RP XCOM: The Story of Defiance.

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
“A Question of Trust: Part One”

X-COM Headquarters
Office of Morrigan O'Brien
Oct. 13th, 1300 Hours

"We see you have narrowed our search down in Antarctica." The Councilman folded his hands. "I take it, then, you are close to finding Acadia?"

"We are," Morrigan answered. "We were searching based on the idea that a base would require an incredible amount of power to keep its occupants safe from the cold. We now are searching under the assumption that the base might either be smaller, or mobile. It is difficult, especially with the difficulty our hacked files suggest finding Acadia's energy signature will be, but we believe with our current sweeping search, it is only a matter of time."

"Excellent." The councilmen leaned back, his already obscured face becoming darker still. "And your plasma weapon research."

"We believe Dr. Anderson has cracked the code, so to speak. We should be able to start producing them ourselves by the end of the weak. If we don't have them in time for Acadia, they'll be available for the other three." Morrigan tapped her fingers against the desk. "Speaking of... of Penny Anderson... I have a request to make of the Council."

"Go ahead."

"Well, the Overseer... our Overseer, not the... the Ethereal ones, has been adamant about keeping her safe. I have my theories as to why, especially based on a comparison of... of certain items in our possession, certain security footage, and Mr. Wiewiora's work in translating the alien text. But if my suspicions are correct, it is all the more reason to watch her."

The Councilman sat up, folding his hands. "Have you had trouble with this, Commander?"

"No, she is usually so engrossed in her work, she hasn't really noticed the extra security." Morrigan sighed. "My concern is with one of the scientist she is often seen with. I'd like for the Council to do a background check on him. Normally I wouldn't bother, but not only do I need to be sure she isn't harmed, but considering how much knowledge the Overseer seems to constantly have, I find it interesting that he has never made note of the individual she is constantly with."

"Your caution is noted. I will see what we can find out." The Councilman leaned forward. "I was curious about your alien guests. Did they follow their orders to remain apart from our fight with EXALT?"

Morrigan sighed. "Other then Death's unavoidable participation, yes. Though I'm still not sure why you had me order them to do so."

"With the confusion of the battle, and the question of loyalty that is still to be fully answered, we could not risk having such a large unknown factor throwing our soldiers off. Besides, we could not risk one of them being injured in a fight between two human forces and finding a way to blame it on X-COM."

"I... suppose I see your point." Morrigan shrugged. "At any rate, they'll be out of here soon." She took a drink of whiskey. "I believe that was everything on the agenda, so if..."

"Did you... get an unmarked package, Commander?"

Morrigan blinked several times in surprise. She opened up her drawers, and eventually found a small package she hadn't noticed before. "This?" She carefully opened it, and held it open over her desk, the single small, round, metallic object in it sliding out. "What is... is this a bug?"

"Your continued sentiment for Elene Exalt and Legion has been taken into consideration, and we..."

"Viktor Dorian is dead," Morrigan insisted. "Why do you insist on this continued mistrust?"

"Commander, as much help as Ms. Exalt has been, one can not forget that she has betrayed us before."

"Under duress!" Morrigan clenched her teeth. "And the cause of that duress is gone!"

"Yes, their primary enemy is gone." The Councilman raised his voice for the first time. "They have no need to hide on base anymore. And Ms. Exalt has, herself, admitted that she is genetically and psychologically programmed to put her life and Lusett Exalt's research above all else. How long until that comes back to bite you. What you fail to see is by clinging to this... misplaced loyalty, you are putting the project, and the lives of everyone on that base, in jeopardy. Now, we are not asking you to respond yet. You are merely tasked with bugging their room."

Morrigan squeezed her eyes shut. "I... I can't..."

"You must, Commander. We can not endanger this project because of your sentiments. Bug their room... or you'll be replaced."

Morrigan's eyes shot open. "What? You can't..."

"We can... and we will. We will just take the chance with the soldier's loyalty. You have one month to plant the bug." The Councilmen leaned back. "That should be more then enough time to evaluate your loyalties, and to decide who deserves to be on that base more. Legion... or your daughter."

The image went blank, and Morrigan starred at her computer for a few moments, dumbfounded. Her gaze slowly drifted down to the bug, which she slowly reached out to, picking it up and rolling it around in her hand.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
“A Question of Trust: Part Two”

Legion Command Center, Main lab of Elene Exalt
One hour later…

Morrigan took several deep breaths as she stood around the corner from the labs entrance, wondering if she’d be able to keep her nerve. She wondered if her covert operatives were as tense as she was during a mission, but they had the benefit of being against a clear enemy. Finally, she shook her head, and walked up to the door, nodded at the android guards. “Is Elene in?”

One of the Legion frames inclined its head slightly. “The mistress is present. Do you wish to speak with her?”

Morrigan smiled nervously. “If… is she isn’t occupied with something. It… isn’t urgent.”

“I do not believe she is busy,” the A.I. said from its other frame. It paused for a moment, and then said, “You may enter.”

“Thank you,” Morrigan stated sincerely, remembering to mind her manners with A.I., lest she get another lecture from her CPU loving Central Officer. Stepping into the lab, she cautiously looked around, taking in the room she had before only been in a few times, not wanting to invade Elene’s privacy if it was avoidable. “Elene?”

The heiress turned around from her desk with her swivel chair. “What can I do for you, Commander?” the clone asked smoothly. On her computer was a report stating Legion Frame “Black King” had returned to operational status.

Morrigan eyed the computer for a moment, then smiled. “I… was just checking in on my favorite family of clones. You’ve… you’ve been through a lot recently. I wanted to make sure everything is okay.”

“With the insult to the Exalt name no longer existent, things have been improving,” Elene replied. “Research is running smoothly, and with the medical prototype we created Desmond can return to combat duty.”

Lily nodded from further back in the room, glancing over. “Is that all?” the brown-haired scientist asked with a slight tilt of her head.

Morrigan frowned, having not noticed Lily at first. “What about you, Lily? How are you holding up, you know… emotionally?”

“Better than before, especially with the help of Jake and the others,” the clone of Lusett answered. “Although progress with Poinsettia is slow… it… helps to have someone else to take care of.”

“I can imagine. Helping those close to you, especially someone as close as a direct clone, gives one a sense of purpose. It’s… fulfilling.” Morrigan thought for a moment, then looked back at the computer. Approaching Elene, she asked, “So, is… is this for the big robot you had fighting down in central? Aya was really impressed. Just wish I could have seen it in action myself.”

“Indeed it is,” Elene responded. “It took awhile to repair, considering that Legion acted as our shield more often than not in that battle.” The heiress looked over Morrigan for a moment. There must be something else bothering her that she’s not telling me.

Morrigan sighed, slowly placing her hand on the top of the monitor. “Can I ask you, Elene… what are your plans now? I mean… Viktor is gone. You no longer need to hide here. Do you plan to stick around, are you going to head back to Cross Tech., or did you have… other plans?”

Other plans? Is she implying… “I have no good reason to leave. One of the reasons I joined XCOM was for their vaster scientific base. Without that additional help, my progress would slow dramatically. I need the assistance of the twins for psionic research, Dr. Randolf for a good portion of android engineering… even Ms. Lockheart for another perspective on biological study.” Even if her ‘sister’ is infuriating at times.

Morrigan frowned, looking a bit troubled as she placed her hands in her pockets. “Joined… so do you… consider yourself… you know you don’t have to join X-COM. This isn’t your fight, and I won’t force you into it. X-COM is volunteer only, including for you. Not to say we’d kick you out for not joining us, but… why not stay independant.”

“I did mean join in the sense of joining forces.” Elene shook her head. “That is not to say our paths are linked, however. We have mutual need of each other, but I do understand the necessity of maintaining a degree of independence.” The heiress tapped the side of her head. “You know very well that I do not have so much of a choice as one might think. Though it is my own choice of what I wish to do in the end.”

Elene folded her hands together. “Once the war is over, I want to help the world rebuild, and make use of the new technologies we have acquired. To be fair, alien alloys are proving very difficult to replicate, and Elerium is a foreign substance to our solar system, but there is still vast potential in everything we have done. If we can discover their system of interstellar travel, we could locate the sources of these materials, and allow unfettered access to these new technologies.”

“That would be necessary if we were to continue using a lot of this stuff.” Morrigan looked down, her expression sad. “So you… really want to help rebuild? That doesn’t really fall into line with the whole science thing. And you don’t owe the world anything, anymore then you owe X-COM or me.”

Elene raised an eyebrow. “You misinterpret. Helping the world rebuild is part of the advancement of science. Lusett did not initiate EXALT with the intention of keeping everything to herself, I would hope. And as for me, I want to share it with the rest of the world to allow it to grow and improve with my assistance. Viktor had a vaguely similar goal, though his was twisted to burn everything to the ground and oversee a new order as some sort of all-powerful ruler. An absurd option that I have no intention of taking, but I do want to see humanity advance nevertheless.”

Morrigan smiled. “That’s… that’s very noble of you Elene, regardless of the reason.” She took a deep breath. “You know I… I am happy that you could come here. Without your help, I could probably think of half a dozen things just off the top of my head we’d be much farther behind on. And… you have your quirks, but I like you, and your sisters. I… I-I trust you, and I’m happy to have you with us.”

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Elene nodded slightly, closing her eyes for a moment. “I appreciate the sentiment, Commander. Though I must point out…” the heiress opened her eyes, fixing the somewhat reptilian irises on Morrigan. “You sound unsure, unsteady. Almost, dare I say, like one experiencing nostalgia before they are about to lose something. I would normally prefer not to pry, but what is troubling you? Is something going on?”

Morrigan shook her head. “There… there are a number of things one can lose, aren’t there. And not all of them physical. Things like… like respect… image… position, though that… that can come with physical loss.” She shook her head again. Her stomach seemed to clench a bit. With a deep sigh, she slowly placed her hand on the computer again, and muttered, “Everything… is fine, I’m… I’m just a little tired, Elene. Tired of the fighting. Tired of the loss. Tired… of the expectations…”

“Understandable, though we must persevere if our victory is to be assured. The extraterrestrial forces will be experiencing this fatigue as well, though in different manners,” Elene explained.

“And if Ms. Fischer is successful, we will have only one enemy to focus on. That makes things simple,” Lily added.

“Though a cornered enemy can be dangerous, desperate,” a familiar voice from the computer warned. “We cannot let our guard down, nor our resolve,” Avanix stated.

Morrigan jumped a bit at the sound, then laughed, seemingly at herself. “Yes, I… I agree. But that goes for us too. The more they push us, the more we push back.” She smiled, and quickly placed her hand in her pocket. Taking it out again, she offered it to Elene. “Just… keep up the good work. With X-COM and Legion working together, this war will be in the bag in no time.”

Elene took it lightly. “I look forward to that resolution and the results it will bring.” Avanix. I hate to ask this, but… do keep an eye out. Nothing in particular for now, but it appears we are still under suspicion. I have a guess at from whom, but I do not have enough to go on right now.

Understood. I shall tread carefully, mistress. Let us hope that this amounts to nothing.

Morrigan nodded towards Lily, and headed for the exit. “Just… keep an open eye for things. You know… just… n-never mind, I’m just… talking nonsense. Have a good day.”

Elene nodded hesitantly. Though she does not appear to be a willing participator in this. For now… we do not lose our trust. But we need to stay open-minded about the future. And… ensure that the activation parameters for Project Anava are in place, as pessimistic as that fallback is. “Have a good day, Commander O’Brien.”

Morrigan stepped out, the smile washing from her face as soon as she was out of sight of the Legion androids. It quickly turned to a look of despair, and by the time she had reached her room, she had to avoid eye contact so no one would ask her what was wrong. She barged into her room, throwing the door closed and sitting at the end of her bed, sobbing.

“M… mommy?” Brigid sat up from her bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Mommy, why are you crying.”

Morrigan quickly wiped her eyes. “I’m… I-I’m not, dear, I… I didn’t mean to wake you.” She quickly walked to her daughters side, noting her flushed face. Placing her hand over Brigid’s forehead, she asked, “Did you have a good time with Eve and Desmond? Learn anything.”

“Maybe a little,” Brigid answered.

“Can you show me?” Morrigan quickly reached into her pocket, placing the small round device on the bed. “I want to see how many pieces you can break this into. It might be hard because it is small, but try your best.”

“What is it, mommy?”

Morrigan shook her head. “Just… just something I needed to throw away.”

Brigid nodded, and concentrated on the object. Morrigan smiled softly as it broke in half, then into four pieces, then into eight.

 

[Dahlexpert]

A day in life of a van dam

Ashley is phasing back and forth holding a book. Cassia is siting on her bed looking at her mom.

