"I demolish my bridges behind me - then there is no choice but to move forward."

Fridtjof Nansen


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Through both the cosmos and the laws of physics as was understood barely a century ago, the Arrowhead courier ship carves through both on it incomprehensibly fast journey through the stars. Yet, on the grand scale, it was still remarkably slow.

However, in that cockpit, under the twinkling light of countless stars, was a series of flashes on the flight console immediately followed by a short buzz, only to be drowned out by the music that echoed throughout the ship behind the door.

That series of flashes and buzzes repeated yet again, having done so a few dozen times by now.

The cockpit door slid open, filling the room with the music that had been kept at bay behind it.

"Ahh, Christ…" Jules stumbled into the cockpit, sporting only his briefs and a dirty white tee with a rat's nest atop his head to suit as he covered one eye.

The rest of him wasn't much better for wear.

"Fuck me… How the hell do I turn this shit down?" He squinted over the several control panels, groaning as he leaned closer to find it.

Finally finding the broadcast button, he flipped the switch, shutting the music off with a relieved sigh. That was until he grimaced at another round of buzzing just next to him.

He took a deep breath and swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth.

After escaping atmosphere, he had contacted the nearest Weyland operations center, and having been ordered to the nearest outpost, which was a few days, he chose to forgo cryo and make himself familiar with the liquor cabinet that he'd found in the ship's dining room. In fact, he'd made himself a bit too familiar with it, as what should've been a comfortable week's supply for one person had nearly vanished in almost two days.

Staring at the flashing light for a few moments, he debated answering, but the only people to have a line to him right now was Wey-Yu, so ignoring it was out of the question.

With a final curse under his breath, he instead tried to ignore his pounding headache and accepted the hail with a bumbling finger that landed on the receiver.

"Jules here. What can I do for ya?" He turned away from the microphone for a heavy breath, trying not to let them hear the raging hangover.

"Mister Carter?" A robotic voice of indiscernible gender buzzed on the other side.

"Speaking."

"You have an update in orders. Effective now."

Jules opened his eyes again and looked towards the receiver as he took his hand off his eye.

"Oh yeah? And what would that be?"

"You're being redirected to a closer system. We'll send you the location, but know, this falls under W-Y-1 class clearance. Your eyes only. You will be subject to immediate termination of employment should you forgo that confidentiality."

Termination of employment. He repeated sarcastically in his head as he rolled his eyes, knowing what they truly meant.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that, but what d'ya mean this place is somewhere closer? I thought I was already headed towards the nearest Weyland station."

"That one is the closest on official maps. Unofficially, there's a ground-side site nearly two lightyears closer. That's where you'll be going now."

A blacksite is the last thing I need.

"What do you want me there for?"

"Everything you need to know awaits you in briefing once you arrive. There's no need to worry; your supervisor is already there."

"Fuckin' Richardson." Jules growled as he turned away from the microphone and grit his teeth.

"What was that?" The person over the receiver asked.

"Probably just some solar static." He turned back to the microphone. "When should I expect the flight path?"

"You should be receiving it now. It's encrypted, so don't try to access the data–we'll know. Simply put it into your nav system, and the ship will do the rest. It shouldn't be more than a day's trip."

"Alright, but what about-"

"Is your FTL and nav system working?" They cut him off.

"Yeah, but-"

"Then you'll hear all you need to know once you get here. We'll be seeing you soon." The receiver light slowly faded as the connection ended.

Jules bit his tongue as his migraine flared up again.

"You fuckin' cunts… A decade of my life, that's what I've given you, and you still pull this shit."

He continued to chew on his lip as he looked at the array of controls and the console adjacent to it. Eventually, he sighed and forwarded the newly received nav data to his terminal and set course.

"Ah hell, fellas. I really hope you don't have me going where I think I am. Cause if it is? Then I know right well that Adrian's on his way, and someone's gonna end up dead when he gets there, and I don't think I have it in me to let it be him." He swallowed his stomach down again and stood up with a stumble. "Anyways. There's a hair of the dog that bit me last night waiting for me in the mess hall, and I'd better not keep it waiting."

/|\


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It'll work.

Are you sure? Elena asked shakily, nervous to the core.

I'm sure. Her sister, who was now much like a mentor, assured. You've shown us several times now how much you're capable of. This will be no different. As you said, the restrictor is already almost broken. Anything more than a light breeze would make it give out.

Elena had to hold her hands together to get them to stop shaking. She was out of her restraints to eat, but it wouldn't last long, so she ate as slowly as possible without drawing their ire.

They–her and, more so, her sisters–had planned on her finally doing this when Elena was next given the chance and free of her shackles.

What if it doesn't work, though? She let her trepidation get the best of her and voiced it. What if it doesn't break? Or I can't get out in time?

Elena. She spoke softly. This is our best chance, and I know it's a lot to ask of you, but you're the only one who can get us started on our path to freedom. I promise you, once you open these cells, we'll do the rest.

Yeah, Elena! Yeah, Elena! You got this! A hyper and high-pitched voice intruded.

I know you're excited, but not now, Missy.

'Missy.' It was the new name for the very same sister of theirs whom Elena had taught 'English' and was keen on running laps across the walls, pestering her sisters with her antics, and seemed to never run out of energy.

Originally, it was a bit of a sarcastic throwaway term used by one of their other sisters, not knowing that the girl would latch onto it as her name.

Well, we're about to go, aren't we? How can I not be?! Let's go! Let's go!

Just wait.

She contemplated the reprimand for a bit before she quickly calmed down.

Okay!

For the most part.

Fun comes later. Save that energy for when the doors open. That's when we'll need it.

She turned her attention away from the animated little sprite and back to Elena.

Are we ready, then? Time is of the essence.

