MELD Implantation Labs, Praesidium
5/19/2017- 7:28 AM
"Miss Conley?"
Who…
"She's still- -flush her system in a-"
I don't know...
"Pulse is- -looks good."
Where am I?
"No signs of rejection."
A faint sense of panic rose in my chest. I don't know what's going on, I can't think straight. The light-
The light.
The first thing my eyes focused on was a woman, the light shining off of her glasses. It took a minute for me to understand what was going on. The bed I was lying in was soft, but strangely so.
I tried to sit up but felt a hand push me back down as I struggled. "Take it easy, Dawn. Your body is still a little groggy from the sedation. It'll pass in a minute."
I tried to look at her but there was something odd about her face. It was too detailed, yet also too blurry. My heart started thumping loudly in my ears...with an echo!
"Breathe, Dawn."
I jumped at the doctor's words before it dawned on me that I was holding my breath. I felt a heat spread across my face as I nodded, taking a few breaths. It began to calm me down almost immediately. The first thing my eyes noticed as I relaxed were the hundreds of small hexagons on my arms. Running my finger around the edges made me realize that I couldn't feel it quite like before. I felt some pressure and some other sensations, but they were muted, almost like a ghost.
"People have reported decreased tactile sensation with the Iron Skin modifications, but that's normal." The doctor said from beside me as if she could read my mind.
I could immediately feel a slight rush as I tried to sit up, getting my bearings back.
I opened my mouth to speak but found myself coughing instead. Before I was done, there was a glass of water in front of me and a knowing smile.
"Now that you're awake, I figure we can get started," she said. "My name is Dr. Farschild, and I'm your attending physician. How do you feel, Dawn?"
"I...I feel pretty tired, Doc."
"That's normal." She smiled "You'll be happy to hear that your procedure went fine, as expected. Your MELD augmentations has been successfully implemented, and your Psi implants were installed with no issues."
"That...sounds good." I felt really groggy. I keep staring at my arms and their new coloration.'It doesn't look too bad, actually.'
"Can you walk?"
"I think so…" I guided myself off the table, looking at the doctor. It was then that I noticed myself in the mirror on the wall.
I stared, wide-eyed, at the new me through the mirror. My body was definitely different. I couldn't see much through the gown, but I definitely felt...stronger. There were a lot of muscles that certainly weren't there before. I clenched a fist, my grip feeling much stronger. I felt….sharper. And my eyes...definitely weird.
My irises were ringed with an orange-yellow substance, definitely the MELD. My vision definitely felt much clearer than before. Everything seemed crystal clear, and then some. I could even pinpoint the small stains on the mirror, the small dots on the tiles…
"Dawn?"
"Oh, sorry. I zoned out."
"You're fine. Everyone reacts to their new body in their own way. Relax, it won't take too long to adjust. Recovery should be about...a few hours. Let's see here…"
She went to tap something on his datapad, but he slipped and dropped it.
Snap.
The next thing I knew, the tablet was in my hand.
How did I react that fast? I stared, wide-eyed at it.
"Enhanced reflexes," she explained. "May I have my tablet back?"
"Oh...sure." I gave it back to her. That was freaky.
"Well, just let me run you through a few tests," she continued. "Nothing major. Just a few tests to make sure you've adjusted."
I followed her instructions. When he was done, she directed me to a changing room, where my phone, clothes and fatigues were. As I changed, I checked my phone to see if I'd missed anything.
Oh, who blew up my texts? Upon closer inspection, it was my sister's number. Let's see...it looked like she texted me after I went under.
[Hey sis
I know you're in surgery rn, but couldn't text you until now. Was getting settled in. Sorry.
In the family base, got my quarters, pretty nice
Sis, I'm sorry to tell you. But Mom and Dad...they decided not to come. Said that 'couldn't deal with the stress'. I'm so fucking sorry. But I support u.
They've been kinda angry about your choice to join up. But I'm not. It's pretty nice here, actually. Not a lot of ppl my age, but it's nice. Waaay better then my room lol. Apparently I can't get a job (understandable), so I've been helping watch some of the people's kids while they go to work. It's fun. They're a handful, but they're pretty good.
Gtg sis
Feel better after u wake up]
[Hey! Sis, hope it's going well and all.
Mom and dad are...ok I guess. They haven't spoken to you a lot, and have been pretty quiet But I'm pretty fine. I've made a few friends, they're nice people. Lots of em don't seem to mind having a kid like me working with them lol. It's fun, I've made friends with a few of the adults here, they're pretty cool
They sent me a short report of your operation. Hope your recovery is ok when you wake up.
Anyway txt me asap as soon as u wake up. Maybe u can call me l8r? Let me know u r ok.
I love you, sis
Bye]
I sighed, putting the phone down. I stared at myself in the mirror. The girl that walked in there would not be the same one that came out. I was stronger, better physically in almost every way.
But was it going to be worth it? I felt bad for putting my parents through this change. They'd been angry enough when I joined the PRIESTs. My mind flashed back to the blowout fight we had when Bronis recruited me.
Maybe I could see if I could talk to them later.
Speaking of my augs, I wasn't complaining. There were plenty of muscles on my body that weren't there before, the proportions and everything looked good, and I wasn't exactly complaining about my new vision.
As I threw my clothes on, my phone buzzed. It was a schedule thing.
You will be allotted two days maximum to recover and get used to your new body. On 5/21/17 report to Project Nolan room at 12 to meet with Geist for psionic training. After the session, wait for Carreria for basic weapon training.
I sighed. Well, that's a relief. Least I have some time to rest until then, check in with everyone else.
I wondered what I'd missed. Hopefully nothing too important.
Barracks, Praesidium
7:34 AM
"Hey, look who just came out of surgery!" Lian remarked. She'd undergone the procedure a while ago, as she'd been here longer than me.
"Thanks! I'm still getting used to my new body," I gestured to myself. "My skin's kinda freaky, but it's for a good cause, I suppose."
"It takes some getting used to," she nodded. "The vision especially. You'll be able to see things and do things you didn't even know possible. Hell, you can't even cut yourself anymore. No worries about slit throats or wrists."
Maybe a little too much information, Li? "Yeah, it's...something."
"Welcome to the club." Hammer Chick chuckled, leaning on her bunk. "Look at you, all modded and grown up." Her eyes looked just like mine; brown, with the orange outline. She gave me a fist bump as I walked by.
"So Lian, what did I miss?"
"Oh? We got Caelior back!"
My eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah." Her tone of voice changed as she pursed her lips. "Then Patricia attacked."
Oh fuck. "Where?"
"Washington D.C., among other places," she waved a hand aimlessly. "She tried to flood it. Likely used her telekinesis to weaponize Chesapeake Bay. Cleanser Ships hit a few cities too. Indiscriminate, but the damage wasn't too bad."
I closed my eyes. "Oh fuck."
"But wait; there's more," she continued dryly. "Betos gave a statement condemning Patricia's attack. Intel says she's booted a lot of high-level alien assistance from the SAS. The Collective definitely isn't happy about that."
"What?" I said out loud. I had no love for Betos, but pulling a move like that sounded like a death sentence. Wouldn't suprise me if she 'comitted suicide' or 'disappeared' soon.
Look at that, two traitor bitches going at each other. Ha. That's what you get.
"Guess Queen Bitch pissed too many people off this time." I said under my breath.
She arched an eyebrow. "Queen what now?"
"Ah. Queen Bitch of the Imperator," I said a bit sheepishly. "It's a nickname my bunkmate came up with for her."
She snorted. "Cute. A little catchy, even."
"That it is. If there's one thing Mary was really good at, it was insulting people." I sighed. I may have been able to talk to her, but there was a high possibility I'd never see her in person again.
"Sounds like a hell of a friend. So, you going to use the Dreamscape yet?"
"Oh yeah, in a few days! I'm excited!"
"You should be," Hammer Chick agreed. "It's really something. T'Leth can formulate a ton of scenarios. And I mean a ton. Cities, spaceships...you name it, he can do it."
"Wow," I said. "It sounds limitless."
"It is," she confirmed. "Just try not to kill youself on purpose."
"Bronis told me about that. Does it hurt?"
She paused for a second. "It kind of depends, honestly. It feels like a quick, sharp pain delivered to whichever part of your body got hit. Headshots feel like a really bad migraine. Get chopped in half by a giant sword? Poof."
"Giant sword?" I blinked.
"Battlemaster sims are no joke."
Ah. Hopefully I wouldn't be fighting him yet. At least not in real life.
Hammer Chick noticed the worried look on my face. "Relax, you'll probably start off by fighting small fries. Mutons, Runiararach, Drones, what have you. And the best part? He can simulate a lot of weapons for you to play around with."
"Hmmm. I'm not too experienced with anything besides basic gauss weapons," I said cautiously. "Though I'd be lying if I said using plasma rifles didn't sound inviting."
"They're better than gauss weapons, I'll give them that." Lian remarked. She looked at me. "Don't worry kid, you'll get used to it. Want to know the best part?"
"Sure."
"Time is...fluid in the Dreamscape, let's put it that way," she explained. "You could spend hours in there, and only an hour in real time would pass. Another reason it's convenient for us to train in it. We can learn and do more in less time."
"I see." There did seem to be something all of them weren't talking about. "And...you all are just okay with letting him...it...whatever...in your mind?"
"Honestly, we don't really care," Lian shrugged. "T'Leth really hasn't done anything to hurt us, and he probably knows all the stuff we already do in our minds, and then some. It's really an afterthought, and not a concerning one at that."
I nodded. Well, if they're okay with letting this...thing into my head, then I suppose it couldn't hurt.
Hmmm. Maybe this won't be such a bad experience after all.
I laid myself down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Take it easy, Dawn. Just rest. How are you going to kill time?
I should call my sister. I grabbed my laptop, hit a few keys, and clicked on her picture and put in my headphones.
C'mon sis, pick it up…
Sure enough, she did and her face appeared on my screen. Even then, it was surprising how much she looked like me. She had my same brown hair and eyes, and our faces looked about the same - well, before I got put under the knife, anyways. She was a bit taller than me, but only by a few inches.
"Sis! Holy shit, you look different!"
"Hi." I waved, smiling abashedly. "Like my augs?" Her eyes were narrowed, taking a close look at my hexagon-adorned face and my yellow-rimmed eyes.
"I...sis, you look like a freaking superhero! That shit looks so cool!"
"I know. I'm still getting used to them, though. My eyesight's a little fuzzy, and my reflexes alone are something. Apparently I can get stabbed and shot and not die."
"Kinda morbid, sis."
"Grace, it's true though." But I didn't want to dwell on that right now. Right now, it was time to talk to my sister and have a little fun.
She nodded. "I know. I still can't get over it. My twin sister, in XCOM. I remember when you came home from the PRIEST recruitment center with those papers. Mom and Dad's reaction...and your face."
I nodded. The day I found out I had psionic powers, and such high potential certainly changed my life.
A story for another time.
"So, XCOM. Yeah, it's nice here. Soldiers are cool, aliens are cool, everyone's actually been pretty accepting of me here." Spare that Caremlita chick, but Grace didn't need to know that right now.
"Have you met Aegis yet?" She asked.
"Yeah, briefly. He's gonna train me sometime next week. I'm worried, yet also excited. I don't really want to do anything stupid or embarassing in front of him, yet, well, he's an Ethereal. What would he not teach me?" I chuckled. "Though I did meet an Oyariah."
She arched an eyebrow. "An Oyariah? Seriously?"
"Yep. Very intimidating. He's nice, though. But I did meet the Commander, too."
"Oooh! What's he like?"
"He's…" I searched for the right word. "He's intriguing. I can definitely see why people respect him. He commands respect and attention, yet also very caring. I've only seen him once, though. Gave me a little speech about how responsible I was signing up to do this at such an age. I'm still kind of surprised that XCOM even recruited me in the first place."
She snorted. "So am I." I wanted to tell her about my teleporting friend, but that's probably still a no-no, even though Grace is already at the base.
"So…Mom and Dad."
Grace shook her head. "They told XCOM they didn't want to go. Said it was 'too much stress for them to handle'. Sis, I don't know what's gotten into them, they're acting completely different. They've done a complete 180 ever since they found out."
"I've noticed. They haven't contacted me a single time since I got here. They've only texted you?"
"Yeah." She shrugged. "Called me once or twice, just to tell me 'good luck' and that I was 'making a bad decision' for coming here. They ranted about how I was 'leaving my future' and shit like that."
That definitely didn't sound like my parents. I knew they were upset about me joining up and everything, but this….no, no. This was something else.
"But not coming here makes it a security risk," I protested. "Surely they've gotta know that! The Zararch could easily target them if they stayed!"
