Friday, September 19th, 2024
2100 Hours 02 Minutes 54 Seconds
"Ethereals huh?" I chuckled, slowly working my way to my feet, weapon in hand. "What a stupid fucking name."
Looking back, I doubted even god himself knew what prompted me to act the way I did.
Laughing in the face of almost certain death? Maybe I had finally lost it. My mind finally snapping and succumbing to the the madness that lurked just beneath the surface of my own consciousness.
"Such courage even in the face of overwhelming odds. Pointless, yet admirable."
Well whatever it was to this being, it was working perfectly; taking it's attention off Lock and the others long enough for them to hopefully recover and get back in the fight.
Unfortunately that also meant all of it's attention was now on me. Being caught up in my own thoughts, I didn't even notice the monsters movements until it was almost right in front of me.
Looking up at the impossibly imposing figure, it was difficult to not simply give into the potent flood of both fear and adrenaline that was suddenly coursed through me. Every single fiber of my being now yelling at me to Run. Flee. Get as far away from this thing as possible. Do anything but stand tall in the face of such impossible odds .
"Tell me, human. What gives you the strength to stand before me and find the humor in it?"
Under normal circumstances I probably would have had a cheeky response already in the air, but at that moment I was hard-pressed to even find a real answer to it's question.
Hell, it was only the small gesture from Ace, his eyes pleading for me to continue distracting it, that kept me from crumbling completely under its unnatural gaze. Without everyone else needing me at that moment, I probably would have been running for my lif...
Oh.
"Simple," I stated quickly, cock-sure of my own answer this time. "Unlike you, I'm not fighting alone."
"How amusing. Allow me to correct you."
Psionic signature detected. ID'ed as Ethereal. Psionic countermeasures active.
A brilliant flash of purple light blinded me, and the distinctive sound of a shotgun being cocked reached my ears moments later.
"Now. Kill the new one, Holly Catherine White."
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I turned, still half blind, to see Closure standing tall, turn her own weapon towards the Captain. The methodical almost mechanical motions of her limbs, unbefitting and far from normal for a CQB specialist like herself.
My rifle sweeping up to meet her just as Ace lunged forwards.
"Don't shoot!"
He crashed into her just as the shardgun went off. The force of his tackle thankfully knocked her aim well off target, though a few of the shot pellets richetted around the room making everyone duck or at least look for cover.
"Just stay back!" He called, grabbing hold of the weapon as they both tumbled to the floor. "She's been taken over! Gah!"
Both of them seemed to struggle for control of the weapon for a second or two before giving up on it, and letting the weapon drop. Holly quickly delivered a series of sharp forearm shots and elbows to the top of Ace's head.
It was true her speed and technique may not have been present, but her physical strength sure was. The pained groan and loosening grip of Ace's hold proving that fact instantly, effectively ending whatever struggle he was putting up.
Kicking him off, she grabbed her fallen weapon once more, cocking it and turning it's muzzle directly towards the frozen figure of Lock once more.
MEC units still recovering. Hand to hand not advised. Recommended solution: Neutralize threat from distance. Target weapon for lowest chance of non-lethal takedown.
Had it been anyone else in her sights, I probably would have paused at the idea of attempting such a risky shot. Sadly for her though, it was Lock she was aiming at. And that garnered zero sympathy from me.
With no Ace to stop me this time I brought Holly's weapon into the scope of my rifle. Tracing across from her center mass until the picture was fully on the weapon itself, and fired.
Tchu-tchu-tchu
A might crack echoed out as the weapon was almost instantly obliterated from a combination of my own tungsten rounds, and the weapons own volatile internals. Shards of the metal monstrosity flying every which way, peppering it's once wielder with shrapnel and pieces of debri, along with everyone else in the vicinity.
The force of the implosion thankfully sending whatever was left of the weapons stock directly into her jaw. Knocking her to the ground with ample force to at least daze, maybe even knock her out.
The lack of movement from her hopefully alluding to the latter of the two….
"Marvelous. Such a beautiful display of your own willingness to survive."
The mental voice held no mocking, or really any emotion whatsoever. Making it a statement more than any sort of expression of pleasure.
"Yes. You will all serve us brilliantly."
"Like fucking hell we will!"
My head snapped around to find Psycho still on the ground, but holding what looked to be a detonator in his hand.
