Do You Remember Me?

First Psi testing of Gillian Grayson.

Date: roughly six months after the activation of the XCOM project.

More Editor's Notes (I do that):
Hello there. Again, these chapters are not fully in order. They likely won't be for a while. Chapters 1 to 6 will remain where they are, although I will try to upload more interaction that wasn't found at the time. After Chapter 6, though, I'll likely be backtracking through a fair amount of 'downtime' roleplay that's just as crucial as battles.

This is a section I am deeply proud. It's currently as recent as can be, and is easily two or three months after Operation: Brutal Bear. Many people have joined. A lot has happened. Blood has been shed. Hearts have been broken. The war has taken its 'pounds of flesh.' This tale centers around Gillian Grayson, a member fairly new to XCOM and the horrors of war itself. She was bright and sweet, tender-hearted and blissfully unaware of the brutality of life, much less of the Long War. She learned the hard way, but she definitely learned.

In our realm, Psionic Testing is … different. XCOM plans to test at least half of their base. After all, the more psionic operatives, the better. Operatives as sealed away in sensory-deprived pods that record the vast array of neural stimulations. It should be bland if tedious and fatiguing due to being deprived. It's not.

For whatever reasons, nearly every member of XCOM who has stepped into those pods has experienced full-fledge, as true-to-life experiences as they could imagine. Far and away, they have been horrific. For example, one member, Sgt. Jorge "Swan" Anderson, found himself reliving the Attack on Pearl Harbor, with himself as one of the sailors on the USS Nevada. Always, it's as if something inside those pods (or their minds) wants the operatives to face a painful inner truth they don't want to face.

And now it's Gillian's turn. For the record, par excellence for the player of Gillian Grayson. Thank you.

Gryffen09/27/2018

Do You Remember Me?

First Psi testing of Gillian Grayson.

Well into the third sub-basement of XCOM HQ lies the Psionic Labs. The larger part is never visited by anyone but the Science staff, maintenance, the officers, and a few others. The cold-plated research terminals hunch at the back walls of the upper floor that looks down through glass panes to the small, circular room below.

It is the room below that matters most, really. Inside stand three large T-shaped pods. Obviously built for humans, the pods split apart to allow an occupant to recline back into the pod and to be sealed away, arms extended.

Two simple terminals stand at a desk near the pods, a direct, though minimal link to the outside world.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Taking a moment to suppress the shivers going down her spine, Gillian Grayson walked into the psionics lab. First genetic modifications, she thought to herself, and now possible mind powers. Matt is going to be SO upset that he didn't come with me to XCOM.

The thought amused her, even if it gave her chills, too. What else was she changing about herself? She had heard the rumors, but she had also seen the results. She silenced her misgivings and focused on what she could do, and that gave her the courage necessary to keep walking into the eerily-quiet lab.

Gryffen09/27/2018

As the pressurized door swished open with a whirl of sound akin to a pneumatic press, Gillian found the ever-dreaded and somber Dr. Vahlen waiting by the terminals. She sat there, eyes glued to the screens and a steaming mug of coffee nearby on the table.

"You are on time," she intoned with a measure of surprise. "That is a good sign.'

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"Hello, Doctor Vahlen. You wished to see me?"

Gryffen09/27/2018

Dr. Vahlen granted herself a small sip of her coffee. She barely glanced up. "In the same manner I wish to see as many operatives of the XCOM project," she admitted with little expression. "My goal is to have at least half of the members of XCOM tested. I would test myself, in fact, but my guidance is needed here."

She took another sip. "I trust the others have informed you of what to expect and what to do?"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian nods. "Yes. Sergeant Armstrong told me about his initial test here. From my understanding, I'm going to go into one of those tanks in the back, and you are going to monitor my mind for possible psionic activity."

Gryffen09/27/2018

That earned her another cautioned glance from Dr. Vahlen. "And the other stipulations?" she firmly asked. "Dietary, apparel, as well as another other adherence?"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian nods. "Already taken care of, doctor."

Gryffen09/27/2018

Dr. Valhen nodded and then motioned to the meager lockers as well as the expected thermos nearby.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Without a word, Gillian strode over to the lockers and the bench and started to change. After putting on the required outfit (which looked felt more like a one-piece swimsuit than military attire) she took a sip from the thermos. Was it as bad as everyone said it was, she wondered.

Her face briefly contorted, looking like it was twisting itself on the inside out. After a moment, she recovered and walked to Doctor Vahlen, drinking the rest of the strange drink on the way.

Gryffen09/27/2018

While Gillian prepared, Dr. Vahlen studiously returned to the monitor. As the young woman approached, she nodded, and gave Gillian the bulk of her attention. "Yes, Lance Corporal."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"I am ready for the next step," she reported.

Gryffen09/27/2018

"Please enter one of the stationary examination pods," Dr. Vahlen instructed, complete with a light wave of her hand. "Likewise, you said that you have already been told, but I would prefer a final word of caution. By all definition, these pods should be benign. They ARE designed to be confining and at moments, unpleasant. However, SOMETHING about them ... triggers episodes. How, what, or why, I can not say. Most occupants have stated encountering visions. This can not be corroborated since there are presently no means to record the actual mental images of the patient."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian nodded. "Yes, I remember Jorge telling me about that. He said he dreamt that he was a soldier at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed." With another nod, she walked over to the middle of the pods.

Gryffen09/27/2018

Dr. Vahlen lightly flushed at that. "He claimed that he had been ... transported there. Which is impossible. I chalk it up to a vivid and powerful imagination.'

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian smiled. "Well, it is Jorge, after all. He is quite imaginative."