"I tried to tell them that, but they refused to go." Grace's voice grew quiet. "Dawn, they're very disappointed in you. They've somehow gotten it into their heads that you're some kind of brainwashed child soldier. It sounds like tinfoil hat shit, but they really believe it, Dawn."
I put my head in my hands. Fuck, fuck , fuck. This was not good. This was not good at all. I should've known.
They fucking abandoned me. Just like that, and risking their lives at the same time. Didn't they know I needed all the support possible in this situation?
Was I dead to them? I thought they might be proud of me, even in the slightest. I mean, you don't see people like me joining XCOM every day. That alone is a huge achievement.
What the hell, guys? I felt a sudden twinge in my heart as I realized that besides my sis, I'd be alone in this, family-wise. I hadn't heard anything from my extended family, and something in the back of my head told me that I shouldn't bother.
"Dawn?" Grace asked.
"Yeah. I'm here. I'm just thinking. It's so much to take in Grace. If only you knew half the shit that's here. If they knew-."
"Hey. Don't be like that. I'm sure XCOM has some way to protect them. I'm sure they've got something."
I gritted my teeth. "Damnit, Gerald."
"Did you just call Dad by his-"
"Yes. I'm very disappointed in him and mom," I spat. "She just sat there while he made a fool of himself." My fists slowly balled up.
"Dawn, your eyes are glowing-"
"I. Don't. Give. A. Shit." I said through gritted teeth. I heard the call disconnect a moment later. I almost yelled out loud, but I didn't want to cause another scene. Instead, I took my frustration on the sheets, squeezing them between my fists.
Fuck. Fuck them for not supporting me when I needed them to. I let out a low growl as I focused on the blank screen.
Gerald and Charlotte Dawn. My 'parents', it would seem, leaving me when I needed them the most. After years of being the ideal parents, teaching us both how to be good, kind, intelligent people, scurrying away when faced with all this shit. Now all I have is my sister at my back, I guess.
Now what?
Project Nolan Training Center, Praesidium
Two Days Later
11:58 AM
"Miss Conley. Here early, I see." Ah, Geist. Stoic as always.
"Didn't want to be late," I shrugged. "Better to be three hours early then one minute too late."
He nodded. "A good attitude to have. Do you feel ready?"
"Yes."
"You seem uneasy."
I sighed. "I am, sir. I'm….worried that I might not fare so well when I'm eventually deployed, sir. I know I'll be much better than I am now, but I'm afraid I might get killed on my first mission by something too strong for me, Like one of those Bringer types, or an Ethereal. Or even Patricia."
He nodded once. "You are right to be concerned about that. If you were to face Patricia, you would die. The gulf between your knowledge and her is...vast. Not just for you, however, for all of us."
"But...didn't she cheat?" I chose my words carefully, trying not to break the whole taboo thing Bronis told me about. "Doesn't the Imperator, like, know all of the psionic disciplines? So if she's in his head and everything, then doesn't that mean-"
"No, she did not cheat." Geist said flatly. "Cheats are easy to determine and weed out. A cheat ultimately does not understand what they do. They exploit memorization rituals. Patterns. They regurgitate without understanding. Patricia demonstrates none of the aspects of a cheater." He raised a finger. "Now, she certainly took a shortcut, but that is irrelevant. It does not matter how you learn, Miss Conley, only that you understand. It does not matter if she learned this on her own, or it was gifted by the Imperator."
He tapped his head. "We do not have time to do things the traditional way. Aegis placed much of my knowledge in my head, and I have built upon it. I will not turn down means of self-improvement because of petty reasons such as 'tradition' or 'pride' - and you should not either."
He paused. "What is to be learned from her, Dawn?"
"What?" Now Geist was starting to sound pretty odd. "What could I possibly learn from that animal that calls herself a psion?"
Geist appraised her. "Do you really view her as such? An animal? A puppet? Answer honestly. I will be able to tell."
"I think she's a brainwashed traitor who sold us out for power."
Geist sighed.
"Power has nothing to do with it, Dawn," he finally said. "Patricia had power, both real and political here. She was the savior of Humanity. She was in charge of the psions here. She dominated alien and Human minds who opposed us. She had power. Power is empty without purpose and drive. It is not power which drives Patricia, it is ideology. It is logic. It is an argument. Patricia doomed herself with how she constructed her worldview. Reducing her to being brainwashed is a fundamental misunderstanding of the entire concept."
"And the Collective manipulated it to make her sign up with them."
"Of course they did. All factions in this war do. It is a high stakes debate and argument when it comes to speaking to the undecided or easily swayed. The Imperator, Commander, and Saudia understand that forced power is temporary and only as strong as the weakest link. There is greater power in words and knowledge that this."
His hand glowed purple with psionic power, as he clenched it into a fist. "This is limited. You have power. Congratulations. So do I. So does everyone in this room. You are not special. You know Biopathy. Others are Nanokines. Others are telepaths who can kill others faster than you. It's uses are limited and temporary. Real power is not using it to dominate, it is learning what drives them, and shaping your words to convince them to fight and die for you. That was how the Imperator was able to convince her to defect. That is why she is irredeemable now. She will never abandon him - and it will be her choice."
He paused. "Answer me this question, since we are on this topic - what are you here for?"
I waited a few seconds before answering.
"I want to make a difference. I want to fight aliens, and protect Earth. Though after reading the XCOM files, it's...kinda changed," I shrugged. "I still want to fight aliens, don't get me wrong. They've done a lot of bad shit, and have to pay for it. But it's the Ethereals, Geist, that really gets me. They made this joke of a Collective to stop...whatever wiped them out, yet they're having trouble fighting us, a one-planet pre-spaceflight species. They don't have their shit together, not by a long shot. Us, on the other hand...well, ADVENT and XCOM both seem ages more competent than the Collective. If something's gotta rise after the Collective, and take on whatever's next, I don't see a better option than humanity."
"So it is a matter of organization?" Geist raised an eyebrow. "An illusion that the Collective is less competent than we are? Think carefully, Miss Conley. Think carefully on why the Collective is restraining themselves. It isn't because we are somehow their equivalent. It isn't because they couldn't annihilate us. Is it Human supremacy that is your motivation?"
"I...I don't believe that." I almost sputtered. "I support AEGIS - one of my friends from high school works there. I don't believe that anyone is better than anyone else. I'm no racist, but I'm damn sure that ADVENT or XCOM wouldn't ever pull off something like Desolan or Sectoid experiments in terms of atrocity levels. And I don't necessarily have issues with the aliens themselves, rather the puppet master Ethereals. And the Bringer, too. That thing….should not exist. No way in hell we would ever do something like that."
