Betos sometimes missed the ocean, but she supposed the green rivers and red hills were beautiful. As long as there was water here, clean water for her people to drink, she would be alright.
Some of the children were already awake this early morning, splashing around in the clear running water. She kept one eye on them always. The rapids could get so fast and so deep, and before they even knew it they'd be swept away.
She never stripped down fully, but even allowing herself to be out here in her bra and undergarments was a mix of hair-raising and relieving. She hated her bulky armor, but her body felt empty without it.
She put one tentative toe into the bubbling water and sighed, relief mixing over her. Her forehead was already dotted with magenta tinted sweat: the day was looking to be a hot one, and the water washed that all away. She strode the rest of the way, nearly slipping on the river rocks as the water suddenly dropped off into a deep pit. She treated against the current, reaching out and holding onto a branch so she could float along the water without fear of being swept downstream.
"I should bring Kon-Mai here." As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Betos stopped that train where it started. The Assassin had been a staple of her thoughts since her escape so long ago, but since bringing her here...she had often found herself thinking of the blue woman, and not out of fear.
"Arura!"
She heard the children calling for her, and rose from the water to look over to them. She called out to them in Etheric first, then in English. "What is in your hands?"
"Plhaw!" They called out, and one of them ran over, holding something up. "Ezti plhaw!"
"Enshag!" She called out his name. "Be careful!" She swam over as the little hybrid stumbled on the slippery rocks and nearly fell. Betos caught the boy, trending water with one arm while holding him. "Now, what is it that you found?"
Enshag opened his hand. "It's a plhaw."
"I see." She smiled down at the little green frog sitting in his hand. "What's the human word for it?"
"...Frø?" He said tentatively.
She giggled. "That is but one name for it." She said, taking the little frog in her own hand. "Like there are many names for us."
"Mordenna." Someone called from the bank, and she looked up. Nitocris stood there, her rare, soft white locks pulled back into a bun that sat low on her neck. Her eyes spoke that she was needed, and that it could not wait.
Betos lifted Enshag back up onto the bank. "Return to your friends." She insisted.
"Can't you stay longer?" She saw his eyes well up with tears. "Please Arura?"
She looked up at Nitocris, as if asking her permission to stay. The Other Skirmisher but her lip and motioned for her to follow.
"I'm sorry, dhay." Betos said. "I have to go now. There are many who need me."
.
.
"So?"
Gur-Rai opened one eye. "So…?"
"Do you like it?" Nazira asked as she parted her black hair over her shoulders, running her fingers through it to remove the tangles. He could hardly see her in the dim light, but the way the shadows framed her face made her look like a painting.
The pile of rugs and pillows he laid on protected him from the cold stone floor, and Gur-Rai was reluctant to sit up. He was so comfortable. "Your hair? It's lovely~"
"Not just the hair." She sounded almost indigent. "Surely you noticed the changes? Or did taking out that chip take half your brain with it?"
"If it did, would you still love me?" He lashed his arm out and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her close to him.
"I'll love you if you answer my question." She looked serious now, and...nervous? He rarely saw her like that. "Do I still look like...me?"
In an attempt to reassure her, he laid a kiss on her bare shoulder, trailing up her neck and taking a moment to nibble her ear. "Are you happy when you look in the mirror?" He whispered.
She didn't take long to answer. "...I'd say so." She said. "I feel more like me."
"Then I love it." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, rocking her back and forth. "You may look different now, but you're still the woman I fell for years and years and yeeeeeeaaars-"
She smacked him lightly, and stood up. "You haven't changed a bit, you know?"
"Well, that's disappointing." He put his hand behind his head as Nazira began lacing up the stray threads on her tunic, laying back leisurely on the pile of books they'd used to prop themselves up.
"Depends on how you look at it. Too much change can be a bad thing." She winked. "Ask the climate."
"Oh ha ha." He grabbed his pants, shoving one leg into them and then the other. "You don't suppose my siblings heard the raucous?"
"If they did, you'd be on the business end of your sister's blade right now." She said. "Remember Unification Day?"
"Which one?"
"2034."
"The one where the Speaker tried alcohol for the first time?"
"No, that was the year before that." She felt around, one shoe in hand, looking for the other one. "In '34 we decided to go pub crawling in Jinan? We tried Absinthe, I got blood poisoning and the owner tried to fistfight you. The Assassin had to send in her personal force to get us out of that one."
