11/24/16

So I did a little something that is pretty darn cheesy and maybe a little cringey but I did it because I'm a Xenoblade obsessed nut, its a new video on my youtube "12 Days of Xenoblade" and I'm sorry in advance.

That said...I bet ya didn't see this chapter coming ;D

Elma

At this very moment Jaynix felt beyond strange. New Los Angeles had opened up so many possibilities…so many ways for her to continue living, something that she was certain would be impossible for her.

Her first night after waking from her sleep was the worst night of her life, she felt every bit of terror that she did back when that battle happened…

Every night after had been the same, sleepless and terrifying. What reason was there to go on living her second life? If her life was to be plagued, if her mind was to be tormented by what happened, if there was never going to be a bright spot in her future, why bother living with the pain?

She could never find a reason as to why she kept moving. She just did because rolling over and dying was cowardly. At the same time she accepted she was a coward, so why couldn't she just end it all?

However, when she thought about it now. Thought about what she could do with her new life, she saw all the Xenoforms that she's met these last two days

Tora may be rude and off putting but at the same time he had drive and determination that resonated with her and he did what he did to follow his parents' footsteps, they were his heroes.

L was quirky but friendly and being the last of his kind was something that in some ways she could understand and maybe, in some way, L could help her.

The Ma-non she met aboard the ship: Pfeffen, May May and Jajanni were funny, smart and always willing to sit and chat over pizza.

The Orphean Mon'barac was logical, thoughtful and the source of much unbiased information. She felt that speaking with him she'd know anything she needed to know, not just about the Orpheans but anyone else in NLA. He'd help her form an even greater foundation of knowledge plus there was that Great Tree that still interested her.

The Zaruboggan. Trachlo Lythren, as much as he and his people confused her, they were clearly a great boon to NLA. Pollution, waste, voltant, whatever they called it they could evaporate it into nothing with little to no effort, they lived for it!

Celica, the kindhearted Qlurian and a fellow BLADE she could take missions with and Rock, possibly the friendliest soul in NLA. Being the only of each of their kinds on Mira, much like L opened a world of conversation topics.

Professor B…

Jaynix came to a stop and began laughing.

The Definians. Oh, the Definians. What she wouldn't give to spend more quality time with them.

The Prone. Thea Falsaxum. To say that Jaynix was excited for them to dance together was a criminal understatement and then there was Slovity. It doesn't matter that she is a different species, has an entirely separate origin or anything. She could understand her pain.

Finally, the Wrothians, Gu Ladha who experienced mockery from her peers and seeks to conquer it and become stronger, something Jaynix has done her whole life. Ni Zain, a soldier who's discovered the joys of cooking, finding his passion and one that she as well understands.

All of these people that she's met and bonded with in one way or another. Together. They could all keep her…

"Alive."

She stood still, thinking of that word she'd whispered. Could it be so simple? Is it even possible?

"Jaynix."

Turning she spotted Kruse. "What'd you think of all the Xenoforms in New LA?"

Immediately the words came out of her mouth "I loved them."

Kruse smiled as she continued "I loved them all and I can't wait to speak to them again."

"Good. I'm glad."

There was a short silence as she looked around the BLADE Concourse "So. Why are we here?"

"Ah. Well there is actually one more Xeno you have to meet."

Jaynix raised an eyebrow "One more? I was told the Wrothians were the last one."

Kruse shrugged "In a way they were…"

"Hey man. The last thing I need right now is a riddle."

Kruse smiled "I know. Jaynix, head back to the barracks."

Before she could speak, Kruse cut in "Trust me."

Sighing she nodded "Okay…how's the planning for you and Elma's date comin?"

Kruse blushed "She told you about that?"

"She did. It sounds like a blast. Treat her right Kruse, I'm sure everyone would kill for a partner like that."

Kruse chuckled "Would you?"

Jaynix gave Kruse a look, causing him to laugh "Of course. And don't worry Jaynix. She's everything to me."

"I know. It's painfully clear."

Taking a deep breath, she nodded "Guess I should go."

"You should."

Waving, Jaynix walked away from Kruse and entered the BLADE Barracks.

The entire place was deathly silent. She was a bit thrown off but decided that there had to be a reason for Kruse to want her back here.

"If this Xeno is invisible. I'll be slightly impressed."

She looked around the place for anything that seemed even the slightest bit off before moving to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of water. Sighing she sat down, taking a sip before thinking of her new friends again.

She froze upon hearing footsteps and a rather familiar voice "Hello, Jaynix."

Freaking out, she knocked her glass aside, springing to her feet and turning, coming face to face with a Xenoform she'd never seen.

Bringing a hand to her chest, she waited for the pounding to die down before looking at the Xeno who was watching her, a bit concerned.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine! You just…surprised me is all…"

Catching her breath Jaynix took a closer look at the being before her "Shit. You're gorgeous."

"Thank you…"

Jaynix shook her head "Wait. How do you know my name? And why are you holed up in here? Since when have Elma, Kruse and Lin been rooming with a Xeno?"