In her overbearing anxiety, Elena wanted nothing more than to say no or come up with another excuse to put it off, but the thought of Adrian flashed through her mind.

Yes. I think I am. Elena put the meat down and stood. She wasn't sure if that was completely true, but it didn't change a thing.

She needed to do this.

That's good, Elena. Very good. I'll step away for now and let you focus, but don't hesitate for a second to reach back out to me for anything. We–especially I–wish you nothing but success and carry you in our hearts. We'll see you soon.

Good luck, Elena! We love you! Missy got one last giddy comment in before she, too, gave Elena her space.

Thank you. Both of you. Elena shuddered and looked towards the window as she gathered the rest of her courage as her sisters' presence drifted away. And I WILL be seeing someone very, very important, very soon. She whispered to herself. I'll make sure of it.

"Done already, SEPIR? That's even less than usual." A voice sounded over the intercom, but it wasn't the usual gravelly, nasal speaker that she loathed.

Oh well, he'd get his eventually, and it would likely be easier to manipulate this one than that walking ton that headed this sadistic fair they called a project.

"Alright then. You know the drill."

She only turned to fully face the speaker behind the glass. The continued demeaning of her would have to be postponed to the end of eternity. This was long overdue. It was time for their song to be sung.

They seemed taken aback at first by her direct stare through the one-way glass but sighed at her refusal once they regained their composure.

"Just as difficult as they warned, huh? I hope there isn't an issue with your short-term memory, because I'll have to write a report if it is and it'll be a rather long and troublesome one. But, fine. You know the drill. Back into your restraints. You have ten seconds."

She felt the device struggle to whirl to life on the side of her head. It wouldn't last long; a second or two of its wrath would be nothing compared to what she had in store.

"There's definitely something wrong with you." They muttered as the restrictor finished charging.

The machine beeped rapidly and screeched its ire as she felt it begin to send its searing pain through her once again.

She fought it.

She snarled and growled as it forced her to a knee. It wouldn't break on its own like she had hoped and fell onto her hands. She and her sisters accounted for this, but the idea still worried her because now it was up to her.

Adrian's loving smile, looking down at her, formed in her mind. She struggled to look up and braced herself. Then, it was him holding her close when she was such a small, little thing, where she could hear and feel his heart just like when she'd been within him.

She brought her other foot up and pressed herself up, as wobbly and struggling as she was, while this lightning once again burnt through her.

Finally, and most awfully, the picture of him, as he struggled in terrible vain, flashed through her mind. It was him as he ran with her, as he fought and tried and cried for her.

She cried out, screeching with all she could summon of her love and hate and grief once again, focusing it to a needlepoint directed at this abominable device.

With a struggling whir, it fought fruitlessly against that which hardly a person could truly understand, let alone herself until it ground to a halt. The final tendrils of its pain drifted through her before fading, leaving her as the device sputtered and failed.

Not again. She reached up, driving her claws into the device as it whined and groaned as they broke through it. Never again. She roughly tore it away with a hiss of pain as it finally gave way. Now, all that pain they had held in store for her was ready to reap for those who had sowed it, and she dropped it to the ground with an unceremonious clatter.

She was free, and now she could feel them all.

"What?" They stammered as Elena slowly turned her head towards the window with a toothy smile that made their throat dry and their voice crack.

"It-it didn't. It's not- this isn't…" They swallowed heavily as they frantically tried to understand what had just happened.

No more. Her teeth jittered, and her vicious smile turned to a snarl.

Her raging emotions fought for control, and they seemed to be winning. That was hardly an issue; she had so much that she'd held back and bottled up, and now she had the right to set it free. We aren't yours to claim!

Her fury turned its intrepid focus towards the one behind the glass as she stabbed the invisible sword her mind summoned into theirs. It was time to make them play the puppet in this show.

I won't be kept from him any longer.

Their hand stopped and hovered just above the key to gas the room, shaking as it struggled against an unseen alien force. This terrifying force grew nigh doomful as they gasped, nearly crying out when a terrible throbbing pressure grew in their head. They choked and gaged at how it grew worse with every attempt made to resist this alien hold over them to the point that it almost felt like their brain was being squeezed against the inside of their skull.

Brief flashes began to accompany each wave of pain. It was an idea, a want, one that could only be painfully interpreted as:

FREEDOM.

Freedom? The researcher echoed and gave voice to that desire, ever so paramount and overbearing, which now filled their mind to bursting.

Almost immediately, once they had, and against their own will, their hand moved to hover above the door controls.

No… No! They couldn't! If they did, they'd be signing their death warrant, be it Xenomorph or Weyland! Their refusal only caused the nauseating and painful pressure to redouble with more intrusive flashes of that same general thought, that desire that was being forced into their mind, becoming a demand that beat against their psyche.

It was too much. They slammed their hand on the door control as they screamed out against this terrible malevolence that intruded on the only place they'd believed they were free, tearing away their sense of comfort or safety, even within themself.

That horrid intrusion and the pounding headache it brought both vanished.

They fell to the floor as their blurred and darkened vision slowly returned. They had never even noticed it had left them until they were finally released from that spell.

As they finally collected themself, they pushed themself back up, using the terminal to see the pen now empty.

Blinking rapidly, they quickly returned their attention to the console and frantically searched for the alert, disengaging the safety and pressing it down as hard as possible.

A few hallways down by then, Elena stopped and stared as red lights flashed to life and began spinning with the blaring alarm that followed.

She almost felt… dirty.

While she and her sisters were, by nature, used to accessing one another much more intimately than humanity, her sheer level of intrusion and usurpation unto a sovereign mind did not sit well with her.

They got off lucky, though. For not only being complacent but also active in what they had done to her and her sisters, she should have left their mind stunted and lame.