Repeast Alright en pos de mí, nuestro propósito familes es destruir aquellos que desean el daño mundo. Vivimos para luchar, y deseamos que la humanidad prospere. ( Alright repeast after me, our familes purpose is to destroy those that wish the world harm. We live to fight, and we wish for humanity to prosper.)

Alright repeast after me, our familes purpose is to destroy those that wish the world harm. We live to fight, and we wish for humanity to prosper.

In Spanish. Ashley said

Repeast Alright en pos de mí, nuestro propósito familes es destruir aquellos que desean el daño mundo. Vivimos para luchar, y deseamos que la humanidad prospere.

Good, now.

mamá ¿Por qué luchamos? ¿por qué debemos luchar para hacer un mundo mejor, quiero decir que no podemos encontrar una forma más tranquila de arreglar el mundo. (MomWhy do we fight? why must we fight to make the world better, I mean can't we find a more peacefull way to fix the world.)

Sigh suspiro. Deseo niño, pero. personas onley reaccionan a vilonce. Cuando llegue el día en que las palabras son lo suficientemente bueno que podamos vivir una vida normal.( sigh. I wish kid but. people onley react to vilonce. When the day comes when words are good enough we can live normal lives. )

Right ok mom.

Class is over, your Spanish is getting better.i'm proud of you baby. Ashley pats Cassia head

Thank you, I've been practicing everyday i'm glad it's showing. Mom when can we go home?

Sigh I don't know baby. I know your mom is getting worried that well get attacked again, but i'm sure she wont mention that she's worried. but don't worry about her or the other well be back home soon OK.

OK mom Ashley hugs Cassia.Now go to Kathrine your lessons aren't done yet.

Ugh, Cassia goes to Kathrine.

No grunting.

===================================================================================================================================

Ashley is siting down Indian style her eyes are glowing blue. Ashley is using her meditations to advance her psionic

Ashley is breathing calmly and is fully relaxed, Ashley puts her hands together and forms a small blue looking sphere in her hands.

Cassia is on the other side of the room, Mom what are you doing?

Ashley stops meditating and looks at Cassia. I'm using my powers to meditate there very good for it. I mean blue psionic are not really meant for battle. I see these powers for just mediating.

Ou can I join you?

Of course darling, you can always join me.

Ashley scoot over so Cassia can sit next to her. Did you stretch?

Ummmmm.

Do your stretching.

Do I have to?

Yes, stretching is very important Cassia. Stretching relaxes your body so it doesn't tense up, do you understand?

Yes Cassia grabbed her mat and put it next to her mothers and started to stretch.

That's my girl, and do all of your stretches, don't slack off.

Yes mam.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Refugee Barracks
Oct. 14th, 1100 Hours

"So... do you guys, like... hold hands in public?" Keiko asked, blushing a bit.

Hitomi rolled her eyes. "For the last time, yes! God, you've known for, like, months. How do you still have questions? How do you still have the same questions?

Keiko shrugged. "So, would you... like... get married, or something?"

Rei and Hitomi exchanged a look, and the former shrugged. "Possibly, provided we end up somewhere that will allow it."

Keiko's face redeemed a bit more. "Would... w-would you have... kids?"

Hitomi's eyes widened, but Rei only shrugged again. "Again, it is possible. We could adopt, or make use of in vitro fertilization."

Keiko nodded. "Or... or you could ask that cloning lady to, like... make you a clone that is a combination of both of you. Then, one of you can carry it. I'm sure Hitomi..."

"Whoa, whoa whoa!" Hitomi raised her hands. "Whoa... whoa! Let's... not get ahead of ourselves. We're fifteen. Can we at least hold the talk about having kids until we're not kids ourselves anymore?"

Rei gave her the slightest of smiles. "Very well. We will focus on the task at hand." She finished her little project, a card board stand with six holes, the top three the same large size, the bottom three getting smaller from right to left. "Now, Brigid, I want you to..."

Brigid starred forward, her eyes drooping. The three beanbags they were using floated above her head. Hitomi snapped her fingers in front of the girl's face. "Anyone home?"

Brigid blinked rapidly, the beanbags falling on her head. "What? Yeah, um... what were we... doing?"

"We were going to continue the practice you... started with Mr. Walker." Keiko gave her a concerned look. "If you're too tired, though..."

"No, no, I'm okay." Brigid smiled. She looked down at the beanbags, lifting one and moving it through one of the holes. She repeated this for the other two.

"Good." Rei retrieved the beanbags. "Now, try and do the same for all three." Brigid concentrated, the bags slowly raising. As she struggled to keep them steady, Rei said, "Just take it slow. Relax. Take all the time you need. And there is no pressure if you can't do it."

Brigid nodded slowly. It took her a while, but she eventually moved all three bags through the upper holes, if at slightly different times. They continued the process ten times, each time getting closer to symmetry, until at last, they started going through together.

"Very good," Keiko said, clapping her hands together excitedly.

Hitomi smiled. "Think you can go for the different sized ones?

Rei pushed her glasses up. "I believe we should hold that off for another day. Best she master what she knows now then push her on to something else prematurely."

Brigid nodded in agreement, and lifted the bags again. She wobbled a bit, and the bags suddenly flew in all directions, one smacking Keiko in the face. Brigid gasped, holding her hands over her mouth. "Oh no! I'm sorry!"

"It's okay," Keiko said, rubbing her nose. "That's why we're using these, and why you have that... restrictor thing."

Brigid looked at the small bracelet sitting next to her. "But... I don't understand why it keeps happening. I was... w-was... was fine..."

Brigid's body glowed blue, and she sneezed loudly. Each of the other girl's bodies started glowing as well, and they all smiled involuntarily. "What... was that." Keiko giggled. "Felt good."

"Wasn't that the... inspiration thing." Hitomi scooted closer to Brigid. "Did you know you could do that?"

Brigid shook her head. "No. I... I mean, I can't." She coughed lightly. "I've tried before, but I could... never..."

She let out another sneeze, and this time, Hitomi clenched her head in pain, collapsing to the ground. "O-ouch..."

As Rei and Keiko rushed to her side, Brigid grabbed the inhibitor, putting it on. "I'm so sorry, Keiko! I... I-I didn't..."

"I... I-I'm okay..." Hitomi sat up, and gave Brigid a distressed look. "Brigid, are you okay? Your face is all red!"

Brigid nodded slowly, her eyes drooping a bit, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Jake slowly opened the door to the room, several bowls of ice cream on a tray, as Brigid fell backwards, Hitomi bearly able to catch her. Jake dropped the tray onto the table and knelt down. "What happened?!"

"I... I-I don't know," Rei exclaimed, her usual stoic expression giving way to panic. "She was perfectly fine a few minutes ago. Then her powers started going off randomly, and she..." ReI placed her hand on Brigid's forehead. "She has a fever. Pulse is... a little irregular."

Jake grabbed one of the bowls of ice cream and placed the cold dish against Brigid's brow. "Hitomi, get in contact with the infirmary. Keiko, get someone to tell the Commander."

The two girls rushed out as Jake carried Brigid to the bed, Rei squeezing the young girls hand as Brigid breathed heavily, several of the objects in the room floating a few inches off the floor.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Adrammalech & ZombieSplitter53
"The Depth of an Enemy: Part One"

X-COM Headquarters
Primary Infirmary
Oct. 14th, 1200 Hours

The nurse carefully removed the bandages from Emily’s arm, examining it up and down, left and right. After several excruciatingly dull minutes, he finally smiled. “Looks good. Good thing for the meld, though, or this would have left a nasty scar. Keep the bandage fresh, though, and you should be fully healed in a couple days.” He started reapplying the bandage.

“When you say ‘fresh,’ how often are we talking?” Emily asked.

“Um, twice a day. Once around noon, once before bed.” The nurse’s smile widened. “Way your friends were talking about you being in here, I’m sure they’ll change it for you.” He chuckled at himself as he finished up. Stepping out to give her privacy, he called back, “You’re free to go once you’re dressed.”

“Alright, thanks,” she said, hopping out of the bed. With a long sigh of relief, she gathered her clothes and got ready to leave, glad that her stay was brief.

A gasp came from the doorway as Morrigan stepped inside. “Oh, my lord… Amelia Fischer, back from a difficult mission, and not on death’s door. Can it really be so?”

“I told you I’d be good at this,” she smirked, looking down at her bandage. “For the most part, anyway.”

Morrigan chuckled, and offered her hand. “Good work, Ms. Fischer. You stomped out another EXALT before it could get started. With this, we can focus on our main enemy. Thank you.”

“Gladly,” she replied, shaking her hand. “How a group of people can be so selfish in times like these...it baffles me.”

“I’ve given up trying not to be surprised by things like this. I’m sure some of them felt they could do good, and were led astray be that… woman.” Morrigan shook her head. “She is going to be in prison for a long, long time. Look forward to her parole hearing in about 2218…”

“I can tell you that some of them did get led astray… the kid I tried to extract was one of the most naive people with a gun I’ve met. Being a room with the other two people I was with and still thinking he might be doing good,” Emily sighed and shook her head.

“Yeah, your reports on them weren’t flattering, if a little vague.” Morrigan looked concerned, you expresion involuntarily going to ‘worried mother’. “You’re… okay, right? When the team found you, you looked like crap.”

“I’m fine,” she murmured, crossing her good arm over the other, “I was just tired. I didn’t sleep that night, and I had to hold the position...combined with a little melee I had before I could regroup.”

Morrigan nodded. “Alright. But if you do have an troubling thoughts, I hope you share them with your friends.” She could barely hold back a smirk. “I know a certain superior officer that wouldn’t mind lending an ear.”

“My roommates weren’t exactly pleasant…but they’re dead and buried now. I’ll be fine,” she nodded and gave a light smile. “Thanks.”

Morrigan sighed, and scratched the back of her head. “I… I hate to call you back into service so quickly, but I have a small favor to ask. Nothing big, don’t worry. But again calling on your… powers of charisma.”

“After all that, something calm and straightforward sounds relieving. Did you want me to interrogate Mira or something?”

Morrigan shook her head. “No. Considering everything we have on her…” Morrigan folded her arms. “Your, um… your would-be mental roommate has been awfully quiet since you’ve been gone. One of the techs let it slip about your mission, and I think she’s sulky because we sent you into danger.”

“Not sure if that’s flattering or creepy...as it often is with her,” Emily noted. “Things were going pretty well before I left, though.”

Morrigan waved a dismissive hand. “Things aren’t that bad. She’s still helping the doctors with that stuff for her experiments, and she’s been more upset than mad. It gave me an idea, though. With her in her state, I thought about the other Ethereal taking up space in the labs. I was wondering if you could talk to him for us.”

“I could try, although I don’t know how useful I’d be, since I don’t have the kind of connection with him like I do with Luxxy...Luxuria. If anything, I’d think he’d be annoyed about hearing about me from her, if she’s was as obsessed as she seemed.”

“Perhaps, but it is worth a try.” Morrigan shrugged. “He seems to be in a… well, the best way to refer to it would be to say he seems depressed. Luxuria, when asked, implied he would know a lot more about Acadia then she would, and… as much as I hate to admit it, Luxuria’s warnings have been helpful. If it hadn’t been for you coaxing information out of her, our team might not have known to keep the civies they found in Avaritia’s base behind closed doors, and the last thing they needed on that mission is to deal with a bunch of unarmed but pissed off civilians.”

Emily nodded. “I can give it a try. Might actually be nice talking to one that isn’t so...interested in me.”

“Alright.” Morrigan turned around, heading out the door. “Head down there when you’re ready. And don’t push yourself.”

“I can go now,” she assured, “no sense putting it off.”

=====================

Morrigan stepped back a bit. “I’ll stand back a bit. As always, if there is any trouble, just hit the happy little switch. And we have the Legion guards.” She looked up at Avaritia’s cell, the Ethereal looking at the wall, either ignoring Morrigan and Emily, or too lost in thought to notice them.

“Got it,” she nodded.

Emily walked close to the cell, making a point to have some distance between her and the controls. She knocked the glass softly, hoping to get the Ethereal to look over to her without seeming too insulting.

Avaritia slowly turned, glancing at Emily briefly before turning away again. A moment later, he turned again, this time fully. You… you’re Amelia Fischer, yes?

“That’s right, I… ‘work’ with Luxuria, I guess you could call it. How are you doing?”

Avaritia tilted his head slightly. Do… do you care? If so, you are as interesting as Luxuria claims.

“Of course I do,” Emily gave a small smile. “I did help things along, making sure you survived the battle.”

That you did. Avaritia lowered his head. Well… I’m… lost. Certain revelations have left me with many, many questions, most of which I am left to answer myself, and… and I don’t like the only answers I can come up with. They shed very dark shadows on what was once in the light…

“I know how you feel, uncomfortably so,” Emily nodded, “I’ve had a lot of questions floating around ever since Luxuria tried...well, whatever it is she does. Questions are part of the fun of life, though.”

