RP XCOM2: Liberation of Earth

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and MarineAvenger: “Heart of Iron, Part 2"

“I had long since forgotten the meaning of that ring. I just… I have been wondering more and more whether or not I would ever re-find it.” Artyom said, clearing his throat, looking away as if the subject of love made him uncomfortable.

“Did… something happen recently?” Lily found the courage to ask her friend. “You’ve never asked me anything like this before.”

“No, it is nothing.” The Russian man admitted. Technically it wasn’t a lie.

Lily tapped her foot, crossing her arms. “I can’t think of a reason why you’d bring this up if there was no catalyst to.” Objects at rest stay at rest if not acted on by an outside force. Stubborn people stay stubborn if not driven to change by an external impetus.

“I have a lot of time to think.” He contested, staring at her with his eight red eyes at once. Artyom remembered a time where everyone stared at those eyes warily. In all honesty that time had never ended for him during the last two years.

Even Lily balked a bit at his arachnid-esque visage, having never quite been able to be comfortable with the similarity to spiders for reasons Artyom had likely begun to suspect. “That’s… still pretty vague…” she said slowly.

He pulled his hood a bit, shaking his head. “I just don’t know what to think An-Yi. I have not been in this sort of situation for a long time. There is… a girl.”

“Someone you’ve met and aren’t sure how to feel about?” Lily inquired, the dots beginning to connect in her head.

The Russian man nodded slowly. “My girlfriend now.”

An-Yi blinked. “...come again?” The engineer took a moment to think. “You’re… not sure you like someone and ended up going out with them anyway? I’m a little confused by that.”

“To be fair it was more encouraged by her.” Artyom told the woman of Chinese descent, running a hand through matted hair. “It was almost as if I had a weird feeling that if I did not agree, then the chance would not be presented again. I don’t know exactly why I did it but that is the explanation I offer up for now.”

Lily accepted his explanation with a slight nod. “Well… who is it? What is she like?” Lily transitioned curiously.

“Catherine Thomas.” Artyom told with a bit of hesitation. “She is a woman who smiles all the time, and is too optimistic. I hate her…”

“T-The cook?” Those two aren’t even polar opposites. They’re on different planets. “Well, I’d be lying if that didn’t seem like an odd person to be interested in you… but maybe… you two can balance each other out?” Lily offered.

“I was having the same thought. Though I also have a worry.” He put his hands together, holding them tightly. “What if things end horribly and I end up hurting that personality of hers?” Concern for another was certainly the largest surprise to come out of the visit so far.

“You… you… uh… seem to care about her more than you realize,” An-Yi pointed out. “So that doesn’t seem too likely. Even if you two don’t work out, either she’ll be a little mellowed out - something she probably needs - or her sunny disposition will prove invulnerable.”

The man nodded, his wound up tension loosening only slightly. “Do you speak of personal experience?”

“I mean… as far as hard-to-throw-off personalities go, look no further than my best friend. It’d take catastrophic events to have a chance at making her doubt her convictions. She’s gone through some changes recently, and will continue to, but who she is at her core isn’t changing. Her perspective is what’s being broadened.” Lily frowned. “As far as romantic relationships go, you have more experience than I do. Never really had any chance whatsoever at romance… I guess there were some boys in La Paz but…” Lily trailed off, her gaze briefly flitting to her boyish figure in a long-standing frustration.

His gaze followed hers. “Are people put off by your body?”

“I’m fine with how I look… it’s more that there were chicas with bigger pechos than mine for them to chase after,” Lily clarified.

Artyom looked over her along while. “I see nothing wrong with you. I find it fits who you are. Enhances it. It is why you are one of my only friends. You are just yourself An-Yi. You are honest.”

“Right?” Lily stretched one arm across the other to work out the kinks. “I’m sure I’ll find someone that appreciates me for who I am and is still interested eventually. Just gotta be patient… as painful as patience is.”

“If things with Catherine do not work I assure you that you will be the first on my list of potential women to seek love from.” If she didn’t know him any better it would almost seem like he was teasing.

“R-Right… I won’t be holding my breath though. Otherwise I might suffocate,” Shen quipped with a bemused chuckle, stretching her other arm.

“That would be bad.” He agreed. “Though do not give up. It is a small ship. But if I can do it…” Artyom looked her up and down once more and nodded. “Then there is a match for you too.”

An-Yi bobbed her head slightly. “That would make sense, yeah.”

“Besides… you were able to become my friend. Someone I hold dear. Someone…” Artyom showed great hesitation and suddenly stood up. “I need to go.”

What was he going to say? Shen naturally wondered. “To… where?” she questioned.

“My room. I am slightly fatigued, but I am glad that we had this chat. It helped. I will try and go out and… try.” Artyom said softly.

Deciding it was better to let him go for now, Lily stepped back a pace. “Alright. I’m glad I could be of assistance. Get some rest, Art.”

“And uplift your heart Anya.” Artyom told the woman. “I would not be able to feel good if you did not either. And I am sure your friend would wish you to quickly move on and add to your resolve.”

“Right. Thank you,” An-Yi responded, yawning. “Good night. I think I’ll turn in early on that note.” He merely nodded at that, moving over to Sparks to give him one last pat before moving back down the staircase.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Interior Decorating, Part 1”

Montana Shantytown "Liberty Falls"
Former United States of America
1324 Hours, June 16th, 2038

Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Central Block
Alien Debris

Robert S. Tygan stood to the side of the door leading back into the floor 3 access hallway. This proved to be a wise decision as a woman in her early thirties rushed out only a few seconds after he had arrived in the undeveloped room, followed by a procession of three other mechanics and an engineer.

The lead woman and the engineer stood side by side, their younger peers lined up behind them - tools in hand. "What can we do for you?" Repair Crewman Hillary Finch asked the chief scientist.

"For now, clear out all of this..." Robert waved a hand over the mess of blasted alien equipment. "Junk. But make sure to pack it up into a pile, don't break anything that looks remotely useful. I may want to study it, and Shen will certainly be upset if she comes back from work to find her beautiful ship scarred. Preserve any intact equipment, and we'll figure out a blueprint for the new facility once the extraneous parts have been cleared out."

Peter McCaffree nodded. "Good advice." He turned to the others. "Alright you lugnuts, let's get to clearing this crap out!" The maintenance team plus engineer went off to start tearing out broken alien tech.

Jack cracked his knuckles, and carefully moved equipment to the side. His strength and size made him wary of anything that looked fragile, and he spent most of the time picking out junk and moving that. He couldn't help but pick up what looked like a plasma weapon power core, however. "Nice. Wonder if... anyone would notice this missing," he mumbled to himself.

"Mr. Irons," Tygan began as he approached the engineer. "May I see that?"

"Damn..." Jack muttered, and shrugged, turning back and handing it over. "Power Core. Looks to be in good condition, doctor."

The older man turned it over in his hands, nodding. "Could be of some use to both our divisions. The Proving Grounds will be starting up work on beam focusing and scattering devices soon. Having a model to work off of for the extra power couplings - even if they won't be using Elerium - should prove valuable."

"Would be nice if we could find some Elerium in all this junk, though." Jack looked back at his pile. "We need everything we can get."

"For the future, very true. Hopefully the caches we... acquired in Costa Rica will be enough for now." Tygan called a mechanic that was milling about over and had them take the core up to the Proving Grounds. "For now though we have the more pressing concern of getting this area cleared out. The facility I have in mind will prove vital to our efforts."

"Oh?" Jack hefted up an impressive amount of trash in one scoop, and didn't look to be at all strained. "What did you have in mind... if I might ask."

"The name I'm running with is the Shadow Chamber. I have several applications in mind that I hope to squeeze in," Robert started. "The foremost is analysis equipment. Computers dedicated to data decryption, tables dedicated to but not limited to chemical and composition analysis. All for the purpose of gaining knowledge about enemy black ops projects, hence the name."

"Interesting." Jack carried off the junk, and returned a few moments later. "I'd love to help out. I'm pretty good at building things, and I even know a little about programming."

"I'll make sure to call you back once the computerized parts are being added then," Tygan informed him. "Of course, Shen will be here as well," he said with a certain dryness.

Jack scratched his chin, noting briefly that he needed a new razor. "You two don't get along very well, do you?"

"She has a vendetta against me for whatever reason," Robert answered. "I suspect she doesn't fully trust me. And for my part, I think she's infinitely stubborn and infuriating," he explained calmly.

Jack gave him a stoic nod. "Perhaps she has a vendetta against you because you treat her like someone who is infinitely stubborn and infuriating."

Tygan frowned. "That is a statement of fact, Irons. Are you suggesting I pretend as if she isn't an obstacle to our progress as much as she is an aide?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "That... is a very bold thing to say about another section leader, and one that could interfere..." He sighed. "I'm sorry, sir. It isn't my place. I just find Shen isn't as hard to work with as you do, and I wonder how much can be solved if the two of you simply... talked."

"Things are never that simple. But we get our jobs done, as long as we do not get in the other's way," Tygan countered. "It's an irritation, not a crippling factor. I have more important things to do - such as sifting through the alloy shaping notes and then sending them to Shen so she can make the blueprints. And that way we don't even have to converse."

Jack nodded. "Well... as my father used to say, if you can't get along with someone at work, make sure you work different beats at different hours so you see them as little as possible. That, or duke it out. I don't see the latter working for you, though."

Tygan raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what your choice would be but I prefer intellectual solutions over brawn, and failing that I let others handle the fighting."

Jack held up his hands. "Just quoting the old man. I might look otherwise, but I'm prefer brains to brawn myself."

Tygan rolled the elerium core over in his hand again. "Regardless, keep working at this. The schedule calls for the excavation to be done by the beginning of next month, so I'll be holding you do that."

"Yes sir," Jack stated, his face neutral but his tone positive as he lifted another heavy pile. "You can count on me."

***​

0810 Hours, July 3rd, 2038
Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Central Block
The Shadow Chamber

A door slid open, admitting Doctor Tygan into the newly-completely facility. He glanced to his left, and was satisfied to see a workstation with a pair of monitors hanging from supports along a lower rung of the roof. He went over and experimentally tested the keyboards and touch screens, making sure they were responsive and not being disappointed. Shen’s workstation across the way appeared in order, separated by a violet-blue suspension tube connected to a circular lightning system that was the main source of illumination aside from a lightbulb above An-Yi’s computer. His gaze drifting to the back of the room were various equipment for assaying substances and objects was located, he located Jack.

“Well done, Mr. Irons,” the Scientific Chief greeted the engineer. “You and the others have done well with the facility. All appears according to my and Dr. Shen’s specifications.”

Jack turned back. “Doctor! Um… thank you, sir. We did what we could. I mean, I didn’t do too much. Mostly just the heavy lifting. But I’m glad you like it.”

“If I remember correctly you said you would be assisting in the programming of some of the computers. So you did have a role beyond the mundane,” Tygan clarified. “Is there anything that is unfinished, or is it ready for use? I’m eager to begin working on the Skulljack project as soon as possible.”

Jack waved his head towards the equipment. “It is all set. I was just doing some final checks, but it is all yours.”

“Good to hear.” Tygan glanced up at the ceiling. “You should head upstairs. Ipiktok and the others seem to be having trouble with finishing our precision laser prototypes.”

“Yes sir.” Jack looked around and nodded to Tygan. “Please, enjoy. And do report any missed bugs in the system. There is always one or two.” He hurried out, eager to get his hands on those laser weapons, ready to return to his specialty.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Interior Decorating, Part 2”

“Arrrgh!” Yakone growled in frustration, slamming the receiver casing of a laser sniper rifle against her workstation in the Proving Grounds. The others around her were not quite as frustrated, and took cautious steps back from the livid Inuit-Caucasian scientist. “Stupid fucking circuits… why won’t you connect properly…”

“Whoa there, Ms. Ipiktok.” Jack walked up to her. “Unlike what you see in old movies, hitting something doesn’t usually get it started. What seems to be the problem?”

Yakone looked at the slightly dented casing. “Oh, it’ll be fine… and… I can’t get…” She grit her teeth. “I can’t get the thing to actually turn on,” she gratingly admitted as she fitted the casing back onto the weapon proper.

“Let me see the wiring.” Jack moved the magnifying glass on the workbench over to it and examined her work. “Hmm… everything is hooked up right, at least at first glance. But these two little yellow ones are too close to each other. Causes a feedback in the system that sends too much power to the cooling systems and not enough to the systems that actually keep it powered.” He grabbed some tweezers and handed them to Yakone. Try switching them around so everything goes where it needs to go with them being so close.”

“It can’t be that simple, don’t-” Yakone tested it, and the small light on the side lit up. “Oh.” She hung her head. “Well don’t I feel stupid…”

Jack placed a hand on her shoulder. “Why do you feel stupid? Like I said, you didn’t really do anything wrong. It is just one of those silly little nuances that trip up even the best of us. I only knew that was the problem because it stumped me more than once.”

“I should know better though, I’ve been working on weapons for the past two years,” Yakone complained.

“I know, it is frustrating when you hit a wall. But think of it like this.” Jack gave her a serious look. “Then next time this comes up, will you get stuck? Or will you have learned and get it on your own?”

“I would hope I’d have learned, but when it comes to anything circuits I feel like anything I figure out is halfway lost after a week or two,” Yakone told him.

Jack took a step back and folded his arms. “If you want to change that, I’d be willing to work with you. I don’t know if I’m much of a teacher, but I try my best with some of the others. You wouldn’t be the first soldier I’ve given some tips to in order to help with their secondary positions.”

Yakone sighed. “Maybe that’d be best… doubt I’m ever going to get frequent personal instruction from Tygan again now that we’re in full swing.”

“I’d be surprised if he gave out personal lessons to anyone at any time,” Jack commented. “Doesn’t see the type.”

“Robert can be kind of closed-off, but I don’t really think he does it intentionally. He’s just a robot at heart,” Yakone joked, though her smile was short-lived.

Jack sighed, and pulled up a chair. “Tell me what troubles you, Yakone. Anything I can help with?”

“No to the second question,” Yakone responded. “Just thought of how it seems the majority of people that are supposed to be older and more responsible than me rarely pay me any mind.”

