Her feet dancing along with the shadows that haunted the corridor, the Shrinemaiden stepped out of her room and into the hall, examining her surroundings almost instinctively. She stood there for a moment, waiting for someone to come running out and tell her this next mission was a joke.
Not that she had a problem being assigned with Savitr. It simply felt like there was more going on, something the Commander wasn't telling her. She had that gleam in her eye, the one Kon-Mai learned to recognize. The one that meant Senuna was plotting something.
She heard footsteps around the corner and stood at attention, expecting to meet her team, but the only one who came to her was her comrade himself. While Savitr was a tall man, he still stood a full head shorter than her, even when he stopped with his back straight as he could stretch it, and bowed to her respectfully.
"Mordenna. It is an honor."
"Vallinor." She nodded. "I shall say the same, once I see how you perform in battle."
He seemed to deflate a bit at her cold tone, but maybe she had imagined that.
"Who else is joining us?" She asked.
"Two human soldiers." He said. "A Templar is one. Another is a Reaper."
Kon-Mai nodded but inside, she was sighing. So they were the only non-humans on this mission. This definitely was Senuna's doing.
"Very well. Let's join the others then." She brushed past him and he turned, keeping pace with her as they made their way to the garage.
The Templar was the first one they saw, a young man with deep earthy skin slipping on his helmet. He turned to them, eyeing the non-humans up and down suspiciously. "Oh." Was all he said to them.
"Oh, come on now, give them a break." The Reaper approached them, an older woman with grey hair and a rich tan. "Hi there, you're our crew? I'm Gili Hildred, Reaper Major."
"You seem to be much more forward than the other Reapers I have met." Kon-Mai bowed to her. "If I recall from my time observing your kind, you have no love for those of alien blood."
"Since Elena married that Skirmisher, a lot has changed around here." Gili chuckled. "Not that the Templars seem to get it." She looked over to their companion. "Hassan."
Hassan, the Templar, seemed to growl under his helmet.
"Hassan. Come on." Gili sighed. "That's Hassan Apoorva. He's an asshole but most Templars are."
"Cunt." Hassan grumbled at Gili.
"See?" Gili crossed her arms. "I rest my case."
"What is the subject of our mission?" Kon-Mai asked, desperate to change the subject.
"Oh, that." Gili chuckled. "Volk just tells me to go somewhere and kill someone. I do it."
"A Haven was recently wiped out in Georgia." Hassan mumbled. "The COUNTRY, not the state. We're going down to look for any survivors, and to investigate."
"Investigate what? If it was ADVENT?" Gili chuckled. "I think that's pretty obvious."
"No. Investigate what kind of tools they wiped it out WITH." Hassan said. "If they somehow got hold of nuclear bombs, we need to know about it."
"He has a point." Savitr nodded. "When shall we depart?"
"When Hassan gets his fuckin' suit on." Gili giggled.
"You are an old bitch." Hassan chirped. This time, Kon-Mai couldn't help but notice Hassan's soft tone as he said it.
.
.
When Firebrand dropped them off, the first thing the Shrinemaiden noticed was the lingering smell of smoke.
The nearby ADVENT city center was visible from the hill they stood upon, the rolling fields of green being the only thing standing between them and the Haven. She could sense the air around her, and could still hear the dying screams of the murdered echoing on the wind. It chilled her.
"Where is the settlement?" Kon-Mai asked.
"Over here." Gili pointed behind them. "Down this ravine and over one of them cliffs."
"They are far too close…" Savitr mumbled. "Why did they not make camp farther away?"
"Perhaps they thought themselves well hidden." Kon-Mai mused.
"One is always well hidden." Savitr sighed. "Until they are found."
"I can turn invisible." Kon-Mai assured him.
"You can." He almost smiled at her. "I doubt the humans could, though."
They made their way through the grass, the sky above them cloudy and grey with smoke. The burning smell grew stronger as they grew closer. Kon-Mai listened, directing almost all of her attention to the sounds around her, or lack thereof.
Then she got down low to the ground as they began to cross the ridge. "Hide." She hissed.
"Why?" Hassan asked.
"I hear…" She listened carefully. Over the ridge, it almost sounded as though someone was squirting water from a hose over a closed window. Under that was the sound of conversation, and Etheric words. "Troops."
"We can take a few Troopers." Gili chuckled.
Savitr said as he knelt down beside the Chosen woman. "How many do you suppose there are?"
She hesitated, closing her eyes to block out other, distracting stimuli. "...An undesirable number. I would say five at least, though I suspect there are more."
"What's that weird noise?" Hassan muttered as he crouched. "It sounds like a hose…"
Kon-Mai grit her teeth. "I know not, and I doubt we shall fully know until we can get closer."
"Do you need a distraction?" Savitr asked.
"Unnecessary." She smiled. "Please, stay here and do not move."