As the pod opened up in front of her, she stepped in, nestling into the metallic harness as comfortably as possible. She extended her arms outwards, grasping onto the handles meant to keep the arms outstretched.

"I am ready to begin, doctor."

Gryffen09/27/2018

Dr. Vahlen breathed a small, terse sigh. "Good luck," she offered in a meager measure of ... something. Gillian caught a glimpse of genuine concern and sympathy in Dr. Valhen's eyes as the pod started to slowly seal shut. Whatever it was, the pod closed in completely. As explained by others, there were no lights visible inside. It was pitch dark. The soft hiss of multiple-high quality speakers abounded. In some cases, this would be a world-class Musical setup.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian blinked several times to wait for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, but the world around her remained dark. Apart from the sound from the speakers, the only things she could hear were the sound of her own breathing and the dual beating of her hearts. Cold, pressurized air flooded into the chamber, making the edges of her lungs crackle with an odd sensation as she breathed it in.

I wonder what my dream will be, she thought.

Gryffen09/27/2018

For a long time, nothing happened. Inside the pod was a realm of peace, although it was peace laced with confinement, continual breathing, and near sound deprivation. The nearly unheard speaker system hissed nonstop until Gillian slowly drifted off to sleep.

Sleep came to her easily. Deeply, her body slept. Then she felt someone firmly shove her shoulder. "Hey! Gillian!" a familiar voice rang out loud and clear. Was that light and pressure she felt on her face? Even before she pried open her eyes, she could feel herself fully shake, and the deep roar of engines fumed nonstop. She could even smell fresh motor oil and airplane fuel.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian opened her eyes and blinked several times in rapid succession. "Just a few more minutes, please..." she said in a half-joking tone. She looked carefully around.

Gryffen09/27/2018

The firm hand gave another kind, but determined shake of the shoulder. "Nah, not this time, sleepyhead," the assured male voice said. As Gillian's eyes slowly pried open, she was greeted by the familiar, fully decked from of Lucas smiling down on her. Diaz stood next to him as they crowded around where she sat, strapped into the seat of a Skyranger. The mighty transport rocked, a familiar sensation. Several voices abounded, and the clatter of another weapons check blundered into her muffled ears. She couldn't see around her two friends, though.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian looks down at herself. Instead of wearing the form-fitting suit necessary for psionic testing, she was fully kitted out in her favorite dark red Carapace Armor, with a Laser Rifle resting on her lap and a Laser Pistol mounted to her hip. An alien trophy hung from the other side, while a laser sight was mounted firmly to the underside of her rifle.

"Huh," she says to nobody in particular, "Lucas and Diaz are in my dream. Not going to lie, I was expecting Luigi or Jacob ... though I guess I was really hoping for Batman."

Gryffen09/27/2018

Before Gillian could say more, both Lucas and Diaz grinned. 'Batman? And did you admit you dream of us, sweetheart?"

"Shut up and focus, meatheads," Gillian heard Knox's bitter voice growl. "We got a mission to do, so nut up. You trackin'?"

What Gillian heard next made her blood start to freeze. It was a voice she had heard only a few times. Mature. Wise. Deep, yet kind and pleasant. An odd accent she should have recognized when she had met the man the first time. "Let her have her moment of rest before she must hold on to her courage."

Smiling, Lucas and Diaz turned around to smile back at Sgt. Tian 'Whiteout' Wu.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"Oh, fuck."

Gillian looked frantically around and noticed and remembered all of the faces of the skyranger. The young, laid-back, hot-chocolate-sipping face of Qihao Who, Seven-Actual. The kind, understanding face of Rapter Cooper, Seven-Three. The gentle, peaceful face of Tian Wu. And the determined, battle-hardened face of Mager.

Four of the soldiers she had gone out with on her first rookie mission.

Four soldiers that did NOT come back.

Gryffen09/27/2018

Between Gillian and the gentle Chinese warrior, an armored SHIV nestled in the middle of the Skyranger, lashed down. True to Gillian's fears, she was exactly where she thought she was. Qihoa leaned over, taking another sip of his ever-present cup of cocoa. "Gillian, I'm not sure to be happy or offended to hear you drop the f-bomb. It's not even our first mission. Growing up so soon?"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian did not laugh at Qihao's comment. She COULD not laugh! "Actual, how far out are we from the AO? Are we in Venezuela yet?"

Gryffen09/27/2018

"You'd better see this," Big Sky's voice boomed through the earphones. The internal monitors winked on. 'The AO is in sight. Approaching from the northeast now. The reports on the descent of the craft are accurate. It came in shallow, but controlled. I think you need to take a look at this."

Qihoa nodded as a few other grumbled. Bitter Knox glared in particular as Qihoa nimbly unfastened himself with the practice of someone who has done a take over a dozen times. He wobbled a bit as he made the few sets to clutch on to the armored SHIV and glance over the odd scene on the large monitor. True enough, the large, single story UFO had swooped in from the east, clipping the mountains and shredding down the trees.

"Hmm. Not a crash, that's for sure. We can't see a crew, either." Qihoa said. He glared at the imagine, and Gillian could nearly see her old friend's mind whirling a mile-a-minute.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"Actual, listen to me. I know that it sounds crazy, but we need to abort the mission. Right now!" she plead. "Don't even have Big Sky land, just fly right back to XCOM HQ. You have to trust me, it's an ambush! A trap!"

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

Rapter smiled at Gillian, remembering his own fears. "Calm, Grayson. If you are nervous just use your trinket to center yourself". Rapter said in his calming voice. He then pulled out his grey stone that showed signs of wear from being gripped over the years.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Tears well up in Gillian's eyes as she looked to one of her first friends at XCOM. "Rapter...I'm so sorry...but this isn't just me having a panic attack. This is...it's..."