No matter, she left them and the idea of them behind. It was time to focus, for whether the hard part was over or was just beginning, she didn't know. What she did, however, and with a tremulous smile that it brought, was that it wouldn't be long now.

She looked up, projecting herself to all with the ability to feel her with a power unchained, but there was only one person she truly needed it to reach.

She needed him to feel her, to know she was still here - that she hadn't given up, that she needed him now and forevermore, and that she would never stop trying and fighting for him as he did for her.

She held onto him–the idea, the feeling, the bond–for as long as she could until the sense that she needed to continue grew heavy on her.

Reluctantly, she stopped actively expanding her presence as far as she could, slowly letting it return to her and its natural passive range. Still, it was a rather impressive range compared to what was usual for her kind.

If she wanted her struggle to be worth as much as his, she needed to seize the moment and not let it go for a moment. Not even so that she could cry no matter how much she wanted to in all her joy and grief now released. It was happening! It was really happening!

She began towards where she felt her sisters to be with a hurried caution.

There was no time to waste. She had so much work to make up for, and it was already awful how hard Adrian had been forced to work due to her–until now–arbitrary imposition.

It was time for things to change, and she'd need to be as strong as him, even if it seemed almost a visionary task for her. But she'd never been so strong before now to see it through.

/|\


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"Never gonna get any damn PTO at this rate. Let alone a vacation." Jules grumbled as he sped towards the site of the containment breach. "What I get for sticking around still."

When Jules had made it to the blacksite, he'd barely had the time to get debriefed with the most minimal information that he was practically still in the dark, clean himself up, have a half-awkward half-tense meeting with Richardson–who he could barely look in the eye anymore without an appreciable amount of loathing–and catch half a wink of sleep before the alarms decided that his roll through the shit wasn't over yet.

He was getting a bit tired of this whole rigamarole, really.

"Jules!" An unappreciably familiar voice yelled over the radio.

"Dick." He didn't even bother to pull it from his belt as he ran.

The annoyance on the other end of the radio was palpable even without a word being said.

"At least you're up in time for once." Maybe he shouldn't have answered. "And it sounds like you're already on the move, too. In that case, I need you to rendezvous with the group at the main junction for specimen holding."

"Another step ahead of you on that one." He'd already detoured around that area and wasn't planning on turning back. "Don't you worry 'bout a thing."

"That's not all. I-" He clicked the radio off.

"Would rather not hear a damn thing from you, or anyone for that matter right now, Dick."

Jules stopped behind a pillar and steadied his labored breathing to listen for anything that might have hidden itself among the alarms.

This was stupid.

It may have only been one to break out, and he may have still been tired as all hell, thus wanting to end this quickly to get back to bed, but this was still stupid.

Yet, something else had drawn him here and by himself.

A strange feeling had worked its way into him, stirring in his gut the second those alarms had woken him, and it only continued to spread throughout him since.

He hoped this wasn't what he had feared of getting himself involved in when he was rerouted to this blacksite, and he REALLY hoped this singular specimen breakout wasn't what–or who–his gut was telling him was. But why else would the hornets' nest stir this much for one 'morph?

He squeezed his eyes shut momentarily, for he likely already knew despite how much he wished he didn't.

He was soon to turn back into the hall but froze when the appearance of a dark figure that stalked past him quiet as a mouse. The sight was glue enough to keep him stuck to the wall with only his eyes being brave enough to move as they tracked the unmistakable form of a xenomorph.

It was a bit smaller than usual but still taller than him. He narrowed his eyes as it stopped and stuck its head to the air as if looking for something. Was it…purple?

Yes! Wait, No…Yes?

He blinked a few times.

Either the lights were playing tricks on him, or his eyesight was getting even worse in real-time. He really needed to get glasses, like his mother always pestered him to.

It was quite strange because whenever the spinning red lights flashed across it, the creature was nearly the same obsidian black as all the rest. What made such a thing strange was that he would have believed the red light would have made it look closer to purple whenever it bounced off its shiny carapace. That only led to the strangest part, though, because whenever that light wasn't shining on it, only then was it that expected purple, and an incredibly deep one, at that.

His face contorted and twisted through several phases of confusion before it slowly twisted to a realization.

There had only been one time he'd ever seen a xenomorph like that, but it had been blue when he had. Even then, that same one of that unique color was also the only one to have the thick, smooth arrow-esque chevrons that ran down its head that he saw here now, with those ridges slowly rising before dropping back down to start a new one.

They weren't quite like the ridges found on a warrior, however, as the pattern was only atop the head, leaving the sides sleek and smooth, and even those were rather flat compared to the usual bumpy set found on warriors.

He couldn't help himself but subconsciously whisper no louder than a breath when the word floating idly by in his head came to him at the sight of all this.

"Elena?"

If it was Elena, then she soon vanished into the air when she suddenly sprung up with a small shriek.

"Shit!"

Really high, as it seemed, as Jules stumbled back and tripped as her tail hit him as she did.

She landed not too far away on all fours, tail poised defensively with the stance of a scared cat.

"Hold on! Calm down, Elena!" He called out as he scrambled to push himself back to the wall and quickly slid up it. He left his weapon on the ground as he did, keeping his hands slightly out to his sides, trying not to come off as a threat.

"At least I hope you're Elena!"

She drew back at the use of that name, tail blade momentarily pointing away as she tilted her head. Right on the money, then.

"You remember me, right?" He gave a wary, lopsided smile. "Jules, from back on the station?"

Her head cautiously tilted even further as the gears turned, trying to find the truth that his words spurred her curiosity for. Those gears finally clicked in place when she froze in realization and then slowly stood to her full height, her lips curling back to reveal an angry set of fangs again.