"Perhaps." One word I ignored as I kept answering
I paused. "And...well, XCOM seems to know what's up. Sure, I'm loyal to ADVENT for a lot of reasons. They've been fighting the Collective pretty well, they've fixed a shitload of problems the pre-war world had, and they're not corrupt or evil or anything like that."
I thought a bit more. "But XCOM, well you guys have more power than them. I read on EXALT while I rested up. And while that shit was incredibly surprising, there being a real life Illuminati and all, it made sense if you think about it - how they rose to power so quickly and efficiently. They were already in place - they were just waiting."
I coughed briefly. "But back to XCOM. We helped make ADVENT. We backed them. And we have a Sovereign on our side. We've come up with so many ways to whoop E.T.'s ass, and in all likelihood we'll be firing the shot that ends the Collective for good. We were here in the beginning, and I'm damn sure we'll be there when this is over. So yeah. I feel like XCOM is the best hope for humanity, and the true fist of humanity in this war. That's why I want to fight for this organization, Geist. I want to be the change."
"I see." Geist's face and emotions were unreadable. "You are at least honest with yourself. You wish to be near the center of power and to enact change, as which you understand as your vision. You have an inflated view of yourself, XCOM, and Humanity as a whole. Unsurprising, given your heavy propagandization."
"Geist...I know it's propaganda, but isn't some of it really true?" I risked challenging him. "The Collective is not the unified monolith it pretends to be. And there's definitely a lot of tension that we can and are exploiting right now."
"Of course, but the issue in your worldview is that it degrades their capabilities," he said with a frown. "You did not answer why the Collective is bothering with a conventional-esque war at all."
He waved a hand. "But that is not entirely the point any longer. You said you want to enact change. So I will answer your assumption - you are not an agent of change here, Miss Conley," he said, the frown persisting. "You are a soldier. You are not here to change the world, you are here to protect it. The change XCOM brings is not the idealistic hopes you believe it will. We are soldiers who follow the orders of the Commander of XCOM and the Internal Council. If you seek change, you will be disappointed. You will have knowledge, you will know things most Humans will never comprehend, but you have only just started to realize what power is - and you do not know your limits or how it can - let alone should - be shaped."
I gulped. I'd gone and made myself look like an idiot now, hadn't I? "I suppose that's true. I...goddamnit, I feel like an idiot for saying that."
"You are young and haven't figured yourself out. You will do so eventually, it is important you think on this now, before you are in a situation where an intelligent opponent will sway your mind." He apprised me carefully. "One day Patricia herself may make an appeal to you. If you are not firm in your reasons and convictions, you will be swayed, even if you do not believe that now. Never forget that possibility."
He nodded towards the Orb. "We have talked long enough, and you wish for the lecture to end. Very well. Are you ready?"
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes while doing so. "Yes."
"Touch the Orb. That's all." He patted me on the shoulder. I walked over to it, eyeing the object. It was a deep, pure black. As I looked at the emptiness...strange...so inviting…
"Focus."
"Right." I strode over to it, and placed my hand on it.
Before I blinked, I was in the new world. When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a large room. There were various structures dotting the room, probably for taking cover. Geist was next to me, hands clasped.
"This is the Dreamscape," he stated. "All possible thanks to our resident Sovereign. There are a wide range of simulations and scenarios which he can run. I believe he has put everything in place."
I looked down and noticed I was encased in Aurora Armor
"Oh shit!" I flexed my arms and hands, checking out the black armor on my body. It felt real and looked real. The helmet was strapped to my hip. As I ogled my armor, Geist simply nodded. He was probably thinking of some dry, witty comment in response to my childhood wonder. Baby's first super-soldier armor. Someone take a picture.
"Get used to it Dawn," he said dryly. "It will save your life."
"This is…" I chuckled as my hands flared with power. 'It's so...surreal. This is some shit out of a movie or story! It's so cool!"
Oh fuck, I'm fangirling. Stop it Dawn, stop it.
I stopped freaking out, and put the helmet on. Its HUD lit up. Wow, just like a video game. There's a resource manager, armor durability, a minimap...my friends would kill for this.
"I'm ready…"
"Very well. We will start at the beginning," Geist said. "Something simple. You are a telepath, and we will refine that further. With your Trask Level, it should come to you more naturally than others." He said nothing beyond that. Apparently I was supposed to do something next.
I looked down at my palms, lightly glowing with psionic power. I took a deep breath. I looked at him through my helmet.
"Okay. I'm ready. Let's do this."
"How would you rank yourself with basic telepathic commands?"
"Decent." I gritted my teeth at the thought-order of 'kill'. I'd done it to a few test subjects before fully discovering my biopathy. It kind of freaked me out how so much could be done with one simple command. The power of psionics, ladies and gents.
"Good, we will start there." He nodded upwards, and five Vitakara in Runianarch armor spawned, holding plasma rifles. They just….stood there, motionless. Creepy.
Geist stood back. "Take care of them."
"Uh...kill them?"
"I leave how you deal with them to you." He gestured to the targets. "Begin. They will act if you do not."
Okay. I took a deep breath, focusing on the minds in front of me.
Let's see...I slipped into their minds. For simulated minds, they do feel quite real. Freaky.
I breathed slowly, eyes closed, fists clenched. Focus. Focus, focus, focus. Don't let your mind drift. Just like the videos said. Focus...no, never mind that Patricia was in those. She was good back then. Not now. You're getting off track, damnit!
Concentrate, penetrate, take control.
Almost there...ah, there we go.
I was inside his...its...head. Let's see..basic motor controls, fingers, arms, legs, there. Now...about that killing thing…
I did a brief overview of the soldier, and noticed the grenade on his belt.
There's an idea. Okay bud, take the grenade, and throw it in the middle of the group. I felt the subject's hand wrap around the explosive, taking it off his belt. This is gonna impress Geist. Unique.
Prime it.
I heard the click of it activating.
Throw.
The subject threw the grenade. I smirked, waiting for the targets to go down.
Instead, I heard something land at my feet.
Shit.
I didn't feel the explosion that came after. Everything went white, and I couldn't feel a thing.
"Gah!"
I yelped as I… spawned, falling on my ass onto the floor. I took a look around, my heart beating with worry, anxiety, and shock. Geist was standing over me, looking down, with a raised eyebrow. My heavy breathing increased, and my heart pounded.
"What the…," I sputtered. "I don't...did I just...did I just kill myself?"
