RP XCOM2: Liberation of Earth

[ZombieSplitter53]

Tales from the Yesteryears
Jack Irons
Part Two

Five Years Later (Three Years Ago)
ADVENT Rail Network (Exact Location Unknown)

"...even if I have to let you go," Jack recited sadly, helping to push the cart of heavy machinery along.

On his left was Bart, a twenty-something man, also of African decent, who was in this work camp after attacking an ADVENT soldier. His reason for doing so seemed to change every time he was asked. To Jack's right, Patrick, a Caucasian man barely out of his teens who was hauled away after he showed interest in joining a resistance... a fake resistance that was actually an ADVENT trap.

"And she just left you... just like that?" the latter asked, and Jack nodded. "Damn, man... that's cold. She was, like... an ice queen or something."

"Nah, man. You not gettin' it." Bart shook his head. "It not like she done it to hurt him or nothin'. She was jus' lookin' out for the lil' one. My man Jack let them go 'cause he was lookin' out for them too, right?"

Jack sighed. "I guess. I mean... she might not have realized it, but she did get through to me... just not in the way she hoped. I wanted to keep them safe... but I still couldn't stop helping the resistance. So I did the only thing I could do to do both... at the cost of losing the two people I loved the most."

"Damn... that's, like... some sad poetry or some shit," Patrick mumbled.

Jack and Bart exchanged a look, and both laughed. "You gotta ways with words, my man," Bart said. He stumbled a bit, the cart not even halfway to its destination and the contents feeling heavier by the second, even with three people. Talking helped distract from it, though. "So you regrettin' it? Guess you ol' lady was right an all, seein' as how you been caught an' all."

Jack thought about it, and slowly shook his head. "No. Obviously I don't regret sending them away. And if I could go back and quit so they would have stayed... no. I did some good things before I was caught."

"So even if you knew you'd be caught, you'd still do it?" Pat laughed. "You're crazy, man. I'd never take the same path if I could change it."

"Man, that's cuz you done tripped right out of the starting gate," Bart interjected. "How a sissy little man like you wuz ever gonna make it as a freedom fighter, I have no idea."

"Man, I was going to help with computer shit," Patrick insisted. "Besides, at least I'm not here for randomly punching a soldier in the face... in broad daylight... in front of an entire squad."

"Hey, he wuz lookin' at my sister funny!" Bart countered.

"I though you only had brothers!" Pat shot back.

"Well, if you must know, one of my brothers was a little weird." Bark stated matter-of-factly.

"Alright, ladies, enough bickering. You want to draw the attention of someone who wants to put their boot up your collective asses... at least, more then me?" As the three arrived at their destination, the head of their group, a woman around Jack's age named Peggy, picked up a bucket of cold water and splashed it on them. "Take five and cool off. I can smell your sweat from a mile away."

"Damn, girl." Patrick moved his hair out of his eyes. "If you wanted to see me all wet and slippery, you just had to ask."

Bart grinned. "Maybe she'd like to join us. I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of sweat glistening off her body."

Peggy scoffed, flicking a toothpick away. "In your dreams, pencil dicks. The only one I'd even consider is John Henry here, and that's just because he has some actual decency."

"I'll take that compliment," Jack said with a smile. He liked Peggy. The European brunette was half his size but had enough fire in her soul to rival the sun. She was in charge of them, and responsible for shooting them should they get out of line. Jack had no doubt she would do it, but she was a prisoner, just like them, simply one there for a lesser crime and whom ADVENT believed could be rehabilitated. She had to do as she was told to get that chance, but she had been in Jack's place at one time, something that let her understand their plight.

As Bart and Patrick went to pour more water down their throats then was splashed on their skin (luckily, unlike slave drivers of the old west, ADVENT had plenty of water to work with and the common sense to keep their workers hydrated), Jack took a seat near the cart to let his aching feet rest. "When are you getting out of here, Peg?"

Peggy's expression was unreadable behind her dark sunglasses and a mouth that slowly worked on a piece of gum, but the length of her silence told Jack it wouldn't be a happy answer. "Been delayed at least another three months. Then I'll get another review. They didn't give me a good reason. Didn't really give me any reason."

"And you can't ask because you don't want to risk it." Jack nodded in understanding. "Well... sorry to say, but that's good for us. Not looking forward to who you'll be replaced by."

"Probably an ADVENT punk," Peggy admitted. "Don't think any of the residents are in a position to take over. Not only will an ADVENT guy not sympathize, but you got the double whammy of him also being pissed off for being stuck with this job." She pulled off her sunglasses to clean them, showing off her deep green eyes. "Could put in a good word for you. You're a pretty model prisoner."

"I also haven't been here long, and I was caught with quite a bit of contraband." Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Just worry about getting yourself out. And try and stay out of trouble."

"Well... no promises there..." Peggy discreetly looked around, pretending to get a good angle from the sun to check and make sure her glasses were clean.

"What do you mean?" Jack softly asked, keeping his gaze neutral.

The woman with the gun slowly stated, "Well... you're the only one I'd trust to share this with... but I've been keeping an eye on where we are and, well... movement, schedules, the whole package. And this place is full of people that the resistances would like to get their hands on. Strong fighters... people that know how unjust things can be. It won't be for some time... but I'll be back... and I plan on bringing some friends with me."

She stepped away before Jack could say anything. He looked up, watching her go to tell some of the slackers to get back to work. Jack couldn't help but smile at the prospects she mentioned. He knew, whether he had to wait a year, two years, or twenty years, he would get out of there some day, whether it be with Peggy's help or some other way. And when he did, he planned to do more then simply help the resistance from the side lines. When the time came, he would be right there with them, working side by side.

 

[Dahlexpert]

The fallowing is done by Dhalexpert & Zombiesplitter53

We grow stronger together

On board the Avenger
Holo room
00:12 hours

Luke was in the holo room, destroying targets with his fire and his mini gun. "Come on, is that all you got!?" His flames flew around, burning his ADVENT captains and Mutons, and in the mass confusion, he also used his mini gun to gun down the holographs soldiers in the mass panic. "Hum, I'm getting better with my flames. So this is what my mom meant by using my powers to there fullest and not being consumed by my rage. End the simulation!"

The simulation ended, and Luke killed the flames to make sure they did not erupt into a wild fire.

A sound of clapping rebounded through the room as Alexis walked forward. "Not bad, Luke. Not bad."

"It's a little late to be coming down here darling. I'm happy to see you but why are you here?"

"Just wanted to check on you, mostly. Make sure you were okay." She smiled sheepishly. "After that... mission, I've been worried. It isn't everyday a girl watches her best friend nearly kill her boyfriend, then watch her boyfriend nearly kill her best friend.”

"Yeah, I'm doing fine, just fine." Luke let out a long breath. "Well, not really. I got fed up with something that was bothering me for years. So much in fact that I had to see my mother."

"Had to see... you mean Lilith?" Alexis scratched her head. "Don't you see her everyday? Unless you mean your actual... mother? I'm confused.

"I mean my real mother. See, my tribe has this ritual that alows us to talk to our fallen brothers and sisters. And relatives. It's used for when the living could use advice from the person we need it from the most."

"O-oh. That's... cool. A little strange... but cool." Alexis approached him. "What... was upsetting you? And what did she have to say?"

"It was my fire, as well as a few other things that I needed her help with. I needed her help to get over my fear of fire. She also said that she's proud of me and is happy I'm taking our relationship seriously."

"Well, I'm happy about that... but..." Alexis lowered her eyes. "I didn't know you Had a fear of fire. It never occurred to me since you... you know, make it. I understand why... I just wish... you had come to me before going to spooky rituals to talk to the dead. Helping you is what I'm here for, right?"

"Yes, but there are some things I also had to talk to her about like using red psions. I needed to be reminded that what we red psions are capable of, ever since I trained with the commander and the fight with Ember. Especially my fight with Ember. Having my powers taken like that, heh... haven't felt that powerless since I fought this certain bastard mercenary years ago."

"Well... maybe you felt so powerless because you've relied on them for so long," Alexis suggested. "Ember seemed the type to hold a grudge... so she might come straight for you the next time the two of you meet. And we can't rely on you getting your powers back during the fight again. Getting better using them is good... but maybe you should focus more of your training on fighting without them."

"Yeah, I know. It's kinda hard not having your powers in battle. Now I have no trouble fighting without them as you saw when I fought Ember by myself, so I can still fight without them. It just fells weird. I had my powers when I was thirteen, and for ten years I kinda relied on them." Luke started to smile. "But if ADVENT thinks taking my powers away makes me weak they're dead wrong, and I'm more then ready to show them. But still, back to my original question, why are you down here. It's pretty late?"

Alexis sighed, and turned away, walking a few steps towards the center of the room. "Honestly? I just... couldn't sleep. I've been worried about so many things. Yakone. Nouja. The Commander. Our conflicts, our future battles, the war in general, the future of the world. It all... makes me ancy."

"I get that, with Yakone brainwashed into their ranks, things have gotten a bit tougher. But we can get through it. I mean, we killed three elders, something nobody thought could even happen, but we're doing it. And I'm starting to think we have ADVENT shaken. Their precious gods being killed one by one, they must be shaken in there boots. But why are you thinking so much about the war, you never did before? Hmm... is having a relationship making you think about all these things?"

"Can't help it, really. Now I have someone else I have to come home for, someone else on the battlefield to pray for... and someone to picture my future with." Alexis sighed. "It is all so complicated, isn't it? You know, ADVENT has their reasons for supporting the aliens, and we have our reasons for supporting how it was before them. Both have their faults. But at the end of the day... the most simple way of arguing our side for me is... under the aliens, their is always a nagging feeling that the world itself is wrong, and it only goes away when I imagine life without them."

Luke came behind Alexis and embraced her. "Hey, yes the old world was not perfect, by no stretch from what we were told. But having the aliens around, you saw what they do to us. So your right in feeling that way, but without them you and I would never have meet. That's the only thing I'm giving them.

"That is really the only good thing. Meeting so many good people... and each other." Alexis remained silent for a few moments before saying, "Luke... I have a question... and I need you to promise to be completely honest with me. I promise, I won't judge you. I just want to know."

"Why am I getting a sinking feeling in my gut this can't be good." Luke sighed. "Alright, I promise to answer you honestly. What is it?"

"When you Got your powers back, you were going to town pretty hard on Y... Ember. Were you hitting her so hard because you thought she could take it... or were you... trying to kill her?"

Luke took a deep breath. "Honestly, a bit of both. I knew she could take it, every last hit. I knew she could heal herself. I also wanted to destroy that armor. But I also saw the level of devastation she was doing. I had to take her down. I don't want to kill Yakone, but if she went after you, the fact that she even thought about it... I'd to kill her then. Sorry love."

Alexis shook her head. "It's okay. I understand. Do you... think I'm foolish for believing we can get her back?"

"No, I understand why you want to. Hell, I'm all for getting her back. But it will be tough. I mean, ADVENT made her tough and I'm betting they're making her tougher. So it will be hard, but nothing is impossible."

Alexis nodded. "Thank you. It makes me feel better to hear you say that." She stepped away and turned to face him, smiling. "And I think I did a pretty good job, don't you think?" She brought her hands together and slowly spread them apart, a sphere of yellow psionic energy growing between them. "I was holding off Nouja... Blurnskey by myself for a while there. Of course, she wasn't really using her powers against me. But... I-I'm sure I could have held out against that too... maybe."

 

[Dahlexpert]

Part 2

"Yep, you're getting better, definitely. You seem to be getting better with the powers you have. Though I still think you're overdo for an offence power, but with your current powers your doing great. I'm proud of you girly."

Alexis frowned. "Yeah... I'm proud of my strong defense, but one can only defend for so long. I worked this idea out for flooding an open wound with oxygen. Would hurt like hell, and probably kill. Something about... how our bodies evolved to breath in... a-anyway, it is good in theory, but most enemies that have an open wound are about to be finished off anyway. And to be honest... I don't even know what kind of offensive power I could develop. Maybe I'm just not meant to have any."

"You don't know that. Hell, every psion has an offensive power. Yours will come eventually." Luke turned to the console and back to Alexis. "Well, since were here, why not train together? Who knows? You might get a new power out of nowhere again."

Alexis nodded. "Sure. I need to tire myself out. As long as you're not too tired for it."

"Oh, you should know I have plenty of stamina. Now the question is, do you want to fight me or the simulation, because if you choose me, I will be sure to make that barrier of yours stronger."

"Well, if that's the case, I guess the answer is obvious." Alexis grinned. "I'll always choose you over something artificial."

"Oh, you flatter me. Alright then, you want to be hit with firecracker or psi lance or, do you want me to pick? And also, do you want me to hold back on you?"

"Don't hold back," Alexis answered, taking a defensive stance. "And surprise me."

Luke started to smile at Alexis and fired a psi cannonball at the purple haired soldier.

"Whoa!" Alexis through out her arms and formed a shield. As sure had practiced before, the shield diverted energy to the point of impact, but she wasn't quite fast enough. The shield absorbed most of the blow, but it tore a hole through the shield, one that was slow to recover. Panting a bit, Alexis said, "Didn't... say I was... exactly ready there."

Luke ignoring Alexis. He decided to use his firecracker on the unsuspecting Alexis." Come on hon, you must always be ready in battle." Luke yelled.

Alexis rolled to the side, giving her shield time to regenerate before she started to block his attacks again. Her precision had improved, as had her intuition and reaction time. Any part of the shield that wasn't reinforced before it was hit was quickly strengthened before the attacks could get through. "You're getting stronger, Luke! But I think I'm pulling ahead of you!"

Luke raised his eyebrow. "Very impressive darling, you're getting better." Luke's eyes started to glow red. "Alright time to get serious." Luke fired multiple explosions at Alexis, them being stronger than before.

Alexis stumbled back, the force of each explosion beating down on her. The shield cracked and splintered, chunks flying off and disappearing into the ether. She collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily.

Luke walked to Alexis and sat next to her, and whistled. "Wow hon, I have to admit, that was great. You certainly gotten way stronger then the last time we trained."

Alexis panted heavily, and slowly looked up. "Rea-" she started before letting out a coughing fit. Taking a moment to let her biokinesis mend her fried nerves and to wipe the sweat stinging her eyes, she tried again. "Really? Because... I'm beat... and you look like you could lob a couple dozen more of those fire bombs no problem."

"Well, that's because I've been on the attacking, while you've been on defense. Which now that I think about it, is no different then normal." Luke smiled at Alexis.

Alex laughed, and laid back. "Well... just like usual when you're on the attack... I'm pooped. Think they'd mind if I just recreated my room in here and went to bed?"

"Do you need me to carry you to my room so you can rest? I would like to talk to you about something."

Alexis took several deep breaths. On the third one, she held it, and a soft green glow enveloped her body. She climbed to her feet and said, "I can walk... but you can walk me back." As they left, she asked, "So what do you need to talk about?"

"Hun I want to say I'm proud of you. You've gotten so much stronger since the last fight, and I'm happy for you. But do you have a plan for... Ember? How to fight her. Hell, I'm willing to bet that ADVENT probably changed her some more after the last battle."

"Probably. They'd want to improve and make her a better killing machine. Probably merged her with a Viper or... gave her laser vision or something..." Alexis' shoulders slumped. "It is hard to plan when I don't know what to expect. Will I be fighting her? Who will I have with me? Will I have anyone with me? If... if I have a good team, I'll do what I can to slow her down. If I can get an opening, maybe I could throw her off with some with timed shields. If I end up isolated and alone with her... I don't know. Play defense and pray, I guess. I'm doing my best to get as strong as her... but she was so much stronger when we faced her."

"Yeah, I'm aware, but think of it like this. She's a killing machine, not Yakone. Ember is strong, yes, but as we saw in the last fight, she's more of a rabid animal. So insult her hurt her pride. Be smart and don't get close to her. Her main attack is her sword, and since she can't take out your powers like she did mine, use that to your advantage and be creative. Does that help in some way?"

"Yeah... yeah it does." Alex gave him a serious look. "But shecantake your powers. So you have to promise me you'll try not to provoke her as much. You draw too much attention to yourself, and I'm afraid you'll be killed."

"Yeah, I know. Well luck you, the Commander wants me nowhere near Ember. Not just because of of my powers being taken, but she wants me to keep the rest of the litter and handle the rest of the goon squad. Which I'm more than happy to take on."