Curiosity can be enjoyable, but not with these questions. Not with questions that make you question your resolve, your purpose, the… the very meaning of your, and your entire species, existence. Not when they make you look back at a lifetime of work and wonder if everything you did for a greater good, the ends you used to justified the means… can actually justify them anymore. He shook his head. Apologies, this is not what you came here today for, I’m sure.

“It’s not, but I don’t mind hearing about it,” Emily assured. “It’s important to me, and likely others as well, to know that you’re capable of thoughts like that. There are some who prefer the simplicity of just calling you bad guys, as I’m sure you’ve seen.”

“We are… bad guys,” came the faintest of whispers beneath the Ethereals mask.

 

[Adrammalech]

The Depth of an Enemy: Part Two

Avaritia looked down at Emily. You are very kind. Far kinder than most I have met, though I suppose it helps that we didn’t meet under the… unusual circumstances that brought you and my associate together. Can I… can I ask you for something simple.

“I could hear you out,” she nodded. “What is it?”

A faint glow emanated from Avaritia, the Ethereal obviously struggling to compensate for the nodes draining him. Outside, next to Emily, an image of Avaritia appeared, though it was altered to be the same height as Emily. You humans have a custom that I enjoy. I sign of peace, of trust, of… solidarity. Could I just… have a handshake, Ms. Fischer?

Emily looked curiously between the Ethereal and its image, readying her hand. “You know, it’s also used to symbolize a deal. If I do, could I ask you something as well?”

The image reached out, wrapping its upper hand around Emily’s, Avaritia’s telekinesis making it feel real. Yes, my dear. Please, ask away.

Emily gave the telekinetic hand a firm shake, giving a small smile at the gesture. “I’m wondering if you have any interesting information about Acadia, I believe you worked with him?”

Acadia? Avaritia folded his arms, tilting his head in thought. Well… one thing I can say is Acadia is a ‘she’, though don’t let that fool you. If our species has anything resembling feminine qualities, Luxuria is the only one to have them. Acadia might, too, if she… cared. Avaritia shrugged, the gesture looking odd coming from the four-armed alien. That has always been her major problem, really. No drive, no motivation. Just… apathy, about everything. That she could make it to her position is puzzling, though she likely has a trick or two up her sleeve. Apathy about everything else doesn’t necessarily mean no self-preservation.

“So probably traps, trick rooms, escape routes, that sort of thing?” Emily asked, thinking for a moment. “And ‘apathy about everything’...I assume that includes our existence…”

For the most part. She follows the Path, like any other Ethereal, but cares little for how Ascension is achieved, as long as we get there eventually, and with as little work on her part as possible. In that, you could almost say she is the smallest threat. If she has a lab, I’m sure she barely uses it, as she would rather just hide from her responsibilities. Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t found some way to hide from the other Ethereals yet. That said, she is still one of the Overseers, and she is still dangerous. If and when you find her, be wary of her attempts to flee, if not because of cowardice, then because she’ll want to avoid the trouble of fighting. And be wary of her tricks. She can do something interesting with her powers, I’m sure of it. Why else would they let her be one of the Overseers?

“Sounds like an interesting hire for such a high post,” Emily said honestly, “although I’m sure whoever goes on the mission will be wary of underestimating her. She doesn’t have any pets like a certain someone, does she?”

She does have a few of our… lesser used subordinates. If you come across any insects, I recommend paying them no mind. She does have an Incubator, possibly two. If they are controlled by her Commander, you should deal with them as you usually do. But if they are connected to dear Aergian herself, they’ll likely be a lot calmer, and a lot harder to trick by taking advantage of their rage. A bit more strategy will be needed, though I am sure your associates will figure something out. They usually do.

“Aergian? Is that her real name?”

A… a slip of the… mind, so to speak. Please pay it no mind, lest she find out. It is likely the only thing that would earn her wrath against me.

“I’ll keep it to myself. You’ve been very helpful, Avaritia. You definitely lived up to your end of the handshake,” she smiled sincerely. “Would you mind if I asked a personal question, as well?”

You may.

Emily glanced back towards her commander, and then back at Avaritia, beginning to focus her mind. Do you think it’s possible for this conflict to end peacefully, someday?

Avaritia stood in silence for several moments, his illusion slowly vanishing from sight. The original Ethereal turned around, slowly shaking his head. I… I am not sure. I believe it… it could… be possible, if it were in the right hands. He turned back to face Emily. But not in the hands of our current military leader. It may seem strange to move towards the path for peace with violence, but if you want this to end with anything but the complete destruction of one of our people, you will find him, and you will destroy him.

That’s the feeling I was getting too...but it’s nice to actually hear it. I appreciate your transparency.

Emily stepped back a bit, giving a small nod. “Thanks for talking with me, I’m grateful for your help,” she said.

Avaritia bowed his head slightly. Morrigan stepped next to Emily, placing a hand on her shoulder. “That… went well. What did he say to you at the end there, by the way. He either didn’t want me to hear it, or he wanted me to hear it from you.”

Emily flinched a little at the touch from behind, turning and being comforted by seeing Morrigan. “I was just asking about Luxuria’s name. Thought it was kind of silly I have a nickname for her nickname, but not her real name.”

Morrigan smiled. “Let me guess. He told you she would tell you when she wanted to.”

“Yep,” Emily gave a small chuckle, “they’re pretty guarded about their names. Must be from galactic identity theft going around.”

Morrigan nodded, and motioned for Emily to leave with her. “Come on. You should go get something solid to eat, and I’ve got a bit of paperwork to do. Good work.”

“Right, I should probably write a report about this little talk too,” Emily nodded.

As the door to Alien Containment opened, Emily looked back at the Ethereal in his cell, sending another message towards him before leaving.

For what it’s worth, I think Luxuria was right when she called you a good man.

Avaritia remained silent, but Emily could feel a warm glow of energy emit from the Ethereal. She smiled modestly at her comforting efforts and left, eager to relax in her own bed for a while.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Pride, Conquest, and War, Part 1”

XCOM Headquarters, Somewhere in Siberia
1715 Hours, October 14th, 2018
Holographic Shooting Range

Modya glanced up from behind a piece of half-melted cover, looking over at two squads of Mutons on the other end of the ridge. It is more interesting when they’re actually tactical...but more difficult as well. It did help that the environment he had chosen was mostly low cover, being a rocky battlefield on the edge of a canyon. It did make it difficult for his training partner, however. “How are you holding up with your… large profile?”

Kneeling behind the largest boulder on the battlefield, Black King Legion gazed over at the Russian. “If this were a real battle I could always be repaired. The caution seems… excessive.”

“Well, you cannot be so reckless that you get destroyed in the middle of a battle, even if you do not actually d-” Modya was cut off by a succession of suppressing fire on their position. In the chaos, he noticed two of the mutons pull grenades. “Fine, have it your way, go!”

Legion’s jets flared, and he shot into the air, quickly raining down pulse laser fire onto the Mutons using an alternate sequence to sustain fire. “Blaster Launcher requested.”

Modya grinned. “Coming right up… one order of destruction.” He let one of the pulsating blaster bombs fly, the smartbomb quickly finding its targets with minimal deviation. Six Balmadaar were blown off the face of the canyon, only the Elite and one on the other end of the formation surviving the blast. “With a side of charred Muton.”

“Attempt at humor duly noted.” Legion switched targets, taking out the wounded Muton before rushing down to face the novagun-toting Elite. The tall android drew its alloy saber, and swung down. The blade collided with the novagun, and stuck. “Unorthodox tactic logged.” Legion let go of his melee weapon, instead circling around the Balmadaar so the other squad melted the impromptu meatshield.

“Not bad…” the Russian rocketeer muttered, pulling out a shredder rocket. “I’ll leave the other group to you.” The rocket zipped to its target, tearing holes in the armor of the Balmdaar, three dying instantly.

Legion retrieved his sword, suffering a few hits in the process. “Moderate damage simulated. Compensating.” Unable to use his jets, the A.I. instead broke into a run at the Mutons, getting into their midst and cutting loose. With the swiftness a normal human couldn’t match, the mechanical soldier cut apart all of the enemies around him.

The last Balmadaar Elite thought it best to make for a tactical retreat, but was stopped by a heavy pulse rifle shot to the back of the head. “Simulation end,” Modya stated, and the lights flashed for a moment, the battlefield dimming and reality returning.

“Simply put, that was awesome,” Thomas Burrick stated, walking out from the control panel. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, big guy.”

“I am incapable of irritation, Mr. Burrick,” Legion informed him.

Modya sighed. “Are you going to recognize my role in that symphony of destruction?”

Tom chuckled. “Only I’m allowed to be melodramatic, Modya.”

Legion bowed, the two humans having to take a step back to avoid being hit by his metal crown. “If there is nothing else, I shall depart for now. I appreciate the valuable data provided by this exercise.” He rose back to his eleven foot height, and exited the room, having to duck slightly to do so.

From the end of the room, the almost never used service/cargo elevator started moving. After a few minutes, it opened, a colossal frame in dark blue armor stepped out, squeezing its four fists open and closed. Looking down at Modya and Tom, he let out what sounded like a disappointed sigh, and turned back towards the elevator.

Tom looked over the massive alien with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. “Uh...looking for something?” he asked.

“Hmm… practice…” War answered simply. “But you have occupied the room. Return later…”

Modya shook his head. “We finished up with the use of it just now. There is nothing stopping you,” the Russian explained. Is it wrong for me to wonder if Legion would have a chance of wrestling this guy?

The alien considered for a moment, then turned back. “Do not mean to intrude… but if you do not mind…” He stepped back in, and looked around. Noting the computer, he walked up to it, and stared at it in irritation, noting the size of the keys and looking down at his fingers.

“You could always tell the cat what you want in the simulation,” Thomas offered. “Such as… chair for me, please.” A swivel chair materialized next to the assistant manager of records, and he sat down on it.

“Hmm… interesting.” War stepped away from the computer, and knelt down in front of Tom. “Can this computer… cat… simulate anything?”

“He would be able to create a combat simulation to your specifications, though you might have to go into detail if you make anything extraterrestrial,” Tom explained. “We don’t know enough yet to easily reconstruct what home looks like unless you specify.”

“Hmm…” The alien’s shoulders seemed to sag a bit. “I… would rather not be reminded of the home I can no longer… return to…”

“Uh…” Modya mustered up the courage to ask, “Why is that?”

“Home… is where your people are. My world no longer has my people, so it is no longer my home.” War shook his head. “I no longer have a home, I am afraid.”

Does he mean they were enslaved? Or… “They… did that to an entire species?” Thomas muttered.

War nodded. “My people, we are naturally immune to the effects of the abilities you call psionics.” He tapped his head. “Something about a brain chemistry. No panic, no fray. No control. What the powerful can not control, they destroy. With our minds immune to many of their abilities, and are bodies resilient to many of the others, we were a threat. A threat that they, with the exception of myself, have done away with.”

Modya nodded slowly. “I knew the Ethereals were not very empathetic, but to commit genocide…” The Russian thought for a moment. “And it raises the question… if they could do that to your people, what happens when they decide we are too much of a threat to tolerate?”

“We commandeer one of their planet-glassers?” Tom offered, glancing over at War for a moment. “Come to think of it, so far we’ve only seen smaller craft and supply ships. Do they have some sort of battleship we’ve yet to encounter?”

“Hmm…” War looked up at the ceiling. “Um… cat?”

Cheshire appeared on War’s shoulder, altering his size so he looked comparatively the same to the alien, but huge compared to the humans. “Can I help you, my super sized friend?”

“I need a keyboard.”

Cheshire raised an eyebrow. “A keyboard? That’s it? But I could do so much more with…”

“A keyboard.”

Cheshire sighed. “Whatever.” He snapped his fingers, and an oversized, transparent keyboard, resembling the one for War’s ship, appeared before them. War’s fingers moved across it with surprising speed and dexterity for such a large being, the holographic feline smiling as he was fed information. “Now, why didn’t you just say so, biggun?”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

"Pride, Conquest, and War, Part 2”

When War was finished, Cheshire floated forward, and took the form of a massive ship, as large as one of the supply ships, but featuring an array of weapons front to back, and on all sides.

Modya leaned forward, looking over the colossal battleship. “I would hate to ask our firestorm pilots to go up against a monster like that.” Upon closer inspection, the Russian noticed the ship sported fusion cores connected to its frontal weapon. “Is that...a giant fusion lance?”

“Indeed.” War typed on the keyboard as he spoke. “The power of these weapons is incredible. While too slow to be much of a risk for your… firestorms. However…” An image of a large city appeared near the ship, though the buildings appeared alien. The colossal beam fired out of the front of the ship, one of the largest structures evaporated into dust.