Geist slowly nodded, almost seeming amused. "I confess, I did not expect you to do so in quite that manner."
"I swear I didn't do it on purpose!" I protested. "I thought he'd throw it at the others...not me! I...I...oh I fucked up, didn't I?"
He offered me a hand. "In a sense, yes, but you are not unique. Many people have 'died' in the Dreamscape. You are no different. What is important is that you know what you did wrong and why you 'died'. Death here is the result of a mistake. It is up to you to identify what that mistake was." I took his hand, standing up. I looked over myself, trying to see if anything looked or felt different. Didn't look like anything's changed. Armor's fine, skin's fine…
Geist was waiting. "So Dawn, where did you think you made a mistake?"
"I...did I not focus on the right parts?"
"Let's see." He waved a hand, and...I appeared in front of us, along with the five targets. Ah...it was a replay. Cool.
"What was your thought process going into this?" He asked. "What exactly did you consider before doing this?"
"I was thinking of ways to kill them other than just a simple kill command."
He raised an eyebrow. "But you could have done a kill command."
A pause. "Yes."
"So why didn't you?"
"I…" I looked at my feet shamelessly. "I tried to do the grenade trick because I wanted to try something different. I...I did it because I wanted to make a good impression." I felt ashamed. My heart dropped.
"There is very little that you could do that would surprise me," Geist said sternly. "I suspect that on a battlefield, you will not be trying to impress me. If that is your priority, you will have died and I will have to explain to the Commander exactly why I failed."
"Yes, Geist. I'm sorry. I was being an idiot. I wasn't thinking right, dammit. I just wanted to show you what I could do."
"I am well aware of your capabilities - potential or otherwise," he answered. "Do you want to know how to impress me?"
"H-how?"
"By doing things right," he stated quietly. "When you are given instruction, complete in the most effective and efficient way possible. Do not unnecessarily rush, but understand that time is a resource on the battlefield. Stunts often waste time. Efficiency triumphs at the end of the day. The victor in war is who kills enough of the enemy first, not who does it most impressively."
With another flick of his wrist, five Vitakarian soldiers spawned again, same as before. He stepped back, nodding. "Let's try again."
Okay, Dawn. Don't embarrass yourself in front of him again.
Here we go….
Penetrating minds was easy - unprotected ones at least; I learned that myself at PRIEST training. The real deal is knowing what exactly to do with them, whether it be a simple kill command or mind control. Going in deep, taking control like a puppet with strings. You are the puppet-master, yet you must build and control the strings, locking it down with your mind like a hand around a throat.
You are mine now.
I am in control.
All mine.
You see, minds are somewhat...different when it comes to individual species. Sectoids have few emotions to observe - their minds are almost disturbingly simple; cold, emotionless, almost like a machine. Mutons, while also simple, are more than just that. Brutish and primitive, yeah, but there's an awful, almost disturbing amount of pain. As if someone took a hammer to their psyche.
Their minds were wrong, fragmented by the torture of the camps, being forced into what was basically an alien version of a concentration camp on a hellhole of a world, day after day of training and suffering, all in the name of false lords and gods…
Fuck the Ethereals. Seriously.
Vitakara, on the other hand, were more intriguing. Granted, I'd only had one chance to look into a Vitakara mind, and not any of the other species. But compared to a human mind, it was more...peaceful. Lax, almost. It was still very smart and almost human in its comprehension, yet there was still that distinct alien difference. More analytical, more intellectual, more empathetic.
As for Ethereals….no. Just no. I hadn't, and I wasn't really sure I wanted to. Who knows what kind of evil, horrible things one could find in there. Add onto that how complex and intelligent they are...I probably wouldn't even be able to comprehend it.
Deep. Very, very deep.
I went into the mind, just like before, seeping in through the cracks and gradually taking over. T'Leth had done a good job making this one realistic. I saw memories...a family...a wife..a kid...a house, living happily together.
Seeing that life...it brought a smile to my face, and yet something was wrong. Too wrong, fundamentally flawed. Unfixable, irrevocable and wrong.
You're not real. It's not real. Kill it and move on. You shouldn't focus on it. Geist is waiting.
I gritted my teeth at that thought. Killing was something I'd have to do, yeah, but it still discomforted me. I'd have to make these hard decisions out in the battlefield.
For Earth.
For humanity.
For all the people killed by the Collective.
But...was it really just them that I should be worried about? After all, some of the aliens have families too. Look at the Vitakara. They were taken advantage of. They were close to ending forever as a civilization and species. And the Ethereals...they turned them into slaves. Oppressed them under a government that's any police state's wet dream.
Do these soldiers really deserve to die? Being fed lies for all their lives, then told to go kill these humans for no real apparent reason then 'because I said so: Ethereal Edition'?
Poor bastards.
And the Mutons...oh the Mutons. A primitive and helpless race, conquered and turned into a race of slaves, condemned to live in some of the most hellish landscapes imaginable, forced to be nothing more than simple cannon fodder, sent to the front lines to bleed and bleed while the other races sat back and watched as the dead and dying through attrition of horrific proportions would turn the tide..
The Sectoids. Emotionless beings, turned into drones thanks to their own invention. Their minds bent by the Overmind to serve them, using their insane genetic experiments to back the Ethereal's means of power.
The Andromedons. A species fueled by war, hate, and mistrust, whose fear of whatever drove them out of their original galaxy. Their fear of whatever would follow was used by the Ethereals to make them serve them, to fuel their fleets for the war machine.
There is only one to truly blame here.
The Imperator.
Those who follow him, be it for loyalty or self-interest.
They must die.
I stared at the poised Vitakara again.
I'm sorry. Die...in peace. It'll be alright, I promise. Just close your eyes, and go to sleep.
The first Vitakara collapsed to the ground, his body disappearing. Part of the sim, I guessed. I took a look at the other four, standing there, waiting, oblivious. My hand slightly shook as I looked at them.
I knew they're the enemy. I knew that in reality, they wouldn't hesitate to shoot me dead. For their 'Elders'. The liars who turned people like them into pawns and sent them to die. Monsters who turned the primitive Mutons into a slave army. The ones who warped the minds of the Sectoids to serve them. The ones who enabled the Bringer to do what it's done.
We should be killing them... I should be killing them. Not these innocent pawns.
I can.
They have to pay for what they've done. For killing millions.
Why not?
For taking millions for their sick and twisted means.
They need to pay.
For turning billions into slaves.
I can make them pay.