"Oh yeah." He chuckled, then shuddered. "That was an...experience. I never thought I'd say it but I'm glad Kon-Mai was there."
Nazira froze, staring at him with a near blank, contemplative expression.
"What?" He shrugged, pulling on his undershirt. "If she hadn't been there to break up the rigamarole, I might have been beaten to death. By a civvy, no less. And that's just not an acceptable death for a Chosen."
"I know." She chuckled. "I just never thought I'd hear you say you were grateful for anything your sister did."
He pondered this or a moment, then shrugged. "Sometimes change is a very good thing."
"Yes, I know." She giggled.
.
.
"I got it!" Malinalli insisted, shooing Verge out of the way.. She reached down and grabbed the heavy box, grunting as she lifted it.
"I am able to pick it up." Verge insisted. "My wounds healed long ago, Molly. Please."
"I know. But I know where Tygan likes the stimpacks." She said, practically dragging the box down the hall. Verge followed her close behind. "He's just very picky about...well, you know how Tygan is."
"I don't know him nearly enough." Verge sighed as he watched Malinalli work. "There is much of XCOM I still have not seen."
"I could give you a tour sometime." She chuckled.
"When shall we join the others?" He asked. "I have not seen many resistance havens, and this one is said to house former ADVENT soldiers. People like me..."
"Well, when the Commander gives the all clear, I suppose." She replied as she dropped the box, tearing it open. "You've really never been? I've seen Sectoids in havens before."
"No. I mostly took care of...prisoners retrieved after the missions." He got a bit quiet as he knelt beside the box.
Malinalli struggled for what to say next, not wanting to leave the conversation empty. "Um, well, because of them, now you're here!"
He nodded. "But is my life worth a thousand of theirs?" He asked.
Malinalli let a small sigh slip through and busied herself with the stimpacks. "...Your life is important." She finally added.
His silence spoke volumes. Luckily, it was broken by Vicky walking in, her Minnie mouse buns tied tight and prim. "I can do that!" She insisted. "The Commander gave us you the OK to leave the ship."
"I got it." Malinalli tried to stop her. "You don't want to go?"
Vicky hesitated. "...I'll be fine here…" She finally said. She sounded like she didn't mean it.
"It is unhealthy for humans to avoid social contact." Verge said. "I know this to be a fact."
"Let us know if you change your mind." Malinalli stood. "Come on, Verge."
"Me?" He raised a brow.
"You always wanted to see a haven." She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. "Let's go."
.
.
Senuna leaned on the edge of the stone window and gazed out over the vibrant oasis, her blue eyes sparkling like the water in the lake. She brushed back some hair behind her ear as the wind picked up, her cape billowing in the calm breeze. It was surprisingly cool for being in the middle of the desert. A little chunk of heaven.
"You're thinking." Bradford said behind her.
"Well I'd hope so. Gotta use this noggin somehow." She giggled as she turned to him. He handed her a bottle of water, and she popped the cap and took a long drink. "Thank you."
He nodded. "I've been talking with Jane and Zhang."
"Oh have you now." She sighed. "Let me guess, we're giving them too many resources."
"Yep." Bradford nodded. "I'm just not sure we can spare that many soldiers without getting something in return. I think we should at least look into making this a mutually beneficial relationship."
She raised a brow.
"Most of these guys are former ADVENT." He said. "Commander, I'm kinda shocked you didn't think of this."
"You're suggesting we start training them." She smiled.
"Exactly. They're already halfway there. We just have to...acclimate them to working with humans."
Senuna seemed to pause. "...Hm."
"Hm good or hm bad?" Bradford cracked a smile.
"I like it." She said, handing him back the water. "But-"
"There's hardly ever a 'but' with you." He said. "What's different this time?"
"Nothing's different, I've always had a flat ass~" She giggled.
"Commander."
Senuna's face grew cold and serious for a moment, and she gazed out the window again. "...You know I have trouble sometimes...relating to people."
"But these guys are different?" Bradford asked.
"They're human." She said. "But they're also so alien. They're like the Skirmishers. They're…"
"They're like you."
"They're like me." She smiled. "...Bradford, I feel bad for them."
"If you think it's a bad idea, just say so." He leaned on the wall beside her. "You get the final say, Commander."
