Wasteland

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

"Madge, Thallon," said Walter, through the headset, "You've got to get down here, now!"
"I can't leave him out here..." I replied.
The Martians were getting closer by the second, but Valerios could probably fight them off and get underground...probably. Still I had no intention of leaving him here.
"Thallon, your friends are all down here, all that's left is the three of you, now c'mon!"
I look to Madge, who shruggs, then says, "We can probably get back without trouble, maybe lead some of them with us. Better yet, we can take a few out, then retreat, maybe make it easier for him."
I looked back to the scene in front of me. There were tons of them, and more arriving. if we were going to do something, we were running out of time, not just in terms of helping him, but also in terms of the missile nearing the surface.
"Alright," I agree, finally, "We'll take a few out and try to lure them away from him, then back to the manhole."
With that, I stand to full hieght and aim at the Martians nearest to his location.
"Ready?" I ask her.
"Yep."
We open fire.

 

[Darklord]

Valerios

Oc: Sorry, finals are here...

Ic: All the while Valerios was lying only a few yards away inside the building whcih Thallon and Madge were huddling against. He was hurt, and that was being nice about the situation. He had lost alot of blood and was in bad shape. Hearing some voices he tried to call out, but was too weak. "Progenitor's I hurt." he thought as he heard more voices coming near, harsh voices, Martians.

Pushing himself up onto his arm he puller two of the rifles over to him and squiting against the pain and blood filling his eyes he squeezed off a few rounds at the oncoming Martians....

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

I heard a few shots just as we were starting off. I stopped short, taking aim at a few of the Martians that were coming close.
"What?" Madge snapped, firing at some of the enemy as well.
"He's inside," I replied, "Those shots came from inside...Why would he go inside?"
"What?" SHe was growing impatient with me.
"He would have stayed out in the open, not gone inside where he'd be trapped. Something's wrong. He could be hurt, or dying."
"What if he's fine?" She asked.
"Then we'll have a healthy Andromedian soldier to lead us underground."
She hesitated, then said, "Alright, let's go."
We hid in the shadows again, trying to fight off as many of the Martians as we could. We were under fire by then, almost getting hit each time they fired at us. We ducked inside as soon as we got the chance.

OOC: It's cool. School's important. This is just a game...anyway, I'm assuming that you intedned for us to come inside, if not, let me know when you get a chance, huh?

 

[Lady_Siren]

Lucia looked behind her and cursed softly. "They have fighter crafts. Those excceed the speed of this ship greatly" she pressed a few more buttons and speeded up to the maximum speed. "THis is as fast as she goes we will just have to rely on manuvering" she dodged shot after shot but they kept coming. "Were gonna have to lose them, any ideas?"

 

[Darklord]

Valerios

Oc: That was the general idea I had...

Ic: His breaths becoming more ragged he kept firing at the oncoming figures, causing them to scatter in many directions. Just then two shadows ducked through the opening, snarling he coughed out "Halt! Who are you?!?"

 

[poohlive]

How do you stop a Lucian army of fighter crafts and live to tell the tale? Thoughts of putting an auto destruct in the ship and then leaving came to mind. It wouldn't work though, they had no place else to go.
Lucian fighters...
Lucian fighters...
He smiled, punching up the navigational array. There it was, the heart of the Martian empire on Earth. A huge city (not the one that was recently destoryed) known as Carthan.
Terrin pointed.
"If you can sweep right past that city, and let them see this ship, they'll be out and shooting like mad. Martians hate Lucians with a vengeance. They'll destroy most of the ships, but the problem is they wil destroy us as well."
He looked at her, frankly, "You better be a good pilot to do this, it won't be easy."
His hand was on hers, as his eyes searched through those light purples pores. Why couldn't he see anything inside there?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

