighten up and shake his head a little. With a smile, he touched her shoulder happily, and then walked off to the bar. Emily looked at the small table beside her, picking up her last metal dart and aiming it towards the board. She threw it hard, overshooting and hitting the wall again.

“I still want to kill shit, though,” Emily growled.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

BMPixy & ZombieSplitter53
Liabilities

X-COM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
Commander’s Office

Morrigan looked over the list of recent losses. She shook her head, wishing she could curse loudly, if not for the nearby young ears she didn’t want to offend. Instead, she typed a general announcement to all staff, reminding them that the memorial was open 24/7, and that everyone should try and visit at least once.

Albert nervously cracked his knuckles as he approached the secretary’s desk. A quick cough cleared his throat, and he asked, “Hello, I’m Albert Foulke. If possible, I would wish to speak to the Commander.”

“Mr. Foulke.” The secretary thought for a moment. “Oh yes, you were in command of one of the squads, right?” She pressed the button for the intercom. “Sir, a mister Albert Foulke wishes to speak with you.”

After a moment of silence, the Commander’s voice responds, “Send him in Peggy.”

Nodding his thanks to the secretary, Albert gently opened the door to the Commander’s office. After he stepped inside and sealed the door behind him, he snapped a smart salute, and said, “Commander. Thank you for seeing me.”

Morrigan nodded. “Of course. I’d like to say my door is always open… but it is open as often as I can have it so. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Albert relaxed and stepped into his ‘at ease’ position. “Well, this might sound odd, but, it is my mind that is on my mind, Commander. I’m sure you read my report on the capture of the Sectoid Commander.”

Morrigan shifted through some papers as she spoke, looking for the report. “I did. You mentioned a feeling it it was… invading your mind, correct?”

“Aye Commander,” he nodded, “And it was able to subvert my control of my own body. Were it not for the arc thrower, it might have been able to completely dominate my body, and use it for its own nefarious ends.” Albert paused, looking apprehensive over what he was going to say next.

The Commander leaned back, closing her eyes in thought. “To… to think they would be this powerful. We had our suspicions, based on the events of our first mission, but to believe these aliens actually have the power to take someone over.”

The Amero-Anglican sighed. “Yes, and if there are more aliens like the ones we encountered on this mission and the first, I fear… that what occurred during Triumphant Vengeance could repeat. That my will would be subsumed for their purposes. And, for that reason…” Albert trailed off, unsure whether or not to go through with what he had planned to say.

The Commander watched Albert's expression closely, a look of empathy on her face. “Mr. Foulke, I hope you realize, we have no reason to believe that the alien couldn’t have taken over anyone of your team members. You just happened to be the closest to it.”

“Yes Commander, I do realize that, but on the other hand, I have proven to be a liability, a weak link. And with my command position over combat teams, it could cause anarchy and disarray if I were to be subverted once more. People could die because my mind was weak,” Albert said, “And because of this, I wish to step down to a non-frontline position on base.”

Morrigan tapped her fingers on her desk. She frowned. “That’s… unfortunate. What… position were you thinking of taking up?”

“Simple base security, preferably something away from any vital structures,” Albert replied, “While I still wish to contribute to the war effort, I do not want anything or anyone to be at risk because of my failures.” He paused for a moment, closing his eyes. “But, were you to see me of use in any other position, I would gladly see it done.”

Sighing deeply, Morrigan motioned to the seat in front of her desk. “Please have a seat, Mr. Foulke.” Albert sat down hesitantly, unsure of what was to come.

“There are.... many positions that need to be filled on base. And anyone of them could be filled by a man of your dedication, your loyalty, and your experience. But one position that is important to me is field command. You are such a promising soldier, one with so much potential. I’ve been pleased with your work so far, regardless of the losses on your previous mission. To… to waste it by taking this demotion. Are you sure you aren’t just… beating yourself up. Being too hard on yourself. Because I tend to see that a lot amongst my men, believe it or not.”

Albert nodded somberly, “I understand your reasoning Commander, and it might seem that I am simply being too hard on myself, but that is not the case. As I said before, if I were to be subverted, it could be disaster on an operation. Our troopers could die at my hand. And… and I refuse to see more people die because of my failings.”

“Well… if there is nothing I can do to convince you…” Morrigan raised an eyebrow. “Is there nothing I can do to convince you?”

“I-I…” Albert paused, hesitating, “I am not certain. I do not know what I wish to do from here. It has been a long time since I held my future in my hands.”

Morrigan pulled her keyboard forward. “Well… we are currently examining the Sectoid Commander. I hate to say this, but your misfortune might be our fortune. Now that we know what to expect, we can take measures to protect against it. Some kind of equipment, maybe a gene-mod, anything. Until then, I can give you a temporary position. Call it… a break, until you feel better, and you are ready to hit the field again.”

