12/09/19

I've written...so much of this story its unreal. I just can't stop, it's taken hold of me and I'm loving it.

I'm excited to get further down the line cause I haven't even reached the meat of it yet. Two chapters are very critical to the story overall, so much so I actually wrote one of them already. Where that one falls, we'll see. But they're so well developed in my head I had to type them out now lest I forget, so they're sitting aside waiting to be slotted in to the appropriate chapter number.

Also I'm totally resurrecting Reading Reviews for this story cause I have too much to say that I can't express in these ANs.

(Noun) Three Years Before Exodus

Chapter Three

2051

The day was bright, the White Whale towered over Noah's Cradle, it stood as a symbol of salvation for all those who worked on its construction. Soon, it would pierce the heavens and carry them all far away into the unknown.

Jaynix stood far off from the construction center looking up into the sky, her one eye taking in the sights as someone joined her.

"What's it going to be like out there Elma? I can't help but wonder that every day."

"Your unit has Skells right?"

"Yeah but I doubt flying in a Skell is anything compared to that…"

Elma nodded.

"You're probably right."

After a long silence, Jaynix finally took her eye off the White Whale and focused on Elma.

"Thanks for meeting, Colonel."

"Don't mention it, Corporal. With all the chaos I can stand to take a day off and help a friend with her upcoming wedding."

Jaynix smiled, wide and bright.

"Friends eh? It's an honor."

"Stop it."

The Corporal laughed as the pair continued on, many preparations were already complete in large part to help from the other Reapers. All Jaynix really wanted was someone nearby in case she started...freaking out.

"I want to marry Lyla."

"I know."

"I've wanted to for so long...we should've done it sooner but she found it poetic that we do it so close to...the end."

Elma looked to her.

"We're going to survive the Exodus, Jaynix. We will."

"I know. I know."

Walking through town, they watched all the people around them going on with their lives. It seemed peaceful despite what weighed on all their minds. The grand majority could easily be recognized as White Whale workforce due to the patches on their outfits.

No doubt they were all on a much needed and well deserved break, catching up, eating, sleeping. Whatever they needed to return to work and keep going, things have been this way for as long as anyone could remember at this point.

"What do you think of me cutting my hair for the wedding?"

Elma turned in surprise.

"Really? I thought you loved your hair. Like it was a part of you or-"

Jaynix chuckled.

"I do love it. But I think keeping my hair this long is gonna become more of a liability in the future. Some would say it is now but y'know...old habits."

Elma nodded.

"Well, I'm sure you'll look wonderful regardless. We all know how much Lyla loves you."

With a smile Jaynix continued on, Elma following close behind. The silence filling her thoughts.

"Elma."

"Aeon."

"You seem...very particular about the appearance you have taken to be amongst the humans."

Elma nodded, looking at herself in the mirror was sometimes strange. The tan skin and white hair was a notable departure from how her kind actually looked. How she actually looked.

"The humans I've met, the way they look speaks volumes about them. It's very easy to figure out a lot about their personality before they even speak. I felt that I had to do the same. If we're going to save these people I don't want to do it hiding within a building. I want to be out there, among them."

Aeon nodded.

"Should I follow your lead."

Elma stood and retrieved her equipment.

"Since when have you follow my lead, brother? We're a team."

Aeon chuckled.

"Are we? I remember when we left home, I was very reluctant."

"Yet you still followed me even after a rather passionate speech about why you thought what I was planning on doing was unwise."

The pair exited the room, stepping near a balcony, the sun made Aeon glow, his Xenoform skin and hair like crystals.

"I never thought you were wrong. Elma. But I also knew no one else would walk with you...I didn't want you to lose everything so…"

Elma sighed.

"You're my sister Elma. If I can't protect you, then I've already failed."

She looked to Aeon and smiled.

"Since when have I needed protection, Aeon?"

"Since I became old enough to appreciate you as my sibling, Elma. These humans may be different from our people in as many ways as there are stars in the skies but one thing still resonates. They understand family. Blood. And they understand it far better than any of our people ever could."