The Xeno couldn't help but smile "Quite a bit actually. I've been here longer than most to be honest."

"Really? I've never seen you…they told me my room was vacant but...was it yours?"

The smile on the Xeno's face grew wider "Maybe?"

Jaynix began to pick up on something. "Okay. Someone is pulling my leg. Kruse is fucking with me and you're helping him, aren't you? Angel, who are you?"

"Angel?"

After a few moments, the Xeno shook her head "Do you really not see me? Jaynix."

Jaynix watched the Xeno even closer. Should she know her? The voice was so familiar it made her want to kick herself. She had to know this. The Xeno's expression was so…it should be obvious! Right?

Finally, the Xeno put a hand on her hip and shook her head.

"Elma?"

The Xeno looked up.

"Elma. Holy fucking shit! Elma!? That's you? You. You're a Xeno!?"

Elma smiled "Jaynix. I'm glad you recognized me. I was quite concerned that…"

Jaynix walked around Elma, examining her "This isn't right. How can you be so mind-blowingly stunning as a human AND a Xeno? How?"

Before Elma could say anything Jaynix took a step back "Of course! There is no way anyone who looks as incredible as you could be from Earth, you are literally from another planet. That is outstanding! What? Who? Why!? How!?"

Elma chuckled "I'm afraid that is all a very, very long story."

"No doubt."

"I think I'll start with how I look like this. The Elma you've seen so far is my Mimeosome. This is my true body. My true self."

Jaynix snapped her fingers "Obviously. Even so why in the world would Irina leave this out of her debriefing? She told me everything but this?"

Elma crossed her arms "I think she neglected to tell you specifically for this moment."

Jaynix laughed "I bet. Wow."

The woman kept looking all over Elma "Wow."

"Jaynix. I think it only fair that I remind you that I'm, as you would say, taken."

Jaynix laughed again "I know. But I think it's alright if I just admire you, right?"

"I don't see why not. Honestly I expected the worst."

Jaynix tilted her head "Huh? Why?"

Elma sat down, Jaynix sitting across from her.

"I kept my true self hidden from everyone. The only people who knew were the heads of the ECP Board and the Coalition. Since arriving here on Mira…no…even before then. When I served in the Coalition as Colonel and fought battles all over the Earth with Doug, Irina and Gwin…I told no one."

Jaynix wanted to say something but could tell Elma was far from done. "Here on Mira I've encountered and experienced so many familiar things but they were things that I…as a human…could never know. Could never understand. So I had to lie to everyone. There were so many times when Kruse looked at me…concerned…and one time he asked me…if I knew what it is we'd found. I did. At the very least I had a very good guess that wound up being correct. Yet I looked him in the eyes. In the eyes of this man with no memories who trusted me with his life…and I lied to him. No Kruse. I have no idea what it is we just found."

Jaynix watched Elma look down, sadness in her eyes "It was so long ago. He's long since forgiven me for anything. They all did but…I can't help but look back on that moment and so many more and just…wallow. I know I shouldn't. These things are all in the past and they change nothing but…"

"I can't imagine."

Elma looked at Jaynix "I have no fucking idea how hard it must've been for you to pretend to be something that you're not for…shit. How long?"

"Decades."

"Decades. Son of a bitch. Elma…wait…it was you."

Elma raised an eyebrow "The ECP. The hilariously stupid idea to form together and think up Project Exodus. The Skells. The White Whale. The technology humanity could never have reached…I always thought these leaps in science were…astronomical. How did we do it? When Irina debriefed me she told me it was thanks to someone incredibly special that we achieved more than half the things we did back on Earth and even made it this far out into space. To Mira. It was you."

Elma brought her hands together, giving Jaynix one clap "Corporal Jaynix. You aren't just a skilled warrior but also quite intelligent."

Jaynix smirked "Well when you present me with 2 and 2 I sure as hell better come back with 4. Damn I just…I see you in such a different light now."

She noted a bit of concern in Elma's gaze. "Not like that. It's just…heh. Angel. You know what many cultures back on Earth believed Angels to be?"

Jaynix saw Elma's interest and smiled as she continued "Angels. Spirits. Divine Beings that come from on high and look down on us from their heavenly plane. Some are said to guide us and some to protect us. But regardless of the myth, the folklore or the legend…it seems there was some truth to it. Our very own Angel came from on high. From space. And thanks to her. To you. Humanity is still here."

The pair stared at each other for a few more moments before Elma brought a hand up and wiped one of her eyes "I didn't save everyone."

"No. You didn't…"

Jaynix smiled "But you saved enough. Thank you."

Elma let out a shaky breath "Are you a hugger? I just…"

Jaynix laughed "No. I'm not a hugger. At all. But I'll make an exception."

The pair stood up, Elma moving closer and embracing Jaynix.

A few minutes later, Kruse walked into the Barracks, Jaynix was sitting at the end of one of the couches reading a book while Elma slept on the opposite end.

Jaynix's eyes moved to Kruse before gesturing to the sleeping Xeno.

Moving over Kruse sat next to Elma and put an arm around her.

