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[Kel Riever]

(Note: The following installment was a collaboration with RedBelle)

The Valkyr maneuvered up to the alley near the armoury and the pub, where Rea and Jerry-Ann Wyld waited. As the machine came towards them Wyld pointed to it. “There's Bucky.” Despite there being no need, they paused at the door, peeked around, and whisked to the vehicle as soon as they were positive no one was looking, giggling as they went. While technically not doing anything wrong, both felt like they didn't need anyone else interrupting what they were getting up to.

Rea marveled as Jan planted the foot of one of her legs onto the camouflage-painted sides of the Valkyr and, sticking to the side as she brought her other leg up, used it to lift herself in. She unlatched the door to the front seats, and reaching down, offered Rea a hand up. Rea grabbed it, and leveraged herself up to climb aboard. “This is a really large, really strange looking tank.”

"This vehicle was given the name Bucky Valkyr by Jerry-Ann.” Momma's voice came from inside the Valkyr, as Wyld sat up straighter in surprise. "It is the recovered and heavily modified body and frame of a 1961 conveyance known as a Cadillac. Said to be a status symbol among young and old men alike. As well a means of compensating for their....."

Wyld interrupted, "Momma.....How can you talk now?”

"My son has been modifying me again. I can now talk to those within and outside...."

Rea whispered, “She has a son?”

"I do.” Momma answered. "I also have acutely sensitive pickups to detect those inside and outside my chassis. To continue, the mechanism I reside in has almost as much power as a Mako, but with a smaller and lighter frame. I have additional armour and barriers to protect the occupants. My weapon system is currently receiving maintenance. And I have been able to download a host of music tracks for passing the time during long combat patrols. Would you like to know more?”

Wyld pursed her lips. "How are you finding the new YMIR?”

"It is.....very tall.” Momma admitted. "Very, very tall. And people do not seem eager to wave back at me for some reason. Perhaps it is because the chassis has a mini gun and a rocket launcher for hands......" She lapsed into silence again before she said, "Before I forget, I am glad to see that you are making new friends Jerry-Ann. And Miss Rea......do you require anything more?”

Chuckling, Rea responded, “No, nothing more. I’m…just going to need to get used to you.”

Jan thumbed to the back seat. “Over there, Commando. Face down. Shirt off, so I can get at that scar.” Then she spoke to the dashboard, “Momma, roll out. Get us some place empty and quiet. And keep the ride steady.”

Rea slid over the front seats into the back as she unzipped. Wyld clambered into the back seat after her. Momma pulled away and as she did, a soft melody began playing from the sound system.

Wyld opened a container that rested on the floor. "Where did we.....here we are.” She pulled out a bottle of lotion before she looked up again. "Momma.....are you playing Barry White?”

"The play list says, ‘Yes’.”

"Is there a problem?” Rea's voice came from behind Wyld. She turned, and saw Rea, resting on her stomach with her sports top lying in the footwell. Her footwear was likewise off and her bare feet idly kicked the air as she held her arms folded beneath her. She tilted her head. "Jan?”

…...That was her.

"Mmmmyeah?”

"Can you begin?”

Wyld snapped back to reality as the warm fuzzy glow she had felt a moment ago faded, but did not disappear, coming to rest somewhere in the pit of her stomach. A deep breath brought her fully back as she moved to straddle Rea's lower half. "Sorry,” she said. “It's easier for me to work you over like this. Are you comfortable?”

Rea nodded as she turned her head and lay down with her arms under her chin. “More comfortable than I have been lately, I admit.”

“Let's do something about that.” Wyld popped the cap on the bottle and squeezed out a small palmful of cream. Setting the bottle to lean against the seat, she rubbed her hands together, warming them at the same time as she coated her hands in lotion before placing them on Rea's back.

Starting from the hips and working on upwards, Wyld ran her hands, palms flat and facing outwards, up Rea's well-toned and muscled body, noting as she did, where Rea was tenser and where she wasn't. Where Wyld’s hands moved left a trail of glistening skin and she made sure to avoid the scar on the initial run up, trailing her hands just to either side of it.

Up close, like this, the scar stood out in deeper contrast, marring the soft skin that slid beneath Wyld's fingers. Bringing her hands back down Rea’s body she allowed herself to bring her thumbs over where the scar tissue and normal asari skin came together. Wyld ran her hands over Rea like that a couple of times, working the lotion into the body.

Pausing to reapply more lotion to her hands, Wyld finally began to move her finger's over the scar tissue in light strokes. She began to notice the intricacies of Rea's asari skin. The differences from human skin were fascinating. Rea’s blue skin was practically the same, but as it hydrated, it took on a healthier blue shine. The skin became much more glossy than a human’s otherwise would. Then her fingers kept bumping over little subtle ridges, a pattern Wyld hadn't noticed before. But now Rea was impossible to ignore. She wondered if all asari had the same, perhaps unique texture. Almost like fingerprints?

And so soft.

You are doing this to prevent her physical discomfort in the future, Wyld reminded herself as she began to focus her efforts on the muscle in Rea's shoulders that would be affected by the damage. Wyld traced the tension down to the lower back. She began pressing hard as she found knots of muscle that simple pressure therapy started to unwind.

This is an atrophic scar, she told herself to keep the warm fuzzy glow at bay. Someone should have watched over her recovery. Wyld let her fingers become distracted as they glided over the hardened tissue. She had to be much more careful. Though now that she was paying more attention, she could see how the tissue had failed to heal properly. Too much scarring had formed on one side of the wound, preventing other tissues from regenerating properly in other areas where it would have evened out the regrowth. For a wound so severe, Rea would have needed intense medical treatment, care and attention during recovery. Clearly, she'd received treatment. But the care….?

Wyld's probing suggested Rea hadn't received it. Wyld felt a flush of anger. Someone didn't keep an eye on her. She'd probably been handed over to an auto doc unit. Something that didn't register that her healing wasn’t going as well as it should have. As long as it healed......

As Wyld pushed on she moved to a new area and began working her thumbs in, she leaned forward and asked, "Are you okay? How does this feel?”

Rea suddenly pushed herself up with her arms, arching her back. Her half open eyes rolled up and her jaw dropped wide. “Wha…ww…w,” was all that the asari could say before she exhaled. “Oh whatever you do, do not stop!” Then Rea whimpered in complete ecstasy.

That warm fuzzy glow inside Wyld threatened to erupt. Her mouth became dry as she heard Rea whimper. “Lay back down,” she heard herself say, “And try not to move.” As Rea controlled her breathing, Wyld swallowed and worked her fingers back into the spot that had caused Rea to react. She felt Rea's body shudder and a muscle she was trying to loosen came undone under her thumbs.

Wyld followed the muscle upwards. Finding another knot, Wyld pressed and discovered that it too came undone, faster than the last. Wyld noted that she was enjoying the whimpers of pleasure emanating from Rea. While Jan knew she should detach and rise above it, she found herself working harder to illicit more responses from Rea. Wyld heard Rea gasp as she stopped looking for knots and ran her hands back up her body before bringing them down slowly towards her hips.

This is getting out of hand.

“Ree,” she asked after taking a few calming breaths, “Can you tell me how this is feeling for you?”

Rea made a noise of contentment as she arched up. “I will tell you….that is the…BEST…massage I have ever had!” Rea flopped back down on the seat of the Valkyr with her tongue hanging out. “What is it about someone else touching that? Hyper-sensitivity…that’s what it was called. But I had no idea….my crest is tingling! It’s like scratching the perfect itch.”

Wyld felt her jaw tense. “If you…insist. It might get intense....”

Rea squirmed, grinned and growled, “Scratch more!”

The glow inside Wyld spread throughout her body and she smiled as the feeling inside her was released. She stretched her neck back and opened an eye, seeing that the Valkyr was moving away from the more populated areas into parts where others had not spread. Wyld rotated her shoulders and tilted her head from side to side. Hearing her own muscles pop from how she had been positioned over Rea. Wyld grinned. “Girl's night out,” she chuckled as she brought her hands down on Rea's back again.

Wyld was immediately rewarded with another gasp. She spread her fingers and ran her hands out to the sides and until she heard Rea’s breath catch. Wyld backed off, running her palms back up her spine. She pressed down lightly at first, and then slowly put on more pressure as she worked her way up. The sounds of soft pops were audible as the bone realigned.

Wyld’s actual actions were on autopilot, remembering all the areas that needed to be worked loose. How the muscle connected to other muscle. How the muscle connected to the bone. How tension, after enough time, could pull bone out of alignment. How the body could overcompensate, which could lead to new problems down the road. Damage in one section could radiate out. She'd felt it herself after she'd lost her legs. It had taken months of therapy to adjust her body's musculature to her new situation. Rea's body was telling her how it wanted to react to her scar. Wyld gently nudged Rea’s body along a new path.

Like this, Wyld’s hands seemed to be saying.

Yeeeeees, Rea's body melted into her hands.

Wyld wanted to run her hands along other parts of Rea.

She shook her head. Where had that come from? Taking Rea by the shoulders she pressed into them again. Already she could feel the muscle giving as it should. No longer rock tight but supple and able to bend and stretch on demand once more without it fighting itself. Rea was certainly messed up, but Wyld felt she could further her recovery, although Rea would need to maintain caring for her injury lest her body return to its previous state.

"I need you to breathe deeply now” Wyld instructed and tilted forward. She heard Rea slowly inhale as Wyld moved her hands in a questing fashion. Looking for spots she might have missed. Gathering how effective the massage had been and seeing if Rea had tensed in other areas due to her ministrations.

Wyld found a knot near the base of Rea’s spine. Jan’s hands spread out across the asari’s back till they were nearly holding her by the hips. Running her thumbs over that exotic blue skin several times, Wyld felt Rea's breath become shallower, almost panting. Figuring she'd enjoy it, Wyld pushed slowly and firmly into her.....

Rea felt the shift from the touch of an emphatic massage to the press of something more, and a switch went off. Pain shot through her as the pressure moved not only into the biotic whip’s scar, but where one of the Cerberus bullets had entered her back. Rea’s mind flashed in agony and she shouted, “Stop!”

Wyld's head snapped up. Her attention now gone from working Rea's back to the abrupt shift in her tone. Did I hurt her? Her hands came away, but not before she felt all the muscle she had worked loose stiffen and grow taut. Wyld’s medical scanner was out and scanning as she raised herself off Rea slightly. She blinked. Her mind was unable to account for what had happened.

A typhoon of emotion hit Rea. The pain from the scar set off a chain reaction of visions. She saw the face of Gerald, the bloated crab on the beach, and then, worst of all, she saw Tizzy. Every last moment of her sister cascaded into Rea’s thoughts, and her body trembled in fear while her fists clenched on the Valkyr's leather back seat. She let out a peeling scream, “STOP!”

"Rea,” came Wyld's voice, uncertain, but filled with resolve. "Tell me what's wrong". Her scanner was not showing anything she could see. Rea began to emit a faint, blue, biotic hue.

Rea shrieked, “TIZZY GET OUT!” Wyld’s omni-tool registered a flare warning, but then the hue and the warning vanished as Rea wailed. She brought her legs up and crawled what little distance there was, into the corner of the back seat. She covered her mouth as her body wracked itself sobbing.

Wyld watched as Rea broke down. “I couldn’t do anything,” Rea went on. “I couldn’t do anything and Layl needed me!” Rea started to heave. “Oh baby I was in charge of you! I told mom and dad and I was supposed to be there!...I was supposed to be there for you….” Rea tried to cover her mouth again, but convulsed with grief. Her eyes rolled up and then she squeezed them shut. The sounds of her crying echoed through the streets.

Wyld had no idea what had just happened, but Rea's sudden surge of grief was so palpable that it hit Wyld full force. She felt moisture collect in her eyes and when she blinked, the world became blurred. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her arm and grabbed her jacket off the floor. She didn't have time for this.

Wyld wrapped her jacket around Rea's shaking frame as she took her in her arms. "Don't stop,” she whispered gently into Rea's ear. "Let it all out now.”

As Wyld pulled Rea towards her, she gripped the back of Rea’s head and gently pulled it into her shoulder. She could feel the muffled sobs as Rea clung onto her and buried her face into her.

Pulling her down into the seat Wyld found herself sitting with Rea across her lap. Looking down at the open container from before she reached out with her foot and snagged a blanket from within. Picking it up, she wrapped it around them, and then......she just sat there, holding the crying woman in her arms. Jan felt Rea shaking as she let loose whatever she had been repressing.

Wyld offered no words, just her presence. She hoped Rea would find comfort in that. As she looked around she saw that though the crowd had thinned, people could still be seen as they went back and forth. Some even looked towards where the Valkyr sat.

Could they hear Rea?

Wyld whispered, "Momma, if you can hear me, we need to go somewhere private.”

Momma said nothing, but the Valkyr abruptly sped up and disappeared from Bastion’s view, traveling deep into the alleys beyond.

Wyld pulled herself up and hugged Rea's wracked form. Jan felt her hot tears cool on her shoulder, her sobs, the name Tizzy over and over. Wyld was quiet as she tightened her grip around Rea. "Let it go,” she repeated. "I'll be here when you’re ready.”

And as she waited, Wyld rested her head on Rea's shoulder. She felt Rea lay the side of her head against her own while she wept.

Wyld felt tears again. She forced them back.

This should not be affecting me.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 28 septembre 2013 - 01:57 .

[Redbelle]

Babylon let her arm flop down onto the table. She was breathing hard. She couldn't believe it. She'd lost control. For a moment she'd just seen that leering sneer on Steiner's face. Would have done anything to wipe it off him.

She'd lost control.

She never lost control!

Steiner was leaning back in his chair. “If it's any consolation. I didn't see it coming. Just a straight up pop to the face? Fast and quick”. He shook his head. “But no power. You need to learn how to throw a punch”.

Babylon clenched her fists. Took a deep breath to find her centre. When she looked up she felt like she'd gotten back a measure of control. “What the hell are you doing Klaus”?

“Showing you how to be a soldier”. He said with his customary sneer. “That feeling you had just now? It's one that real soldiers have to learn to reach for. To work past the fear. Get to the fight or flight response and know which to choose”. He looked at her seriously. “You keep calling me a hero. I'm the same as all these other soldiers. We all learned how to push ourselves past fear. But it's still there. When I go into a fight. I know I can push through the fear. I know the soldier standing next to me will do the same. My platoon is filled with people I trust with my life. Because every day since the Reapers came I've put my life in their hands. And theirs in mine”.

Steiner pointed to the Tee-Eff. “I got no clue what your boys will do. And that's a problem for me. Cause how do I fight when I'm worried your people haven't got the guts to cover my back? They can shoot a gun? That's not a big deal. Anyone can learn to fire a gun. But training and pushing yourself to your limits. Then training some more to find out how you'll work under pressure? You Tee-Eff people don't have that”.

Babylon let out a hot breath. She was still angry with him. But she had to admit......

Her time with Steiner and Wyld had revealed a gap between herself and those two. She looked back on her time with Steiner's platoon. Saw the constant looks she had thought as being ones of appraisal. Now she wondered if they were looking at her as some kind of dead weight. She'd pushed herself and kept up with them. She'd been proud of that. Even taking over Steiner's right flank when the one in charge taken a stray bullet. No one had complained. Everyone had been to busy laying down fire while she'd been taking charge. She was good at that. Walking into a room and commanding it. Seeing the situation and planning how to get what she wanted out of it. The plan to take down the harvester had been hers and it had been a good one. It had almost worked. Her shot with the rocket bang on target....... Then it had all gone wrong as the situation changed right in front of her and she knew they were all going to die.

And then Steiner had appeared out of no man's land and driven the thing off. Like it was nothing!

“You want people who are reliable...”? She heard Steiner say. “...Look to the Misfits. You can see it in the eye's. They've lived in fear and they've pushed past it. Maybe you people should hand over your guns and go back to your bunker”.

She looked up at Steiner who was still sitting back in his chair. Watching her face as her mind whirled over the understanding of what she could expect when they next walked out into the field. She didn't doubt she would. But the concept of handling her fear was something she'd never never considered..... but now.....

Fear?

She knew a few things about that. Steiner wasn't getting out of this one without her getting a few shots in.

“You know what people are really afraid of”? She asked him. “It's not death. Their afraid to fail. You seem to think that people who fail die. That's not true. People I know, are afraid to fail..... and live. To be the one who becomes a mockery of everything they wanted to be”.

She saw Steiner's smug expression disappear from his face. She sensed she was hitting a nerve. Her predator instinct honed in on it. “You probably can't imagine this. But people in my circle have dreams. They come into politics with these ideals and principles and an ambition. Then they meet reality. And the dream starts coming apart”.

Steiner's face was becoming cloudy. Babylon pressed on. “Only they don't know that their dreams dying. Their to busy just getting on with the day to day grind. Then when their pet dream appears they suddenly realise they are no longer in a position to pursue it”.

“Shut it”. Babylon narrowed her eye's as she heard Steiner growl the words. She was onto something about him.

“Can you imagine having to be something you never set out to become? To be forced to let go of something you want to grab hold of but can't”.

Babylon saw Steiner swallow as his eye's darted down to the table. He does know. She thought. But what.....

“Ever had to let go of a dream Klaus? Ever had to live with the fear that you let something go and you'll never get it back?.... That everyone around you will think badly and dismiss you as.....”.

Steiner abruptly stood up. He did so fast that his armoured legging's hit the table and made it jump in the air as he glared down at her.

“Thanks for the drink”. He gruffed before he turned and strode away.

Babylon watched him go. Saw the tension in his broad shoulders as he stomped off. He was hiding something. She knew that now. But was it a skeleton in the closet? A loss in his life? Or something else.

If she was going to make him a man to look up to , she needed to know so she could start preparing to either wash it out of his past. Soften the blow on his public image, or maybe even use it to bolster his image......

Steiner had glossed over one aspect of fear in his speech. Looking to another for support. When those at the bottom rung felt unsure, they looked, either to the side, or above them for reassurance. It was a simple human compulsion. To reach out to another for comfort. And the man at the top of the chain, ultimately, had to be able to give off the confidence, that everyone under him would be ready to fight for him.

A strong leader was as important as a strong army. This Radcliffe might be efficient. But who ever had heard of him? No one would flock under his banner. He was a nobody compared to Steiner.

She looked up and saw the three.... factions she guessed? Milling around. She had a hard time believing the Misfit's were better than her party. But coming from Steiner it was hard to ignore that he'd given them a better endorsement than Terra Firma.

She picked up her coffee mug and took a sip. And winced at the bitter taste as her drink had gone cold.

[Redbelle]

(Note - This post is related to the work in collaberation with Kel Riever)

Bickerstaff's Omni tool all but erupted, causing him to fall out of his chair he been lounging around in the camp's courtyard. His misfit friend saw and laughed as he staggered back up. "Yeah laugh it up guys". He called to them and brought his Omni tool up to see what was wrong. And stopped.

The image of an Asari in a two piece looked up at him. "Hello".

"Um....". He fumbled. "Hi"?

"My records show that you were once the owner of a pizzeria before the war started".

Bickerstaff was perplexed at the question coming from the pint sized Asari. "Yeeeees".

"I require a pizza".

Bickerstaff shook his head. "Okay. This is a joke, right? Your someone whose modeled an overlay and your messing with me".

"If you require incentive I can provide you with one".

"I'll bet you could". He said, his eye's running down the contours of her body. "Look. Thanks but no thanks". He motioned to switch off his tool.

It stayed on.

He tried again with the same result. At the same time the ground seemed to shake and he looked over his shoulder. The YMIR mech that had accompanied them to Bastion walked up to him and stopped. Leaving him craning his neck to look up at the beamouth.

"If you think I am making a jest, rest assured. I currently lack the capacity for advanced humour mechanics". The voice was the Asari's but coming fro the YMIR. "I require your services. In return. I will alter records in the Alliance database so that you gain custody of your child from your divorced....".

Bickerstaff looked down at his Omni tool where the Asari remained. "Shut up. Just shut up"! He hissed angrily. "That has nothing to do with you. There dead. There both....".

"Alive". She affirmed. "I have found reports of their current status. They were evacuated successfully". She disappeared as a screen appeared. Names of people in evacuation shuttles that made it off planet. Two names were highlighted. Bickerstaff ran his fingers across them as tears began to form.

"I can't believe it". He sobbed lightly. "Their alive"?

The Asari reapeared. "Yes. And by all account's the mother has not been spending enough time on the child. She seems to be using the settlement money on herself. To better her own situation, while passing her child off to others". The Asari's voice grew cold. "A mother should care for their child better. Since that is obviously not the case, I have decided that you would be a better gaurdian. And will facilitate the transition on one condition".

Bickerstaff wiped the ears from his eye's. "Anything".

"Make me a pizza". Momma said plainly. "It will have to be delivered at a time of my choosing. I have located essential ingrediant's and a kitchen exist's in the pub that I will help you gain access to".

"All this..... for a pizza"? He shook his head. It defied all belief.... but if there was a chance he'd see his little boy again. "Okay deal".

The asari smiled. "Thank you for your co-operation".

And she vanished.

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 septembre 2013 - 12:49 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Sully liked to listen to old music in the background while he was filling requistions for the soldiers: music from the 20th Century. 1940s and 1950s pop stuff by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Lena Horne, stuff like that. Sully saw Clark and an Asari Captain walking past the line and into the armory. Sully snapped to attention.

"At ease. Everyone as you were." Marisa stopped and looked around at the group of soldiers. "I've just come in here to get some gear. Sgt. Clark is going to take care of things. Everyone go about your business and pretend I'm not here."

Clark was looking on the armor racks. "Hey Sully, on the off chance, you don't have any Asari Commando leathers, do you?"