For ripping the Earth...my world, asunder.
Blood. Bone. Flesh. All of it.
They...need...to...DIE!
A growl escaped my throat, the air flickering around me, bringing me back to my senses. I gasped, putting a hand to my mouth as I noticed the other four targets hit the ground, dead.
How…?
"Well done, Dawn." Geist pats me on the shoulder, looking at me through his helmet. "A good start."
"But-but-but I didn't...mean to do that. I just felt really angry, and-"
"And your anger triggered a reaction in your mind?" He finished. "You thought of the aliens, and you enabled it. Effective, if uncontrolled."
"But I wasn't necessarily thinking about killing them."
"But you were thinking about killing," Geist looked to where the aliens had stood. "Telepathy is not a focused science. The thoughts spill and infect the unprotected minds. Collateral damage, if you wish to use the analogy."
"Um, yeah." I didn't really feel comfortable like this right now. I wasn't proud of it, that's true. But at the same time...getting all of that anger felt kinda good. Satisfying even. But yet…
"I mean, I was thinking about killing...just not what was in front of me."
He nodded. "I know. Your hatred of the Ethereals is justified, and that hatred served as a focal point. It is a resource, like other strong emotions."
I nodded. "It's...it's horrible. All the things that they did-do to the Collective, I saw it in the files." I shook my head. "I don't know how they can live with that burden. Of what they've done. Being so apathetic and okay with things like Paradise." I looked at Geist, right in the eye. At least, where his eyes would have been, behind the helmet.
"Your reasons are valid, I do not dispute them," he said neutrally. "Understanding that power is important. But relying on emotions is risky. Today you killed aliens. If you allow your hatred to run rampant, it will be an ADVENT squad that dies before you. Channel your feelings, but make an effort to remain in control."
You ever try channeling your feelings? Does he even have any?
He gestured to the empty room again. "Shall we move on?"
"Um, sure. Sure thing." He waved a hand and the cover disappeared.
"How good are your mental defenses, Miss Conley?"
Oh. "I um, I mean they're decent, I guess. I could stave off Michelle's attacks pretty decently…"
"I saw, and have read your file." He nodded. "You adeptly defend yourself against an in-training Psion-class telepath. You will be fighting much worse here." He tapped his head. "And such attacks could come anytime."
A train horn screamed inside my head. It was loud. So loud. As if there was a train right next to me.
I screamed, grabbing my helmet, trying to drown it out. I fell to my knees. I ignored the pain in my knees as I hit the ground, trying to summon something, something damnit to stop it. My head pounded harder and harder. I curled up in the fetal position, trying to think of something.
So much pain...so much…
Images flowed through my mind. Memories, no, potential deaths. Me getting shot by a Muton. An Ethereal ripping my head off. A Bringer soldier stabbing me through the chest. A figure in red armor and cape holding a sword snapping my neck.
These are fates.
I am not ready.
The pain stopped after a few more seconds, leaving my head sore. I was gritting my teeth, trying not to cry. I gripped my head, trying to focus on something.
"You must do better next time." He said. "Were an Ethereal or Hive Commander to do that, you would die."
I tried to say something, but I only stammered. I staggered myself to my feet, staring at Geist. I was furious. I knew he was right, but, damn, if I wasn't pissed. Without thinking, I gathered my power and launched a telepathic attack against him. I focused my anger and fury into every thought, directed towards my teacher. It should have had some kind of effect on him.
Although it initially surprised him, my attack hit the mental equivalent of a brick wall. I growled with frustration, my arms and hands outstretched, channeling more energy. Something's gotta work on him! My entire form was glowing with purple fire, but I didn't care.
I had to do something.
Make him pay! Do it! Do it!
My constant attack didn't seem to be doing too much to him. It was like trying to knock down a brick wall using a paper bag. Maybe if I-
A psionic shield was erected around me, freezing me in place, as he looked at me idly.
"And now you understand why pure emotion is not a substitute for control."
"What the fuck, Geist? That hurt like hell!" I yelled.
"The Collective will not treat you gently, and neither will I," Geist said calmly. "You will be a target as a psion. If they learn you are a Biopath, they may try to target you more. I cannot predict their actions fully, but they will not treat you gently. The more you hurt them, the more they will seek your death. If you cannot protect yourself, you will experience worse."
He got down on one knee, looking at my tired, kneeling form.
"I know you are angry at me, and if I was in your position, I might be too. But I am your teacher. I am preparing you for what you will face." He paused. "You are a child, thrust into a situation many would find uncomfortable. You choosing to accept this by joining us is admirable. But this is not fiction. Real life lacks 'heroes' who overcome impossible odds."
"Real life, Dawn, hurts. Death comes by slight mistakes and bad luck. All we can do is minimize this probability," he nodded once. "My job is to teach you this, to minimize that probability. Everything I do here is in service of this. Everything I am doing, I am doing for a reason."
He extended a hand. I detected a sense of...was that satisfaction?
I took it, and got onto my feet, standing tall. I took a deep breath, my chest heaving.
"Sure. Yes, what's next? Do I get to melt you later?" I said with a pained smirk on my face.
"I sincerely doubt you'll be able to."
After what felt like hours of training, Geist dismissed me. Was it tiring? Yes. Was it fun?
Also yes.
So, first grand impressions on my weird German teacher? Not bad, not bad at all. He was something, I had to give him that. He was very off-putting, to be sure, but he was definitely different. But he knew his shit. And like, he really knew his shit.
Working with Aegis would be fun, though. Geist told me he'd scheduled a training session with me in a week or so. Should be fun! I could barely hold in my excitement when he told me that.
He also told me I'd be doing some physical activities in the Prasidium's various gyms, as he referred to them as. A little less excited about that, but y'know, whatever helps the war effort. Now about this 'Carreria', I was in the Dreamscape, waiting for her.
In the meantime, I was toying around with the simulation capabilities. Nothing childish, mind you. Just wanted to get an up-close look at some things I'd be fighting. Man, did T'Leth know how to make copies of things. I'd spawned a few weapons to hold and inspect, and the similarities were uncanny. Looked like, felt like, all down to the most minute detail! I was quite impressed.
This is like one big-ass VR game. I wonder if he could spawn something like a beach or cabin to hang out in. I mean if he can spawn an entire city or enemy army, it's possible.
Oh, and T'Leth, if you're hearing this, don't take this seriously. Just thinking.