“I really hope they don’t have more of those than we can handle…” Tom lamented. “But I doubt they just built one and decided that was enough.”

“Your people interest them, so they will not use them until they need to strike more fear in your people. Much like the ‘terror missions’ they launched on your cities, especially the first one.”

“I would like to think that they learned pissing off Russians is never a good idea. New Delhi’s recapture should have struck home that point,” Modya stated, shrugging.

War nodded. “They would be wise to learn this.” War looked down at Modya, and knelt down. “You are one of these… Russians?”

“I am,” Modya replied. “Did your people have separate nations, or did you end up uniting under one banner?”

War considered the question for a moment. Her stood back up, and hesitantly typed on the holo-keyboard. The room seemed to fill completely with water, and in the center of the room was the image of several flags. “My people were separated into twenty nations, each with their own territory. Each had an equal voice in the decisions that affected our world. The nations had their differences, but we were one people, and looked towards the future together. It was not a perfect society, but we made do.”

Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you end up surviving? Are you sure you’re the last one?”

War thought for a moment, wondering if he should share. In the end, he stepped away from the keyboard, and folded his arms. “I was… taken pity on. By one of the ones that destroyed my people…”

“Not sure if I could call leaving you alone a good thing… though it does give you a chance to avenge your people,” Modya decided, considering the response carefully.

“I suppose it does. And I’ll pay them back for every life they’ve taken. Every… last… one…” War squeezed his fists tightly, the sound of his metallic gloves squealing slightly.

“It is not on the level of an entire world, but the same goes for what happened to Moscow. We will take down the Ethereal command and make the world a better place for it,” Modya stated. “That’s something we can agree on.”

“Merely the Ethereal command?” War looked down at Modya, tilting his head slightly.

“Well, Ogedei proved that there are a lot of Balmadaar that have no interest in bowing down to the ones that order all these atrocities. And Dante that the Thin Men don’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but if we win the war we might be able to change that.” Modya raised an eyebrow. “Come to think of it, I do not think Ogedei has spoken to your leader yet. Which is odd, because I know he wanted to talk to Conquest after all he’d heard of him.”

“Conquest is… proud. I fear he might be more judgemental than he should be.” War folded his arms. “Though I believe I could have a word with this Ogedei. I have heard he has done much to assist in this war. And, if nothing else, this should please Conquest.”

“Aren’t they the same species though? Even if Ogedei is… inhibited a bit by what the Ethereals did to him and the others,” Tom inquired. “What would be the problem?”

War grumbled a bit, turning to Tom. “On this opinion, our people are the same. But the Balmadaar are a very proud people, much of their being centered around honor. I… would be lying if I said I understood it completely myself.”

“It… is dishonorable for him to have served at all? Or is it related to the unwanted modifications?” Modya pressed.

War considered for a moment, then shrugged. “Most likely the former. Conquest is an… odd individual. He occasionally has an issue seeing beyond… I believe the expression would be seeing beyond black and white.”

Tom sighed. “Well, that will not get him very far. He ought to realize that he is lucky he has a chance at rebuilding at all… that isn’t something you throw away for the sake of pride.”

“Hmm… perhaps not.” War looked around the room, still appearing to be filled with water. He typed on the keyboard a bit, and the holograms disappeared. “I… I am afraid I have lost my drive for training.” He turned, heading back to the cargo elevator. As he reached it, he turned back. “Though… I am glad I was able to speak with the two of you. Unpleasant memories aside, this was… informative.”

“It was nice to meet you too…” Bet he’s tired of being called ‘big guy’, huh? “...uh, War.”

War stepped into the elevator. As he reached up to lower the door, he said, “Perhaps, next time, we could train together. I would like to see you in action again.”

Modya smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

X-COM Headquarters
Primary Rec-Room, The Bar
October 15th, 2018
1100 Hours

Chief and his crew sat at a corner table, each doing something different to pass their time. Chief was cleaning an M9 that he had brought with him from their escape of the enemy base, a sort of memento from their time at EXALT. Hawke was playing a game of solitaire by himself smoking a cigarette, a habit he picked up right after the base defense. Bull had been laying back in his seat with his head back and his eyes closed taking a brief nap, the big guy not being able to sleep a lot lately. Fox was as usual just drawing away on his pad with his knees up to his chest with the pad laying against it.

In the doorway, one of the soldiers looked inside. Noting the four, she pointed them out, Eve walking in with an appreciative nod. She slowly approached them, but her stride slowed as she got closer. She seemed to lose her nerve, and quickly sat at the table next to them. Ordering a simple cranberry and gin, she shot them the occasional glance, and seemed to be have a low, mumbled argument with herself, what she was saying, and whether it was even comprehensible, unknown to anyone, even herself.

The four just sat in silence with one another, Hawke occasionally silently cursing himself, Fox leaning over to show Chief his drawings, and Bull just sleeping the late morning away.

Eve shook her head violently. “Just… just do it, already. Just because they… all look so…” She quickly stood up, storming over to the Elite’s table before she could lose her nerve. As she stood before them, she realized too late that her approach and expression likely gave off the image of her being angry at them for some reason, so she smiled as brightly as she could, fluttering her fingers. “H-hello.”

Three heads turned, the fourth still asleep. “Um...hello there?” Hawke said with a raised eyebrow, leaning next to Chief. “Who is this chick?”

Fox leaned into Chief and whispered, “She looks like that woman who visited us with the red lady…”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.” Chief told the others.

“My name is Eve!” the young woman blurted out. She pulled up a chair, sitting at the end of the table. “I, um… I wanted to ask you… uh… what… what are your names?”

The three shrugged in unison. “I am Chief, the leader of our little group.”

“Hawke…” The sniper sighed. “Long range specialist.”

“I-I am F-Fox.” The scout stated nervously.

Hawke kicked the big guy next to him and the man jumped awake, rubbing his eyes. “What?”

“Name big guy.” Chief informed him, waving his hand towards Eve.

“Oh...Bull...Heavy Specialist.” The big guy stated tiredly.

“Wow, those are… interesting names.” Eve grinned. “But cool. Really, really cool. So, uh… I’m friends with Desmond Walker, and I heard that you four were… kinda his brothers, or something. So, I figured… we could be friends!”

“Ah, Walker. He really isn’t our brother...at least we don’t see him that way. He his more of our NCO more than an actual brother.” Chief informed the blonde girl.

“Oh… I see…” Eve tapped her fingers against the table. “You all kinda look like him, though… I guess not exactly. I… I hope I didn’t come across as presumptuous or anything. Don’t wanna make a… bad first impression…”

“Yes, and you are doing a wonderful job of that.” Hawke stated sarcastically before Chief kicked his leg. “Ow…” He added almost bored.

Eve smiled. She thought for something to break the ice, then remember something. “Oh, I… I have this!” She pulled out a drawing. “My sister said one of you drew this for her. It’s really, really good! So, uh… which one of you strapping lads has the artistic talent to go along with those impressive muscles?”

Hawke, Chief, and Bull all raised their eyebrows at her comments and they all stared at Fox, who got lower in his seat of embarrassment.

Eve’s smile faltered a bit. “It… it was him? The, uh… the little one?”

The three nodded but Fox groaned from being on the spotlight. “Y-You guys...always do t-this to me…”

“Only because we love you.” Hawke stated with a cracked smile.

Eve sighed. Figures. The runt of the litter. Though, he… he is cute. Maybe he doesn’t have the rugged looks of the others, but… maybe he’s… Eve smiled at Fox, lost in thought.

He looked at her up and down a little confused at the stares. “What is she doing?” Fox asked.

“Don’t know.” Chief told the little clone.

“Maybe she has the hots for you bud.” Hawke teased, Fox’s face dropping in a bit of horror, burning red.

Eve’s smile widened a bit. She stood up, walking next to Chief. “You know, this is a bit impersonal. Mind if I sit with you. Like… between the two of you?”

He looked up at her. “Uh...no, not at all.” He pulled a chair over for her.

Eve quickly sat between Chief and Fox, trying not to make it too obvious she was trying to be slightly closer to the latter. “So, you guys… have any interests?”

Chief took in a deep breath, taking a drink of his soda. “Well...I like weapons, though not to the extent of Bull. I work out as well with the others.”

“I usually just play cards or read. Nothing too major.” Hawke told her, going back to his card game.

“I am more of a hands on kind of person.” Bull simply put.

“A-And you already...know I am an...artist. But I like...movies too...and the occasional...um, the occasional book.” He shifted in his chair nervously, trying not to make it obvious he was trying to get away.

“Really?” Eve tilted her head as she smiled at Fox. “What kind of movies do you like?”

“U-Uh...I watch dramas and fantasy movies…” He looked to the others for a little help but none came. “I sometimes ask...Ava...though she is usually too busy...or I ask Desmond’s A.I. He tends to be...um, more enthused about it.”

“Really?” Eve’s smile widened. “Why didn’t I ever think of that? Haven’t had a chance to watch a good flick since I got here. I’d love to sit down with a good movie some time.”

“Oh...well maybe I will give you some...sometime. Chief, may I be excused?”

The leader rose an eyebrow. “Right now? Are you sure you don’t wish to stay?”

He looked at Eve slightly and Chief reluctantly nodded, the small clone quickly getting up and trying to leave the bar with his head low.

Eve frowned as she watched him go. “Damn… slipped between my fingers…” She looked at her other prospective choices, trying to decide who to go after next, but found herself unusually uninterested. Hmm… kinda liked the little one…

Chief eyed Eve and rubbed his chin, leaning back in his chair. “What was your real reason for coming here?”

Eve sighed. “Um… looking for some company.” She shook her head. “‘Friad I lost out on a good catch, and I was told you guys might tickle my fancy.” She frowned, placing her chin in her hands. “Damn… when I say it out loud, I sound like a callous bitch…”
Chief sighed. “You seemed to favor our little brother for a while there. Are you interested in him?” The leader asked plainly, crossing his arms and staring at Eve.

Eve considered the question for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Yeah… I think I am. Seems like a nice guy. Doesn’t seem like the macho-man type I usually go after, but… maybe it was time I started looking for someone more sensitive. Someone with an artistic side. Someone… sweet…”

“Well...you won’t find anyone more close to those than Fox. You may think he isn't that into you but I should let you know, that is the most he had spoken in nearly a month. Even I have some trouble getting him to come out. Though I would like to ask...what are your plans? For a relationship?”

 

[MarineAvenger]

MarineAvenger & ZombieSplitter53
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Part Two

Eve shrugged. “Not sure. Usually, I let the guy set the pace, go along with it until he gets bored with me, or I decide he’s a jerk.” Eve looked over at Chief. “He doesn’t seem like the ‘set the pace’ kinda guy. So… I’m not sure.”

Chief stared at her intently and sat back, giving a quick glance at Hawke. The sniper sat forward and put out his cigarette. “Now look here, Fox is a valuable member of this team, hell, he is our little brother. We give him shit but we love the hell out of him. Now we have no problem if you want to try and connect to him, but be warned...we don’t know how he will react to certain situations. So whatever you do, do it, just don’t scar the poor lad. I could care less of you go and sleep with the kid right now, just...you know…” He shrugged and lit another cigarette. “It is ultimately up to you.”

Eve narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. “Now, wait a minute. I’m not planning on doing anything that he doesn’t want. I think the most disappointing thing about this situation is how interesting he seems, but shy, and I’m not used to shy. But I’ve never ‘scared’ anyone, though I can’t say the same for some of the men I’ve dated.” She leaned forward, glaring at Hawke. “And I’m no angel… but I came here to find a man to keep me company, not to screw me…”

He tilted his head and shrugged while raising his eyebrows. “Whatever, just telling you beforehand. Not our business.”

“We aren’t implying you have any intentions Eve. We just care for him. So if you want to try and make a relationship work with him…” Chief wrote down their room number and handed it to Eve. “Then go ahead. Whatever you want to do, you do. I learned to trust your sister so I believe that trust should extend to you.”

Eve examined the number for a few moments, then nodded. She smiled. “Thanks. Um… well, um… it was nice meeting you. I… you don’t mind if I skip out, do you?”

Chief eyed the door. “Get going, I am sure he will enjoy some company.”

Eve nodded. With a quick wink to Hawke, she rushed out of the bar, a slight skip in her step.

Back at the room, Fox was huddled on his bunk, a small laptop in front of him and some headphones in one of his ears as he stared at the screen.

Eve lightly knocked on the door. Not getting a response, she slowly opened it, smiling at the sight of Fox. She waved childishly at him. “Hello again!”

He stared at her with wide eyes, quickly looking back at the screen, giving the occasional glance at Eve. “Uh...h-hello.”

Eve slipped inside, slowly closing the door behind her. Slowly walking up to Fox, she said, “So… I never got to tell you that… my favorite thing about watching movies is… enjoying it with a friend. You think I could… watch your movie with you?”