"None that are in good shape." Sully was getting ammo for one of the soldiers. "I've got a bunch from a platoon that nearly got wiped out, but that's about it, and that's mostly in pieces. The survivors are in the pub."

Clark grumbled as he went down the rack of crap. "****. Well there goes that idea. How about some N7 armor, then? Any that'll fit her?"

"Hmmm. I've got this one suit in the back. Jason!"

A teenage voice was heard in the back of the shack. "What?"

"That N7 women's armor back there. The new one. Could you bring it up?" Sully shouted and shoved three boxes of grenades on the counter.

Jason found the armor. "The one for the Lieutentant?"

"Yeah, that one! She won't be needing it." The next soldier put his requisition on the counter.

Clark looked over at Marisa and shook his head. "Damn, this war is brutal. Woman just finished the program and was coming in, and her shuttle got blown out of the sky. She was about your size."

Marisa shuddered.

A red headed kid brought up the armor. "I guess your the lucky Asari. Hey, dad."

"Captain Marisa Soniri, this is my son, Jason. Jason has been helping out here since the war got close. Sully keeps an eye on him, and it keeps him safe and helps me worry a lot less. He's all I got now. Reapers got my wife six months ago."

"You still wear your wedding band." Marisa commented.

"'Cause I'm not ready to let go. I know someday I'll have to. When this war is over if it ever is." Clark took his smokes out of his pocket and offered Marisa one. She passed on it, but he lit one.

Marisa wanted to say something about her daughter but couldn't.

"Dad, the war has to be over some time." Jason put his hand on his dad's shoulder.

"My daughter tells me she thinks it's going to be over tonight. She's an optimist, that one, but for once I believe her." Marisa said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to try on this stuff. Uh, could one of you give me a hand with it? I've never put on armor before."

"Jason, go back to work." Sully shouted then started laughing as Jason started grumbling.

"Alright, Marisa, follow me. It looks like I get to 'torture' my eyes looking at naked Asari." The sarcasm was dripping off Clark's last remark. "I'll try not to look."

"Sgt! It's alright. I'm not used to privacy anyway. You have no idea what it's like on an Asari ship."

Clark was holding the armor. "But you're all women!"

"We're all Asari. There's a difference. Modesty goes to hell."

Clark was thinking to himself 'This might be enough right here to help me let go.' "Marisa, Captain, ma'am."

"Stop it! Just Marisa, please."

"Marisa, what are you doing after the war?"

"Are you asking a naked woman out?"

Clark took another drag on his cigarette that was in the corner of his mouth. Sully's music player started playing a Dean Martin song "Ain't That A Kick In The Head". "I don't know, does it look like that?"

Marisa took the armor from him. "To be honest, yes it does."

"Well then I guess I am."

Marisa gave him a smirk. "I thought you weren't ready to let go."

Clark put his cigarette out in the ash tray. "What if I changed my mind? Would that make a difference?"

Marisa had a wry look in her eye. "And you changed it when you saw me naked."

Clark leaned against the six by six support post. "And what if I did? It's not like we hadn't gotten to know each other first."

Marisa had put the bottom part of the armor on. "So what do you see in a 438 year old Asari?

Clark cleared his throat. "Someone who is highly intelligent, strong willed, independent, pragamatic yet kind, and very very hot. So, what are you doing after the war?"

"Help me with the top."

"Certainly."

"Well, I was heading back to the Citadel, but that's not going to be that far of a trip. So I'm guessing I'll be in the area for a while.... I suppose I could look you up."

"Suppose? or are you going to look up a lowly middle-aged sergeant and his kid? I know he'd be really surprised if you did."

Marisa smiled as Clark fastened the last fastener on the armor. "Yeah, I saw how he was looking at me."

"He's a teenager, but he got the 'bugger off, your dad's interested' treatment from Sully. So what do you say?"

"Sure, why not? How about I meet you back here at Sid's? And we'll go from here?" Marisa looked good in her N7 armor.

Ella Fitzgerald started singing "Blue Skies".

"Fantastic. Now let's get you some guns that work and a decent supply of ammo. I'm guessing warp rounds for you. Everybody is picked through the AP and incendiary rounds." Clark was grinning from ear to ear. "Look what I found? A Kassa Locust. This won't have much kick to it. And a Predator pistol will probably suit you just fine even though most people use the heavier Carnifex these days. Hitting the target is more important than getting knocked on your ass."

"I agree. And hey. Thanks." Marisa kissed him in the locker room area. "That was for luck, and saying 'I'll be back.'"

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 02 novembre 2013 - 08:09 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note: The following installment was a collaboration with RedBelle)

Rea lost track of the world outside the Valkyr, but felt Jan next to her, holding her. When Rea could finally speak, she began and didn’t stop until she told Jan about the fall in the cave, the contact with the Reaper, her torture after saving Matriarch Syra and most of all, the story of how she lost Tizzy. “My baby sister Tizdanau. Her husband was my friend. And their baby, they named him after my father. I could be there for Layl, I could save Syra, twice. And I could somehow survive a Reaper trying to indoctrinate me…well, not without Rothan and Ereba. But I couldn’t save Tizzy and her family. And I had to watch her…oh she was so brave. She had accepted it. But I couldn’t. I’d give anything to have her back.” Rea clutched Jan, holding on for dear life.

All the while Rea talked, Wyld listened, feeling the agony over Rea’s loss as it spilled out of her: Hearing how she'd been ripped open and left for dead by a sadistic Cerberus Dragoon, shuddering as she heard how a Reaper had tried to indoctrinate her, remembering her own attempted indoctrination in the hotel; a seemingly pale Cerberus imitation of the real thing.

Wyld pressed her nose up against Rea’s temple and nuzzled her. “And you've held onto this all this time?” She pulled up one of her legs and let her arm rest against it. She leaned Rea away so that Rea rested on her arm as she wiped her cheeks dry. “You can tell me anything. I've gone through things I'd never share with another too. I know.”

Wyld paused as she looked down at Rea's anguished face. The glow that had come from touching Rea before had gone. A new glow had taken its place. Gentler. Peaceful. Just holding her now.....

"No more being alone Ree. I know what it's like to lose something. To suffer for it.” Wyld looked up into Rea's eyes and saw her pain there, still raw and flowing.

“I know it can hurt inside. Hurt right to the core of who we are.” Under the blanket, Wyld took Rea's hand in hers. "I can't reach in and take it from you. I wish I could. But if I did....The pain's there because something important was removed from you. It's supposed to hurt. When something that's a part of us is ripped away, it’s just hurts.....We can't get away from that. No matter how hard we run. It'll catch up to us if we try.”

Wyld thought back to when she was told she'd never walk again, let alone dance. "Rea. Look at me.”

Rea looked up at Wyld who gently pulled her closer. "I'm scarred too. Not on the surface. This one runs deeper. And scars can heal, but they always leave a mark; the bigger the wound, the larger the mark. We either learn to live with the marks, or we let the marks scar us forever. And your forever, is going to be a lot longer than mine.”

At those words, a fresh tear slid down Rea’s face. Wyld watched it's singular path trace down the contours of her cheek. The lone tear ran out before it could fall away in the night air. Wyld could feel her own sadness, wanting it to so desperately spring forth. Holding Rea the way she wished she'd been held so long ago.....Trying to find the words that would help her. Not the ones everyone who visited would parrot.

“It'll always be there. And it'll always hurt. Like a scar, it can be made to look like it was never there. But that would be a lie. We have to be honest with ourselves…..”

"I always wanted to dance. But life got in the way. And I've always regretted the path I never got to walk. But that path put me here". Wyld caressed Rea's face.

“You’re here too. Whatever life took from us, at least we're still here. And we can mend the scars of what was taken away. We'll be marked by the loss. But if we accept the markings, we can stop them defining the rest of our lives.” Wyld stroked Rea’s arm under the blanket, feeling the patterning of her skin under her fingers. Wyld didn’t know if they were unique, but feeling the person who wore them was precious nonetheless. Rea took several final sniffs as her sobs subsided and she looked up at Wyld with soft eyes glistening from the wetness.

"I'm here for you Ree,” Wyld said. “If I hadn't been scarred I could have been dancing in one of these buildings when the Reaper's hit Earth. I should be dead. I nearly did die tonight. But I struggled on and now I'm here to help you with yours. And maybe there's no rhyme or reason to why we live or die. But I'm glad I'm here to share this with you. I think we both got hurt once. And I know if you think back you can think of others who are prepared to carry you through this. People still alive who want to protect you. The same way you want to protect them.” Wyld pressed her forehead against Rea's. “You are not alone.”

Wyld squeezed Rea's hand. "So please, don’t be alone anymore. Let someone in.”

Rea shut her eyes for a moment. “It’s been a long time since I felt like I was repairing the damage that was done. All the anger that I couldn’t do anything. What you are saying…about letting someone in. I have…I have not been able….” Rea wrestled internally, and then her lids opened so she could gaze right into Jan’s dark brown eyes. “But you’re able. And you have someone.” A small smile then began to break across Rea’s face. “And you are so, so gay.”

Wyld nodded along, smiling at Rea right up to the point where she heard Rea call her gay.

"Yeabuwha?” Wyld said, blinking rapidly. "No I'm not.... I mean.” She looked around for a moment, before Rea placed a finger to her chin and brought her back to look at her face.

"You are.”

"But....." Wyld felt Rea's body shift under the blanket as she rolled slightly towards Rea. “...Why?”

Wyld thudded her head back on the seat as Rea sat up to straddle her. Jan’s heart started to thump and she squeezed her eyes closed. "We're talking about you. About how the pain’s always going to be there.” She looked up at Rea who now loomed over her.

"People don't understand,” Wyld went on, “The pain doesn't go away over night. It clings to us. Everyone who tries to make it better..... It's not us they want to make better. It's them! They can't stand feeling bad for us. So they try to help us to help themselves. And they don't fix anything. Because they can't! They lie to us, promising that tomorrow will be better. But tomorrow never brought my legs back. And they don't understand. And that just rams home how lonely we are.” Wyld saw Rea smiling down at her, her features beautiful despite the tear streaks that were now fading.

Wyld swallowed. She could feel something inside of her worming it's way out. "It's holding onto our loneliness that hurts the most.... and.....” She jammed the heels of her palms into her eyes as she felt the hot burning come on.

“.....Feeling isolated,” Wyld continued, taking measured breaths. “Before Zia, I was lonely. And I got used to it. I thought I could live that way”. She brought her hands away and looked up at Rea. The water works began to flow and Jan smiled.

“Then Zia crashes into my life and drags me into a world I'm not ready for. I don't know how to love. I just know how to heal. And you healed me. Zia healed me.....But I could lose her to this war. Or she could lose me. So I told her, it doesn't matter who we are with when we're apart. Only that we find each other when our orders are done so we can chase after one another. No matter where we are.”

"Only I may have made the person she was with before angry. But Zia loved her, I think. And I found the more I thought about her.....the more I could love her too. Then there you are. And you pushed Zia towards me. And I love you for that. Gaaaaah!!!”

Wyld lightly thudded her face into Rea's upper chest. Unable to stand her just smiling down at her, she shook her head violently from side to side, causing her hair to fly about. She mumbled something and Rea had to push her away. Rea asked, "What was that?”

"I'm falling in love at the drop of a hat,” Wyld answered. “I look at someone who means something to me and it's not comradeship anymore. It's love! Maybe if my teenage years had more jocks in it I'd know better. All I had were support groups. And half the time I wanted to strangle them for being a bunch of whiners.”

Wyld looked up. "Why am I gay? I don't even know what that really means to me yet. I nearly had a guy.....once. Okay I broke him... but….” As Wyld spoke, she leaned back and ran her hands up Rea's back and across her scar. Feeling the heat in her rising again. Staring into Rea's eyes, she found herself drawn into their depths; drawn into the picturesque image of the woman before her. Wyld imagined herself craning her neck up brushing Rea's lips with her own.

Wyld slouched back in the seat. “Damn it,” she uttered as she felt a new spring of moisture leak out of the corner of her eye. “I want to be with her. I want to take her to quiet beaches. Walk along shores. I want to argue about stuff over morning coffee. I want so much.....except to tell my mother about this. Because she'll never accept Zia the same way she never accepted having a cripple for a daughter."

Rea shook her head. “I'm so sorry Jan. Sometimes, it's the ones we love the most that can hurt us."

Wyld closed her eyes. "Okay. Since I said we need to be honest with ourselves, I'll be honest with you, too. And please don't slap me,” she said, holding up her hands in a mild defense gesture as she paused. “I really enjoyed giving you that massage. More than I should have.” Wyld's eyes glinted as a bit of the old spark reignited in them.

“But if you ever want me to scratch that perfect itch again, just whistle.”

Rea shivered a bit and sighed, the emotions still working their way out of her. She began brushing strands of hair away from Wyld’s face that her band had not caught, and noticed her skin to be slightly hot to the touch. Rea replied, “You know, I’m flattered. But that word, ‘Gay.’ It means something and it doesn’t. When you look at me, for example, it doesn’t mean anything. If you see me as a woman or a man, it has no bearing. I am not either, though we Asari refer to ourselves in certain ways to accommodate for the lack of words that explain us well enough in your language. But I am no more a man, or a woman than I am Human, or Turian. I see many of you Humans struggling with characterizing their sexuality like I see…well it isn’t really even the same thing…but my best comparison is when an Asari scorns a relationship between members of our same species.”

“For example,” Rea queried, “What were you when you were with this man?”

“Not gay,” said Wyld immediately.

Rea sighed. “And what would I be if I were with you?”

Wyld said inquiringly, “Gay? My mistress and the luckiest asari on Earth?”

Rea let out a deeper sigh. Wyld’s levity amused but Rea felt she had questions buzzing around in her head like flies. Rea focused as she pulled a hand from the blanket and pressed a finger into Wyld's forehead, pushing her head back into the seat. “I'm being serious Jan. Ask yourself, are you forever, ‘Gay,’ if you change your mind again?”

“No,” said Wyld as her eyes crossed looking at Rea's finger that was still parked on her forehead. “That's bisexual. Or switching, I think?”

Rea giggled like an elf, and her mood started to shift. “Wait, what if we said it was based on what you are attracted to. Well, aren’t we in trouble now!….Are you somehow twisted if you like the smooth, slow melody of this musician Barry White, and then you find yourself pumping your salacious hips to the fast, heavy beat in Chora’s Den?”

Bright eyes flickering with mischief, Rea snickered. She placed her hands on the seat behind Wyld and aimed her body directly at her. “Oh, I haven’t danced there, Jan, but I’ve been there plenty of times.”

“Me too....” Wyld said as Rea started pumping her hips into Jerry-Ann in mock vulgarity. “.....Once..... and salacious?”

“What am I now, Jan? Am I the jock of your dreams, searching for the truth while we grind it out?”

“The only truth I know about Chora's Den......,” Wyld said her hands out to the side as her breath became labored. “Is look, but don't touch.” Wyld squeezed her eyes shut once more and flopped back as laughter started to overcome her. “I can't believe we're doing this,” she managed to get out.

Rea’s emotions, now completely flipped, caused her to cackle uproariously.

Wyld found the laughter infectious and she shook harder. It felt good to laugh, as if her own doubts and fears as to who she was were emerging as Rea hips rotated into her. Wyld rolled her head forward and held out her arm, her hand seeking Rea’s.

Rea saw it and made an exaggerated, ludicrous roll of her eyes upward in fake exasperation. “Oh the wrongfulness of this forbidden joining! Yet I must perform this act of copulation so that I may understand my inner gender preference!” Despite her words however, Rea took Wyld’s hand, stopped her gyrations and interlocked their fingers.

"I never dreamed of anything like this before, Rea,” Wyld confessed. "I never experienced things like this before, till now. My mind keeps telling me it's wrong but my body tells me it's not....I don't know which one's telling truth.” She felt her own hip desire to buck into Rea and bit her lip, determining to gain some measure of control over herself. “I run on instinct most of the time. When things get tense, I react......I'm sorry. I need to take you back. This trip out isn't turning out the way I thought it would.”

“Perhaps you should talk to Zia about this.....?”

“I tried,” Wyld admitted. “She ran off laughing.”

“Oh.”

“Zee was raised by asari. These asari.....were not the average run of the mill types.” Wyld shrugged. “I guess it does sound funny when you look at it from her perspective.”

Rea cupped Wyld's face in her hands and brought their eyes even. “Jan....Honesty on. Do you want me....right now?”

A pause. “Yes.”

“Will you take me now?”

“No,” Wyld said.

“And if I told you it was all right?”

Wyld brought a hand up to one of Rea’s, holding it as it cupped her face. She looked into those big voluminous eyes. “My instincts....,” she said after a while, “....Tell me, your lying. So, no.”

“Then I trust you.” Rea told her. “You have done nothing but look after me since you came to me with your concerns for my well being. And even afterwards, you were still there for me. I am, perhaps, not noticing enough of what is around me. I am glad you intervened.”

“It's my job.”

“It's a calling, I think.” Rea said. “You are there for others, Jan, even those who might not realize they need it. But you need your own care. You are not invulnerable. And maybe the care you need is some self-reflection. I believe you have a greater understanding of the magical person you are, because of how you remember yourself. I trust you will realize, when you’ve thought about it enough, that you really are still that same person, no matter how the circumstances have changed.”

Rea pondered, “When we part ways, will I become just another patient on a record chart to you?”

Wyld gazed up at her. “No. Of course no......”

“Honesty, Jerry-Ann.”

Wyld paused and closed her eyes. “You'll be someone I'll probably never see again,” she admitted as she opened her eyes, “Because my life involves moving forward. And if you can't keep up, or switch lanes, or I fall.....”

Wyld found she couldn't go on.

Rea took pity on her. “All is one. That is how asari say it. What ever happens, you will always have a good and dear friend who cherishes you.” Rea settled down and pulled Wyld into a hug. “And we will see each other again, by my regiment! Or the Goddess. Or whatever powers that are out there that bring our energy back to the greater whole of the universe.”

Wyld wrapped her arms around Rea as the blanket slipped off her shoulders. “Friends?” Wyld hugged her tightly. “I have a lot of past patients. They never wanted to be friends before.”

“Their loss,” Rea chuckled. Then she sucked in a breath as she felt Wyld's fingers trace the outer edges of her scar.

“Ree. Maybe it's because I don't have legs of my own anymore. And please, don't take this the wrong way. But I think you’re really sexy with your scar.”

Rea pushed Wyld away. “Jan....,” she admonished.

“I mean it,” Wyld said. “It's a part of you now. And it doesn't hide who you are. Just...,” she went on, “Make sure you know how to take care of yourself now that it's part of you. Or ask someone who is part of your life to help you. I know the war's got everyone moving forward, but like you said, we’re not invulnerable.”

“Maybe I should,” Rea considered as she gazed skyward. Earth’s moon shone briefly through the clouds, unblemished in that minute by the war fought in orbit above. Her yearning for Rothan rose. Rea glanced back at Wyld and placed a hand on her shoulder. Wyld reached up to clasp it. Rea comforted, “I guess we’re both a little out there. At least you can express it.” A wisp of smoke carried on the air made Rea scrunch her nose momentarily. “There’s almost too much to say. But I’ll tell you a story about a lover of mine from a long time ago.”

“My jewel, my starlight, was an asari named Ali and we lived on Thessia. She danced as a pastime, very seriously, but nothing like you I’m sure. Ali taught me the Tevura A’Lena…it’s a lovers’ dance that takes years to learn, and its beauty is unparalleled in Asari culture. The legend says it was first performed with one Asari bound to her Turian mate. I should have known then what Ali was trying to do….Regardless, I was smitten. Ali was everything I wanted.”

“Of course you know how the story ends. Ali left me. Because of her mother, Ali said it didn’t matter that we were both Asari, but that it would never work out between our families because her mother was a…well, her mother couldn’t bear one of her children being with another asari. It broke my heart, but I think Ali might have ended up worse than I did. She walked away. Living the life her mother wanted her to have. Not the life she wanted for herself. I never knew what happened to Ali and it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“But I’ll never regret chasing Ali all the way to the starport.” Rea poked Jan in the nose playfully. “If I hadn’t, who knows what I would be like now? Zia told me something like you did. ‘Now or never,’ I think were the words; I see why you two get along. Right before that, I had said to Zia, ‘Nothing will happen if you keep running from it.’ I don’t know if you want to call yourself gay, but I would do it if it makes you feel unafraid. Bold. If it makes you feel good letting people know who you are. I don’t think suits of armor need to hide us. Sometimes, well, sometimes a person can be seen through whatever it is they are wearing.”

Rea stopped speaking for a moment. She thought of Rothan in a scintillating, endless array of colors and patters. “Jan, I would follow any person who was the same in their armor as they were when they were out of it.  Commander or otherwise. That kind of person would make me feel like I could be the same way too. The person who let me be…”

Wyld looked at Rea, waiting for her next words. Rea gulped and simply said, “We better go get that pizza or we never will.”

Wyld slowly nodded. "Pizza.....Sounds good,” she said as she let go of Rea. Wyld nodded at her. “But can I have my jacket back at least? You probably shouldn't wander around in a blanket either.” She abruptly took on a sly look. "Not that I'd complain if you did.”

Rea looked down at her half-naked form and blushed as Wyld reached over to grab her top. "I suppose people would take pictures.”

Wyld smirked. "What flash drive could hold you?” She took her top and placed it over her head, guiding her hands through. As Wyld fell back, and Rea dressed, she said, "Rea. I'm sorry about your family.”

"As am I.”

"And I'm sorry I lost it back there.”

Wyld felt Rea dig her fingers into her shoulders for a moment. "I believe.... we both have our own shadows to cast light upon. I'm glad I was here to listen.”