"What if we have a clear shot?" Gili giggled as she saw Kon-Mai bare her teeth. "I'm kidding! We'll stay put."
"Hurry up." Hassan muttered. "I don't wanna spend all day hiding in the grass like a rabbit."
Kon-Mai gave him a dirty look as she slipped into invisibility, her psionic cloak washing over her body and rendering her unseen. She took off into the smoke and began jogging down the hill towards the town, and the first thing that hit her was the smell.
She knew the stench of death all too well. And now it mixed with the scent of fire and ash. And as the many stimuli wafted together in the air, her blood ran cold.
Kon-Mai crouched again as she came up behind one of the tiny cottages. She crawled around the side, peeking out and holding her breath, determined to not make a sound. But when she saw the remains of the village, she could not help but gasp.
At least five or six Purifiers stood there, clad in their orange armor, waving their hoses of fire over dried grass and fallen tents. She'd been right in her count at least; a good five of them worked in the center, and others were emerging from cloaks of flame. In the center was a wooden pyre they had fashioned from old logs and the remnants of homes.. Every so often, one would toss something onto the coals. Another log? No, it was limp. A body.
Kon-Mai ducked back down again and went around the other side towards a tall building near the north side. This one seemed to have been left intact, so far. Maybe they hadn't gotten to this one yet? The lights inside were out, so she could hide in it, at least.
She took a running start and jumped, grabbing hold of the second story window frame. A bit of broken glass dug into her palm, but she shook it out and pulled herself inside. Upon scanning the room and seeing no one there, she let her cloak flake away in purple shards, and began her search.
The room seemed to belong to a couple: a soft, fluffy double bed rested in the center of the floor, downy sheets covering the mattress. Silk curtains hung beside the window she'd climbed through, and a simple but elegant dressing bureau sat against the wall. Kon-Mai looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled, flicking one of her braids back over her shoulder.
There was a loud SMASH. Her cloak came back on and Kon-Mai dove behind the cover of the bed, her hand on her sword. She waited a moment, hearing the definite rustling of movement. Someone was in here with her.
Then there was a soft, tiny cry, like the coo of a dove. She peeked around the corner, and her eyes fell on the sliding door of the closet. Another rustle, and a small squeak echoed from inside.
Kon-Mai slowly crept out from her hiding spot, her hand still on her sword but her grip loose. Slowly, her cloak fell away again, and the sound of movement stopped as she drew closer and closer to the door of the closet.
She reached out, holding her breath, and lingered there for a moment. Then she threw the door open.
The little girl inside the closet let out a scream so loud it could wake the dead, and Kon-Mai jumped back on instinct before she dropped her sword and held out her hands. "Hush! Hush child! I am not here to hurt you!"
The child was sobbing hysterically, but her tears were quiet and fearful. She shook like a little leaf, her once pretty white dress now smudged and blackened with soot. Her wispy, fair hair hung around her face, falling messily from a little bun that had once been tied so neatly. She did not move a muscle as Kon-Mai knelt down, pushing her sword away.
"I will not hurt you." She said softly. "...Do you speak English, little one?"
The little girl held up her thumb and forefinger. "...Little."
"That is very good for someone so young." Kon-Mai smiled, keeping her mouth closed so as not to scare the child with her teeth. "What is your name?"
The little girl seemed to think for a minute, either about the words, or about whether or not she could give Kon-Mai her name in trust. "...Tsiuri."
"That is beautiful." Kon-Mai said. "A very pretty name."
Tsiuri seemed to nod in thanks.
"Where are your parents?" Kon-Mai asked then.
The child blinked, her eyebrows furrowing at the words.
Kon-Mai pointed to the large bed. "Where is mother? Where's Mama?"
Tsiuri's eyes only grew wider, and tears began to form as she started to sob.
"Oh, no no." Kon-Mai scooted forward. "Hush now, it's oka-"
The little girl threw her arms around Kon-Mai's neck and practically leapt into her arms. Kon-Mai reciprocated the hug, if only to keep Tsiuri from knocking her over.
"Tsudi khalkhi mat ts'aiq'vana!" Tsiuri weapt. Kon-Mai didn't understand the words, but from the intensity of her voice, she felt as though she knew what happened. No doubt the poor child's parents were now kindling on that fire outside.
"Shhhhhh…" Kon-Mai sat cross-legged on the ground with Tsiuri, bouncing her gently as she held her. She barely knew what to say, for both the language barrier and the situation at hand, but the child seemed content to simply be held for now. She just kept blowing quiet shushes next to the girl's ear, and in the midst of her weeping, it seemed to calm her.
"Yo Konnie. Report." Gili said over her comm. "You still alive?"
"I am." She said quietly. "I have found a survivor. A child, her name is Tsiuri."
"One is better than none!" Gili said happily. "You ever find what's causing the fire?"