"Listen up you pretencious fucking Bane inpersonator. You're either going to turn your floating ass around and leave this base, or I'm going to blow us all to kingdom come."
I would have laughed had I not noticed the flashing lights coming from the back of his MEC suit. More specifically, the nuclear device strapped there. A very clear indicator that this was not in fact a bluff.
"Did you not just witness the futility of your actions? A mere insect cannot harm a god."
A stark laugh echoed out as his mechanical fist clamped down tighter onto the detonator.
"Oh yah? So you can stop a bullet. Big fucking whoop," he chuckled. "I can do the same thing without the fancy light show. But how about two nuclear devices detonated in close proximity? The same kind of device that leveled your precious bases not long ago. Care to test yourself against that?"
The entire room fell silent as the finality of his threat finally registered. I doubted anyone dared breath as even the Ethereal seemed to pause in the face of such a destructive force.
"Come on!" He taunted. "Do that flashy light show again! I'm sure you can take me over long before I crush this detonator!"
"Such willingness to die." It almost seemed to chuckle. It's attention was, from what I could tell, almost entirely on Psycho.
"It's rather amusing that you would sooner die than become members of ADVENT."
"Yah, well I for one ain't going back into a cell! But it's safe to say we all are going to fight until the bitter end!"
A quick glance over at Ace showed him now aiming a rifle at the Ethereal from his position on the ground. Reminding me that I did in fact have a weapon with which to also threaten this menace. Not that it would do any damage.
"Such loyalty is… commendable. Misplaced, but commendable nonetheless. You will make a fine addition alongside your other comra..."
Tchu-tchu-tchu
As expected my shots did little more than bring the creatures attention back to me, and by proxy, Ace.
"Oh so sorry about that... Honestly my trigger finger slipped," I coughed out. "Though judging by the way you didn't just take over my mate there, I'm guessing it's not as easy to mind control someone when your being shot at."
Truthfully, everything I said was a complete shot in the dark. A theory if you will. Born from both desperation and the fact ABBY liked to remind me Lock needed concentration or some form of trigger to activate her abilities pretty much all the time.
A theory which served only one purpose. To take the pressure off Psycho, and by proxy hopefully stop him from blowing us to high heaven.
"Fool. Taking over a human mind is but a trivial matter when compared to other psionic feats."
"If it's so trivial, then try taking me over." I challenged, praying to every god I knew that this creature was proud enough to take the bait. "Wipe this smile off my face if it's so easy."
A familiar flash of purple light emitting from the towering figure moments later. Though this time very much directed at me.
"Kill Shane Aaron Weaver."
I really was unsure what to expect from being mind controlled. Any movies I had watched described it as being stuck in your own body while something else controls everything around you, but that was really not the case.
It was more like a very enticing voice in your head. One that made even the worst ideas sound like the most logical thing to do. Lulling you into a sort of trance where you barely even realized what it was you were doing.
Or at least it was, right up until my favorite partner in crime put her foot down.
Psionic attack detected. Psionic signature recognized. Origin of attack identified as Ethereal. Dampening measures activated.
Whatever voice I was hearing quickly faded off into the far corners of my mind as ABBY took control once more. Shoving everything that was in place out of my head with a familiar ease.
Dampening Successful. Beginning Neural Feedback.
Hateful. That is about the only description for the shriek that the Ethereal made. Inhumane, and hateful. The sound born of a creature who though itself better than any other, but was finally getting a taste of it's own brand of torment.
"Insolent! Vile! Filthy creat…"
Bang
The single gun shot that rang out pierced right through it's shoulder. The concussive force of the impact alone staggering it back several feet. Let alone the follow up shots, as we all took up arms against the horrid creature.
Many of these shots were deflected by it's helmet and shield. But more than one connected, sullying it's once pristine garb with what I could only assume was blood.
More shrieks of agony and fever could be heard amidst our firestorm. Four different hands emerging from under it's cloak to block our shots with it's psionic energy.
The tide was turning however. Retreat now clearly on it's mind as it floated rapidly towards the door it had originally attacked us from.
"You shall regre…"
Any further comments were cut off as Psycho unleashed his flame thrower, engulfing the damaged creature in a torrent of yellow flames hot enough to make me jump as far away from it as possible.