Albert smiled gratefully. “If there is something out there that can help me strengthen my mind, I would gladly use it. Thank you Commander, I will take up that offer.”

“Alright then… let’s see.” Morrigan scrolled through a list. “There… aren’t too many positions in what you might consider ‘non-vital areas’. You can use someone near and in engineering. Someone in our new refugee quarters. Um… I need a new escort, if that interests you at all.”

Albert mulled over the various options, thinking carefully. “What would the engineering and refugee positions entail?” he asked.

“Well, working in engineering would involve making sure no unauthorized individuals are in there, making sure the engineers are safe, helping to resolve any disputes amongst the engineers, and, while it isn’t required, helping out if they need someone and you can help with what they need. The refugee section is pretty much the same, except with civilians, so that would be a lot more hands-on in the ‘resolve disputes’ section. Particularly when it comes to our… more unique guests. Several of which I’m sure you’ve met.”

Albert nodded, hands steepled under his nose as he thought. “I think I will take up the position in the refugee quarters. As you said, I am slightly familiar with some faces in there, and I should be able to put that to use, hypothetically.”

Morrigan nodded. “In that case, I’d like you to keep an eye on the individuals we rescued from the alien base, particularly the ones who came here with a little extra. Make sure they stay out of trouble, and make sure no one tries to unnecessarily start trouble with them.”

“Aye Commander, I’ll do my best in ensuring their safety,” Albert said.

“And remember what I said about this being a temporary position.” Morrigan raised a stern finger, like a parent warning her child. “I can’t make you go back to the front lines, but I’d like you to remember that your position will be waiting should you decide to give yourself another shot.”

“Understood. If that is all, Commander?”

“Dismissed.” The Commander stood up, and saluted.

Albert stood and returned the salute, before stepping out of the exit. A sigh escaped his lips as he passed the secretary’s desk, nerves losing tension.

Morrigan’s frowned deeply as soon as Albert was out of sight. She glanced over at Brigid, quietly working on math problems on the couch. “Why are people so quick to waste their talents over a mistake.” The girl gave her mother a questioning look, and Morrigan sighed. “Never mind.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Moving Forward with Fear and Hope Alike”

“Pochemu vy ne zashchishchayut nas, gospodin moy…” Modya muttered to himself. A day ago, the memorial wall had 11 names on it. Now, it had double that number. Isaac Clark, Wilhelmina Harker, and Grant Imahara, slain on the assault on the base. Then... the eight names at the end of the list stared back at Modya, making his heart feel like a black hole.

LCPL Kimiko Surano. LCPL Ashoka Mayupta. LCPL Robert Eleran. LCPL Babujde Bengu. SPC Luciana Hernandez. SPC Edward Talaska. SPC Olufemi Tengas. SPC Mutisha Tengas. All dead. All of them from Gamma Squad. And Aya Brea had very nearly joined them.

“Bog chert…” Modya muttered, clenching his fists and hanging his head. “Why? What did they do to deserve this...why did we lose so many people?” He sighed in frustration and despair. “How are we supposed to stand a chance against those sort of enemies again? Without equal weaponry... without the ability to turn their titans against them... we stand no chance…”

The rocketeer’s arms shook. “...and then this will happen again. We’ll fall into a downward spiral, until our leaders decide they’ve had enough and turn us all into monsters like we feared… Then we will have truly lost.”

Jessica slowly walked into the Memorial, having figured she would find Modya here without having to ask anyone, being used to Modya’s empathy by now. She approached the sulking Russian with caution, both in fear of the condition he would be in, and because she had only been out of the infirmary for a few hours, and was still afraid of how her body might react now that she was off of her heavy medication. She stood several feet away from him for several moments, at a loss for what she could possibly say.

Modya turned around, noticing Jessica, and quickly tried to compose himself. “Jessie...I…” he began, but trailed off.

Jessica raised her hand. “Please, don’t… I know how you must feel. I don’t want you to hold back anything for my sake. It would be wrong of me to force you to pretend everything is okay when you’re in pain.” She walked to his side, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

“...I can’t fathom what we did to deserve this…” Modya muttered. “To lose so many on one mission that our casualty count doubled.”

“We didn’t do anything to deserve it.” Jessica knelt down, looking at all the names before her. “These aliens… these monsters… they don’t care. Soldiers, civilians. Adults, children. The sinful, the sinless. It’s all the same to them. They’re like a disease, indiscriminately wreaking havoc on the body on the world. All we can do is try to be the cure. And not only will they do everything they can do to stop us, they do whatever is needed to break our spirits.”

“I do wonder what we’re going to do about all that’s left over from that base... the things they did to those people... there is a woman that’s been mixed with a chryssalid... one that is a cyborg... Atka’s mother was changed to be like Sunny...and they awakened so many psionic powers that cannot be reversed…” Modya explained.