"I know you are." Alexis patted him on the chest. "Just be careful. Doesn't really matter to Ember what me or the Commander want. If she rushes you, doesn't matter what you did to stay away from her, huh?"

"Don't worry, if she comes at me, I have a plan to take care of her. A little smog grenade and a battle scanner should help me kick her ass even if it is just to dodge her. What do you think hun?" Luke said opening his door and walking Alexis to his bed.

"Good a plan as any," Alexis said as she laid back. "Just need to..." she yawned loudly. "...need to keep an eye out for her support. Who knows how many of those elites she'll have by her side next time."

"Well, for now I'm worried about Ember, not the rest of those idiots. Now considering Ember is not going to take away my powers, I can just swat them like flies. And if she does... I will think of something." Luke brushed Alexis hair and kissed her forehead. He then looked at the cup that the potion was in. "You know, eventually your going to have to meet my mom, you know that right?"

Alexis chuckled, and nodded. "I'll try. I'm not so sure about this supernatural stuff, but after what I saw Ayame do with her blood, I'm a believer. Just... give me a little time. Just found out that was even possible."

"Hun, this stuff takes a while to make, your not going to meet her for a while. I think you will like her. Though if she appears young, that's because she is. Remember she died when I was a kid."

Alexis nodded. She let out another yawn. "You gonna lay with me? I think you could use some sleep too."

"Heh, I have no problem with that." Luke lifted the blanket and laid next to Alexis, and he soon started to yawn. "Your yawning is contagious, you know that?"

"Mhmm." Alexis breathing slowed as she started to drift off. Before she did, she softly said, "Hey, Luke?"

Luke also started to drift, but before doing so he brought Alexis close to him. "Yeah, Alexis?What's up? What's on your mind?"

"Do you think... Francis is... a good name for... a baby boy...?"

"Heh, Francis, huh? Francis Van Dam, huh? I could see that. Why are you asking?"

Alexis laughed softly, whispering, "Yes... like it... Francis... Van..." She fell silent, drifting off to sleep.

"Wait, Alexis what did you..." Luke rubbed his head. "Oh what the hell, if she's pregnant now that just mean I need to protect her and my son. Or she could just be asking." Luke felt himself fading and fell asleep next to Alexis.

 

[Dahlexpert]

Through acceptance I grow stronger

On board the avenger

12:00 hours October 29,2038

Floor 3 central block

Holo-training room

Luke lowers his weapons and sits on the ground, Luke breathes rapidly clearly exhausted from his last training section. “ Huh….. Huh….. End simulation.” The battlefield returned to a blank 3D grid. “Prepare grenadier training simulation, SCS- L04, But this time add a two mutons and a MEC to the simulation. “

“Very well, Luke might I suggest a break? You have been going at this for three hours straight?”Seshat’s suggested.

“I’m fine, now restart the simulation. I will leave the environmental choice to you.”

“As you wish, restarting program.”The environment changer around Luke, the once blank room turned into a forest the trees giving Luke plenty of cover. It also provides protection for the two mutons the Two MEC and the two stun lancers . Luke looked at his enemys and loaded his grenade launcher “Alright party time, begin the simulation!”

Luke immediately ran to cover and fired a Shard gernade at the two Mutons and the MEC shredding there armor, with a loud roar the Mutons started to fire at Luke and the MEC fired a grenade into Luke’s cover, while the others tried to flank him along the two stunlancers.

“Come on, come on!” Luke sends a wall of fire towards the flanking the flanking enemies. But they walk through Luke’s fire, and fired at Luke dropping him to the ground ending the simulation.” Luke started to breath heavily and started to get angry, in his anger Luke slammed his hand into the ground.” God damn it!”

“Luke might i suggest taking a break, you set this to the hardest difficulty, agents some very heavily armored enemies. And whenever you won you want the enemy to act differently, please Luke Grenadiers are meant to shred armor, not be a one man army.”

Luke slowly got up and took off his armor, and throwing his gun and grenade launcher to the side as he leaves the room. Once out of the room Luke sat on a bench and grabbed a bottle of water, drinking some of it and pouring some of it on his head to cool himself off. As steam starts to come off Luke, he starts to breath calmly.

“Breath Luke breath calm down anger is not the way to get stronger.” Luke looked at his hands and says thinks to himself. I thought getting over my fear would help me, damn it come on fire I thought accepting you would help. “Sigh alright let’s get this over with again.” Luke went back into the simulation and put his armor back on and grabs his weapons. “Alright Seshat’s Let's start from the top, reset the program from where I was same enemies same environment.”

Luke doing this again will result in another failure.

“Hey, I said restart the program so restart the program!”

Sigh very well, restarting program.” Seshat’s restarted the program and again Luke found himself in a forest with the same two mutons MECs and stunlance. But Luke seemed different his pupils seemed to be a dark shade of red. “Alright let’s try this again.” Instead of Luke starting with his grenades Luke decided to use his pyrokinesis but it seemed different, the flames started to wrap themselves around Luke’s arms.and seem to be glowing dark red. “What in the world, what is this.”

Luke had no time to think as the enemy started to advance on Luke’s position, Luke shook his head and used his fire to engulf the enemy in his fire but the sheer heat is destroying there armor and it seems to be melting the MEC.

“Fire hazard detected, deploying countermeasures.” The ships countermeasures were deployed, but they seem to have no effect.

“Woa Ok that’s not good!” Luke evaporated the flames and looked at his hands. “That was new, the just melted is this me learning a new power?” Luke starts to smile “Let’s try that again.” Luke can feel his flames wrapping around his arms, but they look different.”What in the world, humm let’s try this.” Luke used his firecracker, and with his flames around hims the explosion left a circle of fire around the explosion, Luke also fell to a knee and fell himself being drained and his fire died down.


“Alright what the hell, this is weird what is going on here. Luke remembered his conversation with his mother and thought. “Wait is this, is this what I get for accepting my pyrokinesis so is this my fire getting stronger?” Hehe so this is what I get for accepting my powers huh and not being scared, of it not bad. It drains the hell out of me though so I need to work on that, but I should get over that eventually, “alright let’s go for round two.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

“You’ll have to show me sometime,” Chloe said, a cheeky grin on her face.

“If I ever get better control over the damn thing,” Samuel muttered in answer. “Arthur’s been a big help, though. At least now I don’t hate the old owner.”

“Arthur’s your… Phantom, right?”

“That’s the guy.”

The Overseer nodded slowly. “I shouldn’t have sent you on that mission,” she said suddenly. “Should’ve realized it was a trap…”

Samuel blinked. “Eh? Trap? What are you on about?”

“The target turned out to be a Mimic, Sam. They knew we would make a move on them. We got baited.” She sighed. “Well, at least killing an Elder shut them up a bit. And now XCOM has two under their belt. How does it feel to be the first human to kill an Elder?”

The Russian chuckled nervously. “I wouldn’t say that. I mean, he basically threw himself at us and demanded we fight to the death. It was hardly a fair kill. Ayame should have that title for getting one that was actually trying to kill us, not me.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Chloe insisted. “Besides which, the point is two Elders are dead, one by your hand. Which means it’s thanks to you that ADVENT’s been licking their wounds a bit over the past week or so. It’s allowed some of my people to get their jobs done better… and allowed us to rest a bit.”

Rather than argue with her, Samuel merely sighed. “My pleasure,” he said weakly. “Just… don’t get complacent, yeah? I remember dad used to get very nervous whenever the enemy was quiet for a bit.”

“Because he thought that meant they were planning something,” Chloe finished, glancing up at something above her screen with a frown. “Don’t worry, we’re watching.”

“Good.” The Russian leaned back in his chair, relaxing into it. “So, any other problems?”

“Well, apart from the water purification system acting up-”

Her response was interrupted as a signal, overriding all others, was picked up by both the participants of the call. “The hell?” Samuel muttered, decreasing the size of the call’s window on his computer to analyze the signal. Chloe could hear him, but his video was now blocked out by something else. An ADVENT symbol, the standard introduction to a broadcast by the Coalition.

“Chloe, you still there?”

“Yeah, I still got you,” the Overseer answered, frowning. “You seeing this?”

Before Samuel could answer, the symbol rotated, and the screen revealed an official the Russian dimly remembered as ‘the Speaker’ standing before a podium. He called for silence before beginning, images and video being shown on the screen behind him to punctuate his words.

“Fellow citizens. For twenty years the ADVENT Coalition has worked tirelessly to repair the ravages and injustices of the Old World.”

“What is this, a PR stunt?” Samuel muttered, opening up another window in which was shown a model similar to the Geoscape. It seemed quiet for now. “What’s going on?”

“Under our stewardship, our cities prosper. Our people flourish. And our world heals.” The Speaker paused, one hand curling into a fist. “And yet… among us… there are still those who would refuse to acknowledge the truth! Who are determined to see all we have achieved crumble!”

A blip appeared on the Geoscape model. Then another, and another, and another. A veritable swarm, all converging on one location. “That’s crossing the…” Samuel’s eyes widened. “Chloe?”

The Overseer’s response, both audio and visual, was almost entirely consumed by static, though the word ‘again’ could be heard towards the end.

“That. Must. End. Even as I speak to you today ADVENT Peacekeepers are advancing on the outlying territories to end this scourge once, and for all!”

“Chloe you need to get moving!” Samuel barked, watching with fear as the swarm converged on an area of what he knew to be the French coastline. “They’ll be right on top of you in a moment!”

Again, her response was consumed by static. “... expect dinner before you do that…ing you, Sam.”

The Russian thumped a fist on his table. “Dammit! Why does tech only work when it isn’t needed?”

“We will ensure your continued safety and well-being throughout this crisis.”

Explosions, audible even through the corrupted connection, demanded a response from the Overseer. For a brief moment, Samuel could see her giving orders to two men behind her. “Don’t fight back! Just get yourself out of there!” he ordered. She turned her head back to her computer, evidently hearing him, before the far wall splintered and shattered from the force of some kind of artillery fire. The feed devolved into static, leaving Samuel staring at the screen in horror and fear.

The Speaker smiled. “With your cooperation, we will overcome these radical elements and usher in another twenty years of peace and prosperity.” The ADVENT symbol once again slashed across the screen, and the broadcast was over.

Samuel gulped in a breath, mind racing. What do I do? he demanded of himself. … I need the squad. Maybe more. We have to get her back.

As he got up to find someone with the authority to dispatch a squad, the feed suddenly cleared. “Chloe?!” He gripped the sides of the table, his knuckles turning white. “Chloe, you there?”

A figure, that of a small, lithe woman, climbed the pile of rubble that had replaced the wall. Silhouetted against the fires behind her, Chloe clutched at her head. “You assholes…” She shuddered, her body contorting with the force of an ache she hadn’t felt for years. “I was... so, so close to going clean!”

And at last, the feed cut, the device on the other end no longer capable of transmitting.



Operation Crimson Duke
Recover VIP
2:30 PM, October 30th, 2038

Europe
France
Etretat, Normandy


XCOM Forces
Menace 1-5

CPL Lester, Matthew [Specialist]
SQ Wei, Arthur [Phantom]
SQ Delago, Holly [Sharpshooter]
SQ Brydon, Bonnie [Grenadier]
SQ Lazarus, Alan [Ambusher]
SQ Yokolov, Samuel [Aerotrooper]
SQ Vermaak, Samara [Juggernaut]
SPARK Squire “Cyberdemon” 002 (controlled by AI “Lucifer”)


Mission Briefing:

The Overseer is under attack. Following a broadcast by the ADVENT Coalition - no doubt to get us to pay attention - a large force of enemy units invaded the Overseer’s camp and are likely currently butchering everyone inside, taking prisoner anyone that might be useful to their efforts. But stopping this is not the primary objective - if it can be done, all the better, but we have bigger priorities. Namely, the rescue of the Overseer herself. Losing one of XCOM’s staunchest supporters is not an option, and would leave a power vacuum that might be filled by someone we do not want. Secure her at all costs.


Objectives:

1) Locate the Overseer
2) Extract with VIP
3) (Optional) Fight back ADVENT Retaliation


Hazards:

1. ADVENT began their retaliation with an aerial bombardment, meaning that many of the more permanent structures in the haven are little more than piles of rubble and fire. This bombardment appears to have ended, but be aware that it is possible they may resume at any time.
2. Local forces are some of the best-armed in the Resistance, and some of the most skilled at that. Caution is recommended in dealing with them.


Terrain:

Little is known about the haven and its surrounds bar the basic geography - clifftops and cliffs interspersed by the occasional beach. The area is relatively flat and grassy. The layout of the haven itself is unknown - indeed, the location too was unknown until SQ. Yokolov informed us. Since he is familiar with the area, he will lead the squad through.


Civilians:

It is unlikely that any civilians encountered will be unarmed. Care should be made when dealing with any more unstable individuals. All civilians should be considered friendly unless proven otherwise.


Enemies:

The exact numbers are unclear, though it is evident that there are many of both ADVENT and Protectorate forces. Chryssalid presence is unconfirmed, but expected given ADVENT’s goals here. From the level of force with which the Coalition is cracking down here, it is clear they know exactly whose home they’re barging into. Expect heavy resistance.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Part 1

“Alright, here’s the deal,” Samuel began. “Technically we’re on ADVENT ass-kicking duty. We drop down, we kill anyone dumb enough to get in our way, we save a few civvies, leave. We’re heroes for a day. But today, all of that is a secondary objective. Our primary is finding and securing the Overseer.” He glanced at Lester. “Which is… why I’m basically leading the squad today, unless you overrule me.”

“You’re a better tactician than I am anyway,” Lester said dismissively, more interested in adjusting the boot around his new prosthetic leg. “Strategy was always more my thing.”

The Russian nodded. “We’re looking for a small woman, petite in name as well as build. Athletic, black hair cut to about the neck, possibly one streak dyed blue in the center depending on whether they’ve raided hair dye recently or not.” He hesitated. “Hopefully she’ll be with friends. Or she could be roaming the field alone. If it’s the last case, we may need to subdue her.”

Alan raised an eyebrow. “You what?”

“She… may be affected by all the conflict,” Samuel ‘clarified’ evasively. “Not in the right state of mind. If that’s the case, I’ll handle it.”

“You’re in charge because ye know the place, right?” Bonnie asked. “So… why doesn’t XCOM itself know? How come we didn’t have a destination until ye told Firebrand where to go?”

Arthur nodded slowly. “It seems unwise not to tell your allies where you are based in the event that you could be attacked,” the Phantom noted. “I understand this ‘Overseer’ enjoys secrecy, but there comes a point where secrecy becomes counter-productive.”

“Well someone’s meant to tell XCOM in the event of an attack,” Samuel answered. “For one reason or another, no message came through. We got lucky - myself and Alan both knew where to go since we spent large parts of our life there, but if we weren’t here...”

“There’d be nothing you could do,” Alan finished grimly. “Unless Samara also knows the area?”

The Juggernaut shifted in her seat, armor clanking as she did so. “I was only there for a few weeks,” she admitted. “Long enough to get my bearings, but I was always a more active operative. Don’t expect me to navigate you through.”

“We don’t,” Samuel said. “That’s my job. In any case, we find Chloe, we get her out. That’s the goal here. Nothing more.”

Holly brushed her impulse rifle. “So we’re not evacuating anyone else.” From her tone, it was likely she was not a fan of the idea.

“I don’t like it either,” the Russian stated. “But for once, I agree with Lester. We do anything else, we’re putting her life at risk. More so than it already is.” Turning around, he placed his helmet in his head, the alloy sealing to his armor. She’ll be fine, he reassured himself. We just need to get to her. And hope she isn’t hungry…

The Skyranger blew the dust and ash it descended upon away, the cloud billowing outwards as the only sign of anything wrong. Seven humans gripped their ropes as they fell, landing on the ground with separate thuds accompanied by one very large crack as Lucifer followed. Samuel took a moment to get his bearings as the squad checked to ensure all was well. The area around them was almost entirely flattened - the ADVENT bombardment had been thorough, systematically wiping out any building larger than a house and quite a few that were smaller, too. A few torn pieces of cloth pegged to the ground waved in the sea breeze, the only sign that a tent had once been there. Bodies of those caught in the blasts littered the ground, pieces of rubble thrown up and tossed around. The air was filled with the combined scent of fire, dust, and blood. Blood…

Gripping his rifle, Samuel indicated a direction. “That way,” he instructed. “It’s possible she’s stuck around her house.”