Thoughts d through her mind a mile a minute. This must be my dream. It's Operation Vengeful Serpent, my first XCOM mission. The real thing was a bloodbath that I barely made it out of...but if this is my dream, then maybe I can change it? Even just a little?

But what should I tell them? How should I tell them? Do I tell Rapter that he's going to... Gillian clutched her alien trophy before she can even finish the thought.

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/27/2018

Khanyisile looked at Gillian. "Are you ok?" she kindly asked.

Gryffen09/27/2018

Knox turned a glare of steel at Gillian. Lips tight, he said nothing, but glared angrily. Sgt. Wu turned a look of sadness toward her, but likewise kept his peace.

Bright-natured Qihoa turned from the monitor to flash an encouraging smile. "Gillian, we have this. We're the best team ever. You've been on the drills. You've been through the training we've set up. we're ready for this. This is our time! Right, guys?"

Several of the Skyranger cheered in unison.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"No! No, no no no! Don't cheer! This is not going to go how you think it's going to go!"

Gillian looked around desperately, looking from squadmate to squadmate. She looked at Lucas, Diaz, Knox, Qihao, Khany -

Knox.

Knox!

"Sergeant Knox!" she blurted out loudly. "Um...your thoughts on the situation?"

Gryffen09/27/2018

Qihoa slowly shook his head. "Gillian, it's just first mission jitters," he encouraged. "We all have them. You have to push through it or it'll haunt you forever. I've got this settled. First, we land and we sent out the SHIV. Everyone duck in case plasma comes flying our way."

Something ...strange occurred. Behind Qihoa, the monitor double-flashed an ugly yellow, accompanied by a typical disgruntled double-buzz one usually hears when someone gives a wrong answer on a gameshow, like Jeopardy. The image on the monitors sped around viciously, blasting out a swift pan of the area as if someone had flown completely around the AO several times, but in at least 16-speed fast forward.

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

Rapter folded his arms behind him and calmly cracked his back. "Stick close to me, Grayson. You will be well."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian bit her lips. I think I get it. Qihao should have pulled out as soon as he noticed something was off. Or something! Something more! But he kept going, confident that we could handle whatever was waiting for us.

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/27/2018

Khanyisile nodded. "You'll have your team to back you up and if you get hurt, I won't let you fall."

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/27/2018

Lucas adjusted his helmet and rolled up his magazine, placing it in a pouch on his armor. He checked his laser rifle before giving a reassuring nod. "We have your back, Gillian. We have this, mon petite." He smiled, trying to comfort an obviously distressed Gillian.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian watched, horrified as everyone went through the same motions as they did before departing the Skyranger. The exact same motions! And no one except Knox had any reason to think that this wouldn't be an easy mission. They followed Qihao because they thought it was the right thing to do. But the aliens were counting on us to do exactly that.

Gryffen09/27/2018

The members of Strike Seven started to rise up from their seats. Sgt. Wu and Knox hunkered over and unstrapped that armored SHIV as the Skyranger began its descent. As they swooped closer, the monitor double-blinked, double-buzzed again, only this time the lower left corner angrily double-grunted again. Once again, apparently, only Gillian saw this. The corner winked up, overlaying a radio frequency that should have been there, but was not. Bradford's face appeared for a heartbeat, but vanished, leaving the monitor of the Skyranger as it had been that day.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"Knox! Back me up here! You think this is a trap, don't you? An ambush? What is your gut telling you right now?" Gillian pleaded. "Do you feel anything in your bones?"

Gryffen09/27/2018

Knox stood up, face full of anger. He opened his mouth to speak, but the jolt of the Skyranger landing halted what he might have said.

"Sgt. Wu," Seven Actual ordered, "Make sure that smoke grenade is secure. When I give the order, pull the pin. We'll run the SHIV ahead of us, and it'll give us a wall of smoke to use for cover."

As ordered, the Armored SHIV swiftly rolled to the bay door. Sgt. Wu wobbled right behind. "Order to pull the pin, Actual," Sgt Wu said. In front of the SHIV, the bay door yawned open. The bright summer Venezuela sun poured in, blinding anyone not ready. The description of calling this path a landing strip was no exaggeration. While toward the cliff, the stumps of the hundreds of trees halted at about five feet, not more than fifty yards after that, the stumps we only a foot high. Beyond that, only bare ground existed.

Qihoa grinned as everyone else gathered at the bay door. He gripped his rifle like a baseball club, ready for action. "Go ahead," he ordered.

As Sgt. Wu pulled the pin, the smoke grenade double-flashed, angrily wailing. For a heartbeat, the grenade appeared back in Sgt. Wu's vest, but the double-flashed again and was taped back on the SHIV that launched its way out of the Skyranger.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

There were no enemies directly outside the Skyranger's landing, she realized. Qihao's breaching strategy might have worked if we were breaching a UFO, but without any contacts, it was just a waste of supplies and time.

"Listen, we can still get out of here with everyone still alive. I know exactly what is out there. Out in the trees, about a hundred yards ahead of us, are four cyberdiscs and their drone entourages. Past that are a handful of Outsiders, and deeper in the trees are about a half-dozen Mutons."

"There are just too many aliens for a squad of this size to effectively deal with, even if we got the jump on them. We need to pull out and have the local air force carpet-bomb the entire place. Even if it means we lose the oil rigs, it's not worth the risk!"

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

Rapter shouted the jump masters signal before disembarking. "良い!良い!良い!" (Good! Good! Good!) He didn't even hear Gillian.

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/27/2018

Khanyisile followed Rapter out, smiling. She too could not hear.