"...Alright, not really what I was going for." His eyes briefly flicked to his pulse rifle, but he hoped with all he could that its time would not come to pass. "Look, we may not have started out as the best of friends… and I may have been a bit of a dickhead. But back there? On the station? That was a mistake, I know, and it's why I'm here alone right now. I'm trying to avoid making another."

Her snarl and hostile stance faltered as she listened to him, but it didn't take long for it to return.

She hadn't the love or time to spare for the likes of him. He'd been nothing but trouble for her from the very moment she'd emerged into existence. It was already a tragedy that he had been the first one she'd seen when she had, and it was even worse now that such a thing was repeating itself at the moment of her freedom.

The likes of him would bring only more trouble.

Her tail raised, as did his brows. Yet, for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to drive it down on him. Her tail only shook in anger and fearful hesitation.

"I was there with him!" He blurted out as he put his hands out. "Adrian helped me get off-world, but he wouldn't come with! He put me in a position where all I could do was yell at him that he was walking head first to his death, but he wouldn't listen to me!"

She fought with herself and her conflicting interests on how best to deal with this man as she listened until, finally, her tail fell away from where it stood, poised, only swaying limply in the air as she brought it back down and slouched. It was almost disappointing to give in, but it would have likely been more disappointing if she had.

Jules sighed and let his tense shoulders fall.

"Now, even though I might not have close to a clue of what happened after I left, I'm of the belief that if anyone could survive what he was getting himself into, it would be him. I've never seen anyone with a fire to them like that."

That wasn't news to her, but she was somewhat thankful that the annoyance he was quite apt at summoning was good for disarming her wrath.

She remembered Adrian's words, assuring her that Jules was a good man at heart despite his apparent misgivings. Yet, it hadn't taken him long after that to only reinforce her disdain for him when he'd done nothing but walk them right into the wolf's waiting jaw. And despite all this not even being very long ago, it still felt like it had been a lifetime.

She would give him one last chance at forgiveness, but only because Adrian had said.

"Thanks for letting me keep my head on my shoulders." He laughed nervously and melted off the wall that he'd flattened himself against. "Even though you got my heart feeling like it's trying to break out of its cage."

She huffed and shook her head. He's lucky that's all he has to deal with, and she doubted he would even be able to help much when talking was a one-way street. That was if she even wanted his help. It'd be faster to go at it alone, and she had no time to spare.

"Hey! Wait, wait! Do you think I came out here just to say hi?" He moved in front of her as she turned to trudge away. He was really pushing it.

"That fast one he pulled on me to make me leave him there was for a reason, believe it or not. He said it was so that I wouldn't be throwing away my chance at a normal life by throwing my lot in with him - so that I wouldn't have to always look over my shoulder for the day Weyland finally decided to send their regards." He backed up, noticing he was standing rather close with how he craned his neck to look up at her. "We both know you don't want a damn thing to do with me, but if I'm going to throw away the fruits of all that trouble we went through back there, it might as well be for something worthwhile. I owe him one, and that, by extension, means you. And I never liked these muppets for anything more than half a damn anyways."

There was more he wanted to say that nagged him on why exactly he was doing this. Yet, his pride and a distant sense of longing kept him from openly admitting that he'd hate to see more life and love stamped out by the creeping decay that was spreading through the galaxy—especially theirs.

While she didn't tower over him like she would've liked, she still looked down at him, a head taller.

She lightly growled deep within her chest but motioned at him in a way she hoped would get the point across to continue.

He smiled enthusiastically and retrieved his gun, which made her tense, but he didn't seem to notice as he walked back to her.

"If you want to know why I'm here or why you'd even want my help in the first place, then sit down and let old Uncle Jules tell ya'." She groaned, already regretting her decision, but listened as he continued. "Cause if you had gone just a few more doors down the way you were, then it's safe to say you wouldn't have made it very far."

/|\


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Three quick bangs rattled the door, making the researcher, currently hiding under his desk, flinch and stare at it wide-eyed and huddled further underneath. He could only watch in aghast horror as the creature on the other side began to try and open the door using the keypad.

Who's sick idea was it this time to enhance a xenomorph's intelligence?! He knew he should've taken that job offer from Bionational instead. Weyland might have been a sweet pot of honey that seemed to offer everything to their researchers, but any self-respecting researcher who cared about their life and well-being should know better than to accept it.

"Shit. Locked out." A muffled voice came from the other side.

They could even talk now! The horror!

"The horror…" He whispered.

"Eh?" The fiddling of the controls suddenly stopped.

He clasped a hand over his mouth, but it was much too late.

"Someone in there?" The voice asked louder, coming through clearer with a strange, pronounced colonial accent.

Had they given them accents, too? His horror was slowly replaced with confusion and the sense that he'd let his nerves get the better of him.

"Hey in there! Commandos here. Could you open the door? Protocol, you know how it goes."

Quite the fool he'd made of himself thinking a xenomorph would be one to talk or even know how to work a door panel. He wanted to scoff but didn't have something like that in him again yet.

For now, he only shook his head as he slid out from under the table but was still a bit shaken up about the whole ordeal, as he noticed when he reached for the panel.

His hand struggled to undo the manual lock as it jittered amongst the controls until he finally managed to correctly sequence the inputs and pull the handle back, and the door promptly opened. Enshrined in the light was the hero of the day.

"There we are." Jules smiled as he walked in, the researcher backing out of his way while nervously glancing between him and the open door.

"Is it safe to keep that open?"

"Hm?" Jules looked back at the door. "Oh, that? Pfft. Yeah, it's fine. It's not an issue anymore."

Jules looked around the room. The researcher seemed to have the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders as they finally relaxed.

"Thank Jove. Then let me tell my colleagues. I'm sure they'll be just as relieved as I am to hear it." The researcher turned towards the computer on the desk.

"Nah, I don't think we'll be needing that."