The squad moved off, wary of any sign of enemy movement. It seemed, however, that if a battle had transpired here it had long since moved into another section of the camp. The air was still, though in the distance the sound of conflict was audible. Somewhere else, a war was being fought. “Hope she’s not wherever that is,” Alan muttered as they stalked forward, boots trudging through the dirt and grass.

“The Overseer would know her survival is paramount,” Samara insisted. “I find it unlikely she’d run into combat like that.”

Samuel turned his head backwards slightly. “You ever meet her?”

The Juggernaut shook her head. “Only once, from a distance,” she answered. “I mostly dealt with Major Rothchild.”

Samuel turned around fully now. “Rothchild? As in Cyrus Rothchild? Is he still around?”

“Organizing the Overseer’s military capabilities,” Cobra said, nodding. “Has been for as long as I’ve been part of the network.”

The Russian chuckled. “I remember him. My father had him as captain of the camp security, but always thought he might be better off in a role with more scope. Soldier through and through.”

“Is this amount of conversation standard for people looking for someone?” Lucifer asked, his now-completed chassis reflecting the dull orange from a fire he passed.

“It is for them,” Lester answered.

“Don’t say that like you’re outside of this,” Holly teased. “Or innocent yourself. In fact, now’s as good a time as any to ask - what the hell is Lucy’s design?”

The AI took a moment to realize she was referring to him. “Oh, you mean the horns?” The SPARK unit ran its left hand over the objects adorning its ‘head’, sharp metal that at first went backwards then curved down after a perpendicular turn. “I thought I may as well look the part,” he answered, shrugging.

The Sharpshooter tired to hold in a giggle, and failed. “And you chose that?”

“I don’t think she likes it,” Alan clarified.

Lucifer did not respond. “Aw, look. You’ve upset him,” Bonnie chuckled.

As the squad continued their banter behind him, Samuel kept his eyes well and truly focused. He had other priorities. Arthur seemed to recognize this. Are you ok?

The Russian tensed slightly at the unexpected voice in his head. Just worried, he assured the Phantom.

About whether we might find her alive?

Samuel shook his head, forgetting for a moment that the Phantom was keeping to the destruction around them and thus couldn’t see him. No, I know we’ll find her. It’s just a case of what state she’s in.

Any further conversation was ended as an ADVENT Heavy MEC clanked into view, entering a part of the camp seemingly reserved as a courtyard at the same time as the XCOM squad did. It pointed forward, jittering a number of commands as those it led began firing and moving forward. The squad found cover among the concrete strewn around the area, or in Holly’s case behind Samara’s shield. A few magnetically accelerated bullets pinged off the metal, but aside from pockmarks failed to damage it in any way.

Samuel analyzed his enemy. One Heavy MEC, a Recon unit, a Gunner, and two Troopers. Sizeable, but not inherently dangerous. He frowned as the MEC prepared to fire a volley of rounds from it’s cannon. Alright, maybe he’s a problem. “Alan, the big one!”

“Got it!” the Ambusher shouted back, aiming his Electropulser, newly upgraded, at the hulking machine. Electricity danced across the robot’s form, shorting it out and forcing the MEC into shutdown. “Alright, you can stop worrying about the missiles now.”

The ADVENT Gunner had located a collection of rubble that suited it well. Setting up on the concrete, they unleashed a flurry of bullets in the general direction of the XCOM squad. “Hold still,” Holly instructed, though it wasn’t clear whether she was referring to Samara or her target, or both. She fired, the pulse screaming through the Gunner’s head, leaving it a bloody mess. “Thank you.” Again, it was unclear who she was thanking.

“They are alone,” Arthur reported, having curved around the courtyard. “No reinforcements in sight. I am ready to engage.”

“Well come on then!” Tumulis said, egging his user on. “They’re right there!”

“Not until victory is assured,” the Phantom declined.

“Then one victory coming right up,” Samuel barked, dashing from his position into another piece of cover closer to his enemy. As the Troopers attempted to take advantage of his leaving cover, Bonnie was given the space she needed to pepper the shutdown MEC with her Febrigun. Chassis torn apart by thermal attacks and internals shorted by electricity, the MEC spouted a small explosion before toppling, metal impacting the dirt and stone. Samuel, grinning, popped back of his cover to unleash a final burst at one of the Troopers, the pulse lasers hammering their torso with lethal force. Or it would have been a month ago.

The Aerotrooper frowned as he returned to cover. “I don’t like this,” he muttered. “What’s the point of shiny new guns if they’re just going to get better armor?”

But the ADVENT Trooper’s retaliation had left them open. Lucifer, with little more than a cursory glance, gunned them down. “Only two foes remain,” he reported.

“Then one is mine,” Arthur stated, activating Tumulis’ cloak with an audible whoop from the AI. As Holly assassinated the Recon unit turning around in alarm, the Phantom dashed forward, sword at the ready, and plunged it through the chest of his foe. The ADVENT Trooper choked out one last curse before the sword was withdrawn and then slashed across his spine. He fell to the ground, Chariot flicking his blade to remove the blood. “And he is dead,” he said with satisfaction.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Part 2

The squad moved through where the enemy had come from, wary of any other search parties. With a Recon unit in that squad, it’s pretty obvious they’re looking for survivors. And with a MEC, it’s equally as obvious that they don’t intend for survivors to stay surviving. The icy hand on Samuel’s heart squeezed just a little bit, worry once again coursing through his mind. She’ll be fine, he assured himself. She’s durable.

He was less certain when they reached Chloe’s home.

The building, formerly made of wood and salvaged plaster, was now made out of a wooden floor and little else. The walls had been blown away, the watchtower behind it caving stone onto it. At Lester’s direction, the squad split - half outside to ensure nobody snuck up on them, and the rest searching the remains of the building. Samuel swallowed as he wandered through what had formerly been a kitchen, before reaching her bedroom. The nearby ‘bed’, little more than a salvaged mattress and a few blankets, had seen better days. A piece of technology, out of place in this rustic abode, sat sparking to the side. Above it was a shelf, on which sat an urn.

Samuel shook his head. “She’s not here,” he said. “Shit.” The Russian placed a hand on the back of his head. “Where do we look from here?”

He tensed, then. His shadow had elongated, taking the form of an Elder. Someone’s in here.

Hope was dashed as a metal tail, tipped with a razor-sharp blade, speared into the wall in front of where the Aerotrooper’s head had been. The urn it had struck shattered, sending a cloud of gray-white dust everywhere. A puff landed on Samuel’s shoulder as he turned around to face the Techound, distracting him for a moment as the robot prepared to strike again, its prey alone now.

Samuel’s expression became murderous, realization hitting him. “Umbra, leave this one to me,” he instructed, pulling out his Scatterblaster. The Reflection faded away, acquiescing to his wishes as the mechanical canine lunged. With a scowl, he rolled sideways, the Techound crashing into the communications device in a shower of sparks and crunching metal. Samuel fired a blast, glancing the machine’s hind legs as it jumped away. “Get back here!”

The Techound aimed it’s cannon, firing a volley of bullets at its opponent. Nemesis foiled its robotic tracking, kicking off the wall with his armor’s flight system and gaining velocity he’d lack from a standing start. Not predicting him to move towards the thing firing at him, the machine was slow to react, and pulse seared the cannon into molten metal. A swipe of its tail knocked Samuel sideways, but he rolled with the blow, sending a final blast of pulse at the Techound’s maw. The internals were shredded by the shot, and it fell face-first onto the mattress. It’s back legs locked up, resulting in an upraised rump.

“Not the first time I’ve seen someone in that position on that mattress,” Samuel muttered, reloading his Scatterblaster. “And they were just as fucked as you.” He glanced at the urn, now shattered into bits of ceramic and ash. “Sorry dad.”

The squad was already halfway inside the house when he emerged. “The hell’s going on?” Lester demanded. “Were you shooting at something?”

The Russian poked a hand backwards. “Techound in her room,” he said nonchalantly. “Guess he was put there in case she came back. She’s not here though.”

“Why was there a Techound in there?” Alan asked, glancing back at him from the doorframe. “And why is it… like that?”

“I was going to stamp its head into the floor, but then it fell like that.” Samuel’s mouth curved into a smug grin. “I thought it was a better look.”

Having ascertained that her house was empty, the squad reassembled outside. “Now what do we do?” Holly asked. “Circle around the house in an outward spiral until we find her?”

Samuel shook his head. “There’s other places she could be,” he mused. “Just sweeping the settlement will take too long. We need to look for landmarks.”

“The barracks?” Alan asked, pointing down a fork in the ‘street’. “It’s down that way, isn’t it? Maybe she went to find help.”

Or fresh meat. “You might be right,” the Russian answered. “I was going to suggest the garages, but that’s halfway there anyway.”

The squad set off, making their way towards a destroyed building that had once housed many dozens of capable soldiers, most of which would have been part of the local security network. Either ADVENT had known this, or had gotten lucky with their bombing - the building was little more than rubble and a few resilient corners of brick. After dealing with a duo of Recon units scouring the path between points, the squad arrived.

They didn’t make it far into the rubble before Samuel held up a hand, a silent instruction for the squad to stop. He waited, evidently listening for something. “... anyone hear that?” he asked, his voice low.

“I am detecting motion to your right,” Joy answered, her voice equally low despite there being no danger of her being heard outside the squad’s communicators.

Multiple weapons clicked and hummed as their owners primed them, ready to fight whatever might be lurking in the rubble. “Hold your fire unless I say so,” Samuel instructed, creeping towards the spot Holly’s AI had felt movement. Better not be a damn Chrissie… the Russian thought.

He would have been forgiven for identifying the shape that flew out from behind a wall as one of the massive bugs. It didn’t get close to him, however - Umbra materialized around him in response to the threat, effortlessly batting the assailant away. As the squad aimed their weapons, the shape picked itself up from the ground, wiping her mouth.

“Hold your fire!” Samuel barked.

“You nearly got your throat torn out just then!” Bonnie complained. “Why should I hold me damn fi-”

“Because that’s her!” Nemesis snapped, turning his gaze back to his attacker. “That’s Chloe.”

She looked like she’d been through hell itself. Clothes were torn and bloodied, still intact enough to preserve modesty but little else. Her hair was messy, blown about and matted with unidentifiable liquids. The blue streak that was meant to run down her hair was an odd shade of purple. But worst of all was her face - not physically damaged bar a few grazes, no, but expression twisted beyond recognition. Her eyes betrayed her motive - she was hungry. Ravenous, even. And she’d located prey.

Singling Samuel out given his distance from the rest of the squad, she lunged for him again, not dissuaded by the shadow that kept her at bay. And again she was repelled, Umbra delivering a blow to the charging woman that the Russian within gratefully noted as without intent to injure. Chloe staggered backwards, annoyed now. She bared her teeth, revealing a mouth tinted with red blood.

Samuel winced. Umbra, let her through.

The Reflection leaned sideways and twisted so that it could give him the incredulous look he deserved.

You heard me, he thought, calmly. Trust. With a shrug, Umbra fell back into the Aerotrooper’s shadow, and suddenly he was staring down his ex-girlfriend with only his armor to protect him. With a sigh, he removed his helmet, tossing it on the ground as Chloe loped forward again, clearly intent on tackling him to the ground.

And so she did. With nothing to stop her and Samuel waiting for her like a matador’s cape, she lunged forward, pushing her target down. With an inhuman grin, she bared her teeth again, and made to attack his now-exposed neck. Above her, Umbra materialized again, unwilling to allow such a risk to its user. It reached forward, intending to pluck her off of him.

Samuel mentally uttered a silent prayer to a god he didn’t believe in before he gripped the sides of her head and plunged his own face up to meet Chloe, their lips meeting in a kiss. The woman froze in place, utterly bewildered by the actions of her prey, attempting to see the angle of this move. But as Samuel finally drew away, her reason returned, the shock enough to finally make her stop and think about her actions.

“Better?” the Russian asked, his expression one of worry.

Chloe nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she croaked. “Better.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Part 3

The two stood up awkwardly, the Overseer climbing off him to allow him to rise. “I’ll have to remember that trick,” Alan said quietly.

Joy was too busy celebrating. “Yes, that’s her!” she said cheerfully. “We did it! … Samuel, are you alright? You look a little sick.”

The Aerotrooper responded by spitting onto the ground. “I’m sterilizing my mouth when we get back,” he muttered.

“Oh, thanks,” Chloe said sarcastically. “Way to beef up my self-esteem.”

Samuel leaned forward. “How many?” he asked harshly, his voice low enough to prevent others from hearing.

Her face was one of sheer guilt. “I’ve… lost count.”

“You lost count?!”

“It was the scent,” she confessed readily, her shoulders slumping. “Put a feast in front of a starving man and he’ll eat.”

“Is that what all those people were to you?” Samuel demanded. She didn’t respond. “All that work…” Shaking his head, Nemesis finally put his helmet back on, sealing it to his armor once more. “Alright, we’ll finish this discussion aboard the Avenger. Now’s not the time or place. We need to go.”

“Seconded,” Lester stated, making a gesture with his hand. “Alright everyone, show’s over. Back to the ship. Come on.”

“What?” Chloe shook her head. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”

Samuel made a surprised noise. “What? Why the hell not?”

The Overseer folded her arms. “My people are still fighting for their lives here,” she stated. “I’m not leaving until they’re safe.”

“I don’t think you understand the premise of this mission,” Nemesis responded hotly. “We came here to find you, and now we have you. VIP secured, job’s done. We’re out.”

“I’m. Not. Leaving.”

The two stared at each other for a moment, the only sounds that of distant gunfire and the crackling flames around them. Eventually, Samuel sighed. “... fine,” he said, shaking his head. “But we don’t know where they’d be holed up.”

“I do,” Chloe said simply, turning on her heel and beginning the trek across the courtyard. “We have emergency procedures. Particular buildings to fortify in case of attack, that sort of thing…”

Samuel watched her go, unmoving. The rest of the squad stayed similarly still, unsure exactly what to do. “I suppose we better follow her,” the Russian said at last. He turned around, facing the squad. “But if any of you tell Stacie about this before I get to, you’re dead. Understood?”

“Oi, Samuel!” Chloe cried, waving at him. “You going to come, or am I going to have to stroke you a few more times?”

Ignoring the laughter of a few of his squadmates, he trudged after her, muttering obscenities under his breath. It was thus that they continued moving, heading for a large rectangular building visible over the top of the rest of those still standing.

Fortunately, they did not encounter any roving search parties, reaching the building without resistance. “In here,” Chloe instructed, pointing at the massive structure.

Samuel frowned. “How’d this avoid being airstriked?”

The Overseer scoffed. “What, you think we’d designate a building like this as a rally point without protecting it somehow?” She moved her pointing hand upwards, indicating a tubular shape that was visible from the ground. “Anti-aircraft guns. Bitch to make, but throw enough manpower and resources at a problem and eventually it’ll be solved.”

Samara was staring at the turret intently. “How long ago was this built, Overseer?” she asked.

“You know you can just call me Chloe.”

Cobra seemed visibly discomforted by the idea. “No, ma’am.”

The Overseer shrugged. “Have it your way.” Turning around again, she pondered. “To answer your question, they would have been finished… a month ago? Give or take a few days.”

Lester turned around to face the devastation behind them. “Close call,” he noted.

“We… did get a bit lucky,” Chloe admitted. “Alright, entrance is over here. Rothchild’s probably worried sick.”

The guards at the door let them through immediately when they saw who was at the door. As the Overseer breezed through them, Samuel couldn’t help but notice one of the guards watching her go, appreciation in his eyes at what her tattered clothing revealed. “Eyes front,” he snapped at the guard, before moving past himself. Pervert.

His latent jealousy aside, the Russian was impressed at the operation he was walking into. Everything was organized, everyone had a job. And when they entered the main area of the garage, it was evident that she had the resources too. Vehicles filled nearly every square meter of the large concrete floor, effectively turning the area into a massive garage. People carried boxes of supplies - anything from food to guns - between a storage area and the vehicles, filling them up with the things they’d need to survive outside.

The tall man seemingly in charge of everything, spotting them, scrambled to salute. “Overseer, ma’am!” He looked like a military man - hard face, greying hair, and an outfit not dissimilar to old world officers. A magnetic assault rifle was slung over his back, alongside a simple mag pistol holstered at his hip. Samuel wondered if he’d ever actually had cause to fire them before.