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/27/2018

Lucas followed behind, rifle at the ready after acknowledging his orders from Qihao. "Yes sir!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian sighed. So much for being in control of my own dream. Guess we're doing it this way, then.

As the memory played out far too live, Gillian watched as most of Strike Seven bunched up at the edge of the open bay door, the light of the South American mid-day pouring though. The armored SHIV raced own, unheeded and unguided. Gillian watched as several pads of the operatives suddenly burst into the angry double-flash of yellow, their screen suddenly going dark instead of showing a solid ping to the SHIV.

"BANG OUT!" Qihoa yelled. As he grinned, the flashbang in his head double-flashed as well. As Gillian blinked, a ghostly image of the squad of Mutons to the south appeared, with the Flashbang thrown at them instead ... but instead the flashbang sailed into the clearing.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

That flashbang might have saved some of us from those Mutons, if we hadn't squandered it on lighting up an empty patch of swampland, Gillian realized. Also, why are we dropping directly on the landing strip anyways? We could have had Big Sky circle around and look for another angle. Maybe even put us up on the cliffs overlooking the UFO. That would have given us a solid height advantage, plus the aliens wouldn't have expected us to come from that way. We could have ambushed their ambush, if we were lucky, or at least we certainly would have been outside of the throwing range of those damn discs and their grenades.

Gryffen09/27/2018

While Gillian's mind raced in self-revelation, Strike Seven moved on, unheeded.

Knox just stared at everything happening. "Boss, what the fuck! There's nothing fucking here! Why are we wasting this shit!?"

Sasha turned and glared at Knox, then shook his head. "Americans," he muttered.

"It's so we don't stand out like bollocks on a bulldog while we are deploying, Knox. We might as well have a sign that says 'shoot me' while we are deploying." Mager said.

Something horrible happened. Gillian's mouth moved on her own. Familiar words popped out before she could stop herself. "So, no contacts?"

For five seconds the Armored SHIV barreled forward, pushing and thrusting its way through the soup of devastated jungle. Nothing fired back. Beyond and down the four hundred yards of 'runway,' the large purple craft glimmered, silent. Waiting.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Idiot! she cursed herself. There are ALWAYS contacts! It's a landed UFO, for crying out loud! And wait a minute... why haven't we heard from Central? Is it the same reason we couldn't reach Big Sky while we were on the ground? Were the aliens actively jamming our comms?

"Knox is right! There's no reason for us to be here! We need to leave, now!"

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/27/2018

Khanyisile glanced over to Qihoa, suddenly concerned. "I don't think we need to waste flash bangs on open ground, sir."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Gillian started pounded on her comm relay. "Central, come in! Central! Do you read us? Central! Bradford! Van Doorn! Anybody?!" She frantically keyed her comms, but the only response was static.

Yep, definitely some sort of jamming device, she realized.

Gryffen09/27/2018

True to Gillian's predictions, nothing came to light. Worse, since this seemed to be half-memory, not even Big Sky corrected her.

"Jesus fuck, are you all fucking dense!? IT'S A FUCKING TRAP! They are waiting for us to come closer so we are easier to hit!" Knox yelled.

Lucas suddenly halted and looked at the American. "I have to agree. Something's wrong."

Qihao turned a firm, but pleading gaze to everyone. "Yes, something's wrong. We're packed like sardines here. We're a target! We need to move!"

Magar shrugged, with a grin. "What makes you think it's a trap?"

"It's happened before" Qihoa informed, eyes narrowing. "In Canada, at the very least,"

Before anyone could stop her, Khanylilde rushed out with the rest, but stayed a good ten yards away. "So what is the formation? How should we move up?"

She and all those who stepped out, suddenly double-flashed. Just like the image with the flashbang, they instead were all ghostly shifted into two-by-two formation, close, but spreading out into lapping lanes of fire. In a blink, 'reality' returned."

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/27/2018

This is too easy. Look, it's a straight line to us!" Lucas said to Qihao while pointing down the clearing.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Knox was right, Gillian told herself. This had "trap" written all over it. Why didn't I see it then? Because I was a rookie, then! The aliens made sure to make a nice little landing zone for us to latch onto, then hid in the trees on both sides of the battlefield to take us out in the crossfire. And they made sure to jam our comms, so we couldn't call for backup easily once they attacked. As horrible as it might be to admit it, this was a brilliant trap. They had been learning about us! Our fates were sealed the minute we stepped off the Skyranger, and it's only by an act of God himself that even half of us came back.

Eng. Sgt. "Caboose" Massey09/27/2018

"I don't like this." Lucas said, then around and spotted the cliff. "Wish we had a sniper because if had, we put one on the cliff. Then we would have a major advantage."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

But it didn't have to be like that, Gillian mentally screamed. We could have easily noticed that something seemed off, and went back to base after discussing it while still on the Skyranger. We could have tried to contact Central for advice, and maybe we would have noticed the jammed comms earlier. We could have circled around and found a better place to set up, turning the tables on the aliens. Instead, we blundered straight on ahead like we were invincible heroes, only to be reminded that we very much, in fact, were not.

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

Rapter shouted, "了解" (Roger) in confirmation. "Should we buddy up?" Rapter jogged to a fallen tree before tucking in behind it and taking aim towards the clearing.

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/27/2018

Khanyisile looked around, concerned. "There's not a lot of cover. I'm not sure about my choices now. Should we head for the trees?"

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

Rapter looked around warily. "Perhaps, but be wary. Know that it's aliens. Watch your step. If it's a trap, there could be pits, wires, explosives, concealed troops. They could be in the trees."