"Huh? Why not?" He briefly glanced back at Jules before turning back to his computer as he navigated it.

"Cause there's been a change in plans. Effective now."

The researcher, in his confusion, did not get a second chance to look back, only able to give a weak cry as the butt of a gun came down on the side of his head. He went down face-first into the computer and then to the floor.

Jules wasn't quite sure of himself as he looked down at the motionless man but was ultimately sure it was necessary.

"Don't know how to feel about that, but…" Jules shifted his jaw from side to side but simply shrugged with an "Eh."

He looked up to see Elena duck under the door to enter the room once she heard the deed had been done, glancing around instinctively for danger.

Her attention was almost immediately and completely caught by what she felt behind the glass - or who.

There, looking back at her with a head half tilted and hands splayed against the glass, was one of her sisters, one of her kind. She was rather small, to be honest, about the height of a human and skinny at that. It was the first she'd ever seen another like her.

"Now, they won't come at me when I open that door, right?" Jules asked from the computer.

Elena took a second to break her captivated gaze from her slender sister to nod a 'yes.'

"Guess I'll take your word for it." He looked unsure but got back to work.

Just as Elena had begun approaching the glass, all eyes looked towards the door at the back of the holding room, which slid open, as did the second one connecting it to their room.

Elena! Hi! The giddy voice entered Elena's mind as its source darted through the now open airlock.

Hello, Missy. Elena replied with a calm softness that she reserved for the girl. I hope you haven't been waiting too long.

Oh, it felt like forever in there, but don't worry, you were real quick! Still, there was nothing to do but run, run, run… Not that I get tired of that. She slowly emerged through the airlock that rounded from the back of her room to theirs from the ceiling. It didn't take long for her to lock onto Jules, who gave her a cocked brow and shifted it towards Elena.

He's okay. A friend, if you may. Elena assured her as a growl slowly grew on Missy's face.

He's one of them!

And I said he's alright. She didn't like using that tone with Missy, but sometimes, it was the only way to get through to her.

But-but! She stuttered.

No, buts. I know him, my host knows him, and he's half the reason I managed to get here in one piece. So be good. Elena jabbed one of her long fingers in her direction with the last two words.

But…I thought I was good. She slowly lowered herself to the ground as she pouted. Here came the waterworks.

Oh, don't you even. Now's not the time for that, and you know that doesn't work on me. Elena declared in a more than once proven untrue defiance, and it was a pattern soon to repeat as she felt her resolve slowly crack and break each time she looked at Missy's pouting, all the while only exemplifying it as she pathetically lowered herself to the ground.

If there was anyone it worked on out of all of them, it was easily Elena. And damn the girl for knowing it.

I'm sorry. Elena broke and approached her, where she sat dejectedly, to pick her up in a hug.

I wasn't trying to be rude about it. I know you're good, but how about we show everyone just how good you are and get everyone out of here? How does that sound?

Missy's frown was quick to flip into a smile at the prospect.

Yeah! That'll be super! We can save everyone and be heroes!

She jumped out of the hug, flipping upside down midair to grab hold of the ceiling. It was one of her favorite places to be.

"You ladies ready, then?" Jules brought their attention back to the matter at hand. "The rest of the gang aren't far from here. Our best chance of getting to them before asset control does is if we go now."

Well then. Are you ready to finally leave this awful place?

You don't need to ask me that, Elena. She giggled. Because I sure am!

Elena looked towards Jules, who lounged with his arm resting atop the computer, and nodded.

"Right then. Now that reunions are over and it has you all nice and warm inside, we should get going. But no worries, we'll be out of here lickety-split because we're gonna be fast, smart, and most of all, look damn good while we're at." He pushed off the desktop that fell and broke on the ground. He didn't even bother to look at it, unlike the other two.

"On the right, we are, for Sangreal. Let's just hope we don't end up like the rest of that lot who were after it the first time." He marched out of the room, leaving them slightly befuddled before they followed, one treading lightly while the other crawled above.

/|\


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Elena found it difficult to keep an amused, yet somewhat rude, smile from playing on her lips as she watched Jules try to walk straight and true like nothing was wrong, not knowing she could smell his oozing trepidation.

She really shouldn't have found such faint glee in it, especially not when he was helping them, but that urge to smile wasn't out of contempt or satisfaction in his discomfort. It was just funny how peculiar the idea was of almost a dozen of her kind following him and how he definitely had never planned on something like it in his life. She was glad to have been here to see it.

Besides that, they were coming up on the last of these pens.

The word made her shiver with disdain.

However, that disgust was subdued when, from what she could feel, it was the one that held the sister Elena was most excited to see in there.

Despite said sister's continued adamance that she needed no name, she was still the one Elena felt the closest to and practically served as a surrogate maternal figure for her at this point.

Jules stopped at the door and put his ear to it. Not a sound. Like all the others before it, he hit the door a few times and told any possible souls inside that the area was clear and that he needed to check the room for both of their sakes. Except this time, no answer came.

Groaning, Jules gave up on the hope that someone was inside to make his life easier and began to clack away at the keypad next to the door.

As he struggled to remember the combination and gave the occasional muttered curse or insult towards the keypad whenever one didn't work, Elena reached out to feel who was inside. He eventually found the right one when it beeped a positive.

"Finally. Damn."

As the door opened, Elena's heart nearly missed a beat when she realized just how close her sister was already to the door, and then, it almost stopped.

Launching herself with a large stride to the side, she hooked Jules with her tail and swung him away from the door just as the blade of another tail shot out right where he had been standing before it had even fully opened.

"I thought you said they wouldn't be trying to do that!" He blustered and scrambled up, unhooking himself from Elena's tail where its ridges had snagged onto the shirt under his armor.