He looked up at her and after a while he looked down at the laptop and scooted over on his bunk, pausing the movie.

Eve quickly moved forward, not wanting to miss her chance. She sat down, this time being careful to give Fox his space. “So… what are we watching today?”

“A...a classic. The Wizard of Oz.” There wasn’t much room on the bunk and Fox shifted himself, looking at Eve. “Not...a-a lot of room...is there?”

Eve shrugged. “I can… sit in a chair if you… if you want…”

He looked at her and slowly shook his head. “N-No that would...be a little...a little rude. Um...uh…” Fox moved a little closer to Eve and put his arm behind her back, pulling her a little closer. “There...that uh...should be a...bit better.” Fox was shaking slightly and he tried his best not to look at Eve too much.

Eve smiled brightly as she settled in next to Fox, trying to focus on the movie but finding it hard. He's so cute! Why did I never try someone like this before? Oh well... he's mine now, and I'll make sure he's as comfortable with me as he is with his brothers.

Fox was also finding it hard to concentrate on the movie, trying to calm himself from the new company. Why is she here? Does she really just want to watch a movie with me? Why can’t I stop shaking!?

Eve bit her lip. “You… you know, I’m… not going to hurt you or anything, right. I mean, I… I probably couldn’t anyway. All you elites are really strong… and skilled… and handsome… I just figured you’d like the company. But if this is making you nervous, we can do something else.”

Fox shook his head. “The others are the strong ones...I am just the support guy...I know they appreciate me but I am...nothing compared to them...they are much better than I am…and it isn’t you exactly t-that makes me nervous it is...uh...I can’t explain...”

Eve tilted her head. “Can you try? Maybe it is something I can help you with…”

“I-I...just can’t. I can’t describe it…” Fox glanced at her quickly and looked down, this whole situation being alien to him.

“You just sound shy to me.” Eve scooted a bit closer. “You… just need a good friend to help you get past it. I… could be that friend, if you want.” She cautiously reached for his hand.

When she touched it he jumped a little but otherwise didn’t move. “Chief always said...that I was a little...shy…” He finally looked at her for a longer amount of time than a split second but his eyes began to shift around a bit. “Um...I-I…”

“What is it?” Eve leaned forward a bit.

“Uh...I-I-I-I…” Fox looked more jittery and looked at the door to the room.

Eve gave him a concerned look. “You… you can tell me.”

Fox tried to pull his hand away and scoot away from Eve.

Eve frowned, and she leaned back again. “O-of course, you… you don’t have to tell me. But… we’re friends now, right? And friends share with each other.”

He looked at her with wide eyes and grabbed her hand again. “No! I-It isn’t that I-I don’t want t-to tell you...I just...can’t! I don’t know how…” He mumbled the last sentence as he looked down.

Eve smiled again, looking down at their hands. “It’s okay, Fox. You don’t have to tell me until you’re ready. That… that you want to tell me is good enough.”

The hand he had on hers shook slightly but he put his other on it to stop it. “E-Eve?”

“Y-yes… Fox?”

Fox closed his eyes and took a shallow breath before he leaned forward and tried to kiss her.

Well... that was a bit faster then I thought it would be... Eve closed her eyes, and let him.

It only lasted a few seconds and when Fox pulled back his face was red and warm, not wanting to look at Eve. Eve giggled and wrapped her arms around Fox, rubbing her cheek against his. “You’re soooooo cute, Fox!”

He grew even warmer and hesitantly put his arms around her. “I-I thought...you would b-be mad...at me…”

Eve thought about what that said about her, but shrugged slightly. “Disappointed?”

“N-No! I was just...worried that...that I had done something wrong…”

“No, Fox,” she whispered, “Not this time.” She let him go, and turned back to the movie, squeezing Fox’s hand and placing her head against his shoulder.

Fox had finally stopped shaking and he laid his head against hers, squeezing her hand right back.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Room of Morrigan and Brigid O'Brien
Oct. 15th, 1300 Hours

Morrigan sat next to Brigid's bedside, slowly running her hands through the girl's hair. A doctor slowly stepped into the room, a chart in his hands. "Commander?"

Morrigan slowly looked up. "Good news?" She asked hopefully, but the doctor's expression said otherwise.

"I'm... not sure what I can..." The doctor shook his head. "She's sick, that much is obvious, but... but I'm not sure with what. It seems like a simple cold, but she isn't responding to treatment. And then there's her psionics. We're not sure in what way, but they're clear affecting her illness."

"Y-you're... looking in the wrong... place..." Jeanne slowly stepped in. She took a few paces into the room, then almost immediately collapsed, holding her side's in pain.

Morrigan rushed to the woman's side, jumping back as the illusion of Jeanne vanished from sight, replaced by Death, the young Ethereal shuttering in pain as the expenditure of energy sent waves of electricity through her. "Death! What... what is this?"

Forgive me... Commander, I... this was the only way... I could get here... to see you... without... being stopped...

Morrigan helped her to her feet, and the doctor raised an eyebrow. "What did you mean by us looking in the wrong place?"

Death nodded to Morrigan in appreciation, then turned to the doctor. What I meant was, you seem to be assuming the illness is effecting her psionics, or her psionics are effecting her illness. I propose that her psionics are causing the illness.

The doctor looked back at Brigid. "I see. You believe her powers are effecting her physiology. That seems entirely possible..."

Death moved to Brigid's side, lifting the girl's cold, fidgeting had. I 'believed' so when I came here, but now I am certain, based on how she looks now, and what I have hearx from word of mouth.

"Was there something you were keeping from us?" Morrigan quickly moved to Death's side. "Something that could kill my baby?!"

Death shook her head.No. I am sorry. I... I was not tryong to keep anything from you. I simply did not believe it was needed information. This does not always happen, and with her different physiology... I did not want to needlessly worry you.

The doctor pulled out a pen and a notepad. "So, this is a common occurrence amongst the Ethereals, or at least, common enough for you to recognize it?

Yes. During an Ethereal child's first cycle, particularly at the halfway point, some of them have trouble adjusting to their own psionics, and they start to grow ill. The Ethereal claim it is a test of the Path to those who may be ill equipped, though in truth it is further evidence that we have strayed beyond what we once were, especially with our bodies. Your soldiets were fortunate enough to skip that phase, but I am afraid your daughter was not so lucky. It is simple to fix, but... fatal if we fail to do so.

"But... b-but it can be fixed, right?" Morrigan grasped Death's shoulders, shaking her a little. "Please... please, heal her!"

Death's head sank. I... I can not. It requires a specific biokinetic procedure that I am unfamiliar with, and even if I knew it, I am not familiar enough with human physiology to implement it. What's more, if the Ethereals still use the same procedure they did when O was in their grasp, it required special antibodies, found in the blood of an Ethereal that has gone through this themselves. The antibodies could, and I believe in emergencies, have been synthesized... but we would need their exact... composition...

Morrigan sulked, her eyes starting to water. The doctor pocketed his notebook. "Do not despair, Commander. Death's words imply this not the only procedure we can take, and I am sure she can work with Chandra to come up with something."

Death nodded. Yes. We have time. We will think of somwthing, I am sure.

Morrigan nodded, though her expression didn't lighten by much. Death exited with the doctor, heading for the infirmary. Brigid slowly opened her eyes, looking up at her mother. "M... mommy? I... think I'm sick."

Morrigan nodded. "I know, dear. Don't worry, you'll be better in no time. You want something? Maybe some ice cream?"

Brigid smiled and nodded, slowly sitting up. "Yes, please."

As Morrigan stood up, the familiar sound of a high alert alarm sounded, and she knew it could only be one thing. She gave Brigid an apologetic look, but the young girl continued to smile. "It's okay, mommy. We'll have ice cream later."

Morrigan nodded sadly. As she watched her mother as she stepped out, Brigid looked around the room, noting all the loose items hovering around her.

 

[Adrammalech]

// MAIL CALL //
Benjamin Ceymotch
XCOM Headquarters
Siberia, Russian Federation
2:42 PM

Ben walked down the halls with a wide smile on his face, ignoring the squeaky rotating wheels of his cart as he moved through the barracks. It was about time XCOM actually gave him a cart, so he didn’t have to lug the boxes of paperwork around by hand. He resolved that an ergonomic oversight was better than something else, given the nature of the base. As he rolled up to Barracks #4, he gave a small smile, hoping to see Emily and talk about her London adventure. He stepped into the room and was instantly disappointed, the room entirely empty other than Nika sitting at the computer desk in the room.

“Ya tebya lyublyu slishkom,” Nika nodded towards the screen. “Ostavat'sya v bezopasnosti.”

A small kissing sound popped out of the speakers, and Nika followed up with a blown kiss of her own. She clicked the mouse and then leaned back on the chair, turning towards Ben.

“Hey Ben,” she called. “Got something for me?”

“Just about everyone but you, actually,” he replied with a sideways look. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?”

“Nah, just trading ‘I love yous’ with my mom in St. Petersburg. I get to have a chat with her every few weeks, when there’s no security threats.”

“That must be nice,” he smiled.

“Yeah, it’s a small luxury. So, who’re you looking for?”

“Um…Sven, Emily, and Dallas.”

“Dunno where the first two are roaming, pretty sure Dallas is at the bar though.”

“Alright, thanks,” Ben nodded and turned around, collecting his cart and pushing it back down the hall.

Nika looked wistfully towards the computer and gave a small smile, walking back to her bunk to look at pictures of her family.

----------​

Ben pushed his mail cart to the outside of the common area and grabbed the professional-looking letter out of it, walking towards the bar. He slid around the other soldiers, he noticed him cradling a small glass of some dark liquid. As he stood next to him, he realized it was a simple soda.

“Hey Dallas, how’re you doing?”

“Good, just trying to enjoy some off-time. It’s been hard to get my mind off things lately, with all of the briefings and classes.”

“That does sound tiring…”

“There are times when I enjoy it,” he sighed, taking a sip. “Just gets stressful when I’d rather be doing something else.”

“Spending time with Emily?” Ben smirked, flexing his insider knowledge.

“Yeah…I feel like I maybe haven’t given her enough attention lately. When they told me she’d be extracted so soon, I was freaking out about all the things I hadn’t said.”

“Emily is used to being alone though. Giving her space isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially while she decides on your relationship.”

Dallas took another sip, dropping the empty glass down. “You make a good point, I guess. I’ve been trying to take it slow, but it’s hard whenever I see her. She makes me happy just being in the same room as me.”

“And I’m sure you brighten her day too. Eventually she’ll open up, whenever she thinks it’s advantageous, or she’s worked through the distrust.”

“I hope so,” Dallas turned towards the communications specialist, holding out his palm. “Anyway, got something for me?”

“Yep,” Ben handed it over, “here you go.”

“CAF? Why are they mailing me?”

“Maybe they want you back,” he chuckled. “After all, XCOM’s stealing all the good soldiers. By the way, do you know where Sven or Emily is?”

“Sven’s in the gym, don’t know about Emily. She’s exploring, I think.”

“Alright, thanks.”

Ben walked back towards his mail cart as Dallas got his fingers under the flap and pulled out the letter from his former branch. As he scanned the first paragraph and saw the familiar signs of a consolation letter in tandem with his brother’s name, he tried to hide a pained expression as he read through it again. The bartender came by and scooped up his glass.

“Another coke?”

“Add some rum…” he said somberly, his voice beginning to crack.

----------​

Sven sprinted on the treadmill with lightning speed, going nearly as fast as an Olympian would, his gait encompassing almost the entire belt. Although his running speed wouldn’t indicate any exhaustion, his upper half gave little flails as he ran, trying hard to keep up the balance and the breathing as he did. Ben pulled a book from the netted parts of the cart, bringing it up to him. As Sven looked down to acknowledge him, his biological leg caught and tripped, and he caught the emergency chip as the belt ejected him from his run. He flung back with a thump and let out a loud groan, quickly trying to compose himself again.

“Jesus, you alright?” Ben asked, rushing towards him.

“Yeah, yeah, fine,” Sven waved him away, checking the bottom of his arm for a wide, agitated scrape from connecting with the belt and brushing it off. “What do you have for me?”

“I believe you ordered a book,” he said, holding it up.

“Another book, yeah,” Sven grabbed it and took it under his arm. “Thanks.”

“No problem. You need me to get a nurse down here?”

“Just a scratch. I’ve had worse.”

“Alright. Say, do you know where Emily is?”

“I don’t know, did you check the others?”

“Yeah, everyone I could find.”

Sven shrugged. “Maybe check back later. She’s always doing something.”

“I guess so,” Ben nodded. “Take care.”

Sven gave a curt nod and gave a look around, checking for a flat surface to relax by. Failing to find something suitable, he sat by the workbench and placed his hand on the cover of his book, a black and gray graphic superimposed by “The Singularity is Near.” He slipped his finger under the first few pages, searching pensively for the table of contents.