Lucas nodded to Rapter's warnings "Right." He adjusted his rifle before ducking behind a tree stump and peeks his head out from the cover.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

And we might still have had a fighting chance, if we had stuck to formation, thought Gillian as her friends moved out around her. If we had gone in a two-by-two pattern, we could have been able to better cover each other while still being spread out enough to avoid being surrounded. But by splitting up into pairs, we made ourselves even bigger targets.

She looked down at the alien trophy hanging from her hip, taking several deep breaths as Big Sky's engines flared behind her. "Rapter, Qihao, Wu, Magar...I'm sorry. I failed you that day. We all failed you. XCOM promises to take care of its own, but instead we sent you into the fire and hoped you wouldn't get burned."

She clutched the trophy with her hand. "But even if I failed you in reality, I will not fail you in memory."

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/27/2018

Lucas looked out at their surroundings and frowned. "You know this is a perfect kill lane. They could start shooting any second now. Mon Dieu, they could have placed mines!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

With that, she mounted her Laser Rifle to her back and sprinted towards the UFO.

Eng. Sgt. "Caboose" Massey09/27/2018

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!?" Magar roared.

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/27/2018

"If you see a dead body, don't touch it!" Rapter cautioned. He turned at the sound of Magar's yell, which gave him a great sight of something that chilled his blood. "NO!" he screamed at Gillian.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

"Get back to the Skyranger! All of you!" Gillian sobbed, dashing headlong. "I'll draw their fire!"

Gryffen09/27/2018

By now, everyone had finally stepped away from the Skyranger, even Knox who spat down in anger. The feared double-flashed didn't occur yet. However, many started to argue as the armored SHIV raced on, again flashing angrily with a loss of radio communications. The troops argued. Into the jungle - not into the jungle. Both could be traps.

Behind Gillian, she heard another angry buzzing. The yellow light blared behind her. As she turned, she witnessed the hills themselves flashing angrily, suddenly silhouetted with members of Strike Seven on top of the hill instead.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/27/2018

Of course, she snorted to herself. Half the team goes in formation to investigate, the other half hangs back and sets up a kill zone of their own instead.

Hearts pounding in her chest, she caught up to the SHIV ... and proceeded to run directly past it. Despite the bewildered looks from her friends (and the barking of Knox and Qihao in her commpiece) she kept up her mad dash towards the aliens lying in wait.

Remember, she told herself, four Cyberdiscs in the trees, two on each side, along with their drone friends. Outsiders in the UFO, and then the Mutons come after the discs.

Gryffen09/27/2018

As Gillian charged forward, true to her fear and her hopes, the storm of Cyberdiscs and Drones soared upward. The trap was sprung with her friends far behind. Those who noticed screamed. In heartbeats, Gillian was surrounded. Even as she watched the first hints of the Mutons rushing into position, the Cyberdiscs deployed. Eight reflex cannons belched out their fury, coating Gillian with pain and light. A scream bubbled up from her chest. Her eyes wailed in pain.

... and suddenly it all stopped. She found herself untouched and right back at the foot of the Skyranger, the armored SHIV racing on a third of the way down the lane and smoke boiling behind it.

"Do you wanna get lit up in the middle of the open and from both directions?" Qihoa snarled as if she had never left. In fact, no one commented, either.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian panted and gasped for air, collapsing onto her hands and knees as the fatigue and memory of pain washed over her. Okay, so...no in control of my dream. And dying isn't going to end it. I ... think that's good?

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/28/2018

Rapter looked around warily. "So... I know that it's aliens, but watch your step. If it's a trap, there could be pits, wires, explosives, concealed troops. They could be in the trees".

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/28/2018

Lucas nodded to Rapter's suggestions. "Right."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian eyed one of the grenades on Qihao's bandolier. Without even asking for permission, she snatched it, pulled the pin, and hurled it far ahead of the group.

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/28/2018

Lucas blinked, stunned at Gillian's unexpected outburst. He dove for cover by a large tree stump, and peeked his head out as the grenade sailed overhead.

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/28/2018

With a sharp cry, Khanyisile hurried to find cover near Lucas.

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/28/2018

"MERDE!" Lucas ducked his head down, hoping to God his armor and helmet would protect him.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Desperate, Gillian clamped her hands over her helmeted ears. "EVERYBODY DOWN!" she screamed.

Gryffen09/28/2018

This time, the aliens rushed in at full force at the detonation of the grenade. The two choruses of Cyberdiscs and Drones soared over the trees. While not in the box trap they had before, they still had the advantage of height, flight, and over 180 degree angle of fire.

Just as Gillian had time to process this, both to the south AND now the north, Mutons took position. Though close to the Skyranger, the team was still closely bound together.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

"Reallly?!" Gillian sobbed. "They were behind us, too?!"

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/28/2018

Rapter couldn't stay quiet. "We need to pull back East! Calls from the North and South!"

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/28/2018

Khanyisile turned, yelling, "Agreed! we are out-flanked!"

.Adam"Inquisitor"Goldstein09/28/2018

Lucas rolled over in his small nest of broken stumps, turning back to the trees. "EVERYONE MOVE!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian smiled. "Well, at least it's slightly less of a bad spot." Inhaling sharply, Gillian yelled out, "Wu, throw some smoke east! We can use that to protect ourselves!"

Lt Scout Martha 'Nessy' Mucallin09/28/2018

Khanyisile called back in gratitude, "Good call, Rookie!"

Gryffen09/28/2018

The myriad of mutons stepped forward, shooting in formation. Instead of deploying their weapons, the Cyberdiscs rushed forward as the Drones bombarded. True to Gillian's hope, smoke grenades were deployed ... and in retaliation, the Cyberdiscs let loose with a bombardment of grenades, each one slinging at least one grenade into the small cloud of dense smoke. Gillian found herself tossed back, her legs on fire. The five-foot stumps of tree trucks shattered, nearly all the cover blown apart. ...

