RP XCOM2: Liberation of Earth

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and MarineAvenger: "Reconstruction, Part 1"

0916 Hours, July 12th, 2038
The Amazon Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 1, Central Block
The Cybernetics Lab

The new facility dedicated to the study of alien biocybernetics, robotics, and how to counter both of those things was a clean white like the medical lab and adorned with the equipment of engineering or the proving grounds. The centerpiece was an analysis table lit from above, large enough for a humanoid to be laid out but having folded-up extensions for when larger subjects were brought in for study. In that vein, the entry door that Kai walked in through took up the whole wall. Looking around, the rest of the room appeared to be dedicated to space to walk around, tables to put individual parts on, and various computers to record data or control equipment like the mechanical arms hanging above the central table.

Lily was by one such computer, going over Jennifer’s preliminary analysis of the augmented human subject’s biology. She waved over at Kai when he noticed him. “Thanks for coming, Kazuko.”

“Yeah, well from the rather… bluntly worded letter I got telling me to come down as quickly as possible, I found it better to leave my ass unkicked and get down here as soon as possible.” The Head Doctor said, the thought he was being commanded so easily by someone other than Sukuna leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

An-Yi took note of his distaste and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing about it for now. “If you’re ready to begin I’ll have the Hoverguard brought in here.”

“Sure. Let’s do it.” He said, nodding to the engineer.

Shen sighed, and called the team in. The legless Advent soldier was still in their armor - characterized by the helmet of a flight suit that formerly had glass hiding the face, but now revealed a visage paler than your average ADVENT soldier with cybernetic eyes blankly aimed upwards in death. Its armor consisted of a sleek black jetpack and similarly colored armor with some yellow markings. A supplementary jet covered where its torso ended and legs should have begun. The recently-thawed flier was wheeled to the side of the table, and then carefully placed on it.

“So remind me again why exactly I am here and not someone more suitable like another engineer or maybe even Jennifer?” Kai asked the head of engineering, a bit unnerved by the ghastly dead face, even if it was an enemy, it still looked too human to not disgust him.

“Because while I’m able to figure out how their armor works by itself… which inspired me to work on some advanced tracer rounds to deal with flying units a little better… I need someone who understands biology to work out how those systems work in tandem with the organic components,” Lily answered, crossing her arms. “The words ‘alien biocybernetics’ - what we are going to study in here - should make that much apparent.” And you installed Atka’s cybernetics, so don’t act like this is out of your element...

“Yeah, just wanted to make sure.” Kai said, moving closer to the body. He grabbed a saw tool, then bent down, turning on the instrument as he began cutting into weak points in the armor, being careful to avoid the thicker portions where it would be hardest to break into. Satisfied with the cuts he made, he grabbed a magnet with a handle on it, slowly attaching it to the piece and he pulled, forcibly removing the metal coating, setting it aside. It seemed that the skin of the Advent soldier was bonded onto the armor, and tore off some of the cadaver’s skin that attached to the alloys.

Next, Kai picked up a scalpel and cut into the body underneath, opening the skin and looking inside, raising an eyebrow. “My, my… this is quite interesting…” The Head Doctor mumbled, stepping to the side. “Look at this. The whole spinal column has been altered. New receptors attached, wires leading down to the bottom jet pack. It is like they hacked it open and remade the nervous system to use it as some sort of main network. A conduit for the brain to give more complex commands quicker. I am sure if we cut open the head, we would find many implants hooked up there.”

Lily nodded. “Wonder if we can make it work for us… I’m sure you’ve heard of how clunky the wristpad to control the Gremlins is. It eats up a lot of time for more complex commands, which can be deadly in combat.”

“Yeah…” Kai looked over the modified spine and he stood up, going to the head of the soldier. He cut inside, opening up the skull to look inside, and he nodded. “I knew it. Looked at all of this. They must not have spent a lot of time trying to retrofit their designs, because these are… primitive. Almost torturous. Guess that’s the point though.”

He grabbed some scalpels and slowly began removing some of the chips in the brain. “I’m already getting ideas here. If we were to compact these, make sure it all fit into one system, got the proper receptors onto the Gremlins and what not, we wouldn’t need to completely remake a human spine. Just send signals from the PCS to the Gremlin. Almost like old style bluetooth devices. It will take trial and error until we get it exactly right, but it is certainly doable. Just gotta compress it down.” He stood up, handing the tray of implants to the engineer.

Lily was looking away for the moment, more unnerved by the dissection of what was once a human than even Kai had been. “G-good plan... “ she agreed, shakily taking the tray. “We should… be able to accomplish that, I just need to… make some recalibrations to the Gremlins and the Specialist PCS to allow the connection to work properly.”

Is she… scared? Kai asked the woman inside his head, having hidden himself behind a meditative shield he had made for himself so he was able to work with Lily a bit better at the cost of his emotional state.

Unnerved more like. Maybe she needs a big, strong man to comfort her. Sukuna suggested, and embarrassment rolled over the void he made like a bubble rolling up the side of a fishbowl and he let out a slow breath.

“That isn’t funny…” Kai mumbled to himself.

Despite her apprehension, Lily raised an eyebrow, placing the implants in the hands of one of the people that had brought the corpse in. “Take this to engineering.” She glanced over at Kai. “What isn’t funny?”

Kai straightened and his void completely shattered, the man’s hand shaking a bit. “W-What? Did I mumble something? Sorry just uh… um… morbid joke I heard from… from a doctor uh… before.”

“What’s morbid is your lack of attention,” Lily muttered. “In regards to cybernetics, there’s one other thing we could stand to develop from the Hoverguard and the experimental parts we have left…”

“You mean the soldier who recently lost her arm on the mission?” Kai guessed, having been there to properly seal up the woman’s arm. It took a long while to remove all the cauterized skin and make sure everything was clean, but he and his team had done it. The fact he was becoming a better surgeon was not exactly a happy thought.

“Yeah, Private Stacie Belle. If we could finally develop proper cybernetics, then she could be able to fight again. Otherwise… we may be down a Sharpshooter.”

Kai nodded his head, and he offered Lily something of a smile. “We can’t fail then. Let’s get this project underway. And I know just how to assist you.” He went over to the table and picked up a datapad, tapping through it until he finally handed it to An-Yi. “The notes we have of the cybernetics from two years ago, as well as surgical notes. With these we may reduce the amount of thinking we need to do.”

“Yeah, but…” Lily frowned. “From what we could tell from the Hoverguard, it didn’t involve the whole ‘cellular replication’ progress you had to do to make Atka’s cybernetics psi-capable. Regular cybernetics seem complex in their own ways.”

“Ah. For that, we could just take notes from how a normal arm works. Make the proper pathways and such for the nervous system. We have a base socket to fit it into. All that really needs to be redesigned are the limbs. Things like eyes and the like would be harder, but that is stuff that we don’t technically need right now, so we have time to develop something proper.” The doctor said, crossing his arms with a satisfied look.

Lily smiled. “Fair enough. We just need to calibrate the electronic pathways to make sure they respond correctly to input from a live subject, and make sure the mechanical parts integrate properly with the organic ones. For the latter, I’ve gotten traces of some sort of nanite solution akin to what we use in our medkits but a lot more advanced from that MEC Trooper we… found out wasn’t entirely mechanical.” The thought of the brain encased in metal still sent shivers down An-Yi’s spine. At least we’ll be using the integration solution for a better cause…

Kai chuckled nervously. “You okay? You seem more uncomfortable than even I am about our enemies. If you want, I can make sure any unsavory business may be handled by someone else should they come up.” Leaning against the table he shrugged, “Though I doubt something unpleasant may come up regardless. Am I coddling you?” He asked quickly, Kai starting to sweat unusually profusely despite trying to keep cool.

“A little… yes…” Lily grumbled. “I’m not going to cease doing my job because something unsettles my stomach, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to feel disturbed by what the aliens do in the first place. Does the thought of someone with no legs and a bunch of crap wired into their nervous system not bother you?” she questioned.

 

[MarineAvenger]

DarkGemin24601 and MarineAvenger: “Reconstruction, Part 2”

“I’m a guy who is familiar with human dynamics in all its gory glory and deal with women like a kid would spiders. So… short answer is… a bit. Of course it unnerves me. It will never stop unnerving me. I just suppose I can cope better than one who works with machines.” Kai scratched the back of his head. “So uh… yeah but… well, if you ever need a friend you can come to me about what freaks you out when I am sure more stuff comes up. I mean… me and you are friends right? Not just people who… don’t argue any more?”

An-Yi shrugged. “I guess,” she stated uninspiringly. “Haven’t really given it a ton of thought.”

His mouth twisted a bit and he sighed. “I suppose that is the best I can get at this point. But you know… I would like to get closer ya know. Kind of start putting those couple of years behind us.” He suggested, taking slow but deep breaths to steady himself.

Lily glanced over at him. He’s trying really hard for this, she noticed. “I’d be amenable to that.”

“Good… good…” Swaying a bit he stood up straight and cleared his throat. “I should go before I give myself a heart attack here. I’ll send a nurse down or something to uh… send you or no… give you the uh… whatever you need. Hang out sometime soon?” The Japanese man quickly asked as he back away.

The Chief Engineer nodded. “That’ be fine. That’s for the help, Kazuko.”

“Yeah… see you!” Kai said, turning as he sped walked out of the cybernetics lab with as much dignity he had managed to assemble.

0916 Hours, July 15th, 2038
The Amazon Rainforest
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 1, Central Block
The Cybernetics Lab

“Alright, give it a try,” Chief Shen encouraged her newest Specialist.

“Remind me how this is supposed to work?” Christine Kohler asked as she reluctantly placed down her wristpad controls onto the counter, instead putting on her helmet. Inside the protective headgear were neural receivers based off the Hoverguard’s implants that connected themselves to the Specialist’s brain through her PCS.

“Like I said, it’s nothing special,” An-Yi reminded her. “All you have to do is will Sparks to obey a command, and he will.”

“If you say so…” Christine closed her eyes for a moment.

“You don’t need to do that.”

The blond-haired woman sighed, and opened her eyes again, concentrating on her Gremlin. With a start, it flew over Lily and let loose a spray of its internal medkit storage. “Wow… that actually worked!” Christine remarked with a smile.

“Told you,” Lily insisted, patting the mist away. “And the other part of our research should come through too, I promise.”

Christine’s smile faded slightly. “I… hope so. She hasn’t been doing well since she woke up and found out her arm was gone… this operation’s the only hope she really has right now.”

“Kai and I will come through. I promise,” An-Yi told Kohler, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Believe in us.”

Christine nodded. “Alright. I’ll put my faith in you…. Just… please give her back what she had before. A sharpshooter losing their aim is like…” Christine trailed off, at a loss for a metaphor. It was fortunate that Kazuko wheeled in Belle at that moment to break the silence.

“There is nothing to worry about Stacie. We’ve done our homework. Pretty soon, you will not be able to tell the difference with your limb. Just look at the Commander.” Kai said to the woman as they entered, seeming unusually calm for being around a woman. Inside, Kai had a long talk with Sukuna about how to better deal with things, and came up with a somewhat temporary solution to ease Kai into women. When not using her powers, she would temporarily shield the part of his mind that took in the negative thoughts about the gender in a smaller scale meditative state. When her powers were needed, he would handle things himself. Today was as much a test for their new cybernetic design as it was his own mental stability.

The Texan gunslinger sighed. “Well, you can see that it’s metal on her too… but I suppose synthetic skin is too much to ask for,” Stacie remarked with a sigh, glancing over at the stub that had once been her right arm.
Kai looked over Stacie for a brief moment, not sure how to respond until he got an idea. “Well… think about it this way I suppose. Bragging rights. It allows you to show off how badass you are to other soldiers. You know… lost your arm, only to just merely get a new one and keep being herself. Isn’t that a more… pleasant thought?” He asked in an attempt to cheer the Sharpshooter up.

Stacie rolled her eyes. “I guess that’s not bad… but still not a lot of consolation for losing some feeling in my right arm for awhile and having it be… again, metal.” The Maverick sighed. “Thanks for the cigarette, though. C-B wouldn’t let me have one, kept going on about how she didn’t want to have to patch up my lungs with her biokinesis when the war’s over.”

“Was never big on smoking myself but I know when someone needs one. I won’t chastise you though. I am sure you are already well versed in the risks.” The Head Doctor noted with a short chuckle.

“Oh, don’t get me started-”

Lily cleared her throat. “Are we ready to begin, Kai?”

“Oh uh… yes. I believe so.” Kai said with a nod, holding his breath as he briefly patted Stacie’s good side of her shoulder, his hand recoiling after a few pats. “I think I did a good job preparing her.” He noted quickly.

The Engineering Chief raised an eyebrow, but otherwise did not comment. “I’ll let you begin with the anesthetic.” Shen nodded to Kohler, who stepped outside to have the door close behind her. “Let’s take care of this quickly and cleanly.”

***

Slowly, the world came back into view, more specifically the bright lights of the operating room above the soldier on the bed, as if she was being reborn. Kai stepped back as power flooded back into his body, having been slowly purging the anesthetic in her body instead of applying it. “Belle, can you hear me?” He asked, snapping his fingers.

“Extra noise... was unnecessary,” Stacie groggily mumbled.

“Have to make sure you are all there.” He said lightheartedly, looking to her side. “When you are able, trying and slowly move your fingers. The arm may feel like it is asleep and we need to wake it up a bit. Just take your time.”

Stacie tried her hand at that, and grimaced. “Feels like pins and needles… just a lot more dull.” As if fighting against her, the fingers on her solid dark gray metal arm started to move sluggishly.