"Purifiers are causing the fire." Kon-Mai growled.
"That's it?"
"What do you mean that's it? There are at least seven, maybe more!"
"I mean I expected there to be-" She broke off as the ground gave a shake. "...The fuck was that?"
Tsiuri let out a scream into Kon-Mai's shoulder. "Uk'an! Monst'ri dabrunda!"
"What's wrong, sweet one?" Kon-Mai hugged the little girl closer to her chest.
"She says the monster's coming back." Gili hissed. "Konnie, get out of there!"
"What monster?" Kon-Mai asked, gently shaking the child. "What's coming?"
A roar from below shook the entire house. The roar of a Berserker.
.
.
"My diamond's clouded over where it used to shine like light,
And the day keeps running faster into the arms of night...
Stitches on the tapestry say, "Everything in time,
Will find its way home again,"
But I'm tired of crying..."
Dhar-Mon rested his head in his hand and his elbow on the tiny table. The booth he sat in was slightly too small for him, but it was better than those bar stools that would no doubt give under his weight. The crowd today was small, but a group had still gathered to the sound of the Commander singing. It wasn't exactly unusual: from what he heard she sang every weekend. And when she did, the soldiers flocked to her.
Senuna wore her hair up in a ponytail today, a bit like the way Jane styled hers. Instead of her uniform, she had "dressed" a ratty pink t-shirt that was full of moth-chewed holes, and some very old-looking blue jeans. She was also barefoot, to the chagrin of Bryni as she made extra sure that no one broke any glass on the floor.
"Hi Stranger." He heard a familiar voice say, and Malinalli sat down in a chair across from him. She, too, had her hair in a ponytail, but the weight of her locks kept it down by her neck.
"Malinalli, you know me. I am no stranger." Dhar-Mon said, looking genuinely worried.
"Oh, no, it's a figure of speech." Malinalli giggled. "Sorry."
He harumphed and looked away, his blue skin turning purple. "It is alright…"
"Didn't expect to see you in the bar, is what I meant. Come to watch the Commander, huh?" She turned around and looked at the Commander. "She looks like she's having fun up there."
"No Second Chances
Don't knock on my door
There won't be any answer
I won't be here no more…"
The Commander had a smile on her face, but her voice dripped with a deep, profound sadness. Dhar-Mon saw a familiar look in her eyes as she met his gaze, only briefly.
"Yes…" He said softly. "Malinalli, how much do you know about the Commander?"
Malinalli seemed to almost freeze at the question. "...Um…" She turned back. "It's kind of embarrassing but...not a lot."
"That is not embarrassing. I did not know much about those I reported to in ADVENT."
"I know, that's why it's embarrassing…" She tucked a strand of curly black hair behind her ear. "Humans are supposed to be…" She trailed off.
"Be what?"
"More...social. ADVENT is the one who locks all that information away, not us." She looked back over her shoulder. "But I don't even know the Commander's last name."
Dhar-Mon nodded. Most humans here went by their last name if they didn't have a callsign. "Perhaps she has no surname."
"Maybe…" Malinalli sighed and leaned on her palm, copying Dhar-Mon. "Why do you ask?"
He hesitated. Should he tell her what he'd heard on the radio? That Senuna had apparently been a singer renowned throughout the land? Or perhaps she already knew. "Her...singing is very…" What was the word? "Arousing."
Malinalli gave him a weird look, and he immediately stammered.
"Nonono that is not correct. I meant...I am not-!"
"I assume you mean inspiring?" Malinalli giggled, her smile reaching her eyes.
"Yes. That." He covered his face. "I am sorry, Malinalli."
She reached over and grabbed his hand. "It's fine. It was kind of hilarious~" She chuckled. "And you're right. Her voice is...angelic." She sighed wistfully. "It's so...warm and familiar. Like when your mom sings you a lullaby."
Dhar-Mon put his hand back on the table. "...I would not know that feeling." He admitted. "I do not remember my mother...my human mother, that is."
"...That makes two of us then." She smiled sadly.
He looked up sadly. "I am sorry."
"No, don't be. I'm not the only orphan on board by any means."
"...Do you know what happened to them?"
She shook her head. "I assume it was ADVENT…like most people here." She sighed, running one finger along the wrinkles on his hand. "All I know was Dad was from Mexico, and Mom was some kind of European."
"I am so sorry." He said softly. "You...have no memories of them? At all?"
She pondered this for a minute. "...I remember my mom singing to me, and...when she leaned close, her hair would tickle my face. I liked that…" She stared at the table, seemingly lost. "Dad had a beard, his skin was dark and he smelled like fresh water…" She looked up. "And Donají said I must have my mother's eyes, because she's never seen a girl as dark as me with eyes this bright."
"Donají?"
"The midwife for our tribe." Malinalli replied. "She was the one who raised me, after my parents…" She shook her head. "After they disappeared, I suppose."