Chloe giggled. “Major, I’m fine. You can stop saluting now.”

“I’ll stop saluting when you stop calling me Major, ma’am.”

The Overseer rolled her eyes. “Fine. At ease, Cyrus.”

Rothchild lowered his arm. “Where have you been?” he asked. “And who are they? I don’t recognize them.”

“XCOM,” Samara answered, stepping forward and saluting herself. “Major Rothchild, sir. Good to see you.”

Rothchild chuckled at her. “Operative Cobra, please. You know I don’t like being called that.”

“It’s what you are to us, sir.”

Samuel grunted. “Alright, this is cute and all, but I’d like to get Chloe out of here, and she’s not going until you people are safe.” He folded his arms. “So how do you intend to do that? Not sure if you noticed the armada of transport ships outside.”

“We’ve noticed,” the Overseer’s military advisor said grimly. “We’ve been going by standard siege protocols - bunker up in here, prepare to drive out.” He indicated the small fleet of trucks behind him, many of which were being loaded up with supplies. “The good news is we have enough trucks to cart everyone in here out. The bad news-”

“-is that that’s because half the fuckin’ camp got their asses blown the fuck up and we got less people to save,” finished a large man, walking up to the group. “I swear to fuck, Chloe. I leave you alone for five minutes and look what fuckin’ happens.”

“Good to see you too, Samson,” the Overseer responded with a wink. “I’m fine, aren’t I?”

“Bitch I was worried about you!” her bodyguard said angrily. “Here I am sittin’ twiddlin’ my thumbs because asshole here-” He jabbed a finger in Rothchild’s direction. “-won’t let anyone else go outside, ‘less ‘outside’ refers to the roof.”

Rothchild shook his head. “It’s too dangerous out there,” he stated firmly. “Anyone that can make it here will, anyone that can’t… knew what they were signing on for.”

“What’s so safe about the roof, then?” Samuel asked. “Looked pretty exposed to me.”

The ‘Major’ shifted uncomfortably. “The anti-air turrets are up there,” he said. “You’re right, it’s exposed, but we need them operated if we’re going to get out of here. We were working on an auto-targeting system so that we wouldn’t need to leave anyone behind, but that’s incomplete and useless. We need people on the guns.”

Chloe waved a hand at the squad behind her. “Take your pick,” she said.

Rothchild paused for a moment, appraising the XCOM forces. “Good point. If four of you get on that, you can keep ADVENT at bay while everyone else rides out. Once on the plains, if we split up a bit, we should be able to take care of ourselves from there. There’s a reason we’ve got mounted guns on every vehicle.”

Alan indicated Samson. “And what, you’d agreed to stay behind?”

Samson scoffed. “Fuck no. I was meant to be organizin’ a team to retake the roof.”

“Hold on, ‘retake’? You’ve lost it?”

“There’s an ADVENT squad that climbed up there using the old fire escape ladder,” Rothchild explained. “They’ve been trying to get in since, but if they step through the door there’s about fifteen shotguns waiting for them. I think they’re waiting for reinforcements while the turrets are down.”

“Just one squad?” Samuel asked.

“Officer, Shieldbearer, Lancer and two Jet Troopers,” the Major explained. “Why? You have an idea?”

Samuel glanced at his armor, a grin slowly worming its way onto his face. “... yeah. I think I have an idea.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Part 4

They had to wait for Rothchild’s own soldiers to prepare, though. While Chloe bickered with her general over whether or not she should be involved, Samson sauntered over to the XCOM Aerotrooper. The bodyguard was wearing what had formerly been an ADVENT Officer’s chestplate over a standard black t-shirt. His hands were tipped in pre-war motorcycle gloves. His face was covered by a hockey mask with a skull painted on the face. Only his leg armor seemed actually manufactured by the Resistance, a set of alloy that lacked the finesse and order of his chest armor.

“Thanks for findin’ her,” Samson stated, leaning against the wall next to the Russian. “I wasn’t kiddin’ about sittin’ in here twiddlin’ my thumbs. Chlo’ really had my ass worried here.”

Samuel gazed at him for a moment. “Have we met before?” he asked, his tone indicating he thought they had but wasn’t able to place him.

“Wha? Nah, man. Yo’ ass must be hallucinatin’. We ain’t never met before.”

The Russian shook his head. “No, you’re definitely familiar. Feel like we’ve been in a firefight together once.”

Samson shrugged. “Eh, maybe. I don’t remember every punk I end up fightin’ on the same side as.”

“I mean on opposite sides.”

“Bullshit.”

“I definitely feel like you’ve taunted me across a battlefield before.”

The bodyguard spread his hands. “Alright. You know me so well, answer me this. What’s my favorite weapon? And I mean model.”

Samuel squinted. “... AA-12 automatic shotgun. Pre-war model. With a drum mag.”

Samson moved his head backwards. “... you a psion?”

“Not an active one.”

The bodyguard rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, shit. Guess you’re right. Maybe we have fought in the past. Sorry I don’t remember you.”

“I don’t really recall myself,” Samuel admitted. “More like a hunch. I don’t even know when it would have been. Only ever got into a firefight with non-ADVENT once, and that was in Africa a number of years ago.”

“Yeah, well, track record would say that maybe you did fight me,” Samson stated, shifting uncomfortably. “I won’t bother with the details, but I used to run with a group you’d probably call bandits. Not many people are so willin’ to abandon their shit just for us, you know?”

“So how’d you end up here?”

The bodyguard shrugged. “Had a… what’d Chloe call it? Epiphi-whatever. Moment where I realized exactly how much of an asshole I was bein’. I took my shit and ran. Ended up middle of Europe. Next thing I know, someone’s offerin’ me a job for bein’ so good at smackin’ ADVENT the fuck up.” He chuckled. “Not sure what kinda boss I was expectin’, but she definitely wasn’t it.”

Samuel grimaced. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “She’s a unique one alright.”

Samson followed his gaze, his eyes alighting on Chloe testing the weight of a bow caster. “You’re her ex, right?”

“I am,” was the response. “Just… not sure if she still sees it that way. I might have given her mixed messages.”

“Yo’ committed elsewhere,” the bodyguard guessed. Samuel nodded. “Ah. Don’t envy you that, man. Chlo’ can push at shit real hard if she wants. From the way she talks about you? I’d say she still wants.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.”

Samson’s gloved hand clapped the Russian on the soldier. “One step at a time, yeah? We got some punks on the roof need icin’ first.”

*

The ADVENT forces on the roof had been, as Samuel expected, watching the fire escape ladder for any intrusion on their ground. They were not expecting him to jump up from an entirely different side, shooting the Shieldbearer in the back and causing them to cry out in pain. He took cover on a non-functional air conditioning unit just as the rest of the squad breached the main roof access, guns well and truly blazing. A Jet Trooper was cut down by Arthur, the Officer was executed by Bonnie and Samara, Holly skeeted the other Jet Trooper as he tried to fly away, and the Lancer was pounded into the ground by Lucifer. Lester finished off the recovering Shieldbearer rather nonchalantly, directing his attention to their battlefield.

The roof was thankfully not entirely flat. The roof access itself poked out like a small hill, and vents and other similar equipment littered the area. Not optimal cover, but they’d cope. Four of them wouldn’t even need that.

The Specialist lifted a hand. “Alright, Bonnie, Holly, Alan, we’re on the guns. Pick whichever one you like, I really couldn’t care less.”

“You shooting down aircraft with us?” Alan asked. “Do you even know how to use these things?”

Lester shrugged. “Point and shoot, not exactly hard.”

Behind them, Samson walked out onto the roof. “Shit, you guys efficient,” he commented, nudging one of the fresh ADVENT corpses with a boot. He turned around to Chloe, who was holding her Bolt Caster with some uncertainty. “Come on, bitch. Thought you wanted in on this.”

“I just wanted to do something other than cower behind a wall for this,” the Overseer responded hotly, stepping out herself. Her armor was less modern than her bodyguard’s, as well as covering less of her body. The ceramic chestpiece she wore did not cover her waist, as doing so would have restricted her mobility. Other than that, it seemed she’d contented herself with a simple change of clothes. Now a tight-fitting pair of leather pants wrapped around her legs, though beneath her armor whatever she’d chosen as a shirt was small enough to be hidden entirely.

“Did you do your makeup while you were at it?” Samuel commented, looking her over.

She shot him a look that indicated that if he wished to keep his genitalia he would shut up. “I asked someone to hose me down. Not quite the shower I’m craving, but it’ll do.” Indeed, she was relatively clean in regards to the blood and dirt that had previously been covering her form.

Lester grunted as he sat in the cockpit of his turret. The seat was well protected - the entire operator’s controls remained within the small pod of metal within which the Specialist now sat. Bar two windows on either side, he was unable to see outside. “You will have to specify if you need our help by the way,” he instructed over the communicators. “Not sure about the other three, but I can’t see much from in here.”

“Stick to shooting shit down and you’ll be fine,” Samuel responded. “We can handle whatever they se- bloody hell!” The Russian swore as Umbra, responding to a threat he hadn’t spotted himself, materialized around him. Bullets pinged off the Reflection’s form harmlessly, revealing an ADVENT squad that had diverted from their search of the nearby area to provide reinforcements to the other, now dead squad. Rather than retaliate, Samuel gripped Chloe by the shoulder and forced her down behind cover as Holly, who hadn’t gotten into her turret yet, sniped one of the approaching Lancers from afar.

“Still got another Lancer, a Recon, and an Officer coming,” she reported, retreating behind her own cover.

The second was confirmed true as Arthur, who had been cloaked thanks to Tumulis’ intervention, suddenly came face to face with the Lancer. Chariot offered a curse as he blocked the baton shoved his way, sparks flying off the two weapons and briefly turning his silvery armor orange. The Lancer tried a swipe rather than a stab, but the Phantom effortlessly blocked the attack and darted away.

Lucifer fired a volley at the encroaching ADVENT, but only managed to melt most of an air conditioning unit for his trouble. “Unable to lock. Abandoning action,” the AI reported.

“Are you guys perfectly alright out here?” Alan asked irritably, stepping out of his turret. To his glee, he found himself behind the Recon unit and Officer. A moment later, the Officer began convulsing violently as electricity shuddered through their body. The Recon unit’s brief moment of panic was enough to prevent them from noticing Samson approaching, the bodyguard sliding over a vent with his shotgun at the ready.

“Surprise motherfucker!” he cried, rounding their cover and firing at point blank. With its reinforced armor, the Recon unit survived the initial shot, but was staggered by the force of the attack. And Samson, holding an automatic shotgun, was able to continue this pressure until the Recon unit was very much dead. He was about to finish off the stunned Officer too when Samara approached.

“I’ll save you the ammo,” she said, executing the ADVENT before her as Arthur brought the Lancer to a similar fate.

Their communicators crackled. “Testing, testing. This is Cyrus Rothchild, you receiving me up there?”

“Frequency works,” Lester responded by way of answer. “Good, good.”

“Excellent. We’re beginning the full evacuation now. All goes as expected, ADVENT’s going to see some juicy targets filing out of this building. Your priority is to target any craft that looks like it’s about to rain hell down. Troop transports are secondary. That’s what the rest of your squad is for.” He paused. “And can I just say that I appreciate what you’re all doing for us. Your assistance alone has boosted our chances of surviving this significantly.”

Lester shifted in his seat. “It’s… our pleasure.”

Samuel barked a laugh. “Not used to praise, are you?”

“Do you want to be taken off the roster again?”

Rothchild chuckled. “Keep the banter up,” he encouraged. “It’ll drag you through any rough situations you encounter up there. Good luck, and keep Chloe safe for me. Rothchild out.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Part 5

There was the sound of a large metal door being raised, and from within the massive garage a small convoy of vehicles exited, the one in front squashing a Chryssalid that was in it’s path. ADVENT’s reaction was nigh-immediate. Ships that had previously been hovering above the camp swarmed forwards, like bees around a disturbed hive. The people still wandering the shanty wouldn’t be going anywhere - these people actually had a decent chance of escaping.

“Alright, time to see how good these turrets are,” Bonnie said with a grin, rotating hers slowly to point out over the plains. “Do I need to wait for someone to give me the ‘aye’, or can I just-”

“Open fire,” Lester instructed, almost boredly.

Picking out targets, the four XCOM operatives unleashed a barrage of flak, destroying two of the ADVENT aircraft and forcing the rest to reconsider their options. The wreckage of one of the destroyed ships tumbled to the ground below, one wing nearly impaling a lagging vehicle. “Shit! Sorry!” Holly cried out, despite none of the convoy being able to hear her.

“Try killing them faster next time,” Alan suggested. “You’re a sniper. You of all people should know how important that is.”

The sound of engines above interrupted Harbinger’s pouting, an ADVENT Troop Transport taking position above the building. “We’ve got company,” Samuel noted, firing a few bursts at the forces spilling out of the craft. A Trooper fell to the ground lifeless, but the other five ADVENT escaped similar fates for now. Barking an order, the Officer attempted to retaliate against the Russian before realizing their target had disappeared behind a power box. Taking advantage of the structure of the environment around them, the Shieldbearer planted their alloy wall between a ‘corridor’ of air-regulation boxes, lined up against the bricks of the roof access. The Gunner vaulted over the shield, and began setting up behind it. The Banshee disappeared from view. The remaining Trooper stuck with their superior, firing a burst of magnetically accelerated bullets in the direction of Samara.

Samuel poked his head around his cover, taking in the sight. “Perfect,” he said, grinning. “Arthur, you think you could pop your incendiary in where those two are holed up?”

“On my way,” the Phantom affirmed. “Tumulis, if you would please.”

The AI complied, and Chariot became indistinguishable from his surroundings. “One barbecue coming right up,” Tumulis giggled.

“Are you guys always this morbidly enthusiastic?” Chloe asked, keeping her head down for now.

“Yep,” Samuel answered, waiting for the Phantom to throw the grenade. “‘Keep laughing or start crying,’ as dad used to say.”

The Overseer paled. “Oh shit! The urn!”

“A Techound broke it,” the Russian explained. “So I broke the Techound. I think Isaac would have preferred to be scattered anyway.”

Arthur threw his grenade, the cylinder bouncing off the metal walls beside the entrenched ADVENT and plinking to their feet. The two had a brief moment of realization before they were both consumed by fire, armor and soon flesh melting away. The Shieldbearer attempted to flee, the shield hampering their progress and making them a prime target for the waiting Samuel. The Aerotrooper fired, ending the Shieldbearer’s life. The Gunner, who was forced to follow or burn to a crisp, did so and met a similar fate, the Russian still waiting.

As Samuel pulled away from his cover, he could feel something wrong in his gut. A sense that he may be in trouble. Turning his head briefly to scan the area, he caught a glimpse of a gauntlet holding something before Umbra materialized and deflected the Banshee’s attack. The two enemies found themselves in an awkward position - Samuel’s aim was far too shaken to retaliate effectively, and the Banshee’s Shardgun required priming before it could be fired again. Thus it was down to Chloe to make a move.

The Overseer, snarling, pushed off the wall behind her and launching herself at the Banshee with surprising force. The ADVENT soldier was knocked backwards by the human cannonball, landing on their back with a grunt while Chloe’s landing was more dignified and upright. Her hands clutching the Banshee’s neck, she yanked backwards, dragging her foe by the underside of their helmet. Having lost their Shardgun from the impact, the ADVENT soldier flailed around helplessly for a moment before locating their sidearm and firing in her general direction.

But Chloe had anticipated the move. She darted sideways, releasing her captive briefly, before lunging forward again. The Banshee, who was in the process of standing, was knocked over again, this time with arms pinned to the ground by the Overseer’s well-positioned legs. With a sultry grin, she reached forward, taking the struggling ADVENT soldier’s helmet in her hands, and twisted. Bone snapped loudly, and her enemy fell limp. “Sorry. I’ve been told I play a bit rough at times.”

Samuel swallowed nervously at the display. “Chloe…”

The Overseer looked up at him. “Hmm? Oh, sorry.” She got up, dusting herself off like she’d just tripped over or something similarly innocuous. “I wasn’t going to bite him, don’t worry. ADVENT blood tastes like shit anyway. Don’t know what they do to them.”

“How would you know?”

Chloe froze. “Oh. I… would have had to…”

Samuel looked at her grimly. “Hunger doesn’t discriminate, does it?”

“Guess not.”