“Very good.” Kai noted, taking a deep breath as he cringed a bit and slowly began pulling Stacie up so she was sitting up straight, having to hold her in case she tried falling back from a swimming head, though this time he couldn’t stop blood from coming from his nose. “Alright… wrist then elbow… once again take your time.” The Head Doctor’s reluctant tone was almost as if he wanted her to hurry up from the franticness of it.

Too tired from the surgery to notice, Stacie slowly got the rest of the cybernetic arm moving, the limb starting to regain a speed equivalent to an organic limb. “How’s that?”

“A-Amazing. Great job Stacie. C-C-Can you support yourself up?” He asked increasingly hurriedly.

Stacie got up. “Thank you, Kazuko,” she told the doctor sincerely, looking over her new arm. “Means a lot that I’ll be able to get back in the fight soon.”

Now free, Kai wiped his nose and plugged it a bit, steadying his breathing slowly. “Take it easy for a few days. No heavy lifting, no to quick jerking motions. Just get accustomed to it. Though I am sure you will be the talk of the ship so I’m sure you will have a lot to do in your spare time.”

Stacie nodded with a chuckle. “Got it,” she said, departing.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

BMPixy and DarkGemini24601: “Immovable Object, Part 1”

1348 Hours, July 16th, 2038
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Front Block
Maintenance Staff Bunks

An-Yi Shen and Yakone Ipiktok hopped out of the narrow gravity lift leading up to the top of the forward portion of the Avenger. What had once been a pathway for worker drones was now a means of access from the main laboratory to the top, where the maintenance staff slept and sometimes ended up off-duty. The dropoff point for the peak of the elevator gave an idea of the cramped quarters that were available at the top, but neither were really bothered by it; Lily found it cozy, while her Ranger companion was used to it by now. No, the reason the Chief Engineer was nervous was of a different nature than claustrophobia.

“Look, I should really get going. He told me not to bother him and just let him continue as is. He’s stubborn, and if he found out I put you up to this-”

“I get it, I get it,” Yakone reassured her friend, shaking her head and patting Lily’s shoulder with a smile. “I’ll let you go. I just wanted to make sure of what I was gonna say before I go in there to talk to him.” The Inuit-Caucasian hesitated for a moment, and Lily scowled.

“You… do remember what we were talking about, right?” Shen questioned, crossing her arms.

“Just messing with you, I don’t have short term memory loss problems,” the younger Ipiktok cleared up with a devious grin. “He thinks it’s fine to just be content with survival, and is too bullheaded to get out and try to make more of life. Has to do with all he’s been through. I’m supposed to do my best to bring those things up without implicating you, and then handle him my way. The plan’s safe and sound in my head,” Yakone insisted.

“I just hope you can actually beat stubborn with stubborn…” Lily muttered. “He blew me off when I started trying to get inside his head, and I’m not sure you can pull off what I couldn’t. You haven’t really dealt with him much the past two years.”

Yakone shook her head. “That’s the beauty of it though. He doesn’t have to like me. I just have to give him the kick in the ass to do better. Trust me, Lily, I’ll do my best. And if I fail, so what? Maintenance Chief hates me, big whoop.”

An-Yi chuckled. “I guess so. Good luck, Yakone.” With that, Shen hopped back into the gravity elevator, this time having her fall slowed as she was taken back down to the bottom floor. Yakone for her part went forward, pushing open the manual doors and stepping inside a narrow hallway with various bunks and small rooms adjacent to it. It’s surprisingly well-kept for the living quarters of the greasemonkeys, Yakone noted mentally. But then again, they are the sort to be obsessive-compulsive about everything being in working order.

“Hey, Yakone!” A voice said from one of the side rooms. Glancing in, Yakone recognized the two Italian mechanics - Viviana and Tiziana - having lunch inside a small storage compartment with a TV rigged up to it. “What is up?” Viviana asked.

“It’s ‘what’s up’,” Yakone corrected with a roll of her eyes and a slight smirk. “And I’m just here to see a friend. What are you watching?” she inquired briefly. “Better not be ADVENT TV.”

“O-Of course not,” Tiziana protested. “Just prewar cartoons.”

“Good, good. Have you seen your Chief around? I was hoping to talk to him.”

“Boss is in his room,” Viviana told the Ranger.

“Got it.” Yakone gave them her thanks, and then went further down into the hallway until she came across Megalos’ room, confirming that it was his and then rapping on the door.

“Gah, give me a second here,” a voice complained from inside the room. After a brief moment the sound of a couple latches unlocking could be heard through the door. The door opened with little ceremony, revealing a partially dressed Giorgos, the upper half of his worksuit tied around his waist and a grease-stained undershirt covering his chest. “Can I help you, Miss…?” the Maintenance Chief trailed off, leaning against the side of the door to hide the insides of his room with his body.

“Yakone,” the Ranger answered, looking ever so slightly amused by attempts to obscure his room from sight. “I want to talk to you… if going somewhere else would suit you better, that’d be fine with me.”

“Yeah, yeah, just give a moment to get decent - place is a bit of a mess,” Giorgos replied, ducking out of the way to grab a proper shirt from somewhere out of view. From the brief glimpse that could be seen as the Greek stepped out of sight, that was the case - paperwork was strewn not just on but around the desk, the remnants of many a meal were stacked in an overflowing trash can, and Giorgos’s bed was a mess of blankets and discarded clothes. Just as quickly as he disappeared, Giorgos popped back into sight, wearing a plain black T-shirt with a couple of holes around the hem. “Sorry ‘bout that - where’d you want to go?” the man asked, a hint of eagerness to get away slipping into his voice.

Add that to the ammunition pile, Yakone thought to herself before replying, “The bar would probably work out fine, most people will be in the main living quarters lounge at this time of the day.” Plus, never underestimate the power of a good drink.

“Yeah, yeah, that’ll work just fine,” Giorgos said, scratching at his stubble. “Well, you’re the one blocking the exit, so you lead the way, I guess.”

The Ranger chuckled at that, pulling back and starting to walk down towards the bar. “It’s a bit surprising that you seem to be an anomaly up there,” Yakone commented, taking a glance back at the Chief Mechanic. “Though I suppose being in charge doesn’t leave as much time to clean up the junk that accumulates in your office.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a bad habit that got out of control,” Giorgos replied with a touch of embarrassment. “But hey, as long as I can find stuff, it works,” he added, a bit more confidently at the end. Shaking his head, he continued, “Anyways, we’re not here to discuss my lifestyle choices - I assume there’s some reason you decided to drag a stranger out to drinks?”

“Actually…” Yakone remarked as they went down the lift, “That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Heard from two of my friends in your department that you’re like a recluse aside from giving directives.”

Giorgos gave an exasperated sigh. “Just… Jesus Christ…” the Greek muttered, before continuing. “I have my way of doing things - I trust the crew to get stuff done without me looking over their shoulders, and they don’t need their boss butting into their personal lives. So you can tell whoever put you up to this that things are staying the same, a’ight?”

Yakone shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t have a problem with that system and I don’t think they do either. They can work well with the freedom you provide. I’m talking about you specifically. Granted, I’m operating off a lot of secondhand knowledge since we haven’t talked much in the past, but taking a look at your quarters kind of confirmed my line of thinking. You don’t really care too much for your own well-being, do you? In both the mental and physical senses.”

Giorgos stopped walking, and pressed his forehead into his palm for a long moment. After a moment and a couple of calming breaths, the Chief Mechanic gave a reply. “Listen, if what you wanted to do was criticize how I live my personal life, you could have just left a note at the door. Would have wasted less of both of our time. It’s not the place for strangers to try to judge how others live - you never know that maybe what causes trouble is your own knocking around.”

“Only an idiot, asshole, or both criticizes someone without having a suggestion or two of a better way,” Yakone remarked. “And I don’t think I’m too much of either of those things. But I’d prefer to discuss that when both of us are a little cooled off by what the bar has to offer. You a fan of wine? Danielle would hate me for it, but I know where her wine is kept stashed if you want some.”

“Whatever gets this over with quicker,” the Greek answered, raising his hands to signify that he had no control over the situation. Definitely going to need a drink if this keeps up, the man added mentally. “You’re the one in charge of this expedition.”

Yakone gave him a nod of acknowledgement, not wanting to say much more until the two had some alcohol in them. She went over behind the bar, twirled a key in her hands for a moment, and then opened a false panel on the cabinet to unlock the wine cooler. Pulling out a bottle of red wine, she placed it on the counter, retrieved two glasses, and poured them one each. She took a sip. “I assume - dangerous I know - that something happened to you to make you stop trying to enjoy life. If correct, I’m sure it has something to do with your time with ADVENT. They’ve got a tendency to fuck people up.”

“Well it’s got nothing to do with that,” Giorgos replied, taking a brief break to down a gulp of his own drink. “I’ve just always wanted a quiet life. Y’know, white picket fence, 2.5 children, hang out at the Lodge on weekends with the rest of the guys, the usual suburban dream. Then I realized that any life involving people wasn’t going to be quiet, so I stopped caring about that kind of thing. Not everything has to have some tragic backstory, y’know.”

 

[BMPixy]

BMPixy and DarkGemini24601: “Immovable Object, Part 2”

The Inuit-Caucasian gave him a slightly incredulous look. Sounds hella boring, but telling him that won’t help Lily… contain yourself. “Thing is, humans are social creatures. Just because you might want to close yourself off from other people, doesn’t mean you’re going to be happy doing that. Or that other people are going to let you. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Yakone pointed out.

“Do you have this kind of conversation with every random schmuck on the street? No, because you know that you don’t need to bother with every person that comes your way,” Giorgos explained. “All I ask is that I be treated that same way - just keep things professional and to a minimum. It’s simple, y’know?”

“Then what are you if you’re always professional?” Yakone questioned. “Sounds like you’re be just as mechanical as the stuff you work on. Working to fulfill a purpose, and not looking to find fulfillment. That’s the way ADVENT likes to do their social engineering, not the way humanity is supposed to operate. People are more than just tools.”

“Not everyone needs something as abstract as ‘fulfillment’ in life,” the Greek answered. “Sometimes all you need is just a regular dose of simple satisfaction, and let everything else be handled by the flow of life. It’s a lot more relaxing of a life than always scurrying about trying to find something you never had.”

“Well, are you satisfied?” Yakone asked. “I find it hard to believe you never would get tired of a monotonous routine devoid of any close friends to make things less dull.”

“Then that’s just a difference in ideology,” Giorgos said dismissively, finishing off his glass. “Your worldview is just simply too different from mine to understand that I’m content with where I am right now. Things could be better, but they could also be worse. No use fussing over what could be, when what I have now is just fine.”

“It just sounds to me like you’re scared to try. Like you don’t want to get burned. I wonder why you’d feel that way if you’ve never been burned before though - most people don’t give up before ever trying,” Yakone analyzed. I’m pretty sure she was scared too.

Giorgos opened his mouth as if to give a retort, but just as quickly shut it, settling on merely pouring himself another glass of wine. After a quick sip, he replied, “Y’see, this is what happens when you pretend to understand. Just stay in your lane, don’t try to fuck around with other people’s lives, and the world’ll be a better place. The aliens are fucking around in our lives, and see what that got them - a planet covered in angry rebels.”

“People are going to interfere with other people, though. I’m sure if we win we’re going to make a lot of blindly loyal Advent citizens upset.” Yakone downed a significant portion of her glass. “But I’m fine with that, because I know their way of life is both a lie and is wrong.” The Ranger crossed her arms. “And I’m not pretending to understand. I’m trying to understand. You seem to be in the same boat my mother was in for so long. She tried to hold onto hope and not become distant from everyone, but life kept giving her the middle finger. Yet even now she’s opening up again, trying to be more social… and trying to actually be a proper mother.” Yakone shook her head. “She might fail miserably, but at least she’s giving it her best shot. That’s something she didn’t do before.”

“Then your mother is a different type of person than me, simple as that,” Giorgos replied. “She’s like you, willing to give things another shot for whatever reason, because something something hope. I just don’t think that way, and that’s just how the baby bounces.”

“Hope to me is something similar to ambition. To willpower.” Yakone shook her head. “Ambition’s what separates humans as being sentient from animals that do everything they do for survival. I hate ADVENT partially because they want their citizens to give up their individual ambition and just trust in whatever goal their alien ‘gods’ have for them. You aren’t looking much better if you just do what you do for XCOM because you’re told to and have nothing better to spend your time on.” Finishing off her wine glass, Yakone rested her hands on the sides of the counter. “No one needs a hollow shell of a human being as their friend,” Yakone growled. “I’m starting to wonder if that’s all you are.”

“Hence why I’m not friends with any people - wonderful how things work out that way, don’t you think?” the Chief Mechanic asked, arching an eyebrow. “‘Sides, every organisation needs the content - if everyone were ambitious, it’d devolve into backroom fighting over every scrap of power. People like me - people who are content keep the trains running on time, so to speak. You lot with your ambition and hope and whatever else get to be in charge, we’ll just make sure the budget gets in by Monday.”

“Then I sure hope Tygan can reprogram that Codex he’s working with. Maybe it can replace you,” Yakone snarked distastefully. “You are right to some extent I suppose in that I don’t understand you. It isn’t that hard to just socialize, to get out and add spice to your life. All you need to do is find someone less bothersome and stubborn than me, and share a drink with them.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’d been replaced,” the Greek muttered under his breath. Shaking his head, he continued more audibly, “You brought this on yourself when you decided to help whomever put you up to this, don’t be getting so angry that things aren’t working out to plan.” A small frown crossed his face as he said this, but a hand quickly rose to cover the expression.

“Something the matter?” Yakone pressed, seeing an opportunity and not wanting to waste it.