"I see." Dhar-Mon smiled. "She sounds like a kind woman."
"She was." Malinalli looked back over at the Commander. "She died, too."
"...ADVENT?"
"Yep." Malinalli grumbled. "Sorry, I-"
"Do not apologize, little phantom." He scoffed. "This is ADVENT's fault, not yours."
She looked back at him, her eyes wide, and at first Dhar-Mon thought he'd said something wrong.
"This house we had together
Might still be in its place
But the rest of this is much too hard to face…"
Then she smiled. "...Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saying that." She whispered. "I've always known it's true but...hearing someone else say it…" She nodded. "It feels validating."
"I speak only the truth." He chuckled.
"There'll be No Second Chance…" Senuna held that last note just a tad too long, and her voice broke.
.
.
With the child in her arms, the Shrinemaiden leapt from the window and onto the ground. Her breath in her throat and Tsiuri's face pressed into her shoulder, Kon-Mai stood, pressing her back against the wall of the house, and closed her eyes, listening.
She did not have to listen long. A whole slew of noises hit her at once. The scream of Hassan as he charged down the hill, the shots from a Reaper's rifle, a Berserker roaring. Tsiuri held onto her tighter, whimpering softly. "Deda...deda…"
"Hush, little one." Kon-Mai absently stroked aside the child's hair. "No harm shall come to you." She pressed her comm. "Savitr. Are you there?"
"Mordenna, we have been drawn out!" He said, his voice tight and strained. "Where are you?"
"Behind the house. I have Tsiuri with me and cannot bring her into combat. I must get her to safety."
"I will distract the troops." He said. "That will give you time to get her to safety."
"Where can she go?"
Savitr was silent for a moment. "Behind the ridge, on the right, there is a ravine. At the bottom, a cave. It's small but it will be big enough for a child to hide within."
Kon-Mai sighed in relief. "Thank you. I will join you soon."
"We will hold them until you do."
Kon-Mai pulled Tsiuri away from her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "I am here." She whispered, not certain if the child would understand. "I will always protect you."
The little one nodded, and instinctively, Kon-Mai pressed her lips to the top of her head. The action had her cold heart melting; something in her burned with the heat of deep anger, and yet happiness. She pressed Tsiuri tighter into her grasp and ran.
The Purifiers saw her, pointing her out and shouting in Etheric. The Berserker's roar shook the ground. Kon-Mai was faster than them all, though, and she weaved in between the buildings and sparse trees until she saw the ravine and launched herself over the side. Sliding down the gravel on her boots, She came to a stop and crouched down.
The cave was small, like Savitr said: only big enough for a child. She began to let Tsiuri down but the girl hung onto her neck, whispering "Ara. Ara. Ara. u mimat'oveb. Deda, nu mimat'oveb!"
Kon-Mai could sense the desperation in her voice, and hung onto her for a moment more. "Child, you must go. I cannot fight and hold you all at once."
"'r gamishva!" Tsiuri grasped Kon-Mai's long, white braid, and one hand brushed her cheek. A deep, primal sadness welled up in the Chosen woman and she pulled the girl closer, as though she were her own.
"I will protect you." She whispered. "But you must hide. Save yourself, child. I would rather it be me that dies."
It took a moment, but Tsiuri's grip loosened, and she crawled into the darkness of the hole. Her big brown eyes stared out at Kon-Mai.
"'r mok'vde." Tsiuri said with power in her tiny voice.
Kon-Mai stood up, bowed to her, and leapt out of the ravine, sword in hand.
.
.
"Well, I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call…"
The Commander switched to another song; a slower one this time that had the soldiers getting into pairs, swaying with each other. Malinalli looked up, about to speak before she glanced slightly behind Dhar-Mon. "Oh…"
"What is it?" He asked.
"Um…" She put her hand up in a meek wave.. "...Vicky's here. She doesn't usually come out on weekends…"
He turned. There she stood, messy brown hair up in Micky-Mouse buns, big brown eyes red from crying, pale skin washed out by the light, he couldn't help but growl at the sight of her, and that was when she turned and noticed him.
"What's wrong?" Malinalli asked.
"It was her who joined us on the mission to rescue Zhang." He said.
"Yeah, I know." She put her hand down. "Her mentor Shamil died there."
"Not just he. We all nearly died there." He hissed. "She was tasked to attend to Colonel Zhang while we fought. Instead, she fascinated herself with Shamil's corpse."
Malinalli blinked, her dark skin going almost grey. "...Oh…"
"Yes. And worse still, Malinalli, she insulted my siblings." He looked at the table. "Insisting that I would...leave them to die. That my love for them means nothing! They mean everything to me, Molly!"
"I know." She reached out, and her touch calmed him in a way nothing else could. "Want me to distract her while you make an escape?" Malinalli asked.
"...No." He shook his head. "Let her not spoil the event."