"I'm glad you didn't slap me.” Wyld sighed. "I've already been slapped by two people tonight.” She tilted her head as Rea finished zipping herself up. "And..... I'm glad I was here to listen to you too. I think you do have someone.... don't you?”

Rea looked uncertain.

"You said how important feeling another is......Is it Rothan?” Rea’s cautious expression gave her away. Wyld persisted, "I shouldn't. But can I offer you some advice."

Rea slowly nodded, once.

"Decide what you want. And grab hold of it now. You remember what it was like in the field?”

Rea nodded again.

“It's up to you. But Bastion may be the last port in the storm for a while. And when we move out, we’ll be creatures of duty again. You and he might not have time out there to talk. Or you'll have to take separate routes.” Wyld shrugged. “It happens. I'm just saying. Now's going to be the best time in a long time.”

Rea passed a hand over her crest while she considered Wyld’s suggestion.

Wyld abruptly grinned. “And not to put a finer point on it. But making Mister Magic Fingers wait isn't fair. He could be spending his time knowing this great friend I know has feelings for him. And you’re losing time with him too. If he's that important to you, why wait?”

“Mister Magic Fingers?” Rea wrinkled her brow. “Just….do I even want to know?”

Wyld's face took on a look of panic. "Did I say that out loud?”

"Yes, you did.”

"I meant Babe.”

"Babe?”

"Well isn't he? He could look like anything under that helmet! Sooooo…Babe. As in a total hottie....for a quarian.....whatever they look like under there.....you should ask him to massage you.”

Rea crossed her arms as she sensed the discomfort. "What have you been doing with Rothan?”

"It was nothing. Harmless, really. We weren't alone you'll be happy to know.”

"Is that so?”

Wyld nodded. "I mean, sure I was naked for awhile but we're used to that in the military. But Rothan was a gentleman about it. So when he stuck his finger in me and poked around, I assure you, it was completely innocent.”

Rea was speechless as her jaw hung open. She managed to ask, “Innocent?”

"Yes!” Wyld insisted, "Ask Sully. He saw the whole thing.” Wyld reached into her pocket. "The funny thing is that Rothan found a bullet in there I didn't know about.”

Rea held up her hands. "I don't want to know!”

"C'mon. It's not like you wouldn't pull one out if you had to, right?”

Rea was about to issue a sharp retort when Wyld pulled an object out of her pocket and flipped it towards the asari. "Here it is.”

Rea caught the object and held it up between her thumb and forefinger. It was a spent round from the ammo block of a rifle. While examining the round, Rea moved off of Wyld to sit leaning against her. Wyld nodded to it. "Rothan pulled that out of my leg.”

Rea stared at the round, and then Wyld. "So taking this out of your leg means he has magic fingers....."

"Um...." Wyld hesitated. "There might have been.....something unexpected.”

"Like what?”

"Understand that I don't know, exactly, how these prosthetics work. The quarian who gave them to me.....didn't really explain much about them. They’re just designed to never need maintenance....." She paused as she contemplated, "Maybe it's because Rothan's quarian too....."

"What happened?”

Wyld started to answer. Then stopped. "Look. I'm not comfortable talking about it. It was a surprise to me too. And honestly....I don't think Rothan noticed."

Rea pursed her lips in exasperation. "Where did the bullet come out from?”

Wyld ran a hand over the prosthetic nearest Rea. "Probably around there. I swear. Feedback glitch most likely. These things have....."

"And you’re sure you don't want to tell me what happened?”

"Cross my heart. Nothing to tell.”

"And if I poked you there, right now?”

"Nothing would happen. Feedback glitch, like I said. These legs send impulses to my nervous system and sometimes the mapping resets to false....."

Rea squinted as Wyld went into a tirade of medical jargon and bio-mechanical techno-babble. It was utterly impenetrable to Rea. But Wyld seemed enthused by the subject, clearly trying, but utterly failing, to bring the subject down to Rea’s level of understanding. She looked at the spot Wyld had indicated.

She looks flustered, Rea began thinking. Let’s see…Jan says Rothan didn’t notice anything,....but she’s going to stay tight lipped,….that leaves Sully…..over at the armoury,…too far away. Wyld digressed with more jargon, little of which Rea understood, though she picked up the words ‘compensator’ and ‘network.’ Rea tilted her head in faux interest, and judged the distance between them. There’s one way to find out. I owe Rothan at least that much.

As Rea jabbed her finger down on the spot, she shrugged. Nothing will happen anyway.

Wyld ceased her lecture immediately. “You can’t possibly think you’re going to do anything to me…”

Rea’s finger prodded the spot, and to her surprise, parted the corded synthetic muscle at a point where two strands pressed together.

Wyld's reaction was immediate. Her body jerked and she was unable to speak. Rea found herself relieved at the silence. She looked up at Wyld and saw her head was tilted back while her jaw seemed to twitch.

"Jan?”

Wyld's body slowly reclined until her shoulders touched the seat. Then Rea noticed she kept going as her back arced and her body began to slide over the boot. Wyld’s eyes rolled up into her skull. Her hands and arms were making small flapping movements. The arm nearest Rea caught her hand like a vice, Wyld rolled over, and her eyes popped back, glazed over and unfocused.

"Get.....It......OUT!!!” She shrieked the last part as both Rea and Wyld jerked the finger out of her leg. The effect was nearly instantaneous yet again. Wyld shot up to stand as she pushed away from where she had sat until she was facing the back of the Valkyr. She shoved too far however, and the backs of her knees hit the passenger seat. Unable to stop herself, she tumbled over and came to an undignified rest with her legs over the top of the seat. Only Wyld’s right foot was visible, twitching every so often. The rest of her had disappeared into the footwell.

Rea raised herself up to look over the seat, into the footwell. Wyld lay there with a hand against her forehead, wearing a pained expression. "That.....was amazingly worse than the last time,” Wyld said between gritted teeth.

Rea was shaking her head unable to fully grasp what had just happened. "You call that nothing?”

Wyld was not listening. "That's it! Sully's right! Armour on the leg! I'm getting leg armour.” Wyld waved an arm around looking for something to pull her up when she felt Rea grasp her arm. They managed to extract her from the footwell. "I'm getting leg armour,” she repeated to Rea. "I mean. What if that happens when a husk tries to grab me?”

A laugh escaped from Rea.

Rothan didn’t notice?

Why am I not surprised?

Modifié par Kel Riever, 02 octobre 2013 - 11:07 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (Camp Bastion) L
Something was in the air inside the old pub. The soldiers were talking about something big about to go down, and the attitude was they were going to leave it all on the battlefield. This was it. Sid had some music cranked up on the jukebox trying to get the Asari up dancing again, but hell, one of the human soldiers was putting on a show at the moment. It was music more suited to one of Aria's Clubs, but this was do or die time. No one cared anymore. 

Erikka was playing "Starship Invaders" on her omni-tool again. Ranassa and T were joking with each other, and Shay and Ereba were sitting quietly more concerned about the Asari they had been with. Ereba whispered into Shay's ear, and stood up and met the sarge on her way over to the table.

"Sarge, can I have a word with you?"

The sarge was holding a tray like a waitress, and just played the role. "Sure hon, what is it?"

"Sarge!" Ereba was all serious.

"Okay, Ereba, I get it. It's serious. Is this about your new friend?" The sarge walked over into a dark corner. "Yes, I know she was dead or left for dead."

"What?" Ereba was shocked. "How did you find out? Did your mother know all this?"

"We had a nice little talk while the three of you were downstairs. She didn’t know anything except that the details were left out of the official report, yet she was awarded the Serrice Medal all the same. Did you find out anything?"

Ereba shook her head. "I tried to find out who else was on the shuttle, but she clammed up and shut me out. Cerberus toyed with her and flayed her back open and threw her in a dumpster."

"Those ****ing sadistic bastards! I'd have just put a bullet in her head and left. She's strong and smart. Did you find out who was on the shuttle?”

“I saw an image of someone with a shawl and a baby.”

 “That’s it?”

“She shut me out.”

“Damn!” Nasyra set down the tray on a ledge. 

Ereba was puzzled. "Sarge what aren’t you telling me?" 

"There’s something big going down. I can feel it. Syra is someone who can gum up the entire works, and they want her out of the way.” 

“Who does?”

“That’s just it. I would have thought Cerberus, but they’re out of the picture now, for the most part.”

Ereba got real quiet. “Sarge, you’re not who you say you are, are you?”

The Sarge responded in kind. “Ereba, shame on you. Okay, you seem to know when to keep your mouth shut. The Captain obviously has clearance, but I want you to report to me and to me alone, do you understand?”

“Yes, Sarge.”

She glanced with her eyes. “You’re very observant. What I’m going to tell you, I don’t even want you to mention to Shay. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.”

“Good. You’re very observant. I’m on a black ops assignment for the Asari government. I’m interested in any suspicious activity by Salarians.”

“But they’re our allies.”

Nasyra scoffed. “In name only. Commander Shepard tried to get them to throw in support to the grand alliance, and what did they do? They sat on the sidelines. We’ve got the bloody Destiny Ascension up there along with the rest of our fleet. Do you know what this means after the war?”

“They’ll be at full strength.”

“But I’ve seen STG here on Earth, and they’re cozying up to the likes of some pretty nasty people. What are those toads up to? You can’t trust them. I’ve said it a million times.”

“So what do you want me to do, Sarge?”
“Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity by any toad, or any unsavory Human talking to a toad and report it directly to me. This is for The Republics.”

“Understood, Sarge.”

"Now with your friend, you know I can help her." Nasyra mentioned on the way over to the table. "Mention that if you see her. Tell her I have an interest in protecting her Matriarch."

The two sat down. Nasyra set the tray of shots in the center of the tables, pulled up a map on her omni-tool, and began to speak. "Now you know I'm not big on speeches, so I'm not going to give one. You know what we need to do. All these guys in here are going to be making a major push to take down a reaper destroyer for this Commander Shepard. Then they're going to charge that beam. Every reaper ground force is going to be descending on them. We are going to slip behind the reaper forces and waltz into the beam and get onto the Citadel. If the Reapers land 
reinforcements around it as in ships, we wait it out. We are going to survive this war. If it's really bad, Ereba and I are going to cloak and slip into the beam. Otherwise we're all going in. We've got a job to do: get the Citadel arms open. So let's wait for my mother to get back, drink a toast and get out of here. Any questions?"

"No sarge. We know the mission."

"If you met anyone you want to say goodbye to, go do it. Then get back here." The sarge said to the squad.  

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 28 janvier 2014 - 04:24 .

[Redbelle]

Percy was in over his head. He knew it. The people in front of him knew it. They stood and paid attention to him, but they were obviously thinking that they should be taking lesson's from someone more suited to the task.

He coughed into his hand as he brought the Avenger rifle up in the other. Behind him was a firing range. And a number of stalls that all held rifles of the kind he now gripped.

Someone in the crowd of Humans and Turian's and Salarians and Asari coughed. One of the Krogan stamped his feet in impatience. Percy began speaking out to the gathered crowd of Misfit's and Terra Firma members.

“This is a rifle....”.

Silence...... Until.

“Well at least it talks”. One of the Krogan said. There was muted laughter and a few annoyed glances from the Tee-Eff. Percy cleared his throat and began anew.

“This is the Avenger model rifle you've most likely seen in service by Alliance forces. We have so many we want to teach you how to shoot and handle.....”.

One of the Tee-Eff stepped forward. “We already know how to shoot. And we got our own guns”. He jerked a thumb over to the Misfit's. “It's this lot who need all the help they can can get”.

“Dream on pink skin”. A Turian standing just a little away from him called out. “We can look after ourselves”.

The Tee-Eff scoffed. “Right, so that's why you came to us, begging for scraps”.

“Seeing as your equipment is scrap, that's all we could ask for”. The Turian shot back. “Though seeing you amateur's putting it to use...... plain embarrassing”.

“This amateur’s the best shot from the bunker”.

“Your not in your bunker right now. Sure your aims still good with a sky overhead”?

“Why don't you fly back where you came from”!

“Because this Turian doesn't duck out from a fight”!

Both of them glared at each other as the two groups began separating and muttering between themselves. Percy looked at the two who were squaring off. Desperately trying to think of a way to avoid a confrontation.

“Anyone for target practice”?

Modifié par Redbelle, 01 octobre 2013 - 09:59 .

[Redbelle]

The Tee-Eff man nodded. Never taking his eye's off the Turian. “Yeah. I think I could use some about now”.

The Turian harrumphed. “A credit says you people can't out shoot our people”.

“A credit? That all you got”?

The Turian chuckled. “I just don't want to take so much that you can't afford to polish that nice shiny armour. Has that stuff ever seen a fight? Or are you the parade section of your unit”?

Tee-Eff glared even as he spun around and grabbed the rifle off of Percy. “Hey”!

The man pulled off his helmet, revealing long lanky hair that was tied off in a pony tail. “Watch and learn Beak”.

The Turian watched as he placed his helmet on the ground. “Please tell me. You didn't take that off so you could aim”?

The Pony didn't react. Turning instead to one of the rows of stalls that had been hastily set up. Taking up position at one he looked down at the rifle and checked the settings.

“It's been given a training block”. Percy explained from the sides. “The ammo will be non lethal but still pack a wallop”.

“Prefer the Mattock”. Muttered Pony who raised the Avenger and sighted down the course.

The Turian shook his head. “We're waiting over here”!

“Quit it”! Said one of the Tee-Eff's in the crowd. “He's concentrating”.

The Misfit's looked at the Pony who was sticking his tongue out the corner of his mouth. “Spirit's”. Breathed the Turian. Then he cocked his head as he saw another training rifle leant up against another stall. “Hah”. He chuckled.

[Redbelle]

Pony relaxed his breathing as he held the rifle loose. He'd been drilled in how to shoot more times than anyone in Terra Firma. He knew what he was talking about when he spoke for his party.

As he drew a bead on the target he made sure to push the aiming scope away from his eye. Nearly everyone who had taken the course had earned themselves an idiot cut. The recoil of the rifle driving the scope backwards into the brows of their head, opening a small wound. They were laughed at in the beginning. Then as time went on and everyone began to walk around with a scabbed over mark above their eye, they became known as marks of experience. Those with them looked on at those who bore the same mark and knew they'd been marked by experience. While those who did not were looked on as awaiting their time on the range. No one told the uncut what to expect and so slowly, every member of the Tee-Eff, baring a few exception's, had earned themselves a mark that stood them together as a party.

Pony took a deep breath. Let it half out. Began to build the pressure on the trigger slowly. Not knowing if this rifle took the same five pounds of pressure to pull the trigger back to cycle a round through the firing mechanism.

He heard a bang and looked up. The target was unmarked.

He couldn't have missed?.... Could he?

Come to think of it, he hadn't seen the muzzle flash. And the sound had come over from his right.

Dropping his rifle down a fraction he turned his head and saw another Avenger barrel pointing out of the next stall.

“Now that..... was a shot”! Came the voice of the Turian. Pony looked over at the target over from his and saw the target had been holed. The targets, which were outlines of a person with circles, radiating out from the vital spots, had been holed in the head. A perfect bullseye. “Now”! Came the Turian's voice. “Nine O'clock head”!

A shot rang out. And a hole appeared to the left of the original. Right where nine O'clock would have been.

“Twelve O'clock! In the belly”!

Another shot. And again, a hole appeared where the Turian had called it.

Pony dropped the rifle down and turned to look behind him as the sound of muted laughter reached his ear's. Many of the Misfit's, were chortling as the Turian called another location and in an instant, the rifle rang out and a hole appeared where it had been called. Pony called over. “Stop that”!

The Turian's head popped round the stall. “I'm not doing anything! Swear to spirits”.

Modifié par Redbelle, 01 octobre 2013 - 10:01 .

[Khambilo]

Rothan felt the warmth of another’s hand on his.

“Rea?” he murmured drowsily.

The voice giggled. “No, silly.”

Rothan rolled his eyes as he looked up, meeting Celis’s patronizing gaze. She removed her hand, sliding her fingertips over his fingers.

“Look at him,” Celis simpered as she looked to Lenaia. “He’s practically drooling out of his helmet.”

Lenaia shook her head. “Really is such a baby.”

Rothan let his gaze shift from the blue figures in front of him to the void surrounding. “Where are we?” He asked them.

Celis smiled deviously. “Someplace long.”

Lenaia crooned her head towards Celis but remained facing Rothan. “Someplace round.” She purred.

The air felt thick and hazy, rich with some unknown vapor. It smelled of flowers but stifled every sense. He inhaled slowly, trying to wrap his mind around everything. “That… That makes no sense.”

“Sure it does,” A.Q. said as she walked out from behind them. She glared at Rothan while she moved, but all Rothan could concentrate on was the gaping, bloody hole that was blown through her chest cavity.

Rothan felt the pressure building up in his suit finding its epicenter near the top of his visor, the exact place where A.Q. was looking. A second later, a crack appeared in his visor.

“Its all your fault,” A.Q. continued.

Rothan struggled to find the words. “I—I didn’t—“

Lenaia shot a look to A.Q. “This isn’t about that. There are other things…” She extended her finger towards Celis, lightly touching her on the nose. “More, pressing issues.”

Celis flushed purpled and beamed back. Rothan rolled his eyes again. A typical Celis and Lenaia stunt. He rolled his shoulder back, if not just to try and relieve the pressure.

“If this is about Rea—“

“Is it?” Celis interrupted. “Or is this about something far more… basic.” She leaned forward, wrapping her fingers around the back of Lenaia’s neck and drawing her into a deep kiss.

Rothan looked away. It was like watching his own siblings kiss. That did not stop Celis and Lenaia from deepening the kiss, drawing closer and caressing each other.

“I really don’t see the point,” Rothan at last said in an attempt to end the madness.

Reiza crossed from behind him, casting him a look. “You never did.”

He looked to his instructor quizzically, though she offered no reply as she passed A.Q., walking straight for Celis and Lenaia.

“Object lessons, Rothan,” she said while extending her arm to the embraced asari. “This for example. What do you make of this?”

Rothan did not know what to say. Celis and Lenaia had begun to undress each other, passionately grasping at each other between ripping off clothes. When they were at last stark naked, Rothan merely looked away out of embarrassment. Celis and Lenaia liked to romp around their dorm room in the buff to get a rise out of Rothan.  At first it was titilating, but in the end he was never more than mildly annoyed.

Meanwhile, Arkeer watched the spectacle with his mouth agape, all but drooling.

Reiza looked expectantly to Rothan. “Nothing? This does nothing for you?”

“It does something for me,” Arkeer grunted. He was scratching at the collar of his armor, perhaps trying to vent some hot air.

A.Q. crossed her arms in frustration. Reiza turned to face Admiral Xen. “Any ideas?”

The admiral cocked her head. “He requires further stimuli.”

“Indeed,” Reiza agreed.

Hesitantly, Celis and Lenaia parted revealing Rea standing behind them. She smiled warmly surrounded by a glorious and familiar light. The light peeled and shifted around her and through her. In that light she was pure, untouched by the war, unmarred by the battle scars she had carried for so long. It was the light coursing through her and mending all the wounds, internal and external. Slowly, the light moved through her armor, pulling back the pieces one by one until Rea stood before Rothan uncovered.

He watched her, the vision before him as clear as the essence of her he had felt when they joined. An unseen force was drawing him closer, causing his fingers to clench, for heat to rise uncomfortably in his suit.

“There it is,” Reiza nodded.

Celis and Lenaia smiled, content with the display before them. A.Q.’s gaze only narrowed icily. Arkeer cried happily.

“Fascinating,” Admiral Xen said. “Perhaps we should change the object before him again.”

“Not right now,” Reiza whispered. “There was an object lesson here.”

Rothan was lost in the light, but it was moving further away. But he could only watch in dismay as it engulfed Rea and pulled away.

“Ingenious fixes,” Calban’Vells said.

“There’s nothing broken,” Rothan said. His voiced cracked as the light moved away.

Chendra tugged his hand. “Everything is broken. It always is.”

“That’s just how life is,” Frola’Vells agreed. “How you choose to pick up the pieces and move on is what’s important.”

Ereba ran past him, fazing out of her cloak as she did. “So why aren’t you moving!?”

“I can’t,” Rothan said. “It’s not right.”

“That didn’t stop you before,” Elderis pointed out.

Hylar stepped forward and nodded. “You abandoned us for her.”

Niria clutched the wound in her stomach. “Didn’t the mission come first?”

A.Q. knelt down next to her. “But you abandoned that for her.”

Admiral Xen let her head rest in her hand. “Why? It’s not in your nature.”

Rothan’s head sunk as the light shrunk away. “I don’t know.”

Celis put her hand on his shoulder. “But you do!”

“Do we have to spell it out for you?” Lenaia said as she joined Celis.

“You’re better at this sort of thing than you think,” Firelle agreed.

“Grow an quad. You know what you need to do,” Arkeer said as he elbowed his way in.

“Is that really so hard to do?” Wyld asked.

Miranda looked at him as if searching. “Perhaps you think you’re not capable.”

“Though, it’s not really a question of being capable or not, is it?” Rhys said.

He could feel each of them moving forward, drawing closer to him. Rothan felt empowered and overwhelmed all at once. Meanwhile the light and Rea remained achingly distant. Every fiber of his being ached, yearned, desired as the beings around him coalesced and dissolved before him in a blink as the glass of his visor shattered outward.