“No, just wondering what I’d do if your suggestion to Tygan did go through,” Giorgos shot, masking his hint of sadness with sarcasm. “Tahiti might be nice, but it’s a bit out of the way. Maybe Cuba.”

“Maybe you should take me up on my suggestion then. You’d be a lot less likely to be replaced if your crew actually knew and liked you beyond your non-interference policy,” Yakone commented. “I see no reason why you can’t be friends with your own staff at the very least. Works out for our departments where that is the case with the Chief of Staff, and not so much where it isn’t. The benefit it provides is another reason why it’s good that the Commander is getting out more.”

Giorgos gave out a huff and shook his head, pausing to take a long sip of his wine. “No, that’s not how I work. Keep things professional, keep a decent distance from your subordinates, stay impartial. Don’t want to be fussing around, after all. If that makes me easily replaceable, then so be it, that’s just how things are. No use trying to change it - it’ll only make things worse.”

Yakone’s grip on the bar tightened. “You really are hopeless, aren’t you?” she yelled in exasperation. I don’t give a damn anymore about hiding who sent me, there’s no point in it. “You have no goddamn right to threaten Lily with the whole ‘our working relationship will be ruined if you continue’ bullshit! She didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the one that wants to hide away from other people like a coward, and avoid facing the complications society brings that, sorry to say, everyone else has to deal with.”

Giorgos was silent for a long moment after this, staring into the bottom of his glass like it would give him the proper reply to Yakone’s outrage. Sighing heavily, the Greek slowly began to piece together a response. “I really never should have accepted these drinks,” he began dourly. “If this is about my admittedly untactful dealings with Shen, you can tell her that I apologize for how I was then. However, what I said then was the truth - you see how trying to rack my brain has gotten us. It’s people who can’t leave things well enough alone who cause these kinds of issues - if you had simply accepted that I’m not going to be changing my worldview, we could have had a pleasant conversation over drinks about the weather, work, whatever. Instead, this.”

Pessimism isn’t my thing, jackass, Yakone silently grumbled.

Giorgos took a sip of his drink, and continued, “But, y’know what? I’m not going to hold this against you. You’re simply trying to help your friend with a ‘problem’ that can’t be solved, trying to raise awareness on issues that don’t exist, etc, etc. However, I will say this - you are very much trying my patience. Any further, and I’ll have to make unfavorable comparisons to my ex.” That came out weaker than it sounded in my head, the Greek mentally despaired.

“Yeah, if you think that you don’t care about what I have to say, I care even less what your opinion is of me,” Yakone told him with a shake of her head. “But I get it,” she conceded dryly. “I’ll pass on your message to her, and give her advice as her friend to not waste her time trying to befriend you. She’d be making better use of her time trying to cheer up a rock. I’ve finally run into someone more stubborn than me, and for now that’s an insurmountable obstacle.” Yakone poured herself another glass of wine, and drank a great deal of it. “You can go back to whatever the hell you were doing before. We’re done here.”

“Well, I would say it was a nice chat, but…” Giorgos said, standing from his stool, leaving his drink unfinished. “Best of luck to you and your ambitions,” the Chief Mechanic said, as he made his way out of the bar.

The Inuit-Caucasian Ranger shook her head, looking at her second glass of wine. “I think my ambition right now is going to be to get drunk,” she muttered to herself, and went back to depleting Firebrand’s stash.

 

[Dahlexpert]

Dhalexpert & Zombiesplater53 Getting a interesting brother

1348 Hours, July 16th, 2038
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Onboard the Avenger
Levele 2, Rear Block
The bar

The Avenger
Bar

Luke sat on a stool with a bottle of water. He seemed to be thinking about the last few days.A big happy family huh? Alexis, I think some of my craziness is rubbing off on you.He sighed. “Darling, what are you thinking?"

"Luke!" Alexis called out from the entrance, her near twin with green hair being pulled along as she walked in. "Look who I got to come out of the lab!"

"I remember you saying that same thing when me and your sister met. Hey Jenn, nice to see you again."

"H-hey... Luke." Jennifer looked between him and her sister. "Why am I here?"

Alexis pushed her into a chair. "So you and Luke can talk, of course! Like brother and sister, you know?"

Jenn look back to Luke and shrugged. "Did you have something to talk about? Because I don't."

"Yeah, I never did get to learn more about you. Now your sister wants up to be a family so why not just talk to me?”

"Be a... a family?" Jenn gave him a confused look. "Did you already propose to her or something? Because it is waaaay too soon for that!"

"Whoa, no no no! We’re not getting married, Alexis wants us to act like a big happy family. I mean, your dad pretty much sees me as a son, so why don't you see me like a brother?"

"I... didn't say I didn't..." Jennifer folded her arms. "But... it's a little too soon..."

"Look Jenn, our first meeting didn't go well. So why don't we try talking again? No alcohol this time though."Because I don't want a drunk woman hitting on me again.

"Good idea!" Alexis smiled sweetly at the two of them. "And I need to run to engineering to... grab something."

"What?" Jenn gave her a slightly panicked look. "Can't... can't it wait?"

"Nope." Alex grinned at Luke. "You'll take good care of her for a little, teeny bit, right?"

"Sure thing, darling. I'll be on my best behavior." Luke said trying not to laugh "Go down to engineering and get what you need. Your sister is in good hands."

Alexis practically slipped off, and Jennifer watched her go with an angry look. "That lying little..." Jennifer turned back and huffed. "If we didn't look so alike, I would swear we weren't related sometimes."

Luke walked behind Jennifer and hugged her. "Aw, come on, it's just the two of us. Besides, it's been awhile since we last talked. I would love to hear what you’ve been up to." Luke said while acting in a very flirty manner.

Jennifer's eyes darted back and forth. "Um... what are you doing, Luke?"

"Just being a little flirty. It's been a while since I did this.” Luke let go of Jennifer. "Look Jenn, I just want to talk to you and get to know you better."

Jenn folded her arms. "You mean you just want to hit on me. You'd be the luckiest guy here to not only get Alexis but her sister too, huh?"

"Yeah, having two of the most beautiful woman on the ship. That would be great. But I prefer Alexis. She and I seem to mix well together, and don't worry, i'm not interested in you. Well, not in a romantic kind of way."

"I... well..." Jennifer almost looked offended. "What... what do you mean, not interested? I... we look almost identical."

"Yes, you do, but there's a personality difference. See ,Alexis is a little more open, she's flirty, wild, and gives a positive attitude. You seem to be shy and nervous around people."

Jennifer scoffed, and looked away. "I... I-I try to be more... open and... i-it doesn't make her... better than me. I... I-I have... good things about me too... I... I-I..."

"Alright, Jenn, calm down. Why don't you tell me some good things about you."

Jennifer rubbed her wrists nervously, something she did unconsciously and was never sure why. "I... I-I don't know. I'm... smart. I taught myself most of what I know about biology, micro-biology, and genetics. I'm... I-I'm pretty. And I... I... um... can... cook..." She stared forward blankly, not able to think of anything else, and feeling that did not sit well with her.

"Annnnd a flirt when drunk. Well that could have been a onetime thing though."

Jennifer sighed. "Fine... you win. Alexis is a much, much better choice then me." She glared at Luke. "But that doesn't make you a good choice for her."

"Oh, here we go. Please lecture me on how bad I am for your sister and how I'm the bad guy."

"But... you are!" Jennifer shook her head. "She told me... she didn't tell me everything, but she told me that you killed people before, and that you were in gangs. And I was talking to that little girl that runs supplies through the ship, and she told me you said you did bad things to get girls to do things for you. What bad things, hmm? She might be too young to understand, but I'm not!"

 

[Dahlexpert]

Part 2

"Look, I admit freely that I'm not a boy scout, a goody goody, a do gooder. I admit that I'm not a nice person. Hell, your sister saw a glimpse of who I was before coming here. And you know what? She accepted it. You know why? Because it was my past. I'm not that person anymore. Hell, I'm completely different from the person I was a mere three years ago, so don't judge me for the things I did in my past."

"But how do I know you've really changed?" Jennifer asked seriously. "What if this is all an act to get into my sister's pants? You... have you two...?”

"Do know how many times I could have stolen your sister's virginity? Quite a lot. The fact that she's still a virgin says I’ve changed."

Jennifer looked away again. "Maybe. But... but..."

"And to add that I changed, about a week ago after my mission. I let my fear get the better of me and fondoled Alexis breast. Now I stopped myself from going on because it didn't feel right."

"What... how... h-how did... Alexis react to that?" Jennifer asked, blushing fiercely.

"About as well as you can expect. She started to moan, thought. Not sure if she fully liked it or not."

Jennifer scoffed. "Can you show at least a little tact? You forget that just because we look alike, I am not Alexis. I can't believe she lets you get away with talking like, and acting like, a pig around her."

"Look, I'm me. I'm straight forward. If don't like how I talk, well tough. Now as for acting like a pig, what I did was a moment of weakness."

"Well... can you at least understand how it worries me to hear you lost control and fondled my sister?"

"Yes, I get it, and I already had this talk with Yakone. And she threatened to murder me if I try it again. Not like I'm planning to anyway."

Jennifer slowly nodded. "Listen Luke... I just want to be sure you have her best interests in mind."

"I wouldn't still be in a relationship with her if I didn't. if I was still the no good person you think I am, I would have taken her virginity and moved on. I do care for Alexis. I wouldn't still be with her otherwise.”

Jennifer's shoulders slumped, and she stared down to the floor. "I'm... sorry."

"Jenn, you're not the first person to think ill of me, nor will you be the last. Look, I like Alexis. She makes me feel like... I don't know how to describe it. Happy, I guess. I'm the happiest I’ve ever been when I'm with her."

Jennifer slowly turned her head away, and softly said, "If it is any consolation... it probably wouldn't matter if you we're you, a boy scout, or an angel. It is... me. I would act like this anyway." She sighed. "Yakone is right... damn it."

Luke sighed. “All this talk is making me thirsty." Luke went behind the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Jennifer watched him, and said, "Pour me one too."

“Hell no! The last thing your getting is alcohol." Luke grabbed some ginger ale and gave it to Jennifer.

Jennifer scoffed angrily. "I am not a child! If I want a drink, I will have a drink! And if you respect me as a person and as our girlfriend's sister, you'll give me a drink."

"And said girlfriend told me not to let you drink, not after last time when you got drunk."

Jennifer narrowed her eyes, and stood up, walking behind the counter to get something herself. "Typical pig headed... do you think my sister has any right to tell me what I can or cannot do? Always the same thing. She hits on men but tells me to be careful around them. She stays up late but insists I be the good girl and go to bed. She insists that I go out and socializes but then draws everyone's attention! Well, I am twenty-two years old, and if I want a drink, I'll have a drink damn it!" She pulled out an old bottle labeled 'Jägermeister'.

"Whoa!" Luke takes the bottle from Jennifer. “You're not drinking, especially not that drink there."

"Luke!" Jennifer squeezed her fists. "You're making me angry. Give... it... back!"

"Not happening. If you're going to drink, start with something small, and not with a bottle of hard stuff. I mean, you got drunk off a few glass of rum, so you're not drinking. Also, I don't want you flirting with me again."

Jennifer glared at him for a moment longer before returning to her seat and plopping down. "You really are just like Alex. In every infuriating way. You two are perfect for each other..."

"Well, thank you for that. Look, I want us to be friends and to be a... well, family. Since your father likes me, why not try this family thing out." Luke went behind the bar. "Annnnd as family, why not have a naughty big brother that get's you into trouble since you're old enough." Luke poured Jennifer a glass of milk stout.

Jennifer smiled softly, and took a sip. "Thank you," she said. "I'm sorry if I've acted childish. But you don't know what it is like to have a sibling that seems to get everything and do everything while you're expected to be the good girl."

 

[Dahlexpert]

Part 3

"You’re right. I don't, me being an only child and all. I'm sure Alexis cares for you. She's just worried for you is all. Or she cares a little too much.” Luke whispers to himself, "Maybe she can be a mother. If she's this protective of her sister, I can imagine her with a kid."

Jennifer muttered, taking another drink. "I... I was jealous, you know? Well... still am. Not of you specifically, but with Alexis finding someone she cares so much about. I know that could never happen to me."

"Hey, come on now. We're probably going to be on this ship for the rest of our lives. I'm sure you will find someone. No need to rush things, right?"

"That isn't the point." Jennifer sighed and stared down at her cup. "Sometimes... I imagine a world where... not where Alex is gone, but where we are somehow... the same person, you know? That way, I would be the same smart woman, but still benefit from her outgoing nature. But as it stands, she gets to go fight and get the glory, she gets to be flirty and dirty, and she gets everyone's attention... while I remain the lonely wallflower."

"You know, you sound like my mom and my aunt. See, my mom was a wild woman in a different way. She was my tribe's best hunter, a fantastic fighter, very aggressive, beautiful, and of course she had psionic powers. My aunt, while not as skilled as her sister, was good at other things. She could make weapons, was a good scout, and possibly almost as good a hunter then my mom, to the point where she would lead hunts instead of her.”

Luke took a swing of his whisky, and poured another glass. "But my mom became a soldier, and fought for country and honor. While my aunt stayed in the village. Do they sound familiar?" Luke took another swing of his whisky and poured himself another glass.

Jennifer shrugged. "I guess. But it sounds like your mother and aunt were equals in many ways. I'm not Alex's equal."

"I don't see why not. You're just as smart, talented, and pretty if the last one counts.” Luke drank more of his whisky.

"But not as charming or fun to be with..." Jenn gave him a worried look. "So down a bit. You've had almost a quarter of the bottle in a couple minutes. Or do you have to be drunk to talk to me?"