"Halt! Who are you?!"
I froze, eventhough I knew it was him.
"Valerios, It's Thallon and Madge."
Madge fidgeted with something while I moved to the window, hoping he'd lowered his guard. Outside, the Martians had scattered due to his and our sudden firing, but that was losing its effect quickly. They were regrouping.
"Thallon," Madge began, "Out of the window."
I ducked down.
A light came on behind me, not a bright one, but bright enough to make out our figures. I looked Valerios over. He was injured badly, his breathing growing more and more ragged just since we came inside.
I looked him over. If we could carry him, it wouldn't be very far. We might be able to travel short distances, then rest, then travel again.
"Walter, we've got trouble," Madge was saying into her headset. The light was gone then, leaving us in the dark, but before it went out, I noticed a figure standing in the corner. I stood, holding my rifle out in front of me.
"Who's there?"
No one answered.
"Speak, or I'll fire."
Nothing. I raised the rifle.
Madge flicked the light on again, and i felt stupid, looking at a manequin standing naked in the corner.
"Shit!" I spat, then an idea came to me.
I ducked down and returned to the window. Madge slipped the light off again and joined me there. We fired a few quick spreads outside, then ducked down again.
"Madge, check the back entrance. See if we can get out there."
SHe nodded and headed into the back.
"Relax, Buddy, I whispered to Valerios, "I think I can get us out of this."

 

[Darklord]

Valerios

He knew who they were the moment Thallon spoke. He really didn't care very much anymore, things were growing steadily blacker around him...

The next thing he knew Thallon was telling him to hold on... "onto what?" he wondered. His thoughts whirling around he finally remembered what to do... "Thallon... Thallon, you've got to get me out of this if you want to make a run for it with me. But to be... *cough* be honest, I would leave me.. *hack* to die here. But if you insist, you gotta get me out of the armor and keep the autodoc running as long as possible.." and that was as far as he got for that time.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

"Get you out of the armor? But you'll be defenseless..." no sense continuing. I could tell by the way he'd spoken that he was barely conscious. He may not have been able to understand me anyway.
Madge was back a moment later, whispering, "The back is clear for now, at least so far as I can see."
"They know we're in here, though," I replied, "So they'll be changing that. Walter...," i spoke into the headset, hoping he'd reply.
Silence for a moment. Then Walter's voice, "Yeah. You down here yet?"
"Not yet," i replied, "I need to talk to whoever knows the most about Andromedian armor..."
"What?" He was confused. "Is this trivia time? Get down here!"
"I need to know how to remove Valerios' armor. Is there someone who can tell me what to do?"
Silence, then another familiar voice.
"What do you need to know?" Hum'Battaan asked.
"I need to remove his armor," I replied, "And I need to do it quickly, while keeping the autodoc running. What do I do?"
I did as he explained, working as quickly as I could. After only a few minutes, Madge and I had managed it, stopping here and there to fire at the Martians, trying to keep them at bay a while longer. They knew our location, and would be willing to wait for us to do something, or to slowly move in, pinning us down. The latter was what concerned me. If they were watching the front so well, what about the back?
Before us, Valerios lay in the open suit, the autodoc still attached here and there, but the suit otherwise entirely removed. I could see now that he was indeed very badly hurt. I wondered if he would make it all the way beneath the surface, also curious if there was a way to keep the autodoc attached while leaving the suit. I examined the suit for a moment, then decided it couldn't be done.
"Thanks, Hum'Battaan," I said, "Madge, did you find anything?"
Madge returned a moment later, pushing a large cart that appeared to have been for stock in the back, with three manequins on top of it. That made four altogether. I gathered some of the weapons Valerios had been carrying, placing his own on the cart, where he would soon be. Madge and I placed the manequins around the room, using an old roll of duct tape to bind the weapons into their arms. In the dim light, which we would turn on and leave on, it would appear like four humans, hopefully distracting them long enough for us to get out the back.
We lifted Valerios out of the suit then, realizing we couldn't take any longer, for his sake, and lay him on the cart flat on his back. We used the tape to strap his body down, then moved him into the back, Scanning the outside one more time.
"Okay," I said, "Let's do this before we lose him."
We moved back out front, then I stood in the window and fired repeatedly out the window, hitting as many random targets as I could and trying to scatter my pellets among them. Then I ducked out of the way while Madge lit the light and dropped it in the center of the room. THe manequins became visible then, and the Martians began to fire, long bursts that tore through the room and chuiseled into the walls. The manequins would be destroyed in minutes, if that.
We grabbed the handle of the cart, each of us taking one, and I grabbed the handle to the door, pulling it open.

 

[Moneytalks]

ooc:

sorry guys... stupid ISP has been *insert-suitably-rude-word-here* - ing up on me. Couldn't get into Lit for AGES... finally I'm back and I love the story line so far... it's all good guys!

[grins]

[hugs all round]

gimme a day to get my act together and I'll post for Sage, Satra and Zed... will flesh out what's happening with the explosions too... but basically imagine an energy pulse from the missile being hit by ground weapons... has caused a major electrical short across a massive area along the outter perimeter of Zion. All electrical equipment is DOWN. That includes hand held items.