“Rothan?”

~~~~

“Rothan?”

Rothan could feel someone pushing on his back, but all he could see was the back of his own hand.

Groggily, Rothan lifted his head from his hand and leaned back to find Hugh standing behind him.

“Wha… What—“

“You fell asleep, I guess.” Hugh said.

Rothan looked back down to the workbench. He remembered sitting there modifying the hard light emitters.  He remembered the modifications he was making to his own suit, and more importantly, the suit the Rea had tasked Sully with tuning up.  He remembered telling the Misfits about how he was going to take a short break.

“I guess I did,” Rothan admitted.

“You looked like you were dreaming too,” Cole stated from behind the starscreamer.

The sides of Rothan’s head began to tingle. “I did.”

“Was it a good dream?” Hugh smirked.

Rothan looked away. “I…um…It was—“ He trailed off. “I should probably install the emitters on the bike.”

“We took care of that already,” Navarro said. “Watch this.”

He crossed to the control panel on the bike and pressed a command key in the holographic display. A high pitched whirring sound emanated from the bike for a second, then the room filled with the orange light of the omni-panels. Hovering in place only a few inches above the chassis of the bike itself, the panel covered nearly every major weak point the bike had, including part of the gun mount that they had rigged. With its jet black body and stabilizer fins extended, now tinged orange by the tech armor, the starscreamer look like some sort of bird made of fire. Humans called such a thing a phoenix, Rothan recalled, a bird the could rise back to life from its own ashes. The analogy seemed fitting to Rothan.

“Good work, guys,” Rothan told them.

“And me too?” Mia asked.

Rothan knelt down and embraced the small thing. “You too.”

One by one, each of them plopped on the ground, taking seats to look at the bike. Navarro let out a huge sigh, at once contented and somewhat weary.

“What now?” Cole asked.

Rothan shrugged. “The calm before, I guess.”

Hugh looked off somewhere else. “I hate waiting for something to happen.”

“Too much like the tunnels,” Navarro agreed.

Cole cocked his head hesitantly towards Rothan. “Is it true what they say about asari commandos?”

“Is what true?”

“That before high risk missions, they find ways to… relieve stress?” Cole smiled.

Hugh quickly reached out his hands to cup Mia’s ears closed. “God, Cole, why!?”

He shrugged. “I’m just curious.”

“There have been some beautiful asari walking around this camp,” Navarro pondered aloud. “Maybe they would be interested in relieving stress with a human.”

“You realize your age in comparison to the asari lifespan, right?” Rothan directed towards both Cole and Navarro. “That would be like… what’s that human expression... robbing the cradle?”

Navarro smirked. “That’s not stopping you.”

Rothan felt heat rising under his visor as he looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh come on!” Mia piped up. Hugh shot her a look. Apparently his attempts to shield the little girl were ineffective.

“It is pretty obvious,” Cole offered.

Rothan exhaled heavily. “I don’t even…”

“Don’t even what?” Navarro asked. “Like her?”

“Of course I like her!” Rothan crossed his arms. “You said that was obvious. It should be obvious to her too!”

Hugh leaned back, giving up on all attempts to shield Mia from the conversation. “You expect Rea to just pick up on that and do the work for you?”

The burning had reached a peaking point within Rothan’s visor. A compulsive desire to rip off his mask to vent the heat came over him for a brief second. Instead, he just balled his hands into a fist. “I tried, okay.”

“Tried what?” Cole asked. “Tried talking to her? Telling her you like her?”

Navarro rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it, I don’t think we’ve heard the words out of your own mouth.”

“What words?” Rothan asked indignantly.

“That you love her,” Navarro answered. “You do love her, right?”

Rothan averted his gaze from the others. “I—“

“No careful navigation,” Hugh said. “Not ‘it should be obvious.’ Man up! Say it. Say ‘I love Rea!’”

Rothan shot him a look.

“Say it,” Cole urged.

“Yeah, say it,” Navarro urged.

Soon all of them joined in a unison chorus, chanting over and over again. “Say it! Say it! Say it!”

Rothan seethed within his suit, feeling all at once embarrassed yet determined to prove them wrong. Perturbed by their discovery. Angry with himself for being obvious. Yet he couldn’t deny what he felt when he was around her.

In the short time he had known her she had seen through him, known him on a level that none had, even before the joining. When he saw her, he saw everything he wanted. When he was around her he drove himself to fight harder, be stronger. She was beautiful in a way that no other person Rothan had encountered was. Graceful, elegant, but strong and resolute. Rothan wanted nothing more than to be there for her, and yet there was that part of her that she had sequestered away from him. It drove him mad at first, but soon Rothan found himself thinking that if that if Rea was happier that way, keeping him away, that would be better. If he had to suffer for her, we would gladly do it.

But the words he was hearing from the Misfits, and before that, Arkeer, plus the dream… it was all just revealing how easy it was to hide behind that very excuse. They were right and wrong at the same time. It was nothing short of enraging.

And the chorus of jeers crescendoed with his frustration unitl all at once Rothan found himself screaming at the top of his lungs.

“I AM IN LOVE WITH REA IALLIS! I! AM IN LOVE WITH!! REA!! IALLIS!!!!

Then an eerie calm fell over the room. The Misfits all shared somewhat bemused expressions, mixed with a bit of shock.

“Easy there, tiger,” Navarro chuckled. “Save some for the girl.”

Rothan sunk back and sighed, but slowly found that sigh of relief becoming a laugh.

“I am…” Rothan whispered. “I really am…”

He was smiling uncontrollably and he didn’t know why. For the moment, telling Rea those words seemed plausible, seemed right, and filled Rothan with joy not terror.

The moment passed to quickly as the curtain to the rest of the armory peeled back, revealing Sully’s crooning head.

“Bloody hell, that looks spectacular,” he said, eyeing up the starscreamer. “Excellent work, gents.”

Then he narrowed his eyes on Rothan. “They’re looking for you at the comm. station. There’s an incoming transmission for you.”

Rothan stood and composed himself. “Transmission? From where?”

Sully grimaced and pointed up. “Someone in the battle above wants to talk to you.”

Modifié par Khambilo, 02 octobre 2013 - 12:34 .

[Khambilo]

It was a short walk from the armory to the comms station. Within a minute, he had found the place. Like many of the camp’s structures, the comms station rested within the ruins of a building. Bundles of wires coiled over the floor leading to various pieces of equipment, including a floor mounted holoprojector. As he entered, the alliance officer behind the main console looked up.

“Rothan’Vells nar Ketsa?” He asked.

Rothan nodded. “How did you know?”

“We don’t get many quarians around here,” he answered. “Got a transmission for you from a quarian ship in the Sword fleet. The Ketsa.”

Rothan felt his heart begin to race. His parents were here in the battle for earth. He was at once elated to hear the news and yet filled with dread. He felt a pressure clench around his gut, and part of him wanted to run, to not know what was waiting on the other side of that transmission, but the alliance officer was already tapping away, making the connections.

Rothan hesitantly took a step before the floor panel as it began to light up blue. Particles of blue swirled in a sort of static, formless at first, but they were moving through their own static, coalescing into the form of a female quarian.

“Rothan?”

He nearly jumped. “Mom!”

“Oh, Rothan, thank the ancestors you’re alive,” Frola sighed heavily. “Your name was on a list of the MIAs and we feared the worst.”

“I’m fine mom, really I am,” Rothan said. “Its crazy down here, but I’m alive.”

Frola put her hand to her head. “I don’t know how you do it. Your father is… having enough trouble up here as it is.”

Rothan felt the pressure within him again. “Why? What's going on?”

She swallowed hard before continuing. “We were closing in, assisting a Turian frigate. It was close to one of those things, one of those Reapers. But they were in trouble and Captain Ciron wanted to help. We were the closest ship.”

Frola looked away. “We took a direct hit. We were lucky that we didn't lose the whole ship. But the beam… it—took out the whole command deck.”

Rothan could not bear to look at her. He knew what that meant, the lives that were lost. Captain Ciron and his family were close family friends.

“Your father was quick though,” Frola continued. “Routed command control through the engineering deck before we lost complete control… Rothan, your father’s in command of the Ketsa.”

Rothan snapped his attention back to her. “What? No, that's not possible. What about Lieutenant Farro or Treybin’Gax?”

“All gone,” Frola said somberly. “The line of succession is pretty clear. I never thought it would come to that myself.”

“I’m sorry,” Rothan said.

Frola nodded. “Me too. But we signed up for this."

“What do you mean?”

“After we took Rannoch, we left a small group of ships to defend the planet,” she explained. “As a modified support vessel, we were tasked with staying behind. You should have seen it Rothan. The homeworld, it was so beautiful, and Chendra, she got to see it… But then Captain Ciron gathered all the senior officers together to call a vote. He told us about what was at stake. The result was unanimous. We volunteered to join the allied forces. Just like you, I suppose.”

Rothan’s head sunk. He never wanted this for them. He wanted them to be safe, far away from the conflict, but things rarely turned out the way he wanted.

He was silent, uncapable of looking to his mother.

“I want you to know Rothan…” she began. “I want you to know that we’re very proud of you. No matter how this turns out, we’re so proud of you.”

Rothan could only nod.

“We love you, Rothan.”

“I love you too.”

~~~~

Rothan wandered back to the armory in silence, for the first time feeling the weight of the calm before.

The opportunity to see his mother one last time simply presented itself to him. He was glad for it, no doubt, but if it he was ever going to have a similar opportunity with Rea, it would have to be sooner as opposed to later.

Rothan entered the back room of the armor one last time, the misfits still gathered around the Starscreamer. They greeted him with smiles, and even though he knew they could not see it he smiled back.

“Thanks, guys,” he said. “I really appreciate the help.”

“Don’t mention it,” Hugh said

Modifié par Khambilo, 02 octobre 2013 - 07:07 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Marisa and Sergeant Clark arrived back in the pub. Someone noticed the N7 but didn't notice the Asari, and called everyone to attention.

"At ease. As you were." Marisa replied then she turned to Clark. "It's hell being an officer sometimes."

"I'm just glad we're not in the same military." Clark laughed. "Something big is going down and it's going down quickly. You can feel the electricity in the air. Everyone is on edge. It's not like it was an hour ago."

The two stopped and were face to face. Marisa was looking at Clark right in his blue eyes. "Where are you going to be through all of this?"

"Well, someone has to keep an eye on Sid, Sully, and my son, and the squad that guards this place. That's me." Clark winked. "So you come back here after this is over. I'll be here. Damn, I never thought I'd meet anyone like you."

"Hey, Clark? Just in case, you know, things don't work out the way we plan. I'd like to leave you with a little something to remember me by. I usually don't do this so quickly, but with this war." Marisa sighed.

Clark went to kiss her.

"No not that. Relax." She rested her forehead against his and her eyes went black. "Embrace eternity."

Clark found himself floating with her alone just the two of them. Marisa spoke to him. "This is called bonding. It is the most intimate thing an Asari can do. Our two minds or souls touch each other and we share memories here. That's where you used to live isn't it? You were happy there. You're a good man. I will be back for you if I survive."

"Is that Thessia?

"That's the way it used to be before the Reapers. That is where I used to live. That was my mate. He was a Batarian. He was a good man. I know your races history with Batarians, but they're not all like that. He's dead now. He died of old age. That's the thing about being so long lived. I may outlive three or four partners in my life. We cherish the time we have with each of them. Then I joined the Council advocates office.

"But let's not dwell on that now." She embraced him and ran her soft hands up his naked back.

"We're right in the middle of the pub." He laughed.

"All they see is two people standing touching foreheads." She giggled.

He caressed her ... (fade to black for forum purposes.... use your imagination for the very AO rated scene in bonding space)

Slowly they returned to Earth. "That is what it's like to love an Asari? Marisa, I'll be waiting for you. Please be careful." Clark kissed her and they embraced.

"I've got to sit with my squad now." Marisa said. "I wish I could stay with you." She squeezed his hand.

"I wish you could, too."

Marisa turned and walked over to the table where her squad was, stopping to look at Clark and the two caught each other's eyeonce more. Clark winked and smiled. Marisa's eyes were soft and she smiled warmly. Then she sat down.

Ranassa had taken notice of the entire thing as the squad returned to the table. "Looks like my Captain's found love. Alright! And he's a good one, too!" She put her hand on the Captain's armor. "Don't you worry, ma'am. We'll make sure you get back alive, right T? I don't make empty promises."

"What?" T had been driftin off into space. "Oh. Whatever she said goes double."

"T? Keep an extra eye on my Captain out there, okay?" Ranassa motioned her head at Clark.

"Oh. Now I get it. Yes, ma'am. You are under the official protection of the Ranassa - T Team, ma'am." T sounded very offical.

"Thanks, but it's fine. You do your jobs and follow our sergeant's orders. And everyone at this table. I'm deferring all authority to the sergeant, and if anything happens to her, it falls to the corporal. Next in line is the specialist. And next is Ranassa. I don't have any combat experience."

"That's fair." Ranassa said. "You're alright, ma'am. I like you."

Officers began to enter the pub. One could definitely feel it in the air that something was about to go down.

Sergeant Soniri climbed up on the table and everyone thought she was going to put on another show, but she motioned with her hands to everyone to be quiet. (Click link before reading further)   It took a few moments, but she waited, and looked at everyone in the pub: human, asari, turian, and krogan. Everyone fell silent.

Then she took a breath, and began to speak to the soldiers in the pub.



“Fellow soldiers, allies, and friends. In a few moments, we'll go into perhaps the most viscious battle any of us have had to face. Do not be deterred. I stand before the finest soldiers this galaxy has to offer.

“The Reapers tore our worlds apart. They destroyed our cities, and our homes. Many of you have lost friends and family members, or you know someone who has. The Reapers have been relentless, but they have not beaten us.

“Never before have the Reapers had to face a galaxy that stood united against them. It is time to make the Reapers pay. Today, we will bring the might of the entire galaxy down upon them. Today, we will avenge those who have died. Today, we fight for those who still live. Today, we fight so that tomorrow our mates and our children will no longer live in fear. That is something the reapers will never understand. It will be difficult, and it will be bloody. Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men, and women. Today, the battle will be decisive, and we will be victorious.”



Sgt. Soniri hopped down from the table and went around the pub shaking hands and embracing each and every one of the soldiers.

"That is no sergeant." Ereba said softly to herself.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 02 octobre 2013 - 11:23 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with RedBelle)

“FORE!”

Wyld’s voice echoed off of London’s buildings. It was followed by the loud smack of something hitting a light metal container. A moment after that, it was followed by a distant, hollow clang.

“Just missed,” Rea assessed. “By the way, Momma, you chose an excellent place for us to park.”

“Thank you, Miss Rea,” Momma responded, her voice modulating to express pride. Momma had driven the Valkyr through the city streets without incident while Rea and Wyld spoke. As they had come to the end of their conversation, the Valkyr squeezed itself through a narrow alley, barely wide enough to accommodate it. Momma brought the Valkyr to a halt just at the alley’s exit, revealing a spacious courtyard.

Surrounding them was a quad of four residential buildings. Though their windows had been blown out, and there were other scars of war, the buildings were relatively intact. A playground graced one corner of the courtyard, and the occasional sculpture decorated the grounds. Much of the typical, grim evidence of humanity’s fight were not present. The vegetation was gone, probably wilted away with no one to care for the grounds, and a fine coating of ash overlaid almost everything before them. But above, the Moon, stars, and the occasional flare indicating a space battle, lit the courtyard. The scene was bathed in silvery twilight, but to the two who had come upon this place, the area was devoid of Reapers. They had relaxed, talked, begun to rib each other, then brag. And then.....

Jerry-Ann Wyld was standing on the bonnet of the Bucky Valkyr, the end of a barrel of a dysfunctional sniper rifle in her hand. She bent gingerly to balance the spent thermal clip on the nub where the Cadillac’s hood ornament used to be attached. Rea stood just behind her, out of the arc of her swing.

Rea teased, “Why don’t you try for a closer window?”

Wyld waved the asari off. “Shush you. I’m going to win with this swing.” She stood back up and stretched. “Medic versus Commando? This'll be over before you know it”.

Rea raised a brow, but otherwise made no move or comment. Wyld meanwhile took up position, stuck the tip of her tongue out the side of her mouth, and eyed her shot. Lining the stock of the rifle up with the clip, she pulled back and swung. The thermal clip was propelled high into the air, flipped end over end, and headed directly towards the window frame Wyld was aiming for.

At the last second, the clip accelerated unnaturally and crashed against the building, above the window.

Wyld glared at Rea, who batted her lashes innocently, and remarked, “You…little…gremlin….”

Rea winked and laughed gleefully.

Wyld let out a sigh as she shook her head. "Should have suggested poker,” she grumbled.

Rea walked up to where Wyld stood, holding another spent clip in her hand. "Would you like my turn? I'm sure you'll do better next time.”

Wyld looked up at Rea, who seemed to be doing her best not to grin. "Let's see how you do,” she said as she handed over the makeshift club.

Rea took the rifle and took up the spot Wyld vacated. "Would you like to pick my target? Something easy for a beginner.”

Wyld raised an eyebrow as she looked up at the top windows. Rea followed her eye line. "Jaaaaan.”

Wyld chuckled. "How about third level?” She looked and pointed towards a window that, miraculously, still held a pane of glass. "That one. Right there.”

Rea looked. "Ooooo. You’re trying to make a vandal out of me.”

"I thought Asari Commandos were as hard as they come.” Wyld answered with a grin. "If you’re worried about getting a shot through the glass, we could pick another.....”

Rea stuck her tongue out at Wyld before bending over to place the slagged clip on the improvised tee. "Just watch. That pane won't know what hit it.”

Jan shrugged and activated her Omni tool. "Think I'll check my messages. This could take awhile.”

"Oh yea of little faith.”

"And stand with your legs a little further apart.”

Rea did so.

"Now bring your shoulders back.”

Rea did and her chest jutted out.

"Now arch your back juuuust a little and wet you lips.”

Rea turned to throw Wyld a loof of mock suspicion. "Are you trying to put me off?”

Wyld was sitting on the Valkyr's front window frame as she widened her eyes and looked off to the side. ".......Maaaaybe?”

Rea chuckled and turned back to her task. "An Asari commando is prepared for anything,” she said as she lined the stock up with the clip. "We are focused on our goals and nothing distracts us......” She went on as she raised the club and took a quick practice swing. ".....And when the time comes. We hold.....” She raised the club for the swing proper. "....Nothing......” The club cut through the air. ".....Baa-aaaaaaaack!”

Just before the club made contact with the clip, the suspension of the Valkyr jerked the front upwards at a slight angle. Rea's club hit the clip just as it happened and she suddenly found that one of her feet was up in the air, throwing off her balance as she hopped back into Wyld, who caught her, looking utterly unfazed. "Jaaaaan!”

"Look.” Wyld pointed. Rea did and saw the clip sailing through the air. It seemed like it would hit. But as it sailed closer, Rea saw it was just off target, hitting the wall to the right of the window with a metallic thunk before falling to the ground.

Rea glared at Wyld. "That was you!”

Now it was Wyld's turn to look innocent. "I was checking my messages.” She looked at where the shot had hit. "Loved the bit about being focused by the way.” Rea kept glaring at her. "And the holding nothing back part? I loved that.....” Rea felt the muscles in her jaw twitch as she tried to suppress a smile. "And distractions? It was like you were one with the clip the whole way through.”

Rea let out a snort of derision that turned into a laugh. "Could you focus so well I wonder. If I did this?” Rea jammed her hands into Wyld's sides and tickled her. Wyld immediately squealed and slid down the windshield on the bonnet as she tried to grab Rea's hands. Rea kept pulling them back each time Wyld came close to grabbing them, only to dart forward to an undefended area.

When Wyld had slid down far enough Rea straddled her and kept up her assault. "You’ve never faced an Asari Commando before, have you Jan!” Rea gloated as she tickled Wyld incessantly. Wyld could do nothing but scrunch her face up and take it, her lungs heaving for breath as she could do nothing to stop herself from laughing. Rea had pinned her arms to her sides with her legs. "Now you shall feel my full powe.....!”

They were interrupted by the sounds of heavy footsteps approaching. Rea ceased. Wyld lay underneath her, gasping for breath and looking utterly spent as she turned her head and saw the YMIR approaching them. It came close until it was at eye level with them on the bonnet and it swung its rocket launcher hand towards them. Both saw a small insulated box tied to it.

"Your pizza is ready.” Momma said.

The scent that reached Rea’s nose caused her mouth to water. She stood up, captivated by the YMIR and its bundle. “That smells delicious…”

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Wyld half gasped, half exclaimed as she caught her breath, got up unsteadily, and then collapsed on her knees to undo the ties. “You will feel so much better after this!”

Rea angled her head forward to watch as Wyld slid a smaller, square package out of the insulated box and opened its top. Steam escaped and Rea sniffed eagerly. She inadvertently inched closer to the box, and spoke bedazzlingly, “Its so…simple. And yellow. And red. Why am I craving it so much?”

Wyld eyed Rea's hunched over form, and saw the way she would eat the delectable dish in her mind.

Jan saw herself, too. The toppings, while she hadn't been the one to choose on this occasion, Wyld mentally chided herself, were of secondary concern.

Wyld asked, "Ever had takeout on Earth?” Rea shook her head. "Well then, I think it's only fair you take the first slice.”

"Is there a ritual we must undertake first? Some form of thanks giving?”

Wyld thought about it and turned to Momma. "Who made this? It smells wonderful.”

"I was able to engage the service's of a Mr. Bickerstaff. He prepared this meal for you.”

Wyld turned back to Rea. "Let's thank him.” She gestured towards the box. "Dig in.”

Rea rubbed her hands together and tried to figure out where to grab hold. She put a finger right into the cheese and yanked it back. “It’s hot!”

“Grab the edge,” Wyld said as she shook her head.

Rea grabbed the crust and lifted. A triangular slice lifted out and the cheese started sliding off.

“Quick,” Wyld instructed, “Hold the tip with your other hand!” Rea did as she was told, and held the pizza slice in front of her, wondering what to do next. Wyld tried not to laugh as Rea stared at the slice like it was some great mystery. “Okay, Rea. All you have to do is fold the edge you picked it up with a little, and start eating the other end.”