Elena rushed to the door, getting face-to-face and stopping her sister in her pursuit of blood. Not to mention that which was already speckled all across her.

She recoiled and quickly brought her poised tail away when she saw Elena.

Elena?! She said with a start and looked around for the human who should've been impaled on her tail right about now. What- who- where did-

Yes, it's me, but it's alright! He's a friend, I promise. Elena assured her as she held her shoulders, but this only confused her even more.

A-a friend?! She spit indignantly. In what world would one of them be a friend?

The one we're in right now. No matter how much any of us like it or not.

And you do? Really? Because of all of us, you have the most right to drive him through where he stands and, if anything, should be the most willing!

Oh, believe me, it crossed my mind. Still does to some degree, but I know him from before all of this. Even if that relationship is…complicated. But either way, he was with Adrian in his hour of need. They helped each other, and the way I see it is if Adrian was willing to trust him, then I'm willing to try too.

Elena's sister only stared at her unbelievingly, emitting feelings of confusion and stupor to match. She stuck her head out over Elena's shoulder and past the door to catch sight of Jules and the rest of her sisters who were with them and had spread out to watch all avenues of approach.

They each brushed their minds against hers reassuringly, with the few that were still in sight giving her warm smiles and even one going so far as to create a peculiar sight when they, hanging upside down on the ceiling, waved at her from across the hall.

She looked back at Jules, who had never broken his gaze but now sported a questioning, cocked-brow stare—one that he quickly dropped at the arow of silver teeth she showed him in her growl.

Ugh! She groaned and pulled back inside. It seems we've all lost our minds, then. She shook her head disapprovingly, but there wasn't much else beyond that. I guess there's no choice but to join you all in this affliction you've contracted, then. So, I'll have to take your word for it. But don't forget I'll be watching him. She slowly peeked her head back out the door towards him, causing him to sport a questioning and concerned look. Very closely.

Elena smiled widely and quickly embraced her in a tight hug she had been waiting to give her for some time.

Her sister pulled back slightly, holding her hands away, surprised by the sudden enveloping hug, but she soon gently wrapped her arms around Elena and rested her head atop Elena's with a relieved sigh.

It's so good to see you, Elena. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you.

Elena hugged her a little tighter before reluctantly letting her go.

And I can't even tell how scared I was trying to manage my way through this maze by myself. It got to the point that I hadn't even noticed when that man, 'Jules,' had practically materialized out of thin air! She looked up at her sister sheepishly. I Nearly took his head off at first when he said my name, but only didn't because it was my name in the first place. Once I'd cooled down after that incident, it only proved how much I actually did need his help despite how much I detested the idea. She nervously laughed and ran her finger along the side of her head, feeling it bump along the tube-like ridging on the side of it.

While the laugh was mostly through their connection, Jules still looked at her, wondering what that series of squeaky hisses was.

And yet, he's been a tremendous one. If not a bit grating. But, just like Adrian told me… She started drifting into the melancholy that her memories often lulled her into but snapped out of it, knowing that there would soon be no need to submerge herself in them as she would soon be too preoccupied with making new ones.

I think his heart's in the right place.

Her sister didn't look quite convinced but smiled at her apparent joy for what was to come and huffed.

I don't know how much I believe that, but I guess we can't get anywhere without being a little crazy.

As Elena stepped out of the doorway to let her sister leave, her gleeful smile faltered when she saw the broken glass and bloody viscera that had lay in wait, hidden behind her.

Something the matter, dear? Her sister turned to look at her and then back into the room she had just come out of. Ah, yes. A bit messy, I must admit. But that was their mistake for taking their attention off of me at such a crucial moment. I barely broke through in time before they could turn the gas on. By then, there was no choice but to make it quick and, thus, rather sloppy.

I…

Elena wanted to comment on the gruesome scene or, more so, how easily her sister dismissed the matter, but all she could find in herself to do was give Jules her concerned look, which he returned with a confused one.

Best to let the matter die. Like the barely recognizable cadavers in there.

Never mind. She smiled lopsidedly. Let's just keep going. And try not to kill him. Please? She clasped her hands together, almost pleading. I believe it would upset Adrian if you did, and I'd hate for that to happen.

Her sister stared at Jules roughly.

Very well. She relented her harsh glare abruptly, but her air of contempt for the man persisted. But only because I trust your judgment and, by proxy, that of your host.

You don't sound very convinced.

I'm not. So there's no need to worry because I won't drive my tail through his spine when you're not looking…but neither does that mean I can't hold my reservations about him either way. Especially with who he was working for not very long ago still very much fresh in mind.

So you won't-

No, Elena. I won't kill him.

Or hurt him?

No!

Okay! I only wished to know - Thank you! Elena gave her another quick hug before returning to Jules, who lounged against the wall with quick, cheerful steps. That position seemed to be what he defaulted to when left to his devices for more than a few seconds.

"We're all good then, I hope?" Elena curtly nodded once, causing him to bounce off the wall with a fresh new smile. "Glad she came around. I can be a good guy. It can just be a bit hard to see it when you're throwing a tail at my head."

Should I begin to question your judgment, Elena?

Elena responded with a laugh, and that same series of squeaking, raspy hisses was much more discernable for Jules this time, prompting him to look at her funny.

If there's anyone who's constantly in question of my judgment, it's me. Especially with this one. But I figure that's mostly due to his special way of worming his way under your skin. It grows on you eventually. In a weird way. Trust me.

"You seem to have something of a shadow there." Jules had leaned to look around the pair, motioning his head behind them.

Well, of course, I would have a shadoooh… Elena's sister began to snark at his remark but deflated as she unconsciously turned around and saw exactly his meaning.

Sitting silently and cross-legged behind the two of them as her tailed slowly swayed in front of her was the sneaky little Missy, who was looking up at them with a wide smile on her face as she held her hands together in her lap.