Jessica bit her lip. “What… what if they…” Jessica stammered, as though she was afraid to say what was on her mind. “They’re so… different now. And people can be so cruel, especially in times like this. What if people lash out at them? Treat them like monsters, like it is their fault for what happened to them? Especially that Chryssalid girl. I’ve looked at some readings they took on her. There is no going back. There is nothing to go back to. That is what she is, and after all that those mindless creatures did to us, did to…” She trailed off, not wanting to remind Modya of Russia. “People might treat her just like she was one of them, even though I’ve heard she’s anything but. It isn’t fair. So… so much isn’t fair.”

He nodded. “I think I understand how Atka feels...we are going to have to defend them, even if it means that we will make enemies...and what if they what? You told me not to hold back, the same goes for you.”

Jessica shook her head in disgust. “What if they… can’t be saved. What if it falls completely out of our hands. What if the Council just tells us to dispose of them… or worse, if the order came directly from…” She trailed off again.

“I do not believe the Commander would willingly do such a thing,” Modya responded. “But its always the Council... always the damn Council... that we can’t trust. How are we supposed to fight when the very people in charge always seem to have their own best interest in mind, not ours?”

“I guess we have to trust the Commander to act as a buffer, and make sure their best interests don’t override everyone else’s.” The young scientist look down, feeling guilty for her lack of trust in Morrigan, if only briefly.

“And in the meantime, we have to make sure the abductees are protected from the people on base that aren’t as forgiving as us,” Modya added.

Jessica nodded in agreement. She looked at the name of the memorial, tears suddenly starting to fall down her cheeks as a pained look overtook her face.

Modya looked surprised, more so at the suddenness of the reaction rather than the reaction itself. “Jess?”

The green-haired lab tech reached up, desperately wiping her eyes, but the tears still came. “I… I-I didn’t… I didn’t care… when I heard you were coming home…” Jessica started to sob, lost in guilt.

Modya pulled her close. “It would be different for me...I am a soldier, so I feel the lost more personally. Do not be angry with yourself for not feeling as badly as I do about their loss…”

Jessica shook her head violently. “No… it was wrong. So many people died, so much loss, so much death and destruction. And all… a-all I could think about was you being safe. A-and… and was it even for your sake, or my own selfishness. We lost so many good people, a-and… all I could think a-about was my happiness…”

“I…” Modya stopped, trying to think of something he could say to help, but nothing came to mind. “That is not necessarily wrong…”

Jessica gave him a questioning look. “But… it’s so selfish. You were here, crying over the loss of such good people, but all I could think about is… is that I wouldn’t have to go on without you. How can I… I feel so bad…”

“If our situations were reversed, I would probably be feeling the same way…” Modya protested.

Jessica looked into Modya’s eyes for a few moments. With how he was, or at least the way she viewed him, she doubted it, but she smiled weakly, grateful for Modya’s attempts to ease her guilt. She nestled closer to him. “Thank you, Modya. I know how much pain you’re in. That you’d try and ease my pain… that’s why I… I love you so much.”

Modya smiled. “I do my best...and to be honest, its a bit selfish of me anyway. You being happy makes me happy, that’s part of the reason I do it...but not the whole reason.”

“Then that is something we share in common.” Jessica fell silent, deep in thought for a few seconds. “Um… Modya? If I can be a bit selfish about something else, there is something I wanted to ask you, especially after that terrible mission.”

“Go ahead... its better to do it now rather than later, I suppose,” Modya responded. “What is it?”

“I-it’s something Alexia and I have have discussed a lot about since… you said you were okay with us. We both care about you so much, and we’re a little of tired of having to… to slink back from your room after spending time with you, to a roommate that is either not there, or we wish he wasn’t there.”

“You want to room with…” Modya rubbed the back of his neck. Well, I guess our relationship’s not much of a secret anyway.

Jessica shook her head. “I-it’s too much to ask for. Sorry, it was just a silly fantasy, laying with the man we love every night. You need you privacy, and have more things to worry about.”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!” Modya said, waving his hands. “I wouldn’t mind that, I was just surprised initially that you asked.”

Jessica chuckled lightly. “Why? Like I keep saying, I love you. And I like being with you. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. And I promise I won’t get in your way. I’ll even make sure Alexia doesn’t make the room as messy as she usually does.”

“You can do that then, I am not complaining,” Modya said with a smile. “Hopefully we will not have to deal with that nosy scientist again...one encounter was enough to make me want to avoid him…”

“Amongst other things,” Jessica mumbled to herself. She closed her eyes. “We’ll be okay. All of us, I mean. With people like you, and Ayame, and that lady that brought my Modya back to me, we’ll win this. And if we show how much of a loving people we can be, nothing bad will happen to those abductees. I know my valiant prince will help protect those who can’t protect themselves, like the true hero he is… even if he doesn’t realize it.”