Lifting the slice, Rea touched the tip with her tongue and snapped it back. Her eyes widened and she looked at Wyld. Then she took her first bite. Rea chewed for a bit and jumped slightly. Then she took another, much larger bite. Her eyes watered and she started waving her hand in front of her mouth while hopping around in a circle.

“If it’s too hot, give it a minute,” Wyld advised as she chortled.

“MMMfffssGGGDDDD!” Rea was incomprehensible with her mouth full of pizza. But she shook her head and consumed another, enormous bite. Cheese and tomato sauce dripped out of the edges of her mouth and she rolled her eyes upwards, ecstatically. As her jaw labored with the food, she glanced back down at the pizza like a priceless treasure. When she finally chewed enough to speak, she gutturally avowed, “There are not enough words in the galaxy to describe this. It is soooooo gooooooood!!!”

"Well there's more where that came from!” Wyld moved to lean against the windscreen and, picking up her own slice, began chewing. "Hmmm,” she groaned. "I'd almost forgotten how good takeout is.” She began looking over what had been used as toppings when she saw Rea looking at her, examining her technique as she held and chewed on her slice.

Wyld gestured towards the box. "Eat up. It's best served hot.” Rea dived in and joined Wyld leaning against the windscreen. Wyld sighed. "This is the life. Good pizza. A round of golf ready to go.”

Rea spoke with her mouth full, "MMMhhroooeeeatted.”

Wyld had just taken a bite and turned with a questioning look. "Ooomffehaat?”

Rea had to put her hand over her mouth to stop from spitting out what she was eating untill she knew she could trust herself not to laugh. "Guns and steel, did I sound like that just now?”

The two kept gobbling down their treat. Most of the way through her last slice, Rea pulled off the final bit of cheese topping. She played with it on the fingers of one hand while stuffing the rest of the crust in her mouth. Wyld saw a modest purple hue had returned to the asari’s cheeks, and her eyelids had slightly lowered in satisfaction.

Rea teased out the cheese, curiously, until it formed a long string. Then she pinched one end, whirled the string in a circle over her head, and flung it afar. “Thank you Mister Bickerstaff,” Rea said, satiated. She lifted her foot, pointed the toe on her thin athletic shoe, and nudged Wyld with it. “And thank you, Jan.”

“Thank you”. Wyld said in return. “Nights like this? It's the company that makes a night out special.” Wyld snuggled down. "One year from now. You. Me. Our two halfs. Pillow fight! Then pizza!” Jan smiled. "I bet you'd be handy with a duck down.” Wyld abruptly felt her lids become heavy as her stomach rumbled its satisfaction. "It would be nice though. Coming back here. A year from now. Seeing if anyone came back.”

Wyld relaxed where she lay. "Or maybe you could invite me and Zee to Thessia. I'd like to go. I've never been there. I want to take Zee walking there sometime. But I don't know anywhere I could take her.”

She yawned. "Maybe a beach. Somewhere we can go barefoot and feel a warm breeze. Somewhere we can hear waves. A place to sit. Hold each other till the sunset.” As Wyld spoke, she raised up one of her legs and angled the foot back and forth. “I could never do beaches before. Now? I bet I could swim again.”

“If you ever came to Thessia, you could come to the shore my family goes on vacation to once a year.” Rea reminisced. “It’s really my favorite place in the galaxy. The sand is white, the ocean is amethyst and deep, and inland there are nothing but rolling grass hills for kilometers.”

Wyld was busy chowing down on the last piece that had begun to get away from her. She swallowed the whole piece before looking back over at Rea. "Mmweeeiihompooow.”

The YMIR that stood nearby made a clucking noise. "Try not to speak with your mouth full Jerry-Ann, or I'll revoke your driving privileges.”

Rea saw the look of panic erupt on Wyld's face as she concentrated on chewing. Rea meanwhile took a moment to stretch her hands back as she laid on the windscreen. Looking up, she saw the odd flash appear, like stars twinkling. She rolled her head to the side, knowing what those flashes meant, but unwilling to let go of the moment she and Wyld had stolen for themselves. Peering over at Wyld, she saw her friend had finished eating and laid as she did, on the windscreen, looking up into the sky too. Jan’s eyes crinkled at the edges as she too saw the bright lights dance, bloom and then fade.

Rea examined the buildings before them once more. Places where people had once lived. Now empty and desolate. She sighed.

The moment was fast coming to an end.

But not quite gone yet.

"I like the Valkyr,” Rea said out loud. "It's carried us a long way from the war. Given us privacy. Allowed us to find a moment to ourselves.” She glanced at the YMIR. "I should thank you as well,” Rea said, addressing Momma. "You have also been there to look after us both.”

"She's carried me through a lot.” Wyld affirmed, still looking into the sky. Rea wondered if she was talking about Momma or the Valkyr. Or both.

Rea stroked the hood they lay upon and sighed. "I feel you have a connection to this vehicle. It seems... you love it?”

Wyld flopped her head over to look at Rea. "That..... does sound like something I would do.”

"Jerry-Ann has been extremely instructive in helping me come to terms with how I should interact with others.” Momma chipped in. "Though I came into the world knowing my purpose in life. It has been through contact with others that has given me perspective on how to go about my primary function while exploring other pursuits for myself.”

"What is your primary function?” Rea asked.

Wyld answered, “To be a good mother to the boy she considers her son.” She turned to look at the YMIR. "But I keep wondering. Why don't you ever call him by his name?”

"He refuses to tell anyone his real name.”

Rea blinked. "What happened to him?”

"He lost his mother in the Reaper attack. I was a product of.....circumstance. He wanted his mother. She was.... not available. I had to take her place. I do not call the boy by his name because I do not know it. I cannot call him Gizmo because that is a nick name given to him by Jerry-Ann." Momma paused. "I hope that one day he will feel able to tell me who he is.”

Wyld chewed her lip. "Why not dig through the database?”

"It would mean more if he told me.”

"Why?”

Momma paused. "It just would.”

Rea leaned back. The conversation felt surreal. An AI that was looking after them, and wanting to protect a young child? Suddenly the laws against AI research looked cruelly slanted towards making sure a being like Momma would never come to exist. Perhaps there was hope for Momma, however. If the Geth could make peace, and become allies…

Rea looked between Jan and the YMIR. "It would seem I was mistaken before. I now see two good friends. One who was right in front of me. The other who was hidden from view, but was there, nonetheless.”

Wyld chuckled. "You should start a pizza delivery service,” she told Momma. "Pizza as good as Momma makes.”

"Bickerstaff was..... Ah...," Momma said, the YMIR's head nodding. "...You are making a jest?”

Rea ran her hands along the bonnet once more. "I do like your body Momma.” she said after awhile, "But I am afraid that for me.... I should require something with a little more speed.”

Wyld's head whipped around. "Bucky has speed!”

“Bucky has power. That’s different. Bucky also has charm,” Rea acquiesced as she smacked her hand twice on the bonnet. “If I were going to punch a brute, I’d want to do it with Bucky! It’s not really my thing…my family is a jet bike family. And I really am not qualified to handle one of your Earth ground vehicles. But I bet Bucky has an independent drive motor for each wheel. Is that right, Momma?”

“Affirmative,” Momma’s voice answered, again modulated with a tinge of pride.

“A Mako engine, powering four independent drive motors, each with Kassa axles, epicyclic gearing for the wheels, transbrakes, manual valve bodies and heavy duty gear sets in the transmissions. Oh, and lets not forget an Eezo powered gravitation displacement device. The torque in Bucky must be incredible!”

As Rea continued Wyld flopped back and closed her eyes. "Hmmmm. Talk engines to me some more.”

"Do you know engines?”

Wyld let out a sigh that sounded like regret. "I dabbled. I know the basics. But yeah....,” she said rolling over. "I do like hearing about a good machine......as long as it's one that stays on the ground. Though, personally.....,” she said, drawing out the last word, "I get a better understanding of what's being talked about if I can jump in the drivers seat and have a go.”

Rea sucked in her cheeks before agreeing, "That would seem to be the best way, to judge of how a vehicle performs.”

Wyld spoke to the YMIR. "What do you say? Want to let someone else take you for a spin?”

The YMIR looked between Rea and Wyld, and then turned and stomped off. As it did, they heard Momma's voice coming out of the Valkyr's dashboard. "I think having the opportunity to gauge the prowess of another driver would be welcome.”

Wyld opened her mouth to say something. Then shut it and looked at Rea again. "Is it me or is the car judging us as much as we're judging it?”

"I believe so,” said Rea. "Although I imagine Momma is simply teasing you.” She looked coyly at Wyld. "Now who may she have picked that up from I wonder?”

Wyld refused to take the bait. "One thing to decide before we head out; the Valkyr doesn't have displays. It's all in the Kestrel helm. With it you can see the readouts. Without it.... you have to trust your senses and your judgment.”

Rea nodded. "Just how much power does the Valkyr possess? Give me an idea.”

Wyld grinned. "The first time I took her out.....I mounted a Mako. She needs a gentle touch in confined spaces. Otherwise she'll tear through anything. You game to try her out?”

Wyld looked at Rea and knew that she'd made up her mind already as she looked back with a spark of desire dancing in her eyes.

Tossing the Kestrel helmet on the seat, Rea smirked. “If you like driving Bucky, Jan, then we’re going with instincts.”

Modifié par Kel Riever, 02 octobre 2013 - 11:28 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following installment was a collaboration with RedBelle)

The Bucky Valkyr roared and popped a wheelie. When its front wheels descended, Rea and Wyld bounced against their seat belts. Rea opened her mouth in a silent shout and looked at Jan with amazement.

“I told you,” Wyld said, smugly.

Rea eased into the controls this time, rolling the Valkyr out into the courtyard. Slowly at first, she drove around the sculptures and the playground. Then she pushed the power and spun the steering wheel, to drift the Valkyr and churn up dirt wherever she went. Wyld watched Rea as she was totally engaged with the vehicle. Rea pulled the Valkyr to a halt in the middle of the courtyard, between two of the sculptures.

“It’s so friendly to the driver,” Rea admired. “Is everything that’s made on Earth like this? So brilliant in its simplicity?”

Wyld answered, “The wheel and stick shift is a design from before my people put a man on the Moon. Even further back than that, really. It's been refined and simplified a lot. And I have to admit,” she said smiling, “I like having something I can touch to drive with. Interfaces are okay, but when you’re driving, I like to feel the shake of the frame running through my hands. It's like she's telling me how she feels. You should feel her with an open throttle. It's like.... it's like she wants to just..... go!”

“I couldn’t even open her up or we’d be blasting out of here in less than a second; it’s a shame, I’d really like to unleash Bucky.” Rea contemplated, and then gasped with an idea. “Momma, what are this vehicle’s typical defenses?”

“Under normal circumstances, the Valkyr is equipped with a barrier shield, an array of projectile weapons…”

“No, Momma. Without the guns, what does the Valkyr do to defend itself?”

“Without its weapons, the Bucky Valkyr must rely on its shield, its armor, the driver and the passengers on board to defend itself.”

“All right, Momma, it’s time to learn a few things.” Rea beckoned for the Kestrel Helmet lying in the footwell at Wyld’s feet. Setting her foot down on it, Wyld picked it up as it hung from underneath and she took it to hand it to Rea, all the while wondering what the asari was up to.

“I need to translate what I want Momma to do in her language,” Rea said, as she saw the look Wyld gave her. “The helmet will let me be technical. Let’s see, did they?...Yes. Thankfully somebody was thinking about asari when they made this.” Rea fiddled with the rear of the helmet until she pressed her fingers into a seam. The back of the helmet elongated slightly, and she was able to place the helmet comfortably over her crest and head.

Wyld, concerned, asked, “What exactly are you doing to my…” She coughed suddenly. “....to the Valkyr?”

“Bucky has four potentially independent wheels, a Mako engine, and a gravity displacer. She can fight just by herself, which will be important if anything ever works its way below your turret plane level, or below the line of sight of the passengers – Bucky does ride tall – or, well,….just as an option. I’m going to have Momma come up with some pre-programmed defensive sequences that are voice activated by code words that will be easy for you to remember.”

Wyld was squinting throughout Rea's explanation. “........What?”

“Don’t worry,” Rea reassured Wyld, or tried to as she began conversing with Momma, using words Wyld knew of, but had no clue what they meant in the way Rea was using them.

Wyld wondered if she sounded before like the way Rea did now, when she went on and on with medical jargon. If so, she suddenly felt sorry for her, until she remembered how she'd stuck her finger in...... that spot.....She blushed, afraid to tell Rea just what she had felt. She then decided that perhaps, on this occasion, turn around would be fair play.

Only where to poke her?

She was considering areas that ought to be that sensitive to an asari when Rea stopped talking and pulled off the Kestrel helmet. “There.” She said.

“Umm,” Wyld said. “Please tell me Bucky's going to be okay after this? Because it's a long walk back to Bastion without her.”

Placing her hands on the wheel, Rea nodded. “I picked some basic Earth terminology for the maneuvers.” She revved the Valkyr’s engine, and rolled forward to the statue in front of the vehicle. “You, ah, better hold on, Jan.”

Wyld warned, “Well, as long as you don't scratch the paint work…”

“Left hook!”

The Bucky Valkyr roared to life and rose up on its rear wheels. It shot directly towards the statue, maintaining its position. As it approached, the forward left wheel reversed direction, the right rear wheel braked, and Valkyr skidded towards the right. The left front wheel crashed into the statue, blasting it off its mount. Then the Valkyr dropped back onto all fours and came to a halt.

“Momma,” Rea asked, “How was that?”

“Without the ability to exactly match my words in your language, I will settle with, ‘Strangely satisfying’.”

Jan’s jaw dropped. All she could say was, “Ding....Dong!”

Rea rumbled the Valkyr up to another statue.

“Right hook!”

Bucky repeated the maneuver, but in the opposite direction. The statue impacted was thrown about five meters backward and shattered on the ground.

“And how was that, Momma?”

“I could get used to this.”

“You’ve got defense to the aft as well,” Rea informed Jan as she eyed the playground, now positioned directly behind Bucky.

“Mule kick!”

This time, Bucky accelerated in full reverse, popping up the rear wheels. It ran, tires first, into a series of outdoor playsets, crushing them as it went. When the Valkyr finally came to a halt, all that was left of the playsets was flattened debris.

Gloating, Rea started to ask, “So, Momma…”

All of a sudden, Rea and Wyld were whipped around as the Bucky Valkyr spun three-hundred sixty degrees in place, and then snapped to a stop.

With trepidation, Rea asked, “Momma, what was that?”

“I was inventing my own defensive maneuvers.”

“Uh, why don’t we have you run those by Jan before you do them,” Rea cautiously suggested. She then put her chin on her fist and asked Jan, “So, what do you think?”

Wyld looked around the open area and saw everything that had been standing was now either flattened, toppled, smashed or otherwise destroyed.

Jan was starting to rethink the pillow fight idea from before. If Rea brought this much gumption to her work....Nut's to it, she thought, I'll just yank out some feathers. Clearly she needs a handicap. Wyld turned to Rea with a feral grin.

"I think.....we should take the scenic route back to Bastion and let you see what the Valkyr can really do.”

Momma chimed in, "Mako forces have charted areas around the camp where there are low possibilities for contact. And along the way, perhaps I could show you, Miss Rea, a maneuver Jerry-Ann taught me called the doughnut.”

Rea raised a questioning glance to Wyld, who in turn felt her stomach growl despite what they had eaten earlier. "I could actually go for a doughnut about now. It's more food,” she told Rea.

"Have you taught Momma the pizza?”

"No, no. The doughnut turns things into pizza and..... never mind,” Wyld relented, figuring they'd probably both had enough of fast food for one night. "What do you say? Want to take her for a spin?”

"We should probably head back.”

Wyld mulled it over. "If you drive fast.......We'll get there faster even if we go the long way around.” Wyld leaned back in her seat. "Besides, I'm enjoying being a passenger for a change.” Wyld grinned. "Go on Ree. Take us for a spin.”

"I have located routes relatively free of impediments. Of if you prefer, routes that will test your driving and the Valkyr's limitations.”

"Really?” Asked Wyld.

"No. The Valkyr is capable of traversing anything on the streets or through buildings,” came Momma's somewhat sheepish reply. "I was trying not to sound too arrogant on the matter. In the hope that we might attempt them as I have focused my efforts on routes Mako's have charted where we might.... I believe the phrase is, get some air.”