"What if she wants to talk to you?" She asked. "Or me?"
"Did the Commander not eliminate her from the roster?" He chuckled. "She will not be a thorn in our side for long."
Malinalli was silent, looking down at the table. With her nail, she picked at a piece of the wood. "Well…"
"Well what?" He asked.
"I uh…" She swallowed. "I kinda...I went to the Commander about that."
"Oh?" He asked allusively. He was waiting for her to finish the thought before he spoke.
"I thought her termination was...unfair." She said. "So I…"
"Malinalli." He sighed. "She is leaving?"
"No…" She looked up. "I'm sorry, Dhar-Mon. I didn't realize what she did on the mission."
Dhar-Mon growled, his teeth bared but his gaze distinctively away from her.
"I'm sorry." She said again. "I had no idea."
He wanted to be mad at her. He really, really did. But when she let go of his hand, he reached for hers again.
"Why?" Was all he asked.
She seemed to seize up. "...Because I found her crying..." She whispered. "And...I want to believe she was sorry."
"Do you feel good about your decision?" Was what he asked her next.
"Ten years ago
I bought you some cufflinks
Oh and you brought me...something
We both know what memories can bring...
They bring diamonds and rust."
"...I did." She said, sitting up. "I did at the time, that is."
"No longer?" He raised a brow.
"Look it's...I don't want to put the idea in people's heads that they can abuse you and the others." She ran her hand through her thick hair, pulling out her hair tie. "But, if the Chosen can change, why can't a human? Vicky's a cunt but...I feel like she needs another chance."
Slowly, Dhar-Mon rose from the booth. "Let us test this. I shall confront her, and we shall see if she truly does deserve another opportunity."
"You'll do what?" She looked shocked.
He leaned on the table. "My siblings were hurt by the girl. I know you meant no harm, Malinalli, and you have a kind heart. But if she remains here, boundaries must be established."
"...Okay." She let go of him. "Just...don't let it take over you."
"It is too late for that." He muttered as he walked to the door. Vicky stood there, her knees shaking as he got closer.
Finally they stood face to face, Dhar-Mon bearing his sharp teeth as he stared down at the girl that was less than half his height.
"What do you want?" He spat.
He could see the tears welling up in her eyes. Behind him, Senuna's voice carried on the metal walls.
"Now I see you standing
With leaves falling around
And snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window of that hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there…"
"I want to apologize." She whispered, her voice so, so soft. He could barely hear it, and somehow it made him angrier.
"Speak up!" He demanded.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered, trying to raise her voice. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for what I said to you, what I DID to you. I utterly failed, and you picked up the pieces of my mess…"
"You are right. You failed." He crossed his arms. "You left a man to DIE."
She flinched. "I know…"
"But worse still, what you did insinuate…" He spat. "That I do not love my brother and sister, THAT is SLANDER. At best!"
Vicky looked slightly shocked at this, but her gaze quickly returned to the floor.
"My siblings are all I have." He said. "They are my blood. My kin. My family. Since leaving the Elders, I have been adrift, and I would have floundered if not for them. I awoke to them beside me. If asked, I would brave the depths of the Void for them." He leaned down close to her. "I believe it is YOU who does not understand how to love, Victoria."
She shook her head. "I loved Shammy…"
He stopped, blinking.
"Shammy was everything to me." She wiped a tear away. "Shammy raised me." She looked up. "My attitude got him killed, and I'm so sorry it almost killed you. I'm so sorry I ever suggested you didn't love them…" She stopped to cough. "I'd just never...lost someone like that before…"
Dhar-Mon's expression softened. "This is a war, Victoria."
"I know." Her voice was quiet, filled with resignation. In a way, he knew her pain. His siblings had "died" once before, as well. The empty sadness he felt had only been bearable because of his faith in the Elders. Vicky did not have that.
Senuna's voice cut through his trance again.
"Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Oh, then give me another word for it
You were always so good with words
And at keeping things vague."
He thought back to his stronghold. To the people in the City Center. To the town of Guardia, and the hundreds of bodies still rotting there, because of his own priests. Because he led them there.
Vicky sniveled before him, and as she looked up, he saw just a hint of that blue child who would prostrate himself before demons to win their favor.
He had made mistakes, too.
He sighed. "I...accept your apology."
For the first time, he saw her genuinely smile up at him. "Really?"
He sighed. "Yes. But, you must earn back the trust we once placed in you."
Vicky nodded. "I'll do anything you need me to. I mean, I'm just a squaddie now so I guess I can't do much anymore but...anything in my power!"
"Here is something in your power." He smirked. "You are not holier than us. Stop acting as though you are."
She chuckled a bit. "Yeah I...I was a bitch, wasn't I?"
"In my mind, you still are." He insisted. "Prove to me otherwise."
She straightened up and saluted him. "I will, sir!"