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

YEP! OKAY, THIS IS WORSE! was Gillian's last thought before the world around her was consumed in fire, flames, and plasma.

Gryffen09/28/2018

The alien bombardment continued. Under the screams and yells, Gillian could see several people blown apart. Through the smoke, she couldn't tell who. The only consolation is that someone made it back on the Skyranger, herself included as someone dragged her legless body back inside. The baydoor slowly shut as the torrent of alien damage continued. Darkness overcame her.

With a gasp, she found herself back on her feet, back outside the Skyranger, her team over a hundred yards away and the Skyranger lifting off as ordered.

"Roger, Actual," Big Sky called back through the radios. Immediately after he spoke, the transport jolted in that angry yellow-doubleflash.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian took a deep breath and let it out in one long sigh. Okay, so ... I probably shouldn't try pressing my luck with these resets. For all I know I've already burned through all my "continues." All right, for now, let's just ... stick to the way it happened. But this time, observe. Learn. Watch.

She picked up her rifle and followed the same movements she took during her first XCOM mission. Only instead of looking around in fear, she instead grabbed as many details as she possibly can, including the sight of the Skyranger flashing.

Sending Big Sky away was probably the final nail in our coffin, so to speak, she realized With the aliens jamming our comms, we couldn't get ahold of him even before things went wrong. So we effectively stranded ourselves, at the mercy of whatever the aliens had in store for us.

Gryffen09/28/2018

True to Gillian's mind, not long after the Skyranger left, everyone's helm buzzed and flashed. The squad grew closer to the very spot Gillian remembered, a place where her heart broke. By now, they had start to steadily spread apart and cover each other,

Knox angrily gripped his rifle as he stumbled through the jungle. "Nothing here... yet..."

Qihoa leveled his right, angled upward on instinct where the Cyberdiscs were soon to come. "We're in a jungle. They can be anywhere. Stay alert, everyone!"

Magar only chuckled. "Welcome to the jungle," he whispered.

Understandable, will keep vigilant," Lucas chimed in. He frowned and sent a quick glance at Knox and then Wu.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian sighed, leveling her rifle. "Acknowledged. I'll keep an eye out." She frowned and looked at the laser rifle in her hands, which against the upcoming cyberdiscs and mutons may as well have been a Super Soaker loaded with whipped cream.

If this is my dream, can I at least have this turn into a BFG 9000?

Gryffen09/28/2018

Knox bitterly ground his teeth together as the Skyranger vanished into the sky. "Did he just ...? Jesus fuck, this is where I'm gonna die."

"Embrace death," Sasha muttered back. "Only then may you escape it's grasp. The coward who runs will only die tired"

Rapter smirked. "Hey, Knox! Are you becoming yellow"?

"Son... There's a difference between being yellow and being smart," Knox bit back. "You don't spend twenty years in the army being yellow."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian looked at Knox, smiling. If there was one good thing to come out of this mission, it's gotta be my respect for Knox. He was wise enough to know that things are going to go to hell, but still strong enough to pull as many people out of it as he can. If only we had listened to him earlier, then maybe Tali might not have lost her brother, and Jacob might not have lost his friends, and...

She shook her head as she tightened her grip on her rifle. Focus, Gillian, she told herself. Right about now, Big Sky should be trying to signal us via morse code. The aliens should follow soon after that, and then...

Gryffen09/28/2018

Waiting, this time the memory played as before, although again several angry flashes made themselves known. One of the most noticeable was somehow, through the tangled trees of the jungle to the north, Gillian watched as the sextet of Mutons lumbered closer into position, only to be attacked by a trio of hungry and furious alligators. This ghostly insight showed the reptiles had little chance to damage the brutes, but the six Mutons whirled on them in fury, ripping them apart with blades and hands.

As she watched, slackjaw, Knox spoke up.

"Boss we got a problem," Knox said, a new edge of terror creeping into his crude voice.

"Yes?"

"Big Sky is circling us." Knox said, nodding up and eyes wide.

As ordered, the Armored Shiv rolled firmly down the landing strip.

Knox hid a swallow, which this time, Gillian caught. "Wasn't he supposed to leave the AO?"

Sgt. Wu hunkered deeper into the cluster of broken trunks. He turned a controlled, but terrified look to Knox.

Qihoa blinked and dropped his jaw. "Wait, is that really our bird?" He snapped up his radio. "Big Sky, are you still in the AO?"

Above, the Skyranger started to flash the landing lights.

TSgt. Tali "Kitsune" Cooper09/28/2018

Rapter looked up at the pink smoke trailing behind the Skyranger. An idea bloomed in his head. "Does anyone have binoculars?" he said pointing towards the Skyranger

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian winced at the sight and sound of the battle between alligators and mutons. "We have movement, to the north. Six mutons about to come out of those trees after the Cyberdiscs. Get ready!"

Jeez. I'm no fan of alligators, but that's just cruel. These mutons really are as tough and bloodthirsty as they look. Maybe I can't save anybody in this dream, but I'll be damned if I don't put up more of a fight.

Gryffen09/28/2018

Sasha gazed up at the Skyranger, using the scope on his rifle to get a better view. While he had no hope of seeing a pilot, he noticed the lights of the Skyranger were now steadily flashing. Short short short. ... long ... long ... long ...

Aloud, he read, "S-O-S...Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Sweat drips trailed down Gillian's brow as she steadied her aim. This was it, she knew.

Gryffen09/28/2018

"Boss, I got a bad feeling..." Knox hissed as he tried to alternate between watching the Skyranger and the jungle surrounding them.