No response from Mister Psionic Space Alien God Overlord. Alrighty then. As I tapped my feet, I realized something. The entire time I was here, I hadn't felt a bit hungry or thirsty. Odd. I knew time was distorted here, but it was odd. I wondered if...hmm. I held out a hand.
"Water." A dash of water spawned on my hand, splashing on it. Ah, nice one.
"Cup of water." A plastic cup of water spawned into my hand. I drank it. Damn, tasted just like the real thing!
Oh shit. Could I? I closed my eyes, thinking. Apple. Any edible variety.
A green Granny Smith plopped into my hand. Well, I'll be a son of a bitch. Looks like you can do that here. I took a bite. Sour, but still tasty.
"I hate those things. Too small." I turned around, to see a different figure from what I was expecting.
A Borelian. A female one at that, in boots and an XCOM uniform. I knew from my research that fighting was left to the women in their culture, and were taller and stronger then their males, which stood out to me. Wonder if they'd ever had any issues with gender equality like us.
But seeing one up close was definitely something. Seven or eight feet tall, heavily muscled (she could probably rip regular me in two and not break a sweat), all covered in snow-white hair. I could see some skin on her palms and face, revealing ash-black skin. She almost looked like a Wampa from Star Wars, but I kinda didn't want to tell her that. She might take it as a slur or something.
But what really stood out to me was the face of all things. She had a pair of incisors - big ones. She had visible teeth, but they seemed to move as she talked. I seemed to faintly remember that only chicks had it. Maybe it was like a sexual/romantic attraction thing?
"Heeeey babe, nice incisors! Wanna go out?
"Were you expecting someone different?" Her voice had a definite feminine tone, but was very thick, with a growl-like vocal sound in the background.
"I...kinda." She...laughed?
"I do not blame you, little girl. My kind can be seemingly intimidating, but do not worry. I reserve my fury for my enemies." Was that supposed to be a joke? She extended a clawed hand.
"Runi'Carreria'Borelia, at your service. I'll be making sure you're comfortable and up-to-date with the weaponry here at XCOM." I reluctantly took it, putting on a smile. Damn, strong grip.
"Wait,you're still using the 'Runi' prefix in your name?" I noticed. "But you're with XCOM now."
She nodded gruffly. "I am. While I have learned the truth of how my people and others have been used by the Elders, I still keep it. Yes, I could call myself 'XCOM'Carreria'Borelia', but it is, how do you say, it does not have the same ring to it - and it is not who I am. The Elders may have used us, yet I and many others believed in the principles and mission of the Runianarch. Service to explore the galaxy and keep our people safe."
She paused. "I may be part of an innately human organization, but I am Vitakara. I am of the Runianarch in spirit. That will never change. I do hope that when we do win this war, and my people are freed, the Runianarch can return to who and what we are supposed to be."
Wow. Going all-out with first impression, I see. What was she going to do next, bench press an Oyariah?
"That's very honorable of you," I said. "I can't say that I know much about Borelians, Carreria, but that's an interesting point of view. I'd like to know more about your people, if that doesn't get in the way of training."
"Very well, Dawn. Dawn...that is a good name. A very good name."
"Thank you. My mom wanted it to be unique. My sister didn't get the same luxury."
"And what is her name?"
"Grace."
"That is also a good name," she said. "A daughter named after the beginning of the day, and a daughter named after the epitome of being a good person. Your parents must be very proud of you both."
I nodded, getting a worried look on my face. "Yeah...they are."
"I am informed that you are an exceptionally powerful psion," she continued. "A telepath, yes?"
I nodded. "Ninety on the Trask scale, biopath. That means I control cells and tell them what to do. In my case, melting people."
She stared at me. "A biopath."
"Yeah, I know that for my age, it's weird. Hell, I'm getting used to it myself."
"It is not your age, Dawn," the Borelian said. "You know of her, right?"
"Her?"
"Sana'Ligna." The way she said that word spoke with reverence.
"Um, yeah,' I remembered that now. "I guess we're kind of similar in that regard. But I'm more similar to her brother Mortis-"
She looked at me, right in the eyes. "The Collective will not react well to you, little cub. They will most certainly paint a target on your back once they find out what you can do."
"Cub?"
"A nickname we give our young. That word is the closest translation. Slang, as your species calls it."
"I see. And you're concerned about me why? And you don't seem to be suprised by my age, like pretty much everyone else here."
"I will answer your second question first, the first later. Now, let us shoot guns."
She waved a hand, and a large rack of various XCOM weapons appeared, along with a firing range. Some of those guns...really brought a smile to my face. There was a massive cannon, some rocket launchers, huge sniper rifles, shit straight out of a video game.
"I was instructed to teach you the utilization of plasma rifles first, as you are not ready for the psi weapons recently developed - these are standard issue among many XCOM soldiers." She looked up and down the rack before grabbing a plasma rifle and handing it to me. "Here."
I looked over the weapon, carefully taking it out of her hands, and cradling it. There was the trigger, magazine, sight...holy shit, I held the rifle. In twin disbelief and amazement.
Why hello there. I grinned at the rifle.
"While you are getting used to your weapon, I shall answer your question." She continued. "For your youth, unlike your kind, mine train from a very young age to use weapons. Classes in hand-to-hand combat and weapon usage are common in instruction camps where I come from."
I chuckled. "Sounds more interesting than my school. You'd be bored out of your mind - we just sit and take note, listening to people ramble for about eight hours."
She snorted. "They treat all children as males? It does not sound very applicable to your species."
"I'm sure it'll change now that ADVENT's running the show." I shrugged. "Hopefully the next generation will be better. I'm not the smartest or dumbest person out there, but yeah, that shit needed to be fixed."
I shook my head.
"It is nice to see you have faith in your government. I wish I could say the same for mine." Carreria said.
"No offense." I narrowed my eyes, aiming down the sights. Those eye augs really did help. Even from across the massive room, the targets were crystal clear, no fuzziness.
"Now that that is out of the way, let's begin." She clapped, and poof - I was in my armor again. Felt just like last time. She had her own armor, too - modified Titan armor, adjusted for her size. The helmet size and shape was different, but aside from that, it looked like normal Titan armor. The only other difference was the flag on her shoulder. Definitely not a human flag - probably some kind of Borelian thing. Maybe her territory's flag or something, like a country's flag?
"Very well. The build itself of the plasma rifle is bulkier than the gauss weapons you're used to, but your augmentations more than make up for that. Here's a magazine." She handed me a clip. "Make sure you put the magazine in this way. See the ridges on top? That part interlocks with the gun. You'll know it does when it makes the 'click' sound. See? Try it."