“That does sound awfully irresponsible of them,” Jack said. “You are one of the ones that will take over when us old ones die off. People should be imparting as much as they can on you.”

“You’d think, but Tygan’s heart is one of iron,” Yakone stated, not realizing the irony, “and despite my mother showing a flash of kindness yesterday I question whether she really has one at all still. One hug doesn’t fix years of neg…” she trailed off, realizing she was maybe imparting too much personal information.

Jack nodded in understanding. “It’s hard. You want to advance, but there are people you have to go through to get there.” He leaned forward. “Why not give your mother a chance? Getting on her good side, at the very least, would help you improve and get the attention you deserve. And who knows? Maybe it’ll turn out to be fruitful in other ways. Like in a mother-daughter kind of way.”

Yakone snickered bitterly. “Yeah, that’s so likely.” She sighed. “Sorry. Shouldn’t take it out on you. It’s her fault for letting her grief consume her. I guess I shouldn’t either, huh? In more ways than one.”

Jack took a moment to think of what she meant, and remembered the last mission. “If your mother’s actions have done something bad, such as hurt your relationship with her, then you can at least learn from her mistake and avoid it. It is not the ideal way to impart knowledge onto our children, but at least it is something.”

“So do the opposite of what she’s done? That makes sense,” Yakone responded in agreement. “Sounds about as backwards as our relationship. Maybe I’m wrong though, maybe things can get better.” The Ranger shook her head. “That new girl was right… I should be stronger than this. I shouldn’t toss away my optimism just because of what happened. It took loss after loss to beat down the Commander after all.” Yakone smiled, then frowned. “Shit, I didn’t even ask her name.” Turning her thoughts back to Jack, she refocused by saying: “Thanks, uh… might as well as your name now so I don’t make the same mistake twice.”

“It’s Jack. Jack Irons.” Jack held out his massive hands, managing a small smile. “And this is one older man that will always give you the time of day.”

“Wait, shit, I have met you before!” Yakone realized, slapping her forehead. “Back when Lily was working on the main laser prototypes. How could I forget our very own John Henry?” she said with a chuckle.

Jack chuckled. “Yeah, I remember. And I believe I found it flattering, even if Dr. Shen was afraid you might insult me.” He sat up, and patted the laser weapon. “Ready to test this out?”

“Abso-friggen-loutely. Armory will have to be good enough though, unless you have a parachute and a means of catching up with a cloaked ship after testing on the ground.”

Jack shook his head. “Afraid not, so the Armory it is.”

***​

Yakone punched on the red light on the Armory door warning anyone in the hallway that weapons were currently in use. She eyeballed the target across the room from her, lifting the prototype laser sniper rifle experimentally. "Jeez, this thing is lighter than I expected. At least I won't have to worry about recoil... this is not my weapon of choice," the Ranger mused, mostly to herself. Lifting the long rifle and squeezing the trigger, Yakone made the barrel light up from zero of three indicators to all of them lit up. A moment of hesitation at the wind-up time threw off her aim, and her shot barely hit the target at all. "It has to charge up for about two seconds? Wow, being a Sharpshooter is going to be lame."

"Yeah, wish we could do something about that, but the power and distance requirements kinda make it needed." Jack shrugged. "Makes it hard to move and shoot like you Rangers, but at least it has range and a nice punch."

"Eh... I'll take my PDW's armor penetration and fire rate any day," Yakone stated. "I'll leave the sniping to the snipers." She shot a bit more on target to restore her pride, and then lowered the weapon. "At least it works."

Jack nodded his head. "Try one more time. Relax. There is no pressure. I'm sure you can hit it."

"I don't need to. Not like I'm ever going to use this weapon on the field."

Jake frowned. "Alright." He took the gun from her. "You did hit home. Tell me... how do you train with your sword? Firing range isn't exactly set up for that."

"Uh..." Yakone rubbed the back of her neck. "The nooks and crannies of the ship that no one is using for anything make for nice training spots. I did want to get instruction from my new roommate though, whose name I really need to ask when I run into her this evening."

Jack got a small grin. "One of the new arrivals, right? Spirited bunch. Always good to have experienced people joining. I hope a few of them are able engineers."

Yakone chuckled. "Well, from what I hear some of them tangentally work on engineering stuff but that's the one role none can properly fill."

"I see." Jack started taking parts off the weapon to look them over. "And what is this roommate of yours like?"

"Haven't really talked to her that much, but she seems like she doesn't tolerate people bossing her around... she's a woman after my own heart."

Jack nodded. "Hope that doesn't get her in trouble here," he muttered.

"You mean with the Commander? She almost did... if by trouble you mean ending up with her head on the ground and a boot on top of it."

Jack chuckled. "Well, I guess if the new girl mouths off too much, that's what she should expect. The Commander runs a tight shift, doesn't she?" Jake shrugged. "Reminds me of my daddy's stories of boot camp."

"Yeah, she does." Yakone stood up abruptly. "Anyway, I should go ask that chick for her name. Thanks for the help, Jack."

Jack nodded. "Hope to work with you again soon, Yakone." The Inuit-Caucasian woman nodded and departed.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Dahlexpert and DarkGemini24601: “The Lowest Point, Part 1”

1427 Hours, July 4th, 2038
The Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 4, Starboard Wing
The Medical Ward

Luke laid in the medbay’s bed resting and letting his mind wander. He sighed. “Good lord it’s boring in here. I have to make sure not to act too crazy again so I don’t end up here.”

“Well, naturally you’re not supposed to tank all the hits the enemy dishes out. Red psionics are like the pinnacle of offense, which green is a lot more defensive. Fitting, I guess, since they’re opposites,” Yakone mused as she entered the medical ward and walked over to Luke. “How’ve you been holding up?”

Luke smiled at Yakone “Yakone, hey. It’s nice to see you. I've been good… I’m bored as hell though. And hey… I did pretty good that mission. I love my new ammo type - takes care of there damn armor in no time. How was your half of the mission?”

“Yeah, shredder munitions aren’t anything to roll your eyes at,” Yakone agreed. “You… haven’t heard anything about what happened then, I guess…” she evasively responded to his question.

“I heard bits and pieces of your mission, but never heard the whole thing. I just know that it was brutal.”

“Yeah. We… lost someone towards the end, just when we thought we had gotten through it alive, if not unscathed,” Yakone told him.

“Damn, our first death. Well it was going to happen eventually. But look at it this way, they had a whole army and they only killed one person. I would say that gives us a win, it’s a shame that we lost someone though.”

“It’s not that simple… but I guess you just say or do whatever impulse tells you to, huh,” Yakone muttered.

“Oh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t want to be a dick to a patient, but… this patient in particular seems to listen only to his dick,” Yakone growled, staring down Luke. “I heard you were… really pushy with Alex.”

“And who exactly told you this?” Luke asked getting a little annoyed.

“Jesus Christ, you’re an absolute idiot,” the Ranger responded. “There’s cameras and stuff in here, and there’s always a nurse around when there are patients in the ward. You’re really, really lucky Grant was sedated and Gwen was being treated in the triage room when you pulled your little stunt. Not so lucky that I interrogated my source about it and made them explain exactly what happened in here.” Yakone stomped down one of her feet. “You’re not fucking getting my best friend pregnant because you’re a flighty horndog!”

“Look I will admit what I did was wrong, and truth be told I let my fear as well as many other things get the better of me. I already feel bad I don’t need to be told what I did was wrong.”

“Just know that it’s out of the question,” Yakone insisted. “We have a room on the lowest level meant to accommodate anyone that wants to do the dirty while they’re on the ship, and it’s stocked with some pills Kazuko and Tygan came up with to prevent female soldiers from getting pregnant. She doesn’t have time to have a kid.” The Inuit-Caucasian woman crossed her arms. “If you want to have sex with her, fine, but at least ask permission first… maybe then I won’t freak out and think that’s how you do things.”

Luke looked somewhat disappointed. “Sigh so I can’t have a kid huh, damn, so I really will be the last one of my tribe that is born.. I don’t know why I’m thinking about kids now, must be because I’m scared or I’m just ready to have them now.” Another sigh. “Well all the more reason to take down ADVENT.”

“It is a little damn early to be thinking about kids when you’ve known her for a month,” Yakone ‘agreed’. “And you? Scared? That’s not the impression I got when I first met you,” the Ranger contested. Letting out a sigh of her own, she did concede, “I’m probably lucky that I don’t worry about dying all that much. I have my Overdrive… I can be the punching bag and get away with it.” She held up an arm. “Got swiped by some goo monster that we’re calling a Faceless that was masquerading as a civie out there, but you’d never be able to tell it now ‘cause of my biokinesis.” Yakone sat down in a chair next to the medical bed. “What I fear is people dying around me. Couldn’t save Miriam, and I’m scared she won’t be the last one that I fail to save.”

“Yakone this is a war - we're going to lose a lot of people. It’s going to be worse before it get’s better. We have ADVENT’s attention now, which means they're going to be hitting us harder. I mean hell we saw like what 12 new enemies on that mission alone? This is only the beginning my friend, but I still believe we're going to destroy them.”

“I think it was more like three,” Yakone said incredulously. “And… not so encouraging… but…” She shook her head. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up or anything. The world’s still suffering a distinct absence of justice, and now I’ve got to make the aliens pay for what they did to Miriam too.”

“That’s the spirit my friend, and don’t worry about me and Alexis I won’t go that far again I just want to get out of this hospital and hang out with her now.”

“How’s your friend doing?” a voice - sounding vaguely similar to Yakone’s but with a distinctive iciness to it - asked the Ranger.

“Uh… alright… Commander…” Yakone responded awkwardly. Her mother had never taken an interest before.

Atka did sigh inwardly at the fact that she was being referred to by her title still, but remembered some of Melissa’s advice. Take it slow. Don’t rush things, the Inuit woman reminded herself.

“Commander, it’s nice to see you. It’s a shame we couldn't meet on more calmer circumstances, and that mission was the first time I met you. All in all, you’re Commander Atka, huh. I’m not going to lie: I was expecting a more intimidating person.”

The woman in the black leather jacket crossed her arms. “Really? I should hope that has nothing to do with my height, Van Dam. And it’s Commander Ipik-” she paused. Damn you Melissa. “It is traditionally Commander Ipiktok, but should we become friends I might allow lapses in use of my title off the field.”

“Hum, well it’s nice to meet you Commander. Sorry our first meeting was during a mission that I’m still healing from.”

“You did well out there,” Atka noted. “Saved some civilians, showed you’re capable of using support grenades to good effect when the environment is too risky to use offensive ones, showed bravery - maybe too much bravery like someone else in this room.” Yakone crossed her arms indignantly.

“Yeah, my thought process was to save people after seeing those Chryssalids.”

“They’re a lot different than when I first met them… back then they zombified people like the Sectoids do now, minus the psionic component. Cocoons with three of them popping out might be worse,” Atka said with a sigh.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Dahlexpert and DarkGemini24601: “The Lowest Point, Part 2”

“Oh joy they got worse.” Luke groaned. “Well then I’ll kill them too. ADVENT can send as many of their flunkies as they want, I will kill them all to get to their so called gods!”

Atka rolled her eyes. “You have a very simple mindset… and let’s not get ahead of ourselves. No human being has, as of yet, challenged an Ethereal and won. Not even me.”

“Way I see it, that just means we get to surpass those who came before us,” Yakone offered.

“Plus we showed up ADVENT, they sent their best and we took them down I say we have gotten under their skins or scales or whatever they had.”

“Your mother used to be one of their troops, so you should know they have skin,” Atka noted dryly. “And I’d hardly call that a victory. We evacuated as many people as we could, but there were still many unavoidable civilian casualties. And again, it was an evacuation, not a defense. We can’t challenge them directly, not as we are…”

Yakone frowned. “I hope we don’t get backed into a corner, always being on the defensive… we’ll never get anything done.”

The Commander nodded grimly. “It’s one of the many factors that doomed the original X-COM, for sure.”

“Oh yes it was not a defense. It was an evacuation, but to me we saved people that were supposed to be dead. I call that a win, and to me every person we saved will tell others that we can fight ADVENT. Iit gives them hope to me - that’s a win.”

Atka inclined her head. “You are right on that last count. Hope is our most valuable tool until we can get some concrete dirt-” she glanced at a slightly smirking Yakone, amending, “-it’s a figure of speech,” coarsely. Continuing, she finished “...until we can get some proper intel on what the Coalition and the Protectorate are doing in their Blacksites we can’t turn their own people against them. Without popular support - without unrest - we’ll never graduate from underground resistance to open revolution.”

“I believe we will get the support... while I don’t care for my fellow man. I believe we will get the support we need to take down the aliens. Luke said, smiling at the Commander.

Yakone scoffed. “What, are you a Legalist or something, Luke? Don’t believe in the inherent goodness of people.” To her side, Atka had to keep from chuckling grimly at her daughter’s optimism. Instead, she feigned a rather realistic cough that didn’t turn Yakone’s head in disbelief due to its authenticity and the Ranger’s preoccupation with her sense of justice.

“Yeah, I don’t care for my fellow man. Hell, I want revenge. But I will not give up on good people, so yeah I still have a sense of justice sue me.”

“Well, not all people in ADVENT are evil… a lot of their civilians are manipulated, and I’m willing to believe quite a few in their military are simply misguided,” Yakone argued.

That brought a look of surprise to Atka’s features. She’s never said anything like that before… always saw the world in black and white. Qamut mentioned her assessing her dreamscape… did she grow from that experience?

“Heh, yeah. Not all are evil, but for now, we keep fighting. I will be the one in front of you guys mowing down the enemies and making a clear way for you guys.”

“Annnnd he’s already forgotten who has the ability to imbue their armor and skin and who doesn’t,” Yakone bemoaned.

“And you forgotten that someone can take out half their forces with a little fire, and and a minigun.” Luke turned his attention to the Commander. “Commander, may I ask you something?”

“As with all unspoken questions, the answer to that depends on what you’re going to ask,” Atka responded, crossing her arms. “So what is it?”

“I think what I have is a reasonable question, if you die Commander who will be the new leader of X-COM?” I’m asking because because I’ve seen too many good leaders die and I just want to know who to follow next.”