"No, it's a good idea. In fact, it's necessary." She straightened up. "I should call another meeting with Zafar then. Tell him our new terms~"
.
.
Kon-Mai ran her fingers over the buttons and dials on the control panel. Half of them were rusty, one of them didn't turn at all, and that was the power button. It was almost laughable the state this thing was in, but still…
"It is fascinating?" He brother asked, standing behind her.
She shrugged. "Gur-Rai would like it more. I am no good with machines."
"Then that is two of us." He chuckled. "Although I do like to wonder at the mystery of these things. With the Elders, it all seemed so fluid. It never occurred to me the sheer force of will needed to make it work."
Kon-Mai sat down in the dusty old chair. "It seems like more trouble than it's worth."
"I could say the same about your swords." A voice said behind her. "But I don't, because I'm nice~"
She spun around and saw Gur-Rai ascending the stairs, Nazira close behind him.
Dhar-Mon harrumphed and crossed his arms. "I hope you two enjoyed your little premarital escapade."
"It's not premarital if you never get married." Nazira winked. "So hold the insults until I toss the bouquet."
"What is this machine?" Kon-Mai asked, pointing to the contraption behind her.
"Oh, the old radio." Nazira walked over and leaned on the desk, pushing a few buttons as she did. "Zafar found this place by locking onto it's signal. We have no idea what it was originally for, but it's been very useful."
"It's how they found the Avenger." Gur-Rai piped up.
"To be fair, your ship is big and slow and noisy." She giggled. "All you have to do to find it is look up."
"I disagree." Dhar-Mon insisted. "I could never find it."
"Well." Nazira smiled. "You obviously don't have the best...sense of direction."
He growled, baring his sharp teeth. "I was the greatest of the Chosen, before I renounced the Elders. If the ship was findable, I would have found it."
"YOU were the greatest." Gur-Rai laughed. "Yeah right."
"You forget, Brother." Kon-Mai scowled. "Who was it who brought in Pratal Mox as a prisoner? Who was it who saved the Speaker from an assault on his own home? Who was it who-"
"Who was it who lost Betos?" Gur-Rai added. "Twice, Sister. And once when she literally came to you."
"Betos is a trained warrior, one of the best this planet has to offer...if I had been told of her capabilities, I would not have lost." Kon-Mai stood, bristling. "My point is, I was just as capable as you when we were under the Elder's thumb." Kon-Mai stood, bristling.
"I mean you no offense, Sister." Dhar-Mon growled. "But if anyone would have fulfilled the Elders' wishes and captured the commander, it would have been me. You two did not have your heart in the fight."
"Excuse you." Now Gur-Rai looked offended. "Hunting the Commander was in my very name! I would have found her long before you."
"And yet, you didn't."
"They had a flying ship! If you ask me, that is an unfair advantage!"
"None of this matters." Kon-Mai said. "We ceased that trivial hunt long ago."
"Trivial?! My reputation was on the line, Sister!"
"Your reputation was that of a scoundrel and a flake." She crossed her arms. "You cannot cry to me about losing your pride when you had none to uphold in the first place."
"Well what about you?" Gur-Rai spat. "Miss 'I'd NEVER join those traitor Skirmishers' sure seems to be getting pretty buddy-buddy with them now. Where'd your pride go, Sister?"
"How dare you? I always keep my word." Kon-Mai growled.
Dhar-Mon shook his head. "You claimed you would keep your word to the Elders on pain of death. That if you failed them, their judgement and punishment was fair. Where did those words go, Sister?"
"Are you questioning my integrity?" She hissed, her yellow teeth bared. "And if you knew the pain I went through that day, you would agree that my vows to them are forfeit!"
"You insinuate I do not know pain?!" He leaned down toward her. "It was not your skull that Bhandasura tore apart! You sought to end yourself before you dared to face that."
"Are you saying I took the easy way?!" Kon-Mai gasped.
"I am saying you knew what was coming." Dhar-Mon avoided her eyes. "So you cannot stand to lecture me on such things, when you are an oath breaker yourself."
Kon-Mai looked like he'd just slapped her in the face, and stood there speechless, her eyes wide and slightly wet.
Gur-Rai just chuckled. "Well I guess I got lucky then. I got taken down the good old fashioned way."