Lucas kept searching the forest for movement. "Gillian," he pleaded, "what do you see?"

As the Skyranger kept on its highpowered circle around the AO, the lights kept flashing. Sasha muttered, "Everybody, cover me. I need to keep a watch on Big Sky."

As the transport banked about and flashed it landing lights, Sasha could read ... A ... M ...

Gillian remembered. She tore her gaze away from Big Sky to watch the treeline.

"... Actual," Sgt. Wu quietly whispered. "Please send up an orange flare."

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian couldn't help it. "AMBUSH!" she yelled. "He's saying 'AMBUSH!'"

As half the squad stared at her, dumbfounded, she yelled in a hard voice she never knew she had. "Lucas, there's going to be a cyberdisc coming from your right. On my signal, you and I are going to shoot it together. Understand?"

"Yes!" Lucas called back to her. There was no hiding the nervousness in his voice.

Gryffen09/28/2018

The choir of Cyberdiscs and their Drones soared in just as they did before. Far ahead, the forgotten armored SHIV charged the occupants of the large 'scout,' nearly forgotten by Gillian even THIS time around. Just as before, a valiant defense played out. Only a few times did the angry double-flashes make their appearance known.

Infantrymen focus on the left disc!" Qihoa ordered. Strangely enough the sound of a gentle ping could clearly be heard by Gillian and no one else. "Wu! Toss the smoke and everyone else clear the drones!" Again, she heard the pleasant ping.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian smiled. A good call, having the infantrymen focus their fire. And that little SHIV is more than pulling its weight! We might have a chance! She took aim at the nearest drone, and fired. A streak of red lanced out of her weapon, turning her targeted drone into a perforated pile of scrap. Vision or not, Gillian couldn't help but smile about that.

Gryffen09/28/2018

Gillian's willpower was much stronger, but Fate would not be denied. Witnessing the slaughter another time, Gillian watched as Strike Seven made their stand again.

The barrage of plasma from the Mutons tore through the smoke. Trees, both fallen and still growing, shattered and ignited. When all was said and done, Gillian was screaming, a hole smoldering between her shoulderblades. Rapter gasped for breath, his left arm hanging on, ripe with oozing blood.

For Majer, it was his day to meet Kali.

Before Strike Seven had a chance to mourn, yell, or react much in anyway, the drones swarmed in, spreading about and building a chorus of whines. Fire rained into the cloud of smoke.

Within the rain of screaming energy, the hundred-year-old trees cracked and shredded. In that rain of death, Qihoa found himself screaming anew with pain, his chest on fire. Rapter felt the first hit in his stomach and knew something was wrong. He felt the second shot hit his leg and now felt the brush of Death itself. He thought of his sister. He instinctively pleaded to whatever was out there to watch over her and to help her to find a better life.

... then he thought of nothing at all.

The other cyberdisc lazily drifted forward and spread wide into its attack mode. Like it's sibling, it didn't fire. It spun end over end as well, its grenade bouncing toward Sgt. Wu.

Sgt. Wu saw the grenade coming. His eyes shined not with fear or a plea for his life, but in sadness and a touch of acceptance. He pounced forward, desperate to push Qihoa aside and to safety. It did no good. He and Qihoa were blasted apart.

Sgt. Wu hit the ground hard, his legs gone. He would be dead in seconds. He knew this.

Sasha, 'Mother' Ivanov found himself in a familiar world of pain. It angered him. It burned him. But at least for the moment he was still alive. And he was true to himself.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian clung tightly to her alien trophy as her back burned in pain. She reached out desperately to Rapter, sobbing in Italian as she watched her friends around her die again.

Gryffen09/28/2018

As the number of deaths started to rise, sweet-natured Khanysile found her heart and mind broken, she wept, screaming and howling. She grabbed at Qihoa's body, mindless that he was already dead, and she desperately pulled his body to 'safety' in the trees.

Sasha, mind enraged, did want the most devout Russian soldiers do when the battle is losing and all seems lost. Trembling, he screeched and stepped out into the fire fight, targeting the Cyberdisk and holding down the trigger.

Crazed and howling, the Russian hosed down the last charges in his weapon, leaving him vulnerable, but at least not without something to be proud of. The wounded cyberdisc could not withstand the torrent of firepower. It toppled to the ground and blew apart.

Lucas managed to haul himself up seeing the multiple casualties around him and just ignored them. 'I have seen worse," he assured himself with a grunt. On his belly, he fired a burst from his heavy laser at one of the surviving Cyberdiscs. Sadly, he burst went wide. "MERDE!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gritting her teeth through the pain and anguish, Gillian took aim at Lucas's target as best she could and held down the trigger. She kept the trigger down even as it started to heat, instead swiveling her laser rifle on its handle, cutting through the jungle with a continuous beam of red light. She didn't care if she hits anything. She was NOT going down without a fight this time!

Gryffen09/28/2018

Diaz was crying at this point. Tears of anger burned his skinned. "If there's a god out there ... please. Just listen! Help me save the others," he begged aloud. "That's all. You can take me." While he stayed in cover, like Sasha, he emptied his gun on the cyberdisc.

Knox just stared, mouth a gap at the carnage that ensued, barely processing the deaths of his comrades. Against everything he was trained to do, he ran to the injured soldier that mattered to him, Wu. He grabbed the Chinese sergeant his arms and dragged him to cover, muttering comforting words. "Buddy, it's gonna be ok. Just gotta stick with me here, alright? You promised to teach your baby girl to ride her first bike, right?"