“What the hell sort of question is that?!” Yakone blurted out.

Atka was more measured in her response. “I have a second in command. Chain of command would dictate Central Officer William Bradford would take my place.”

“And if ADVENT captures him, I’m sorry I’m asking this Commander it’s just. I have to deal with a very real situation that ADVENT may overpower us.”

“At that point there would be joint command between An-Yi and Joseph most likely, those two are the most level-headed and-”

“No, no, this is stupid,” Yakone responded. “Why don’t you ask ‘what happens if XCOM loses’, Luke? That’s the train of thought you’re traveling down. We’re not going to, and even if we did we just lose. There’s nothing to say about it.”

“I’m asking because I need a plan. If the Commanders dies. I need to plan out where would I be useful to XCOM, if they need me to lead or help out the engineering team or the Ambushers. I’m just planning, the last mission really got to me alright. If that is a glimpse of ADVENT’s might then I need to change my tactics, instead of me relying on my powers and my strength to help me.”

The Commander crossed her arms. “Van Dam, you don’t need to change your role. You need to be a little less reckless since you’re not a frontline class, but even if something were to happen to me you wouldn’t really change in what you do.”

“Heh. Yeah, I probably won’t change, I might be slightly losing it being stuck in here. Sorry Commander, it’s just seeing so many dead bodies… there are very bad memories that still haunt me. “

Atka nodded slightly. “Well, you shouldn’t be in here too much longer. Provided she has the energy, I’ll have Doctor C-B give you another biokinetic healing session to get you out of the medical ward faster. Just don’t push yourself the minute you get out. She won’t do you any favors if the injury was entirely your fault.”

“Heh as much I would love Alexis to heal me, I guess I should have a real doctor heal me. Hell being able to move around will be good for me.”

“I’ll see to it that it happens as soon as possible then,” Atka told him, straightening her coat. “I’ll be seeing you around soon, Van Dam, with any luck.”

“Solong commander.” Luke watched the commander leave, and then turned to Yakone “Your mom is alright, not as intimidating as I thought she would.”

“I don’t think many people intimidate you,” the Inuit-Caucasian Ranger pointed out. “You don’t know her like the rest of us do. Though she has been acting… different lately.”

“True, most people don’t intimidate me - and what do you mean she’s been acting different?”

“I don’t know… less quick to boot people in the ass or yell at me, I guess.”

“Well then, sounds like she’s trying to get close to you. She’s trying at least.”

“Trying… time will tell if that means anything. I tried, and it didn’t do much,” Yakone contested.

“Well I don’t know your situation, but give her a shot Yakone,” Luke insisted. “What’s one more shot, mind you this is coming from someone that had no mother but a mother figure.”

“Yeah, but Lilith seems pretty cool aside from the whole ex-ADVENT thing,” the Ranger replied. “I’ve had a ‘mother’ that never really seemed to give a shit and when she did it was to reprimand me.”

“Well look at what she’s been through, she’s been doing this longer than both of us. Mentally she’s probably broken, also she probably doesn't know how to raise a kid. And on top of that you're being hunted I think she just didn't know what to do.”

“I know she’s been through a lot of shit, but the same could be said of my aunt. She always grinned and bore it though,” Yakone argued. “Up until now the Commander’s just been giving up in a sense… I’m glad that she’s not moping around as much anymore but I’ve got no way to be certain that’ll be permanent. As far as not knowing what to do goes, it would have been nice if she’d at least tried.”

“Look Yakone I don’t know your past, I don’t know what you've been through. But for now just enjoy your mother's company, just enjoy it, hell tomorrow ADVENT could find us shoot us down and attack us. So for now, like me your best friend are doing just enjoy each others company. Plus can your relationship get any worst?”

Yakone paused. Thought about it for a few moments. Then laughed, eventually nigh-uncontrollably. Holding her sides and doing her best to calm herself down, she smiled. “Holy shit, you’re right about that last part! I suppose I do have nothing to really be afraid of with her. Aside from throwing me off the ship or something, but that’s a different matter entirely.”

“See, I’m not so stupid am I.”

“Guess not.” Yakone patted Luke’s shoulder. “Get better soon, you asshole. Pretty sure you’d lose points with Alexis if you lost all your muscle mass from best rest,” the Ranger jested.
“Ha ha, get outta here you. Ou and don’t worry about me and Alexis, I won’t go any further with her unless she wants me to.”

“And if she does, you know where to go and what precautions to take,” Yakone affirmed. “See you when you get out of this sanitary hell, Luke,” she said before heading for the exit.

“Yea, see ya later Yak.”

 

[Dahlexpert]

1427 Hours, July 4th, 2038
The Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 4, Starboard Wing
The Medical Ward

Dealing with family

Luke sits in the hospital thinking about the talk he had with Alexis. “Sigh kids what was I thinking, why did I tell her that. More importantly I can’t believe I let me fear get the better of me and I did that to her. Yea I wanted to do that for a while, and man Alexi’s breast really are soft. A little heavy but Alexis in general feels pretty good. Her whole body is soft and warm it feels warm, but I have to control myself from now on though after getting a taste of her. Sigh It’s going to be a little hard to face her again.”


The door opens and Lilith enters the med bay to visit Luke “So the first time you get a big mission you go all hero and get hurt.”

“Please don’t give me any crap today aunty, I had a long day yesterday with Alexis and I would rather not talk about it.”

“Ou so Alexis did come and visit you, I was wondering when she was going to visit you. I thought she was going to let you get a bit of rest before coming to see, you but she came straight away huh. Hum a young love it truly is something to behold.” Lilith said knowing Luke would argue this

Luke layed in his bed and to Lilith surprise didn’t say anything.

“Ou not even going to protest that Luke, are you actually falling for Alexis?”

“Hay aunty, can I tell you something?”

“Um sure Luke you can ask me anything, are you alright you seem to acting weird son even for you. Did something happen between you two yesterday?”

“Um yesterday I kind of fondled Alexis breast, without her permission.”

Lilith eyes widen and she puts her hand into her forehead.” God damnit Luke, this is not the wilderness you can’t just do what you want to a woman. I thought that you were done with this?”

“I know and I was wrong for it, but then we started to talk we got talking about kids. And well Alexis and I almost came to the conclusion that if she’s not needed on the battlefield then....we..we Sigh we can have a family of our own.”


Lilith looks at Luke trying to find what words to say. “Sigh you know what, I’m just going to let you two handle this. Your both adults, so if you want kids then you two go ahead then.”

“What no, go on and have grandkids speech. After months of me hearing you go on about my legacy, you’re not excited about this?”

“Don’t get me wrong Luke, I’m happy that you two talked about this. But I’m disappointed in you, I thought you got over this you don’t harass a woman and worst you fondled her. However I should be happy that you didn’t do anything else, the old you would have gone further and problay would have done the deed.

See I’m not a full jackass, I’m learning slowly but I’m getting there. So aunty is there anything else you want to talk to me about?”

Lilith stood up and brought in what looked like a red drink. “I want you to drink this, this is something our people drank for guidance, knowledge advice.”

Luke looked at the red drink “What is it?”

“You talk to much, just drink it alright.”

“Um OK.” Luke drunk the entire drink and passed out. Luke sees an a area filled with snow, and a small village that seems to be in the middle of nowhere. “Wait is that my home? It looks beautiful.”

 

[Dahlexpert]

Part 2

“Yea well it better be, you were born here.”

Luke turned around and saw a blond woman with red eyes “Mo…..mom is is that you?”

Scarlet walks up to Luke and rubs his cheek. “Look at you Luke, you’ve grown into a fine young man.

Luke hugged his mom “I missed you mom, I wanted to see you for so long I wish I had more then the few memories I have of you.”

I know you do but I’m here to talk to you, Luke I’m very proud of you for joining this project and fighting alongside these people, but you are still week not physically but mentally. You want to protect this Alexis woman right?


“You damn right I do, and not just her but everyone on this ship.”

Then start using your mind, your brain is the most powerfully weapon in your arsenal and you refuse to use it. You can become more then what you are if you quit going full throttle wih your powers.


“What are you talking about? I need to go full throttle with my powers.”

“No you don’t, your powers are strong without you going all out.” A small flame appears in Scarlets hand “I know what I’m talking about Luke, you inherited my power well not inherited but you became a red psionic just like me.

“Wait so you’re a red psionic, that’s great please teach me how to become stronger.”

“Sigh Luke, life is more about hitting hard and rushing into action like an idiot. First in foremost when it comes to other psionics you are very powerfully. Red psions are amazing on the attack, but as you are aware you have no defense. You need to worn on the other parts of being a psion that means a mind shield you need to learn that ability.”


“And how am I supposed to learn that? It’s not like I know where to start”

“How did you learn to control your powers, you need to be patient Luke things take time you can’t learn a new ability in just a day. I understand you want to kill the leaders of ADVENT for what they did to you, but like you tell others rely on your team. Believe it or not you can use your power for defense, your flames can cut off the enemy and catch them off guard


Luke looks at his mom taking in all the Advice she has.”Yea I will be sure to do that, hay mom can you tell me about you.”


Scarlet looked at her son “I was a solder, a good one at that. I could handle any weapon that I came across. But before I was a solder I was a warrior in our village. My job was to train the young on how to hunt and create weapons. Then I had you. Scarlet hugs Luke “When you were born it was the best day of my life, and then everything happened.” Scarlet let’s go of Luke “Son you need to get stronger, Things will get worst for you and your friends. Scarletkiss Lukes forehead I wave to go now, Remember Luke never change who you are for anyone have fun while you can alright. Good buy son.”

Luke wakes up and sees that he’s back in the hospital. “You want me to get stronger, alright then I will manifest my powers and what other purpose I can use them in.”

 

[MarineAvenger]

Step Away From the Edge Part One (ZombieSplitter53 and MarineAvenger)

Medical Room of Gwendoline De Saint Pierre

Gwen laid on her bed, curled up in the fetal position, her short hair a messy mop as she had been twisting and turning, her pillow damp from her tears. She couldn't scrub the image of the laser burning through Miriam's head, the sound it made, the immediate feeling of non-believing. Whether her eyes were opened or closed, that image was always there. It wouldn't make it so torturous if that was the only image that went through her mind. It was another image, another moment that was all too similar to the one she saw on the mission. It was the image of her nanny's own head being shot by ADVENT forces when they were captured, the same amount of fear and pain mingling with the other emotions she felt. Despite the wounds on her back, she barely felt the pain. The mental anguish that basically reduced her too child were too overwhelming.

From the doorway, Alexis looked in with a sad look. She had an idea of what the woman has gone through, and knew that Gwen's mental state was already poor because of Alexis. She was afraid to step in, afraid of how Gwen would react to just seeing her, and it took five minutes for her to finally squeak out, "Gwen?"

Hearing Alex's voice caused Gwen to cry harder, squeezing as tightly into a ball as she could, now pulling her pillow over her head.

Alexis slowly walked in, and sat down in a chair near the bed. "Gwen... please. I know her probably hate me right now... but I came to apologize again. And to... see if I can do anything to make you feel better."

"No! Go away! Never come back, I never want to see you!" She yelled purely emotionally, "I hate you! I hate you!"

Alexis lowered her eyes. "I know. I... I don't blame you. I hate myself too right now."

"Why!? You have everything! You have no reason to hate yourself!" Gwen cried, pulling the pillow tighter around her face.

Alexis sighed. "I don't have everything. I don't have a clean conscious over what I did to you. I don't have a relationship that isn't stained by stealing my boyfriend from a good woman. I don't have... you as a friend... or at least a colleague."

Gwen gave no response, merely keeping her head buried in the pillow, almost for seemingly no reason.

Alexis stood up and walked over to the bed, reaching out for Gwen's shoulder. "Please at least look at me."

She didn't react to Alexis touching her, and didn't moved her face. Gwen's chest was rising slower.

Alexis quickly grabbed the pillow and moved it away, and pulled Gwen so she was laying on her back. "Gwen? Gwen, wake up!"

The French woman groaned, her eyes slowly opening. "...give it back..."

Alexis glared at her. "No! You almost suffocated yourself."

"Well... well... what gives you the right to stop me!?" She said, getting her energy and breath back. "None, that's what!"

Alexis stammered for a moment. "Did... did you do that on purpose?!"

"No duh, you asshole!" Gwen scolded the woman.

Alexis snarled, and lifted her hand to slap Gwen, though hesitated, her hands shaking.

Gwen's face only looked up at Alexis with disgust and hatred, daring Alexis to do what she knew she wanted to do. However her eyes spoke differently. They were like a child's eyes, scared, confused, and most of all filled with fear and deep anguish.

Tears rolled down Alexis' cheeks, the young woman trembling terribly. She collapsed to her knees, burying her face in the side of the bed and sobbing loudly. "Please... forgive... me..."

Gwen's own tears fell, and she quickly turned away from Alexis, crying herself. The blanket pulled away from her since Alexis was laying on it, and it showed that Gwen wasn't wearing a shirt or a bra. Instead her entire torso was wrapped entirely in white bandages for the wound along her back that very nearly killed her without Yakone's help on the mission.

Alexis cried out in shock, not realizing how bad the injury was. "P... please, Gwen. At least look at me. I'm begging you."

"Why... why do you keep this up? Why can't you just avoid me and be done with it?" The French woman asked desperately, turning around.

"How could I do that now that I've pushed you this far?" Alexis gave her a pleading look. "I didn't know anything about you, and yet I treated you so badly. The guilt, it... it's too much. If you had died without me ever telling you how sorry I am, it would have killed me."

"I told you then that everything was forgiven but you still didn't leave me alone!" Gwen contested the woman. "Why will now be any different?"

Alexis shook her head. "I don't want to be forgiven. I don't deserve it. I want to help you get better."

"How... you stopped the only way possible..." Gwen told the woman bitterly, shaking her head. "At this point it seems the easiest way... I can never take back the words I said to Miriam before she was forced to killed herself, I can never take back being responsible for me and my nanny getting captured and getting her killed... I can never take back the way my father defiled me..." Each example she gave, Gwen's voice became weaker and weaker. "I embrace the thought of nothingness..."