The two looked over in time to see the Officer strangle a plea for mercy before Samson, who was crushing their windpipe with his boot at the time, ended their life with a blast of pellets. “Yeah fuck you!” the bodyguard shouted, kicking the bloodied mess away from him. “Fuckin’ markin’ bullshit.”

The second convoy of vehicles had managed to pass through safely in the meantime, with the anti-air turrets doing as designed and removing the ADVENT presence from the sky above them. Wordlessly admitting defeat, the aircraft that had been pursuing the evacuating resistance members pulled back, awaiting another chance.

“They’re regrouping,” Lester noted. “Might be waiting for something.”

“Waiting?” Samuel asked, confused. “For what?”

“Probably something to take us out,” Alan suggested. “We’re doing work here. Don’t think ADVENT appreciates that.”

“It is probable that they are considering counters to us,” Lucifer agreed. “They are - incompetent! - unable to effectively avoid the turrets. The next logical step would be to remove the obstacle.”

Samson scoffed. “Man how the fuck they intend to do that? We got this place on lock-”

Far above them, a Protectorate vessel, circular when viewed from the ground, appeared in the sky with an audible rumble. The squad was silent for a moment. “Ach, hell,” Bonnie muttered.

A flash of orange sparked at the bottom of the ship, after which a large silvery pod descended at rapid velocity. If the target had been the roof, they missed - the pod impacted the ground some distance away from the building, the base digging into the soil from the force of gravity. “The hell was that?” Alan asked, craning his head outside his cockpit. “Did they just drop something?”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Taxor the First and DarkGemini24601 - Operation Crimson Duke, Part 6

The doors of the pod slid open, allowing the occupant inside to skitter out. It was a chryssallid - though its height was slightly exaggerated, and its violet skin was covered by a malleable alloy coating that swayed back and forth like black waves rippling across the alien’s form. Due to the protective coating it lacked the horrific form that its race was typically marked by, and all the deadly beauty of its sleek body was exaggerated. The eyes themselves glowed slightly in the ashy air, being a deep violet color. To Arthur, they were even brighter - possessed by a significant amount of psionic power.

And with it, likely intelligence, the Phantom thought worriedly. “That insect is not normal,” he reported.

“Then shoot it,” Samuel said irritably, firing a burst of pulse in their foe’s direction. The Chryssalid danced to the side, neatly avoiding the danger. “Alright, maybe that’s easy to say…”

To make matters worse, it appeared that the armor it was wearing was similar to that of a Banshee. A cloak of shadows surrounded the regal beast, and she vanished from sight while in motion - darting backwards out of harm’s way. The Hive Queen let out a rallying screech, and beneath the building there was a collective rumble as the other Chryssalids that had been lurking in the area unburrowed, and leapt up onto the roof one by one. Most were the garden variety, though there were a few Drakes in the mix - as well as one or two unusual-colored Chryssalids, having large, glowing blue sacks on their bodies like the flammable pockets on the red ‘lids.

“Bonnie! We need your big gun now!” Samuel barked, taking out his shotgun in time to blast one of the more common bugs before it speared him. Chloe shrieked as an insect charged at her, forcing her to abandon the Aerotrooper in her escape.

The Grenadier stepped out of her turret, seeing all the mayhem as it was starting to unfold. “Ye got a bit of a pest problem, aye?” She retrieved her Febrigun, leaning against the side of her turret’s frame. “Got one solution for ya!” With a shout of glee she began unloading, with the Chryssalids that survived the barrage learning very quickly to stay away from the trigger-happy Scotswoman.

Arthur, meanwhile, was preoccupied with a Drake. Thanks to Tumulis redistributing processing power, the Phantom was able to weave away from the burst of flames, drawing his sword to allow for a faster attack. Parrying a swipe from the beast’s claw legs, he struck back, cleaving through chitin and the flesh beneath with his own sharp implement. The Drake screeched as it fell, which only drew the attention of several more insects. “This was not what I expected,” Chariot noted, before accepting that combat was inevitable and choosing to strike first.

Samara batted away one of the blue insects, stunning it and keeping as much distance between herself and the unknown enemy as she could. “Overseer, get behind me!” she instructed, placing herself between her old superior and the insect chasing her. The shield bucked backwards as the Chryssalid crashed into it, gnashing its mandibles in frustration as it scraped against the wall of metal. The Juggernaut gritted her teeth, but held firm, pushing the insect back with all her strength.

Chloe didn’t take the save and run, however. Retrieving her Resistance-made Bolt Caster, she took a moment to aim. “How the hell do you guys actually hit these things?” she wondered, the insect’s struggling enough to prevent it from being a still target.

“Shoot and hope for the best!” Cobra answered, curving her Impulse Rotator around the side of her shield and firing blindly. An errant shot struck the creature, causing it to recoil in pain and thus lifted the pressure off her. “Like that.”

The Overseer took the opening and fired, the bolt drilling into the Chryssalid’s chest and rupturing something evidently important to the beast’s wellbeing. It thrashed around on the ground for a moment before lying still. Satisfied, the Frenchwoman looked up. Her heart immediately sank again. “There’s a lot of them,” she stated.

“You always this intelligent when you’re fed?” Samuel asked hotly, Umbra swatting away a Drake almost boredly. A flash of pulse, and another insect was dead. “At least your buddy is having the time of his life.”

Looking over to Samson, Chloe could see he was correct. Her bodyguard was alright standing amongst a veritable pond of corpses, with more joining the pile every few seconds. With a gleeful shout, Samson butted away one of the standard Chryssalids before emptying two shells into the the insect. “Who the fuck else?” he demanded, darting away from a Drake’s fire breath and sending a retaliatory blast of pellets at it. “You want some o’ this? He wants some o’ this. Alright, come on man. Don’t be shy.”

The Drake hesitated, dribbling a small portion of its flammable saliva on the ground before backing away.

“The fuck you think you’re goin’?” Samson asked. “Get back here, bitch!”

The blue Chryssalid that Samara had stunned earlier finally recovered, spotting a larger enemy with their back turned to it. The insect skittered forth, leaping on Lucifer’s back before the robot had a chance to defend itself. “I appear to have obtained a friend,” the AI reported before the Chryssalid exploded in a shower of acidic blue liquid. His chassis damaged by the initial blast, the devil knew that the liquid would likely seep into his internal systems. “Backing away,” he warned, choosing now to keep his distance from the swarm lest another of the blue ones attack him. “I suppose that answers the question of what those do.”

“Do you guys need some help out there?” Alan asked, glancing outside worriedly. “I can always send out an RC drone to- Jesus!” The Ambusher was cut off as a Chryssalid latched onto the side of the cockpit, mashing it’s face onto the glass in an attempt to get at the succulent meat inside. “Alright no, fuck you guys. You’re on your own.”

“Ah, quit being such a baby,” Holly drawled, sounding rather relaxed in her relative safety. “You know you can roll these windows down, right?”

“And why the hell would I want to do that?!”

“Just a little,” the Sharpshooter continued. “You know, just to let a bit of air in. Your buddy outside might even stick his head rather conveniently in the gap, try to wedge himself through.”

“... and that would make him a sitting duck.” Alan realized. “Alright yeah, you’ve got a point.” Gingerly, he wound down the window at which the Chryssalid was battering, allowing it a small gap within which to poke its mandibles. No sooner had the insect done so than it took a faceful of electrical energy, falling backwards from the cockpit and convulsing on the ground. The window was wound down a little more, only for Alan to poke his sidearm outside and finish the bug off. “Stupid insects,” he muttered, winding his window up again.

“How is everything up there?” came the voice of Rothchild. “Hearing a lot of gunfire.”

“Fucking fantastic,” Samuel responded. “Never better. Are you people nearly done yet?”

“Prepping the final convoy now,” the Major replied. “Once we’re out of range of you, there’ll be nothing more you can do for us. We’ll deal with what comes ourselves.” He paused, as if waiting for the Russian to finish killing the Drake that had just tried to consume him whole. “I just wanted to say everyone appreciates what you’re doing for us,” Cyrus said. “We’d be in a far worse position without you.”

Samuel glanced upwards, the Protectorate ship still looming menacingly above. “I’ll say,” he responded. “Look, best way you can thank us is by getting the fuck out. We’re running into a few difficulties and it’ll probably only get worse. Hustle.”

With that, Rothchild closed the communication. “Alright, you heard the man. We’ve got a bunch of vehicles and lives to save, let’s move it!” His followers all saluted, moving to their vehicles and leaving the supplies deemed unnecessary. The Major himself entered a simple transport truck, choosing not to distinguish himself by picking anything less innocuous.

The driver looked at him. “Worried, sir?”

Cyrus sighed. “Not for us.”

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Taxor the First and DarkGemini24601 - Part 7

The Hive Queen made its presence known again, unveiling itself from the shadows behind one of the unoccupied anti-air turrets. Only a few members of Judgement Squad could see it from that angle - including the elite Chryssalid’s intended target. The troublesome swordsman had caught her eye, and intending to remove him from the equation she launched a psionic attack. The thread of a mindfray came first, colliding with Arthur’s skull and rendering the wise Phantom far less logical than he usually tended to be. Emotion - particularly waves of anxiety and fragments of fear - began to overtake his sensibilities. He began to hear things. Inhuman whispers, demonic groans - all around him.

Briefly, Chariot’s logical side resisted being suppressed in such a manner, realizing something was wrong but unable to triumph in the battle of will. The flow of his battle was interrupted, the Phantom jumping away from a Chryssalid that did not exist, directly towards one that did. The insect was surprised enough by the action to be unable to take proper advantage of the situation, but it did leave a fissure in Arthur’s chest armor. He sliced it in half in retaliation, but his nerves were still high, still believing every area outside his vision to contain a thousand foes. “Tumulis?”

The AI responded by cloaking him, rendering him invisible to any light detection. “You alright Arthur?” Tumulis asked, his tone curious. “Your heart rate’s spiked… nervous?”

The Phantom clutched at his head. “Something is not right,” he muttered. “I am not in form. But… why? What am I hearing?”

“Gunshots and Chryssalid screams?” Samuel offered from across the roof.

“No, no. Something else. Like… whispers.” Determining himself to be unfit for battle, at least in this state, he backed himself against the brick wall of the roof access staircase. “Do not rely on me. I don’t… I’m not…”

“Someone didn’t get enough sleep last night,” Bonnie muttered, hosing down one of the suicidal Chryssalids a safe distance from herself and knocking several of its allies sideways from the blast. Looking up, she spotted the larger insect. “Oi, big one over there! One of you lazy assholes get it, I’m busy.”

The whispers became screams, and an intense mental pressure built up around Arthur’s brain - bidding him, beckoning him. Lose your grip on reality. Give into the yawning madness. Revel in the liberation of insanity!

“Silence!” the Phantom commanded in vain, his voice attracting the attention of several curious Chryssalids. The insects clattered forward on bladed legs, sniffing around. Rather than wait until he was found, Chariot lashed out, beheading one of the beasts and grazing the other two. Howling in rage, they attacked the now-revealed Phantom, scratching at his armor. Thanks to Tumulis’ help, even in his state of mind he was still able to avoid the worst of their attacks. “Damn beast! Where do you hide?!”

Arthur of all people is the one losing it? Samuel wondered, bewildered. “Dammit. Alan, get out of your turret. Get over to Arthur, see what’s up. Can’t see him from my angle.”

“You want me to sneak through all of that shit?” the Ambusher demanded.

“Yes.”

Alan shook his head, opening the door and clambering out. “Fucking… feels like I’m a teenager again. Only this time there’s no alcohol to steal.”

Although the Hive Queen couldn’t see Alan, it could feel his mind. Reaching out to that mental target, the Chryssalid leader used a more conventional attack. It disoriented him with one of the effects of a mindfray, and then attempted to induce a state of panic - conniving to make him reveal himself. To this end, the psion caused Alan to believe that his chameleon suit was somehow malfunctioning - eating through the rest of his armor like acid if he didn’t turn it off immediately.

“Oh what the fuck!” The Ambusher fell for it, in his disoriented state not entirely registering that turning off his suit would likely bring the attention of any nearby Chryssalids.

In particular, it was the queen herself who came charging. Alan was a fair distance from her across the roof, but with frightening speed the Hive Queen closed the gap. Scooting to a halt next to him with one frontal claw extended for stability, she swiped into his armor with the other - penetrating it and injecting a venom unique to her ilk into his bloodstream. His muscles spasmed for a few seconds, and then he was completely still - unable to move his limbs. His body struggled to even keep his heart pumping.

Lucifer witnessed this unfold, eventually deciding that if he did not intervene it was likely the Ambusher would suffer an underwhelming death. “Please step away from the human,” the AI ‘requested’, punctuating his statement with a flurry of magnetic fire. Whilst not as precise as many would have been comfortable with, it was sufficient dissuasion for the Queen. It did not, however, impede the rest of the insects now approaching the trapped Alan. “Vital signs appear stable enough to indicate life. Someone may wish to assist, or this may not be the case for much longer.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Guys, come on. I shouldn’t have to carry this team every mission.” With an overdramatic sigh she left her cockpit, skeeting several Chryssalids on their way to their prey. “I can only fire so godamn fast. Lucifer?”

“Busy.”

“Samuel?”

The Russian made to respond when what might as well have been a meteor tumbled from the sky, landing in front of him. It was a drop pod - but the design was not the typical ‘space garbage bin’ that they typically came as. Rather, it was made of elegantly-sculpted alloys, in particular having four curved pillars in each cardinal direction that were painted a silver color. It had but a single door in a brilliant shade of alabaster white, which slid upwards to reveal an Elder that hovered out to loom over Samuel.

Her mask was the typical Ethereal fare, though it was colored light blue and gray - nearly white in many cases, but never that reserved color itself. The gently curving designs on the helmet evoked an image of the sky - and indeed, the sky blue robes of the Inquisitor suggested an association with the air. So this is the human that slew the Inquisitor of Shadow? I’m not impressed, the Elder remarked with an aura of superiority permeating every drop of her tone.

“... busy,” the Russian answered Holly, examining the being before him. Umbra settled into a defensive stance above him, but not before conveying something to Samuel. It was little more than a glimpse of memory, like seeing a second of video, but it was enough. “And you’re Aervouba,” he said, the name feeling unfamiliar on his tongue but familiar in his mind. He grimaced. “Bloody hell, do you all have ridiculous names?”

I would posit that human names are strange and backwards, Aervouba replied with distaste. Your kind has been getting far too ahead of themselves lately… your little team of misfits is a wonderfully detestable example of that foolish defiance. The air around her shimmered, and something began to take shape surrounding the Elder that seemed to suck much of the oxygen out of the air - making it hard for those nearby to breathe. I am going to show you just how inferior you and that gloomy Reflection of yours are.

The being that took shape around Aervouba looked almost like an Ethereal clad in sleek, sky-blue armor. It had four arms that extended outwards - two of which clutched what looked like a cross between a cavalry lance and a harpoon. The other pair were empty, but the swirling disturbance of air around them indicated they were used for more metaphysical attacks. What made the Inquisitor’s Reflection different from a simple Elder look-alike was the four massive, pure-white wings that extended out from its back. They split the air with a furious set of beats, and Aervouba - within her thoughtform - ascended into the air.

Tremble before my Exantia!

Samuel scoffed. “You think you’re the only one that can do that?” Activating his jetpack, the Aerotrooper ascended, with Umbra following after dissipating its legs. The Reflection floated with its master, the form below its lower torso now replaced by wafting shadow. Enveloped within the chest of his shadow, the Russian grinned. “Isn’t science wonderful?”

What an uncouth manner of flying that is, the disgusted Aervouba replied, lifting her two open palms towards Samuel. Burn in the primordial bringer of flames. Twin bolts of lightning screamed out of her hands towards the Aerotrooper.

Forewarned by her taunting, the Russian was able to weave out of the way of the incoming attack, though not easily. “Nah I’m good, thanks,” he shot back, unholstering his rifle. “I wonder. Does your Exantia have the same problem?” Samuel held the trigger, intending for the weapon’s spray to overwhelm his opponent into taking a hit.