"I'm fiiine. It's been awhile since I drank anything. Besides, I haven't been drunk in a good while, so why not enjoy myself." Luke grabbed the bottle, and started to drink from the bottle.

"Does Alexis know you're an alcoholic?" Jennifer mumbled.

"Hey, being an alcoholic is not a bad thing. It's my way of dealing with my problems as well as my favorite pass time."

"Being an alcoholic is a bad thing because it is a dependence on a chemical substance to escape problems and numb yourself instead of facing them," Jennifer countered. "An addiction is an addiction."

"Hey, you don't know my problems, green haired lady." Luke got closer to Jennifer. “Hey, darling, when were there two of you?"

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Very funny. You gonna start hitting on me too? Remember, Alexis is the one with the violet hair."

"Heh, unlike you I still have some control of myself, it's just that the room is spinning a bit, is all."

Jennifer walked over to him and guided him to the table. "Why don't you sit down before you fall down?"

Luke wrapped his arms around Jennifer. "Haaaay Alexis, you're finally back! I took care of your sister."

"Some control my butt..." Jennifer sighed. "I'm Jennifer. Remember? This is what you get for drinking so much so fast."

"Aw, come on cutie. I'm just giving you some affection. What's wrong with that? Also, give yourself some credit, Jenn, and stop putting yourself down."

"You two having fun?" Alexis asked, walking in with a smile on her face.

"Darling! I'm just giving your sister some love and affection. Is that alright?”

"As long as it isn't too much." Alexis grinned at Jennifer as she walked up. "Not after my man, are you?"

Jenn pushed against Luke's face. "Would you get him off me already?"

Luke hugged Jennifer tighter. "Aw, darling, is that jealousy I hear in your voice? You’re not scared that your little sister is going to take me, are you? Because she's soft and squishy like a teddy bear." Luke said, teasing Alexis.

"Oh?” Alexis pouted. "Is my man leaving me for my little sister?"

"I don't know. I mean, she is just like you, only not as confident. Maybe I like shy girls."

"Ugh..." Jennifer pushed Luke away. "I've had enough. Alex, you two were made for each other. And Luke... behave yourself for a change, won't you?"

"Alright, alright. Sorry about that green. I just like messing with your sister. It's just too fun.”

"Whatever. Have fun with each other, weirdos." Jennifer walked out, shaking her head.

Alexis watched her walk out, and turned back to Luke, and irritated look on her face. "Luke..."

Luke went behind the bar to put away the whisky. "Yeah? What's up darling? You need a drink?"

"So... you think Jennifer is just another me, huh?" Alexis muttered. "If she was more confident, you'd dump me for her?"

"Whoa, darling, come on. There's only one of you. There is no one that can compare to you, or deal with me for that matter."

"Jennifer is pretty, huh? And she's smarter than me, isn't she?"

"Your sister is pretty, yes, and you're both smart in your own way. Darling, are you actually angry? My, my, I never thought I see this side of you. Didn't think you get jealous."

 

[Dahlexpert]

Part 4

"And I never thought I would see you with your hands all over my sister!" Alexis shouted, angrily.

"Wow, you’re actually pissed off. Um... sorry then, darling. I didn't think you would get angry with this.”

Alexis turned away, a smile creeping on her face, but her tone remained angry. "You're damn right I'm pissed! When I said get to know her, I didn't mean start feeling her up!"

"Alright, I got carried away. I do that a lot. I figured I’d give her some confidence. You know, raise her spirits. Sorry if that angered you."

"Didn't gimme that." Alexis had to keep facing away to hide her grin. "Admit it! If I hadn't come back when I did, you would have been heading back to your room, wouldn't you?"

"Ok, I’m done with this crap." Luck turned Alexis around. "How could say such stupid things like that? I care for no one else but you. If I will be sleeping with anyone, it's you!" Luke shouted with his eyes closed.

Alexis looked around at the other bar occupants, and cracked up, laughing loudly. "Wow... I-I didn't realize I was such a good actress."

Luke looked at Alexis, then turned to everyone in the bar. "I need everyone to leave the bar… NOW!" The patrons of the bar left and Luke locked the door. "So... you feel like making me feel bad, huh?"

Alexis placed her finger to her lips innocently. "I was just teasing you. I hope I didn't upset you too much."

Luke Looked at Alexis, his eyes glowing red and steam coming off him. "Didn't upset me… didn't upset me... you know how worried I was?! I thought I actually pissed you off!"

Alexis held up her hands. "Okay... calm down now. It was a joke, Luke."

"Calm down... calm down." Luke moved his hand towards Alexis, only to pat her head and laugh "Was I really that scary? Damn, I'm sorry babe. Didn't mean to scare you like that."

Alexis chuckled, and wrapped her arms around him. "You are my big, tough warrior. How can I help being a little intimidated?"

"Aw, I don't mean to be that scary, but I think I owe you a few after what I kept doing to you in the hospital. So I've been thinking that for the rest of the month you can do whatever you want to me and have me do anything, within reason of course. I'm not running around the ship in my underwear."

"There is only one thing I want from you right now, and that is for you to be near me" Alexis whispered, pressing her forehead against his.

"Heh, and this is why I love having you around." Luke kissed Alexis, then turned around and looked at the locked door. "Sigh... I should probably let them back in, huh?"

"Yeah..." Alexis sighed and walked to the door, unlocking it before walking back to Luke. "Did you two hit it off, by the way? I do hope you and Jenn are the best of friends now."

"Well, she doesn't hate me as much as she did before when she thought I was not good for you. Now she's saying we are made for each other, though still needs some work."

Alexis nodded. "It's a start. So... wanna go back to my room and make out?"

"Jesus, you’re blunt. I really am changing you, aren't I? Hell, a few weeks ago, you were limited about this romantic stuff, and now you're the one leading for most things."

Alexis pressed against his side. "I'm not hearing a no."

"Yeah, yeah, I have nothing to do for the day, plus you are my doc and I will do whatever you want."

Alexis giggled, and grabbed his hand, pulling him along for a bit of fun.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
Suspicions: Part One

1702 Hours, July 16th, 2038
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 5, Central Block
The Living Quarters

Ayame let out a loud, long yawn as she used the Living Quarters' lounge to do just that; lounge around. She placed a book she was reading to the side and stared up, a tired look in her eyes. "Need to find someone else soon. Greeny will grow suspicious if I use her too often..." Someone else plopped down on the couch next to her. Craning her head, Ayame could see that it was the Commander, albeit in clothing a bit more casual than her usual fare. Gone were the gloves and the fancy shirt, replaced by a plain white cotton t-shirt and a can of beer in one hand. Ayame quickly sat in a more dignified fashion, fixing the shirt that was riding up on her belly. "Commander! Um... hello."

"Kasagi," Atka acknowledged her. "How are you feeling? Did the medical team patch up that wound of yours after the medkit patch gave out?"

"Hmm? Oh, right. The, uh... the bug. Well, truth is, I only needed a few bandages." Ayame laughed. "Those med-spray thingies really are cool. They work really, really well!"

"You do realize their effects are entirely temporarily, Ayame?" Atka questioned. "Can I call you that?"

"Of course, Commander." Ayame shrugged. "I guess... I just wasn't that hurt. Got lucky, huh? But I won't let that make me get sloppy, I swear."

"Ayame," Atka stopped her. "Look, do you want to keep lying to me or do you want to do this the easy way? You lost way more blood that you should have for a minor wound from what I understand. And not only did you only have barely a scratch to show for it, but now you're telling me you didn't need medical attention whatsoever from an attack from a Chryssalid." The Commander pushed herself forward a bit, turning to face Ayame more fully.

"Oh, hey Ayame! I was just looking for you," Yakone stated, leaning over from the other side of the couch. Her smile somewhat subsided as she saw her mother with a serious expression facing her friend. "Uh... what's going on here?"

"I'm, uh... I'm afraid you caught the Commander here giving me the third degree, Yakone," Ayame answered.

"About what?" Yakone asked, throughly confused.

"I have reason to believe she has psionic abilities. The fact that some people withhold valuable assets and hide them is both unreasonable and risky." Atka glanced back at Ayame. "I assume you must have some sort of... regenerative abilities." The Inuit woman's eyes narrowed slightly at that.

Ayame's eyes darted between Atka and Yakone, and she let out a long sigh. "Okay. I just... I, um... I do have... abilities that are my own. But they're not psionics. At least, not in the way you see them."

"Re...generative?" Yakone echoed her mother's words. "But... I thought you just had that energy drain thing from the whole 'survived a mysterious poison' thing, Ayame."

"She can drain energy? When did you find this out?"

"When we were... sparring," Yakone told the Commander evasively. "She sapped some of my psionic energy."

Atka shook her head. "Not sure if I can think of a psionic ability matching that description. So while Ayame may be telling the truth about that... there's still another bundle of contradictions she needs to explain in addition to what the hell her powers are." The Commander stood up. "I've asked around, and it sounds like she speaks fluent Russian. She claims to have traveled around the world, but... you told me she was sixteen. Unless you're some sort of savant, I don't buy that."

Yakone grimaced, looking at Ayame apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you into trouble. Atka, I don't see why this is such a big deal. So she has some powers and hasn't been completely honest, why is that-"

"Because ADVENT might have halted her aging," Atka cut Yakone off. "She might be a spy."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ayame stood up, holding her hands out. "Now hold your horses right there! I might not be the best person in the old truth department, but I am not working for ADVENT. Commander, you are probably one of the few people here that could possibly match the amount I hate them!"

"Then explain yourself. Now."

Ayame looked around nervously. "I... you... you won't except that I'm just... really, really smart and learned Russian. I mean... the savant thing could be the truth, right?"

"No, I don't buy that. If you were hyper intelligent you wouldn't have made all these slips to get you into this sort of situation, now would you?" Atka replied, Yakone remaining silent for now.

"Maybe I'm just arrogant and I'm used to having an easy escape plan. Not easy on this flying..." Ayame quickly raised her hands again. "Wait, that came out wrong! Don't read much into that!"

"Stop dodging the goddamn question!" Atka snapped. "I told you to explain yourself. Do so, or you can hang out in the brig with that Medic until you feel like talking."

Yakone grabbed Atka's arm. "Let's not... get that extreme just yet," she offered, some nearby staff looking at them from across the room confused. "I don't think we want rumors to start spreading that you're interrogating people."

Atka sighed. "Ayame, Yakone. Come with me. We'll talk about this in my office." Yakone, I know she's your friend but I have to be 100% certain we can trust her. Out of all the Mavericks, she is not only the newest member but her file is spotty. I can't overlook that anymore.

Yakone grit her teeth. Fine, but don't jump to conclusions. Let's hear her out. The two escorted Ayame upstairs. Atka sat down behind her desk, with Ayame seated across from her and Yakone sitting behind Ayame to the side.

The Commander folded her hands together, laying them against her desk. "Now, Ayame, please explain yourself. I need to know the truth about you."

"Okay, I... I have these powers, okay. I have studied a long time to get them. I... you're right, Commander. I can regenerate. From almost anything. But it takes energy. The more I am injured, the more energy it takes to recover. And I... I can't generate that energy myself. I have to... take it from other people."

"That doesn't explain the Russian," Atka replied. "And you sound hesitant. You're not giving me the full truth."

Ayame looked between her and Yakone, and shook her head. "That's because... the truth is... I can't tell you the truth because you wouldn't believe it. You would think I'm lying. If you want me to tell you, you have to promise to keep a very, very open mind."

Atka crossed her arms. "If you think I'll doubt the verity of what you're going to say, then think of a way to prove it."

Ayame sighed. "Do you have a gun? A ballistic one?"

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601 & ZombieSplitter53
Suspicions: Part Two

Atka reached under her desk, and procured a ballistic pistol. "If you try to shoot me with this you're going to regret it."

"I don't think that's what she's intending to do..." Yakone mumbled. And what she is intending to do is probably crazier.

Ayame picked up the pistol and checked to make sure it was loaded. "I'm afraid there is only one way to prove myself to you." She lifted the gun and pointed it at the side of her own head.

A telekinetic helix arced out from Atka's right palm, only forming about 4/5's of its standard length in order to close around the gun and yank it into the Commander's waiting hand. "Alright, let's not be melodramatic here. Maybe you should explain yourself before you try any..." she searched for a proper word "...demonstrations."

Ayame grinned. "Oh... where is your flare for the dramatic?" Ayame shrugged. "Out simply... I'm immortal. Well... in a sense. I suppose 'undead' is more accurate, but it makes me feel like even more of a monster then I already am. Put simply, I died... but didn't stay dead."

Yakone's jaw dropped, while Atka took the news more calmly. "Is that so? So I'm assuming the superstition that you can die by being shot in the head is false then?" The Inuit questioned.

Ayame nodded. "I'm not one of those... 'Removing the head or destroying the brain', shambling, brain craving, dumb as dead wood zombies from those old American movies. My people would classify me somewhere between zombie and vampire. But I don't feed on brains or blood. I need essence. You know, life force, inner energy, mojo, what the French called a certain... je ne sais quoi."

Yakone paused her shock for a moment: "You've been here a few weeks, how have you... kept 'fed', then?"

Ayame looked away. "I've... ahem... learned how to... erase short term memory, and, uh... there is one or two people I... um..."

Yakone lurched forward, grabbing Ayame's collar. "Who?"

"U-uh... this guy from engineering once. Didn't catch his name. And, um... a lab tech named..." Ayame mumbled the name incoherently.

Yakone's grip squeezed, pinching some flesh. "I heard a 'J'."