Alexis looked down sadly. "What about your brother? Doesn't he matter anymore?"

Gwen jerked her gaze away from Alexis. "Leon is a hero. Everyone here loves him. He would get over me eventually. It isn't like he is my real brother anyways..."

Alexis dared to look up at her. "Does he think of you like that? Does he know you think of him like that?"

"Who cares?" She asked, covering her face. "I've always been his number two... I've always just been the little sister. It could have been anyone who found me and took me in. He was just the one I happened to stay with."

"But he loves you!" Alexis insisted. "You really think just anyone would have taken you in like that? He cares about you, and would probably be destroyed if you died! Especially by your own hand!"

"What do you know? You don't know anything." Gwen whispered, turning away from her once more.

 

[MarineAvenger]

Step Away From the Edge Part Two (ZombieSplitter53 and MarineAvenger)

"You're wrong," Alexis said with certainty. "You're just making excuses to justify yourself now. But I bet you wouldn't talk like that if he was here right now. In fact, why don't I go get him?"

"He's still recovering Alexis!" Gwen spat angrily. "Don't you dare disturb him!"

"Why not!? You don't care about him, right? Not like he's your real brother!"

"Shut up you stupid bitch! Asshole! Cunt!" She yelled as loud as she could, crying harder.

"Why are you getting so angry? I'm sure it'll be fine! Maybe he'll even help you." Alexis got in Gwen's face, as if daring her it take a swing.

"...I don't want help..." Gwen whimpered, all her anger vanishing. "I'm a broken doll... that's all I am. I'm worthless. I couldn't even save Yakone... she was the one who ended up saving me. I am always needing to be saved. But I am nothing. I don't want to live like this anymore..."

After a moment, she felt Alexis crawl into the bed behind her. "Then don't. Change. You can do it. With a little help."

"Why do you care? Why are you trying so hard?" Gwen asked softly.

"Because... I know what it feels like to feel worthless," Alexis answered softly. "I felt that way recently. Work in engineering wasn't going so well. I felt useless on the battlefield. And someone... i-important here kinda... made me feel worthless in the worst way. There was a minute or two I thought... maybe if I was gone..."

"Alex... you really are an idiot. You have everything. You should have no reason to feel that way." Gwen whispered, crawling into a ball. "I envy you..."

Alexis later next to her and placed a hand on her arm. "What do I have? Tell me."

"I don't know..." Gwen sobbed out, covering her eyes. "That is what scares me Alexis... I don't know!"

Alexis scooted close to Gwen. "Well... I have a sister, just like you have a brother. I have my accomplishments in engineering, kinda like the soldier class you helped create. I have a purpose, stopping ADVENT, just like you. And I have my friends. I wish this nice girl I hurt named Gwen was among them. We have a few things in common, and I think we could be good friends if I hadn't screwed up."

Gwen turned in Alexis' arms, holding her tightly, crying louder.

Alexis held her tight, rocking a little. She hummed a soft lulliby, something she was told her mother used to sing but Alexis only remembered the song. She slowly stroked the woman's hair, trying to make her feel comfortable, having experience doing it for Jennifer.

It seemed to work, Gwen calming down as one leg wrapped around Alexis', hugging the girl closely. "Luke is lucky to have you... We may be similar but I am nothing like you really. Any guy would be miserable with me. I'm too pushy. I'm too plain looking. People don't see me as someone to love. They see someone to be a friend with."

"Some guys like pushy, and you are very pretty. Luke might not have worked for you, but you'll find someone. This just isn't the best place for it. Trust me. Luke is... my first boyfriend. My first everything, really."

"So you've had sex already?" Gwen asked softly.

Alexis' eyes widened. "N-no! No... n-no, we haven't. I meant, like... first relationship, first date, first kiss. I'm still... you know..." Alexis rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not helping here, huh?”

"No... You helped. I'm not blue in the face because of pillow right now right? And I hugged you without the urge to punch your perfect pretty face." Gwen said, looking to the wall.

Alexis nodded. "That's true. It Is something. I know... we probably aren't cool. But... can we maybe talk every now and then until... we're cool?"

"Yeah... I would like someone to talk to every now and again reliably." Gwen said, pulling her legs close.

"Okay. If that's what you want." Alex smiled. "I can trust you not to smother yourself again, right?"

"Yeah... I won't Alexis." Gwen whispered, closing her eyes. "Even though I still feel like shit."

Alexis reached down, grabbing the covers and pulling them over Gwen. "Rest up. We need our best walking tank to top form ASAP."

"Yeah... And… thanks for the support Alexis." Gwen whispered.

Alexis nodded, and left to the the woman sleep.

 

[MarineAvenger]

MarineAvenger and DarkGemini24601: “Liquid Courage, Part 1”

1856 Hours, July 4th, 2038
The Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Port Wing
Room C207

Leon Sinclair slowly walked down the long corridor, his stride heavy and sullen. Despite some time having past, and Leon having gotten out of the infirmary a fair while ago, somehow he still found himself back into the medical ward. A visit with Gwen did a lot to bring down his mood, but the convincing smile he had on his face wouldn’t give way to that. He refused to see people see him in a weak or depressed state. One of those people was the person whose door he was knocking on.

“Um… hello?” an unfamiliar voice asked from behind the door. The sound of a heated iron buzzing across fabric came from behind the door as well, but was merely a quiet drone.

“Name’s Leon. I’m here to see Yakone. Where is she?” The Canadian-born man asked, crossing his arms as he waited for a response.

“Friend of yours?” the woman asked.

A more familiar voice responded with an affirmative. “Leon’s here? Let him-”

“Put on a shirt first.”

“Ah, right.” A few moments passed, and then Yakone repeated, “Let him in.”

The door opened, a woman with blond hair and brown eyes being the one to do it. Yakone was by her bunkbed - thankfully now wearing her signature ‘Canadian Graffiti’ shirt - with her blue cape unfurled and atop the room’s desk to be ironed. She appeared mostly done with it, largely due to the fact that an item had been stacked ontop of the cape. While unfinished, it appeared to be some sort of animal bone carving that the Inuit-Caucasian had been presumably working on.

“I see you are keeping yourself busy.” He told his friend, Leon looked over the new women he had yet to see and he pointed to her. “Who is this?”

“Leon, meet Christine Kohler, a new Specialist of ours that helped deliver part of our supply drop. Chrstine, meet… well I guess you already heard his name.” Yakone shrugged. “Point is, I have three roommates now. Stacie moved in here, as did Christine and another member of the Maverick Squad.”

“Got yourself a whole lot then. I just still bunk with Gwen though… my room is more empty now that her back is still recovering from that heavy damage she took.” Leon explained, thinking Yakone would have wanted an update. “Which is part of the reason I am here. I wanted to see if you wanted a part two to those last drinks we shared.”

“Uh… sure, that sounds agreeable.” Yakone placed down her iron and turned it off. She gave Christine a questioning look, but the Specialist shook her head. Yakone walked over to the door. “I’m ready to go if you are.”

“No… might need to do up my hair first, pick out the right tux for the occasion, maybe buy a bouquet of roses.” Leon noted with a brief chuckle.

“Go fuck yourself,” Yakone told him lightly, starting to walk for the bar.

“Hey, you bring it on yourself when you ask dumbass, obvious questions.” He mumbled with a growing smile, giving a wave to Christine as he walked after Yakone. “Anyways, feels nice to be out and about. Being cooped up in a bed is not all it is cracked up to be.”

“Yeah, Luke said as much,” the Ranger agreed. “Thanks to my self-healing I don’t have to put up with much bed rest when I get beat up.”

“Speaking of which…” Leon cut in. “I owe you a massive debt for what you did.”

Yakone raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

“For saving my sister.” Leon told the woman, looking her way. “Without you helping her out she might not have made it out. I owe you for keeping her safe when I couldn’t.”

The young woman scoffed, shaking her head. “What I did was nothing compared to the risks she took. Gwen saved my life twice, I only repaid the favor once and then stabilized her - something any idiot could have done.”

“Yeah, well that still doesn’t change the fact I want to treat the idiot who did it to dinner as well as drinks. Or whatever meal it is depending on the time. I haven’t paid much attention to the clock today. This is the first time I have been out of the infirmary for what seems like forever. Gwen keeps mainly quiet and when she isn’t quiet, she uncontrollably cries.” The strain of distraught in his voice was well hidden, but the tightness of when he spoke about Gwen was unmistakable compared to his normal patterns of speech.

Yakone’s gaze fell. “Y-Yeah… she… I’ve wanted to visit her but she’s either been unconscious or I haven’t known what to say. Have you… seen any of the mission feed?”

“Watched it five times. Heard Gwen recite it over three... There isn’t much left to say about what happened. Can only help the ones who witnessed it. Not going to smother you like others are but just want to know you are taking it somewhat decently.”

“I’m… probably doing better than she is. I still feel guilty about that.” Yakone shook her head. “I know she was just joking out there, and ontop of that she was delirious from blood loss… but there’s probably no way to convince her of that now.”

“I’ve done what I could. She will just need time.” Leon spoke as if convinced of the fact himself. “Everyone always needs time. Time people who sacrifice themselves like Miriam provide us all. I hope… she didn’t blame herself too much for what I did myself. She left me an apology letter before she went out on the mission, but I haven’t had the nerve to open it yet. Maybe I will burn it or throw it over the side of the ship. I accepted her apologies long before.”

“Yeah… I… that carving I had on my cape? I was making a… fuck, I can’t pronounce the actual name. I was fashioning a Mexican Hairless Dog head to attach to my cape. Wanted to honor her memory, even if just in a small way. I’ve already done the other part by visiting the memorial wall and her ashes.”

“Been there twice myself. I’m glad she was allowed to be brought home. Others may not be so lucky in the future.” Leon noted as he stopped at the bar door, not opening it just yet. “But we are here to have a nice meal and throw back some drinks. Let’s not spend it moping about. Let’s celebrate instead.”

Yakone nodded. “Right.” She pulled on the handle to bring the door to an ajar position. “Ladies first.”

“Quite.” He said, getting in behind her to hold the door for Yakone, grinning at her triumphantly for stealing her moment. “If the lady would do me the pleasure?”

“Do I look like a ‘lady’ to you, madam?” Yakone didn’t budge.

“One of the most beautiful ones all other female XCOM operatives should envy.” He countered, not going to let her win stubbornly.

“Who are you with the flattery, Luke?” Yakone complained, finally giving up and going into the bar to grab a drink, electing to ask for whiskey this time instead of chilled beer.

Leon merely ordered the same to make things easier. “What? Didn’t think I was capable to flirt with women? Luke isn’t the only one attracted to females. The Elders haven’t chemically castrated us… yet.” The Canadian man noted in grim humor.

“Yeah, but when we talked last time you went on about how you didn’t think you could get a woman. What gives?” Yakone asked, swaying a bit in her chair as she waited on her drink.

“Yeah well… cracking three ribs, almost breaking an arm, torso full of shrapnel and a nasty concussion kind of makes you rethink the hole ‘be lonely save for sister and friends’. Who knows? Having a girl to put my arm around after a mission might be cool.” Leon said honestly, having a simpleness to his way of talking at the moment that made the matter easier to discuss rather than making it awkward.

“Or maybe you’re just now realizing you’ve been wasting your time when you’re surrounded by hot girls,” Yakone retorted with a slight upturning of her lips.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

MarineAvenger and DarkGemini24601: “Liquid Courage, Part 2”

“Like the one currently next to me?” Leon asked with a slightly upturned eyebrow. “And no, I am not hitting on you. Just a simple statement of the facts.”

“Is it ever really just that though?” Yakone received her whiskey and downed a sip of it. And sighed. “Dammit Leon, you take half the fun out of teasing if you don’t react to it…”

“I am not one to be embarrassed easily. Sorry.” He said with own slight hint of a grin as he took his own drink in hand and turned, leaning back against the bartop. “Besides, I have a type of woman I know I like.”

“Oh, really? Do tell, you can’t just say something curious and then clam up about it,” Yakone declared, sitting upright in her chair and muttering something like ‘wish these were spinny chairs’.

“Well… if you must know, I like boisterous girls. Ones that aren’t afraid to smile and be out there. Petite ain’t my style, they are usually too fragile or pissy. MILFs don’t get me going so don’t try and put me and Lilith in a bed together.” He teased. “Sporty, a bit sensitive when it calls for… wonder what sort of girl fits that description?”

“I’m not one to be easily teased either,” Yakone stopped him with a roll of her eyes. “So let’s see… no fake incest for you, no EXVENT older women for you… and some of the girls that fall into your criteria are taken. You seem fucked, and not in the positive way.”

“Oh yeah, hot shot? You don’t seem to be reeling in any big fish either. What’s your type? I spill, you spill, that is how this works.” Leon said, rolling his hand as he accentuated his point.

“Well, obviously I’d prefer a guy who doesn’t want his girlfriend to just be all prim and proper, though I don’t think anyone’s that archaic anymore,” Yakone replied generally. “And I’d need someone who could put up with how I carry myself and wouldn’t piss me off. Thirdly, as weird as this might sound, I’d probably want a boyfriend that could express themselves. Not some idiot that holds themselves up to a manly standard and never lets themselves feel emotions. Those sort of people are boring.”

“My girl has to be hot, but comfortable in her body. Not afraid to flaunt herself in front of me. She still has to be a girl with a heart of gold, but is allowed to be mischievous here and there. A girl who accepts me when I cry and smile. A girl who likes me for me.” Leon continued his own thoughts, wanting to expand his search criteria.

Yakone held her chin “You sure have this thought out… I’d be grasping at straws to add anything else to what I can think of off the top of my head. I’m not someone who thinks about settling down at that much.”

“What I stated is an ideal girl. Variations are allowed. I am not some guy who demands perfection from the woman I love. Hell if I love her, who cares how pretty she is or what she acts like. If I love her, I do.” Leon stated with a nod of his head as he leaned back so far he watched the ceiling.

“Would you love a girl covered in mucus volcanos then?” Yakone asked with a snicker. “Gotta make sure you clarify you do have standards.”