Elma closed her eyes, it's been so long. Thinking of all those who turned away from her. She couldn't remember any of their faces.

"We'll prove them wrong Elma, together."

"I know."

"Elma!"

Shaking her head, the Colonel turned to see Jaynix gesturing to a seat. Holding out ice cream she waited for Elma to take it.

"You okay?"

"Just got lost in the past."

Jaynix nodded.

"I know that feeling. Believe me."

As they ate, Jaynix could see something was still bothering Elma.

"Hey. You wanna ask me anything?"

Elma raised an eyebrow as the Corporal continued.

"C'mon. As much as we talk there has to be something about me you're curious to know more of, right? Anything. My mom? My dad? My time at the academy? My sister? My-"

"Sister?"

Elma's eyes seemed to light up.

"You have...a sister?"

Jaynix nodded as she finished her ice cream.

"Flame. That's her name. She's incredibly precious to me and so damn smart. Much more so than I could ever hope to be."

"...where is she?"

"She's with an engineering team over at D-064."

"The Cross."

"Yep. She's helping them with their own Ark ship just like we're doing over here. She's pretty vital to the whole process. We talk whenever our free time lines up which isn't as much as I'd like to be honest."

Elma nodded.

"You care for her greatly."

"She and Lyla are the most important people to me in the world. I'm scared in knowing that she and I won't be on the same Ark ships when we leave the Earth...but I know she'll survive. She's too smart...what about you? Family?"

"...a brother…"

Jaynix prepared to ask more but the look on Elma's face. It wasn't one that lent itself to idle questions. So she waited instead, until the ice cream dripped over Elma's hands and she snapped out of it.

"Were you saying something, Jaynix?"

"Nope."

"Rock, paper, scissors?"

"Yeah it's how they decide who has to do something."

Elma shook her head.

"I thought they flipped a coin for that?"

Aeon thought for a moment.

"Maybe...both work?"

"Are we honestly going to use luck to determine which role we carry from this point on? That doesn't seem wise, Aeon."

He chuckled.

"No, it doesn't. But it is human, isn't it?"

Elma sighed. The ECP had been formed around Project Exodus and the plans were well underway. But as things stood, having both her and Aeon on Earth overseeing the developments was akin to one of them teaching a class while the other sat on their hands.

"One of us can make regular trips out into the far reaches looking for a place where we can settle the humans down."

"There is no place the Ganglion or the Ghosts won't be able to find, Aeon."

"But what if there was?"

Elma tilted her head.

"What are you thinking?"

"The Watchers aren't the only species out there with some claim to higher understanding of the universe, that in it of itself is a horribly arrogant train of thought. You and I both know how big this universe is...somewhere out there, some people, a race, a tribe, someone must exist who can help us. Who can stand up to the Ganglion and the Ghosts. We just need to find them."

"Where will you start?"

"Hey, we haven't decided whose going yet!"

"Maybe not but you seem dead set on this."

Aeon pulled out his data pad and showed Elma some schematics.

"This I got from a Ganglion scouting party back when we first made our way to Earth, remember?"

Elma nodded, after the pair left their home they had to ascertain exactly where it was the Ganglion and the Ghosts were, how far their reach truly spread in order to form an accurate timetable for humanity.

"Well I've been doing some translating and there is a lot of talk here about some individuals that I think operate higher up in the Ganglion. The only names I could decipher were Ethos and Ryyz. Not much to go on but there was something else here."

Aeon showed Elma a phrase, among it was a familiar word.

"Neilnail?"

Aeon nodded.

"The Neilnail Constructs, advanced organic mechanisms hailing from the Pathos System. Specifically, the planet Qlu."

"And how do you know all that?"

Aeon laughed.

"I'm a Watcher too Elma, just like you. It was one of the systems in my purview."

"And so you are prepared to leave Earth and venture into the far reaches of space on this slim hope? That the people of some distant planet who know nothing of the Ganglion, of the Ghosts, Earth, Samaar, anything...are just going to give you their technology? Aeon..."