Wyld chuckled. "Momma wants air.”

~~~~

“This is Wong at the North Gate. How did you contact me directly on my line?”

“Questions later. This is Commander Wyld. I need you to make sure there is a clear landing zone on the other side of that gate, immediately. Do you copy?”

Corporal Wong looked at the other sentry on top of the gate, who stared back with a confused expression. The Corporal looked around both sides of the North Gate of Camp Bastion, uncharacteristically bereft of anyone at all. “Roger, Commander. We are clear. Um, pardon my curiosity, but what exactly is going on?” Wong heard the far away roar of a Mako engine. It was getting closer.

“No time to explain! And…you better duck.”

The Bucky Valkyr rounded a corner within sight of the North Gate, churning up pavement and dirt as it charged. Both sentries dived out of the way as the Valkyr hit a large concrete divider and vaulted into the air, over their heads. As it passed, barely audible over the engine roar, was the sound of someone cheering.

“WOOOOOOO!!!”

Rea spun the wheel as the Valkyr landed inside Camp Bastion. Bucky careened sideways down the street, leaving behind a set of thick tread marks. The smell of burnt rubber compound filled the air as the vehicle came to a stop.

Jan took off her seat belt, stood with her fists in the air and cheered again, “WOOOOOOO!!! That’s my Bucky!” She brought her hands down and pointed them both at Rea like pistols. “You de Asaaa-Reeeee!”

Bastion’s inhabitants farther along the street inside the camp gawked at the Valkyr and its crew of two. One, a krogan, could be heard shouting excitedly, “Another Tomkah!”

Rea gripped Bucky’s wheel tightly, and grinned from ear to ear. She relished, “So…much…fun!” Wyld looked down at her and she looked back up. They were elated, and yet regretted that they would be passing on to their other duties soon. Rea caved. “I just can’t bear to say goodbye yet. Why don’t you come back to the armory  and get suited up with me?”

Wyld sat down heavily in the passenger seat. Still grinning, she looked over to Rea who wore the same expression and Wyld's grin fell to a look of happy resignation.

"Nearly time...... isn't it?” She looked out the front windscreen. "I don't want to say goodbye either. Of course I’m coming.... I......” All of a sudden, words escaped her. They both knew what was going to happen. What demands would be made of them. What they in turn could expect. They were soldiers. Frayed at the edges perhaps......But after everything they had done together.....?

It was so easy to forget the future life they were fighting for in the present. A life free of what they now fought against, like it had been the past. A future, free of the shadows in their lives. Though the shadows had brought them all together, now more than ever.....Wyld wanted them gone. And sending them away meant going to put her armour on.

At that moment, Wyld wondered how she could ever have wanted to be anything other than a soldier. Though small, she, and others like Zia and Rea, Steiner and Michaels, so many other's she had met. They all had the weight of the galaxy on their shoulders. And if they failed, there was no one left to succeed. The weight didn't seem crushing. It felt empowering. High stakes, high risk. No reason to hold back.

Of course, that didn't mean they couldn't have a little fun along the way.

“Of course I'll come”. Wyld reiterated. “All is one, right?”

Rea smiled. “Yes.”

“BFF.” Wyld said serenely as she held out her hand.

Rea took it, frowning.  “I'm not sure I know what that means.”

“It means......something different. But the same, in a way." Wyld said as she looked at Rea slyly. "Though if this is just so you can see my legs again....,” she said, leaving the sentence hanging as her grin returned.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 03 octobre 2013 - 01:32 .

[Redbelle]

The Turian watched as the Terra Firma Pony glared at him. He was about to say something, probably a stupid something given what the Turian had seen of him, when a shot rang out.

The Pony and Turian both looked down range and saw another bullseye in the left hand of the target.

Pony abruptly dropped his rifle's muzzle to the ground and walked around the stall. He stopped.

He saw the Turian standing next to a Krogan.

A little Krogan. Who stood probably about as high as the Turian's waist. In his hands was the training rifle and he held it steadily. “Sorry”. He said to the Turian. “I like shooting things”.

The Turian shrugged at the Pony. “Tch, teenagers”.

The Man from the Tee-Eff looked at the Turian. To the young Krogan. Down range at the target. Back to the Turian.

His face was beet red with fury.

The Turian shrugged once more. “Hey, you could have fired off a few rounds yourself by now. Don't let Groon stop you”. He said nodding towards the Krogan teen. “Though you should probably know.... He's the worst shot out of all of us”.

“Am not”. Groon huffed.

The Turian looked at the target. “Well...... not at this range”.

“My Grandmother could hit a target at this range....”. Groon complained. “When are we gonna do some real shooting”?

Percy stepped up and gestured. “If your not going to fire that.....”. He said, moving to take the Pony's rifle.

Pony shoved Percy in the chest and he staggered back, emitting a sharp, “Hey”! Pony didn't so much as break his stride as he shoved the Krogan aside, brought his weapon up and pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

He growled. Remembered to flick the safety and squeezed.

The first round hit the target. The others rose up high as the gun cycled on full auto even as he felt the recoil jerk his rifle back and he felt a wave of pain in his sighting eye. He stopped, his ears ringing as he felt a surge of anger wash over him as he took his finger off the trigger and brought the weapon back under control.

He'd screwed up.

He'd screwed up and in front of this band of rag tag non humans. And his own party! Out shot by an alien child? It was because the Turian had ruffled him, he knew. He'd been spoken down to by a freaking alien who didn't give a flying frag that this planet was his. His world was being blasted to char and this..... Freak! Was laughing! He could hear him behind his back! He was saying something but Pony couldn't hear. All he could hear was the wash of blood running through his ears. The ringing in his ears and smell of a slagged clip.

His father had always had a temper to, he found himself thinking as the weapon rose as he turned. He could see his father looking down on him the day he'd been expelled from school because of a fight.

“I won't tell you not to get angry son...” His father had said at the time. “I don't know why. But my father had it. His father. There's just something about us that runs deep. I'm sorry it caught you too”. His father's eye's had seemed full of understanding at the time as he offered his advice. “You will be able to get by. You'll have to channel it somehow. If you can't stop yourself from wanting to fight, at least find something to fight for”. The rifle was now over his head and the Turian's expression became one of panic. “Just don't fight for yourself. If the anger comes. Let it be righteous, on behalf of another. And make me proud”.

As the rifle came cracking down on the Turians head with a satisfying crack, Pony could see him joining Terra Firma the day he'd been rejected from joining the military. His score's saying he hadn't the temperament. He'd found purpose and a place. But all throughout, he always knew one thing...... If his father had been alive, he knew, somewhere deep down, he would be ashamed.

As he watched the Turian manage to tilt and turn the blow into a glancing one he knew he should be too. But the rage inside refused to let any other feeling in.

Sorry Dad. He thought as the Turian drew back and thrust his fist into his stomach, doubling him over and caused him to retch. But I am what I am.

Even winded, he grabbed the Turians leg and sent them both sprawling to the ground. Each kicking and punching. Around them Tee-Eff and Misfit's were shouting. Percy's voice could be heard, drowned out in the medley as the shouts deafened what he was yelling. Some of the spectator's seemed eager to join in as Pony finally got on top of the Turian and raised his fist.......

A meaty hand appeared out of nowhere and clamped itself down on his shoulder and he was hoisted into the air like a limp doll. Then he was spun around and all he saw before he was struck unconscious was the other hand, coming straight at him. He was out before he hit the ground.

The Turian staggered to his feet and spat at where Pony's body lay. “Stinking human. Think your better than us? Well who's laughing.....”. As he spoke he found a mountain of flesh and muscle suddenly slide between him and the Tee-Eff man. He looked up and saw the dead eyed stare of Klaus Steiner. “....Now”. He finished before Steiner seemed to twitch an arm and the next minute, the Turian to was on the floor.

Steiner looked between the two for five seconds before he turned his stare towards the assembled crowd. They had stopped. Everyone was looking at him.

He sneered. “Some soldier's”. He said before he turned and grabbed the legs of both men on the ground. As he did he saw the teenage Krogan glaring defiantly up at him. “That your work”? He nodded to the target he had been shooting.

The Krogan nodded. “Yeah”.

Steiner sneer came with a half smile. “Good shooting. Now hand the rifle to someone who's old enough to carry it”. He stood tall, showing no signs that the two men he now dragged behind him were a bother and raised his voice.

“This army does not do child soldier's! Anyone under age! Your brave.... and stupid! Few things in this world are unforgivable”! He bellowed as the crowd parted for him. “Using children to fight wars is one of them”!

Steiner dragged the two out into the open and dropped them in an open space. By now people, not just the two groups, but from across the camp were were openly looking as Steiner bellowed once more.

“RIFLES! TO ME”!

Immediately member's of the Ensfield's Rifles began stepping forward as some sent the summons to other members via Omni-tool. Steiner turned and barked at the crowd that had been at each others throats.

“You want to fight? Go ahead. Kill each other now! I won't stop you! You want to live? Maybe save the whole damn galaxy? You will stay right where you are! You will listen to, and treat, every damn word I say, like it was the word of your almighty”!

“You will learn to treat the man, woman or whatever the hell each and everyone of you is, like the closest friend you will ever have in this life or the next! You will kill Reapers! You will not be killed by a Reaper”!

“That is what you will do! And who you will be remembered as! If you remain! Understand that to fight on this Earth, to be broken, and bled for our cause is not a punishment! It is not a twist of fate! Fighting for the lives of every damn pencil necked, bug eyed, warp boned, inbred, jelly scaled alien is a privilege! What you knuckle heads fail to realise is that we are all alien! To each other! In some way, in some shape, in some form”!

“So if you want to live! You will do everything I tell you to do from this moment in time! Until I release you back to your previous lives! You will become something more than alien to one another! You will be one! Nothing more, or less! You will be soldier's"!

"If you want to take your chances alone or in groups and abandon the call to arms! If you refuse to be one who stands together with us all.....”!

Steiner pointed to the gates of Bastion. “Get out of my sight! I don't even want you”!

Modifié par Redbelle, 03 octobre 2013 - 10:00 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

BoL - The Lost Asari (Camp Bastion) LII

Soldiers began filing out of the pub into the main yard of Bastion returning to their units. They had a look of believing in something in their eyes that they didn't have an hour earlier. The Sarge looked exhausted.

Ereba was really freaking out at the look of her sergeant, and grabbed her and spoke quietly to her. "You didn't just do what I think you did, did you?"

"You saw them leave, didn't you? They believe they can win this. They had been beaten down, but they believe they can win this." The sarge was smiling. "They needed that. Do you have any of those stims left, anything for a biotic booster?"

"Yeah, here, sarge." Ereba looked very concerned. "I don't know who you are, but you're no ordinary Commando. It's been an honor. But I'm going to be right back. You're not going out in this condition."

"Ereba!" The sarge was not listening. She looked ashen.

"Shut up. You're going to do as I say this time." Ereba got up and walked over to the bar to talk with Sid.

"I thought you were done drinking." Sid laughed.

Ereba was very serious when she spoke to him. "I you to take me into your kitchen. This is an emergency."

Sid shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, whatever you say ma'am. Right this way. What do you need?"

"Something fatty. The sarge needs something to eat, and that stew isn't going to cut it." Ereba was smelling stuff. "What's this?" And she picked it up.

"Cheese. It's cheddar. It's my snack cheese. Careful with it. You'll drop it in the butter. ****. You did." Sid was getting pissed.

Ereba took a taste of it. "It's good. Really good this way. Now if you have some of that...."

"Careful.... damn it! You dropped it on the grill." Sid was mad as he scraped the melted greasy mess off the grill. Ereba swiped it off the spatula.

"Perfect. Now if we could find something for her to put it in." Ereba was looking around the kitchen.

"I've got some bread. It's a bit old, but it's not moldy. But if you think I'm putting my aged cheddar in that and melting it down for a fried cheese sandwich, you've got another thing coming." Sid was adamant.

Ereba flared. "My sergeant gave everything she had to those soldiers out there, and we're about to go into battle. You're going to give up your cheese or we might not be here tomorrow morning. Now make two of those fried cheese whatever you called them, and make them with lots of that butter and that cheese. And sprinkle some of this on the cheese."

Sid's eyes were bugging open wide. "Okay! Okay!"

"Good man. See? That wasn't so hard. We'll pay you back by winning the war for you. Then you can have all the cheese you want, because I've seen what the reapers do to humans. The husks are nothing. I can show you if you'd like. It just takes touching our minds to see. Let's just say no one deserves to die like that."

Sid gave up. "Alright. You win. Get your sarge back here. I don't want the rest of the group out there to see this. Deal?"

"Deal." Ereba got up and walked out of the kitchen. She grabbed her sergeant and dragged her into the kitchen. "Come on sarge. You're coming with me."

"****! What is Ereba doing? She is going to be in trouble." T said.

Shayrana looked T straight on. "I don't think so. Ereba knows what she's doing."

Sid was wincing putting his cheese on the sandwiches. Hot and greasy was the way Ereba ordered them. 'What a waste of good sharp cheese!' He was thinking. 'And she wants me to sprinkle caynenne pepper on the cheese, too! Crazy Asari!'

The sarge and Ereba arrived in the kitchen just as Sid was finishing the first. "Here you go. Don't say I never gave anything to the war effort."

The sarge took a bite out of it. "Mmmmm. This is good."

"It's disgusting is what it is." Sid replied. "It's a goddamn abomination."

"No. This is damned good." Nasyra commented. "Ereba have a taste."

"I already did. Those are yours. You need them sarge."

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going back to the bar." Sid grumbled then continued muttering.... "Damned Asari ate my private stock of cheese.... They'd better win this war. I'm not going to get anymore unless we do. That's the end of it."

"No seriously, Ereba, take a bite. I'm feeling better already." The sarge insisted as she started on the second sandwich.

"Okay, one bite but that's all." Ereba took a bite. "**** me! This is good."

"Grease and fats. That's what we're missing here. Humans just don't eat enough of them." Nasyra was laughing.

Ereba started laughing. "Well from what I heard that's because human doctors keep telling them to cut back on fats. No wonder humans are so miserable."

"Well, that should do it. Thanks. I'm starting to get my color back."

"Seriously, Sarge. You looked like ****. Don't ever do that again." Ereba stood up and extended a hand. "And I'm guessing one day you'll tell me who you really are, Sarge. Just not today."

"And my mother isn't the only one who has someone to come back to, you know." Nasyra smiled.

"What do you mean?" Ereba looked inquisitively.

"Well I've got Sgt. Brooks back at Camp Alpha, and well there's you and Shay. I don't know about the others. We'll get through this. Let's get back with the others and get ready to move out."

"I do have to ask you something, Sarge. We weren't worth **** when we first got together. But then we started believing in ourselves." Ereba spoke quietly on the way back to the table.

The sarge stopped and looked at Ereba. "You're right. You really don't know me. You met me six months ago. I may be the worst **** you'll ever meet, but you're family to me. You, Shay, everyone at that table are all I have and care about.

"Ereba, you always had the ability. I just helped you with your confidence. There were only eleven of you and giving a bit of myself was easy. Now look at the lot of you. You don't need it. You can give it to others. But those men and women out there were beaten. They needed to believe even though three quarters of them aren't coming home, because looking at them before none of them were coming home." She looked at the Ereba then the rest of the squad. "Do you see us? We're going to give them hell."

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 04 octobre 2013 - 12:17 .

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

Deleted

Modifié par favoritehookeronthecitadel, 06 octobre 2013 - 04:02 .

[FuriousFelicia]

When Zia returned to the infirmary, she found the place half less packed than just half an hour before. A couple of MPs were directing traffic as people were being pulled out of the infirmary.

"What's going on here?" Zia asked one of the MPs giving directions to people comming out. "Captain's orders ma'am. We're getting people ready for a final assault." Replied the MP. Zia shook her head as she gestured to the crowd comming out of the infirmary. "But they can barely walk."

"The captain says he wants everyone that can walk and hold a gun. And the infirmary cleared of all non critical patients." The MP quickly answered and resumed his duties. Zia just shook her head in disapproval, and squeezed herself in through the crowd. They were weak, injured and spooked. The only purpose they could now serve was being decoys on the battlefield. Some walked on crutches, others were in raggs. The sight that would encourage any enemy, Zia thought.

The infirmary now looked half deserted. Only the worst cases were left in their beds. The ones unfortunate or maybe fortunate to stay while others would have to fight. Zia found Ben and his two helpers tending for the remaining patients. Everyone looked spooked and nervous. Too long they enjoyed the piece and security of Bastion as the camp was miraculously spared of reaper attacks throughout its existance. But it seemed that hiding was over, and it was finally time to strike back.
While some embraced this, others looked terrified. The two medics seemed a little jumpy when they saw Zia, but Ben greeted her with a smile.

"You said you have something for me." Said Zia. Ben nodded. "Yes. A patient found this in one of the beds." He said as he handed two things to Zia. A little piece of paper, and a small device. It was an external omni tool module.

"That's Naomi's omni tool controler no doubt." Said Ben. "No wonder momma can't find her." Remarked Zia looking at the module. Then she switched her attention to that small piece of paper. Someone had drawn a rough sketch of camp's layout on it. There was an arrow pointing at one of the buildings just near the infirmary. Zia showed the paper to Ben.
"What's this building here?" She asked pointing at the marked building. "Oh that's the old apartment building just next to this one. It was used by some troops instead of barracks. I'm guessing that's your next stop." Said Ben. "That's the only clue I have for now. Here you take this for safe keeping." Zia handed the omni tool module back to Ben. "Listen, I need you to stall the captain for just a little while should he come asking questions. If I'm not back or you don't hear fom me in two hours, feel free to report to the captain that I am dead..and Naomi probably as well." Zia hasitated finishing her sentence. Ben stood silent but his eyes revealed that he understood Zia but he couldn't hide his concern. His mouth twitched as if he was about to smile but quickly fell back to expression of concern.

"You know, just a day ago, I would probably welcome the news of your demise. But now..."

"C'mon doc, don't go all sentimental on me now." Zia grined. "Should I straighten those horns for you just for old times sake?" Ben laughed. "That won't be necessary. I think your grip made a permanent mark on my neck." Said Ben as he streched his neck to show Zia her handiwork. Zia pursed her lips as she looked innocently sideways.

"Yeah...sorry about that again. Do you want me to hug you again?" Zia jested but Ben just shook hus hand. "You can hug me when you return. Alive hopefully."

Zia nodded in affirmation but her eyes also revealed concern. "Okay Ben, thanks for all your help, and for not giving up on me. Hopefully I'll be back soon, so we might go grab a beer or something later if there's still time for that sort of things."

"That would be nice. Take care Zia." They parted their ways knowing this just may be the last time they see each other but they both pretended it was just a casual fare well. It left Ben with a lingering thought. It was incredible that two people can hate each other in the morning, and by evening become devoted friends. Though he never hated Zia, he wasn't very fond of her either. But his near death experience tought him that some people have to be pushed more than usual to brake free from their inhibitions, and prejudice.  Zia was grateful for this more than he or even she realized.

The building where Zia hoped to find Naomi was just next to the infirmary building. Zia hoped, but that was just the human inside her. She was well aware that, if indeed Disdain got Naomi, this game won't be so easy. She didn't even know why would Disdain and Lucy be on Earth in the first place. To get to her. But why? They parted without quarrels, and Zia thought that her leaving could only chear up Disdain, not anger her. Whatever the case was, Zia knew Lucy wouldn't be the one behind it. It was all Disdain. She poisoned Lucy's mind so much over the past years that Lucy didn't have a mind of her own anymore as she was highly dependent on Disdain.
Zia remembered the incident a few years back when she was still on Omega. The word was out that the station became a hunting ground of a vampire when bodies of people were starting to pop out every once and a while, barring bite marks on their necks. There was even a squad of mercs, financed by some officials to hunt down and kill the monster, but the sisterhood of fury knew better.

Being a red sand addict, Lucy, in her times of failed attempts of abstinence, she incidentally tasted blood and got hooked to the taste. It wasn't long before her cravings for blood, both killing and now the mear taste of it took over her, and she started killing civilians and just random people. When Omega underworld found out the identity of this vampire, they imidiatly branded Lucy with a new nick name. That was the last straw for Aria who then ordered Disdain to watch over her, and since then, Aria never again trusted Lucy with assignments. Lucy hated Aria for that, but Disdain made sure she would never show it. Instead she used it to her own advantage.

When Zia entered the building, she found herself in a small lobby with a stairwell leading to the upper floors. She carefully looked around, and just as she took a step forward, she heard a familiar voice howling, echoing through this old empty building.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our little Baker girl. What's the matter, did you loose something?" The stairwell rang with mordant voice. "Where are you Disdain?" Shouted Zia as she carefully looked around, trying to discern where the voice is comming from.

"Ha! Well done little sis. For a moment there I thought you were gonna call out for Julie." A malignant laughter echoed the lobby.

"She's dead. You might wanna check that next time you impersonate someone." Zia replied as she slowly started to climb her way up the stairs. She kept the conversation going in hope that it might reveal where Disdain is hiding.

"Tell me something Disdain. Why did you come here? Don't tell me you came all the way to Eart, at this time just to say hello to an old friend." Zia sarcastically poked, trying to get Disdain to answer and reveal her position, but there was no reply. Zia stopped at the third floor, minding the suroundings for traces of her foul sisters. There were no traces that would indicate their presence so she continued her climb. Just as she was passing the fourth floor, she heard a loud whisper.

"Warmer."

She stopped at the fifth floor. The stairwell leading up was blocked with rubble, as it could be seen from the outside, the top of the building was partially destroyed.

Zia took a step forward through a long, narrow corridor that was riddled with doors of the apartments. Most doors were missing, destroyed or blasted out of their hinges as the ovealral state of the building suggested that it suffered an artillery strike. The first apartment was empty as Zia carefully progressed through the corridor, silently as a cat, listening to the sound of silence in search for a clue that might reveal Disdain. She was fully alert and cautious even though Disdain was never really a cloack and dagger type. She was more straight forward arogant, intimidating buly, and she loved to show off her power by unleashing a focused flare at a single target while the rest would witnesses, and tremble at her presence while being splatered with their fallen mate's body parts. Nevertheless, Zia knew the game just as she knew Disdain would know she wasn't some random mook she's after. But why would she be after her. It just didn't make sense.

"Waaarmer."

Zia startled by closeness of the sound as she abruptly turned 360 degrees, dropping her stance. Zia could swear it was whispered right to her ear. She looked around herself carefully shuffling for her mask, but then she looked down to the floor, and what she saw made it clear what the game was.

"So you're gonna kill me Disdain?" Zia muttered out as she straightened up with a piece of raw meat in her hand. It ment if you found something like that on Omega, it wasn't by mear chance, and you knew you were goint to get executed by the Omega 'Butcher' or if you prefered 'Crimson' or the red fury, namely, Disdain.

"Boiling."

Again to close not to be seen, a muffled voice ecchoed through the corridor, and Zia again lowered her profile, now anxiously probing the dark with her eyes. She carefully reached to her mask, keeping her gaze on the gloom in front of her.