Leon let out a slight laugh, nudging the half-Inuit woman next to him, taking a sip of his drink. “I would love you if you were covered in mucus volcanos.”

Yakone coughed. “Freudian slip much? You just showed your hand.”

“Who said it was a slip?” The Canadian born man asked Yakone with a hint of seriousness to his tone as he rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “You make a lot of assumptions.” He teased.

The young woman took another drink, her smile fading. “Alright, now I’m not so sure where you’re going with all of this. Are you just playing around, or do you actually…”

Leon shrugged a bit. “I am not that drunk Yakone.” The Grenadier said, shaking his head. “What person wouldn’t like a girl like you?”

“I… don’t really have a response to that,” Yakone responded with a hint of nervousness.

“Let me tell you something Yakone.” The man began, taking the moment of sipping his drink to better compose his thoughts. “Who was the first person to visit me when I came to this ship? Who stayed with me after my sister was gushing ideas to Lily? Sure, I thought you were a bit brash but I found that appealing. Then skip forward a bit after my injury, and you came to visit me all worried. Not to mention while your mother was my first visitor when I was awake, she was there for business. You were there mainly because you cared about my well being. I repeat again… what kind of man wouldn’t find a girl like that appealing? You’re unique.”

“You’re… talking in generalizations,” Yakone said weakly. What are you doing? She asked herself. You’ve never really hesitated about anything before. Why start now?

“You are a strong woman. Strong willed, strong psionics, and you have a strong heart. You care about a lot of people.” Leon told her, letting out a sigh as he rubbed his head. “But you carry a lot. You carry it because you are strong. Yakone I know you must hurt. A lot more then you put on.” He glanced over at her. “It makes me want to help you with that load. To give you something real to know that everything will be okay, even if things are bleak.” He gave her a small smile. “Sappy, huh?”

“I… well…” Yakone shook her head, rubbing her forehead. “Sorry, I’m not usually this indecisive, this all-over-the-place. I’ve just… never been in a situation like this before.”
Leon’s expression flashed with a bit with amusement, and he risked a hand on her shoulder. “I guess I should take that as a compliment. I care about you Yakone. I care about you a lot.”

“Be more direct about it then,” Yakone mumbled. “I’ve already told you I prefer straightforwardness, not beating around the bush.”

“Fine. I’m not one for running around in a circle for a tail anyways.” Leon teased. “So which is why I want to do this…” He said, leaning down to kiss the side of Yakone’s cheek.

Yakone stared at him blankly for a moment, and then snickered. The minute laughter grew into more audible chuckling. “That’s how you respond?” the Ranger said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I was expecting you to take my lips by force or something, that’s how the hero always does it in the movies.”

“This isn’t a movie Yakone.” Leon said, smiling at her. “Besides… that was me showing my affection. If you share the feelings, then you steal the kiss on the lips.” He turned a narrowed gaze at her. “Unless the woman who acts so high and mighty is scared to kiss a man.” Yakone paused for a moment, and then placed a hand on the back of Leon’s head, kissing him without letting herself hesitate again. Leon kissed her back briefly, letting her end the kiss after a few long moments with a smile.

“I find that answer sufficient.” The Grenadier said softly with a smile. “Though asking you if being my girlfriend seems redundant at this stage, no?”

“Is asking a handcuffed criminal to cease and desist redundant?” Yakone answered.

“Maybe.” He merely responded, sneaking in one last brief kiss as he sat back, drinking all of whiskey down in one go.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Unforeseen Restoration, Part 1”

0625 Hours, July 5th, 2038
The Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 6, Central Block
Commander Quarters

A stray beam of artificial light crept into the room where the chiefs of staff onboard XCOM’s mobile base slept. It slowly widened, slanting over the eye of the sleeping Chief Engineer. “Lily,” Yakone whispered, her head and shoulders visible to any occupants of the room that were awake - which currently seemed to be none of them - while the rest of her body was hidden behind the door frame. “Lily!” she hissed louder, to no avail. With a frustrated sigh, the Ranger made her way into the room silently, making use of her PCS and training in ways that the sleeping Chief Scientist had probably not intended.

Reaching An-Yi, Lily shook her shoulder. “Wake up, sleepyhead…” she growled in a manner that was anything but a kind tone to wake someone up with.

Shen slowly came to, blinking and then yawning. “Ya...Yakone? What are you… doing here?”

“I was thinking we should go hang out with Alexis and Jennifer. We never get a chance with how busy things usually are, and the lounge is almost always full,” Yakone whispered. “But now…”

“Who’s there?!” Atka snapped, sitting up from her bunk and aiming her rotator gun in Yakone’s direction.

The younger woman put her hands up. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, it’s just me. Yakone?”

Atka blinked, then rubbed the grogginess out of her eyes. “Why the hell did you think it was a good idea to sneak in here?”

“Didn’t want to wake everyone up,” Yakone explained, nervously backing off. Get dressed, I’ll see you in front of their room.

“This outcome doesn’t seem much better,” Tygan mumbled, turning over and trying to fall back asleep for the last remaining hour before he had to get ready for work.

Roger that, Lily responded to Yakone’s telepathy, her mind slowly sharpening as she woke up completely. Next time ask me the day before, though - you stupid idiot. The Ranger grinned at that as she vanished around the corner.

***​

Yakone was about to knock on the door eagerly when Lily grabbed her wrist. “What?” Yakone questioned impatiently.

“You’re sure Alex will be fine with you waking her up this early? I know Jenn won’t mind but I didn’t familiarize myself with her older sister’s routine,” An-Yi cautioned apprehensively.

“It’ll be finnne,” Yakone assured her adamantly, though a devious smile began to form after she was allowed to knock on the door. No it won’t be. But that’s the best part!

Jennifer quickly opened the door, already dressed, and held up a finger to her lips, pointing at the violet-haired woman tightly holding a pillow over hers ears to drown out the knocking.

Yakone crossed her arms. "Good morning to you too," she said with a chuckle. "Hey, do you guys want to hang out in the lounge this morning? We'd have it all to ourselves."

Jennifer smiled. "Yes. That sounds..."

"Go... away," Alex muttered. "Come back in two or five hours."

"We'll be busy by then, you dummy," Yakone challenged with a shake of her head and a smirk. "Come on, I'll get you some coffee or even one of the sodas in cold storage if you want."

Alexis slowly sat up, her shirt bunched up and exposing a shoulder; her hair was a complete mess. "A soda? Haven't had a soda in so long..."

"Then get off your ass and come with us," Yakone insisted, hands on her hips.

"Please?" Lily asked more gently. "We haven't had time to just hang out ever since Gatecrasher."

"Yeah, yeah." Alex slipped out of bed, slipping on her pants from the previous day and another shirt to throw on top the one she already wore. She grabbed a brush to fix her hair as they walked out, yawning several times in a row.

"It really does feel like forever since we hung out," Jennifer commented, smiling at her two friends, Lily in particular.

Lily shrugged. "Yeah, but there are so many new developments... it's hard to find the time. I have to manage all of manufacturing and mechanized unit breakdowns.” She gesticulated with her hands, making a sawing motion with one and acting as if she was holding down her victim with the other. “You have all those bodies to rip open. I hear the Marauders recovered the puddle that used to be that Faceless, dragged a Muton onto an ATV, and - with great difficulty - managed to haul one of the corpses of the new Chryssalids to the Avenger. You've got your work cut out for you."

Jennifer's shoulders slumped, and she laughed nervously. "Yeah. Great, great fun..."

Alexis laughed. "Really? You're still scared of them?"

Jennifer shot her a dirty look. "You try waking up with a tarantula on you face when you're seven and see how you feel!"

Yakone rolled her eyes. "The arachnophobia twins strike again." Lily punched her in the shoulder. "Come on, learn to laugh at yourself.”

Jennifer gave Lily a grateful smile, but frowned again at Yakone. "I try to. But it's embarrassing. You don't know what it is like to jump at something everyone else just ignores."

"Since when did the majority of people like spiders?" Yakone countered. "Never is the answer, just in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm,” she added, rolling her eyes.

Jennifer smiled again. "Thanks. Maybe you can be on standby to help revive me when I get to the Chryssalid."

Alex shrugged. "What's the big deal? It's dead, right?"

"They can be twitchy after they expire - at least for about 36 hours. But they’re inert by now," Lilt reassured her friend.

Jenn swallowed nervously. "S-so where are we hanging out again?"

"Already told you, the lounge," Yakone stated, ducking into their detour to the storage rooms to grab a Mexican Sprite and handed it to Alexis.

Alexis popped it open and sipped it, sighing in contentment. "Nothing beats an ice cold soda in the morn’. You think they have sodas in the colonies? What do sheeple drink besides water?"

"I think they do have sodas, but they don’t have any kick - just that gross fake sugar," Yakone replied in disgust, sticking out her tongue.

"It’s probably mind control sugar too." Alexis nudged Yakone. "So tell me how under your favorite boss is going."

"Do I even need to remind you he's an unchanging monolith?" Yakone retorted as if that were an underlying truth of the universe.

Alexis laughed. "My mistake."

The four stepped into the cozy lounge, and Jennifer stretched her arms. "Anyone else ever feel - I don’t know - claustrophobic being in this ship all the time?"

Lily shook her head. "'Not really. Maybe it's weird, but I prefer being able to know where everything is. It's easier to keep all my equipment organized, and the same applies to the Command Quarters too."

Yakone shrugged. "I'd probably get tired of wide open spaces after awhile. Room C207 is fine as it is,” she declared with a satisfied nod. “Though I do wish we had somewhere to play sports or practice marksmanship aboard the ship... but no, Lily had to have that Cybernetics Lab and Robs had to have his Shadow Chamber,” she complained, leaning her head back in exaggerated exasperation.

"Both of which are more valuable to the war effort than carving out the ship's guts to make a sports center," Lily resolutely affirmed, shaking her head dogmatically. "Your idea was stupid."

The Ranger groaned, bringing her head back to a normal position.. "Alright, maybe it was, but come on... when was the last time we were landed long enough without conflict to play basketball on the landing pad?” Yakone plopped onto a couch, having Alexis sit beside her. “I think it was a month before we kicked this conflict into gear."

Alexis nodded. "Though in Jenn's defense, I don't think she was off the ship last time we landed."

"I-I was busy. Same for before that. I... I-I haven't both off the ship since a month before we started the fight." Jennifer sighed. "I am always nervous leaving it. I know I must sound neurotic. Complaining about feeling trapped in the ship while nervous about climbing off of it..." Jennifer sat down in a chair across the table from the couch her sister and Yakone were sitting on.

Lily took the chair next to Jennifer. “You don’t sound neurotic,” she reassured her friend, patting her on the shoulder.

"What, are you scared about ADVENT and wild animals? I'll protect you, Princess," Yakone said with an air of levity.

Jenn gave her a pout. "You joke, but you and Alexis are trained soldiers, and Lily has her mechanical flying pup. I would be dead in a second. I'm surprised I lasted before this ship."

"One of us can go with you, that's my point dumbass," Yakone said with a chuckle. “And besides, our last stop was in freaking Greenland. There’s no person or animal there that would have posed a threat to you.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Unforeseen Restoration, Part 2”

"R-right... of course," Jennifer said shyly.

Alexis stretched out on the couch. "So... things are good with Luke!"

"No one asked," her sister mumbled.

"But someone would have, I'm sure," Alexis countered confidently.

"Well, they're good now that I made sure he wasn't gonna knock you up," Yakone stated with a shrug. Wow… is the younger Chambers jealous?

Alexis' smile faded. "Hey, now. You didn't go and... remove the goods on him, did you? I'm sure he has probably said something at one time or another to make a lot of people want to, but..."

Yakone raised an eyebrow. "What? No, no, no, I didn't cave in his nuts. I just made sure he wasn't going to forget what the Private Room is for and what it's stocked with,” she elaborated, making the motion of dropping a pill into her mouth.

"Oooh! Right. I was just kidding. But, I mean..." Alexis actually seemed to blush a little - something Yakone was surprised to see from her. "You know, we haven't - not that we can't - I just… haven't yet, you know?"

"If he had, then..." Yakone said evasively, crossing her arms. "...I would have taken away his manhood."

Lily gave her sister an incredulous look. "What are you on about? It sounds... specific."

"I found out he was getting touchy and confronted him about it, okay? It all worked out and we're cool now," Yakone responded both irritably and dismissively, waving a hand at Lily in an almost belittling way that did manage to make the engineer frown.

Alexis laughed. "I’d be defensive if I wasn't so flattered, Yakone."

Jennifer looked away, and mumbled something Alex didn't notice. It sounded a bit like 'I don't like him'.

"Did you say something?" Yakone asked a bit melodramatically. "It might have just been a mouse."

Jennifer shook her head. "I was... just wondering if there was anyone that caught your fancy, Yakone?"

Yakone shrugged nonchalantly. "You know how I am. I'm not crazy about that sort of commitment, and no one's really made me reconsider." They don’t need to know… yet.

"What about you?" Alex asked Lily, leaning forward slightly. "You have an age advantage on us, thus more options. Any cute engineers I didn't notice myself?"

"No... you two are way too preoccupied with guys," Lily insisted, shaking her head vehemently. Maybe too vehemently, but she wasn’t about to mention the private conversation she’d had with Artyom that had got her thinking - if not about him, about relationships in general.

Jenn waved her hands and shook her head. "N-no! I-I don't have... I-I was just... making conversation."

"You don't have what?" Yakone questioned.

"Don't have... any guys I like." Jenn shrugged. "Not that I care. I mean... I'm busy with my work anyway."

"Wow, I don't know if it actually is but that couldn't sound more like a lie," Yakone opined.

Jennifer's shoulders slumped. "Can we... talk about something different. Like.... I don't know... psionics?"

"Oh!" Alexis sat up. "I think I got a new power!"

"Really?" Yakone asked curiously, though her attention was divided by Jennifer. I’m gonna have to straighten her out… no one likes a dishonest person.

"Yeah!" Alexis clapped her hands together, and concentrated. After a few moments, the others felt a wave of contentment and inspiration wash over them. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Yakone grinned. "Seems like it could be useful for defensive purposes I guess. And making Jenn be less of an absolute downer."