He kept the flames on it until finally the door slid shut, and the distinct sounds of a ship being launched followed close after.
"Cocky piece of shit," he grumbled, cutting off the flow of fuel, and releasing the detonator in hand. "Fucker didn't even need to fight us."
Punching in a few commands to his suits control pad, the lights on his bomb quickly flashed and shut off one by one.
I for one however was barely paying attention to him, as I quickly scrambled over to Holly's still form.
Her armor had definitely seen better days. The helmet especially was cracked and dented all over. Pieces of her weapon were now lodged in various places all over the damn thing.
Placing my ear against her chest, I listened intently for any sound, only breathing a sigh of relief when the steady thump of her heart, and shallow sound of breathing finally registered.
"Thank god," I breathed, laying her flat on her back, and beginning to undo the straps that held her helmet in place, but a large gloved hand stopping me part way through.
"Don't," Ace croaked, his helmet long since abandoned. A small med kit in hand clearly showed his intentions. "She could have spine or neck damage. I'll take care of her until help arrives, you just focus on getting a message to back to base."
Nodding, I couldn't help but notice the sorrow and hurt that lay within his expression. I knew he and Holly were close, but then maybe I had underestimated just how much seeing her hurt, hurt him in turn.
Opening up our comms channel once more, I quickly set about making contact with Central.
The message was simple.
Base cleared. Reinforcements and medical crew requested. Multiple injured personnel. One in critical condition.
New enemy identified.
It was nearly three in the morning when Chip, Psycho, Ace, Lock and I finally managed to drag ourselves out of The Commander's office, and towards our own rooms.
As far as debriefs go, it had been an utter shit show.
The confirmation of ADVENT leadership, as well as the enormous psionic power they all potentially wielded, was not a topic that The Commander took lightly. Demanded thorough explanations, as well as detailed recalling of all events that occured while in the presence of said enemy. Taking detailed notes on everything said and done by each member, despite being told relatively the same story each and every time, give or take a few details or observations.
He barely even blinked when I admitted to shooting Holly's gun in order to stop her from killing Lock. Seemingly more interested in her abnormal behavior and actions after being taken over by such a powerful Psion, than of how she had ended up in the medi-bay.
Though he did order she be moved into a guarded quarantine the moment we mentioned she had been taken over by the creature, lest she hadn't fully shaken the effects of such an ordeal when she awoke.
Of course he also ordered that mental examinations for all us be completed before we were allowed to leave, but that was tame by comparison.
Besides, listening to The Commander make call after call proved to be far more interesting than the time I spent waiting for Jeff,or Jim, Or whatever the resident Psion's name was, to clear us.
Every single plan, mission and action was apparently having to be reworked, or at the very least, have it's viability brought into question. Contingencies for what and actions to be taken should other squads come in contact with one of these beings were now needing to be written up. The Council would also needing to be informed and briefed. Psionic defence research was to be prioritized above all. Lock would be participating in a few psionic based tests. I was to be studied further as well. The list went on and on.
Simply put, despite only showing themselves to us now, and barely doing anything thus far in the war, the simple fact that we now knew of the Ethereals existence threw everything into question.
Resulting in far too much work, and almost no time to spare for the foreseeable future.
"I'm going to go take a shower," Abby announced, abrupt veering off towards the locker room. "Then maybe grab some grub…"
Normally I would have instantly followed after her, given how distant and lost she seemed right then, but something told me to let her be for a little. To give her have some time alone to process what had just happened.
Hopefully that would help her get over what I could only assume was a fairly devastating mental blow that the Ethereal had just wrought on her. Granted, anything would probably be more helpful than me talking her ear off about the whole encounter.
Besides. Someone else deserves my attention right now. I was the reason for her injuries after all…
Holly Catherine White. It was a good name. Suited her well.
Pointless thoughts like that kept me from asking myself the real question of just what the fuck was I going to say to her when she woke up.
"Sorry I almost shot you." Just didn't seem like it was going to cut it this time. Not that I had anything better to say just yet.
God. Fuck that Ethereal. Fuck him. Why did he have to go and make me do something as reckless and dangerous as that. Why did he have to put Abby in the line of fire. Why not anyone else?
Target selection likely based on member importance, as well as to invoke the strongest emotional reaction from remain…
"Oh, will you give it a rest!?"