The man put a hand on her shoulder.

"We have to try. That's what you said when we left right?"

"...yes…"

"Then?"

Elma sighed as Aeon held out a coin.

"You flip it. Heads or tails?"

Taking the coin, Elma thought. She did not want to lose this toss. She was sure Aeon didn't either. She could see in his eyes he was determined to do this.

So she flipped the coin, at that moment a thruster came to life, the pressure ejected from the machine caused Elma to fall over and threw the coin aside. Covering her eyes Elma watched as Aeon powered up his Ares, waved to her and got in.

Next thing she knew he was gone, far into the sky before disappearing into space.

Taking out her communicator she stood quickly. The urge to call him back was strong. Instead, she pushed the button and spoke.

"Be safe."

"All set to get my haircut. I'm actually a little excited. You really think it'll look good Elma?"

The other woman looked up at Jaynix and nodded.

"Of course."

Before Jaynix turned away, she added.

"If I may...there is something I want to ask, Jaynix."

Tilting her head, Jaynix gestured for Elma to continue.

"I've always been curious but I'm not sure if it's something I should ask...what happened to your eye?"

Jaynix smiled.

"Oh. That. I was in the right place at the wrong time. Simple as."

"I don't think that's how the phrase goes."

Jaynix chuckled.

"No it isn't...some piece of scum got the drop on Lyla. I'm sure now she could've handled it but then I moved without thinking. I killed the guy and in turn his electrical weapon discharged and…"

Jaynix took her hand and moved it across the side of her face. Elma couldn't help but imagine the strike hitting her.

"May I see?"

Any joking or lightheartedness in Jaynix's expression faded away instantly. Elma noted that she was worried...scared even.

"I…"

The pair stood in silence, Jaynix searched Elma's eyes as the Colonel did the same.

With a steadying breath, Jaynix reached behind her head and undid the eyepatch. She then moved her hand to take her hair out of the way.

Elma took a step closer, electrical burns, that's what it was. It covered the better part of the right side of her face, as she noted when they first met it got her ear as well. The skin was rough, scarred and wrinkled. Her eye socket closed and no doubt empty inside.

As she continued staring, Jaynix lost nerve and looked away, bringing a hand to her face she began rubbing her eye. Elma heard her sniffle.

"I'm sorry."

Jaynix cursed.

"It was so long ago...I just…"

Elma waited as Jaynix tried to collect herself.

"I don't want to come off as vain but...I…"

Elma knew. In the year since she met Jaynix she saw that the other woman was incredibly comfortable in her own skin, proud of her appearance. Losing her eye seemed to give her a new perception on everything about herself.

"Has anyone else ever seen you, Jaynix?"

"Only Lyla. Only once...I can't…"

Elma waited once again.

"May I make a suggestion?"

Elma stepped forward and put a hand on Jaynix's shoulder.

"When it comes time for the wedding. Maybe you should...forgo the eyepatch. We both know Lyla loves you regardless and there is no reason to be ashamed, Jaynix. You're a hero."

Jaynix turned back to Elma, clearly still unsure.

"You got hurt protecting your fiancée. Do you feel that was a mistake?"

"No. Never."

Jaynix took a deep breath, placing the eyepatch back on she spoke.

"I'll think about it...thank you, Elma."

"Don't mention it. Now, how about we go take care of your hair?"

"Right...you're much better at this than I expected Elma."

"I've been around people. I don't have many friends but for the ones I do have, I want to maintain those connections."

"You're doing a great job."

As the pair walked to get Jaynix's haircut, Elma thought once more of Aeon and his mission. Staying back on Earth was the right call, even if she didn't make it. Being around humanity made such a strong influence on her. As for Aeon, that which he brought back from the far reaches of space would soon guarantee the stability of humanity's future.

"I suppose my brother did know what he was doing the whole time."

Smiling she looked to the sky, knowing they'd reunite soon enough.