It's like a semi-permanent blackout of sorts. Zion HQ is still running but only on emergency energy... and a lot of their own equipment has been comprimised due to Zed stuffing around and playing it all cocky.

Mechanical units are still functioning if they run on fuel... but anything digital is now non-functional.

Physical damage includes complete destruction of all buildings on the outer perimeter of Zion for a full 5 mile radius at a point North of Zion base which is not far from the position of the Rebel base... (err... sorry... they're not rebels are they?). (not sure of the size of Zion itself but you get the idea right?)

Minor damage to neighbouring areas but this is almost more dangerous as buildings are weakened considerably and could colapse at any time.

I see it as the Northern half of Zion (imagining Zion is circular in shape) is pretty much a danger zone.

cool?

sorry... don't want to take over the thread... but just thought a general idea of the affect of the explosion should be laid out.

please feel free to change, add, subtract from this basic outline!

CHEERS!

M.T.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

Once outside, we tried to keep things moving. The Martians had been waiting afterall, using our trick of hiding in shadows. WHen we were in full view, the enemy began to fire. Madge took the defensive, leaving me to pull the cart alone while she fired back. I was beginning to wish we'd covered Valerios with something thick, to both hide his shape and to deflect enemy fire, if possible.
I grabbed the handle with both hands and backpedaled as fast as i could. We were moving quickly, and luckily, many of those out front were still preoccupied with the manequins we'd set up. I was pleased with that, but only for a few more seconds, as the gunfire ceased for a moment, then there was an explosion, tearing through the lower levels of the building we'd just exited.
Fire burst into the street around it, in both front and back.
The Martians took cover, diving behind objects and running from the building.
This bought us some time. Madge took hold of the cart again and we managed to increase our speed, leaving the Martian footsoldiers behind with the exception of only a few, which tailed us from far away.
I saw it then, rising into view from in front of the building. Another Cruiser. It flew over the building it'd just missiled and moved carefully overhead, obviously scanning the ground for us. I had to give it to them...they knew how to finish a job. Three of us, and they send everything they can spare. Persistent, but hopefully it was all in vain.
We moved into the shadows, hoping to avoid being found right away, but still moved as quickly as we could. Once we reached the alleyway where the escape was to take place, we stopped and waited to see if the Cruiser would go overhead. Giving away the location would destroy not only us, but the entire Republic, I was sure.
It hovered overhead as I held my hand to Valerios' chest, makig sure it still rose and fell. It did, but his breaths were getting even more shallow. He was weak; no quesion.
It slipped by then, giving us the chance. We were standing over the manhole a few seconds later. I pulled it out of the way, revealing the entrance.
"Go first, I'll lower Valerios down to you as i climb down behind you."
She nodded in return, then climbed down.
I looked around, saw nothing that was a threat, then used all the strength i could muster to get Valerios into the manhole. I could tell when Madge had hold, as he got noticably lighter. Before I knew it, Valerios was on the cement at the bottom of the ladder. I climbed up and pulled the cover over the hole again, then Madge turned on the light.
"It's right down there...," she said, pointing.
She helped me lift him and we started to cary him in that direction, surrounded by a halo of dim light.
"Hold on, Buddy," i said, "We'll be where it's safe in a few minutes."

OOC: Hey, Money...good to see you. Nice to see this thread is still going...I thought it was a goner there for a while.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

We finally got underground and moved quickly, though carefully, through the tunnels toward the base. WHen we got there, it was mostly eveacuated, leaving only Walter, Hum'Battaan, and a few others, some of whom were apparent newcomers. I didn't bother to shift my glance through them, but instead called for Hum'Battaan to get medical help immediately, specifically requesting an autodoc.
We lay him down on his back, taking turns talking to him, trying to get his attention. He would make it, I thought, but I didn't feel so certain.
"Come," Walter said, "They'll work on him while we move. We've got to get further underground..."

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra

Satra watched the two Human's and the two Andromedian's returning from what was obviously a harsh battle.

They were all rapt up in their concern for the fallen Andromedian. Immediately she saw that here at least Andromedian's and Human's were working together. She was desperate to ask Walter more questions about it but she could see they were already making the move to head deeper underground.

She wasn't sure about that plan. She didn't know how well they knew these underground tunnels and now more than ever she was concerned about getting trapped under there. With the amount of damage she'd overheard from reports already, it was clear that things were not stable.