A bubble of blood popped from Sgt. Wu's mouth. There was no anger, no pleading or his life. There was definitely regret and sadness. Trembling, his hand managed to flounder something from his shirt pocket that he handed to Knox, a small folded package half the size of a wallet. His lips moved without sound, but Knox could read enough. (Live, friend. Live long, and if you can, take my soul home.)

In a land far away from his beloved China, Sgt. Tian Wu died.

Superseded over this memory came a ghostly image Gillian knew she had never personally witnessed. The devoted and bitter American soldier, devoted to his country. The firm and wise Chinese soldier, devoted to his country. A previous mission, a month prior. A few growls from Knox. Wry smiles from Wu. But at the end of the mission, on the AO itself, the still young Chinese soldier found a pair of lost, forgotten cans of rice beer. With a smile, he offered one to Knox, pointing out they would surely waste otherwise. With a returned grin, the embittered American shared a beer with the Chinese sergeant.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

"Heh," she muttered to herself, "I knew that crusty old bastard had a heart. ...somewhere..."

Gryffen09/28/2018

Knox stared blankly at what he considered his only friend dying in front of him. There were no tears, no anger, no emotion shown, just a blank face. Then everything kicked in. Every single moment from the last forty years firing up and driving him forward. He grabbed a smoke grenade of the body of Sgt. Wu and chucked it in between the aliens and his men.

"EVERYONE FALL BACK TO THE DROP POINT!" he roared. "STICK TO COVER AND SHOOT ANY FUCKER WHO PEAKS!" The voice was a voice unlike any other, carrying its way over the sound of plasma and explosions. It was the voice of a trained soldier, one who lost his men and was ready to make sure that the enemy paid for it. Every. Fucking. Cent.

Amid all the noise and chaos, the battered, bleeding and nearly broken survivors heard a horrible scream of sound approach from above. For the first second, most of the operatives probably started to weep. That is, until the recognized the sound.

Heedless of the firepower now focused on it instead of the troops, the Skyranger streaked down into the huge, billowing clouds of smoke. While it still needed precious seconds to land, the bay door dropped heavily open. There was no radio message given, but the intent was clear. Daniel, the co-pilot and medic, frantically beckoned before he leveled his own weapon and hosed down the firepower.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian breathed a sigh of relief. "Big Sky..."

Gryffen09/28/2018

Through sobs and tears, blood and fury, the six remaining members of Strike Seven furiously fought their way back to the Skyranger. Just as Gillian remembered, Khanysaile was struck by a bolt of plasma, nearly crumpling over. But she lived. A dozen paces away from the ramp of the Skyranger, Knox pumped out as much firepower as he could, only to find a hole through his armor and into his stomach. He too nearly toppled over. Until Diaz hauled him away. "NOT TODAY, OLD MAN!" Diaz yelled, pulling Knox along with him. "AND NOW YOU OWE YOUR LIFE TO A LOWLY SPIC! GET USED TO IT!"

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Gillian allowed herself to be carried by Lucas toward the Skyranger. While still burning with pain from wounds that had long since healed, she maintained an awareness of her surroundings, taking in the details of everything around her.

Gryffen09/28/2018

The Mutons roared, booming out their fury and hatred. None must live. NONE! Over and over again, they fired, charging into the smoke and the rain of fire from their own drones. Two bolts in particular somehow found targets through the smoke. In front of Lucas, Gillian gasped. He felt her topple back into him and felt his heart wrenched out of his chest. Even in the smoke, he saw blood. He saw her eyes dim ... but then he also saw her eyes slowly close and smoke rise from the ruins of the alien 'trophy' she had. Her eyes listlessly opened again.

To Gillian, a strange thing. Stranger than probably all she had experienced. As she too glanced down, time ... stretched. Her heartbeats steadied into one familiar heartbeat, and then that heartbeat began to slow as well. A cool breeze passed over her. In her bleary vision, her friends, her fellow Sevens moved at a sixth or even an eighth of regular speed. Slower, they move. Sound molted as if underwater.

Through the thick, dark grey smoke, a ... shape formed. At first a little taller and right behind Knox, it grew. Dreamlike, it formed a marginal cowl with shoulders. Higher it grew. Taller. Closer it leaned in until it was over twenty feet tall. The cowled ... head tilted as if it considered Gillian, curious. A left sleeve gently edged forward, angling to Gillian's waist and the ruined trophy there.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

"H...hello? Who...what...are you?"

Gryffen09/28/2018

If the shape was real, it didn't speak. The fervent Sevens lumbered so painfully slow through the smoke and back on to the SKyranger. Gillian couldn't move. She was held aloft and firm by Lucas. The ... sleeve drew cautiously close. A brush of colder air passed over Gillian's waist and then her cheek. Then the sleeve casually eased back. The large cowl in the smoke turned instead to the burning section of the jungle to the north were Gillian had just left, and then moved forward in the smoke, fading.

Slower and slower Gillian was carried into the Skyranger. Inside she was set down. The baydoor steadily rose until it sealed up and there was darkness.

Lcpl. Scout Gillian Grayson09/28/2018

Shivers raced down Gillian's spine, shivers so strong, it could turn water into ice. That was ... it must have been Death himself. Or herself, or itself, Gillian's frantic mind told herself. I ... I nearly died back there!

Gryffen09/28/2018

In the dark, Gillian felt weightless. The cold was gone. In fact, she felt the same heavy, sticky warmth from Venezuela. She realized she never felt anyone come to check on her, stabilize her, or patch her wounds like before. There was no sense of abandonment, though. A strange ... almost peace? Yet not.

Gillian found herself back on her feet in the darkness. She had a moment to feel her full kit again, this time untouched as the bay door to the Skyranger yawned open again into the Venezuelan sun.

(To be continued in Part 2)