 

[Taxor_the_First]

Taxor the First and DarkGemini24601 - Part 8

The pulse beam shot forward, and met a telekinetic shield thrown up in defense. As it was a hasty barrier, it shattered into shards of yellow light - but ablated the energy from the rifle enough that the natural defenses of Exantia were enough to endure the blow. My Exantia is not weak to such a commonplace thing as photons, ignoramus, Aervouba goaded, crossing her harpoon-lances. Be torn to pieces by the swirling might of the mind. From the center of the ‘x’, a tornadic rift shot horizontally at Samuel, widening as it approached him and threatening to consume him in its pscyhokinetic whirling winds.

“Just saying ‘do this’ doesn’t mean I’m going to bloody listen,” the Aerotrooper chided, taking advantage of the rift’s ‘taller than it is wide’ nature to fly out of the way. Thank fuck these jetpacks can actually fly now instead of just hovering. Having determined that his weapons would probably be useless unless he could surprise her, Samuel decided to try another tactic. Using the velocity from his dodge, he wrapped around, close enough to Aervouba for Umbra to strike. The Reflection swung, a cautionary blow to gauge the defenses of Exantia more than an intent to strike.

Rather than attempt to block, there was a tremendous buffet of winds between the two - and both were blown a distance away from one another. This further suggested that Aervouba was not as confident in the durability of her Reflection as Samuel was. Rather than be fazed by this, however, she began using her aerokinesis in full to batter Nemesis with vicious turbulence that tossed him around like he was a grain of dust in a sandstorm.

The sky suddenly unfriendly to him, it took most of the Russian’s concentration to ensure he did not lose control. Umbra, tied to his presence rather than an entity in itself, also pivoted in the air with little control. The spectacle was almost comical. But Samuel finally escaped from the turbulence’s clutches, deactivating his jetpack long enough for him to drop a distance then reactivating it before he smashed into the ground. “What, no witty retort this time?” Frowning, the Aerotrooper considered his options. Evidently, a pitched battle was what Aervouba feared, which meant that was what he should be aiming for. But how to get close enough?

Nemesis shrugged, deciding to give direct approach another go. Jetting forwards, he began to bring himself closer once again, Umbra now prepared for a more confident strike. He kept his eyes on his target, however - there was no chance she would just let him in close.

Oddly enough, this time Aervouba did not move. Samuel felt a slight tugging in the back of his mind, and heard a whistling drone in his ear as if he was having a bit of trouble hearing. These warnings were enough to put him subconsciously on guard. Umbra struck empty air, the optical illusion the Ethereal had planted in Nemesis’ brain evaporating. Umbra - already put on edge by the disturbances in Sam’s mind - reflexively turned and blocked the thrust of the twin spears of Exantia just in time to prevent its master from being skewered from behind.

She must’ve done that while I was busy trying to stay in the air, the Russian thought, adrenaline pumping through his body. He turned in place, now intent on taking advantage of his enemy’s attack. Time to punish that! Umbra already in position to retaliate, it did so, first faking an attack with one of its right fists before throwing an actual punch with one of its left.

The true strike did land, battering Exantia with a tumultuous force that caused Aervouba to tumble through the sky, cracks splintering over her Reflection’s two left arms. How dare you mar my Exantia! she cried out in fury. You shall pay for your impetuousness! Exantia reached out across a wide area, compressing the air - and the water vapor in it - in such a manner that a collection of malformed clouds formed around Samuel, and then sparked with electricity and ultimately natural lightning that battered him, being increased in strength by the Ethereal’s electrokinesis.

Nemesis grunted in pain, shocks running up and down his nervous system. He would have done more than groan, but his jaw muscles were not entirely under his control. He was forced to retreat or suffer possibly more permanent damage, his jetpack taking him above these clouds. “All these words,” Samuel muttered, shaking his arms out of a probably vain desire to remove the lingering electricity on him. “Suppose it’s fitting. You’re little more than a bunch of hot air.” Unholstering his shotgun, he chuckled. “Come on then,” he said, Umbra lifting a hand and beckoning. “If you want me dead. I’m right here.”

I will gladly return you to the dirt where you belong! Aervouba declared, smashing the two javelin-lances into one another. They twisted and reshaped themselves, forming into an electrified, gigantic hammer that Exantia wielded with all four arms. Propelled by a torrent of wind behind her, the Inquisitor surged towards Samuel, striking at him with the titanic weapon with a thunderous bash. There was literally a crack of thunder behind the blow, generated by the nearby storm-cloud.

The physical impact of the hammer sent Umbra - and the human inside - spinning, and the lightning dancing along the weapon served to strike at Samuel even behind Umbra. Gritting his teeth to force through the pain, the Aerotrooper cocked his Scatterblaster. Umbra, rolling with the blow, unleashed a spinning punch on its attacker, fist slamming into Exantia. That was what Samuel was waiting for. The Russian fired, adding further damage onto his opponent’s Reflection.

The punch caused a splintering crack to spread over Exantia’s chestplate, and the shotgun blast caused it to shatter. The entire Reflection distorted violently from the heavy damage, and then shattered as Aervouba’s concentration holding it together was broken. The Ethereal started to fall through the sky, barreling towards the ground - but only for a few seconds. Then, Aervouba caught herself by manipulating the thermals in the air, gliding more gently through the sky before stopping her descent entirely by enveloping herself in a telekinetic force. You… you! She incoherently grumbled.

Taking a look at the scene below, however, she witnessed a sniper shot puncture the form of the Hive Queen she had deployed. The Chryssalid went limp as the last convoy was escaping the retaliation site. This is not over, Samuel Yokolov, Aervouba rumbled angrily. If you trifle with the gods, you shall be smote by them. Remember that.

“You’re the third ‘god’ I’ve faced,” the Aerotrooper pointed out, Umbra settling into a wary stance before him. “And I’m still here, aren’t I?” He glanced sideways. The ADVENT ships that had been harassing the convoys had seemingly given up, lifting away from the vehicles as they left. “Now, unless you want to be targeted by a friend of mine in a turret specifically designed to take down aerial threats… I’d recommend you get off my lawn.”

Although he couldn’t see through her mask, Samuel practically felt Aervouba narrow her eyes. I look forward to bearing witness to your demise… the arms of the Inquisition are long and many. You shall not elude our grasp for much longer, and when you are finally cornered you shall be executed for deicide. It is only a matter of time. Aervouba’s form distorted, and seemed to linger longer than she should have. A few moments later, she vanished entirely - reappearing on the closing ramp of the Protectorate dropship, which took off as soon as the hatch had sealed.

Samuel continued watching the spot as if expecting her to return for a while, before finally shaking his head and descending. His feet touched solid ground for the first time in what felt like a long time, Umbra continuing the descent and melting into the floor to be his shadow once again. A stray Chryssalid leg was kicked out of his way, joining the rest of its brethren on the pile. A quick headcount revealed all was well, if battered. Alan was a little clumsy, but alive. Arthur was shaken, but alive. Samson was laughing, but alive.

Chloe looked away when he turned his gaze to her, prompting a frown from the Russian. And she was alive. Alive and guilty. His thoughts turned back to where they’d found her, rabid and ravenous. So far he’d neglected to mention the fact that he had a girlfriend when they spoke. Which meant that she’d be looking to reestablish that connection. Which meant now he had to deal with that in addition to her resurging addiction.

While Lester was radioing Firebrand to pick them up, Samuel was looking out over the plains with a scowl. Behind him was a mess, both ADVENT and Chryssalid corpses littering the ground. And ahead of him…

The Russian placed a hand on top of his head. “This isn’t going to go well,” he predicted gloomily.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

“Confessions and Revelations” - Atka Ipiktok, Emmeline Episcopo, & Verona Episcopo

Part One

Above the Western Siberian Plains, Russia
1443 Hours, November 4th, 2038
Onboard the Avenger
Floor 6, Central Block
Command Quarters

Commander Atka Ipiktok sat in her office with the lights dimmed and the door locked tight. In front of her was a laptop. It was not her standard computer, but rather was a storage unit for top-secret strategic information. The device was kept concealed beneath a false floor panel and an explosive-rigged safe most of the time. Only Bradford and Shen were aware of its existence. These layers of security were necessary to ensure that XCOM”s current objectives could never reach the enemy.

The ADVENT Headquarters building loomed large on Atka’s world map, which was zoomed in primarily on Asia at the moment. Based on some recent daa she had received, the Commander moved a pair of white chess pieces representing troop dispatches from the Vietnamese and Laos resistance cells. They joined a cluster a similar icons near the HImalayan stronghold. Still, it wasn’t enough. Despite XCOM’s activities north and east of Nepal - and the subsequent migration of black ADVENT chess pieces in those directions - the team meant to assault the enemy HQ was still woefully inadequate for the job. They were far too few.

If we could manage to sneak the Chinese forces through Tibet this might be a little more feasible, but even then… Atka shook her head. The goal is not to win a pitched battle. This all is just to give us a chance to get in there and cut off the head of the dragon. Kill Desmond, reclaim Nouja and Yakone, and the efficacy of ADVENT’s armies will plummet. Their coordination will evaporate and we can start focusing on evicting the Protectorate from our planet. The Commander sighed. Problem is, with Chloe set back by the destruction of her base, that’ll take more time to set up. And even with the Chinese on our side, it’ll still be an incredibly risky maneuver to dive into the belly of the beast.

Atka rapped her fingers on the desk in front of her. “If only there was some way we could lure-” An annoying electronic buzz interrupted her musings. Although purposely more muted than the original volume it had been set at, the noise was still plenty irritating.

A more-pleasant voice followed it, however. “Commander? It’s Emmeline Ashworth.”

“Hold on.” Atka went through the minute-long process of hiding the strategy laptop, and then allowed Emmeline to enter by unlocking the door.

The silver-haired woman slid into the room, pulling up a chair across from Atka. Externally she was as cool and calm as ice, but internally she was all at sea. “I wanted to… come clean about something, Commander. I request that you allow me to say my full spiel before passing judgement,” she respectfully asked.

Atka rested a palm on her forehead, exhaling for a prolonged period. “You wouldn’t be the first person on this ship to be keeping secrets. I’ll listen. Out with it.”

Emmeline took a deep breath to steel herself, and then began. “My real name is Emmeline Episcopo. I’m part of an Italian family whose reach permeated both the sciences and politics of the old world to a massive extent. We were rich, and practically owned part of the world.” Noting a bit of an incredulous look developing on the features of the Inuit woman across from her, Emmeline explained in further detail, “the reason I don’t look Italian is because my DNA is spliced with that of a high-IQ Englishwoman. This occurred at birth, as I am a clone rather than a naturally-born human.”

“Cloning technology that preceded the arrival of the aliens?” Atka echoed in surprise. “I’m guessing your family didn’t care about the illegal nature of your activities, but to be able to shape genetics like that before the war is a little unbelievable to think about.”

“Well, you know the saying that the military is always ten years ahead?” Emmeline posed a rhetorical question. “The Episcopos were ten years ahead of the military, and twenty ahead of everyone else,” she elucidated. “That didn’t stop the aliens from nearly wiping us out. They killed nearly everyone, sae for Verona, who is now the Director of our organization, Exalt.” The Phantom cleared her throat. “And the woman that fought XCOM in Xi’an.”

A telekinetic helix formed centimeters form Emmeline’s neck. “So you’re a spy and a saboteur?” Atka sought clarification with a disturbingly calm tone.

“Y-yes to the first count… only,” Emmeline replied abortively, sweat forming on her face. “You’re going to let me finish… right? You… agreed to that condition.”

“I did. I’m not passing judgement… yet. Just giving you an incentive not to try anything stupid,” Atka remarked icily.

Emmeline gulped, and then elaborated, “My sister sent me here to determine if you’d be a threat to Exalt or not. I have discussed the matter with her recently, and she has agreed to a noncombative stance. And to consider an alliance.”

“She sure seemed intent to attack us before,” Atka scoffed.

“She was… hoping to see what you’re capable of,” Emmeline protested.

“That’s a shitty excuse to throw explosions at my soldiers,” Atka stated dryly.

“I know,” Emmeline agreed concedingly.

Atka slowly retracted the double-helix reflection weapon back into her palm and out of sight. She leaned back into her chair. “So how’d you convince her to entertain the possibility of cooperation? Power-players like your family tend to covet everything for themselves.”

“A logical argument and a more emotional one combined the persuade her,” Emmeline answered with a roll of her shoulders. “Exalt doesn’t have a lot of military might, and there’s… other things we could use your help for that I’ll let the Director explain in further detail. As for the other reason, well…” Emmeline shifted uneasily. “It sounds silly, but I fell in love. I met Gwendoline and found myself unable to reconcile the task imposed upon me by my sister after growing close to Gwen.”

Atka’s eyes widened slightly. “Pierre? Really? How long ago was this?”

“I met her less than a month ago,” Emmeline responded sheepishly.

“That was… certainly meteoric,” Atka said at lenght. Though I suppose I’m a hypocrite in that regard. “So you’re telling me that hormones spared me a triangular war,” the Commander noted. Atka smiled. Then chuckled. And burst into genuine laughter that sucked the tension out of the room.

“I… I suppose so,” Emmeline replied with a small smile.

Okay, God, you’ve given me a bad lot most of the time, but you at least have a damn good sense of humor. “Alright, alright, as absurd as your story is, I believe you. When I get over the hilarity of this whole situation I’ll be a little pissed I’m sure,” Atka warned with a chortle, “but for now you’re safe, Emmeline.” Growing more serious, she added, “Besides, whether or not it was to curry favor you let me know that my daughter was alive. I owe you for that. Not tossing you in the brig is recompense for that.”

Emmeline bowed her head. “Thank you sir,” she said, relieved.

“Do make sure you treat Gwen right. She’s a fine woman,” the Inuit woman tacked on.

Emmy nodded to Atka’s request. “I will, don’t worry. We may have gotten together quickly, but I do truthfully love her.”

“Very well, then. You clearly have some means of contacting Verona, since you mentioned that she would explain what she wants from XCOM. Let’s set that up. It’s time I had a chat with Exalt’s Director.”

 

[DarkGemini24601]

“Confessions and Revelations” - Atka Ipiktok, Emmeline Episcopo, & Verona Episcopo

Part Two

Onboard the Avenger
Floor 3, Central Block
The Holography Hub

Atka crossed her arms. “And you’re sure you’ve isolated this room from the rest of the ship’s computers?”

Seshat bobbed her head. “Indeed. I am currently repressing the electrical pathways surrounding the room and powering the auxiliary holoprojectors with my own energies.”

Indeed, Atka observed electrical currents spiderwebbing out from Seshat’s feet. “And you’re monitoring to ensure she doesn’t try and tamper with anything despite this?”

“Correct,” Seshat affirmed, glancing back at Emmeline. Though you have confirmed already that she is being sincere, I assume?

The Commander tapped her forehead with an index finger. Yeah. Forgiveness is one thing, but I don’t have to trust her or her sister. I’ll keep them honest with my mind reading. “You ready?” Atka prompted the former spy.

Emmeline finished adjusting the chip overlaid on her PCS that gave her a line to Exalt’s leader. “Yeah. Ready to patch you through whenever you are,” she reported.

“Let’s not waste time. Go ahead.”

Several panels above and below the space between Seshat and Atka lit up, and streams of light were superimposed over one another. They sketched out the glowing silhouette of a woman, and in the blink of an eye constructed the form of Verona Episcopo - changing it in realtime according to her movements in front of a camera in Matterhorn. She was wearing her favorite outfit - the same augmented jumpsuit worn during her audience with ‘Avarita’.

Vee grinned, drinking in the appearance of XCOM’s Commander as her counterpart scrutinized Exalt’s Director. “Wow, you really did get fucked up,” the orange-eyed woman noted of the cybernetic parts of Atka’s body. “I’ve seen some of it from those broadcasts of yours, but this is way more HD. How’d it happen?”

“Muton grenade,” the Commander answered, narrowing her eyes. “Interesting first choice of words.”

Verona chuckled. “Oh, I like you. Didn’t even flinch when I brought it up. You’re a tough one.”

“You are aware that constantly prodding people to see how they react is a little irksome, right?” Atka retorted.

“Oh yeah. But if we’re going to be partners in crime you’re gonna have to get used to it,” Vee pointed out.

Atka frowned. “That’s still up for debate. What do you want from XCOM, and what are you prepared to offer in return?”

“Well, I’d love to share scientific knowledge as a neutral, everyone-benefits deal,” Verona began. “As far as requests go, the alliance itself is beneficial to me as a whole. I want ADVENT gone and hate the aliens as much as you do, so we both stand to profit from a victory in this conflict. To that end, there’s a specific military action you’d be asked to undertake.”