"Ow!" Ayame scoffed. "A woman named Jennifer, alright? I believe you, uh... know her."

Yakone's other hand balled into a fist and abruptly slammed into Ayame's gut. "She's one of my best friends! No wonder she was so goddamn out of it last time I saw her. What's the big idea, you want to drain her dry or something?"

"Yakone! That's enough," Atka ordered the Ranger, who let go of her roommate and stepped back, fuming.

"For now, at least," the Inuit-Caucasian muttered.

"I-it's okay." Ayame coughed. "I deserved that. I know it doesn't mean much, but I only do it to survive. I don't kill anybody with it... at least not unless I was going to kill them anyway."

"Were you planning to-" Yakone started angrily.

"I doubt it," Atka cut her off. "Believe me, I'm not happy you went behind my back about this. I'm going to have to keep an eye on you," the Commander chastised Ayame. "But if you think I'm going to pull out a cross and try to fry you with it you're mistaken. I have more pressing concerns than that, and I need all the soldiers I have."

"I... r-really?" Ayame rubbed her wrist. "You're not going to... I don't know, silence me or get rid of me or... something? You don't see me as a liability?"

"You're more resistant to damage than Yakone even if you're telling the truth. And I'm not one to pass up people with superpowers," Atka contested.

"Yeah, try to steal my job too," Yakone mumbled irritably.

Ayame have Yakone a sad look. "Of course not. I... you have qualities I can never have as I am. I... Yakone, I'm sorry I lied to you."

"Stay away from Jenn from now on," Yakone warned her. "Preying on the weak is unbecoming of a freedom fighter."

"O-okay, but..." Ayame sighed. "What do I do for essence? Unless you expect me to reveal myself and ask for volunteers, I can only last so long before I shrivel up."

"I don't want you telling anyone else for now," Atka interjected. "Your story will be that you have biokinetic and physical enhancement abilities. Yakone, I... could you please do this for me?"

The Inuit-Caucasian Ranger groaned. "Fine... I'm the only one around here that could recover quickly from it."

Ayame have her a curious look. "W... you mean you will...?"

Yakone's eyes widened and she took a step back. "Finish your sentences, for fuck's sake! I'll let you drink some of my energy, alright? Not anything else you might be thinking."

Atka was the one that gave Yakone a curious look this time. "What else would she..." Yakone glared and the Commander stopped asking.

Ayame chuckled, then laughed. "Well... if I knew this would happen..." She gave the Commander an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you. I've just kept it a secret from sooooo many people for soooo long, it becomes second nature."

"Wait... how old are you?" Yakone pressed. "You aren't actually sixteen then..."

Ayame smirked. "That's the funny thing. I was telling the truth when I told you I was 554 years old."

Yakone held her forehead. "The best lie is... laced with truth, I guess." I kissed an old lady... great, just great...

Ayame narrowed her eyes. "A penny for you thoughts, Yakone?"

"...what about?"

Ayame shook her head. "Probably just being paranoid." Her smile slowly faded, and she said, "I'm sorry, Yakone."

Yakone crossed her arms. "Already said that."

"Yeah, but... no offense to the Commander, but you were the harder one to lie to." Ayame rubbed the back of her neck. "You were really cool to me, you know. And I had to keep lying to your face. I... I hope this didn't ruin our friendship, the lying or finding out I'm... well, a monster of sorts."

"Well, I'll eventually have to get past that if I'm going to be your food," the other Ranger replied with a sigh.

Ayame sighed herself. "Yeah... damn it..." She looked over to Atka. "May I be excused? I'm feeling tired."

Atka nodded. "You're both dismissed for now."

Ayame nodded, and smiled at Yakone. "I'll... see you later... friend." She turned, and made her way out.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

DarkGemini24601: “Hunt for the Answer”

1907 Hours, July 19th, 2038
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 6, Central Block
Command Quarters

Atka sat at her desk, the laptop she used to handle all her communications affairs in front of her. Pressing a button, she brought up Lily. “Something I can help you with?” the Engineering Chief asked, seeming a bit under the weather.

“I wanted to notify you to hold off on construction for the Psi Lab for now,” the Commander notified her. “We still don’t have a full understanding of how to activate psionics in individuals, despite the advancements you’ve made studying that Sectoid and what Tygan’s figured out from the implants he’s had a chance to look at. No point in going forward with that right now. Instead, I’d like you to work with the doctor on his current project.”

An-Yi groaned. “Tygan? What’s so important?”

“His pet project in the Shadow Chamber involving the Codex,” Atka replied. “While you two should continue on the microwave weapons, you should be uncovering the dataform’s secrets too.”

Lily sighed. “Well, that’ll work… the Wave Guns aren’t actually proving to be all that difficult to prototype. We’ve got a lot less designs to worry about than the Beam Lasers. You don’t mind if I finish up with this Psi Drone we recovered off that ‘Domineer’ Sectoid, do you? It’s got some systems that would be really useful to replicate, and-”

“That’s fine,” Atka truncated her speech. “Just get to it.” She closed off communications, and started to look through what else was on the agenda for today. However, before she could narrow anything down, she got a call from the intelligence team. “Hello?” the Commander asked, picking up the cord phone connected to the ship’s internal communication network. “What is it?”

“I’ve got an incoming transmission,” Bronze Cub told her superior officer, her tone suggesting the message had caught her off-guard as well. “They’re requesting a secure transmission,” Ursula added.

“Do their codes check out?”

“Yeah. They’ve got all the clearance of an Organizer.”

Atka frowned. That’s higher up in the Resistance than an individual cell leader. We enjoy a status a bit higher than that. Who could this be? “Alright, I’ll take the message. Tell them to wait a minute.” Closing her laptop and turning it off, the Inuit woman went to the Situation Room - a chamber soundproofed and meant to receive critical transmissions that were not meant to be risked on the main Resistance Network where ADVENT could possibly listen in. The large screen in the darkened room lit up, and a single man was projected onto it.

Her contact was in a darkened room, almost everything in it indistinct. The man himself had his face shadowed - the Commander suspected some sort of graphical tampering - and was only lit by lights behind him. One was orange and large to his right, and the other was blue and small to his left. The bald man’s hands were resting on a table before him. Wait, bald? Atka thought to herself, that detail in particular edging at a recollection.

“Hello, Commander,” the man spoke in a rich, deep baritone of a voice. “It has been some time since I have made contact with XCOM. It is good to see you are well, Miss Ipiktok.”

“You’re… the Council Spokesman. I remember you being mentioned as the person my predecessor received orders from,” Atka recalled, narrowing her eyes. “I thought you were dead by now.”

The Spokesman inclined his head in the slightest of nods. “I have been… lucky,” he responded, a hint of distaste creeping into his tone at his own choice of words. “The Council of Nations was absorbed into the ADVENT Administration. Some served as members of parliament, others were… not as lucky as I.”

“You mean they were killed.” A nod. “What about you?”

“I am the exception,” he answered. “On the surface, I serve as a consultant for the Coalition. In truth, I have been passing along whatever information I can gather from my contacts and those that seek my advice to the Resistance. It has taken some time to get the equipment necessary to regularly confer with those I truly work with on a direct basis.”

“A consultant?” Atka questioned. “What does that mean, specifically?”

“Essentially, I… write the speeches for puppet politicians.”

“At least that way you aren’t working against us,” Atka muttered. “I assume this isn’t just a courtesy call to catch up with an organization most of your colleagues lost faith in.”

“They did,” the Spokesman remarked. “I didn’t. That’s why I’m coming to you with special information.”

“I’m listening.”

“I am… aware you are looking for evidence related to suspicions among the Resistance that the abduction process never ceased.” The Spokesman disappeared from view, a dossier appearing in his place - written in Jabberwocky, but with a translated, digitized version to the side of it. “What you are seeing are classified reports of missing civilians from across the world. Records of accidents, disappearances, or suspected terrorists. Some of these document those that have joined the Resistance or have been arrested for dissidence.” He paused for effect. “Others have vanished without causation.”

“I know we’re right,” Atka replied, shaking her head. “But you don’t have any hard evidence that these people are being taken by ADVENT and the aliens. I don’t see how-”

“Although I can not yet prove the connection, I know how you can, Commander,” the Spokesman announced. “Over the years I have heard whisperings about some special project that is directed from higher up than the top of ADVENT. Its origins lie in the Ethereal Protectorate’s command. The name, I have learned, is the Avatar Project.”

“Avatar…” Atka muttered, her mind racing to place the name. “That’s the manifestation of a deity in Hinduism, right?”

“Correct. And seeing as the Elders seem to regard themselves as gods or benevolent saviors,” the Spokesman remarked, his sarcastic tone indicating what he thought of the concept, “I believe this project has something to do with them directly. They need humanity for something. All those test subjects you rescued in India twenty years ago had something to do with this.”

The Commander rubbed her chin. “Come to think of that, maybe that was one of their first facilities. The name could have originated from there then.”

The Spokesman nodded. “Just as you assaulted a facility in an attempt to squash the alien’s efforts, the same approach is valid here. We need answers on what the aliens want. While ADVENT is not privy to the Avatar Project’s details, they do have a role in it with the Gene Therapy Clinic abductions and other means of acquiring… test subjects. If you can gain access to where the abductees are being taken, perhaps you can find answers - or at least know how to find those answers.”

“We acquired an alien unit that seemed responsible for datakeeping. Met one before in the past,” Atka brought up. “Perhaps it can provide the coordinates of whatever place we need to hit.”

“I’ll let you get to that, then. We’ll be in touch, Commander.” With that, the screen went black again, the Spokesman gone for now.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Chyssalid & Drake Autopsy

Jennifer shook lightly, and took a long, deep breath as she slowly pulled the cover off the alien arachnid before her, having run out of excuses as to why she couldn't work on it. "Maybe if I know more about it, it will make it less scary... or more scary..." She swallowed hard, and turned on the cameras.

"Here we, uh... have the Chryssalid," she started, trying to hide the shaking in her voice. "This arachnid like alien has effectively been used a shock troops, seemingly too unintelligent to use fire arms but fast and devastating at close quarters will poisonous claws and fangs."

Slowly, reluctantly, she began cutting into it. "I have to use specialized tool to cut into the chitlin plating that makes up its exoskeleton. It interacts perfectly with its musculature to make natural armor." As she made it past the armor, Jenn's sense of scientific curiosity began to override her nervousness. "Interesting. It doesn't have muscles per se, but... a series of pressurized body fluids to make it move..." She carefully cut into it, draining some of the fluid for analysis. "Kinda reminds me of some sort of hydraulic system..."

Jennifer took the fluid to a machine to be analyzed. "They could use this system to surge themselves forward, giving them a slashing lunge that reminds me of a Ranger's charging slash. Quite fast... quite deadly. The only saving grace is they would lose balance of they tried to slash with both claws at once. Perhaps the troops could use this fact to successfully dodge more attacks."

Jenn moved to examining a piece of the exoskeleton. "Hmm... bioelectric receptors. These creatures have been know to burrow into the ground and ambush. These receptors are how they detect their prey. With these receptors, they could 'see' someone out of sight. Also explains how they seem to lock into nearby lifeforms."

She returned to the creature, examining where she had removed the chitlin. "Hmm... this system would make them fast and agile, but they don't have muscles per se, so they're not as strong as their terrifying visage might make one think. They must rely on the sharpness of their claws and fangs to get any real puncturing power." She moved to the claws in question. "Pores... from which the poison comes out." She pried open the mouth and examined the tongue. "Same here. The tongue actually looks like it is sharp in its own right. Need a... sample."

She poke at the tongue and took a sample to be analyzed while looking at some under a microscope. After several of minutes of silence, she eventually said, "Highly corrosive. It appears to be some kind of cocooning venom. Once in contact with skin, it eats away at it like acid. Flesh, muscles... maybe even bone. It... can be used to form a cavity within the victim and cocoon it, hardening it to form an artificial womb for the creatures to lay their young."

Jennifer spent several minutes carefully removing the plating from it's head and cutting, going in to examine the brain. "Hmm... basic predatory intelligence. Semiscencient, smart enough to do their job but not smart enough to question it. There is... heavy work... It almost looks like extra work is done to make them work well in a pack... but would likely be cautious, even cowardly, when alone. This would make them bad frontliners... only good for terror... but that is so limited. What do they have planned...?"

The young scientist sighed as she moved on, saying, "Well, we can use their venom. Already have venom grenades. Maybe we can make some kind of venom round that'll act the same as their claws. But that isn't for me to worry about. What I am worried about..."

She unveiled one of the latest find and couldn't help another shiver. "New big species... oh boys. These have been revered to as 'Drakes'. Let's see what we have." She did much of the same that she had done with the vanilla Chryssalid, removing the plating, examining the chitlin and 'muscles', looking over the claws and the brain. "Well," she said after a while, "It is definitely a Chryssalid, but there are some key differences."

"For starters, instead of the biokinetic sensors, they have these sacks of flammable liquid. We saw the use of these first hand. It doesn't take a genius to realize these probably are natural. They are sensitive. Melee attacks would likely be out up if the hit one while this fire proof plating would keep the beast safe. And... it can likely use these sacks on its underside to propel it into the air. This can be used along with These flaps to allow limited flight."

Jennifer moved to her computer. "The fluid in their claws and fangs... huh... same as the stuff in these sacks. These would allow it to ignite foes, but means they can't reproduce like the others. I guess these are entirely combat orientated." She tapped her lips with a pen. "Wonder if these things were made stronger too? Have to reexamine. At any rate, I'll need to forward these notes to Dr. Tygan. Maybe we can make our own... ignite on contact armor."