"Funny that you brag about being able to hunt the humans, and yet you were the only one truly felled by them." Kon-Mai snapped. "Stop your gloating, neither of you are better than I am!"
"I'm not saying that!" Gur-Rai snapped.
"I can hear it under your breath!"
"It is like you Brother! To put us down like this!"
"Well you wanna know what I think?" Nazira finally spoke up.
"No." Kon-Mai spat.
"You are going to side with HIM." Dhar-Mon pointed to Gur-Rai.
"I do love him, I'll admit. But no, Gur-Rai can be criticized." She sat down and crossed her legs, looking the Darkstrider in the eye. "Darling, you were never going to beat XCOM because you didn't give two shits. We both know it. You stuck with the Elders for the nice toys and the immortality, but Dhar-Mon was right. Your heart just wasn't in it."
Gur-Rai looked shocked. "Hunting is what I do." He growled, but his voice was shaking.
"Exactly. You were the Hunter, not a Killer." She giggled. "Oh, you're out there talking big game about being a hard bastard, but you wear your heart on your sleeve, love, and I've seen it more than once. You wanted XCOM to win."
Dhar-Mon and Kon-Mai looked back at their brother in shock, who avoided their gaze.
"You wanted their victory the whole time?" Kon-Mai stammered.
"Konnie. Wasn't it obvious?" Nazira chuckled. "He didn't know it of course, but this man hardly ever knows what he's thinking. I'm one to talk but it's true." She reached up and wrapped her arm around Dhar-Mon's wide shoulders. "And you, you big brute...you were never the Elder's favorite. I know this, they know it, and you know it too." She glared at Kon-Mai. "And you, Sweetie, need to get off your goddamn high horse."
"What?" Kon-Mai hissed more in shock than in anger.
"You heard me. Honor and bravery are nice concepts, but in this world there's only one thing that matters, and it's not your false sense of superiority. You broke your vow to the Elders. Granted, I agree with you, you had reason. But you still broke it. You can't act lawful when your very existence depends on chaos." She looked up. "That goes for you too, Hero Monk."
He pulled away from her, and Nazira turned on her heel and sat once again, the chair swaying side to side.
"You three are all you have in this world." She said. "Whether you like it or not."
"I know." Kon-Mai whispered. "I know that."
"Then stop quarreling." Nazira said. "My brother and I would have died long ago if we let trivial things like this tear us apart."
The three were silent, staring at the ground like children who had just been scolded.
Dhar-Mon cleared his throat. "Kon-Mai, I apologize..."
She looked up at him, something shining in her magenta eyes. "...I forgive you, Dhar-Mon. And I'm sorry too."
They both turned and looked at Gur-Rai, who looked away.
"...I'm sorry." He finally muttered. "I...I didn't mean any of it, Brother, Sister. I-"
"It's alright." She held up a hand. "Let us forget this."
There was still a sense of turmoil hanging in the air, but the three of them shoved it out of their line of focus, choosing to instead bury the hatchet where it lay.
Nazira chuckled as she leaned back and laced her fingers together. No doubt Zafar would grill her later about abandoning her duties to go gallivanting across the desert, but this, she felt, was far more important.
.
.
"Thank you both for humoring my request at an audience." Geist said, his voice slightly distorted by the sound of the radio. His image on the screen was little more than a fuzzy apparition. In the corner, Betos saw her own visage, and that of the Reapers' leader, Konstantine Volikov.
"This better be good, Geist, you know what fucking time it is here?" Volk muttered. "I'm an old man, I need my sleep."
Betos rolled her eyes. "Since when did you sleep at such an early hour, Volk?"
"Don't patronize me, you wrinkly bitch." His insult was half-hearted and Betos had long ago learned it was easier to just let them roll off her rather than try and fight him on his manners. He took a swig from his flask, belched, and jabbed at the camera. "So what's the sitch?"
"The Commander is conspiring against us." Geist said, leaning forward in his chair.
Betos sighed. Not this again. "In what way?"
"She has gone behind the back of the Templars and made contact with a haven." He elaborated.
"Now, I'm not one to defend the Commander." Volk said. "But who died and made you Elder? XCOM doesn't need your permission to talk to the people in your region, Geist, as important as you like to think you are."
"I know that, Volikov." He spat. "I knew of this haven's existence long before she met with their nefarious leader and his whore sister. They are Snake Men of ADVENT, and they harbor deadly alien creatures within their walls."