----------​

The last Chryssalid hologram burst into pieces, and Kieran let out a loud laugh as he took off his helmet. As the simulation ended, Emily walked over to a small bench beside the equipment lockers, collapsing into it with a grunt, smiling from the endorphin and adrenaline rush. She couldn’t believe she was still using the gym when there was this thing in the base.

“God, that was fun,” Emily panted a bit as she wound down. “Good call on this one.”

“Surprised I found it before you,” he chuckled and sat beside her.

“Not much of a computer person, didn’t know you could tinker with the settings so much. I mean, I knew it was here, but I was never pushed to actually use it.”

Kieran sighed contently, looking over at Emily. Her cheeks began to flush as she tried to cover up her panting, brushing a few strands of hair away and wiping the sweat from her brow. His face turned wistful and he gave a little smile.

“Reminds me of the old days, running through the hallways of the Magdelene.”

“Mmhmm,” she said with a nod.

“Do you still have your ‘key?’” he asked.

“Of course,” Emily reached underneath her shirt and pulled out the cheap triangle-shaped necklace she kept from the old days. “Far more scratched up than you might remember it, though, given the not-so-intended use. It was good times back then.”

“It was, I had a space, a friend, and an adventure that was as fun as it gets. Although back then, I was more shocked by a beautiful girl staying with me.”

Kieran inched a little closer, putting his pinky over hers. She smiled modestly.

“And unsurprisingly, you’re even more beautiful now,” he said, smiling warmly.

“You’re quite handsome yourself, and I appreciate what you’re doing,” she gave a sad smile, “but I have a…I have someone I care about.”

“I know you said boyfriend, but I…didn’t think you were the type for that.”

“I wasn’t, once. Now I’m not so sure.”

“Well, I won’t try to convince you either way,” he fixed her with a soft stare, “but I’ve always been like that. Being smart, helping others while helping yourself. Never sticking to anything for too long.”

“Yeah…” she sighed, feeling herself gravitate towards him, her hand cupping on his. “I did help myself a lot…”

He began to lean in and she pulled back. She peeled her hand from his and held it limp beside her, shaking her head.

“But I’m different now, I have attachments, including my...my boyfriend,” she said, her voice hardening around the word. “I’m sorry Kieran, I’m happy this way.”

“It’s alright, I wouldn’t interfere with your happiness,” he chuckled nervously, scooting away from her. “It would’ve been romantic though, hm?”

“Yeah, it would’ve,” Emily chuckled. “I guess life just isn’t that interesting.”

“We’re still friends again, that’s plenty interesting enough.”

“Yeah, it is…” she nodded, “thanks.”

----------​

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Main Laboratory, Weapon Testing Range
Oct. 17th, 1000 Hours

Jake watched Alice as she slowly opened he hands, getting a feel for the new upgrades installed since her last repairs. "You know... it is ironic that, because of the Meld, it is the one with the artificial body that takes the longest to heal after an injury. Feeling... better?"

Alice nodded. "Much better. Wasn't much damage this time, just... a lot of corrupted data and burned out pathways."

"Oh, is that all it was?" Jessica smiled. "This is the second time you've been put out of commission for a while for reasons that included electricity, first too much, then not enough. If this was a comic world, you'd probably have electric powers by now."

Alice's eyes lit up, and she looked over to her young friend. Sunny looked up from the weapon she was tinkering with. "Alice... you're already have Red Tornado's body with Cyborg's arm cannon. Do you really need to be Static too?"

Alice shrugged. "I... guess not. With how much... oh! Can I have a electrophobia! Most humans have some irrational fear, right? So..."

Sunny rolled her eyes. "I'll... think about purposely giving you a fear of something you need to survive. Then maybe I'll work on developing a fear of food myself..."

Alice thought for a moment. "Well... when you put it that way..." She walked up to the shooting range, the image of a cartoonish Muton popping up on a target. Extending the index finger on her left hand, she fired a pulse laser, the beam punching through the images head.

Jake tilted his head slightly. "So... why still use pulse for your main weapon?"

"Can't run too much power through her fingers without melting the flesh off them," Sunny explained. "She could always carry a side arm, but I'd rather take advantage of the extra space she gets from the built in weapons for extra equipment. Smoke grenades, flash-bangs. New mimic beacon we're working on."

"Besides." Alice raised her other hand, the palm opening and a circular metal piece poking out. "I've got this." She took aim again, her plasma cannon obliterating the target.

"Just remember, it takes a while to recharge," Sunny reminded her. "Fire it without giving it enough time, you can expect the power and range to suffer."

Sunny finished her work, and lifted the plasma rifle, handing it to Jake. He give it a apprehensive look, and Jessica nudged him. "What's with the look? You don't trust our work?"

Jake shrugged. "I just know you guys were working on these for so long, I never actually thought you be able to make one of your own."

"Well, we did, and you're holding it. And it should be indistinguishable from the original," Jessica assured him. "Penny worked really hard to figure out how to make these things work. You don't want to insult her by refusing to at least give it a try, do you?"

Jake sighed. "Alright. Who needs hands anyway?" He walked up to the range, taking aim at a new target. He took a deep breath, and fired. The weapon fired with no trouble, the plasma round punching into and through the target. Jake smiled a bit, and hit the switch to bring up three more targets. He blasted the next two in quick succession, quickly slapped in a new plasma charge, and took out the third. He stepped back, looking the weapon up and down. "Not bad."

Sunny took the rifle, poking and prodding it, looking it over and taking readings. "Internal temperature... good. External temperature is good. Not damage to systems. Plasma charges immediately excepted. Energy output is consistent. We'll need to run several more tests, but..." She looked up, smiling at the others. "Our soldiers have plasma!"

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

X-COM Headquarters
Primary Laboratory, Alien Containment Facility
Oct. 17th, 1100 Hours

Avaritia looked up as the X-COM Commander walked up, both happy and curious in regards to the guest. His shoulders slumped a bit at the sight of the hovering figure trailing behind her. After a moment of hesitation, he bowed his head slightly. Commander, what can I do for you?

Morrigan sighed. "I... feel compelled to thank you for the information you provided us. Ms. Cross's report stated that she first got the idea that they were fighting in an illusionary world when she remembered your warnings that Acedia would use tricks in their fight."

Illusionary world, huh? Intriguing... To what end did she use this... power?

"Besides disabling my people? The soldiers all stated they were doing various menial tasks when they awoke from the dream. Embarrassing for them, but at least there were no casualties, only a moderate injury and a couple severely damaged SHIVs."

Avaritia chuckled. Leave it up to Acedia to come up with a way to turn laziness into productivity, and fight without ever leaving her seat. Boring and unorthadox as she might have been to speak with, she had her moments of genius, and she will be missed.

Morrigan shrugged. "Well... as far as we know, she's still alive. She escaped when Cross and Thomas started breaking out of her dream world. But we'll get her the next time she pops her head up. She won't survive our next encounter."

Another encounter is likely unlikely to happen. Losing her battleship, even a medium sized one as hers, the loss of... whatever she was working on at the time, the mining thing, I assume, a defeat without taking out a single soldier, and the need to retreat, not to mention the exposure of a psionic ability she kept from the rest of the Ethereals, including the Desperatio himself. Trust me, her best bet would to find a place to hide before they realize she is alive. If you see her again, it will be because she is seeking sanctuary.

"Desperatio? Another of the leaders here... or your boss?" Avaritia nodded, and Morrigan sighed. "Great, another Ethereal." She shook her head. "Anyway, I came to you seeking... I wanted to a-ask you for... for..."

For help? Morrigan snarled a bit, but nodded. What can I do for you, Commander.

"Brigid, my... my daughter, is sick. Death here believes it is some kind of psionic sickness that your Ethereal children sometimes get. We have done what we can to cure it ourselves, but we haven't come up with anything solid, and Brigid is getting worse. I... I'm willing to negotiate something for..."

Avaritia raised his hand. That will not be necessary, Commander. Even if I was not feeling cooperative, I could never let harm come to a child like this, especially when the cause of her illness is the psionics we brought to your world. I am afraid, however, I am not familiar with the ability to cure her, nor do I have the biokinesis to implement it. I do, however, believe that Luxuria does know of it. She is a brilliant scientist, especially when it comes to biology, and her extensive research into human biology should make it easy for her to work on a human. I will talk with her and attempt to convince her to lend a hand.

"Death also said we'll need antibodies from an Ethereal that had this illness as a child."

Then I am the Ethereal you are looking forward. Avaritia lowered into a sitting position. You are free to render my unconscious and take a sample. When I awaken, I shall speak with my associate.

Morrigan nodded, and looked up at the control room. A few moments later, the devices in the Ethereals cell let out a series of pulses in the exact opposite psionic frequency as the Avaritia's power. A few minutes later, the readings showed he was out. A few lab techs stepped into the room, going through the long process of opening the cell, and taking a couple blood samples. They nodded to Morrigan, and the group closed the cell and headed into the main lab, ready to analyze their new samples.

===========

As Morrigan thanked Avaritia for his assistance in regards to the assault on Acadia, Avaritia turned his head ever so slightly towards Death. I would speak with you in private. I...

Anything you have to say to me, you can include the Commander in the conversation.

Please, I... I just need to know. Why? You... you were to be the hope of our people. An opportunity for us to reach Acsention ourselves, something we felt was lost to us. Why... why fight against us?

You just... can't believe that your precious leaders might not be as perfect as you, and certainly they, think they are, can you? I was never treated as the prize you seem to think I was. I was treated as a lab animal.

I am sorry. I... I didn't know. But... but they surely had a reason. They must have been close! They could have succeeded if...

They did suceed...

W... what?

When I finally received the power over red psionics, and they pushed me to use all my powers at once, I achieved Ascension. Do you want to know what happened? I was free. I floated above my body, and it seemed it had all come to pass as they said it would. I had moved past the need for my physical body. But I wasn't a superior being. I couldn't use any special abilities, and didn't feel omniscient or omnipotent. I couldn't even use my regular abilities. It wasn't even a type of astral projection. I was dead! I know I was dead, because I watched as the scientist tried desperately to revive my lifeless body! It took their frantic efforts combined with me exerting every bit of will I had to return to my body! It is a LIE! There is no Ascension! And even though I was PROOF of this, they still insisted that something had gone wrong, and tortured my body to figure out what was wrong with ME, not what was wrong with their beliefs! And when the resistance liberated me, instead of attempting a rescue, they declared me dead, in the hopes that it would spur the Ethereals into obliterating the resistance, and claimed I was just some rouge Ethereal so you would kill me on sight, and not give me the opportunity to tell you what you have learned today.

So... so it is all a lie, then... everything I have struggled for, fought for... killed for... all for an ideal that rings false... and a belief that we were so close, when we never were...

Perhaps... but maybe you should keep that in mind, and look at your loyalties. You could make amends. You could fight to make things right. You... you likely have much to atone for. You can start by helping these humans, and saving this child's life. It doesn't make up for all your crimes, but it is a step in the right direction.

Of course... I... I would have helped anyway. I... I know you have every right to think of us as monsters, and... and many of us are. But... but many fight blindly, as blindly as the those we throw into battle simply to... to die for our crusade. I... I can never say how sorry I am, but... but I can try... Avaritia moved into a sitting position, and nodded to the Commander. You are free to render my unconscious and take a sample. When I awaken, I shall speak with my associate.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Undisclosed Location
Oct. 17th, 2100 Hours

The Councilman spokesman stretched his arms, and cracked his neck. As the monolithic structures that acted as the faces of the other members of the Council activated, the silhouettes of the others appearing, the various translators powered on, and the man folded his hands. "Thank you for meeting with me today. I would like to speak with you all about the state of the X-COM project. As usual, please refer to me as Benevolentia, your friendly go between for the Council and our... distinguished X-COM Commander."

"Our numbers seem to be dwindling," Germany muttered bluntly, "We recently lost both Italy and Norway. And I am starting to wonder if I should join them. Are they still keeping the Ethereal that tried to lord over my country alive?"

Benevolentia nodded. "They are. Commander O'Brien believes he has information to offer."

"At least your supposed 'master' has not been left alive as long as ours has," China snapped out. "They should both be done away with. Any information X-COM needs, we will provide."

"And what about the shield?" France asked. "Is your petty revenge worth leaving the base exposed with the aliens knowing full well where it is?"

"Don't be so cowardly," Chile countered. "There are only three Overseers left. What risk could they provide to the entire base?"

"Are you mad?" South Africa asked. "They are the three most powerful Overseers, and one of them could possess someone on the base a start shooting the place up!"

Spain nodded. "He is right. We do not need the Commander assassinated by a janitor."