She looked to the side and realized both Chyssalids were staring at her with cold, dead eyes. She sighed, and muttered, "End recording." As soon as the cameras were off, she sprang to her feet and covered up both corpses. "Damn it... a need a long, hot shower." With another defeated sigh, she went back to the computer, knowing her shower would have to wait.

 

[MarineAvenger]

DarkGemini24601: “Hieroglyph”

0800 Hours, July 21st, 2038
Plurinational State of Bolivia
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Central Block
The Shadow Chamber

Doctor Robert S. Tygan stood before his computer in the Shadow Chamber, glancing up every so often to regard the alien artifact suspended on a platform in the center of the containment tube in front of him. The twin optics of the Codex’s ‘brain’ that had once blared with light as it faced down XCOM’s Commander during Operation Gatecrasher were now merely pristine yet dull glass. The rest of the sole surviving piece of the datakeeper was fairly unremarkable in its composition. Black alloys formed a sleek cranium that sloped underneath and curved into the beginnings of a structure not unlike a spine. A few alien metal rods lined the sides at an angle and two holes were in the place of cheekbones. The top formerly had a red glow to its markings, but was currently a muted, lighter shade of that color.

Finishing what he was typing, the Chief Scientist noted his engineering counterpart entering the room – and then noticed her uneasy stare directed at the Codex’s remains. “Unsettling, isn’t it? A brain made of metal that is left behind after the rest of the Codex shattered. Well… partially of metal, at least.”

“It’s not just a computer in there?” An-Yi questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Is there actually grey matter, or…?”

“Nothing that grotesque,” Robert replied. “Rather, there are synthetic tissues bonded with non-organic components inside the sturdy shell you see before you. It’s a remarkable union, and from what I can discern from the ship’s archives it is made possible by careful application of that substance you found in the ADVENT Hoverguard.”

“So it’s biomechanical… like the MEC Troopers?” Shen shook her head. “Well, at least they’re consistent.”

“Correct, but then incorrect,” Tygan stated. “While this is a biomechanical organism… I did say synthetic tissues,” he admonished.

“You don’t have to sound so satisfied to correct me…” Lily murmured.

The Chief Scientist heard her, but ignored the comment outwardly – even if he did make his tone more neutral as he continued. “What we have before us is a completely artificial lifeform made by the Ethereal Protectorate. From what I can tell purely through previous information used for conjecture, it is a watchdog of sorts – the Cerberus of the alien forces. It appeared to try and prevent us from recovering the Central Officer, after all, and we’ve yet to see it outside an important facility.”

“Or at all. Shaky ground to guess a purpose on,” the engineer to his left helpfully pointed out.

“It doesn’t need to be completely accurate, Shen. It’s just what I think they’re for. We’ll find out when we pull data from it.” Tygan looked back as a flash of electricity exited the brain stem and disappeared into the bottom of the containment unit.

“What was that?” Lily interrogated the man to her right.

“I refrained from mentioning this to anyone but the Commander, but it’s not dead,” Tygan explained calmly.

“I… assume you’ve taken the proper precautions, Tygan… I watched Atka’s bout with this thing, it’s dangerous as hell.”

“I have. Relax,” Robert told her with a hint of frustration inching its way into his voice. “I’m no fool. This containment unit,” he gesticulated with a sweeping motion of his hand, “has the same sort of psionic dampening fields as the storage suspensions I use for any chips we recover from ADVENT. In addition, the electrical effect you just witnessed was a failsafe I have set up to drain energy from the Codex so it can’t reform.”

Lily sighed. “Al…Alright. I just wish you’d told me earlier. When did you find this out?”

Tygan hesitated, but ultimately answered, “A week after we brought it back. I was eager to take a look at it after Chambers had mentioned that it wasn’t going to be an easy database to crack, and I noticed that it was trying to form a body.” As his companion’s eyes narrowed, he added, “and failing. I have a theory on what was going on, if you’ll let me share it without thinking that I kept this information from you out of spite.”

“Yeah, not like you know how much alien robotics technology interests me,” An-Yi growled sarcastically.

“I don’t, actually!” Robert snapped in vexation. “You haven’t exactly been open with me, Lily!” He rubbed his forehead. “Why must you make everything difficult?”

“Why do you have to be an arrogant ass?” Lily shot back. “You have no idea how how infuriating you can be, going around like you know everything and that I’m just an idiot with scrap metal for brains!”

“I think you’re stubborn, not an idiot. You’re talented, Shen. That’s why I asked for your help in this matter. Robotics are not my field of expertise,” the African American scientist admitted.

“You… asked for my help? I thought Atka was just telling me to help…” An-Yi spoke, taken aback.

“I did. Is what you said why you refuse to interact with me? I assume you’ve gotten over the origins of myself and Kazuko by now.”

The Chinese-German engineer rubbed her shoulder. “Well, that... and you’re a lot like Megalos. Closed-off, and-“

“I am not like that witless man,” Robert was quick to correct. “He lacks an ounce of ambition or drive.”

Lily paused, and then slowly smiled. “Funny, that’s what Yakone said about him when she told me to stop bothering with trying to be his friend.”

Tygan adjusted his black tie. “Did she?”

“You two have more in common than I realized… and maybe we’re not so incompatible after all,” Lily conceded.

“If you’re willing to forget my outburst, I’ll put what you said about me behind,” Tygan offered, extending a hand. “To a more functional working relationship?”

Shen shook his hand. “I can get behind that. Let’s both do better. Especially if you really need my help…” she added with a slight smirk.

Tygan folded his hands together for a moment and exhaled in the span of a few more. “Now, with your permission I’d like to come to the issue at hand. I’d like to be able to gain access to whatever the Codex knows, but unfortunately that won’t be possible until we are able to bypass its firewalls and encoding.”

“Well, the way we can do that ties into what I mentioned I’d like to do with her,” Lily offered.

“I’m not sure it qualifies as-”

“It’s more feminine than a Viper in my opinion,” Lily interrupted him. “So yes, I’m going to go to treat it as if it’s female.”

The scientist shrugged. “Fair enough,” he acquiesced with the ghost of a smile. His expression quickly became more serious. “I’m sure I don’t need to warn you of the risks your plan has, though. As helpful as a Codex would be on our side as our own shipboard A.I., we would need means of ensuring its loyalty.”

“Well, if we hack into it like you want us to, I should be able to isolate whatever sort of ‘restraining bolt’ programs are ensuring its loyalty. We can replace those with our own, or… convince it to join us.”

“The former idea is more reliable. We can discuss the issue of rights for artificial intelligences when we’re not fighting to liberate the planet,” Tygan mused. “For now we need security. Though I fear the aliens might have distributed programming that ensures compliance throughout its systems.”

Lily nodded. “That’s entirely possible. If it has to be a process, so be it. Besides, I have a trump card we can use… though I’ll have to ask him if he’s willing to participate in this.” She walked up to the glass, the Codex’s eyes flickering ever so slightly between on and off. “I just hope we can keep it contained… and that nothing goes wrong.”

 

[MarineAvenger]

MarineAvenger and DarkGemini24601
“Hieroglyph” Epilogue: Cybernetic Ace
Two hours later…

Artyom looked down at the spoonful of oatmeal he had hovering above his bowl, a distasteful look on his face as he set it back down, looking back up at the two people he had scared off with his rather brisk tones of annoyance when they pressed too hard when he approached them for breakfast. The combined effort of An-Yi and Yakone made some progress, if little in getting him out more, even if he was still rueful about doing it. At least if he tried and failed, people couldn’t accuse him of being a complete shut-in.

The former of his two friends poked their head through the doorway, and - seeing him - walked over. “Hey, Artyom,” Lily greeted the Russian. “Mind if I ask you a favor?”

“What sort of favor?” He asked warily, not usually being approached for such things.

The Chief Engineer sat down for the moment. “I need your help with a project we’re working on in the Shadow Chamber. Tygan and I are working to bypass the mess of mechanical, psionic, and biological encoding barring us from gaining access to the files stored within the Codex’s brain. With your help, we’ll have a better chance of succeeding. That’s not the whole of what I’d need you for, though.” Shen sighed, and apprehensively continued, “should something go wrong, you’re the only person that could have a hope of interfacing with her and surviving.”

If it was even possible, Artyom’s artificial red eyes seemed to glower at Lily. “To surmise, you wish me to crack into an alien made being and extract the data, and in worst case scenario, connect into it?” He asked, his tone one of astonishment and disbelief.

An-Yi nodded slowly. “I know it’s a lot to ask. It’s risky, but it’ll be risky without your help too. This isn’t something we can back down from, even if you’re not willing to assist with the latter stages of the process. The information the Codex has access to is too valuable to pass up, and if we succeed in gaining access to that, it’s possible we can reprogram her for our own use.”

The rare tone of anger creeped into the Russian’s voice, something he always kept contained. “You wish me to do something of the sort? I understand the importance, but there are others in the information division. Surely they can do it, if a little slower. No. I refuse to enter that alien…. Brain.”

“I understand.” Lily shook her head. “Ideally, we won’t need you to do that anyway. As long as everything goes smoothly we should be able to crack the code, make some changes, and get the information we need without having to resort to such extreme measures. If something goes wrong, we’ll just have to keep failsafes to ensure the Codex can’t do any harm.”

The man took a few deep breaths and sigh, putting a hand to his head. “Made into an alien computer… I shouldn’t have expected less I would be required to be used in order to access alien devices. I just wished it was anything other than a Codex. It feels… different than hacking into a regular device. You know that used to be a being, no matter what its origins.” His tone was low, almost as if a whisper, though what he said was clearly audible as he stood up. “I will do what it takes despite my hesitations. I only hope if I do have to connect with the brain… it does not feel as right as I fear it will be.”

“You don’t have to, Artyom. I’m not going to force you to do something you wouldn’t be comfortable with,” Lily insisted adamantly.

“No… you won’t. But fate may.” Artyom shook his head, going to leave with the engineer mumbling, “Nezavisimo ot boga mozhet byt' zashchitit' moyu dushu…” (Whatever god may be, protect my soul…)

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Muton Autopsy

As the cameras came into focus, Jennifer was standing over the dissected body of a Muton. Its abdomen was open displaying its internal organs, and the muscles in one of its arms and legs were exposed, as was a portion of its brain. Jennifer stepped down from a step stool she needed to work over the large alien. She disposed of her bloody gloves and wiped the sweat from here brow.

"Uh... ahem, ET autopsy BL21, alien known as a 'Muton'," she started, a bit out of breath. "I would like to start by apologizing to my associates that offered to assist me in slicing this... beast open, only for me to proudly proclaim I had this in the bag. Needless to say, this was a tough one."

She downed half a bottle of water before grabbing a fresh pair of gloves before returning to the step stool and securing her goggles. "Internal structure is what one would expect from a warm blooded mammal, with the organs bigger than our own, of course. These Mutons... have a lot of redundant systems. Two livers, double chambered lungs, eight chambered hearts, an so on. I will remove and measure all of these organs once I get someone to help with the heavy lifting."

Jenn lifted the opened arm, looking over the musculature. "These beings are... in a word, tough. My difficulty in cutting open one is a testament to that. It fits that what were likely frontliners before the use of human soldiers would be able to take a beating. I'm far from an expert on firearms, but based on durability tests, I wouldn't be surprised if an unarmored Muton could take a battle rifle blast and still keep fighting. Best to give these aliens a good double tap."

The green-haired biology expert poked and prodded and stretched some of the muscles. "It is interesting... these Mutons are not as big as the original XCOM files marked them as. Though these muscles would make them a lot more agile as well. Almost as much as a human, in fact. We have even seen them act with a kind of 'reactive reflex', allowing them to move with incredible speed to dodge melee attacks and counter. It is so frightening to think something so powerful could also be that fast."

A chime went off behind the young scientist, and she moved to see the findings of the machine behind her. "Huh... well, as expected, human DNA. I'm so glad the Elders are having fun splicing our DNA into their various soldiers to make them better at subjugating is. I'd be proud of the value of human genetics if it wasn't being used this way."

Jenn sighed, and moved on the the brain. "Well... it looks... like brain mass has been increased. Parts of the brain governing reason and intelligence are improved. Looks like they're smarter then the old Mutons too. This would explain why they don't growl and roar and give into battle rage anymore. Perfect little soldiers now. And... let's see... the part governing the release of adrenaline is quite different from humans. It likely reacts to injury by pumping the alien full of adrenaline, making the physically more capable. But... with that much adrenaline, it would decrease cognizant abilities. Perhaps something we can exploit?"

Jennifer smiled at the camera. "I did discover two interesting things of note. First, there are these pores all over their skin that... well, I couldn't figure out what they did at first." She walked to the side of the room and placed her hand on a small organ that had been removed. "Then I studied the contents of this. Get this; it's an organ that produces pheromones. When the Mutons do their Blood Call, they are not only motivating the other Mutons. They are releasing these pheromones to increase precision, speed, and will power. Quite the adaptive ability. Unless this was artificially introduced, they are born warriors."

She walked to the side and picked up a hunk of flesh she had removed with tweezers. "And this I learned by accident while trying to check the muscle durability." She placed the flesh over a Bunsen burner, and the flesh quickly lit up. "Their skin is extremely susceptible to fire. I'm still trying to find out why exactly. I'm hypothesizing it has something to do with the skin's ability to release those pheromones. Everything comes with a price."

Jennifer took a deep breath, and said, "Well... time to find someone willing to help lift those heavy organs. This is Jennifer Chambers, signing off."