"Good." He couldn't help but chuckle. "I was like you once, Victoria, and it almost destroyed me. Do not fall victim to such temptations again." He leaned toward her. "And never, ever insult my siblings. We can be your friends, but betray us like that again, and we shall be your most dangerous enemy."
Vicky looked puzzled at that last part. "...Friends…?"
He blinked and pulled away. "Yes. You do have friends, child. Don't you?"
She stared forward for a moment. "...Not really."
He furrowed his brow. "Who did you converse with outside of missions? Did you not have anyone to share your space with?"
"I'd go talk with Shammy in the lab." She said. "I'd keep going even now but...they won't let me back in. They said I'm not welcome now that he's gone."
Dhar-Mon let his arms drop. "Oh. You pathetic excuse for a human."
"Yeah." She squeaked. "I know." She looked back at Malinalli, who smiled at them worriedly.
Dhar-Mon sighed. "...Malinalli." He called softly. He nodded towards Vicky and raised an eyebrow. With that action, her face lit up into a smile.
"'Cause I need some of that vagueness now
It's all coming back too clearly
Oh I loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
I've already paid!"
.
.
The Berserker let out a roar that shook the trees. If anyone had been alive to hear it, it would have killed them where they stood. As it was, Hassan and Gili seemed to be barely standing their ground.
Thankfully the two hybrids were used to this sort of thing.
Kon-Mai, katana in her hand, charged forward into the mass of Purifiers standing between her and the beast, and was promptly blasted in the face with a stream of fire. She blocked her face with her sleeve but the heat still singed her hair and burned her skin, and she hissed.
She heard Savitr scream her name, but as she tried to stand, another outpouring of fire caught her unprepared, and she fell back to the ground. She protected her face, but her hand suffered greatly and she felt the white hot pain of a burn stretch up the length of her left arm. At least it wasn't her sword arm.
Hassan let out a bellow and rushed forward into the fray, his purple swords glimmering in the fading light. The Purifiers turned their flames on him, and the Berserker rose up behind them and let out a roar. As it slammed it's fists into the ground again, Kon-Mai bit her jacket and dug her fingers into the ground, pulling herself away.
Hassan sprinted past the soldiers in front, all the way to the back, and let out a scream as he leapt through the air, honing in on one unlucky Purifier. "STAND BAAAACK!"
Kon-Mai covered her head, just as Hassan sliced through one of the Purifiers, his Templar blade sparking in the light of the flame. A surge of heat wafted over them, and then the fire exploded upward and outward, causing a chain reaction. Three more Purifiers burst into an explosion of flame, and the Berserker let out a scream as it caught fire as well.
Kon-Mai was not fooled, however. This would not hurt the Berserker as much as it would just anger it. And by the sound of it, it was very angry.
She jumped to her feet and watched as the Berserker swatted the Purifiers to the side. Hassan's charred body flew a few feet and landed in the burning grass, his eyes locked open in a blank stare. Kon-Mai drew her sword, her right arm still good, and took up a stance against the Berserker. The beast met her eyes, huffed, and charged at her.
Sword in hand, Kon-Mai rushed forward. She slid under the Berserker's heavy fist and stabbed upward. Her sword slammed into the hard plating under the jawline, cracking the bone plating and bringing the beast crashing forward, almost crushing her underneath. She rolled out from under the Berserker as it screeched in pain, and once again nearly demolished Kon-Mai with another strike to the ground.
The dirt shook, and Kon-Mai tried to get to her feet but slipped again, landing on her bad hand and screaming in pain. She scooted away, and immediately saw a flame coming at her from the left and rolled away again. The surviving Purifiers were on their feet again and coming in, surrounding her.
Perhaps her poor angle contributed, but there was no escape here she could see. She jumped to her feet and began to run in a random direction, knowing it was cowardly but just needing to get away. Another jet of flame, and this time the ground at her feet caught alight and she stumbled into the wall of a timber house. Shaking, she bared her teeth in a snarl.
The Berserker, jaw still shattered and dragging in the dirt, let out a screech and went to charge again, not caring of the Purifiers in it's way. Kon-Mai took a breath and closed her eyes.
Then a flash of purple cut across the darkness. Screams of Etheric filled the air as the Purifiers flew off to the side, opening up her escape. Kon-Mai took the moment and dashed to the right, and there she saw him.
There was Savitr, with his hands outstretched, psionic energy flowing from his fingers as he glared up at the Berserker before him. It turned, roaring at him, and he dove to the side as it's huge mitt swiped at him. Rolling to one side, he held up a hand, a bubble of purple suddenly encasing him.
"Stasis…" Kon-Mai whispered. "A priest…"
The beast was not done, and while it had been slowed, it was not deterred. This time, though, Kon-Mai was ready once again. She held up her hand, closing her eyes and calling forth her own psionic power. A large, purple star the size of her hand landed, spinning, in her palm. She raised her arm and, barely aiming, threw it.