"So you've upgraded the sisterhood with tactical cloak sis?" Zia poked to break the silence, and hopefully get a response as it was now clear to her that Disdain was cloaked, and just as Zia was about to turn the tide to her favour by putting her mask on, equipped with geth scanning sensors, a biotic pull flashed before her eyes, blinding her vision for a moment before she realized that the mask was torn from her fingers.

"Now, now sis, you wouldn't wanna spoil all the fun."

Now the voice was clear, and Zia figured where it might be coming from as she looked down the almost pitch black corridor. It sounded like it was coming from the last apartment on the left so Zia spung her biotic field to light the way, and slowly moved to the end of the corridor.

"Why Disdain?" Zia's question was honest. "You finally had what you wanted when I left. And what did you tell Aria, that you and Lou are going on a field trip?" Suddenly a loud scornful laugter came from the suspected room.

"Aria." The laugh continued as Zia got to the door but just as Zia slowly nudged the door open, there was silence again. The room was totally empty, and the windows have been bolted down with planks and metal plates so it was very dark. Zia stepped slowly through the room trying to spot a feint cloak silhouette, but her field was a poor source of lighting. This wasn't going to be easy nor pleasant, Zia thought to herself. But maybe there was a way she could persuade Disdain to let go Naomi at least.

"So whay is it sis that I'm such a threat to you that you want me dead? And where's Lou? You think it's clever leaving her on her own?"

Laughter again, only now it sounded like it was coming from the first apartment, the one at the beginning of the corridor. Disdain was playing with her prey. Zia made her way again through the corridor towards the door where the sound was coming.

"You know sis, Aria is closer than you think." Zia listened to Disdain's mufrked voice, and was trying to determine where she might be so she continued the conversation.

"Aria and I had our fair wells just as we did too. She understands why I left, why can't you?"

"Nice mask sis." The voice was close. "You were trying to cheat, looking through walls. Now we can't have that." Zia was just in front of the door of the apartment from which the sound came from. But again just as Zia opened the door and stepped inside, there was silence again.

"Where's Naomi Disdain?" This time Zia closed the door behind her. This room was also empty and dark. Zia sharpened all her senses to scout the suroundings but with no luck, and the voice came back again, but from another location once more.

"You know what you did sis?" The question echoed through the murky corridor. "You betrayed your sisterhood."

"And how did I do that ha? Tell me Disdain, how exactly did I betray you?" Zia muttered while she was back in the corridor. It looked like Disdain was in a mood for hide and seek, and she isn't going to reveal herself so easily. To make things worse, Zia could only hear Disdain. There was no sign of Lucy or Naomi for that matter. This was obviously going to be an execution, but with words of wisdom before.

"You don't leave the sisterhood. You know that sis. And you certainly don't go around, spilling all our secrets to everyone. How many years do you think would have taken the Alliance to figure out how we channel our biotics? I would say a century. You sis?" Disdain teased.

"It's not like we were the first biotics Disdain. And I think you give our race too little credit. You know our race Disdain, the humans." Just as Zia said it, the thunderous roar echoed through the corridor and Zia felt a strong kick in her back as she was thrown to the floor. In darkness, she felt a body lay on her back as a whisper came to her ear. "They are not my race." She herd Disdain whisper to her ear as she pinned her to the floor. Zia squirmed and managed to turn herself around on the floor, ready to throw her attacker off, but the pressure was gone and again Disdain vanished somewhere in the darkness. Zia pulled herself upright.

"So let me get this straight. You traveled all this way to Earth, which is being invaded by the reapers just so you could kill me? Why not wait, and let the reapers do your dirty work sis?" Disdain didn't answer, and Zia was beginning to loose her patience. "C'mon Disdain, I'm disappointed. Is this the way of the Omega butcher? Stalking from shadows, toying with its prey? If I'm not mistaken that was my job description. The one you always teased me about. You always said it was a cowardly behaviour for a fury. Are you gonna spit in your own face now with this sharade. C'mon show yourself and lets talk. It seems you hav a lot to say. Disdain?"

There was a short pause as Zia stared down the dark corridor, and then, she saw faint electric surges down the hall as the cloaked stalker revealed herself. Across the corridor stood Disdain. Now uncloaked, wearing Zia's fury mask.

"You are so eager to die little sis?" Said Disdain while she removed the mask from her face.

"You can have me Disdain, but Naomi is nothing to you, ler her go and I pomise I'll come peacefully. There's no need for blood here, we have it enough here as it is."

"Oh don't you worry. When I'm finished with you, I'll give your blond ****** friend a nice tratment, and later I'll deal with those loose ends in your precious Alliance." Disdain laughed with scorn.

"You really are crazy you know that. I can't believe that for a minute I thought you were actually here to join the cause. But you're here just for blood. How typical." Zia muttered but in all she was glad that Disdain didn't mention Jan.

"So tell me now, how did I wrong you so much that you had to come all the way here just to kill me?"

Disdain's eyes were dark as night, and her face absent of any trace of compassion or good. She stared bluntly back at Zia. "You left us. You left the sisterhood and ran to Alliance, spilling all our secrets to them. If it wasn't for your defective a**, they would have need another hundered years to figure out how to channel their biotics. Dark channel sis, it was our exclusive, and you handed the knowledge to the enemy on a silver plate. You even haded yourself to them as a bonus."

"Biotics were around long before we were born, even before our old mentor."

"Bah! We were making flares without amps before humans even knew what biotics are. We are the elite, they are insignificant. And now, so are you." Berked Disdain. "But don't worry sis, I'll change all of that. I even compiled a list of targets once I deal with you. You wanna know who's second on my list?" Disdain grined. "Our beloved mother."

Zia laughed out. "Ha, you're going to kill Aria? Nice sis. You know I have to hand it to Aria, she gave us names but with yours, she hit the punchline. You are so full of contempt for all that's not you or your precious sisterhood. Oh and by the way, the sisterhood of fury is an old lost sect that died more than two thousand years ago for the same reasons this one will fall."

"And what's that sis?"

"Greed and delusions of one selfish, deranged member. You're the new hope." Zia sarcastically remarked. "Do you want to know who was the first 'rotten apple'?" Zia asked but Disdain just grined back.

"I did my research, and as for the rotten apples, you might wanna look to yourself first sis. I know what our mentor did, and because of that, she's third on my list. Now don't presume you know more about the sisterhood than me. I am the sisterhood, the new sisterhood that shal arise from its ashes, and be reborn. New, pure and stronger than ever. And I did some more research...miss Baker." Disdain smirked wickedly.

Zia was silent. She was going to let Disdain do the talk while she figures out a best way to deal with her. But Disdain's last comment intrigued Zia.

"What are you talking about." Zia's question made Disdain brake out in laughter.

"Oh you stupid bi**. What did you think, that Aria was your mother? You know, I have to hand it to her, she really made a great effort in keeping your secret safe. I searched for two years to find some info on you but Aria did a good job. Oh how I would like to see her face when she finds out that Loopy was the one that sniffed out her secret."

"I know Aria is not my mother. She isn't yours or Lucy's either. But unlike you, I'm grateful for my step mother. You had a real mother too Disdain."

"I knew my mother, and she was a bi**. If she wasn't dead already, she would have also be on my list." Furiously roared Disdain. "Your mother is also dead." Now her face was carved with a foul smile of satisfaction.
Zia figured this is going to go down eventually, but not before Disdain had her saying before so she played along. They stood opposite to each other with a few meters of distance between them. It looked like a show down in the murky corridor but both were calm.

"Spit it out Disdain. What do you know about my mother?"

Disdain laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know. Well I suppose it won't hurt now when you have so little time left. Oh and by the way, did you know you were raped by a vorch pack?" She laughed with content. Zia shook her head in disbelief.

"I was attacked,  and Aria saved me." Zia stated confidently but the notion made her think. Aria always avoided the subject when Zia would ask her about it. But she trusted her, even though Zia was no fool to think Aria wouldn't keep secrets from her.

"You was atacked? By a vorcha blood pack on Omega. And you think that kind of think would go on without Aria knowing it? I'm disappointed at you little sis, I thought you had more brains than that."

Zia stopped to think. Disdain was treacherous but her words made some sense now when Zia thought about it. "I'm listening." She said. Disdain continued.

"Your last name is Baker." Stated Disdain. Zia remembered Lucy calling her baker. It even stuck later as her nick name, as Disdain was the butcher, Zia was baker for Lucy. While Disdain's was known throughout the station, Zia's was reserved for just the three of them. But Zia never payed too much attention to it as she thought it was just Lucy's deranged jabber. But Disdain always payed attention to Lucy's ravings.

"I couldn't find info on what exactly happened to your parents but I did discover they had dealings with Aria before they miraculously disappeared. What do you make of that Violet?" Disdain smirked. That Aria knew everything was a thought that ran through Zia's head. Disdain didn't wait for a reply. "I actually overhead Aria talking about it. Wanna know what she said?"

"I don't know, do I?" Zia knew Disdain was enjoying this. Teasing her and keeping her on edge. Disdain laughed at her question.

"Let's see how you think of our beloved mother after this. You see, Aria and our dear mentor had your memory erased. That's why you don't remember 12 years of your life, or the attack itself. She took you from your parents and molded you into her own puppet. You gotta love the irony. You refer to Aria as your mother because she took care of you when your real mother discarded you, but I could bet that Aria was the one that took your mother from you. I bet she killed her."

"You lie!" Sreamed out Zia while Disdain laughed. "Oh I don't think so. Not this time sis. She hid her tracks well but everything I heard points to that. Besides the truth is so much sweeter for me to lie. Too bad you won't be able to ask her yourself." Disdain finished in a summarizing manner as she hurled a biotic throw towards Zia as she finished.
Zia's barriers absorbed the impact as ahe was throw to the floor.
She hastly jumped back on her feet while she redied her biotic field but when she turned to return the favour, Disdain was already cloaked. Zia was furious, and without thinking, she charged the last position Disdain stood and blasted the erea with her biotic field.

"Really sis? You see what the Alliance made you in to. You're a one trick pony now." She heard Disdain's voice teasing. She resumed to toy and hide, making Zia more and more angry. Zia was convinced that this is going to end either with her dead or she's going to have to kill Disdain. There was no alternative here. The only thing that Zia feared was that Naomi was doomed. No way Disdain is ever going to tell her where she is, not even if her life depended on it. Zia just wanted this to be over as soon as possible so she tried playing on Disdain's bloated ego.

"You know for a fury you so proudly claim to be, you're quite a coward. Ha Disdain?  Are you a powerful fury, or a sneaky backstabbing toad?" She shouted trying to provoke Disdain. It worked, as suddenly a wall next to her blasted open in a flash of a flare, covering the entire corridor with dust and rubble. The hole in the wall was a size of a brute, and when the dust settled, Zia saw a faint silhouette on the other side of the hole as Disdain uncloaked. "Now that's how we furies do it." Disdain marveled at her own handwork.
Zia reacted by hurling another throw towards Disdain but she greeted it willingly leting it hit her. Her barriers flashed but didn't break as Disdain was shoved a few steps back by its force.

"That's pathetic. And you're supposed to be the strongest of us. You're a joke." Disdain mocked, making it clear to Zia that throws are just not going to be enough here. Of course Zia knew that in the bigging but she needed Disdain to talk, and she wasn't so eager to kill her. Zia didn't hate Disdain but it became clear to her that this won't end without blood.
She took time to focus. Her body radiated with blue and purple as her field began to slowly expand around her. Disdain watched and laughed as she stood with her hands folded just across the room. She was expecting another field blast but she redied her kinetick barriers.

"Yes, yes, that's more like it. Let the fury in you out."

Zia ignored her and focused hard and then suddenly in a flash, as she extended her arms before her, she let out a focused flare and hurled it to Disdain. The room flashed in bright light as a thunderous blast resonated between walls.

The lighting abruptly returned to its usual gloom, revealing Disdain smacked half way in an opposite wall. She almost went through it. She coughed out as her face lost it's previous smug grin. She looked down to her barrier belt. It was boken. The flare impact fried her barriers, and her eyes revealed suprise and a pinch of concern as she looked to Zia but still she had a thing to say.

"You've got some fury left in you still, I'll give you that. Let's even the score shal we.." As she was finishing her sentence, she redied her own flare again, and just as she hurled it towards Zia, the blast went off again setting bits of concrete and dust in the air. But when it cleared up, Zia was gone. As if she was disintegrated by the power of the flare. Disdain sighed. "Huh..that was easy." But just as she said it, a voice came fom behind the wall of a neighboring room.

"Now that's a trick I learned from the Alliance." Said Zia, and then she appeared back in the room out of nowhere. "Better than cloak if you ask me." She said smiling. Disdain's eyes were red from rage. She manicaly started spamming throws towards Zia, and throw after a throw, Zia just phased around the room avoiding hits. It made Disdain mad as for her last attack she unleashed another flare towards the door where Zia stood, but just as a blinding light after the blast went out, Disdain felt a sharp sting on her neck. Zia used the flash of Disdain's own flare to her advantage, and phased behind her back. She held her from behind with her omi blade on Disdain's neck.

"Alright sis, now we talk some more." Zia sharply said as she applied a little more pressure with her blade. "This doesn't have to end like this. Just tell me where Naomi is and I promise I'll let you go free..."

"Noooo!" Roared Disdain, and before Zia could react, she charged and blasted her biotic field, setting herself free from Zia's grip. Zia quickly gathered herself from the floor again, but when she gazed after Disdain, she was already gone, cloaked again no doubt.

"Disdain! It doesn't have to be like this! We can work this out! We were friends once, don't you remember. I loved you. I loved Lucy. We were like real sisters!" Zia's shouts echoed throughout the building. She heard a faint voice answer.

"You will never be our sister again! And even then, we lived in your shadow. Do you know that Aria branded Lucy and me a failure. Acordig to her we are a broken product! And you were a success. Maybe if she let me lick her c**t, I would be a success too, but I'm not a wh**e like you."

Zia almost felt sorry for Disdain.  All she ever wanted is to be the top fury, and Aria denied her of that, even though she made her to be exactly that. Zia had to admit there was something terribly wrong in their benefactor's business. New insights only strengthen her suspicions. But Zia knew that will have to wait now. Naomi was still in danger, more so if Lucy was with her. So she made effort to stay on track. She was back at the beginning, listening and sniffing the air for trace of Disdain. She headed towards the last position she heard her voice.

"I understand you. And quite frankly, my confidence is also compromised now. But Disdain, can't you see what's happening around us? If we lose this war, we're all gone. If you think you're untouchable in the terminus system, think again. I've seen what these things can do, what they've been doing here, and they are not here to make treaties or friends. They are here to eradicate every single breather alive. They will purge the whole glaxy of life if we fail here. Please Disdain, I beg you, show yourself or just tell me where's Naomi." Zia pleated but with no response from Disdain. Zia figured either she was gone, or she was too close. She got ready for defense. "So is that a 'no', or you're just chicken? "

"Wh*****re!" Dropping from the ceiling, Disdain sreamed, and landed on top of Zia's back, slamming her to the floor. "I will tear you apart with my bare hands!" Disdain screamed over Zia's head while she started hitting her all over her body. Zia squirmed underneath her, trying to brake herself free. They wrestled on the floor, exchanging punches and kicking. Somehow Disdain got hold of Zia's neck and started squeezing with both hands. Zia grasped her by her wrists struggling to brake free, but Disdain locked her with a steel grip, tightening it harder with every passing second.
Her face became unrecognisable to Zia whose own face was now steaming red frome a choke. She felt like her eyes wanted to pop out their sockets from pressure, and then they slowly began to close.
Yust when it looked like it was over, Disdain suddenly released her grip, and stood up. Zia caughed out, reaching for breath. Disdain towered over her as Zia was still on the floor.

"Oh my, sorry sis. I don't know what came over me. I feel so silly." She chuckled wickedly. "Rise bi**!" She roared as she grasped Zia's neck again, only this time she used her biotics.
Zia found herself in a death grip again as she felt her neck being squeezed by biotic energy while she helplessly hung in the air.

"I decided to give you a proper death. One worthy of a fury. You don't deserve it but I will be merciful this one time. Any last words?" Disdain enjoyed her triumph. She laughed mockingly, awaiting Zia's reply. She stopped paying attention to Zia as she thought she was done.
Zia barely managed to squeeze off two words while her hands fell down from her aching throat.

"Just...this.." And with that, Disdain's smug smile was wiped off her face as her eyes rolled down to her stomach. She didn't feel anything before hearing a short burst, and Zia fel to her knees, free from Disdain's biotic choke. In her hand she held her hurricane smg, barrel still smoking.
She managed to reach it and sqeeze off a burst while she was suspended in the air.

Disdain fell lifelessly to the ground, and it took a moment before Zia managed to get up. She hastly rushed over to Disdain and knelt beside her, lifting her head on her lap. Disdain was still alive but barely. Her chest was covered in blood, and Zia saw bubbles of air forming on her wounds where her chest was pierced by small calibre rounds. She quickly raised momma on her omni tool.

"Momma quick, I have an urgent medical emergency in the old apartment building just next to the infirmary."

"Acknowledged. Sending a medic team your way. Are you hurt Zia?" Momma asked.

"No. But hurry anyway."

Abruptly, Disdain coughed out. Her mouth was full of blood. Zia caressed her face despite the fact she nearly killed her. But Disdain's eyes looked different now. The spite and all contempt they shone with just a minute earlier was now gone, and Zia recognised a little girl she once knew. A solitary tear rolled down Zia's cheek. She couldn't explain the emotions she felt. It was a mix of sadness, yet relief. It almost felt like she had lost a loving sister, real sister she never had, and the worst nemesis at the same time.

Disdain's eyes slowly opened. "Disdain, quick. Tell me where Naomi is. Please, I've called for help, you're gonna be ok." Zia stopped when she saw Disdain was trying to say something. With mouthful of blood, she quietly muttered out. "Ts...Tson.."

"What is it Disdain, what are you trying to say?" Zia brought her head down to Disdain's mout to hear, and managed to catch just one word. 'T'soni' Then she felt Disdain's body stiffen. Her heart stopped, and Zia just collapsed over her corpse bowing her head. She felt like she wasn't supose to cry but she couldn't suppress the tears so she let them flow from her eyes. She raised momma again.

"Yes Zia?"

"Belay that last request." Is all she could say.

Modifié par FuriousFelicia, 04 octobre 2013 - 08:25 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note: The following was a collaboration with RedBelle)

Rea and Wyld returned to the armory the way they had left, through the door in the alleyway. Again, the room with their lockers was empty, though they could hear muffled noises further into the larger part of the building. Some items had shifted around during their departure, indicating people had come and gone, but little seemed to have changed otherwise. The two walked up to their lockers, and then stopped to look at each other. Briefly, they embraced.

“Out of time,” Jan simply said.

“For now,” Rea responded.

They separated and were about to enter their lockers when Wyld noticed her locker door was ajar. She cautiously opened it, and left it wide. Wyld then put her hands on her hips and craned her head forward. Rea peered over at her.

“Jan?”

“Hmmm?”

“Is your armour in there?”

The silence stretched out before Wyld admitted, “I.....don't......know.” She pulled out a familiar underlay. “This..... I understand. Standard issue pressure suit, self sealing, thermal regulatory....blah de blah!” She hung the underlay beside her jacket. “This.....,” she said reaching into the locker, “This is new.”

The first thing that struck Rea is Wyld extracted what looked like a jumble of bits of armour sections, and they they were all white. Brilliant white. Rea was about to question her choice in camouflage when Wyld suddenly made a ‘huh’ sound and moved to hold the assemblage at another point.

Suddenly the sections took on form as Rea could see the white armour was now being held by, what she recognized as the neck guard. Then she understood.

The armour was not a set of individual pieces to be donned. It was all woven together with straps keeping all its sections attached, so that holding the armour, as Wyld was, Rea could see the shape of a person, with bits hanging off where straps were undone. The armour was substantial. Rea could see plate and what she thought was leather. All components seemed to be suspended from the chest and shoulders, which had straps to allow for quickly getting in and out. Trying to piece the bits together, she saw that the plates would overlap, covering the points where the armour joined.

And pitted.....The armoured sections were all pitted, Rea now saw in the light.

Wyld shrugged, hung the armour on the locker door and proceeded to strip out of her cut down underlay. As she did, Rea couldn't help but notice marks on her shoulder, of what looked like teeth. The asari smiled, but kept the observation to herself.

Wyld was about to grapple with the armoured suit when she spotted something else in the locker and reached in. “Hey Ree? Remember the Kestrel?”

“I do,” Rea replied as she watched Wyld pull an unfamiliar looking helmet from the locker.

Wyld held it up and studied it. “I think Sully created a Mark 2!”

Rea looked and sure enough, the familiar lines of the old Kestrel were present in the helm. This one, however, had been modified. Extra, elongated panels came out and up at the sides. They were molded to be curves and were smooth all around. Rea immediately recognized them as housings for more sophisticated communication antennas protected by the wing design housing. Other parts of the Kestrel had been modified as well. The pistons on the side now appeared to allow the whole front section to slide up, giving the operator the ability to see with their natural eyes. Wyld wouldn’t have to rely on the interior display all the time. Around the helmet, panels had been cut into and seemingly closed, for what reason Rea didn't know. And the chin protector had been altered, no longer a solid beam along the bottom. Now it had a section cut from the middle. Rea immediately knew why; having worn the other Kestrel, she knew it was hard to talk normally while that guard was constantly pressing in and limiting aural range of movement.

Wyld swiveled the helm towards Rea again. “What do those protrusions on the side remind you of?”

“Wings, I think. On Thessia there is an aquatic bird with a similar shape.”

“Wings?” Wyld asked as she looked back to the helm. Then she nodded. “Wings it is. I was going to say rabbit ears. Wings are much better.”

“And white,” Rea noted. “That helm is very, very white.” She came over and Wyld passed the helmet to her. “I think this is the power supply,” Rea said as she thumbed a section of the helmet....and drew a sharp breath as the helmet’s colour abruptly shifted. White began to take on the colour blue; the same as Rea's hands that spread out along where she held the helm. It was not simply the colour, however; the pits in the helm shifted and suddenly Rea looked to be holding not a helm of brilliant white, but one made of asari flesh, whose outer surface had the same pigmentation and texture of Rea’s hands.

Wyld was stunned. “Wow,” she said as she reached over and hit the power stud of the helm, while hanging the armour suit on the locker. Both watched as the suit began to take the colour and texture of the locker door and Wyld's Jacket that lay behind it. The blend was nearly perfect, with only bits not pressed up against the surface showing slightly off colouration and a lack of surface texture.

Wyld ran her hand over the armour suit and found her skin did not cause the camouflage to change to her pigmentation. She motioned to Rea. “Could you?”

Rea nodded and pressed her hand against the armour. Again, it refused to shift, maintaining the locker and jacket’s image. Wyld gave a wolfish grin. “This is amazing”. She tugged one of the armoured gloves off its strap and held it up as she made a few adjustments. “Now the acid test!”

Wyld threw the glove against a closed locker. It hit, and the fingertips stuck to the locker door. Wyld gripped the glove and pulled down. It stayed put until she put her hand in and pulled up, at which point the glove came off easily.

Wyld looked at Rea. “Sully.....I could kiss him for this!”