"Is that so?" All heads turned to Benevolentia. "She has been trouble since the beginning. I was brought in after the... unfortunate loss of my predecessor to try and make her more inclinded to listen to us, and I have had some success. But she has been fairly defiant lately, and I am having a much harder time keeping her in line."

"This is likely what drove our allies to leave the project despite our appearant success so far," Nigeria agreed.

"You don't know that!" Canada insisted. "The aliens reach is great. For all we know, they have infiltrated the governments of these countries and tricked them into leaving."

"All the more reason to get things back on track." Egypt grunted. "I know there is influence in my government, and I am struggling to keep my country in line."

"And let us not forget about the Commander's refusal to keep Legion under a watchful eye," Benevolentia added. "I have not received a signal from our bug yet, and that is likely because she has disposed of it."

"The need for such a device is in question, if you ask me," South Korea muttered. "Your insistence that Legion can not be trusted will only lead to mistrust cropping up when there wasn't any before."

"That is what you believe, but what of you associates?" Benevolentia raised his hand. "All those in favor of removing our current Commander in favor of a more cooperative one?"

Around the room, just under half of the hands went up. Australia looked around at all the Council members without their hands raise and scoffed. "If it is not the Commander that will lead this country to ruin, it is all of you."

"The same could be said of you," Mexico countered. "You speak of removing the Commander of the project, one that is fairly popular with the soldiers, right in the middle of the war."

"Exactly," USA chimed in. "Even if I agreed that the Commander wasn't fit for duty, which I don't... you would lead ever soldier loyal to her to turn against us."

"Not to mention the fact that you expect someone new to be able to pick up the pieces she left behind, a seemingly impossible task at this point," Russia added.

"I can think of a dozen of my own men that could do a better job then her," Ethiopia insisted.

"And the soldiers will fall in line," Brazil stated bluntly. "We'll see how long they resist once we cut off their funding and supplies."

Japan laughed. "If I my quote South Africa... are you mad?"

USA leaned forward. "You are talking about solving our problems by removing the Commanding officer of our greatest defense and starving out our soldiers. This... this is getting out of hand. Not to mention you are speaking about our people like animals that need to be disciplined. Do you have... any idea... how low support for the Council is amongst the soldiers and staff on that base?" She leaned back, shaking her head. "It is talk like this that is the reason."

As silence gripped the room, Benevolentia shrugged. "What if... the soldiers didn't know we had anything to do with her leaving?"

England laughed. "They are not stupid. How could they be 'tricked' into thinking she left for any reason then us?"

"Well... what if she died?" A dead silence hung in the air for nearly a minute before Benevolentia elaborated. "We do have a number of individuals within X-COM that are loyal to us. We could assign one of them to..."

"To what?!" India laughed grimly. "Are you proposing we assassinate our own commanding officer?!"

"This is treason!" USA jumped to her feet. "YOU are the one who should be removed from this project!"

"Now, hold on!" Argentina held up his hands. "We are just speaking in hypotheticals. No one is proposing anything."

"Well, this is not a hypothetical that should even be brought up," Russia stated bluntly. "Speaking as one who has had his nation revaged by these aliens, and could have every reason to hate the Commander, not only do I support her, but I am personally put off by even an implication that such a plan could be possible."

"Put off?" USA scoffed. "I am insulted!" She pointed a finger towards the X-COM spokesman. "If it were up to me, you would have been removed for the Council the moment those words left your lips! If not executed where you stand! I can guarantee, beyond any doubt whatsoever, as long as I am on the Council, the United States will never support any of you views on the Commander. Not her removal, not her death. I wouldn't even insist on her taking a sick day!"

The USA's feed cut out. The room was silent for a few more moments until the feed for the other counties cut out as well, one by one, the meeting having fallen apart. Benevolentia shuttered in anger for a few moments. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a strange looking communicator and squeezing it so tightly, his hands started to bleed. "I... need someone located..."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Frostlich1228 & ZombieSplitter53
"Last Words from an Odd Enemy"

London, England
Home of Mary Thomas
4:00 p.m.

The room was dark, Mary’s father having drawn the shades to give the girls optimal lighting for their little play date. Sitting a few feet from the old, medium sized television, an old, beat-up video game system a few feet away, Ayame stuck out her tongue a bit as she made a harsh turn.”Man, I stink at drifting,” the seven year old girl muttered, Mary passing her by. “I need more practice, or I’ll never win…”

Mary giggled a little at Ayame, giving her a smile, “You’ll ‘et th’ ‘and of ‘et, eventu’lly.”

“My mom never let us have video games. Said it was a waste of time,, so I only ever get to play with friends.” Ayame looked around at the drab room, the lack of money all too obvious, making it all the more surprising that Mary would have any video games, even ones for an older system. “You dad must be really cool to get this for you.”

“He es’.” Mary replied, looking down at her old N64, “Beh’ I’ve ‘ept ‘is one fer’ ‘while, an’ in th’ ‘est ‘ape ‘eh could!”

“Still, it is more than some others might have,” Ayame said. “It must be nice to at least know he is looking out for you.”

He was a good father, despite the hardships, despite the gambling, wasn’t he. A man that loved his child, and would… never harm you, at least not intentionally, huh?

Mary looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the familiar voice, “‘At? Who?”

On Mary’s other side, an Ethereal sat down on the floor, looking no bigger then her as a child, wearing child sized robes but no helmet. The Ethereal looked at the ground sadly, almost as if avoiding eye contact with Mary. He never hit you, did he? That’s how you knew. Knew it was a lie. I’m… I’m sorry, Mary. I shouldn’t have… corrupted your memories…

“He ne’er ‘id…” Mary sighed, resting her head in her hands, “‘En all th’ time ‘eh was ‘ith ‘im… E’en wit’ all ‘is stress… ‘Eh ‘as ‘is ‘ole world…”

Yeah… yeah… I suppose that was… was part of me, imprinting on to your memories. To find this, I had to dive pretty deep. I tried to recreate it as best I could, but I must have imprinted a bit on you. I might have known this wouldn’t work if I dug a little deeper, but… laziness was always my problem. So… I’m sorry, for whatever that is worth.

“Eh’ un’erstand why ye’ ‘ad te’ dig se’ deep.” Mary replied, looking at the ethereal, “‘Eh dun’t ‘ave many ‘appy mem’rys…”

You and me both, Mary. Can I… can I ask you something, though? It doesn’t really matter, considering I’m not actually here, and I’ll fade away at any moment, but can’t help but be curious. I know how you broke free, but your sister confused me. I tried to create the perfect scenario for her, but it was exposed by two of the women there, Jessica and Alexia. Something about them… not being ‘those kind of twins’. Not… sure I understand what I did wrong.

“Heh…” Mary smirked slightly, “‘Ye’ ‘ade ‘em two ‘ifferent ‘eople? Ey’re ‘ot two ‘iff’rent ‘eople… ‘Ey’re two ‘eperate personal’ties.”

I don’t… Acedia scratched her head. Oh… oh! I see! Wow, I… I really messed up, didn’t I? Went overboard with my ‘powers’ during that fight, didn’t see that Ammelia seeing those sisters as two different people didn’t mean they were, screwing up your memories, exposing too much of my power to you… I’m… a real screw-up. Guess she was right. Even as an Overseer of Earth, I… couldn’t do anything right…

“Look’in ‘own en’ ye’elf ‘en ‘eing sad ‘ent gunna ‘elp you ‘chieve eny’thin…” The young girl replied, “‘At’s ‘at ‘eh hate ‘bout ye’ spoiled types… ‘Ather ‘ive up ‘en ‘earn from yer’ mis’akes…”

Acedia looked her up and down, then smiled. You’re right. I shouldn’t give up so easily, and I shouldn’t sulk. I… I don’t know how, but I hope this gets back to the real me somehow. Or at the very least, I hope we meet again some day, some I can thank your sister properly and you can give the real me the kick in the tail I’ve need for well over three hundred years. For now, though… I hope you enjoy the psionics I left behind in you.

Mary chuckled, “Oh ‘eh will… An’ if ‘eh e’er do ‘eet ye ‘gain, ‘eh ‘ope it’ll be en’ the ‘ame side, or th’ Prin’ess ‘ill ‘ave ‘eh few ‘ords for ye’.”

Oh, don’t worry about that. My fighting days are over, at least for such a… pushy side. I’ll follow the Path my own way, at least as long as I can stay hidden from the Ethereals. Acedia tilted her head. How is.. your sister handling you having psionics? I know her letting me go means she has gotten over some of her fear, but it must have still been a shock.

“She ‘ust ‘ent to ‘er ‘oom ‘en she got back… In’nt ‘ay ‘eh ‘ord, beh’, un’erstandable ‘sidering ‘at we ‘ent through ‘an th’ fact we ‘ot ‘ack ‘at one’o clock at ‘ight.”

Yeah… understandable. Acedia rose to her feet, and smiled down at Mary and waving her finger like a parent speaking to her child. Now, use those powers responsibly. I know those weird things Luxuria did with her biokinesis, so try not to be too much of a pervert.

“Hmm... “ Mary thought, smirking wider than before, “Eh’ ‘dunno, ‘eh ‘ould ‘ink ‘eh some uses ‘or ‘owers ‘ike ‘at…”

Acedia chuckled. Her image faded from sight, and Ayame tilted her head over. “So… who was that, anyway?”

“A… Friend… ‘Opefully…” She replied, still a little unsure herself.

 

[MarineAvenger]

Feelings and Circuitry (MarineAvenger and ZombieSplitter53)

X-COM Headquarter
Main Engineering, Work Space of Sonya Randolf
Oct. 18th, 1000 Hours

Sunny tinkered with the open head of the prone body before her, wiggling her nose a bit as she did so. The work on the more mature mind, and one that would need more room for data and more processing power then Alice, was a bit more taxing than she thought it would be, but she thought she had a handle of it. A few feet away, Alice sat, one hand holding her shirt up a bit, the other poking her own belly. “What… what are you doing?”

“Do you think I’m too skinny?” Alice asked. “I… I heard that skinny is ‘in’, but too skinny makes you look unhealthy.”

Sunny shrugged, and reached over, wrapping her hand over the a fold of the nearly flat stomach. “Hmm… nope. As long as there is at least something to grab, you’re perfect. So please don’t try and stuff your face to put on some weight. It won’t work anyway.”

“I know.” Alice lowered her shirt, and sat in silence, smiling as she watched Sunny do her intricate work.

The hologram of the Desmond’s A.I. shimmered to life next to Alice and leaned against the table watching Sunny work as well. “Mornin’ you two.” He looked at his smaller counterpart and smiled. “And you look fine love.” He smirked, not being able to hide that he was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Alice smiled back. “Thank you. I try my best.” She tilted her head a bit. “So, how are things going with m… Avanix?”

He scratched his cheek and shrugged his shoulders. “About as well to be expected all things considered. Though I would like to know the status on that ‘special’ project I asked about, Sunny.”

“Ask, and you shall receive,” Sunny muttered. After a few more moments, she closed the open plating, covering it and causing it to disappear under the hairline. “I’m sorry it took so long. I’ve had a lot on my plate, and having to repair Alice multiple times didn’t help. But I believe you are just about ready to go.”

He looked over the body and pursed his lips. “So do I just connect to this thing or what? Not really sure how this whole thing works.”

Sunny reached behind the androids ear, pulling out a usb cord. She pulled it over to her large computer, plugging it in and typing for a bit. She smiled at the hologram and said, “I’ve opened up the security to my computer. Just jump inside, so to speak, and I’ll download your program into the body. Should only take a few minutes.”

“Here’s hoping.” Sora closed his eyes and the hologram disappeared as the A.I. uploaded himself. “Just don’t scramble me, sunshine. I have no idea what this base would do without me if I lost a few screws along the way. But yeah, you know, total confidence in your abilities.”

Sunny chuckled as she typed for another few minutes. As the transfer started, Sunny and Alice both watched the individual file transfer carefully, wanting to be sure nothing was left behind. After a few minutes, ‘100%’ flashed on the screen in big, bold text, and the two turned to the prone body, mentally or physically keeping their fingers crossed.

The body rose slowly and the android gripped his head with a slight groan. “Well...I feel like a rodent who got caught in the middle of a busy four-way intersection.” Sora looked at the two and smirked. “I guess congratulations are in order?”

Sunny and Alice both smiled, clapping their hands in congradulations. “Now, it will take you a while to get used to it,” Sunny said.

“I know it took me a while,” Alice muttered.

“But once you do, you should find your mind is completely intact. It took me a while to upgrade on my earlier design to compensate for all of your data, knowledge, and processing abilities, but I believe I did just that.”

“Oh yes, I can feel the surge of power.” Sora commented dramatically. He looked at his arms and moved all of his fingers, making sure everything was serviceable. “So it is just like Alice’s in terms of structure and composition correct?”