She glanced over at her men and saw that Spike was missing.

"Where the hell did Spike go?"

"Don't know, heard him rambling about the ship and whatever... he grabbed his weapons and fled."

"That idiot... the ship won't be in any condition to go anywhere, doesn't he know that?"

"I figured he was just scared."

Satra frowned, "I've known him long enough, he might be the one to always choose the safe route... but he's never ignored direct orders. I'm not sure what we should do... should we follow these guys? If so we're as good as saying we're joining them."

Satra looked up and saw a woman looking at her. She was separate from the crowd and her gaze was intense in it's scrutiny.

Satra stared back fully expecting the woman to look away. She didn't. Instead she strode forward with an uncanny confidence, as she drew near she pulled off her helmet and both Lunden and Satra gasped in surprise.

Sage stopped before Satra and stared at her.

"You... mother's face!" Sage accused harshly.

Satra shook her head trying to clear it while also trying to make sense of the situation. She was... in effect... staring at herself. Her spitting image was now staring at her accusing her of being her mother.

Lunden looked on wide-eyed. "She's... she's YOU!" She gasped. Looking at the two women standing before her face to face. Twins. Identical.

"You never mentioned a sister."

"That's because I don't HAVE one!" Satra hissed, not at all comfortable with this new turn of events.

Sage looked from Lunden to Satra trying to understand them.

She was distracted though and turned away.

"Thaayllohhhn!!!!" She cried out running towards him. She flung herself into his surprised embrace. Overcome with relief apon seeing him alive again.

"You NO go away again!" She barked at him in her agitation. Satra looked on at this in consternation.

 

[Moneytalks]

Zed

All hell broke loose.

"Commander Zed, major damage to sector 12, North bound, current estimate, 20,000 civilians perished!"

"Sir!... We have word... no power for a 5 mile radius in Sector 12 Sir... affecting sectors 10, 11, 13, 14 and now 15 Sir!"

"Commander... Elder Marks is on screen Sir!"


"ZED!!! What is the meaning of this... it is CHAOS out there... we have dead civilian's Zed... DEAD CIVILIANS... there is a power loss in almost all Northern sectors... what are you DOING over there???"

"Elder... it was beyond our controll... we had internal sabotage... Commander Satra has been affiliating with the enemy... we have found her out and she is now at large and most dangerous."

"What? Satra??? She is one of our best men. You cannot be serious."

"It is why she was so successful Elder, none of us could have suspected her."

"This is MOST distressing news."

"Yes Elder, it pained me to hear the news myself."

"We must set an example of her... make sure she is found Zed, she will face the Elder's tribunal."

"Of course Elder, meanwhile, we are doing all in our power to help the civilians that have survived this outrageous attack."

"Good... good..." The Elder replied clearly distracted.

"Was there anything further Elder?"

"No... no... carry on Zed, you're to be commended for you service."

Zed leaned back in his chair of command and smiled a very pleased smile.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

We'd no more than gotten back before Sage ran to us, flinging her arms around me and squeezing as tightly as I'd ever been hugged. I dropped the oxygen mask to hug her back.
"You NO go away again!" She said, clearly upset with me.
"Okay," I replied, unable to hide how happy I was to see her, "I'll never leave your side."
"Hum'Battaan," Madge yelled, "Quickly. We need anyone who can help him..."
She was pointing at Valerios, explaining the situation to the concerned Andromedian.
"You've got to do whatever you can..." I began, "He's an invaluable asset to us, and a good friend."
He nodded, "I'll do everything...Quickly, and Autodoc, bandages, something to slow his heartrate! We've got to slow the bleeding fast. Bring lifesupport systems, immediately." He was barking the orders into his headset, but others were already coming with supplies. Within minutes, Valerios was being bandaged and given a few injections.
I waited, watching with great concern, not letting go of Sage for even a moment, or loosening my grip. I guessed she was even more distressed to see our friend injured as I was.
Friend. I thought about that word for a moment. three days ago, I would have never dreamed I'd consider an Andromedian my friend, and here I was with Valerios on a stretcher before me, worried sick about him, thinking that he had done more for me than almost any human ever had. To think I'd made that kind of friend in such a short period of time...
I looked to the girl I held so tightly to and thought, well, maybe I'd made more friends than that...
I hugged her close again, closing my eyes for the first time since we'd gone up top, then opened them again, intending to tell her how much I missed her and that I was glad she was alright, when I saw the other.
"What the...?" I muttered.
THe woman looked so much like her, almost identical were it not for the different clothes and the short blonde hair. Were they sisters? WHere had this girl...
I saw HER then, standing next to this newcomer, not realizing she'd be found out.
I let go of Sage and started toward them, my hand dropping to my side and drawing my rifle into my hands.
I was there in only seconds, pointing the weapon directly at her.
"If you're armed, place your weapons on the ground," I ordered.
THe newcomer who looked so much like SAge looked back at me surprised.
The other looked my way, her face freezing in place. "You...You're dead..."
"Do it, now," I instructed, "Or I WILL kill you..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden

Spike was gone, and I was beginning to wish I'd gone with him. Things weren't really going bad, they were already bad, and not getting any better with us just standing around here. I couldn't say that, though. Satra was my ticket here, and if I pissed her off now...
Play your cards right, I told myself, but still stood impatiently as Satra talked to the others, asking where Spike had gone.
"I'm not sure what we should do...should we follow these guys? If so we're as good as saying we're joining them."
I was about to comment, to tell her we should leave them, that they weren't worth our time, when she was taken by the attention of some odd woman who was staring at her.
The woman walked over to us, taking off her helmet to...
Satra gasped, and so did someone else (I think it might have been me, but at the time, I was too surprised to be certain). The two were twins, identical with very few exceptions.
"You...mother's face!" The woman insisted.
I stared at the girl for a moment, then said, "She's...she's YOU."
I glanced back and forth between the two, just to be certain I was really seeing what I thought i was seeing.
"You never mentioned a sister," I added, still amazed, but thinking there must be a rational reason.
"That's because I don't HAVE one!" Satra returned.
The girl looked back after a moment, then started away all of a sudden, shouting "Thaayllohhhn!"
What the...?
I looked to Satra, wondering what was going on but unsure whether it was wise to ask. I stared instead, knowing not to, but unable to help myself.
"My god..." I muttered, "Unbelievable..."
I must have stared for some time, watching Satra's face unchanging with this new situation, her expression that of utter disbelief. I wondered if I bore the same expression.
I should have paid more attention though, should have watched where she was going...but should have was far too late...
"If you're armed, place your weapons on the ground," he ordered.
I glanced toward the owner of the voice, wondering if he realized who he was dealing with, then stopped short when my eyes found his face. I stared at him, not even breathing. A moment before the girl walked over, I'd have been happy to join them if it meant that we would do something besides just stand here. now, I wanted nothing more than to run to the ship and tell Spike to put the pedal to the metal.
His weapon wasn't pointed at all of us, it was only pointed at me.
"You...," my lips moved without my realizing the words were coming out. "you're dead..."
"Do it, now, or I WILL kill you..." He continued.
I lowered my hand to the pistol at my side, wanting to pull it and shoot him down. A second later, a tall woman with another weapon was at his side, backing him up and muttering, "I hope you know what you're doing, Thallon."
"I know what I'm doing," he told her.
I pulled the weapon slowly and carefully and dropped it on the ground.
"Okay?" I spat, spitefully, "Are you happy now?"
I waited, wondering if Satra would allow this. THey'd have to listen to her, wouldn't they? I mean, she was a commander for Zion headquarters, certainly she'd pull rank out here, with the pee-ons...I glanced to her, hoping she'd help me.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Lucia nodded "that sounds like our best course of action" she looked at his hand touching her and felt a strange sort of tightening in her chest. "Terrin.." she felt all the words she wanted to say well up in her at once and found that she didn't know how to say any of them. Her gaze met his then she nodded "Lets show these ships what this baby can do" a smile crossed her face though it held a hint of sadness. He could never know what she felt for him, It would never work. Sighing softly she took the controls more firmly in her hands and directed the ship towards the city that Terrin indicated and preyed silently they would survive.

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra & Sage

Satra stepped immediately between Thallon's aimed rifle and Lunden.

"What is the meaning of this?" She barked with command. "We are here under Walter's supervision, explain your agressive action immediately!" She demanded not flinching at all from the weapon now pointed at her chest.

Sage grabbed Thallon's arm.

"Thaylohhn!" She pleaded not understanding his sudden anger. It frightened her.

Thallon's eyes seemed to flicker. Satra staring at him with such command would be distracting at the best of times, but her resemblance to Sage was disconcerting.

"This is no concern of yours, move aside."