How she hadn't felt her so close in the first place was a point of embarrassment.

Hello, Missy. Her sister almost sighed, but Elena could feel her annoyance was at most banter or a character she used with Missy, considering the immense relief and delight she felt in her sister at seeing the hyper little thing.

Hi, sissy! Missy exclaimed as she jumped up like a spring using her tail.

At height, she was about a foot shorter than Elena and nearly two below their carapaced sister, who had been the recipient of Missy's new nickname. More specifically, she stood roughly as tall as Jules, who looked at her with a raised eyebrow, remarking on her exceptionally thin build and lack of dorsal spines.

W-what?! Her sister, the recipient of that nickname, recoiled at its use. What did you call me?

You know... She smiled a bit nervously but threw her arms out excitedly. It's like my name and 'sister'–since you're my sister–put together: Sissy!

Yes! 'Sissy' put her hands up to keep more of it from being said. Yes! I understood what you meant. It's just that I'd just prefer it if you maybe…didn't call me that?

What?

Missy halted her advance to hug her, not believing what she heard. Her smile once again flipped into its pitiful counterpart.

Elena could only stand back and smile slyly.

B-but what's wrong with it? I put a lot of thought into it and hoped you would have liked it.

Oh, for the love of- Ah, fine! I like it. Really, I do. Thank you, Missy. Even their sister's usual stonewalling mask of defiance slipped at Missy's sad show.

But that doesn't give you the excuse to roll around in your pity like some- She stopped herself. How about we just stick with 'Sis' if anything for now, alright? Because now just isn't the time for all of that. I don't know if Elena told you, or if even your common sense might have, but you need to stay focused like the rest of us. More now than ever. Don't you want to do good like the rest of your sisters?

I am good! Missy proclaimed quite pleadingly but calmed herself to a: Yes, I'll be good. Elena said I was, so I'll be the best! Right?

She shifted her attention towards Elena, who waited next to a plain-faced Jules, who had been that way throughout their exchange.

He knew on a surface level what was happening but tried his best to remain consciously ignorant of its contents, as he had enough to occupy his mind for now.

Of course you are. Elena smiled. But like she said, we all need to be strong now, and I can count on you to be the strongest, can't I?

Yeah! She fell to all fours as she bounded back into her full spirits and skittered across the floor past them. See, big Sis? I'll be the bestest best!

She stood up in front of them bearing a jubilant smile with arms splayed wide and proud as she held her head high to the air.

I'm sure you will be. Elena smiled at Missy, who then hopped up, flipping herself like a cat mid-air and attached to the ceiling.

"Neat trick. But I stand by what I said. We should really get moving." Jules stood at the door at the end of the hallway, staring intently at his datapad.

He's right. We've been here far too long. Elena relayed his message to her sisters.

You don't have to tell me that. The newly named 'Sis' strutted past her.

Or me! Missy added, ever unwilling to be left out.

Yes, we know. Elena laughed at her enthusiasm as she waited above the door for Jules to open it.

Elena followed behind those two sisters of hers as Jules opened the proverbial floodgates for them and those who promptly swarmed out of their dark recesses after he had announced the next set of hallways to be clear.

"Hope that's everyone, 'cause it's about time we blew this joint before they blow ours with whatever they've got cooking up. And while I don't know about you all, I'd rather not be around to see it."

Elena stopped next to him after the others had moved beyond the door. She looked at him, holding a lingering stare that reluctantly turned to a smile before she turned and followed the rest.

It was almost a shame she didn't see the slight smile of his own, but it wouldn't last long anyway, as once they were beyond earshot, he checked his datapad again fruitlessly.

They'd locked him out of the system mere moments ago, leaving him, and thus all of them, running in the dark. The last he'd been able to wring out of the system was that heavy troops had been mobilized and were on the move.

For the most part, where they needed to go was still clear, but that wouldn't last long in the fog of war.

"Here's hoping we aren't already so deep in it that we can't even see it yet."

Jules tossed the datapad away, sure that they would start tracking them through it. Yet nothing worked to quell his growing fear that they indeed were.

He just hoped they'd see the light of day.

/|\


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The door slid open, revealing the bright blue skies that hosted slowly drifting clouds fluffy and white. A pair of boots stepped out proudly into the light that bathed the empty lot.

"A-ha! What did I tell you?" Jules proclaimed as he swaggered into the open air.

"You were starting to doubt me. You couldn't say it, but I could tell. And yet, look at us now." He twisted back around on one foot, arms held out. "Surrounded by nothing but the smell of freedom, and with no small part thanks to yours truly."

You wish. Their big sister snorted as she ducked under the door, more cautious than he had been.

"Yeah, yeah. Huff and puff all you like, but it doesn't change the facts, little lady."

Little? Ha! Your gall is ceaseless. She stood back to her impressive height and stood before Jules, looking down at him as her tail swayed behind her. Be thankful that you've been of use and that Elena, for whatever reason– She looked back at Elena, who was ducking under the door herself, the last of the group to do so –sees fit to keep you around.

Enough of that already. Elena interjected, approaching the two. He's done nothing to deserve this constant antagonism.

He hasn't? While brandishing those colors? That's news to me. And either way, it's not like he can hear me.

Well, he can see you just fine, and you're not exactly making yourself look very friendly.

I hadn't intended to.

Ugh! Elena shook her head and stormed away. You never take what I say seriously, do you?

Ah! Elena! You know I didn't mean anything by it! Their big sister turned away from Jules, dropping her domineering pose as she tried to amend her apparent misgivings.

You didn't? Then why did you even do it in the first place?

Because it wasn't aimed at you! Why would it be? I would never!

That doesn't seem to make a difference when it comes to everything else.