As expected, the rather abrupt shout seemed to do little more than alarm everyone around me. Many of the scientist and guards now giving me strange looks as I continued my walk to the medi-bay where Holly was being kept. Not that I payed any of them much heed.
"You feelin alright?"
The sudden voice from behind me startling me out of my deep train of thought. Snapping my head around to find out who had kept following me.
Lord only knows what I actually expected to find, but for some reason the large grey synthetic body of a MEC was not it.
"Psycho?"
"Expecting someone else?" He chuckled, clearly amused by my well and truly disoriented psyche.
"Not particularly. Just not you." Turning away from him, I continued my trek forwards. "No offense or anything."
"Mhm," he hummed his acknowledgment, following behind me with long, heavy strides. "None taken."
Now acutely aware of his presence, nothing but silence permeated the space between us as we continued to walk. Broken only by the odd person passing by, or Jeff's mechanical limbs bumping something.
A comfortable arrangement that lasted right up until one of us had to ask the two medical personnel at the bays front desk, which room Holly was now being kept in.
"Oh she's been quarantined in room four one one for now. And she will most likely not wake up for a while yet." They both warned. Citing the heavy sedatives and trauma she had endured as the chief reasons for her current state.
Not that they tried to stop us despite the warnings. Clearly used to various personnel coming to see their wounded comrades or friends despite their various conditions.
Walking down the winding hallways, we arrived at Holly's quarantined room far sooner than I would have preferred.
Of course we wouldn't be able to go in given her potentially compromised status, and well, the two armed guards that stood by her door.
However a large viewing window along one side did allow us a fairly unobstructed look inside. Which given the circumstances, was more than I had dared hope for.
Thankfully, she was in fact still out cold. The rhythmic expansion of her chest, and steady beep of the machines hooked up to her giving both of us a quick indication of her status. Where as the copious number of bandages that covered her arms, and face however, did make me somewhat nervous about her long term recovery.
"Jesus." Jeff muttered, taking up the space to my left as he came to stand beside me. "She is not going to be happy with you when her when she wakes up."
I sighed deeply, acutely aware of the fact this was probably the most time I had spent in close proximity to Jeff since training. "No. But it was this, or let Abby die. I just hope she understands that."
"She will," he replied instantly, glancing down at me. "She's been in here for very similar reasons a lot more than you think."
A weary smile adorned his face as he moved away from me to take a seat in the visiting chairs that adorned the back walls. His large mechanical frame moving with a level of mechanical efficiency and rigidity I had scarcely noticed despite the large amounts of time we had spent training together.
Dropping into the chair with little to no grace, he gestured for me to follow suit.
"You may have read our files, but don't let that fool you into thinking you know everything about us. For example, Holly's original call sign was shield, not Closure."
Taking a seat in the chair beside him, I nodded my head for him to continue with his explanation.
"The Commander's little file no doubt told you about how reckless she can be, or how hot headed and extreme she can be when not reigned in. But I doubt it mentioned that Ace was the one who recommended her for the team."
He was right. The file had said nothing on the subject, and based on Shane's file alone, I would never have guessed he was the one to bring such an seemingly unstable person onto the team. A sentiment I was quick to share with Jeff.
"Well he brought her on because while she may seem like a bit of a loose cannon, she is unquestionably the most loyal person in this entire base."
He paused to let me process that tidbit of information before continuing on.
"She can, has, and will lay down her life to save another's. Her old call sign, from before XCOM, it was given to her in honor of how many times she took a bullet for her comrades. Crazy right?"
I could only nod in agreement, glancing quickly over to the woman I had thought I knew everything about.
"And as for me, well I doubt the file mentioned what I was on death row for."
Another truth. His file had mentioned murder, but nothing about who or why. A fact that up until this point, had not really bothered me all to much. Lock trusted him, and that was enough for me.
"Well, you saved Abby's ass today, so I suppose you deserve to know." He nodded. Though more so to assure himself of what he was about to say than anything else.
"I was a member of MS-13. One of their contract killers. I was convicted of twenty accounts of first degree murder. Which for the record, was four more than I actually committed."
The ease with which he spoke of his crimes both terrified and amazed me. I didn't need ABBY to tell me if he was being truthful. The open and honest way he declared his past left little doubt in my mind that every single word he uttered was real.