"I am not a downer!" Jennifer insisted. She looked at Lily. "I... am I?"

Lily shook her head. “No, you’re-”

“Don’t baby her, Lily,” Yakone insisted with a shake of her head. “You’ve been hella passive aggressive this whole morning. I’m not blind, Jenn, I see those glances at Lily with the ‘I like you better’ looks and I pick up on the jealously about your sister’s boyfriend and all that crap. What’s the phrase for stuff like that? Cut the crap? Do that.”

Jennifer sunk even further down. “I don’t… I like you just fine, Yakone. We’re… all friends. And I’m not jealous of anything…”

“Really?” Yakone sighed, closing her eyes and yawning a little to accentuate the sound. “So you wouldn’t care if, say, Luke were to take your sister… get a feel for her chest…” The Ranger opened her eyes, raising her hands and making a squishing motion. “...then maybe reach down, and…”

“Alright!” Jennifer snapped, surprisingly bold for her. “I get the point, Yakone! But I’m not jealous of her having him. I don’t think he is good enough for her. Happy?”

Alexis blinked several times. “I… didn’t realize.”

“Well, now you do.” Jenn folded her arms. “God forbid I have my own internal feelings from certain people.”

Yakone smiled, reaching down to a stitched-together cardboard crate next to the couch. Reaching inside, she freed a beer can from a duct tape attachment meant to keep the containers stable within the large storage unit. The cans the bar got from Shanty brewers were made up of scavenged aluminum foil wraps and sealed with bottlecaps of varying sizes. She offered one to Jennifer. “See, isn’t this better? Now you have a chance to resolve your problems instead of being mired in a swamp of your own anger. Or something like that,” she said, questioning the effectiveness of her metaphor as she held the mummy-wrapped beer out.

Jennifer glared at Yakone, not taking the beer. “Some of us prefer to see how things resolve before expressing feelings that might have been unfounded. But I guess we’ll do things your way. I think Luke is a pompous ass, and unchecked flirt, and I don’t trust him not to break your heart, Alex.”

“Um… okay…” Alexis rubbed the back of her neck. “Well… I do trust him, and I don’t appreciate you not giving him a chance first. You don’t know him all that well yet, so… you know, let me do my thing.”

Jennifer scoffed and looked away. “Whatever. This is exactly why I wasn’t going to say anything.”

Yakone sighed, and popped off the cap on the can, drinking some of it for herself. “And here I thought I was the one you didn’t like. Did something happen between you two recently?”

“This… does seem like it came out of nowhere,” Lily grudgingly admitted.

“When we first met, all he did was hit on me,” Jennifer said bluntly. “And I heard that he has done that with practically every girl he met. Plus he has admitted that he never stayed grounded before. Why should I believe this time should be different.” She scoffed and looked at Yakone. “Did he not do that to you?”

Yakone nodded. “He did hit on me, yeah. Before he met Alexis. I am with you on being wary, Jennifer, especially after that nonsense in the medical ward - even if he apologized.” She held up a hand. “But that doesn’t mean Alex can’t have her chance. If it doesn’t work out, well… I’m not actually going to hurt him, but I’m sure he knows that’ll blacken more than just his friendship with Alexis. He listens to his dick more than he should but he’s not stupid.”

“Thank you, Yak. I agree. Jennifer, I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.” Alex took a beer and chugged it.

Jenn clenched her teeth. “I know that. That… is why… I wasn’t going to say anything…”

“Why does it bother you, then?” Yakone asked, this time her concern not hidden by a grinning mask meant to draw Jennifer’s emotions out. “This thing isn’t resolved if you’re still unhappy.”

Jennifer rubbed her brow. “A lot of things bother me, okay? But I realize that at least some of them will resolve, and making a big deal about them will only make them worse. Some things don’t resolve, and then I voice my concern. And then there are those things revolving around certain people that can’t seem to change, and I just have to put up with them. Know what I mean, Yak-?”

“Stop saying ‘certain people’,” Yakone grumbled, interrupting her.

Jennifer tapped her foot angrily. “Yakone… I’m sorry that I am ‘passive aggressive’ to you. But I don’t like to be read, and I don’t like to be pushed. I’m sorry I like Lily more than you, but I don’t like you saying things like ‘I thought I was the one you don’t like’, like it is all me. Are you going to say you don’t like Alex ten times more than me?”

“You’re the one being childish here.” Yakone raised her hands up slightly. “Throwing your hands up and saying you don’t want anyone else’s help and want to wallow in your own paranoia isn’t exactly a mature way of handling your problems.”

“There you go again!” Jenn shouted. “Judging me! You are always judging me! I am not paranoid! I have my suspicions, and I kept them to myself! Is that so wrong? Because if it is, maybe we should talk more about you and your…” She fell silent, not wanting to say something she might regret. “Just… forget it. I’m wrong. I’m… always wrong…”

“So much for my nice morning.” Yakone put down her drink, and pushed herself to her feet. “Fuck you Jennifer,” she spat, storming out.

Alexis jumped to her feet, rushing after her. “Yakone, wait!”

Jennifer placed her hands over her eyes and sighed sadly.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Unforeseen Restoration, Part 3”

Lily tapped her foot for a moment, wondering if she should have stopped the two before but ultimately didn’t know what to say then. Have to figure out something now. “Hey, Jenn. Look at me.”

Jennifer slowly wiped her eyes and sniffed, looking up. “Ruined four mornings, huh?”

Four? “You’re too hard on yourself, you know,” An-Yi told her friend. “This isn’t your fault. You’re not always wrong, okay?”

Jenn shook her head. “I… I know how Yakone is. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. I… I should never have brought up her mother.”

“I think she’d already had enough before you even said that.” Lily felt the cool metal of her wrench, calming herself with the brief contact. “You’re right. She has her own way of solving problems, and one method doesn’t work for everything. It’s a lesson that’ll take time for her to learn. Some people never figure that out.” The engineer shook her head. “I know she will though. Because despite the fact that she went about it the wrong way, she was just trying to help.”

“I know…” The green-haired lab tech lowered her gaze. “Do I… really come across like I don’t like her? Because… I do. She is my friend. At least… I consider her my friend.”

An-Yi shrugged. “To be honest? All the side glances probably didn’t do much good. She prefers straightforwardness. I don’t care if you prefer me to her, and I don’t think she does either. But if you really don’t have hostile feelings towards her you should let her know that. Alexis and I have been getting along better because we acknowledged we didn’t really have reasons to dislike each other.”

“But I never said I disliked her,” Jenn said sadly. “I even said I like her, and we are all friends. And I meant it. I just… didn’t want to rub my sister the wrong way by putting down her boyfriend while we were all enjoying a peaceful talk. Yakone is right that I couldn’t hold it all in forever… but now didn’t seem the right place.”

“There’s no point in dwelling on that now. You both made mistakes, and you need to apologize to each other for them. Then maybe we’ll still have a chance at enjoying our morning,” Lily instructed Jennifer, putting an arm around her shoulder to show that she wasn’t angry with her.

Jenn nodded. “I will. If my sister can convince her to come back…”

***​

“I try to have a nice gathering, I try to help a friend, I try to do the right thing, and what the hell do I get?” Yakone muttered to herself as she headed down the hallway to nowhere in particular.

“Yakone!” Alexis finally caught up with her. “Yakone, wait!”

“What is it?” The Ranger asked with an edge to her tone. “If you’re going to tell me that I’m a terrible person for trying to get through your sister’s thick skull just... turn around.”

“I wasn’t going to refer to you as a bad person and you know it. Please come back.”

“I don’t want to deal with her anymore today. I’ve got no reason to,” Yakone replied. “Just leave me alone.”

“No.” Alexis grabbed her shoulder. “You were both wrong, and you will both apologize and act like the friends you are.”

Yakone spun around, her fist balled and aimed for Alexis, but it went a few centimeters high over the shorter woman’s head. The Ranger closed her eyes, trembling a bit from anger and frustration, and slowly retracted her arm. “You’re lucky you’re short… and my friend. I wouldn’t have missed many other people.”

Alexis rolled her eyes. “I’m not that short, and you don’t miss. Come on, Yakone. Come back. You have to admit, it really was awkward pushing my sister to talk about that… you know, in public while we were enjoying our get-together.”

“I don’t think. I act. Thinking is her and Lily’s job,” Yakone responded, crossing her arms. “I’ve tried again and again to get through to her… don’t you see what she does to herself, Alex? She just worries about everyone’s problems to the point of driving herself into depression. I’m the one that’s supposed to solve people’s problems, and I’m the one with the guts to do it. I don’t want her doing that to herself. I don’t want her taking on burdens she has no way of handling.”

“Yes, and I understand you had the best intentions. But Jennifer is sensitive, she isn’t as vocal as you so your way doesn’t work for her, and… well… you kinda called her a passive-aggressive, paranoid downer that didn’t like you. I can’t really blame her for getting defensive. Wouldn’t you?”

“I was trying to get her to stand up for herself. And I did accomplish that, but she failed to realize that and just kept giving me the cold shoulder,” Yakone retorted.

Alexis rubbed her eyes. “So… you’re mad at her for getting mad at you… no, you’re mad at her, not because she got mad at you… because you wanted her to so she would stand up for herself… but you wanted her acknowledge that you were trying to make her mad and be happy and not… be mad… so you got her mad at you then got upset that… she was mad… at you?”

Yakone placed her hands on Alexis’ shoulders. “Stop. You’re giving me a headache,” she complained, a bit of levity showing on her features now.

Alexis shrugged. “You know my sister likes you, right? I mean… she did. The whole ‘fuck you, Jennifer’ puts a damper on that, but she isn’t the type to dwell on things. She’s probably back there crying like a baby complaining about how she ruined everyone’s morning.”

“Damn, you don’t need to guilt trip me - that’s a low blow… I’ll go back,” Yakone grumbled.

Alexis placed an arm around her friend’s shoulder and walked back with her. “Just play it cool. And be honest about yourself. I mean… you still consider her a friend, right?”

“Of course I do… she pissed me off, that doesn’t mean I hate her,” Yakone responded with a shake of her head. “To death with the thought.”

“Good.” Alex shook her a bit. “Then tell her that.”

***​

Yakone stepped back into the lounge, walking over to the couch and sitting back down. She opened her mouth, but paused, tapping her fingers in confusion about where to begin. Deciding to just start with Alex’s advice, she uttered, “Look, Jenn… I don’t hate you or anything. Sorry if I gave you that impression, but that’s not the truth.”

“And I’m sorry if I gave you that impression as well.” Jennifer shook her head. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“And I should be more considerate of the fact that you don’t respond well to the way I try to encourage people,” Yakone responded. She leaned across the table, offering her hand. “Shake on it? That means a lot more than just an exchange of words, at least to me.”

Jenn shook her head, brushing Yakone’s hand to the side and hugging her instead. “I love you like a sister, Yakone.”

Yakone gave a muted shrug and embraced her in return. “All four of us pretty much are family. We grew up together, we fight a tyrannical government together, and all that jazz. There’s no reason for contempt between us.” Yakone paused. “And…” she placed her hand on her stomach. “There might be one more soon.”

“W… what?” Jennifer asked in shock.

Alex looked like she might topple over. “Who? I’ll kill him!”

Yakone burst out laughing. “I’m kidding, you dolts…”

Lily rested her forehead on her palm. “You’re the dumbass here… don’t… do that…”

Alexis grinned, then started laughing. Jennifer soon followed suit, and squeezed Yakone even tighter.

“All joking aside, I may not have been completely honest with you guys when Jennifer asked me if anyone had caught my eye…” Yakone mentioned when Jennifer finally released her.

“Oh, really?” Jennifer smiled big. “Tell me who.”

“Well, Alexis definitely knows who he is… you know Gwen’s brother, Leon, right?” Yakone clarified with a broad smile.

Jennifer’s smile widened even more. “I do.”

Alexis smiled herself. “Really? Leon. That… I can see that, yeah.”

“So he’s officially my boyfriend now, none of you are allowed to steal him,” Yakone cautioned with a raised finger.

Alexis laughed. “Don’t have to worry about that from me.”

Jennifer nodded. “And I barely know him. I… I’m actually really happy for you, Yak.”

“You are?” Yakone questioned, momentarily surprised. “Uh… thanks. I’d offer to help you find someone yourself, but this is all new to me.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m good. But take things slow. You know how boys can be.”

Yakone smirked. “I think like them, remember? I’ll be careful.” She grabbed her beer again, drinking from it with abandon.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Smooth Criminal

On Board the Avenger
The Bar

Ayame yawned fiercely as she stepped into the bar, the petite woman looking awfully pale this morning. "Been too long since I had something to eat," she said to herself. "Need to give Christine a rest. Let's see..." Ayame scanned the bar for an easy mark, her eyes eventually landing on the lone woman with green hair in the corner. "Bingo."

Jennifer scanned the notes on her data pad, not noticing the approaching Asian woman until she was sitting down at the table with her own drink. "Um..." Jenn put the pad to the side and smiled. "Hello?"

"You asking me to say hello?" Ayame asked with a grin. "Alright. Hello. You mind if I sit here? I could use the company. I don't know many people yet..."

"One of the new arrivals?" Jennifer offered her hand. "Jennifer Chambers."

"Kasagi. Ayame. Here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I'm all out of ass."

Jenn chuckled. "Ayame, huh? Yakone mentioned you."

"Oh? You friends?"

Jenn nodded. "Her, me, my sister, and the chief of engineering. Yakone said you're a soldier."

Ayame grinned. "Your looking at the best Ranger on the team. Well... soon to be. Might need a little training."

The lab tech nodded, sipping at her cranberry juice. "Yeah, I heard learning to use those swords can be difficult."

Ayame leaned back. "Nah. Believe or not, I have a harder time with guns then swords. Complicated little machines, especially the new ones."

Jennifer laughed. "I'm sure they are. Not like I'm any good with a gun." Jenn noted what looked like straight ginger ale in Ayame's cup. "You don't drink?"

"Not opposed to it, but I avoid it myself." Ayame lifted her glass and muttered. "Alcohol and me don't really get along. Bad things happen. Bad... embarrassing things."