The Inuit woman raised an eyebrow. “And that is…?”

Verona smiled grimly. “To defend Matterhorn when Overseer Shen’lustus announces his defection from the Protectorate.”

Atka’s mind raced. An Overseer turning traitor and using a Megacity as his bastion? She had to peruse Verona’s surface thoughts to get some confirmation that this wasn’t a boldfaced lie. Discovering that Vee seemed entirely honest, Atka continued to think at a lightning pace. This is huge. We would have access to factories. Whatever armies remain loyal to him. And… it could lure out some of our number-one enemies. Particularly the Verraters. “Why does he need us, though? Doesn’t he have forces loyal to him that can defend his city?”

“Because that daughter of yours and her cronies will come after him, accompanied by whatever else the Protectorate deems necessary to purge the heretic,” the Director confirmed Atka’s suppositions. “And no one is better equipped to fight Verrater, Blukersey, and Ember than your troops.”

Atka nodded slowly, considering the caveats. “It’ll be dangerous… how are you going to prevent Matterhorn from being overrun by air power?”

“BIg AA guns and the understanding that the protectorate won’t nuke one of their own metropolises from orbit,” Episcopo informed her. “The invading forces will have to come through the main mountain pass and up cliffsides. Matterhorn is a citadel designed for this exact moment in time. Avarita’s really clever for an alien.”

Atka scowled for a moment. “I’m not thrilled with the prospect of working with him. Even if he’s been planning this for a long time, he’s still complicit in all the horrible things the Protectorate hierarchy has done over the years. And I, like many of my men, would sooner gun down any alien we come across than work with them.” The Commander shook her head. “Of course, I’m capable of being pragmatic. I can accept this alliance, but my soldiers are definitely going to take this begrudgingly at best.”

“I realize that. Believe me, though, they’ll accept it for the greater good. I don’t know your people as well as Emmy does, but if my organization - dedicated to the supremacy of the human race - can stomach a pact with a xeno, then your troops should be fine,” Vee remarked confidently.

“So, then…” Atka folded her arms together. “Where are we parking the Avenger?”

 

[Frostlich1228 (Alt)]

Frostlich1228 & Zombiesplitter53: "Strawberry Shortcake"


Cathy passed food to the group of three soldiers that were next in line, smiling and wishing them a happy meal. The Chef was so glad to get back into her routine, even if things weren't exactly better, she was figuring out how to handle it in a way that would cheer her up, and now with her and Artyom becoming closer that ever before, things were good, there was still just one thing bothering her though, always worming it's way into the front of her mind.

She shook her head, then looked at the clock, "Aww... Time for a break already?"

The volunteer cook next to her simply smiled, "You've been working for hours..."

She giggled, picking up a meal she had prepared for herself earlier, "Yeah, I guess I could use just a little food..."

The volunteer shook his head as she walked out the door from the kitchen to the eating area, but as she was heading to find somewhere to eat with her lunch in hand, she saw Morrigan and Brigid heading back towards their table after getting their food.

"Wonder how Brigid's doing? Maybe they could use a little company." Catherine said to herself as she moved towards their table.

The pair were chatting quietly, Brigid frowning as they did. Her frown quickly turned to a smile when she notice the approaching woman. "Ms. Catherine! Hello."

"Hey guys!" Cathy exclaimed, "Mind if I sit over here?"

Morrigan shook her head. "Of course not. Pull up a chair. Tell us how you've been lately. Is, um... everything going okay?"

"It's going better, me are Artyom are a lot closer than we've ever been, he's really opening up..." Cathy looked over at Brigid, "We uhh... Even spent some quality time together for the first time in his room... Although it didn't go that far..."

"Go... that far?" Brigid thought about it, and blushed a little, giggling. "I see."

Morrigan rolled her eyes. "I think I liked it better when you were innocently oblivious to everything."

"Oh!" Cathy covered her mouth, surprised by Brigid catching on, "Uhh... Umm... I meant we were... We just did kissy stuff, you know... Nothing crazy..."

Brigid giggled again, though her smile faded a bit. "You're lucky, Catherine, you know? It isn't always easy to find someone, and Artyom is a nice man, even if he tried not to be."

"You've met him? He may act all scary and shy, but he's still my cute little potato man, just a big softie, but don't tell him I said that..." She smiled lightheartedly.

Brigid nodded. "He was scary and... kinda mean when I first met him. But now he teaches me a bunch of stuff about computers. He is a good teacher... of a little strict."

"Well, he does that because he wants you to get better, It's not the way I'd teach you personally, but that doesn't mean it's a bad way." Cathy explained, wondering what it might be like to teach Brigid to cook someday.

Brigid nodded again, looking down at her good with a somewhat sad look.

Morrigan took note of it, and tried to pick up the mood. "So how close are you two overall? Think your relationship is something that will last?"

"I certainly hope so, after we're all done here we can... uh... you know I haven't put much thought into it... I guess we'll figure it out as we go." Cathy replied, tapping her chin.

"You have family in Europe, right?" Morrigan asked. "You two could always go to them. Maybe open up that restaurant of yours."

"Family... Right..." Cathy said, the thought from earlier pressing it's way into her mind again.

Brigid looked up at her. "What's wrong, Catherine?"

Catherine sighed, wondering if she should bring it up in front of Brigid, "Well... Do you remember that... bad lady... from a few missions ago? The one with the really big minigun?"

Brigid nodded. "She was kinda scary..."

"Uh..." The Chef hesitated, unsure how to put together her thoughts, "She was... My uh... She was my sister..."

"Your sister?" Morrigan put down her fork and scooted closer. "Did you know before that your sister was in ADVENT?"

"Well... I don't think it was Advent... Remember, she took out a Mec and stole one of their trucks." Cathy pointed out, "But this is the first time I've seen my sister since I was adopted."

"Oh... I, um... didn't know you were adopted." Morrigan said, hoping she didn't open up any bad memories.

"Do you think she's in another resistance?" Brigid asked. "Maybe... she wants to be like her big sister... or her little sister. Are you the big sister or little sister?"

"We were all born at the same time, actually..." Cathy stated, "And don't worry, I ended up with a loving family."

Morrigan nodded. "Well... she could be with a resistance, though... it is also possible she is part of some gang operating outside of the megacities. Not everyone fighting the aliens is a good guy."

Brigid shook her head. "No, I think if they're a sister of Catherine, they have to be a good person."

Cathy chuckled, "You think I'm such a good person, that goodness runs in my family? That's really sweet."

"Well, am I wrong?" Brigid gave her a concerned look. "You think your sister is a resistance fighter... right?"

"I hope so... I really do... But, if she was, why was she trying to hurt my friends? Maybe it was a misunderstanding..." Catherine responded, biting her lip.

Morrigan sighed, and reached over, rubbing Cathy's shoulder. "I know how it feels to worry in your family. But have faith. Not only in her, but... in the fact that you will see her again, and be able to get to the bottom of this."

"Thanks Morrigan... I wanted to tell Marx about my sister but... He was the one she was shooting at..." Cathy shrugged.

"Yeah... best to hold off on that info... for now," Morrigan agreed.

"What's her name?" Brigid asked. "What is she like?

 

[Frostlich1228 (Alt)]

"Strawberry Shortcake" Part 2


"Mary was... She always played the tough girl card, guess one of us had to, she was always getting in trouble, sneaking out, breaking rules, she never let Advent or the orphanage staff keep her down." Cathy explained, "But she had a big heart, she cared, even if she could be mean sometimes."

"The orphanage? Does that mean you were both adopted?" Morrigan asked. "Is she your biological sister?"

"I have four biological sisters and they all look like me, we all spent a while at that orphanage together and after a few years we all got adopted one at a time, sent all around the world really." Cathy clarified.

"Oh... how sad," Brigid said. "How long has it been since you saw the other two?"

"Haven't seen them since then... I only really know where one of them might be, and even then... She must be having it rough..." The Chef looked down.

Brigid frowned. "I'm sorry. Is there... some reason why she would have it worse?"

"Last I heard of her she was adopted by David Cross, owner of Cross tech, that big technology company overseas, but... That company was shut down by Advent... I saw it on the news... Who knows what could've happened to her." Cathy looked up at Brigid, seeing her frown, "Oh... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you guys..."

Brigid scratched her chin. "I have an idea... of you want to hear it."

"Well... Sure, it can't hurt." The chef stated.

"What if... we beat the aliens... and you open up a restaurant. With how good you can cook, I bet you'd attract all sorts of people and make plenty of credits. And then, you use what you make to look for your sisters. Find out where they are... and if any need help."

"That's... That's actually a wonderful idea..." Catherine reached over and rubbed her head, "You're a pretty smart little girl, you know that?"

Brigid giggled. "Just make sure you reserve a table for me and mom when we're get a chance to come over."

"And only hire people that are at least close to being as good of cooks as you," Morrigan added.

"Mmm... That might be a little hard..." Cathy said with a joking pride.

Brigid scratched her chin. "Hey, um... Catherine? Can I ask you a... a favor?"

The Chef's all too familiar smile returned as she tilted her head, "Sure Brig, what is it?"

"Well, um... I want to... learn..." Brigid looked away shyly.

Morrigan smiled as well. "Cathy... I can't cook. You'd think I could since I was a housewife for a while, but... nope. Not really. Sucks since Brigid started showing an interest a couple years ago."

Catherine simply glowed, bringing her hands together in front of her, "I've always wanted a sous chef! This is going to be amazing! I can't wait!"

"So you'll do it?!" Brigid asked excitedly.

"Of course I'll do it!" She exclaimed, standing up.

Brigid sprang to her feet as well, and wrapped her arms around Cathy. "Thank you!"

"When should we start!?" She asked, returning the hug.

"Today!" Brigid said excitedly.

Morrigan cleared her throat. "You have a lesson in a half an hour."

"Tomorrow!" Brigid said just as excitedly.

"Sounds like a plan!" Cathy returned, "We can practice during my lunch tomorrow!"

Brigid nodded, and quickly shoveled the last of her food in her mouth. "Gotta go... hurry... see you tomorrow!"

Morrigan smiled as she watched her daughter run off. "Thank you, Cathy. This means a lot to her. And to me."

"No problem! I've always wanted a little apprentice!" She replied, sitting back down and scooting her chair in.

"The truth is... Brigid's been pretty down," Morrigan admitted. "She's been away from kids her own age for so long, she's starting to feel... lonely. And I'm not sure how to help. So I've just been trying to keep her busy."

"Well, I'm glad to help her, I like to think I'm a bit of a kid at heart." Cathy responded, finally getting into her lunch.

Morrigan nodded. "I'm gonna make sure Brigid gets to her lesson. Isn't too excited to get to it." She stood up. "Enjoy your lunch. And... thank you for sharing so much with us."

Catherine dug into some frozen banana slices, "No Problem! Oh uh... One more thing... About me and Arty... Uh... How do we stop, you know... Babies, from happening?"

"Oh, um... not a problem for me, so I didn't..." Morrigan scrunched her nose in thought. "Oh, they make this magic pill in the infirmary. Ale... um, a friend says it works like a charm. No side effects. That's your ticket."

"Okay good, I wouldn't want to end up preggers, not sure how Arty would handle the news, you know?" Cathy scratched the back of her neck.

Morrigan chuckled, and rubbed her on the back. "Talk to you later, Cat. And thanks again." She walked off, leaving Cathy to her meal.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

DarkGemini24601 and ZombieSplitter53: “Unholy Triumviate”

European Continent
Former Swiss Confederation
Specifically, Matterhorn Megacity
November 7th, 2038 A.D.
1629 Hours, Local Time

On a cold November afternoon, the Avenger landed in the Megacity within the Swiss Alps, built atop the Matterhorn peak. Stepping out of the ship first, Atka took a look over the city. The whole metropolis was ‘banded’, so to speak. The elevation of the city was constantly rising. From the front gates onward, it coiled upwards around the mountain like a snake wrapped around its prey. There were plenty of flattened-out plateaus, of course, where skyscrapers towered over the tightened streets of condensed suburbs. Rather than cast long shadows over the city that obscured everything below, however, the mountain and the skyscraper’s shade was counterbalanced by the brilliant lights generated by their own inbuilt structures and that of buildings lower to the ground.

The Commander shook her head, setting foot on the massive landing pad reserved for alien-controlled ships up until this point. “Never expected to find myself in one of these places for any other reason that battle,” Atka muttered, taking a final look at the scenery before focusing her gaze on the approaching robed being. She reflexively clenched her fists, the sight of an Ethereal across from her making her blood boil - even if this one was an ally. It took a few rapid yet deep breaths to return her temperature to normal, though a stern expression remained behind as she walked up to the Overseer of Europe.

“Shen’lustus, I take it?” Atka sought confirmation of the Elder’s identity. Joining the Commander was a menagerie of XCOM soldiers, primarily members of Maverick Squad accompanying their CO as bodyguards. It was perhaps a pointless gesture of caution, as the fact that the Avenger was decloaked and landed behind the group of freedom fighters meant that they had already taken a leap of faith in trusting Exalt and the masked dissident that had come out here to meet them. Regardless, it was still the course Atka had chosen, and thus she was flanked by several defenders for this meeting.

Yes, dear Commander. What a pleasure to meet the… ever so painful thorn in the side of my higher-ups. Well… former higher-ups, I suppose. Shen stopped a few feet before Atka, wary of the men and women with guns around her. Sure to move slowly, he extended his upper right arm, hand open.

Atka stared at the alien’s palm for a few moments before moving to tensely shake the Ethereal’s hand. “Atka Ipiktok, though you already know that I’m sure,” she spoke icily.

Yes, indeed. Your face, your voice, and your name is plastered in the mind of every Elder on the planet and nearby. It would likely be an honor if not for their negative thoughts that accompany it. Though considering your intent, I am sure that is not unwanted.

“I hope you’re not blind to the fact that this alliance doesn’t change my intentions in this conflict,” Atka noted, retracting her hand. “Right now we have a common enemy. That doesn’t alter my desire to have ADVENT dismantled, and the Protectorate stripped of their control of Earth. It won’t dissuade me from putting an end to the Avatar Project, no matter what cost that might have for the Elders,” the Inuit woman stated with an air of finality.

Shen seemed to take a moment to consider his words carefully, and after a moment, placed a hand to his chest. My dear… what has occurred on this planet, I can not undo. And I understand your plight. I would be lying if I said I did not have my personal reasons to ally with you, but know that, regardless of the benefit I might have received from it, I agree that the use of living, sentient beings as lab animals is a crime, no matter the results. The ends cannot justify the means, not in this case. Allow me to help you, and I will do all I can to assure my kind leaves your kind alone… and you get your planet back.

“That’s satisfactory to me,” the Commander replied with a slight nod. “Just make sure you don’t renge on your word.” Atka crossed her arms. “So from what I can tell, we’re on a fairly short timetable here. If the Avenger’s arrival went unknown to your kin, it won’t be long from now before they find out. And it shouldn’t take them more than a week at most to gather up an army to attack this city.”

Agreed. I have done what I can to prepare, though it is not easy. They will come swiftly and relentlessly. I now represent what they sought to purge from their ranks some time ago, and they will not allow me to live and sully their name with my existence. Shen slowly shrugged. But screw them, right human?

Atka raised an eyebrow. “You and Episcopos both, I swear…” she mumbled. “So that’s what was going on a decade ago, then… they were culling dissenters from their armies. How’d they miss you?”

Simple. I know how to keep my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself. The Elder’s shoulders sank a bit. Besides, I… I might have had my doubts, but loyalty to my people kept me in line. I might not have been someone included in their purge, but those that were lost… some of them were taken that pushed me farther than they expected. You would be surprised how far one would go when they have lost something so irreplaceable, it leaves a hole that can never be filled.

“Not really. I’ve lost plenty,” Atka responded with a shake of her head. “The feeling is all-too familiar.” Rather than leave an opening for comparison between the two, she got back on topic. “As discussed with Exalt’s Director, my forces will assist with the special forces the Coalition and the Protectorate try to send your way. I’ll leave the bulk of the fighting to your forces. Hope they’re competent enough to hold the line.”

Oh, yes. Quite so. I picked only the best, brightest, and most loyal to be amongst my most trusted soldiers. Ten years is a long time, after all. Especially by human terms. I have been planning, and have left little to chance. Though I was always missing the final piece to my plans. He waved his hand to Atka. You, my dear, are that final piece. And I thank you for that, even should I not survive.