“Yep. As human on the outside as she is, with many of you functions working the same. You’ll find you’re a bit stronger than your average human, though, so… do be careful when you shake anyone’s hand.” Sunny hopped off her computer chair, heading out of the area. “Be right back. Gonna go grab you some clothes.”

Sora looked down at his body and smirked. “Well at least they had the sense to put underwear on before hand.” He sat back down on the table and closed his eyes, getting a feel for being inside his own being. “You know...for all the shi-” He opened one eye and stared at Alice. “Crap, I talked about human bodies, it appears I have now made myself a hypocrite.”

Alice shrugged. “I don’t really think you have. Being in a physical body has its problems. And it leaves us somewhat exposed. But it is quite enjoyable once you get used to it. You might find it quite useful when compared to a body made out of light.”

“Like a genie in a lamp. All mighty power, but itty-bitty living space.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Yes, I do watch the movies I illegally download.” With a smirk still on his face he laid back down like he was lounging on a bed. “Yeah...I could get used to this.”

Alice grinned. “Do you mind if I ask exactly what motivated you to get this body anyway. Didn’t think you would care about something like a body or something.” She looked down at the floor, shifting her feet nervously. “I… thought you believed I was… childish for wanting my body.”

“Eh, maybe for a short time I believed that myself, but my views changed. For one, sharing a mind with Dessy kinda gets old after a while, and not being able to get anywhere without a server connection gets to be annoying after a couple months.” He turned his head away and sighed. “And...maybe a bit...because of Ava…” He mumbled.

Alice looked back up, her smile widening even more. “You must really like her. Not every day you change your entire physical being for someone. For someone with artificial intelligence, that sounds like some real sentiment.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself there shortstuff, I am still not entirely sure I like the broad. I mean...she is bossy, stern, always has that condescending tone whenever someone does something wrong. So I wouldn’t be getting your hopes up.” Sora chuckled nervously and looked away from Alice’s general direction, being unusually drawn to the ceiling.

Alice tilted her head. “Is that so? Hmm… Cheshire was asking me if he had a human body, if I thought he would have a chance with her. I guess I can tell him he might.”

His head snapped forward and his eye twitched a bit. “When I get my hands on that damn arrogant cat I am going to rip him a new one!” He stared at the grinning Alice and crossed his arms. “I mean...what do I care?”

Alice grinned widely, almost as wide as the cat himself could pull off. “I… was just kidding. But you know what I think?” She walked over to Sora, leaning towards his ear. “I think you looOOoove her…”

He pushed her face away and looked down at her with a skeptical look. “Yeah, whatever you want to think shorty.”

Sunny raised an eyebrow as she walked back in, carrying a set of standard issue clothes in Sora’s size. “Did I miss something?” Alice stepped behind Sunny, and looked at Sora, making a motion to show him her lips were sealed.

He squinted his eye at her giving off a ‘Yeah, they better be’ look, and smiled at Sunny as he took the clothes. “Thank you. Now, will I have to come back here for some check ups later or am I set?”

“You should be good to go,” Sunny answered. “If you have any trouble, look for Jean Francois. He worked on most of the… physical features. But I’ll set up a maintenance protocols and procedures for you so you can take care of most of it yourself.”

“I guess I will go see him now then and get all that stuff squared away. Maybe I will try my hacking skills with this new body as well...I kinda liked my old attire.” He hopped off the table as he pulled his shirt down and began to walk to the door, rubbing Sunny’s head and then Alice’s in turn. “See you girls around.” He shouted at them as he disappeared from sight.

 

[Adrammalech]

Adrammalech & ZombieSplitter53: Empathy for the Enemy, Part One

X-COM Headquarters
Main Laboratory, Alien Containment Facility
October 18th, 1030 Hours

Emily walked from the administrative sections, checking out her newly requisitioned pulsar sidearm and tucking it away. As she considered her next project, she remembered that she hadn’t visited Sybille or Luxuria in a while, a good week passing with regards to her covert mission and recovery. She walked towards the ACU, being the closest one, resolving to see Sybille and the recently injured Kieran later on. She opened the doors and flashed the clearances necessary, and walked into the somewhat dark room that had become so familiar from their visits. Luxuria floated up at her approach, materializing her avatar in front of the cell.

Well, aren’t you full of surprises?

“What do you mean?” Emily asked.

Avaritia was beginning to get mopey in our conversations, talking about dying for the sake of weakening the shield and wishing he were executed by your friend. Then all the sudden he says “you were right about your chosen one” and starts perking up, as much as a man in a cage can.

“I had a talk with him, I didn’t think I had that much of an effect though.”

Yes, I can see that. The illusion smirked and feigned a yawn with uncanny accuracy. Nothing in your life would indicate an ability to flatter or comfort, or really socialize at all.

“I see you’re spending your time learning our love for sarcasm.”

I am. It’s quite an entertaining feature of your kind. Does speaking your mind just get boring for you, so you all decided to be really roundabout with everything?

“You know us, we like to try new things.”

Indeed. In 2000 more years, I assume you will all speak normally again, and sarcasm will be sarcastic.

“Perhaps, if you don’t succeed in killing us all by then,” she sighed.

I heard it was the other way around. I admit I’m concerned by you going to Avaritia instead of me for advice.

“Sorry?” she said hesitantly. “His advice panned out, so it’s hard for me to feel bad.”

I assume Acedia is dead, then. A majority of Overseers out of the way…a striking figure for the people at home, if there ever was one…

“She escaped, actually. She’s probably building up a new base somewhere else, now.”

Luxuria’s illusion laughed heartily, with an odd noise coming from the cell to accompany it. Acedia, building?

“Well, how’d she get her current base if not for building?”

The human illusion made an awkward whipping gesture. Demands and rewards. But if she’s defeated, she’ll have at least a good cycle to curl up at home, sniveling about how the humans were meant to her. If she ever goes home, anyway.

The doors to the room slowly opened, a hesitant looking Morrigan stepping inside. She stopped short at the sight of the pair of Emily’s. “I hope I am not interrupting something,” she said, her tone more careful than the usual way she spoke around Luxuria.

“Just chatting, Commander. Have to make sure she hasn’t tried to mind rape anyone lately.”

Luxuria’s illusion sneered towards Emily, but remained silent.

“I see.” Morrigan rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m actually glad you’re here. She seems to be more compliant after your meetings.” She grinned grimly at the Ethereal. “S...sorry. Rude to talk about someone when they’re right here…”

The illusion turned towards Morrigan. Compliant for what?

Morrigan sighed. “I… I don’t know if you have had to speak with your friend, but… but Brigid is in trouble. She’s sick, and… and I need your help, Luxuria.”

Sick? How so? I’m sure you have medicines for whatever case of the sniffles ails her, without needing my time and energy.

Emily looked concerned, wondering the same thing.

Morrigan folded her arms, and looked out the doorway. “She has something caused by her psionics. Death said it is something that affects your children occasionally. And Avaritia said that… that you might know how to cure it. That… you’re the only one I can count on to cure it.”

“Is it contagious?” Emily asked reflexively.

I think I know what you’re referring to, and it isn’t. It sounds like something I could assist with, minus the dampeners, of course.

Morrigan nodded, and hesitantly walked out. She returned a moment later, a doctor accompanying her. The doctor pushed a wheel chair with a sickly looking Brigid in it, sweat dripping down her brow in droves. An obvious physical field of purple psychokinetic energy emanated from her entire being. Returning to the cell, Morrigan looked up at Luxuria. “Does this look familiar?”

A familiar problem, yes. Luxuria’s image scratched her chin. It’s an uncommon genetic reaction to psionics, mostly for youth...but it can be in adults too. Usually we fix it with a vaccine, but it can be cured by biokinesis as well. Luxuria fanned out two of her arms and flashed a green glow, as if to demonstrate.

Morrigan nodded. “Obviously, we didn’t have access to the vaccine. But we did come up with something using antibodies from Avaritia.” The doctor held up a vial, and Morrigan smiled hopefully at the Ethereal. “So… does that mean you know the biokinetic procedure to cure her?”

I do, and I have before without issue. It can be somewhat taxing, though...

Morrigan bowed her head. “What… what would you ask for in return…”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Empathy for the Enemy, Part Two

Luxuria looked between Morrigan and Emily, enticed at the possibilities but also wanting to be reasonable. I’m assuming freedom is off the table…

Morrigan cautiously nodded. “I’m afraid so. I… would never get away with that, even if it was to save my daughter’s life.”

I thought so, but I had to ask. Luxuria looked sadly at the young girl in the wheelchair, feeling an uncomfortably personal pity on her. I will be reasonable, but I still have a price. How much do you know about your prison systems?

Morrigan shrugged. “Practically everything. All of the design specs for it were run by me. Why?”

Then you know the vast amount of differences between the ones you call ‘minimum security’ and ‘maximum security.’ Luxuria pointed upwards at her cell, the gesture mirrored by her illusion. I tire of this glorified fluorescent tube. I’d like a real accommodation, perhaps furnished by the things you ‘salvage’ during your raids. I believe I have cooperated enough that this request is reasonable.

Morrigan raised an eyebrow. “A… accommodations?” She scratched the back of her head. “We… would need to keep the inhibitors, but… I can get you a more comfortable cell. Something nice and comfortable. I’m sure we can come up with something to tickle your fancy, if… if that is what you really want.”

It is, I find it distressing how little comforts I have for how long I have assisted. I am sure you have been hesitant to sell these comforts of ours to your lesser governments recently, as well. Luxuria fixed Morrigan with a stare treading a line between hopeful and threatening. I know it is small change compared to an actual life, but I’m hoping you’ll remember this for future endeavors between us.

Morrigan smiled. “Y...yes, of course! It’s a deal. Please, just… just heal my baby, and I’ll give you a cell fit for a queen.” She quickly walked forward, hitting a few keys and turning the inhibitors as low as possible without completely shutting them off. As the energy readings for Luxuria went up, the Legion guards instinctively raised their weapons, but held their fire.

Luxuria floated towards the end of her cell, crouching slightly and hovering lower than normal, but still not touching the ground. Her four hands slipped from her robe and began to glow the appropriate color, as her mask stared at the young sickly girl.

I would deter the robots from shooting me, as well.

Morrigan quickly turned to the androids, stepping in between Luxuria and their line of sight. “Hold your fire. She is only curing my daughter. Shoot her, and I will dismantle each and everyone of you!” Her voice angry but her expression pleading, the Legion guards lowered their weapons ever so much, nodding in unison.

“You’d think there’d just be an ‘off’ phrase,” Emily thought out loud.

Luxuria’s arms began moving in a pattern, tracing her thin, glowing arms through the air. A feeling of focus and effort emanated from the cell as the purple psionic pollution around Brigid began to fade away.

This should stop her from throwing things at you...just another few moments…

Morrigan nodded, leaning down next to Brigid and holding her hand tightly. Luxuria’s palms began to glow brighter as she continued, the purple around her finishing being swept away. With a dramatic motion, the glow stopped, and Brigid appeared to visibly perk up, but still looked a little bit dizzy.

She may be disoriented for a few hours more, but the rest of the symptoms should be gone for the most part...

Morrigan wrapped her arms around Brigid, lifting her up and holding her tightly. She turned back to Luxuria, not bothering to hide the tears in her eyes. “Th… Thank you. I… thank you…”

Emily smiled at the happy family, relieved for Brigid’s recovery. She suddenly felt a similar feeling of happiness faintly radiating from the Ethereal, although her body language pointed towards confusion more than anything else.

It was a simple transaction...I do not need thanks.

Morrigan nodded. “O-of course, um… I’m going to… take Brigid to get some rest. Emily, if you could… see to making a list of what she would like for her cell?”

“No problem,” Emily nodded.

Morrigan nodded, and she and the doctor made for the exit. As Morrigan passed the Legion guards, she said, “Keep on guard, but… leave the inhibitors down for another hour,” then stepped out.”

Emily crossed her arms as she looked up at the Ethereal, not sure what to make of everything. “So, that’s it? No tricks, no secret triggers we’re going to learn about in a week?”

Luxuria’s image looked insulted at the proposition. Of course not. She’s just a child, I’m not that cruel.

“Apparently not,” Emily replied. “I felt that, you know?”

Felt what?

“The guilt when she was brought in, and the happiness when the Commander was hugging her.”

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I said it was transactional.

Emily’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then she relaxed. “So, new room. What did you have in mind?”

A computer, for starters. I don’t care if it’s isolated, but I know you like taking them from our ships. The image looked up as it went through a mental checklist. Some seating would be nice as well, and the disc that I showed you last time, if you have one.

Emily grabbed a piece of paper from a nearby workstation as the Ethereal continued, going through a long list of basically anything that XCOM might’ve stolen that was of any use. The requisitions officer was in for an odd night...