Jennifer tilted her head slightly. "Because you're so small." Ayame have her a death glare. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hit a nerve.

Kasagi sighed and shook her head. "It's fine. You'd think I had thicker skin. Hard to grow any when you never... well, grow."

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Um..."

"Hey, can I show you something?" Ayame stood up. "It should only take a few minutes."

Jenn shrugged. "Sure. I have all day." She stood up with Ayame, and left with her.

"You're going to love this," Ayame assured her as they walked along.

After walking for a while, Jennifer asked, "Where exactly are we..."

Walking behind the taller woman, Ayame suddenly jumped up, and jabbed Jennifer several time in the back of the neck. Jennifer fell forward, and Ayame caught the unconscious woman with incredible speed and strength. Before anyone could see them, Ayame pulled Jennifer into a supply closet.

Ayame walked out a few minutes later, the color having returned to her skin. She wiped her mouth, and left Jennifer to wake up and wonder how she ended up there.

 

[MarineAvenger]

Dreamwalker Part One

1454 Hours, July 5th, 2038
The Colombian Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger

Kai sat at the bar of the Avenger, a small cup of sake in his hand he looked down at ruefully. He was never a big one on drinking when he was depressed. The man always found it just made him more depressed. However this time was different. He refused to talk to Sukuna, refused to tap into her power, anything. For all he cared she could be dead to him.

In Kai’s mind, the Goddess of Rain and Healing herself sat on a small wooden bridge, her fingertips sensually running along the top of the water, causing ripples to dance across the surface of the water. More than once in the past couple of days, teardrops rolled down her face and hit the surface of the water. Three small koi fish of black, white and orange swam around below her hand, the Kami looking down at them smiling. Even though they never grew, never acted like real fish should, they were her fish. Her pets. She had developed such a stupid bond over these inanimate fish. The thought that Kai thought of her the same that she thought of the fish below her hand made the tears come harder, Sukuna striking the water.

Sukuna looked down at her reflection, seeing a face she barely remembered herself. She rarely ever looked at herself, that her ageless features seemed almost foreign to her. She felt it all as well. She didn’t want to but she did. She felt the fuzziness of Kai’s mind. She felt his depression, his sadness, and his anger, all of it pressing down on the back of Sukuna’s neck so hard that it felt like someone had jammed a needle into her nerve and was wiggling it around. She wished it would vanish.

Kai sighed at his tiny cup, setting it down on the counter. He pushed himself up and grabbed his lab coat from the chair next to him, slipping it on. His break was over. Now the Japanese man was not looking forward to his shift

***

Gwen laid on her bed, slowly stroking her pillow idly with her hand. It was stained with many days worth of tears, many dark thoughts crossing her mind. Her guilt over Miriam still stabbed at her, her words haunting her. Even now more so now that Leon had recently told her about his new relationship with the Commander’s daughter. I teased her about Leon… Even before the mission I teased her. Was I one of the reasons it was so easy for the alien to- Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the medical door opening.

Kai Kazuko stepped into the room, shutting it behind him as he looked at Gwen with that apathetic face he had whenever he visited her. For some reason her doctors had to be changed on short notice, and Kai was the only one capable of helping her. She knew what he was. Almost every woman on the ship knew now. She wondered more then once if that was contempt in his face. That gaze did nothing for her mood.

“H-Hello Doctor Kazuko.” Gwen said weakly, her mouth parched from lack of fluids.

“Ms. De Saint Pierre.” The Japanese doctor greeted, telling the woman to get on her side. She did as told and Kai took his seat next to her bed and held out his arms as his hands began glowing, Kai working to heal her back. Sukuna’s power called out to him like a beacon. It was as if he could feel the hand of her power reaching out to him, wanting -perhaps even needing- to be held onto and used. He denied it that satisfaction.

Sukuna’s head shot up as her eyes darted around. Something wasn’t right. Something was wrong. She stood up, the Kami feeling as if something was reaching out to her. Beckoning her into the blackness that was the edge of Kai’s mind. She stood up and looked wide-eyed, her hand shaking. “It feels cold… dark…” However the goddess took step after step towards the presence.

Her hand pressed against the edge of Kai’s mind and the wall of darkness shimmered as if a wall of liquid. What frightened Sukuna was that the wall was usually solid. The Kami stepped through, cold like a winter breeze washing over her.

***

The broken doors were pushed open, and Yakone spun around with her gun ready to fight, but lowered it upon seeing two South Marauders escorting a woman cautiously out. She wore a baseball cap and had long brown bangs and cautious eyes of the same color. “Is it… over now?”

“That you, Bronze Cub?” Yakone greeted with a wide smile. “Welcome to the mech graveyard.”

“Yakone?” Cub glanced over at the Mechtoid. “Wow, you guys did a number on this thing… we couldn’t even scratch it,” she called out, lowering her voice as she regrouped with the XCOM team.

“I’m surprised that my sniper rifle even bit through it,” Stacie said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Couldn’t have done it without you though, Miriam…. Miriam?” The Specialist wasn’t responding.

Yakone snapped her fingers, starting to walk over. “Hey, are you alright? Gwen didn’t mean to offend…” Then she saw it. The purple spiral attached to the back of the Specialist’s head.

What is this… where am I? Hello? Hello!? Can anyone hear me!? Sukuna cried out in anguish but her lips didn’t move. Her body was the same, still dressed exactly how she was but there was a laser pistol in her hand.

She felt something. It was if there was someone else looking over her shoulder, a presence there. However she couldn’t move to look back. The gun slowly rose towards her head. “M-Miriam, what are you-NO!” Yakone cried out, running towards Sukuna. At that moment, her finger on the trigger Sukuna did as the daughter of XCOM’s commander said. Sukuna suddenly had control of her body and she pulled the gun away from her head. Yakone stopped, looking at Sukuna as if frozen in time. In fact everyone was. Everyone except one.

Gwen laid in the fetal position, crying to herself on the muddy ground, wearing a pair of gray panties and no short, instead having medical bandages wrapped around her entire torso. She cried in terror, as if she was a little kid in the darkest place imaginable, thunder booming all around her.

Sukuna finally realized what was going on. This must be Crimson Visitor… the mission that Gwen girl went on. Am I… am I in her thoughts? Sukuna heard about what happened to the poor Specialist on the mission. How she was forced to commit suicide. She was there when Kai cremated the body, was there when one of the staff members explained to Kai how the woman had died rather than reading a report on it. Is Gwen… has she been reliving this moment over and over?

Sukuna got a sympathetic and sad look on her face as she slowly stepped forward. She knelt before the crying Gwen, smiling softly. “Gwendoline?” The Kami asked.

The woman shook like a leaf, then looked up at the woman wide eyed. “M-Miriam…? Miriam I am sorry… I am sorry for everything I said… please… I never wanted you to die like that… it is all my fault…”

“No it isn’t Gwen.” She responded softly. I must look like her fallen friend. “I don’t blame you Gwen. I don’t hate you for your words.”

Gwen looked at Sukuna wide eyed, her shaking intensifying, as well as her crying. “I… I killed you… all my fault.”

“No sweetie.” Sukuna said, reaching down to take Gwen into her arms, stroking her head lightly. “It wasn’t you. It was the alien. It forced Mi-... it forced me to do that. Not you. You were my friend.”

“..f-friend?” Gwen asked.

“Yes. A good friend. Please, do not blame yourself for my death dear. It was not something you could have stopped. Just be glad I lived. Be glad that you were my friend.” The Miriam imposter told the woman, holding her tighter.

Gwen tensed, then slowly put her arms around Sukuna, nodding her head. “I will… I will always be glad Miriam.”

Sukuna nodded and she kissed the top of Gwen’s head warmly, the girl slowly dissolving away with the rest of the world around her into pure darkness. From the darkness a small door of light appeared and Sukuna stood up, looking at the door stunned. “I remember now… I am dreamwalking. While Kai is connected to Gwen, I am vicariously attached to her as well. But why I… is Kai not getting everything? Why am I?” The realization hit her in her confusion like a train. “She is hurting on the inside as well as the outside…” The goddess of Healing looked down at her hands, and closed her eyes. When next she opened them they were filled with vigor as she stepped forward.

 

[MarineAvenger]

Dreamwalker Part Two

However nothing could prepare her for what she saw next. Sukuna stood having emerged from a closet, her eyes widened at the sight before her. A man’s panting, a young girl’s small cries of pain and pleasure filling her ears as did the rest of the sounds of sex. “Where am I… wasn’t I with Gwen… I…” Her put a hand to her mouth. The girl in front of her wore her hair longer, and she was much, much younger but the resemblance was uncanny. Sukuna had a strong urge to vomit.

She watched for what seemed like eternity as the man got up from the girl, not even bothering to dress as he scratched his rear, walking to the bathroom, turning on the light, which was the only illumination in the room as he closed the door, leaving a crack open which allowed a beam to cut across the bedroom between the young Gwen and the Kami.

Sukuna took heavy steps forward, wanting to be close to the girl. As Sukuna stepped through the light, she looked differently for a few moments. She wore a loose fitting white blouse that barely showed off or pronounced any of her features. Her skirt was of a similar material but was a dark shade of blue. Her hair hung braided over her right shoulder, her eyes a sparkling green. However her original form returned to her as she walked around the side of the bed, kneeling before the small girl. She tried to ignore the fluids that leaked onto the bed. “Gwen?” Sukuna asked softly.

The girl’s head slowly fell to the side and she looked at Sukuna with a dead expression, showing no emotion at all. Her mouth slowly opened but she said nothing. Sukuna slowly reached forward, her arms going around the sweating girl as the Kami pulled her into her arms warmly. She held her tightly, but there was a comforting feel to it. “...m-m… mother…?” A wispy, pained tone came from the girl the woman held.

“That’s right baby. I’m here.” Sukuna said to the girl, softly crying. So much pain… this woman carries so much… and I complain about Kai not letting me tease him… oh how much of a selfish bitch am I? Sukuna cried out in her head.

“...father… hurts me… I hurt… a lot…” Gwen muttered, seeming to have no energy. “...was… was I… bad… again… mommy?”

Every word coming from the girl killed Sukuna to hear, causing her to cry as she shook her head furiously. “No my love. You have done nothing wrong. Your father… your father is just a dispicable… disgusting, horrible man Gwen. You are perfect. A perfect girl.”

Sukuna felt Gwen’s head slowly move up and down. “Okay mommy… but… but I feel so dirty… so vile… I feel… broken…”

“I know my dear. I know.” Sukuna was filled with anguish. She wished to scream. To go into that bathroom and torture the man who did this to the girl. But alas it was all a dream. All she could do was comfort Gwen. Every god be damned that Sukuna wasn’t going to do just that. “I know my love. But you must remember… mother will always love you no matter what. And so will everyone else. This is not your fault.”

“I… father… I am… a toy… so… vile…” Gwen noted, her eyes closing as a tear fell.

“No! No you are not!” Sukuna protested. “You are a wonderful girl! Never think that! You have the whole world open for you to take! You can be anything Gwen! Never let anyone tell you tat you are other than what you want to be!”

The girl offered no response, merely nodding as her arms finally -although weakly- hugged Sukuna. “Mom… will I… will I ever find love?”

“Yes dear. Mommy knows that for certain. No matter what. Everyone will love you dear. And the man who takes your hand should count himself as the luckiest man ever to grace the face of the Earth.” Sukuna said, meaning every word to the girl she barely knew, but wanted to help so desperately.

“O… Okay mother. I… I love you mommy. I miss you.” Gwen said, hugging Sukuna tighter.

“I miss you too Gwen. Know that mommy loves you too. I always will. Heart, heart, heart… as big as they sky…”

“...and so much.” Gwen finished, smiling as she hugged Sukuna tightly, the world falling away again.

The goddess let out a loud cry, covering her face as the girl disappeared from her arms, shaking her head. It was all so real, she knew it was real. It was in Gwen’s head. “How long did she have to deal with that!?” Sukuna yelled to the black sky, to no one. “How long!?” The Kami cried.

“How did I know what that phrase was? Oh gods… oh gods help me… it must have been a fragment of her mother… I must have accidently tapped into it.” Sukuna thought out loud, crying as loudly as she could as suddenly she felt herself laying on wood again, the sound of koi swimming under the water below her telling her she was back home. The connection was broken.

***

Kai sat back in his chair, wiping his brow as he finished up with the required healing he was meant to do. He looked at the woman on the bed, how she had fallen asleep almost immediately after he had begun healing her. Kai couldn’t help at smile as he stood up from his chair and exited the room, softly closing the door.

As Kai walked to the nurse’s station he heard a soft whisper in the back of his head. One that made his heart both jump and sink. ...Kai. Sukuna began, her voice soft and tired. He heard the strain there that he knew has been her crying. Can we please talk? The Kami asked.

“About what?” The doctor asked in a mumbled, shaking his head as he took a clipboard and a pen of a report, quickly scanned it and signed it off, placing it back on the counter.

About when we first met… She answered weakly. When they first met. That was a time Kai remembered somewhat fondly. Before he was scared of women.

 

[MarineAvenger]

Dreamwalker Part Three

April 11th. 2021

A seven year old Kai slowly walked through the heavy vegetation of the forest path he was treading, a small offering of a five yen coin and a small bundle of wildflowers in his hand. It was a trip he made often, but now during the cusp of spring was the best time to visit the Goddess of Healing and Rain. His grandmother always told him stories about how she meditated there when she was a small girl, and she even went with Kai during his first few trips, and now he did them regularly. At least during the right time. He never went during winter as the path was always covered in snow.

The young Kai climbed over a large moss covered rock and he saw it, his face lighting up. He saw sunlight cascading into the darker greenery, a stone staircase attached to the incline that led out into the hidden shrine to the goddess.

Kai ran up the stairs as fast as possible and when he reached the top looked with amazement at the hidden away shrine. To the left of him was a tall wall of stepped, mossy rocks with a waterfall that ran down the smooth stones into a pool where three koi fish swam. During the colder months his grandfather came and collected the fish to bring them home, and in the spring would place them back in their pond. Kai took some of the fish food and dropped the pellets into the water, watching as the fish went crazy over them.