"No fucking way, Lunden is under my command and therefore my responsibility, I'm not letting some gunghoe bullet blazing rebel decide to wipe her out on some unspoken whim!" She glared at him, her hands on her hips.

"Thayllohn???" Sage's voice was full of uncertainty. She felt the tension in his arm and it spoke volumes to her. She pressed herself to him and looked at her twin worriedly. The fact that they were identical had not yet registered. She couldn't recall the last time she'd looked at herself. Her lifestyle did not require her to look at herself and unless she looked into a pool of water she wouldn't even have a sense of her own image at all. All she knew was that this woman looked like her mother had when she'd last seen her before she died.

It frightened her but she wouldn't admit it.

"Thayllohn... Valaireeous..." she tugged on his arm as if to pull him away from the situation.

 

[Darklord]

Valerios

He came back to the world of the living alright, the hard way. Among the injections Hum'battan had given him was a drug commonly called by the troops "The Asskicker." Literally it would bring those near the tunnel of light back to the living but it sure hurt like living hell though when it coursed through someones veins... He certainly reacted.. "HUUAAARRGG!" he screamed and jerked halfway off the table as the drug kicked in and brought him back into the world.

Slamming back onto the table his heart racing he watched as Hum'battan gave him another shot to now calm his heart and to kickstart his immune system. "Bastard..." he mumbled out to the Andromedian Elder, "you gave me an asskicker you prog-shit" Hum'battan merely smiled and patting him on the shoulder stood to look and see the altercation happening between Sage, Satra, Lunden, and Thallon. "WAIT, ALL OF YOU!" he bellowed to get their attention. "We have to much to do and to little time. We ALL (hard looks between Lunden and Thallon) must get along for now. Thallon, Sage, help me with Valerios." he commanded of all of them.

 

[Moneytalks]

Sage

Sage scowled at Thallon and then at Lunden. She just knew she didn't like the tension she sensed between them.

She tugged him more insistantly this time and he seemed to reluctantly follow her towards Valerios who now sat up with a grim look on his face.

Sage's eyes lit up apon seeing her friend concious.

"Vaylaireeous!" She laughed wrapping her arms around his massive frame. She sighed hearing his steady heartbeat.

Between Sage and Thallon they managed to get him standing again. He was clearly weak though.

Satra stepped forward. "Collect your weapon Lunden!" She ordered over her shoulder before facing Thallon, Valerios and Sage again.

"I don't know who the hell you people are, but my entire team has been slaughtered by Zed and I don't think he's going to stop until he has my head on a stick." She looked at Sage again. Still stunned by the resemblance.

"We'll follow you for now, but I'm concerned my presence will only do the resistance damage. Unfortunately, we don't have much of a choice right now. We'll add our hands to yours until I can figure out the best course of action against Zed."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden

How the HELL was he still alive? I'd thought him dead before I even left the city...
I was beginning to sweat, looking at him, with his weapon pointed so intently. He WOULD kill me, that I knew. I'd seen him kill before, and I knew he'd wish later he hadn't (he was always weak that way, caring about those who had to be dealt with) but he would do it.
Satra stepped between us then, to my relief.
"What's the meaning of this?" SHe began, "We are here under Walter's supervision, explain your aggressive action immediately!"
Whew! That was all too close, but it was in hand now. I glanced around her, peering out at the man, a fighting back a grin. I'd always wanted to see him with his tail between his legs...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