Betos paused, conflicting emotions rising inside of her. "What deadly creatures?" She asked. "Chryssalids?"
"No, Vipers and Mutons." Geist replied. "They have a sizable human population as well, but they are more depraved and corrupt than Sodom and Gamorrah alike." He shook his head, the video shuddering with the movement.
"Geist, I advise you to think long and hard about who you are talking to." Betos said. "My people are half alien, Ethereal DNA runs in our blood. Are we as depraved as you say they are?"
"Yeah, Geist." Volk chuckled, clearly inebriated.
"You two are missing the point." He said. "The Thin Men were confidants of the Elders, harbingers of the invasion. To cavort with them is to dance with death."
"I think we already are." Volk said. "She's already recruited the goddamn Chosen, who knows what she'll stop at?"
"The Chosen…" Betos had to choose her words carefully. "They have made horrible errors for which they must atone. But they are on the path to redemption."
"Bullshit." Volk tossed his cup aside. "Bull-Fucking-Shit. I don't want those fuckers anywhere near my camp. Which, by the way, is being SWARMED by ADVENT patrols because the Blue Man Group let a Sectoid go free."
"Perhaps they planned it." Geist crossed his arms.
""I know we do not always see eye to eye Volk, but if your people need shelter, the Sedona Haven is open to you." Betos added quickly. "The Reapers and Skirmishers are kin now, Volk."
"Hm." Volk smirked. "I keep forgetting we're technically in-laws."
She bristled a bit at that, but shook it off. "If we all have these concerns, should we not contact the commander of XCOM and ask her these things?" She said.
"Have you met Senuna?" Volk spat. "She'll go fucking ballistic!"
"I've served on the Avenger, Volk." Betos hissed. "I was there when she made the decision to capture Kon-Mai Mordenna. She will listen to reason, and barring that, she will listen to me if I ask." She knew this to be a fact. She'd done it before."
"You seem very sure." Geist said. "I do not mean to call your loyalty into question as well, Betos, however-"
"Then let's not." Volk said. "Betos, my Reapers might take you up on that offer."
Betos smiled. "One last thing before we adjourn. What is our goal with this?"
"Goal?" Geist raised a brow.
"Senuna will want more than just accusations." Betos folded her hands. "I must offer her a compromise."
"Why don't you just ask her to fly us out to the haven?" Volk covered his mouth to stifle a belch. "I'd like a vacation."
Betos pondered that. "...That is not a bad proposal, Volk. Geist, if you want to be involved, this is the best way."
Geist sighed loudly. "Senuna will never agree to it...but I can reach the oasis without trouble."
"She will. I will see to it." She assured the men. "When can I expect you, Volk?"
"In five days." He said. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
"And I shall see you both very soon." Geist nodded. "Over?"
"And out." Betos said, and the comm went dead once again.
.
.
Malinalli and Verge sighed in collective relief as they stepped onto open grass, their shoes no longer sinking in the sand. Malinalli gazed around her, smiling at the sight of the quaint and beautiful little hamlet. "Wow." She breathed in amazement. "This place looks ancient."
"It is." Verge said, following her gaze. "Dakhla Oasis, if I recall, has been occupied at least since the days of Nero, and most likely before that. It's ancient name was Set-whe. Or Resting Place."
Malinalli reached out, laying one hand on the stone wall. "I love that. It's withstood so much. And now it stands against ADVENT." She looked back at Verge, who seemed to shrink back at that. "Hey, you aren't ADVENT."
"I wish I could believe that." He sighed. "But I still feel like some sort of traitor..."
"Verge." She sighed. "No one here blames you, especially not here. I highly doubt you have to worry-"
They heard a shriek. "YOU!"
Verge's black eyes went wide as the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps drew closer to them. As he spun around, Malinalli turned and saw the three Chosen dart out from behind one of the stone walls. To her right, a flash of pink crossed her vision, and Verge was practically knocked off his feet. At first, he screamed loud enough to shatter the eardrums of all those in a 10 mile radius, but Gur-Rai jogged up,chuckling. "Verge relax! You know her!"
"I do?!" He struggled out of the snake woman's vice-like grip. "Enlighten me!"
Nazira crossed her arms. "I know I look and sound a bit different now, V5, but after all we've been through?"