He watched the fish for a small while, running his hand along the water before he stood up and went to the shrine. It was a simple stone structure with the goddess’ name inscribed onto the wooden plaque. Sukuna-Biko-Na. Goddess of Healing and of Rain. The woman looked over their small village hidden in the mountains. Made sure people were in good health and that the plant life around them thrived.

Kai set down the flowers and the coin in front of the altar and he bowed his head, praying to the goddess. He stretched out and ran a hand through his hair, turning to meet face to face with a girl. Kai’s eyes widened, his eyes were met with the purple hues of a girl who looked thirteen, her hands under her chin as she was dressed as a shrine maiden, smiling at Kai almost as if amused. “Hello.” She said sweetly to the seven year old.

Kai took a step back, his cheeks flushing slightly from the proximity the girl had been without him realizing. “U-Uh… hi…”

The girl with black hair smiled at him sweetly, standing up. “You’re Kai Kazuko.” The maiden stated.

“How did you-”

“I remember when your grandmother was just a wee little girl. She has your eyes. And your nose too.” The maiden said sweetly, running a hand across Kai’s cheek.

“Do you… have a picture?” Kai asked slowly, and the girl shook her head. “H-How… did you hear stories?” Once again her head shook. “W-What is your name?”

The shrine maiden smiled. “Sukuna.”

Kai’s eyes widened and he yelled, running past the woman scared out of his wits. He ran down the stairs two at a time, jumping to the ground as he ran, clambering over the large moss covered stone. However the boy fell forward and let out a childish yelp, holding out his hands in front of him. He scraped his hand on a sharp rock and he winced, holding it up to see the deep gash. Kai held his wrist as he cried, crawling into a ball.

A hand rubbed his shoulder and Kai looked up in shock, looking at the shrine maiden with wide eyes. She held her hand out to Kai, and he looked down at the cut, then back to her. Terrified, but didn’t want the pain there any longer. He gave the girl his hand and she smiled at him, pressing their hands together. Water flowed from her sleeve, surrounding their hands. After a few moment Sukuna pulled back and Kai looked at his cleaned and completely healed hand with wonder. “You… you really are…”

“Yes. I am.” The goddess told the boy, smiling at him. “Would you like to be my friend Kai? You come to visit me all the time. And you are always so kind. It would make me so happy.”

“You… you want… me? To be your friend?” The boy asked, completely wide eyed.

The goddess nodded, smiling at him. “Well?”

There was only one word Kai could think of at that moment as his eyes met her unnatural purple gaze. “Yes.”

***

Kai… you were the only person to ever say yes to me. You are my only true friend in this entire world. I love you. The Kami said.

“Sukuna… I love you too.” Kai said softly, closing his eyes. “I always will… no matter how annoying you are.”

Kai… will you be my friend again? Sukuna asked hopefully.

Kai only gave it a few moments thought. “Yes.”

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Dahlexpert & ZombieSplitter53
"You Read My Mind"
Part One

On board the avenger
Med wing

Luke was sitting in his bed, using his dreamscape to go over the last battle he was in. "Aright, that Chryssalid I was fighting. Looks like there was no way of changing that fight. But those drones... could have used my firecracker to blow them both up. But it looks like I used my power a little too much. The three Chryssalids I killed a grenade... would have done the trick. Alright, then best I wake before the docs see me using my powers."

Luke woke from his dreamscape and laid back down in his bed.

"Luke?" Alexis stood in the doorway. "Are you okay? You were just... sitting there. I was getting worried."

"Oh, darling. I was using my dreamscape to go over the last fight I was in. It helps me go over my mistakes and such." Luke smiled at Alexis. "It's nice to see you though Alexis. Come on in."

Alexis sat next to the bed and smiled. "So, what are you doing exactly? Visualizing you memories? Like... your own mental 3D recording?"

"You could say that. I'm just going over the last mission, seeing where I can change certain things about my way of fighting. Other than that I've been relaxing."

"I hope so. Don't pop a gasket stressing out." Alexis tapped her lip. "Though I wish I could see these aliens in person. Especially the crystal spider things."

"Hm, well, you probably can. See, the dreamscape works both ways, which means you can see my memories and I can see yours if we want. Though that's probably not a good Idea. You sure you want to see these things Alexis?"

Alexis rubbed the back of her neck. "I've never shared memories with someone. Um... but you would be there with me, right?"

"No. I'm going to let you enter my head by yourself. Of course i'm going to be there. Alexis. Come on sit next to me so we can get started.

"Okay. If you think it'll be okay." Alexis scooted next to the bed and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"Alright, let's get this started." Luke held Alexis’ hand and closed his own eyes. Luke and Alexis find themselves in a black area. "So this is the dreamscape. Alright darling you want to see the last mission from my eyes?"

Alexis bit her lip. "Um... you got hurt. This isn't going to hurt me, is it?"

"Darling, this is a dream. What happen to me already happen.” Luke shows Alexis the mission he was recently on through his eyes.

Alexis saw Luke using his scatter shotgun on a hoverguard, him using his powers to kill three Chryssalids. Luke going one on one with a Chryssalid and seeing the cocoons that the Chryssalids came out of. This is also the first time Alexis sees Lukes powers like this, from his point of view. She also saw him getting electrocuted by the drone.

"Well I always love seeing myself getting electrocuted. So darling, what did you think?"

"It's horrible," Alexis muttered. "I had no idea you went through this much pain. This... this things are monsters!"

"Yeah, no kidding, I was there and you see me in the hospital. All in all I say I got lucky."

"Yeah..." Alexis thought for a second. "Can you and I... I don't know, mentally project this using our combined imagination into a 3D space?"

"You could say that, it's more of we’re seeing the world through each other eyes. taking the perspective of the person. Now if we wanted to have some bit of fun, we can see each others memories." Luke said jokingly.

"We could try that,"Alexis answered seriously. "I mean... I'm not sure how. But you obviously do. Do you want to try it?"

Luke's eyes widened. "Um Alexis, you don't want to see my memories. There is nothing good hidden in there. If I show you what I did in before I joined XCOM, you will not like the person you see. Now if I see your memories. I’m not sure what to see, other then your life on this ship."

"If... if you don't want to show me, that's okay." Alexis smiled. "But I wouldn't mind showing you mine. Just... don't judge me too harshly."

Luke walked up to Alexis and patted her head. "Ok, my sexy little soldier. I tell you what. You show me your memories and I'll show you mine."

Alexis nodded, and thought for a moment. "Twenty-three years had a lot of memories. Any time in particular you want me to think of?"

"Hum let me you as a kid, never got to see the kid version of you. I bet you look adorable." Luke teased.

Alexis giggled, and closed her eyes. "Kinda hard to see kid me when it is through my eyes. But my sister and I look almost identical. I'll find something with her. Just relax."

"Oh, this should be fun, I wonder how you acted as a kid. You were probably the same troublemaker that you are now."

The dreamscape around Luke faded away, including Alex herself. After a moment of darkness, black gave way to white. All around Luke was the snow covered landscape of the Canadian north. The chilly wind nipped at at him, but he was bundled up. In the distance he could here what sounded like a girl calling out to him.

"What do you think?" Alex asked, her voice echoing in his mind.

"This reminds me of home. Where the hell did you go, beauty?" Luke looked around in the snow.

"Stayed in Canada and Alaska. A lot of running in those days." Alex's tone was a weird mixture of joy and sadness.

"Alexis!" A young girl with brown hair, around six, ran up. "Alex, why didn't you wait for me?"

Luke looks at a kid version of Jennifer" Aw your sister looks so cute, wait a minute her hair isn't green. And if she is an accurate version of you, wait your hair is brown?"

"Uh..." Alexis sounded a bit nervous. "Y-yeah. I hope you weren't hoping for blonde or black and you're disappointed."

"Darling, you're talking to someone with brown hair. Though I like you with purple hair. Makes you stand out."

"Alexis?" Jennifer whinned. "Answer me!"

Alexis giggled. "I can't remember what I said here. Why don't you answer her?"

"Oh, this should be good." Luke looked at Jennifer

Sorry sis, I was just distracted didn't hear you. Come on let's go play.

Jennifer smiled. "You... you're going to play with me today? Can it just be me and you? Yakone plays too rough sometimes..." She pouted a little.

Sure thing sis. Man you have to toughen up a bit.

Jenn pouted even more and folded her arms. "I am tough."

"Having fun?" Alex asked Luke, sadness evident in her tone.

"A little bit, you all right darling? You sound kind of down."

"Just wait..." Alexis whispered.

The world darkened around Luke, and there was the sound of gunfire. The snow seemed to take on a reddish hue.

"The sound of gunfire? Darling, what in the hell is going on? What happen next?" Luke said with some anger in his voice.

"You'll see..."

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Dahlexpert & ZombieSplitter53
"You Read My Mind"
Part Two

Before Luke, two pre-ADVENT grunts seemed to come out of thin air, approaching with guns raised. Their helmets had glowing red eyes and demonic mouths that snapped wildly.

"Memory, right. I can't do anything. Darling, what happened here, what did these bastards do?"

"In short? They terrorized us. Never were we safe. They seemed to come out of nowhere, always watching, always trying to kill us. But..."

A figure stepped in front Luke and Jennifer, tall and standing proud. It resembled the Commander, but younger and with a radiant glow. She held a shotgun with a white glow, and light emerged from her back in the form of angelic wings.

"What? The commander, she looks younger in this. Well, I guess this was years ago, have to admit she looks cute back then."

"I... I idolized her at one time. What you are seeing obviously isn't a true representation, but... that is how I saw her. A guardian angel, protecting us all."

Atka blasted the two attacking alien-controlled troops, causing them to explode in a brilliant light. As she turned back to grab the kids and run with them, the memory faded, returning Alexis and Luke to the darkness.

"So that's how you saw the Commander. Damn. Didn't know you were constantly hunted like that." Luke hugged Alexis "You had some difficult times huh?"

Alexis nodded. "Yeah... but I'm sure you had it just as rough."

"You have no god damn idea.” Luke sighed. “You’re not going to like what you see depending on what age you want to see me?"

"Why don't we look at something from your early teens?" Alexis asked.

"Oh boy, let me choose something ‘good’ from those years." The dreamscape around Alexis faded away along with Luke. After being in darkness Alexis saw small glimmers of light as she was surrounded by sand.

"Where are we," the woman asked, looking for clues.

Luke's voice can be heard around Alexis. "My home. Formally Austin, Texas, and what you're about to see is me, in a very brutal light." Alexis saw a man crawling on the ground looking badly peat up, begging for his life. "Wait, kid... we can talk this out, please don-" Alexis saw Luke's arm shooting the man.

Alexis gasped. "Why?"

"This is the wilderness darling. Raider territory. And this is me around twelve." Luke went to a nearby box and saw it full of weapons and ammo. Luke dragged it to what looked like a worn down truck, a few seconds later and he could hear some vehicles coming. He grabbed a grenade launcher out of the box, loaded it with grenades, and fired it at the three vehicles, blowing them up. He got into the truck and drove away.

Alexis took in a deep, shaking breath. "This... was you at twelve?"

"Yeah. Disturbing huh? Not one of my best moments, wouldn’t you say."

"Were there any happier moments?" Alexis asked.

"Keep watching.” Alexis saw a blue haired girl in the car next to him. “I saved that woman from those raiders. Why don't you take over?"

"Are you okay, miss?"

The woman looks at Alexis/Luke. "Why did you save me? You don't know me."

Alexis tried to think of what Luke might have said. "Because... you needed saving... and I was there."

"Heh, what are you, some kind of hero or something?"

"I... wasn't trying to be. But there are enough people out here that only care about themselves. I might as well be different."

The woman looked at Alexis up and down. “Heh a wannabe hero. Well thanks for your help. So hero, mind taking me to the nearest settlement?"

“Sure," Alexis answered, and let the memory take over again.

The memory faded and Luke shrugged. "You see? It's small moments like that that shows I can be good."

Alexis nodded, and broke the dreamscape. When they were back in the waken world, she hugged him tightly.

"Um, Alexis? Why are you hugging me like this?"

"To show you... that no matter what... I still care about you."

"Your’re an idiot. You realize I get worst as I got older?"

Alexis shook her head. "Doesn't matter. If it was me... would you push me away?"

"No... No I wouldn't. Thanks darling. Hey, docs say I will be able to leave soon."

Alexis nodded. "When you get out, we should go out for a nice drink." She thought for a moment. "Maybe... invite my sister. You two should get to know each other better."

"Believe the last time we went drinking and brought your sister, I got her drunk and had her tell me, and I quote, ‘Give me what I need’."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Then we try not getting drunk this time. Um, a-duh."

"Fine fine, I won't get her drunk this time. But why all of a sudden?”

Alexis shrugged. "I just feel... if you and I are going to be more intimate, you should be on as good of terms with her as you are with my father. Then, with your aunt, we could be... one big happy family."

"Hmm, a big happy family, huh? Alright darling. I'll play along. But first can you do me a favor?"

Alexis smiled. "Name it."

"You’re going to think I'm a creep for this. But can you get in the bed with me?" Luke said with an embarrassing look on his face, something that Alexis was not used to seeing.

Alexis have him a confused look, but later down next to him. "Better?"

"Better." Luke brought the covers on top of them, and kiss Alexis while bringing her closer to him. "Heh I know this is weird beauty, but I like having you this close to me. For some reason you look so much sexier when you're this close to me."

Alexis grinned. "Maybe some of your sexiness rubs off on me."

"Darling, you were sexy before I came on the ship. I mean, your smile, your laugh, personality. I love every bit of you.” Luke brings Alexis even closer to him. “Did I mention how much I hate this hospital get up."

Alexis nodded. "Yeah. But like you said, you'll be out soon. Just make sure you rest up."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. Rest up, then I can start training again. Now you might want to leave, before I lose myself again having you soft and squishy body on me like this. I'm kinda liking it." Luke said while wrapping his legs together.

Alexis laughed, and gave him a kiss before rolling out of the bed. "See you soon, love." She blew him a kiss, and stepped out.

"Sigh, that woman. I still can't read her.G uess that's the best part of our relationship. I do love that woman."