"This is no concern of yours, move aside," I warned.
I had no intention of harming her, not given how much she looked like Sage, and especially not with Sage pleading me to back away from the woman, but to get to the other...
"No fucking way, Lunden is under my command and therefore my responsibility, I'm not letting some gunghoe bullet blazing rebel decide to wipe her out on some unspoken whim!" She responded. This woman was unyeilding, but she'd sidetracked me in a way I guessed she wouldn't have seen coming...
"Lunden? Who the hell's Lunden?"
I saw her duck back beneath the woman now, hiding her face. They didn't even know her, didn't know who she really was. How had she hidden her past so well?
"Thayllohn???" Sage, standing against my side, worried, but worried over what? That I would injure her...whatever this woman was...sister? Aunt? Or just worried that a conflict may bring about a bad end. I wondered about that myself. The crew seemed harmless enough, but the woman was a weakness to no one, I could tell that just by looking at her. She would make a great ally for the Republic, if it could be done.
"Thayllohn...Valaireeous..." Sage agian, pulling at my arm this time.
"Look," I began, "I don't know who you think she is..."
"WAIT, ALL OF YOU!" Hum'Battaan echoed at us, "We have too much to do and too little time. We ALL must get along for now. Thallon, Sage, help me with Valerios."
Sage pulled at my arm again, but I didn't budge, not at first.
Then, after a moment longer, looking this woman who looked so much like dead in the eye, I lowered my weapon, not blinking, and followed her lead. I didn't know who this woman was, but I guessed she was no one to be trifled with. Luckily for me, I wasn't either. I could feel the true rebel in me coming back to life, as if it had been asleep, laying dormant somewhere inside for some time. Adrenalin coursed through me, and my chest rose in deeper breaths than it had in several long months. It had been difficult to back away, but my quarrel was not with her. She would make a strong enemy, and that meant she could make an even stronger ally.
I let Sage lead me over to where Valerios sat, now appearing fully conscious, much better than he had been just moments ago.
"Vaylaireeous!" Sage exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.
We helped him to his feet, lifting him carefully as to avoid any irritation of his wounds.
"Collect your weapon Lunden," the woman ordered.
Lunden..., I thought, still out of sorts.
The woman turned to face us as the girl scooped up the weapon.
"I don't know who the hell you people are, but my whole team has been slaughtered by Zed and I don't think he's going to stop until he has my head on a stick," she explained. "We'll follow you for now, but I'm concerned my presence will only do the resistance damage. Unfortunately, we don't have much of a choice right now. We'll add our hands to yours until I can figure out the best course of action against Zed."
Zed? I thought, yeah, he always was an asshole...
"Look," I began, "I'm not sure who you are, but if Zed has done something to Zion, if he has anything to do with the destruction caused there, then he's as much our problem as yours."
She stared back, hopefully contemplating the words, but I couldn't tell for sure. She was far too rigid, military no doubt, but not resistance military.
I glanced over at the girl who claimed her name was Lunden.
"Perhaps you should be less concerned with who we are, and more concerned with those you already hold company with...," I added.
'Lunden' looked back, clearly angry.
"We haven't time for this," Walter interjected. "We've got to get further underground...Where's your pilot?" He asked the blonde woman. [Satra]
Sage and I turned and started to follow Hum'Battaan, leaving the new group with Walter to discuss whatever needed discussion. A few moments later, Coulter, now bandaged and moving on his own, though slowly, met us, looking over the Andromedian who'd hoisted him so easily into the air with surprise.
"Will he be alright?" Coulter asked.
"I think so," I replied. "I hope so. Did you know she was coming here?"
"Who?" He asked.
I motioned toward the blonde woman and her companions. His eyes grew wide when he saw her.
"Andy...?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

OOC: Sorry that was so long...had to be done that way. I started the foreshadowing fo this so long ago, I thought I'd clarify here...Lunden is actually Andidria, who'd known Thallon when he was with the first resistance. She'd stabbed him in the ribcage, puncturing his lung, then run off with Coulter (the injured man who Valerios saved in the city above) to Filda. The stabbing thing has been sitting there since the third page, so I figured, if anyone even picked up on it, they'd have forgotten by now. Didn't want to confuse anything. Thanx for the patience...sorry again about the long post...

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra

"I don't know where the hell Spike got to, last I heard he'd gone back above ground to the transport we came in on. I'm not willing to risk the resistance looking for him, we'll head onwards. He can take care of himself." She answered Walter.

Walter seemed to be okay with that and they all started to move out. Heading deeper underground.

Satra pulled back with Lunden out of earshot of the rest.

"I don't know who the hell that guy thought you were, but he sure didn't have very fond feelings to share."

Lunden didn't reply.

"Listen Lunden, whether you like it or not, I'm the only one on your side for the moment, don't make me regret that. I don't think you'd like being on my bad side."

Satra walked away briskly catching up to Walter.

"Walter, how long has the resistance been working with the Andromedians?"

She didn't notice Thallon eyeing her curiously.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden

"I don't know who the hell that guy thought you were, but he sure didn't have very fond feelings to share," Satra commented, her voice with an edge.
I said nothing...what COULD I say?
"Listen Lunden, whether you like it or not, I'm the only one on your side for the moment, don't make me regret that. I don't think you'd like being on my bad side," she continued.
With that she hurried to catch up to Walter.
Was that a threat? Who did she think she was? I had more connections than she did out here.
I watched her spitefully as she talked things out with Walter.