Just as Savitr emerged from his stasis, the purple star flew over his head, wrapped around, and stuck the Berserker in the side of the head. It stumbled and roared as it staggered backward, and Savitr turned to the woman it had come from.
"Mordenna!" He called to her. He raised his arm, a purple glimmer on his wrist.
Kon-Mai nodded, kneeling in a running stance just as the creature ripped the shuriken from it's head, the weapon fading in a shower of purple sparkles.
As Kon-Mai dashed forward, Savitr knelt into a crouch and held up his arm over his head. Upon his forearm, a beautifully decaled shield bloomed like a flower. She took a small leap into the air, landing on his shield, and with all his strength, he hoisted her into the air.
She flew, landing on the Berserker, digging her sword into the tense muscles on it's back and slicing open what armor was left intact. Her sword cut deep as she slid down it's body and landed in a crouch, the creature turning on her once again, covered in rage and blood.
It was now or never, but her legs had locked in exhaustion and pain, and she watched the fleshy beast prepare to bring her down
A shot from the ravine echoed through the valley, silencing all who heard it. The beast froze, it's muscles tensing, and then it slowly fell backward, Savitr scrambling away to avoid it.
Kon-Mai stared down at the beast's broken body, only just awake and ready to kill her. Footsteps coming up behind her caused her to look, only to see Gili come sprinting down the ravine towards them. "Konnie, thank GOD! Are you ok? Yeah you are, you're fine. Hassan! Where's Hassan?!" She called.
Kon-Mai let out a sigh of sorrow. "He is…"
Gili's face fell, and she nearly buckled beside Kon-Mai. A hand to her face, she let out a quiet sob, so quickly you could have missed it in a blink. But as soon as it started, she straightened up and took a breath. "I'm going to get the body. Savitr, patch up Konnie's hand. I think she burned it."
Kon-Mai watched Gili slowly wade off into the sea of bodies, finally stopping where Hassan lay and falling on her knees beside him.
The Shrinemaiden pried her eyes away, and turned to look at Savitr as he crouched beside her. He was purposefully avoiding her gaze, but as he finally looked up, she smiled.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"For what?" He asked softly.
She smiled knowingly.
.
.
"And the winds will cry, and many men will die,
And all the waves will bow down…
To the Loreley!"
Senuna took a deep bow as her set finished, and Dhar-Mon clapped loudly, his giant hands generating the most noise of all the crowd. It still amazed him how well she sang, how godly her voice was, and he figured perhaps it was not so odd she used to be a singer. By the sparkle in her eyes, it certainly brought her joy.
He heard footsteps behind him, and looked up to see Gur-Rai was also matching his clapping with his own. "Wonderful, wonderful. What are we cheering for?"
"Commander Senuna." Dhar-Mon sighed. "What do you need, Gur-Rai?"
"What, I can't drop in to say hello?" He winked at Malinalli, who rolled her eyes.
"Nice try, Abe Sapien." She stuck her tongue out. "Go play with the other girls."
"Maybe I will." He scoffed. "At least they appreciate all this~" He ran a hand down his chest.
Malinalli chuckled. "What brings you here? Want a drink?"
"Only if you're buying."
"They don't cost…" She sighed. "Whatever. Dhar-Mon, will you save my seat?"
"Of course." He pulled her vacant chair closer to him as she got up and went to the bar. That didn't stop Gur-Rai from leaning on the back of said chair, though.
"Why are you here, Brother?" Dhar-Mon asked. "You have...that look."
"This is not a look. This is just my beautiful face~" Gur-Rai chuckled. "But actually, I am waiting to speak to Senuna."
"Oh? About what?"
"About our resident Sectoid." He winked. "And his first mission~"
Dhar-Mon pretended not to look interested, but he was poor at hiding such things. "And...what IS his first mission."
"A simple scouting call." He sat on the edge of the small table. "A small distress signal blinks from the darkness of the Kakamega forest in Kenya. The beacon was quite alien looking."
His brother smiled as Dhar-Mon now turned his full attention to him. "A ship? One of the Elders fleet?"
"Possibly." Gur-Rai nodded. "It seems we may have caused an exodus, Brother."
Dhar-Mon scoffed. "The Elders' grip on the mind is unrelenting...it takes much to overcome it."
"Well you did." Gur-Rai patted his back. "You're an inspiration, my dear brother."
"I am no such thing."
"Don't be that way." Gur-Rai kissed the top of Dhar-Mon's head and grabbed the drink out of Malinalli's hand as she returned. "Well I'm off to see the wizard. Catch you kids later~"
Malinalli started after him as he sauntered right up to the stage. "Why is he…?"
"Like that?"
"Yeah."
Dhar-Mon chuckled. "He's a special one."
.
.