Wyld took the new armour, which, customized to her own requirements, had the leg sections cut to cover and seal the join where her own skin ended and her prosthetics began. She ran her hands through the arms and heaved into the suit, its tight surface conforming to her skin as she pulled the seals together so that it fit like a glove. Looking at the gauntlets Rea noted that the forearm sections had been raised and now appeared to serve as housing for some unknown purpose. Likewise, there was a metal disc on the back that served a function Rea could only guess at. Finally, with Wyld fully donned in her new suit, Rea handed her the helm. Wyld placed it on her head, and reached up to press the power stud again, returning the entire armour suit back to its original brilliant white colour.

Rea took Jan in. Wyld looked like Kurinth come to life, the asari goddess of hunting and war.

Jan put one hand on her waist playfully and stuck her hip out to the side. “Well, how do I look?”

“Like a deity, Jan. I’d follow you anywhere.”

Even with only the lower part of Wyld’s face visible through the helm, Rea could see Jan turn red.

“Well…,” Wyld stammered, “Let’s see what you’ve got.

Rea smirked and moved to open her locker. Hanging on the inside of her door was a gun. Sully had done as Rea asked, modifying the once slender assassin’s rifle by shortening the barrel and altering the grip such that when its stock was collapsed, it could be fired competently in one hand. It had also been stripped further, having non-essential parts replaced with ultra-light materials or removed entirely. And from the gun’s top, above the trigger, a power amplifier had been installed.

Gazing past the gun, Rea examined the space within the locker, where two plastic-wrapped packages were stacked. One package was clear, revealing a black fabric and associated components within. The other was opaque. Laid attentively on top of the packages was a piece of paper. Rea reached in and pulled it out. It was a hand written note.

Jan asked curiously, “What is that?”

“It’s a letter,” Rea answered, her voice quivering. “From Rothan.”

“What does it say?” Wyld wondered. Rea slowly handed it to Jan, who carefully took it and began reading intently. “These look like instructions,” Jan remarked, “He took the time to actually write them down…where did he even find the materials?” Wyld glanced up from the letter to see Rea had pulled out the opaque package and unsealed it.

Jan looked in the package, over Rea’s shoulder, and gasped.

“Ree, that quarian loves you.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Rothan was here.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 05 octobre 2013 - 07:25 .

[Redbelle]

Nora Vas...... Abandoned.

Nora Vas...... Betrayed!

….....

Nora Vas..... I've got a rifle and I'm going to shoot something in the Boshtet face before I die on this forsaken world!

Nora raised her avenger amid the row of Tee Eff and Misfit.... trainee's, she supposed the member's of the Ensfield rifles considered them? They were lined up behind each and every one of the stalls watching how well they shot at there targets. Watching the Tee-Eff shoot was almost embarrassing. They were clearly proficient, yet, they didn't seem at home with a weapon, other than there Mattocks. When they had complained to that N7 Steiner, he'd asked for a Mattock to be brought to him. It had been so and Steiner had taken the Tee-Eff member to a wall and walked away about twenty paces.

What had happened next was beyond belief. Steiner had spun around and opened fire on the Tee-Eff. He'd shrieked and thrown his hands up, as if that would have helped. By the time the Mattock's clip had hissed empty the man was still standing. Every shot having hit the wall around him in a rough outline of his body. Steiner had turned to address them then. “You will find yourself unarmed! Your clips will be slag! You will find yourself scavenging! And when that happens! You will find a weapon! Even those you do not know how to fire! And you will engage the enemy! AND YOU'LL STILL KILL HIM”!!!

Steiner had then passed the Mattock to one of his men while others rushed to rouse the man by the wall who had fainted.......

Nora had to admit. She was a little bit afraid of Steiner. So she bent to whatever task was set by him and his people. He only came down on the ones who stepped out of line she had witnessed. Several of his demonstration's in effective fighting with those who back talked had already snapped a few bones. Even so, those he'd broken had been patched up and put right back to work. The unspoken message was clear.

Stay focused. Or I'll give you a reason to focus.

The man behind issued the command and Nora snapped off a half a dozen shots before, as she'd been told, she switched to full auto and rock and rolled the target. When it was over she switched the safety on and placed the rifle on the bench in front of her. The soldier stepped forward. So young in her eye's.

They all were really. Her suit hid the years, but Nora was easily twice the age most who had survived in the Misfit's. She was everyone's grandma, someone had said. And the name stuck. Grandma Nora. It had been an unwelcome reminder at the time. How she had lost her real family when she had been exiled from the Migrant fleet. Now however...

These people she was now with? They needed someone like her. Someone to look up to as an elder. Who was always there ready to offer advice and show them the wealth of knowledge she had gathered during her own pilgrimage. The secrets of how to stay alive when the whole galaxy was against you. These people were as close to family as she'd ever expected, now that she was cut off from her people.

And then she'd found out that her people were tossing their ships and homes against the Reapers overhead and that Rannoch was there's once more.... And that she'd probably die on this lump of rock called Earth, fighting for someone else’s home. While somewhere far away, her own people were probably already drawing up settlement plans.

Keelah Se'lai. She wanted to beg her people to take her back. Now they had a planet, exile was no longer necessary, surely? Then she looked around her and she found she couldn't bear to leave this new family of hers. She was torn.

If only there was a sign.....

Modifié par Redbelle, 05 octobre 2013 - 07:21 .

[playoff52]

 Jon continued to walk the perimeter for sometime until a thought had occured to him. It was customary for the angel of death walk openly during the apocalypse. Since the Reapers had claimed well, the name Reaper, He would need to choose a new nickname. 

"For I am Death. Destroyer of worlds." He mused aloud. He lifted his helmet off and looked at it for a moment. He pulled over a can of white paint next to a Mako and drew a rough skull face onto his helmet. Once it dried he gave it a nod. 

It was time to teach the Reapers about Fear. To make them understand that finality wasn't a concept only limited to organics. He cast an angry scowl to the heavens. To the Reapers. The imposters. His fist clenched shut. It was time for a harvest of his own. He about faced and marched back for the perimeter. Some Husks and Cannibals were attacking the perimeter again. Probing for a weak point. He broke into a sprint and ran jumping off objects to clear the wall. From midair he could feel the electric tingle in his body as energy interacted with eezo and the air around him rippled and swelled. He biotic charged directly into the foremost cannibal, spun, drawing his blade and removed the head of a husk. 

Half circle stepping he drew his shotgun and dropped a cannibal. Support fire from the wall cut down 4 other targets. He fired off his phase disruptor and dropped another cannibal cold, then charged a second to restore his shield barrier by shunting the excess biotic energy back through his barrier system. A half circle spin facing the opposite direction and he dropped another Husk, and followed with a Cannibal. 

Several assault rifle rounds slammed into his barrier and forced his shoulder down. He turned and found a Marauder. 

"So, you're leading this little group." He said unamused. "Allow me introduce myself." He charged into the Marauder dropping it's shields. It tried to smash him with it's rifle and leaned back avoiding the strike. In a blur his blade was up. The Marauders rifle crumpled into pieces and it looked stunned for a moment. The blade was back down and twirled around as he reversed his grip and spun stepping behind the Marauder bisecting it at the waist. He stood over it's head allowing the blood from his blade to drip into it's face.

"You may call yourselves Reapers. But I am Death." The point of the blade thrust down into it's forehead and then withdrew with a sickening sucking sound. He flicked the sword then sheathed the weapon and walked back to the wall. A burst of biotic energy and he biotic jumped to the top of the wall. The soldiers all staggered back. 

He walked off the top of the wall like water descending a mountain. Out of earshot of him, the soldiers on the wall all looked at each other. "Damn that guy gives me the creeps."

"Maybe. But I'm glad he's on our side."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Elsewhere....

From The Sublime To The Ridiculous


A group of soldiers were fighting on the northern flank of the main battlegroup in London. Zaeed Masani was leading them and was in and out of cover behind rubble. Rubble was everywhere. That's all there was. That and burning buildings. It was like being in Hell. They were pinned down by a large capital reaper that was approaching them. The air was still and strangely warm and stifling.

'It must be all burning buildings in the area and the main gun fire from that bastard.' Zaeed was thinking. His men were starting to lose their nerve, and he couldn't blame them. Fighting an enemy that's taller than skyscrapers along with their ground troops with small arms was a bit ridiculous. The reaper began to move forward toward their position, firing its main gun clearing the ground in front of it.

"Alright, men, it's time to move out. Let's get the hell out of here. Screw Anderson and his advance at all costs." Zaeed was now in cover behind some fallen steel reinforced concrete in the middle of the street.

"It's about bloody time, Masani." His sergeant shouted from across the street.

Out from the fire emerged a man with black hair and pale skin. Zaeed could see his piercing blue eyes from about 40 feet away. He was wearing a black leather duster and was carrying a case. He just kept walking toward Zaeed. One of his men was going to shoot him.

"Hold your fire!" Zaeed shouted. The man didn't answer. It was like watching a mirage walking in slow motion. The reaper was still approaching. Enemy bullets whizzed by him, yet the man was unruffled. "Who the hell are you?"

"Zaeed Masani." The man spoke to him calmly, and when he got to Zaeed's position he began to open his case. "I'm here to tell you that it is not your time yet, and I will aid you."

"How do you know my name?" Zaeed asked.

"I know all of your names: Steven; Andrew; Elijah; Issac; Miriam. I know theirs, too." A group of husks were rushing them and he brought his finger to his lips and said, "Shhhh." The husks fell dead to the ground.

"God damn." Zaeed said under his breath.

"Please, show respect. Do not speak like that." The man said, he pulled a trumpet out of the case, and the reaper drew closer. It was only 200 yards away now.

"That? You brought a trumpet to a fight?" Zaeed was laughing.

The man smiled at Zaeed. "It is a very special trumpet. Cover your ears and watch. Tell your men to cover theirs as well."

"Cover your ears men!" Zaeed shouted.

The man put the trumpet to his lips and sounded a single note in the reaper's direction and the reaper shook. Cracks formed in the reaper's armor, and it began to crumble from the top down. The man put the trumpet back in its case as the reaper was blown back about 1/4 mile, and fell dead in pieces.

Zaeed's jaw dropped and he stood. Stunned. Speechless. Watching the reaper collapse. 

"I must go now, Zaeed Masani. It was a pleasure." The man put the horn back in its case and walked back toward the flames from which he entered.

"Hey, you. I didn't get your name." Zaeed shouted.

"Gabriel." Then he touched his lips with his finger, winked at Zaeed, and vanished.

Andrew ran over to Zaeed who was just standing there dazed. "What just happened? And where did that Reaper go?"

"I... don't know. It was here one minute, then it was just... Look! It's dead. I don't know how, but it's bloody dead. Come on, men. We've got a war to win!" Zaeed picked his rifle up off the ground, and led his squad forward up the street.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 02 novembre 2013 - 08:15 .

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  The following was a collaboration with Khambilo and RedBelle)

Rothan was perturbed. “You did what, Hugh?”

“I, mmmm, I might have changed the tactical readout colors for the jet bike and suit, when you were off taking your call.” For a person avoiding looking at Rothan and ready to receive the lambasting of a lifetime, Hugh looked strangely satisfied.

Navarro pulled at the collar of his shirt. “It was Hugh’s idea, but…I might have helped too. And, uh, we might have changed the color of all the hard lights when they deploy.”

Cole scrunched his face and shrugged his shoulders, while he apprehensively pointed a thumb at himself.

“Me too,” Mia boldly stated.

Rothan looked down at the girl. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t stop them.”

“Rothan, we saw the sash you left for Rea in her locker,” Hugh justified, “And…we made everything match.”

Before Rothan could let loose his concern, he noticed the Misfits heads all rotate the same direction, to stare behind him. He turned to see what they were looking at.

Jerry-Ann Wyld and Rea had come out of the room where their lockers were. They stood before Rothan, Sully and the Misfits in their new outfits.

Hugh fell over.

Sully shut his eyes and pressed the fingers of one hand into them. “I am ready to die. Are you two happy with your suits?”

Navarro shouted, “I am!”

"Hmm". Said Wyld as she looked down and made a show of inspecting her suit. "There's something missing....."

Sully blanched. "You've got everything you asked for.... And more! I made sure.”

Wyld inspected her gauntlets as she took a step towards Sully. "It's kinda suggestive...."

Sully gulped. "It’s the Suzie. It's custom made. It fits like a glove."

"And now I know what's missing....." Wyld pulled up to Sully and, facing his side, wrapped an arm around his back as she pulled a leg up his body, running a finger of her free hand up and down his chest. "It needs a man's touch."

Navarro meanwhile was busy trying to cover Mia's eyes, who kept batting the hand out of the way as she noted, "I like the ears.”

“Give me a hand over here, Rothan,” Navarro pleaded.

But Rothan’s attention was completely on Rea.

Rea’s suit was the color of jet, and was sheer, flowing along her figure with grace and perfection, as if she had simply changed the color of her skin beneath her neckline. The inner areas of her upper arms looked exposed, though the occasional glean of reflected light revealed that they were covered in some sort of transparent material. Very little equipment adorned the outfit. Centered on the upper back was a thin, built in power pack. Over the top of her forehead, a nearly imperceptible wire rest daintily across its surface and went down either side of her neck to disappear into the suit. On her forearms, two, plate-like bracers were delicately attached. A slender belt captured Rea’s waistline, and her custom pistol seemed to hug her outer thigh, with no visible support.

The most accentuating feature, however, was the aquamarine quarian sash that Rothan had added to Rea’s suit. The ends began wrapped around each of Rea’s thighs, then the sash traveled up along her curvature to cross just shy of her midriff, around to cross again on her lower back, and finally upward to lithely cross a third time above her breasts and around her neck. The sash was covered with a raised, swirling pattern of a slightly lighter color, and each of its borders was lined in gold. Its pattern matched the fabric-like material on Rothan’s suit.

Rea, barely able to speak, simply uttered, “Rothan…”

Rothan interrupted, “The Ketsa and my family have been on my mind, and the sash is an expression of that I suppose. It’s pattern and decoration is, ‘ours,’ so to speak. But I have something else to show you, Rea.”

The Misfits parted way so Rothan could pass between them. He went up to a cloth covering and pulled it back to reveal the jet bike.

Rea put her hands to her mouth and tears sprung forth.

The Viyera Starscreamer hovered silently, in all its magnificence. Its gloss black surface had been polished to a vibrant sheen, and its windscreen was faintly tinted blue from the internal head-up display projected onto it. Every elegant bend was seamless, giving the impression that it was made from a single piece of enigmatic material. Underneath its flowing fuselage, the barrels of a machine gun peaked out from inside an aerodynamic housing. The Starscreamer waited patiently for its release, as if it knew no one could keep it bound to the Earth forever.

“Go on,” Rothan encouraged, “Power it up.”

“Full….,” Rea couldn’t go on.

Rothan assisted, directing his voice towards the bike, “Full activation mode.”

The control panel of the Starscreamer came to life in a brilliant flash of turquoise light. Its engines activated, and the space below the bike undulated as if it were a mirage. Absent was the whine of a typical, Eezo-powered, vehicle. Instead, the air passing through the twin intakes made a musical sound, like a low, gentle, flute-like note.

“I haven’t felt a chill across my skin like that since I was a teen in love,” Sully lauded.

“Thank you, everyone,” Rea managed to squeak out.

“It wouldn’t have happened without him,” Navarro said as he tilted his head towards Rothan. “Nobody else could have put it all together. We’re just all glad to have helped.”

Still with her hands over her mouth, Rea searched for Rothan’s eyes through his visor. He walked up to her, reached up to pull one hand away, and held it. Rothan then guided her forward, towards the bike. “Come on,” he coaxed.

Rea followed, and when she reached the Starscreamer, she pulled her other hand away from her face to fondly stroke the bike’s sloping nose. Her voice shook perceptibly as she tried to calm her emotion, “Okay, okay…” But at that moment, Rea couldn’t contain herself any longer. She grabbed Rothan and clung to him with all that she had.

Minutes passed, and a couple of Misfits giggled uncomfortably. Rothan pat Rea on the back lightly, then a bit more enthusiastically. Sid simply couldn’t stop grinning. Finally, Rea let go. She sniffled and smiled; her face was streaked from tears and tinged violet with emotion. Rothan gestured to the bike.

“I need a helmet,” Rea said timidly.

“Reach for the inside of your right wrist,” Rothan instructed, “And press down firmly with your fingers.”

Rea did, and the outline of a sleek helmet traced itself in turquoise light around her head. An optic made of the same luminescence hovered in front of one of her eyes.

“No freakin’ way.” Cole blurted. “There is no way what we did could look that awesome!”

“Sully had enough hard light emitters to repair the controls and provide localized armor for the bike,” Rothan explained. “And, ah, then I got to thinking about your suit, Rea. Sully’s hidden treasure of parts let me build it with feedback mesh, and integrate the emitter system in the fabric. I synced up a mini VI with the emitter system; command and decision software are installed, along with a fast-reaction component to, ah, anticipate incoming shots and block them using hard light.”

Wyld agog, uttered,“Uh…”

“…Is the wrong answer of how the other features of the suit work,” Rothan teased. Wyld gave him a mock shake of her fist before he went on, “The benefit of working with the emitters gave me other ideas for their use, such as the helmet. With the potency of the Rosco-Ariake power pack, the configuration to other constituents made sense. It was easy enough to just hook everything through the mesh system. So your omni-tool is activated by pushing on the inside of your left wrist, and all other suit functions can be controlled from there.”

Stepping up to the jet bike with awe, Rea placed her hands over the haptic adaptive interface, mimicking the positions of where she would steer. Immediately, handlebar holographs sprung up and adjusted to meet her palms. Rea threw one leg over the seat and made herself comfortable, letting the interface adapt to the height and angle of her crouched position. She felt the force-feedback in her gloves, providing not only enough resistance to let her feel the handlebars as if they were real, but allow her to rest her upper body weight upon them as well.

A delighted titter emerged from Rea. She opened up the throttle a bit, and the musical note transformed into a harmonious chorus of wind. As Rea let the throttle down again, she beckoned to Rothan. “Let’s test it.”

“Go ahead,” Rothan started, “It’s all….”

Rothan felt a nudge on his back. He turned to see Mia behind him.

Wyld caught Rothan’s eye. “You better get on there.”

“I….sure,” Rothan acquiesced. He flanked the bike and straddled the limited amount of seat left, trying to copy Rea’s position. Rothan found himself laying forward on Rea’s back.

“Every part of the front of your body should touch mine,” Rea informed. “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tight.”

Rothan felt Rea’s body through his suit once again and squeezed.

Rea looked over her shoulder. “Tighter.”

As Rothan’s mind began to wander, Rea expertly pulled into the throttle and the Starscreamer rose. The chorus became louder and the jet-bike slipped forwards towards the open garage entrance of the armory. Rea called over to those they were leaving behind, “We’ll be back.” And then she fired the thrusters, blasting off into the night.

Hugh, having never gotten up from the ground, gazed at Jerry-Ann Wyld. “I’m available, you know. I’m eighteen. I’ve got the ID to prove it.”

Modifié par Kel Riever, 08 octobre 2013 - 05:04 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld look at Hugh with a worried expression. “Not to be blunt kid”. She said. “But I'd go with being under eighteen. We're pulling everyone we can into this fight. If you tell people your of age, you'll have a rifle thrust into your hands and pointed towards the Reapers”. She paused. “And without the training, you wouldn't last long”.

Hughes face fell. “I can fight”!

“Never said you couldn't”.

“Then why.....”?

Wyld shook her head before he could finish. “Earlier this evening, I was out with a civilian who lacked training. She had all the equipment. But she didn't have the instinct's real soldier's develop through training”. She sighed as she looked around at the assembled people in front of her. “She nearly got herself killed..... And me. Going out without knowing what to do will hurt not just yourselves, but those around you”.

She saw it then. The steely hardening of the eye's. The withdrawal from the advice she offered as the air seemed to become heavy between them.

She abruptly switched tracks. “Mind you.... we've got another group of Misfit's in the camp....”.

“We're not with that group”. Mia piped up. “We're not all one big group”.

“To bad”. Said Wyld. “Because those guys know how to fight street style”. She saw the look of confusion between the misfit's and she explained. “Those other guys? They know how to fight without exposing themselves. They can use the terrain to their advantage. They hide and communicate between themselves and wait till the time is right to attack...... Or not attack at all”! Wyld said pointedly. “I saw the plan they had to wipe out a bunker full of well equipped people and it involved fighting on their own terms. Making best use of their advantages while denying their opponent there's”. She shrugged. “You could ask the other misfit's for tips. Or talk to those Salarians in the red armour? They trained them to be more than survivors”.

Wyld nudged Sully. “And I'm sure we have some gear that'll be left over that won't go unmissed”.

Sully was watching Wyld with a suspicious look. “Maaaybe”. He allowed.

Wyld nodded. “But it would be a shame if people thought that running into the front lines was the only job on the table. Someone needs to stay and look over the people we leave behind. We may be evacuating the camp soon. None of the soldier's know their way around London as well as some people I know”. She looked pointedly at Hugh.

Hugh however, wasn't ready to back down. “Look. I know what your saying. But....”.

“But you want to push ahead and not be left behind”?

Hugh nodded.

Wyld sighed and stepped towards him. She put a hand on his chest and Hugh looked down and up at her as the other's watched. “I can't stop you”. Wyld said. “And I can't be there to protect you. I have other thing's I need to focus on. So if your caught out there, you'll be alone. I'm not saying don't go. But know that if you do..... there will be consequences. Just make sure they are one's you can live with. And trust me”. She said dropping her voice “The worst thing, the absolute worst thing that can happen to you out there. Is that they die....”. She jerked her head towards Mia and the other's. “.... And you live. You could lose everything that makes your life mean anything. And then you have to find the strength to keep going on without them”.

Hugh blinked a few times as his breathing became laboured and Wyld knew, he understood.

“But it is my choice, right”? He asked.

“Your, theirs. We don't even know what we'll be doing once we leave. Just reach the beam they say. After that? We just don't know. Can you really jump into the fight not knowing what what you have do? The objective will dictate the survival rate”. She smiled. “Look, don't take this to much to heart. You need to decide what's best for all of you. And I'll make you a deal”. Hugh looked up at her. “If you, them, and I survive, and you can prove your really eighteen.... I'll kiss you”.

Hughes eye's shot open as he looked at Wyld as she stepped away. “Yeeeah”. Wyld smirked. “I thought that would get your attention”.

“You mean.....”.

“Yep”.

“And you'll....”.

Wyld let out a breath. “Term and condition's apply. Stay alive. Keep them alive”. She said jerking her head to his friends. “I don't think there's anyone who can claim to have not grown up in this war”.

Mia looked suspiciously between Hugh and Wyld. “What did she say”?

Hugh opened his mouth when Wyld interrupted. “Tell them and the deals off”.

“But....”.

Wyld chuckled. “A gentleman shouldn't go around spreading a lady's secrets”.

At that moment Wyld's Omni tool flared to life and Momma appeared. “Jerry-Ann. You are requested to come to the command centre in thirty minutes time. We will be going over the battle plans and you are needed for your input”.

Momma winked out and Wyld nodded to the group. “Take care guys. And if you see a boy about so tall....”. She held a hand off the ground. “...Answers to Gizmo, make sure he's in the evacuation Mako's. I've got an idea about where to send them”.

Sully cleared his throat. “Before you go, I need you in the armoury. We need to go over your load out”.

Wyld nodded. Waved farewell to the Misfit's and walked with Sully to his Armoury.

Mia watched them go and, walking up to Hugh, poked him to get his attention. Hugh looked down after Wyld disappeared from view. “What did she say”?

Hugh thought about not telling them. Then decided what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. “She said she'd kiss me after the war if I could prove I was eighteen”!

Mia stared at Hughes youthful face. “Euuuugh”. She pulled a face as she added with a hint of sarcasm “Good luck with that”!

Modifié par Redbelle, 06 octobre 2013 - 05:53 .