“Perhaps...valiant prince is more noble of a title than I think I deserve…” Modya said with a chuckle.

“I know. Because every valiant prince needs a bit of modesty too.” Jessica whispered.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Cautious Beginnings”
Part 1

Buniq, or more ‘properly’, Buniq II, sat on her bed in the civilian quarters of XCOM HQ, watching the door as if it were going to burst open at any moment. With Isitoq II not around, she felt vulnerable, more nervous than usual. My...fear is dangerous… Buniq reminded herself. And it was not entirely untrue, for in a panic she could hurt someone without having to pick up a weapon.

The door slowly opened, Jessica lightly knocking on the door. “Um… h-hello? Do you mind if I come in?”

Buniq scooted back onto the corner of her bed. “W-who is it?” she asked timidly.

Jessica peeked into the room. Her wonder at the being before her was substituted by a look of guilt, feeling bad for scaring the girl. “I… I’m sorry. My name is Jessie. I was hoping to… to talk about a few things.” She smiled encouraging, making sure to keep her empty hands at her sides in full view.

The chryssalid hybrid turned the eye that wasn’t covered by her long hair away from Jessica, but nodded slightly. “O-okay…”

Jessica nodded, and grabbed a chair. Sitting in it, she pulled a small device from her pocket. “This, uh, this is just a recorder. You can look it over if you’d like.”

Buniq shook her head. “I-its fine...I d-don’t need to…I wouldn’t understand i-it anyway…”

Jessica turned the recorder on and placed it on the nearby desk. “Well, um, let’s start with you name, if you don’t mind.”

“Buniq...t-two…” she replied, trying not to stutter as hard as she could.

“Two?” Jessica thought for a second, trying to understand what she meant. “Was there… do you have a sister named Buniq as well?”

“N-no,” Buniq II answered. “B-Buniq...the original...s-she was one of the people b-brought to the b-base...and I am a c-clone based off her g-genetic material. The original...i-is d-dead.”

Jessica looked down for a second, trying to gather her thoughts. “I… I-I’m sorry to hear that. If… this is too hard a question to answer, we can skip it, but do you know anything about her? Do you have any of her thoughts, her memories?”

Buniq nodded slowly. “S-some...m-maybe all...but I c-can’t be sure. T-they might have b-been damaged when S-Samuel s-shot her in the…” the clone trailed off.

Jessica’s eyes widened, a grim look washing over her. Taking a moment to compose herself, she said, “I… well, I’m gonna call you… call you Buniq, without the two, okay? I’m sorry to hear about… her… but you’re your own person, and I’d like both of us to think of you that way.”

Buniq nodded again, her head turning slightly so that part of her eye was visible as she looked at her hand. Like the rest of her visible skin, it was mixed with chryssalid chitin plates. “I g-guess...though s-she wasn’t...s-something like m-me…s-she was a n...n-normal h-human.”

The young scientist gave a supportive smile. “That might be so, but… it isn’t like what happened to you was your fault. Besides… I think you look really pretty.” Jessica frowned slightly, realizing that might not have sounded like much of a compliment, considering the girl’s condition.

The hybrid slowly turned to look at Jessica fully, her right eye still hidden by hair, but her left, with a yellow iris like a chryssalid’s, was visible now. “Y-you...you’re like the l-lady with brown hair. Y-you’re not afraid of m-me like most of the other s-soldiers w-were. R-right?”

Jessica nodded, her smile returning Not… entirely true, but if it makes you feel a little more comfortable… “I just want to make sure you’re comfortable. Though, a lot of that will depend on you. Your body is a mystery to us, and we’ve decided to hold off on any testing, at least until you are settled here. For now, I’ll need to learn what I can from asking you directly… as long as you don’t mind talking to me.”

Buniq shook her head. “I-it gets lonely w-when Isitoq i-isn’t here...I-I appreciate the c-company…” she said quietly. “W-what did you want to k-know?”

Jessica scooted a little closer. “Well, first and foremost, are you in any pain? And I’m not just talking, like “Ouch, man, my arm is about to fall off.” Any pain, from the most severe to a minor headache. Be as honest and specific as possible.”

“W-well...n-not a-always…” Buniq began. “I-if you mean the c-chitin, it doesn’t hurt...m-most of the chryssalid parts that I-I know about feel n-natural...it just hurts when I…” she trailed off again, not sure how to explain her ‘claws’, and afraid of Jessica’s reaction should the clone show her.

Jessica scooted closer still. “Come on. You can tell me. I’m here to help you. I… mean, if you don’t want to, it’s okay, but… if you’re in pain, I need to know where so I can get rid of it.”

“O-okay...b-but you might want to step back a bit,” the clone warned nervously.