 

[BMPixy]

XCOM Mission Parameters

Operation Hellborn Saga
Resistance Council: Rescue VIP
2132 Hours; July 26th, 2038

North American Continent
United States of America
Megacity of Caldera

XCOM Forces

Menace 1-5

SQ Espina, Carlos [Sharpshooter]
SQ Driver, Karen [Ranger]
SQ Imahara, Grant [Specialist]
SQ Nunez III, José [Ambusher]
SQ Cruz, Cornelia [Trooper]
SQ Winslow, Russell [Juggernaut]

Gear

Lethal Grenades: AP, HE, CU, AT, Viper, Incendiary, EMP
Utility Grenades: SP, TG, Flashbang, Smoke, Rebuff
Miscellaneous Items: Medkit, Battlescanner, Combat Knife, Radio Jammer, Skulljack, Mimic Beacon, Breaching Charge
Class Specific: Bear / Wavepit Trap / IED Trap [Ambusher], Micro Missile Cluster [Specialist]

Mission Briefing

Resistance forces in the Caldera area have alerted us to a distress signal emanating from the Megacity of Caldera, belonging to an attempted defector. The defector, a woman by the name of Simone Zachariah, is attempting to flee ADVENT to avoid conscription due to her recently discovered psionic abilities. It’s only a matter of time before ADVENT captures the woman - our goal is to retrieve her before that time comes. As such, Firebrand will be dropping you as close to the distress signal’s location as possible. Retrieve the defector, and extract as quickly as possible.

Objectives:
[ ] Extract the VIP


Hazards:
ADVENT will likely deploy interceptors shortly after breaking concealment. You’ll only have a short window before they intercept Firebrand, so work fast.

Terrain:
You’ll be deploying near the city center, so expect urban environments. There is a light rain over the city, however it is not expected to affect operations. Additionally, you may be brought into the central park while trying to locate the VIP, where construction is in progress to rebuild to the statue we destroyed in Operation Gatecrasher. Expect plenty of cover should that occur.

Civilians:
Civilians have been evacuated by ADVENT forces, to keep them out of the way of their manhunt. Unless fighting moves indoors, expect no civilian interference.

Enemies:
Expect plenty of ADVENT forces patrolling the city, as this is a city-wide manhunt. There will also likely be rapid response reinforcements on standby in case an enemy attack occurs during this time. Make any fighting you have to get into end quickly, as we have a very limited window for extraction.

 

[BMPixy]

“Open Gate”
“Operation Hellborn Saga”
North America, Former US of A
2141 Hours Local Time; July 26th, 2038
Near the Caldera City Center

It was lightly drizzling over the city as Firebrand deposited the squad in a small park a few blocks north of the site where Operation Gatecrasher had occurred seemingly so long ago. Quickly, Carlos Espina ordered the six troopers forward, making for the place the VIP’s transponder still echoed forth from. A few minutes later, they found the VIP, a tall, blonde woman - and an ADVENT patrol that was closing in on her hiding position. Breaking concealment, Karen led off the ambush by downing the Officer leading the group. Panicking, the remaining trio of ADVENT scattered towards cover - which had been wired up with an IED by José shortly before. The explosion consumed all but one of the ADVENT, and a pair of bursts from Cornelia finished the surviving Stun Lancer off.

Now exposed, the squad hurried off for the extraction zone. However, choice use of a battle scanner as they approached the evac point revealed that had they rushed in headlong, things would have ended poorly. Coincidentally, two groups of ADVENT forces had met up there - totalling two Sectoids, four Troopers, a MEC, and a Drone. Knowing that engaging the enemy there would be foolish, Espina called in for a secondary evac point. Due to the limited time on the mission and the urban cluster of Caldera, only one point would be safe for Firebrand to pick the squad up - Caldera’s central park, where construction was underway for repairing the destroyed statue.

Quickly the XCOM soldiers wheeled around to make their new evac, the knowledge that enemy interceptors were en route giving much needed haste to the six. However, enemy reinforcements were quicker, and as the soldiers entered into the Central Park, a dropship deployed four troops to deal with the resistance forces: a Muton, Medic, Stun Lancer, and a fourth unit that the group was only able to identify due to reports be other resistance groups - the Mogul. Lacking serious firepower against the heavy alien forces, the squad quickly settled into a plan. José overloaded the Muton’s weapon with an arc rifle shot, and a series of shots from Russell tore at its armor, forcing it into cover amidst the construction site surrounding the statue. Karen dove forward, driving her blade through the Medic’s chest and killing him. Grant then used his Gremlin to give the exposed Ranger a defense against the Stun Lancer that was eager to avenge her comrade.

Karen easily danced out of the way of the ADVENT Trooper’s weapon, and as she broke melee range with the Stun Lancer, a shot from Espina’s sniper rifle punched through her skull, ending her question for vengeance permanently. This left the Muton - who was being suppressed by Cornelia - and the Mogul, who was keeping back slightly. However, seeing its comrades be cut down so easily, the alien clad in a stocky black exosuit launched forward. A pistol shot from their rail pistol stung at Cornelia, forcing her to break her suppression on the Muton. Afterwards, the Mogul danced forward, dodging Grant’s reaction fire with the help of psionic illusions and cat-like reflexes, and with a practiced stroke they swung at the Specialist.

Imahara was too slow on the uptake, and the Mogul’s alloy sword slashed across his gut, spilling blood and viscera across the well-kept grass. Only the Specialist’s screaming signified that he was still alive. The Mogul raised their blade to deliver the finishing stroke, but a panicked pistol shot from José struck her in the back of the head - the lucky rotator shot finding a weak point in the alien’s helmet and punching through with great ease, splattering alien blood across the collapsed Grant.

Ignoring the fact that the Muton was taking aim at her, Simone snatched Carlos’s medkit from him and made a mad dash to the downed Specialist. With a well-timed tuck, the VIP slid beside Imahara and got to work putting the man back together, using the medkit to get his guts back into place. Distracted by his missed shot, the Muton cried out in pain as a beam of light from Carlos’s sniper rifle dug into the alien’s shoulder.

With a cry of “Light ‘em up!” from Carlos, the squad unloaded on the Muton, laser beams dancing forth from rifles, shotguns, pistols, tearing at the Muton’s armor and killing it - though the beast refused to topple from its defiant position. Satisfied that the massive alien was dead and that they had thoroughly depleted their charge packs, the squad tapered off their fire. And not a moment too soon, as Firebrand reported that she was in position to extract. Hastily getting to the location, the squad loaded up onto the Skyranger, Grant being carried between Simone and Russell. And not a moment too soon, as the sight of a second ADVENT dropship could be seen as the rear ramp of the Skyranger closed, and Firebrand flipped on the cloak and accelerated away. It had been a struggle, but the mission was complete.

 

[BMPixy]

“Hidden by God, She Hears”
Upper American Precinct, Yellowstone
0501 Hours Local; July 19, 2038
Megacity of Caldera, South Central Caldera

A cool mist hung some twenty meters above the empty city street, giving the road a certain calm ambiance that could hardly be found at any other time of day, when the street would be filled with either the hustle and bustle of day or the sinister brooding of night. It was at this time, at this border between day and night, the Simone felt the most comfortable. Had she had it her way, the sun would always be just peaking over the horizon - which could be clearly seen thanks to the work of Caldera’s city planners aligning this particular street such that in this particular month, the sun always rose across the east end of the street; a bane to eastward drivers, and a testament to alien precision. All of the 12 major east-west byways of Caldera shared this feature for different months, but nowhere else could it be appreciated as early in the day as on this particular street, at this particular time. Simone considered it a shame that her apartment faced north, so she could never appreciate this scene without going out of her way to.

Still, I am here, suppose a moment to draw in the atmosphere would not go without being missed, the woman mused to herself, taking a long, luxurious breath, closing her eyes as she gently exhaled. Such were the wonders of the mega-cities - some might call the aesthetics ‘artificial’, but the sharp, pre-planned lines; the well-maintained miniature parks; the bright, gleaming colors; and the uniformity of each structure that did not sacrifice raw architectural innovation - those aesthetics Simone loved. Were she not about to be called away for work, she might have entertained the notion of taking the day off to appreciate what was shaping up to be a beautiful summer day.

Of course, she wouldn’t have, she found too much pleasure in her work and prided herself too much on attendance to go through with such an act. Simone tapped her AMDAD, bringing up her lock screen. 5 more minutes, she thought to herself as she examined the time. Best get professional. With that, she stood from her seat - a bench overlooked by a young oak tree - and began making her way down the street, towards one of the phone booths that dotted the street at regular intervals. While antiquated in function, the phone booths held all the modern amenities one expected of a Megacity - soundproof glass, one-angle vidscreen, ADVENT bugs, standardized wall plug for charging electronics, all this and more made a megacity phone booth the premiere place to take a call if your phone was out of charge. Or, in Simone’s case, you needed a discreet place to receive a call from her superiors.

By 0507 Simone had gotten to the specified booth, and locked the door behind her, leaving her secure from outside onlookers. She took a last minute to ensure she was entirely presentable - hair was secured in bun, periorbital dark circles managed under a light application of makeup, sweater not caught on anything. After another quick check of her AMDAD, Simone realized she still had two minutes to kill, and nothing to fill them with. Well, one thing popped to her mind - a question. Why had she been summoned on such shockingly short notice?

Well, one answer immediately popped to mind, but Simone hastily dismissed it. No, it couldn’t be them. That’s a task that could borden on the impossible without the proper preparation - we don’t have that at the moment. But alas, no other ideas popped to mind as Simone thought on her predicament. No other opportunities in the area would demand such immediate action as her activation suggested. However, as if to answer her question, the vidphone before Simone began ringing. With nary a moment to suggest she had been caught off guard by the call, the woman pressed the ‘accept’ button.

“Zephaniah,” the man on the other end - a blonde-haired, light-skinned man with sharp green eyes, dressed immaculately in the reds and blacks of ADVENT High Command - said. Simone had to resist the urge to snap a salute, the action being so reflexively tuned into her.

“Lord-Commander Akker,” Simone answered, settling on nodding her head respectfully. “You requested my presence - might I inquire as to why?” Such were the formalities of ADVENT Intelligence - the subordinate would always ask the superior as to why they were summoned, even if they knew the answer. In this case, it helped that Simone did not actually know why she had been called forth.

“We have a mission for you, Zephaniah - one of utmost importance,” the leader of all ADVENT answered, steepling his hands on his desk. “By the end of next week, we need you to infiltrate our primary OpFor - XCOM. We’ll be providing a full dossier to you soon enough, but for now - any questions you would like to field?”

Dammit, I should have known, Simone internally cursed, though her expression failed to falter in the slightest. “Yes, sir, I happen to have a few,” Simone began. “What resources will I have at my disposal to complete this task?” Hopefully I get something useful, otherwise a tall task will get even tal-

“Only your communicator,” Akker answered, prompting another mental curse from the operative. “We can’t risk any of our technology being captured by them - you’ll be going in practically naked on this mission, as much as I’d like to kit you out for this.”

“Understood, Lord-Commander,” Simone replied with a nod. “I assume we’ll be attempting a standard Resistance insertion?”

“Negative, Zephaniah - we’ll be attempting something the boys down in InOps call a ‘high impact insertion’,” Alfons continued, as if he enjoyed laying on the bad news. “You’ll be breaking out of an ADVENT facility, to hopefully draw out OpFor into open combat with us. If they fail to extract you, we’ll have done some damage to them. If they do succeed in extraction, you’ll be in.”

“A win-win situation, I see,” Simone said. “And what of my psionics? Shall I pretend to have none?”

“No - they’ll actually be the reason for your extraction - you’ll be a recently discovered psion, attempting escape out of fear of ADVENT,” the Lord-Commander answered. “It’s not the greatest cover story…”

“But it works, I understand,” the infiltrator replied. “I shall do my best to hide my power level. Is there anything I need to know before I am provided a full dossier?”

“Only the operation name - one second, let me pull up the generator,” Alfons said, idly tapping on his holo-keyboard. “Initiating Operation… holy, well, that’s interesting. Initiating Operation God Hand. Well, hopefully that means nothing but good things,” the Danish-American joked.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Dahlexpert & ZombieSplitter53
Legacy of Van Dam

On board the Avenger
The mess hall

Lilith sat at a table eating her lunch, thinking about the war. "Hum... ADVENT, what are you fools planing? We're still so early in the war but I'm still surprise that we're still around. Thank god for guerilla warfare. That's probably the one thing going for us.

"Hey, Van Dam." Luna Inverse walked up next to the former ADVENT soldier. "One of the new soldiers is looking for you. Searching you out, really."

"Oh, really? Well, this should be good." Lilith took one last bite of her food and left the mess hall. "Hmm, I wonder who is looking for me. Not many on this ship want to talk to me. But she did say it was a now soldier. This might be me training a recruit. Well, I guess I'll find out."

As she stepped past the gym, a voice called out. "Hey, you! Grey skin!"

Lilith's shoulders slumped. "Oh, here we go." Lilith turned to the person that called her out, surprised to see a teenage girl. "Um, can I help you?"

Ayame's eyes ran up and down Lilith like she was sizing her up. "Your name is Lilith Van Dam?"

"Yes, I am. And who in god's name are you, kid?"

"Of the North American Van Dam clan of mercs?" Ayame asked as if Lilith hadn't asked her own question.

Lilith looked shocked that someone knew about her tribe. "Who told you about my clan? My people were isolated from the world. No one knows about us."

Ayame narrowed her eyes, then suddenly sprang up several feet, sending a roundhouse kick towards Lilith's head.

Lilith getting hit by Ayame kick being taken back from it wondering why she did that. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Shut up and fight!" Ayame landed and dashed forward, elbow aimed at Lilith's stomach.