He blinked. "...Um?"
She sighed. "N7R42."
He gasped. "No."
"Yes." She gave a little flip of her hair. "I never thought I'd see you again, V5-"
"It's, um…" He cleared his throat." You may call me Verge, it seems to be my new moniker, and it's much easier to remember."
"Oh? I wonder where they got that from."
"Don't ask." Malinalli sighed.
Nazira chuckled and held out her hand to him. "My name is Nazira Ba'al-Peor. My brother goes by Zafar now."
"How long have you been in Dakhla?" Verge asked as he took both her hands in his.
"Only three years. We settled here after our base in Isla Huemul was...consumed in a fiery blaze." She giggled. "It's boring as the void, but I have to admit I like it here~"
"Isla Huemul?" Verge looked confused. "Strange that sounds like…" He trailed off as Nazira turned her attention away from him and onto the only human.
"And who are you, little one?" Nazira looked Malinalli up and down like she was examining a scrumptious treat. She towered over the medic, looking down on her with curious eyes, but before she could take a step closer, Dhar-Mon put himself between the two.
"She is no toy." He scolded. "Be gentle with her."
Nazira scoffed. "I'm not going to eat her! What do you take me for, a snake?" She giggled, and only Gur-Rai echoed her amusement.
"I'm Malinalli." She reached out from around Dhar-Mon and shook Nazira's hand. "Corporal Medic on the Avenger."
"A medic." She looked excited. "Well, you must have the best stories."
"Well, that's kinda confidential…" Malinalli chuckled. "But I can tell you about bootcamp…"
"Why don't you tell me indoors?" She beckoned the group along. "The sun is murder on my skin."
.
.
Senuna wasn't new to receiving surprise calls, but even so, they were annoying, especially now that she had to trek all the way back to the Avenger right before she was supposed to discuss the new terms with Zafar. She'd had it all planned out too, and now she'd be late and screw the whole thing up.
As she sat down in her swivel chair though, and turned on the camera, she smiled. "Betos! How are you, darling?"
"I am well." Betos was never one for pleasantries, which was a shame, because Senuna could see a beautiful and radiant woman under that armor. She would have gone far on Broadway.
"So what can I do for you?" Senuna crossed her legs and folded her hands over her knees.
"Geist is aware of the haven you have contacted." Betos said. "He is worried."
"He's always worried." She flipped her hair. "Pay Geist no mind."
"I cannot do that, Commander." Betos said curtly. "They are my friends."
Senuna paused at that. "Hm." She smiled. "You have a big heart, Betos. But we already know that."
Betos looked away. "Commander, Geist and Volk want to examine this haven themselves. They know it houses former ADVENT agents, and want confirmation that the people there will not betray the cause."
Senuna's eyes practically glowed as she smiled. "...They want to come here?" She giggled.
"Yes." Betos nodded.
"...How are the Reapers?" Senuna asked. "I know you don't like to gossip, but I might have a fix to their current predicament."
"The Reapers…" Betos seemed to debate handing that information over. "...The Reapers have been targeted by raids as of late. They are making their way to our camp in Sedona."
"In that case." She leaned forward on the desk. "Tell Volk I have a proposition for him. He and Geist can come check out the haven, if Volk agrees to stay."
.
.
"So one time, two of our newest recruits were told to trim the hedges." Malinalli sipped her mint tea. "You know, just busywork. Well, you know how they did that?"
"How?" Nazira asked as she laid back on the mound of soft pillows they had built within Zafar's living room. The two women were lounging on them, while Verge and Kon-Mai sat politely at the table a few feet away. Dhar-Mon was standing with his back to the wall, watching Nazira like a hawk.
"One guy lifted up the lawnmower, and the other reached his hand into the blades. He thought you started it by turning them really fast."
"...Did it work?"
"Oh yeah." Malinalli smiled tautly. "And guess who got to pick the bits of finger out of the bush?" She pointed to herself. "But to be fair, I was new, and that got me over my combat squeamishness."
"I never knew your job was so demanding." Nazira chuckled. "I've been in a doctor's office, of course, but my brother and I were on the receiving end."
"Yeah, the Gene Therapy clinics are pretty cool, I'll admit." Malinalli sighed.