“Well, if you die that means they’ll have gotten through us. There won’t be anyone to receive the thanks,” the Commander pointed out. “So let’s avoid that outcome for the sake of this battle.” Thinking for a moment, she asked, “Would you consider the city secure for my soldiers? I’m sure the opportunity to get out of the ship for awhile - during the calm before the storm - would be welcome. But I need to make sure it’s safe.”

The Elder being quickly nodded. Oh, yes. Trust me, I would not have even given you the go ahead to land here if I did not believe you were safe. As long as your men and women do not start any fights, my people will not either. Please, I wish for you to feel at home. You deserve to… stretch your legs? I believe it is the expression.

“Good to hear. I’ll let them know that, then.” Atka glanced around the city oncemore. “I’d join them, but personally, I prefer to spend this time preparing. In the likely event that Colonel Verrater shows himself here… I need to be ready. And there’s the matter of subduing his two subordinates, the Major and the Captain.”

Subduing? After a moment, Shen nodded in understanding. Yes, of course. They are relations. I can understand… no. No, I suppose I can not fully understand what it is like to have my own daughter gunning for me. I would like to help you any way I can, but alas, I fear even the might of an Elder will falter before hr abilities. She is quite a handful, you know.

“I’m fully aware. Dealt with that girl for nineteen years, after all,” Atka remarked wistfully. “Knowing her that well gives me an edge though, regardless of how they’ve twisted her. Of course, she knows us too… but with any luck, the progress our tech and skills has made since her capture should provide an edge. Speaking of which… there won’t be time to adapt it before the attack begins, but if you’re willing to share your plasma weaponry designs with XCOM… that would make us even more capable allies.”

Shen tapped his fingers together, finally coming across something that gave him pause. I… I suppose… it is the natural thing to expect from this alliance. And I suppose it is a fair trade for protecting my city.

“Then I’ll look forward to that.” Atka uncrossed her arms. “I’m sure we both have a lot to do in preparation. I’ll be getting to that ASAP.”

Yes. Shen relaxed a bit, and bowed his head slightly. I wish you luck. Though, if you find time, before or after the coming storm, I would be ever so delighted to show you around my labs. It is not often that I have someone new to show my work to. My former commanders only cared about results and had little regard for the hard work I put in. I am sure a woman of your standings would be more open to seeing my work… my toys that I have perfected, and my people. You might even find something you like more than plasma weapons.


“I’ll… consider it,” Atka said as she returned to her ship, silently musing, Though I’m not sure I want to know everything you’ve been up to.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

“Rolling Thunder” - Olivia Brown

Alpine Megacity “Matterhorn”
November 8th, 2038 A.D.
0305 Hours, Local Time
Vertical Gardens Tower
Floor 39 Rooftop

On the edge of one of the rings making up the looping city of Matterhorn, a tall building stood alone - surrounded by a low-to-the-ground commercial district. All the stores were closed for the night, and the only building still lit was the Vertical Gardens Tower. A hydroponics facility dedicated to growing food for the urban area - within the urban area - was still brilliantly illuminated by the sun lamps inside itself. The plants never rested here, and grew twice as fast as those outside the city. The tradeoff was that, despite the sheer size of the building, it still yielded less crops total than the sweeping European plains could proffer. Still, it was a place of growth; it was a structure dedicated to the flourishing of life in somewhere as remote as a Swiss Alps peak surrounded in a belt of mist.

The rooftop of the tower was well above this chilly natural fog. From this vantage point, Olivia Brown could see the horizon line, which was shrouded in darkness due to the hour she had chosen to ascend to these heights. The reason for her presence was nothing insignificant. Over the past few days the Algonquian-Caucasian had been attempting to transform her Reflection into something that matched her personality better. On occasion it had shimmered, but up until recently the Ambusher hadn’t been able to figure out what shape she wanted to mold Pavise into. Therefore, nothing had permanently changed.

Now, the situation was different. Inspiration had come to Olivia in the middle of the night. In her dreams she had seen a great bird. It had soared amongst the clouds at incredible speeds, and the beats of its black-and-white feathered wings had generated flashes of lightning accompanied by cracks of thunder. When she had awoken, the Native American had recalled a mystical being her father had spoken of on occasion. The gigantic Thunderbird, who - legend had it - was responsible for thunderstorms, and was the namesake of her callsign. The vision had given Olivia the direction she needed.

So there she stood on the top of a tall building. This should be sufficiently open for the invocation of such a massive entity, Olivia thought to herself. The Ambusher fully realized the task she was setting out to accomplish was no small thing. She had never heard of a Reflection the size of a Thunderbird. Arthur told me that it was possible for these thoughtforms to have a will of their own. That spirits and even gods could manifest themselves if one opened their mind to them. The heritage that flowed through Olivia’s veins could possibly act as a key to unlock the slumbering avian spirit.

Drawing upon her protective instincts initially, the half-Reflection Pavise formed across from Olivia at eye level. It stood at attention with the portion of its body that remained. Looking over its familiar form, Maverick Squad’s Ambusher sighed wistfully. “I hate saying goodbye to you again, Christine. But you’re not forgotten, though I may move forward. I will never forget you, but neither will I forget to live my own life.” The brown-haired woman placed a hand over her heart. “I will carry your memory in my heart always.” She took a deep breath. “Now it’s time to draw forward a manifestation of who I am.”

Christine always protected others before herself. She was afraid of loss, and would do anything to defend those she cared about. I feel the same way, but I did not experience the extreme losses that shaped her. I cannot be as cautionary as her. No, I see the world in a different way. I am proactive. I seek to defeat my enemies before they have a chance to hurt my friends. To stop them before they shoot, not counter their actions after the bullets are already flying.

Pavise’s form began to glow brightly silver, and then the bright silhouette shimmered and loss cohesion. Just before the Reflection would have become amorphous, it shattered into a brilliant spray of glass-like shards that scattered into the air. They floated around, adrift in the cold predawn air as if feathers cast about by the wind. In that moment, Olivia felt a presence lurking there - whispering in the back of her mind. She strained to hear. Once she began to register words, they suddenly became loud and booming.

I hear your call, child of the Great Lakes. It has been long since my kind was believed in, rather than remembered as an ancient legend attempting to explain the world’s phenomena. Do you know my name?

“I do,” Olivia responded respectfully, kneeling in a sign of deference. “You are Onimiki, the Thunderbird.”

Indeed I am. In my purest form, I generated storms in my wake. The might of thunder and lightning flows through me as surely as it does that European buffon Thor. Traces of indignation flowed through the otherwise sagely tone of the spirit. That power, naturally, would be far too great for you to wield on your own. It was enough for the Algonquin peoples as a whole to comprehend, but not an individual.

Onimiki paused briefly to allow Olivia to process what he had said. Be that as it may, place your faith in me, and I shall follow you. I shall be your guardian in moments of danger, and rescue your allies from those that would do them harm. A rumbling chuckle filled the air around Olivia, not just being in her head. Besides… I’ve been asleep for quite some time. I am dimly aware of how much the world has changed, but seeing it in person - at your side - would be another experience entirely.

Olivia bowed her head. “I would be honored to be your vessel, Onimiki. I shall place my faith in you if you indeed find me worthy.”

I would not be here if I had not already deemed you an acceptable wielder of my power.

The fragmented remains of Pavise began to rise up, and grew in side - reshaping themselves into long feathers. They formed a glassy effigy of gigantic, ghostly wings, which were soon overwritten by long black feathers, broken up at a 2:1 interval with equally long white feathers. The midnight blue talons of the Thunderbird were whisked into existence below the feathers, and soon were connected to the similarly-colored breast of the spirit bird as it formed. The Thunderbird’s chest was flanked by the same pattern of feathers on its wings.

The head of the great avian creature was the final piece to the puzzle, imagined into existence by a combination of the Onimiki’s memories and the Olivia’s imagination. It was shaped much like an eagle’s head, but the colors were inverted. The regal neck and head was pitch black, save for large streaks of white with thin internal blue lines on either side of Onimiki’s face. The Thunderbird’s beak was dark blue like his talons and chest, while his eyes were an intense electric shade of blue.

All and all, the size that Onimiki initially manifested himself was towering. His wingspan was perhaps a hundred feet in length - half the size of a 747 airliner. And, as he communicated to Olivia, in his most natural form he would be larger than such an aircraft. “This is the upper extent of my power while I am bound to you. It comes with a catch, though,” Onimiki warned his user. “You can barely control me in this form. All you can do is pick a cardinal direction for me to fly, and I will fight on instinct as I fly that way - at least, until you recall me.”

“So you’ll need to get smaller for me to be able to directly cooperate with you,” Olivia reasoned, standing up again.

“Correct. I will be weaker like that, but the added cohesion between us should make up for the diminishment of my power,” Onimiki stated proudly. He shrunk down considerably, gliding down to eye-level with Olivia. Standing on his talons, he was about six feet tall at this size. His wingspan was a little over double his height at fourteen feet. “Like this, we will be able to fully cooperate. Anything in-between those two sizes will adjust the scales of power and control accordingly.”

“I understand. And I’m sure you can feel how grateful I am that you are willing to fight alongside me,” Olivia noted reverently.

“I do, child of Algonquin. The sentiment is received, though even without your venerable level of respect for me I would still have come. The planetary outsiders threaten not just the tribes I have watched grow for millennia, but jeopardize humanity as a whole. I am honored to be part of the fight to evict them back to the stars!” Onimiki informed her with a bellicose tone. “I will stand idly by no longer.”

Olivia smiled, turning to look over the city - Onimiki cloaking her in his wings. “We’ll save the world together then,” she decided.

The Thunderbird nodded. Yes. We will.

 

[DarkGemini24601]

Black0ut and DarkGemini24601: “Sparks Flying, Part 1”

Resistance Megacity “Matterhorn”
0941 Hours, November 9th, 2038
Onboard the Avenger
Level 1, Rear Block
The Cargo Bay

The whirring sounds, as well as several clangs from hammers, accompanied the morning hustle of the engineers who were assigned the early shift. Red eagerly assembled a glowing set of armor, having already received permission from the Engineering Chief. It wasn’t the first one to be built, but it was the first copy to be made. The armor was incredible, an intricate weave of materials, the alien alloys that made it up giving the armor a serenic beauty. Red took a step back, admiring his handiwork. “Huh. I do believe I’ve made a work of art,” he said to no one in particular.

After looking over the warden armor and then placing it on a storage shelf, a conversation drifted over to the Oglala man from another part of the room. “So, they ended up moving it into here? What was wrong with the hangar?” Tomislav questioned his friend as he walked over to a pile of crates holding up a tarp.

“You’ll be able to get out of the ship easier from the cargo ramp,” Vera answered him with a roll of her eyes. “What, were you expecting to ride it down the gravity lifts or something?”

“It would fit if I drove it vertically,” Tom insisted smugly.

“That sounds incredibly dangerous and needlessly risky…” the raven-haired woman sighed. “So… typical for you.” She paused briefly, going over to the tarp and pulling it off the edges of the crates to reveal a sleek, police-style motorcycle that had been hidden underneath. “Heard you scored with Ayame.”

“Indeed I did. Jealous?” Tomislav questioned with a snarky grin as he knelt beside his bike and made sure it was all fueled up and ready for a ride.

“Like hell.” Vera shook her head. “Just don’t screw that relationship up too.”

“I’m feeling fairly confident about it,” Tomislav defended himself with a roll of his eyes.

“You always do… doesn’t change your typical pattern with women,” Vera muttered. “I had heard about it even before meeting you.”

“And yet somehow you still fell for my roguish charms,” the Harrier pointed out with a chuckle.

“How you turn nearly everything into a complement is beyond me,” the black-haired engineer complained.

The Oglala Sioux man took a couple steps forward, his protective instincts nearly taking hold. He’s probably a nice guy… he… wouldn’t say things like this if Ayame was here, would he? I need to breathe, otherwise I might do something more than talk... He calmed himself before calling out in a monotone voice, “Miss, I would prefer if you didn’t use ‘score’ when talking about my friends. And you… you and I need to have a conversation. Now.”

Vera exchanged a glance with Tomislav. “Тко је он?” (Who the hell is he?)

“Нисам сигуран. Ја ћу носити ову мада,” Tom replied evenly. (Not sure. I’ll handle this though.) The engineer at his side returned to her main duties, while Tom rested his back against a particularly tall stack of boxes. “What’s your name?” the Harrier questioned the stern man across from him.

“Áwičakȟeya, tȟóka? Čha wayúonihaŋ šni...” (Really, Foreigner? So disrespectful...) Red practically groaned in his own language, before switching to English. “I’ll be asking the questions here, tȟóka. Your name, division, if you have one, and how you met Ayame. Now.” Red said forcefully, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re not exactly in a position to give me orders, private, but I’ll bite,” Tomislav replied with a chuckle. “You’re speaking to Lieutenant Tomislav Kasun. Ayame’s my girlfriend. Maverick Squad introduced her to me when I was in the processing of getting to know their members.”

“Suggesting rank, or pulling it, in a social situation tends to be considered rude, tȟóka.” Red noted, but continued, “Specialist Mark Red Hawk, and host to the spirit guide Charon. Now,” Red growled angrily, “you have some explaining to do. If you’re in a relationship with Ayame, why didn’t you tell your friend to knock it off instead of sharing personal information to her about your bedroom activities?!” The big man crossed his arms, a harsh and unforgiving glare on his face.

“Okay, first of all… I wouldn’t call walking up to a guy you don’t know and demanding things of him a ‘social situation’, buddy,” Tom replied with a snarking edge to his tone. “Secondly, Vera is a good friend of mine and I trust her as a confidant. Thirdly, I didn’t go into any details, and I’m certain Ayame doesn’t care if people know we’re intimate.”

Red gritted his teeth, as he fought to control his rage, “Firstly, I don’t know your ‘Vera’. For all I know she can blab to any damn person she pleases. Secondly, your conversation before I even involved myself was slightly demeaning and is reminiscent of someone who uses women. Thirdly, I’m not your fuckin’ buddy. Like you said, we just met. I’m just your total stranger.” Red shot back, his voice laced with venom, “Higher rank or not, friends are where I draw the line, tȟóka.” The big man simply glowered down at the shorter man, his eyes daring him to try something.

If Kasun was intimidated, he didn’t show it - calmly meeting Red’s gaze with his amber-colored eyes. A voice spoke in a hushed tone to Mark, though it did not come from Tomislav.

Overly defensive of those close to you. Quick to be aggressive to perceived threats. Cautious to a point that could be called paranoia. You’re distrustful. Afraid of other people, the ‘God of Fear’ whispered clinically.

“Phobos,” Tomislav muttered. “Don’t psychoanalyze him.”

My apologies. Though if he makes an enemy of himself… I’ll be waiting. A chill went down the spine of the two, and then the A.I. was silent oncemore.

“Well… now that Phobos has interrupted both of our thought trains…” Tomislav was silent for a moment. “Look, Mark. I’ll ignore the fact that you insulted one of my friends, and whatever derogatory term you keep calling me. I’m not so petty that I’d pick a fight with one of my girlfriend’s friends over those sort of things.”

Tom shook his head. “But the creep in my head does have a point. You’re being way too suspicious of me. By my own admission, I’ve had trouble staying committed to relationships in the past. I’ve been open about this with Ayame. But I care about her, and I sincerely believe - all joking aside - that what I have with her is something different. Something…” Tomislav bit his lip. “Dare I say more genuine? So you shouldn’t be worrying so much about me. I won’t hurt Ayame, I promise.”

The big man was silent, his gaze hard, but something else seemed to poke through it. After a few moments had passed, Red practically whispered, “Have you ever had to deal with the loss of close friends? After losing your family? Have you had a former lover try to kill you with a military ambush? Or have your best friend die in your arms as you desperately try to save them?”

Red’s voice began to grow louder. “I am scared of new people. I’m scared of what they may become. Or who they’ll hurt. Ayame, Alexis, Morrigan, Brigid… they’re all I have left, all that stands between me and a bullet. Yet you ask me to trust you with something I consider so valuable. You can see where I’m going with this.” Red gestured, his hard gaze slowly melting away. “And to add on, I didn’t call you anything derogatory. I merely called you a foreigner, for you are not of my tribe, be it the old one I used to have, or the one that formed at XCOM.”