"Was fifteen when I first joined the gang. I won't make any excuses for doing it, but you have to understand. Growing up in St. Louis, especially in the hood, you either joined a gang or ran the risk of being an innocent bystander."
Each word he delivered was thick with regret and tangible sadness. He was not proud of what he did. That much was for certain.
"They told me if I killed for them, they would give my family a lot of money. Keep them safe from the other gangs."
...
"I stupidly believed them to. Right up until a rival gang figured out who I was, and put out a hit on them in retaliation for my killing of their members. Everyone of them, save for my little sister, was killed in a drive by just after I turned eighteen."
The pain he had no doubt felt was unimaginable...
I could do nothing but nod my head in understanding; urging him to continue with his story, as there was very little I could say to him at this point. Nothing felt right, or could even begin to convey my thoughts on what he was telling me. And interrupting such a deeply personal tale just felt so wrong, on so many different levels.
"When I found out, I grabbed every single fucking piece I could find, stole another member's car and rammed it right into the rival gang's front entrance. Unloading weapon after weapon at every single fucker in the place until there wasn't a single bullet left to be fired."
Now that was something I could very well see Psycho doing even to this day. His anger was not something I ever wished to earn the ire from.
"I didn't flee the scene after that. Not that I really could have mind yah. Not with a couple bullets lodged in my shoulder and thigh. Was arrested the minute the Police showed up, and well, honestly that was about the end of my gang life."
He nodded a few times to himself, before turning to face me once more. "My guess, is you're wondering how I ended up here though."
I could only dumbly nod while he leaned further back into the chair.
"Well the short, and not quite as personal version of that story is my sister eventually knocked some sense into me. Made me realize that I should stop thinking of ways to kill myself, and instead try to atone for my sins."
Lord knows I couldn't help by raise an eyebrow at that one. There were many words I would use to describe Jeff, but religious was definitely not on the list.
He laughed deeply at my cocked brow, clearly amused by my disbelief of his beliefs.
"She's the religious one," he quickly corrected. The heavy blanket of hopelessness his previous story's had draped over the room was slowly, but steadily receding with each passing moment. "All the same though. When the Commander came around to offer a way out, I was the first in line to hear his proposal."
"That's siblings for you," I chuckled. "Most annoying people in the whole goddamn world, but you would sooner take a bullet for them than see them get hurt."
That comment got a hearty laugh out of him. A small smile returned to his face finally as we both sat in our shared understanding of siblings.
"You got siblings to then?"
"Yup." I smiled. "One sister and…"
"... and I had two brothers."
A lump suddenly appeared in my throat as the almost whispered words finally escaped my lips.
This was the first time I had really thought about their loss since my recovery period many months back. A period of time that now felt like it had been years ago.
Thankfully Jeff seemed to catch my onto my sudden mood change, and didn't press the topic anymore. The hall lapsing into silence once more despite the constant blips of the machines around us.
I didn't really pay attention to the passing of time as we sat. More content to sit and digest the story Jeff had just told me.
A fact that the slightly less patient MEC beside me didn't share.
Standing up suddenly, he made his way towards the door.
"Alright. I'm gonna go get a diagnostic done. Make sure I'm good to go for the next mission," he thumbed over his shoulder. "If you ever want to talk though, man to man, just say so. I know how hard it is to lose parts of your family, blood relation or not."
He quickly made his leave after that. The lumbering form and heavy footsteps fading off as I sunk into my own thoughts once more.
There were many words I would use to describe Jeff, and after that night, I quickly added a surprising number to the list.
Chief on the list?
Empathetic.
Hello again.
So first off, I hope you all enjoyed reading that nice long chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
You all probably thought with school now in full force, I wouldn't get another chapter out until December! But Ha! Proved you all wrong now didn't I!
Ok well truth be told, this chapter was done almost two weeks ago. Editing it however, took a lot longer the originally anticipated.
You guys and gals need to thank Xabiar for all their hard work on this one. As without their guidance this would be a hole filled mess.
Seriously go check them out. They write awesome stories. Do it now.
Also don't forget to review and all that jazz before you go. I love me some more reviews. Gonna break into page 1 of if they keep up!
Right. Anyways. Until next time this is Alex Lee signing off
Cheers.