The garage was a scary place. Kon-Mai had wanted to take Tsiuri into her arms as soon as they had returned to the Avenger, but Bradford had intercepted her. She had only half listened to his praise for her as she searched amidst the crowed, and by the time she finally got away, Tsiuri was gone. In her moment of deep, panicked disappointment, she felt a presence behind her.
She turned. "Savitr." She said, swallowing her sadness.
"Are you alright?" He asked, his yellow eyes worried.
"Aside from the burn on my hand, I am quite fine." She took a breath and smiled.
"But you're crying."
"...I am not." She whispered, her hand moving to her cheek. Sure enough it was wet, and the water felt salty. She took a deep, shaky breath. "My eyes hurt from the smoke. They are...sensitive."
"Was the battle quite stressful? I often get scared-"
"No." She snapped. "I'm sorry I...I'm distracted." She pressed a finger to her temple. "It was a tremendous battle, was it not? You were quite formidable."
Savitr almost seemed to blush. "What I did was nothing, Morde-"
"Kon-Mai." She snapped. "Call me Kon-Mai."
He looked frightened for a moment, but seemed to realize her intentions. "...Kon-Mai, what I did was nothing compared to you."
Kon-Mai met his eyes, hers full of surprise. "I would beg to disagree." Her voice dropped low as she leaned close. "I did not know you were a priest."
He didn't pull away from her. "It is not a past I am proud of." He admitted.
"Why ever not?"
"Are you proud of the things you did in the name of the Elders?" He asked, his yellow eyes meeting her magenta ones. "No, you would not have left if you were."
"And yet you use your power." She crossed her arms. "I suppose it is a serviceable tool."
Savitr did not respond. Instead he just studied her face, almost as though he were examining an ancient sculpture. "I have kept very little from that time. Only my powers. And this." He patted his chest.
"Yes. A strong heart is needed to survive on the battlefield."
"That's a wonderful sentiment." He chuckled. "But it is not my heart." From under a flap on his armor, he drew back the cloth and undid something shining in the low garage light. He handed it to her. "Please, be careful with it."
Kon-Mai took it from his hand carefully. It was smaller than her palm: a gold pin in the shape of a disk, with many points rising from it. The disk in the middle had a smiling face etched into it.
"...It's the sun."
"Yes." Savitr nodded. "I obtained this broach from an old man in Suriname; a homeless preacher who was lamenting the death of his only daughter...at the hands of blue men."
Kon-Mai met his eyes. "I assume he did not give it to you."
Savitr, once again, lowered his gaze. "No. It was all that survived of his body." He said. "But his words, his voice, stuck with me. And his words." He closed his eyes. "Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, tát savitr váreṇyaṃ, bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt." He spoke almost as though he was in a trance, and though she had never heard it, it sounded familiar.
"It is a mantra?"
"The Gayatri Mantra. A dedication to the sun." Savitr smiled. "And so, when I broke free, when I escaped...I knew my name."
Kon-Mai ran her thumb over the pin once again, the smiling face of the sun staring back at her.
"...Do you know what happened to the child?" She asked. "Tsiuri? I wanted to…" She wasn't sure what she wanted to do, exactly.
"She went with Gili." He said. "Gili is taking her to the Reapers. She speaks Georgian, she'd be a good mother to the girl."
Kon-Mai felt her heart drop, and her whole body felt like lead. "...And the child...went willingly…?"
Savitr nodded. "She was very overwhelmed. I'm sure she would have loved to say goodbye first had she known." He smiled. "She seemed quite fond of you."
"I had hoped she was." She handed the pin back to him, her fingers lingering on his for just a moment longer than normal. For her at least.
(I was running into a dilemma where some of the chapters that were very important story-wise were also ones that people might have trouble with due to their content. I've decided that I'm gonna include a summary of the chapter at the end, at least on all the chapters with content warnings, but maybe on all chapters regardless. Let me know what you think of this system!
The chapter begins with Kon-Mai and Savitr meeting for their mission together, that Senuna seemed to set up. They meet Gili the Reaper and Hassan the Templar, and make their way to a Haven in Georgia that was destroyed by Purifiers. Kon-Mai meets a human child, Tsiuri, and rescues her, forming a bond with the child before hiding her away so Kon-Mai can fight the ADVENT threat. Hassan is killed after meleeing a Purifier in an act of self-sacrifice, and in defending Kon-Mai from a raging Berserker, Savitr is revealed to have been a priest. On the Avenger, Senuna performs for the soldiers while Malinalli and Dhar-Mon discuss the past. Malinalli mentions the village she grew up in, and how her parents disappeared. Halfway through the set, the disgraced medic Vicky shows up. Dhar-Mon goes to confront her, and she apologizes for her deplorable behavior. It's an apology he tentatively accepts.
The songs used in this chapter were Loreley and No Second Chance by Blackmore's Night, and Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez.)