Lilith decided to question her later and decided to fight the teenage looking girl. She blocked Ayame's elbow and punched her several times in the head and kicked her away. "Answer me! How do you know my tribe!?"

Ayame snarled, surprisingly unfazed be the punches. She spun to her right as if to throw a swinging back fit with her right fist, only to pivot her ankles and instead swung the other way, a move Lilith recognized from her own tribe.

That my tribe's moves? Lilith was stunned at what Ayame did and got hit right in the ribs. Getting angry that someone out side of her tribe was using their moves, Lilith got up and threw a few jabs at Lilith Ayame blocks the jabs easily but Lilith kicked her leg, throwing her off and Lilith threw her back forward, hitting Ayame jaw, then grabbing the back of her head and kneeing her in the stomach.

Ayame stepped back, coughing and holding her stomach. She looked up at Lilith and smiled. "Yeah... little ADVENT training mixed in, but that is definitely Van Dam fighting. Brutal and direct. Overwhelming."

"Answer me how do you my people!" Lilith shouted.

Ayame jumped a little at the outburst. "I... okay, um... calm down there, Lilith. I guess my approach was a little... extreme, but I thought that was the preferred Van Dam way. Promise not to choke a girl and I'll tell you."

Lilith calmed down and gathered her thoughts. "Yes, we do like to fight instead of talking, and normally I would be fine with that. But you mentioned a people that the world never knew about. And a people that died 20 years ago. So talk. How do you know of my clan and it's fighting style."

Ayame scratched her chin, thinking of the best way to answer that. "Well... I come from a family of mercs. Not like your tribe. More... contained. All mothers and daughters, teaching down the line. All named Ayame Kasagi." She grinned. "We're so good at it, it is almost like we've been the same person for the last five centuries. And... we have come in contact with your tribe."

"Alright, let's say I believe your story. My tribes first reaction was to attack, right?"

Ayame laughed. "Well, considering my... ur, grandmother first met them while on opposite sides of a job, you're damn right they attacked. Corrupt business man. Teshi... Yamakura, I believe his name was. Nasty son of a bitch. Your people were hired to get rid of him. My grandmother was hired to protect him."

"So what do you want revenge or something, we had a job to do and we did it .

"And did it well." Ayame ran a hand through her hair. "My family is the best. Or at least, they're supposed to be. But the Van Dams not only won their bounty, but beat my grandmother. Embarrassingly so. She actually had three other jobs dropped on her in the coming weeks."

Lilith couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, that sounds like us, taking out the so called best and defeating them embarrassingly."

Ayame's eye twitched, as though she took that personally, but she only smiled. "Yes, well, luckily my grandmother's temper didn't get the best of her since she didn't care for that client. She sought them out, in fact, when she came across a job a little too big for her. You can say her revenge was finding the elusive group's home village. I'm sure you can imagine how they reacted."

"She was met with the full might of our tribe, that was a suicide mission."

"Indeed it was... for any normal woman. But I... we are... resilient. After over two hours of fighting, hiding, and pleading, she finally was able to get to the then leader of your tribe and convince him to... talk. He, of course, attacked, but she was able to subdue him long enough to plead he case."

"The fact that she lived that long, and subdued one of our leaders. That's impressive."

"Thanks. Um... she was an impressive woman. Impressive enough to hire the clan to hire them to help her on her mission, which ended in success. She even ended up being friends with the clan leader, a friendship that carried over to my mother."

"Your grandmother sounds impressive, for not only surviving in our home land but for managing to survive the onslaught of my tribe for two hours. Doesn't matter though. Like I said, the people that you're talking about no longer exist."

"Yeah... that's what I found when I sought them out." Ayame sighed. "Such a proud, strong lineage, cut down without mercy. To be honest, I... got excited when I heard there were two people with the name Van Dam on the ship, though naturally I had to test to make sure you weren't some pretender."

"Hmm, well thank you for explaining how you know about my people. Truth be told, I'm a little disappointed. I thought someone so young who knows of my tribe, I thought some might still be alive. Guess not."

Ayame's shoulders slumped. "Oh... sorry. I didn't think..." Ayame shrugged. "I, um... I only looked for them once, in their home village. Just because they weren't there doesn't mean they're all gone. Don't give up hope. We all have plans for after the war, whether that be days or decades from now. One of mine ill be to search out those former allies until I am sure they are gone. I mean... you survived, right? Why couldn't someone else?"

"Hmm, it's possible that some of our newborns did survive. Maybe some of my tribe is alive. But we're no longer together And as much as we love a good battle, we're not going to just go after ADVENT. But if any member of my tribe is alive out there, I mean... I took my nephew and left." Lilith shook her head. "What am I saying, my people are gone. I buried their bodies four years ago. There are none left."

Ayame sighed, walking over to a bench and sitting down. "Sorry. I just wanted to see one of you guys. Didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

Lilith sat next to Ayame. "It's fine, I understand. You heard so much about us and then you hear that we're pretty much extinct. That could be a downer. But hey, at least tow of us are alive, and the aliens are paying dearly for it."

"Other guy's name is Luke, right?" Ayame looked up at her. "Brother? Husband? Son?"

"Nephew, though I guess you could call him my son. I'm more of a mother figure to him then an actual mother. His mother, my sister, died in the invasion."

"Pft... invasion." Ayame looked away in disgust. "Hardly an invasion when this world just rolled over and gave in. Your people and XCOM were the only ones who actually fought back. Even I... turned a blind eye at first... so stupid..."

"Yeah, why do you think we isolated ourselves? We knew humanity was weak and spineless, and we wanted nothing to do with. Even though we integrated ourselves to their civilization, we were mostly soldiers and mercenaries."

Ayame slowly nodded. "I should have done more. Should have been like the Van Dams. But I turned my back on the world. Excepted the aliens as another part of the world... until they crossed me. It shouldn't have taken that for me to actually step up and fight..."

"Whatever kid. It happen. Point is you're here now, fighting. It may have taken a betrayal for you to join us, but you're here now, and that's all that counts."

Ayame nodded. "Thanks. But..." She grinned at the 'older' woman. "Please... I'm no kid."

"Really, you look like a teenager. So answer me then how old are you?"

"I'm... twenty." Ayame smiled confidently. "And don't you forget."

"Alright well than thanks for clearing that out, and thank you for giving a tribal women some hope."

"No problem." Ayame jumped up to her feet. "Thanks for the quick sparing match. We should do it again sometime, yes?"

"Sure, anytime. Not many people spar with me. Thanks for the fun."

 

[MarineAvenger]

"The Last Word" Part One

1203 Hours, May 12th, 2033
Ruins of Old Columbus, Ohio
Downtown District

In the mild heat of the old Ohio city’s downtown district, the small group rummaging through an old ADVENT truck were talking amongst one another, the banter lighthearted as the tried picking the old bones clean. It was an armored truck that was the target of a raid a couple of months previous but when the camp needed raw supplies they usually ran by old sites like the one they were at. Next to the truck was a large hill of concrete and steel from the half toppled skyscraper that looked to have been struck by something in the past with no real explanation. The best summarized explanation was aliens. It was usually always aliens in some way or another.

Two older teens, almost adults by that point were working on the salvage job. Both wore matching jackets, though all were in reality, jackets that were a dark but drab brown with a reaper on the back of it. The story the youths came up with was they were some old biker jackets since they were scavenged from a bar. One of the teens had his jacket done up, a smile on his face as he wiped some sweat from his forehead and ran a hand through his blonde hair. The other male, looking only slightly younger than the blonde teen had his jacket undone and was wearing a white sweat stained shirt, a dark yellow neckerchief loosely tied around his neck he could pull over his face if he wanted. Both were wearing weathered jeans.

“Come on Leon… how much longer we have to stay out here? It is barely noon and it is almost already sweltering.” The guy complained, putting one hand on his hip as he used his arm to lean against the edge of the truck.

Leon raised an eyebrow as he slowly straightened, rubbing the back of his neck. “Complaints out of you Jaren? I am going to need to pay Devon extra rations now. I thought you would have gone on longer. We’ve only been out an hour.” Jaren, Leon’s best friend and co-member of the Reaper Resistance Cell. It was a flashy name another of their members, Isabelle, made for them apparently when they first formed to get ordinary folk to find them exciting. From what the Canadian born teen could tell, it worked. They certainly let people in awe.

Jaren twisted his mouth and took in a sharp breath quickly, turning up his nose as he got back to work. “I don’t complain that much.”

“Yeah you do Jaren. Don’t try and deny it.” A female voice said from behind them, wagging a finger at the teen. Evie Thomas was their tag-along for the day. Though nothing was out of the ordinary as Evie followed them everywhere in order to keep them out of trouble. Keep Jaren out of trouble more specifically, for his brother Devon.

“Oh come on, I don’t need this from both of you. You are at least supposed to be on my side Evie!” Jaren bickered, turning his annoyed gaze at the brunette who kept her hair tied back and over her shoulder. Her freckled face frowned and her back straightened slightly, making her seem taller than she actually was.

“I will be on whosever side I see fit at a time Jaren. As a man you should accept and respect that.” She responded to his calling out of her as if addressing a child.
Jaren’s mouth held agape at her and her suddenly shift in loyalty, a sight which caused the girl’s look to turn smug. Leon couldn’t help but laugh, causing two pairs of eyes to turn at him simultaneously, turn back to one another, and laugh in turn. “Come on. I think we got enough scrap to keep Izzy happy for a while.”

“Yes. ‘Bout time.” Jaren noted as he grabbed his bag and his rifle, slinging both over a respective shoulder.

As he and Evie walked with one another, Leon couldn’t help but frown. Things felt weird with him. He never got used to the two dressed up in their gear, carrying guns and fighting as resistance members as they were. He could picture Evie in a sundress, sipping on a cold glass of some kind of juice under an umbrella. He saw Jaren all geeked up fit with graphic hoodie and all. Leon smiled lightly at the sight of Jaren now, actually looking like a man and a boy at the same time that it was hard for him whether he wanted to see him more with a gun in his hands or a portable game system.

Leon wondered to himself if the others saw him like that too. He had been so invested in the way he was now he couldn’t imagine himself as anything other than a guerilla soldier. He wondered if Jaren would picture him with a basketball or in some other way that Leon would likely detest to. It was a wonder indeed.

The city around them was an urban jungle long abandoned for the new Megcities that spanned across the country. Nothing filled this city other than the occasional animals, weeds, and Advent patrol. Columbus certainly was a shell of its former glory. Only their footsteps echoed off the buildings, as did the somewhat whispered words of the conversation Evie and Jaren found themselves. Leon merely trailed behind the two younger youths. His gaze lingered to the almost cloudless blue sky that had wispy clouds moving above. An old song took root in Leon’s head and that was all he really focused on as they made their way back to camp.

The camp of the freedom fighters was quaint to say the least, made out of the cleared up garage on the main road the group found a whole ago. It was out of the way and no patrols came down the road they were on as it led nowhere for a long while. Going in the front doors, Evie announced their return to the three only other occupants of their base. Jaren’s older brother Devon was leaning over a radio in the far corner, wearing his jacket with only the right sleeve rolled up. He had a black hankerchief wrapped around his head to compliment his long, dark colored hair and was wearing a green shirt underneath his team coat.

The other two were both girls, one of them Isabelle, her hair buzzed down, her jacket purposely cut in half so it only covered half her torso. She was the oldest among them at 25, though wasn’t the leader as seniority would dictate. She was the more handy type, and without her the group would likely not have lived as they had. Izzy maintained their weapons, made sure their improvised tools were up to snuff and most importantly kept their radio, their only contact to a nearby, larger cell, in working order. It was her handy work that made the team’s secret weapons. Homemade buggies that currently sat in the garage. They ran off car batteries she rigged up on a solar system and the buggies would serve as their transportation or heavy load bearer should they ever need it.

The other girl Leon new well. It was the beautiful Gwendoline De Saint Pierre, his adoptive sister and the assistant of the group. It would be more of a pride fueled thing but the only reason Gwen was the assistant was her real lack of skill in anything. She was enthusiastic, but while she could shoot a gun as well as any of them, she had no real anything to bring. Best she had were the produce that grew out back and even those were Evie’s love child. Still, while she didn’t have anything of her own, she never complained, and always worked her hardest. It was all Leon could have asked of her.

“Leon, come over here.” Devon said to the teen, turning away from the radio to lean against the counter. The Canadian teen handed his weapon and pack over to Jaren and stepped over to his older brother.

“What’s up?” He asked, looking up the older and taller man with a bit of wariness, and he merely shook his head and walked away, Leon following by his side into the garage from a door that lay on the far wall. Immediately when they stepped in they were hit by the putrid smell of old gasoline and motor oil, a sickly sweet smell Leon had a somewhat hard time adjusting to.

“Resistance says they want us to hit a convoy heading north through the city. They are supposed to have some sort of civilians held captive heading off to God knows where.” Devon told him, turning to look at Leon directly.

“Seems a bit odd they ask this of us. Convoy must be low keyed so low armored.” He surmised, Leon rubbing his chin in slight puzzlement. “Why tell me?”

“Because I am taking Evie to go set up some IEDs on the road. I need you to help Isabelle make sure our gear and buggies will be working alright. Not walking all the way home.” The leader announced noted with authority. All Leon could do was nod. Not much to give his two sense on.

The two men walked out of the garage and diverged. Devon went over to talk to Evie, who was quickly excited for her assignment with their distinguished leader. Leon walked over to Izzy and told her the details and she nodded, ordering Jaren to come and follow. Leon took note of the lingering gaze the teen gave his brother and the girl as they left out the front and he put a hand on his shoulder, leading him to the garage. He didn’t want him thinking too much on it. It would only bring down his mood further.