"She was exhausted."

Kruse nodded "She works so hard. She has been for…so long."

Jaynix smiled as Kruse let out a heavy sigh "When I woke up. I didn't know much. I picked up fighting out of necessity. I had to survive. We had to survive. I spent a long time just…learning. About BLADE, NLA, the White Whale, Earth…everything. I wasn't a people person…"

Jaynix raised an eyebrow "Really? The great Kruse, helper of everyone in need was not a people person?"

"I wasn't. Talking to people. Meeting people. It was terrifying. With no memory…social situations just…"

Jaynix watched him as he shook his head before asking "What changed?"

Kruse shrugged "People came to me. They started talking to me and from there…I started talking to them. Thanks to that I no longer felt like an outsider. Like someone who just happened to be here. I felt like I belonged. One of the earliest things I realized was that Elma…she carried a weight. A weight unlike any other…I had no idea until the battle for the Lifehold Core the true extent of the burdens that were placed on her or the burdens she placed on herself. But I knew there was something there so for the longest time I did whatever it is I could to help her."

"To repay her?"

Kruse nodded "Yes. She woke me from my Lifepod. I wouldn't have this life if it wasn't for her so I honored the chance she gave me and sought to do all I could for her."

Jaynix chuckled "And then you fell in love with her."

Kruse smiled "I did. One night. It was a really long night, the paperwork she deals with is obscene."

Jaynix laughed "I can only imagine."

"I unfortunately don't have to…"

Signing her name one last time, Elma let out a long, exasperated sigh.

"Done."

"And done." Kruse rubbed his eyes and yawn "I guess if we want sustainability and life to return…paperwork comes with it."

Elma nodded "Everything has its place…no matter how monotonous it may be."

Kruse chuckled "Ain't that the truth. So this is all of it."

He looked to Elma as she yawned "Yeah. All of it. Kruse. Thank you."

"Don't mention it…it was…fun?"

The pair stared at each other before laughing, Kruse shaking his head "Sorry, I shouldn't lie. This was the most boring way to spend such a beautiful night. Boring. Boring. Boring."

"That's more like it…and yes…this planet is so beautiful and here we are. Cooped up inside with government sanctioned forms."

Kruse nodded "So many jokes could be made right now but I'm so tired…I got nothing."

Elma stood up, Kruse following suit. "Kruse. Thank you."

"You already-"

"Yes but. Truly. This isn't the first time you've done something for me you didn't have to. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Kruse looked at Elma "I…I can tell that…I just know that me helping you is the best way that I can…thank you."

There was a long silence as a smile formed on Elma's lips. A genuine smile. Something Kruse had never seen before, he was taken aback by how…beautiful Elma looked at this very moment.

He was no fool, he'd known from the moment he laid eyes on her that she was something to behold but now?

Elma walked around the table, Kruse's eyes following her as she came closer.

Her eyes met his, and he was made very aware to how vibrant they were.

Heart pounding in his chest he swallowed as she spoke "Thank you. Kruse. For everything. I do hope you'll continue to stand by me…"

She looked down, thinking about what she should say next, if anything. Looking back up at him she nodded "No matter what happens. No matter what changes. No matter what things come to light. I pray that you will remain by my side."

Kruse took a deep breath and said the one word she needed to hear "Always."

Smiling she nodded and walked away, entering her room, she turned to close the door. He watched her, her eyes on his until the door shut.

Bringing a hand to his chest, he knew.

"In that moment. I was fucked. Completely and totally fucked."

Jaynix began laughing as he continued "I had just fallen in love with Elma. ELMA. The most respected individual on the entire planet of Mira. And here I was some new BLADE with no memories just trying to get by and do some good and I had the audacity to fall in love with Elma!"

He joined Jaynix in laughing, shaking his head "I'm an idiot. I told myself that so many times. For the longest time I never believed she'd feel anything for me, not in the way that I felt for her…and somehow…"

Kruse looked over the Elma, still sleeping. A warm smile came to his face.

Jaynix watched them, replacing Elma with herself and Kruse with…

"You're lucky…"

Kruse looked back at her "Hm?"

"What you two have. It's special. I know you don't need to hear it. I can see that you understand but…cherish it. Cherish her. She really is one of a kind."

Kruse nodded "She is…and I swear to you, Jaynix…"

The woman smiled "I know. Like I said. I can see it."

Jaynix stood up and let out a long yawn, stretching she began walking to her room "I'm headin' off. Today has been…great. You two lovebirds…I don't need to say anything but…"

She looked back at them, Kruse saw her eyes.

Sadness.

"Jaynix-"

"Good night."

Small smile, Jaynix entered her room and closed the door.

Kruse watched the door for a few moments before standing up, picking Elma up he carried her over to their room. Stopping in front of the door he cast one last look at Jaynix's room. Sighing he opened their door and walked in.

Jaynix waited until she heard the door to Kruse and Elma's room shut and then the click of the lock. Tears began streaming down her face as she slid down the door.

Sitting on the floor she cried and whispered one name and countless apologies.