"Not in ADVENT." Nazira quickly said. "No, this was after I left…"
Dhar-Mon and Kon-Mai were distracted as the flap of cloth that Nazira called a door rustled a little bit. Kon-Mai could see Gur-Rai slipping past the group and outside, then stopped and looked at her over his shoulder.
She blinked, and he made a "come on" motion with his head. Debating it only for a moment, she stood, gesturing for her eldest brother to follow her.
"Leaving, darling?" Nazira called.
"Only stepping out for some air." Kon-Mai smiled politely. "Do not let our absence bother you."
"I'm not sure what kind of air you expect to find." Nazira chuckled. "But good luck."
Good luck indeed. The three Chosen met up on the other side of the stone house, the side that overlooked a field of dandelions and led to a path towards the ancient temple, dedicated to three gods.
"I'm sorry." Gur-Rai said as he leaned against the wall. He met their gaze slowly and reluctantly. "About everything I said in the tower. It was wrong, all of it. I shouldn't have been insulting you in the first place."
"Brother." Kon-Mai stepped forward. "You already said-"
"No, Sister." He hissed. "I didn't say it, not correctly. I mean it this time."
"I must do the same." Dhar-Mon's deep, sad voice caught her off guard. "I said things in the heat of anger, yes, but...they were things I still believed, even if they aren't true." He shuffled his feet. "I do not believe you would ever break your vows, Sister, but at the time...I rationalized your death. I assumed you were weak."
That hurt to hear, even in an apology, and Kon-Mai's lip quivered.
"But you are not weak." Dhar-Mon said. "You are the strongest woman I know, that I have the pleasure to know. I am proud that you are my sister." He took her shoulders. "What you did was an act of bravery."
She shook her head. "No." She hissed. "You are right brother. I was scared…" She couldn't stop the tears now, they dripped off her high cheekbones and onto her shirt. "I was scared of what the Elders would do to me. I was scared that they would hurt me, and I…" She hiccuped. "I simply wanted the pain to be over with."
She felt Gur-Rai hug her from behind, as Dhar-Mon pulled her into his arms. For a moment, they just stood there, and Kon-Mai took deep breaths and tried to quell the sobs.
"Brother." Gur-Rai said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't tease you like that."
"It is-"
"It's not okay." He buried his face in the small of Kon-Mai's back. "I don't usually do the whole 'respect your elders' bullshit, but you're my big brother. I'm sorry I undermine you all the time. I'm sorry I make you feel less than." He swallowed. "...I love you."
"You do not make me feel less than." Dhar-Mon reached around and massaged his arm. "Gur-Rai, you are my baby brother. We will always poke fun at each other. And I will always love you for exactly who you are."
"I am not exempt from this!" Kon-Mai protested. "I am so sorry to you both. You are both capable, brave warriors. My I should never underestimate you, even when I mean only to tease." She reached back and pulled Gur-Rai up close to her. "...When I drove my blade into my body, my last thoughts were of you."
She heard Dhar-Mon sob quietly and pull her closer.
"I have loved you both since the day I was born." She whispered. "And I will love you both until the day I die."
.
.
"They'll be fine." Nazira chuckled, reading Malinalli's worried expression as she stared at the door. "Those three are thick as thieves. You know that better than I do."
Malinalli nodded. "Yeah...I just worry."
Nazira chuckled. "You doctors. You either worry too much or not enough." She took a drink of her tea and hesitated to speak for a moment. "The doctor who helped me and my brother. She used to be XCOM."
"Hm?" Malinalli looked curious.
"Yes. I was wondering if you know her." Nazira asked. "Dr. Vahlen?"
Malinalli couldn't hide her shudder as Nazira said that. "I know of her."
"Oh?" Nazira raised a brow. "Before your time, I suppose."
"Yeah." Malinalli chewed her lip. "She did a lot for the first war, they wouldn't have held out so long without her but…" She sighed. "Reading her research notes is...kind of terrifying. She had a lot of big ideas and it just...seems so detached from the actual goal."
Nazira chuckled. "And what is that 'goal'?"
Malinalli folded her legs under her and stared into her tea. "Doctor, Do No Harm."
(I know it's 11 PM but it's still technically Sunday!
Apologies for the lateness of this chapter, guys, but my brain just didn't want to do any sort of writing last week. And then the week following I developed a sinus headache and that lasted four days! But I managed to power through it, and next chapter will be out as per the regular schedule.)