I took the clip, and slid it into the gun as instructed. Click! Shivering satisfaction tingled my spine.
"Good. Now, hold the gun like this, Your helmet's HUD will do most of the work, but you'll have to contribute, too." She shifted the butt of the gun to my left shoulder, my left hand on the trigger and my right hand under the barrel.
"If your helmet is damaged, the plasma rifle has an in-built holographic dot sight to help with your aiming." She noted. "Are you feeling calm?"
"I guess. I've only used gauss weapons, and I was never really a fan of guns anyway. But, I'm a soldier, and when in Rome, well, y'know."
She cocked her head. "We're not in your Italy. Though that Colosseum does look inviting to visit."
I chuckled. "Oh, it's a metaphor. Although Italy is a nice place, the term 'when in Rome' means that well, if you need to blend in and look like everyone else, you must do what they do."
She paused. "Ah. A cultural saying then. Very Dath'Haram. Borelians are more...upfront with what we say. Ah, 'no bullshit', to borrow a Human expression." She used her fingers to air-quote. "But you humans are interesting. So small, yet so vicious."
My eyebrow arched. "Vicious?"
She chuckled...rumbled? "You have much to learn, little cub. We may be taller and stronger than you, but your kind has proven themselves worthy in warfare."
"Yeah, well when your kind fights constantly for ten thousand years, you learn a thing or two!" I fired a plasma shot, which hit a target's shoulder.
"Hm. The shoulder. You have given the enemy a weakened arm. One less to shoot with. However, it will still be able to kill you. You must do better, little cub."
"Selling the nickname, huh." Damn, missed the head. That thing had a kick.
"You approve of it?"
"It's kinda cute," I said. "That's what we call baby bears on Earth, y'know. Pretty cute creatures themselves."
"You humans seem to have an odd tendency of calling creatures that could mutilate you in many different ways cute."
"Eh, it's a human thing. So...my aim."
"Right," she continued. "I noticed that you jerked slightly to the right when you fired the weapon. You must get used to it."
"Practice makes perfect, I guess." I looked at her. "Can I shoot again?"
"Yes. Take into account what I just said. Remember the kickback."
Remember the kickback.
Breathe.
Aim.
Pull the trigger.
The next shot grazed the top of the target's head. She nodded slightly. "Decent. Though if your target had hair like I did, I suppose she would be annoyed that her hair had been burned."
"She?"
"A habit, cub," she answered. "I remember that the gender roles of your species are inverted from our own. We tend to refer to opposing soldiers in training as female.
"Inverted how?"
"Our males, unlike yours, do not fight very much," she explained. "They are far more skilled as administrators and handling domestic duties, like raising children and cooking."
I raised an eyebrow. "Carreria, I don't really want to sound like I'm judging your people, but that seems blatantly sexist."
She seemed almost confused. "In what way? We are not Humans, cub. Our genders are best suited for different roles and there is little wrong with it. You would not place a doctor in the role of a butcher. You could, but the results are unlikely to be acceptable. So would it go if we were to place a male in charge of soldiers. How is it sexist to follow our biology and psychology, little cub? You are speaking from the mindset of a Human, not a Borelian. Your norms are not our norms."
"Understandable. But where I come from, stuff like that just isn't the norm. I'm sorry if I sounded ignorant, but I'm not going to lie and say that any society is perfect, Ria-"
She cocked her head. "Ria?"
"A nickname. For you." I smirked behind the helmet. "Do you like it?" She cocked her head, thinking.
"Ria. Ria, ria, ria….hmmm. I will accept it."
"Cub and Ria, the dynamic duo." I whispered to myself, aiming at the next target.
"A reference, I presume."
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's a, um, superhero thing. You know the guys with capes?" She nodded.
"I am aware. It's creative, yes," she answered. "Many artists often depicted the Elders in such attire at times though...never in the context of entertainment. Nonetheless, I enjoy your movies. The 'Star Wars' ones especially!"
"You've seen them?"
"Yes, all of them."
"So you've seen the W-"
She crossed her arms, huffing. "If you were going to ask if I have seen the Wampa scene, yes. Do I look like one? Yes. Do I appreciate being called one? No. My mate, however, has taken to calling me it to make fun of me."
"Wait. You're married?"
"I am. He, along with me, surrendered in Korea."
"But I thought you just said your males didn't fight?"
"They rarely do, but they are perfectly capable of serving in the Runianarch," she clarified. "He was a communications officer. It was always so pleasing to hear his voice over the radio." Something told me that under the helmet, she was smiling. "He works here now, living at the 'Paperclip Base' with me. 'Analysis and Communications'. He also advises your ADVENT on Collective troops and strategies when requested."
"What's his name?"
"Sadeath." She said.
I raised an eyebrow. "Your husband's name has the word death in it?"
"An odd thing to fixate on," she said in a dry voice. "Certainly adolescent. Do recall that there are differences of language and writing, cub."
I decided to quickly move past that. "Is he a good partner?"
"Are all Human adolescents so intrusive? Of course he is," she gestured to the range. "Enough relationship talk-"
I fired again, this time blowing a hole through where the target's right eye would've been.
She narrowed her eyes. "Did you do that intentionally?"
"Maybe." I said with a snort. Her towering form looked past me, at the target.
"Hm. Headshot. Acceptable kill."
"Yeah, but it was kind of a messy shot thought."
"It is a start," she nodded. "You are doing about as I expected for a recruit I'd be training. Here is what we will do, you will shoot a few more clips," she paused, walking over to the rack and grabbing a belt of grenades. "And we try your hand with grenade throwing later."
Oh boy.
After saying goodbye to Carriera, I headed to the mess hall for dinner, checking my phone along the way. Two notifications stood out to me. One more right out of nowhere, the other more...personal.
From: XCOM Analysis and Communications
To: All
As you all may know, Caelior has been successfully rescued from the Collective, and is making an excellent recovery. To celebrate the return and successful recovery of Caelior, we will be hosting a basketball game where our two resident Ethereals square off in the Psionic Training Arena in a match of wit, skills, and psionics. If you wish to join one of the teams, notify us within the next week.
Drinks and food will be provided, for both Human and alien guests. More information will be sent shortly.
As I picked my jaw off the floor from that announcement, the second one hit me even harder. It was a single sentence, sent from my parents' text number.
[We need to talk.]
Well, shit.
To be continued in Chapter 4:
Terminators, Riders, Shoggoths, and Family Drama, Oh My!