Oh, really? She stopped a few feet from Elena, putting her hands on her hips. So everything that I've done for you–every time I helped you to climb out of that pit you seemed keen to throw yourself into–that was because I didn't care? Is that what you're meaning to say?

What? Elena quickly turned back to her big sister. And when did I say that? Do you think I'm not grateful for that?

Considering what you just said-

"We're missing one."

They shot their heads toward Jules from their respective heights with snarls pulled taut across their features.

"Don't give me that look. While you two were getting into it about whatever sibling rivalry it was this time, you forgot about roll call. Luckily for us, I didn't, and we're missing a little certain someone. Someone actually little this time. Now, neither of you would happen to know where she is, would you?"

What?

Who are you-?

They both began to voice the confusion that had replaced their bickering, only to snap their heads back towards each other again as they yelled in unison.

MISSY!

Elena felt the sudden rush of surprise and fear stronger than theirs radiate from inside the building as soon as they had. This was all she needed to be first off the line and beelining it back inside.

Big Sis wasn't far behind, but that wouldn't last when, after Elena skidded back inside, the light was cut off when the door shut. A single bang on the door followed, accompanied by her sister's groan.

Are you alright? Elena hurriedly asked as she looked between the door and where she felt Missy to be, surrounded by her fear.

Yes.

She didn't sound exactly alright, but it was a start.

Elena quickly trodded back to the door, looking it over but with little idea of how to open it, and the area Jules seemed to always fiddle with was hard for her style of vision to discern anything useful.

Don't wait for me, keep going! Her sister spoke up. That Jules is already here working on it. Or at least trying to because it doesn't want to listen to him. It's no matter. Just get to Missy!

Elena wanted to protest her reluctance to leave her but could only oblige, thanks to the situation at hand. With one last glance at the door, she dashed off, back into the compound to where she Missy felt to be.

Thankfully, it hadn't been far off. When she had reached it, she stopped and sauntered just before the final door. Fear and apprehension about doing this alone clouded her vision, but not enough that she didn't know rushing straight in would have disastrous consequences.

And it could never be enough to leave one of her sisters at the hands of these wicked forces.

Elena glanced behind her once more. Where were they? Was the door really that much of an issue?

She shook her head.

No time for questions or stalling. If it was up to her, then so be it. She would step up to the task one way or the other.

Spotting the grate not far above the door, she quickly crawled up the wall, tearing it out to disappear within.

/|\


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A sharp crack whipped through the air, followed by Missy's yelp as she slinked away from the prod that shocked her, only to back into another.

Elena…Sissy… She whimpered, sitting as deep into the slowly closing circle as she could. Where are you...?

On every side, she could only see a moving wall of metal that circled her and the rods that protruded from between them, crackling and sparking their threats of pain and torment.

Hadn't she endured enough of this already?

So far, she had tried to crawl, run, and jump her way out of this in any way possible, but they were too adept at their nefarious craft to allow her even the slightest chance of escape, only forcing her deeper and deeper into their closing snare.

At the end of the day, she was too small, too weak, and she wanted nothing more than to cry, but they would not even allow her that.

The trap was finally closing in, and one of them that comprised it grew bold enough to approach her alone.

Missy shrank away from them, growling and whipping her tail to no avail as she was stopped and stung by the wall of them that waited behind her.

They pulled their arm back, drawing their prod nearly all the way behind their shield, giving Missy mere seconds to gape in abject fear before it shot forward at her.

A metal grate crashed into the wall above them, across from the one it had been launched from. All eyes had only the split second of its happening to look up.

This included the one bearing down on Missy, who had only enough time to see the purple mass of bladed claws that hurtled towards them to half-raise their shield in time before they were both sent crashing to the floor.

Their circle briefly lost composure as their ranks broke, with some either backing away or others holding their place. This only sowed disunity in their formation, leaving gaps between their line.

It wasn't until the yells of their officers to form back up, paired with the desperate screams of their comrade on the ground, who was barely avoiding complete evisceration thanks to his shield, did they begin to consolidate their line again.

Missy! Elena called out as she whipped her tail at the group, forcing them back as it cut into their line. Get up! We have to go!

Elena found little purchase beyond the shield as the man struggled under her. Instead, she opted for the next best thing and dug her back claws into his legs.

The scream this elicited prompted the group to move in again, and this time, catching her tail with a series of shocks that made her shriek when she swung it at them again.

Missy got up but instead splayed her claws and poised her tail, getting ready to fight with Elena.

No! Elena cried out, realizing what she might have just done as they quickly closed in again, for there would be time and room for only Missy to squeeze through in the chaos. Go!

But-!

NOW! Elena briefly paused her assault on the man under her to look at Missy, who had dropped all pretenses of fighting and only looked at Elena with concern. Please! Don't make this be for nothing...

Reluctantly, yet still understanding all the weight they carried, Missy finally took Elena's pleas to heart and quickly looked around, locking onto a gap in the line barely large enough for her to squeeze through as they began to close in while Elena wasn't looking.

Sinking as low to the ground as she could, she scurried between them faster than they could react, as they were all now intently focused on Elena and her writhing victim.

It didn't take more than half a second for her to then disappear into the vent Elena had come from.

The heavy troops didn't much care. This was their real goal.

The doors to the room opened as almost another dozen of them rushed in, leaving armed units to stand in the rear. Their new numbers, paired with the arrival of their true prey, made quick work to reinforce their resolve.

Swarming around her, they packed together even further, tightening into a formation with almost double the prods peeking out between the shields.

Elena's tail could only whip and slash to keep them away in so many directions at once, and slowly but surely, they were closing the gap.

This proved dangerously true when, after slashing a deep gouge into the row of shields to her left, she was caught by several quick, but no less violent, shocks from the right.

It was enough to force her to let go of the one on the ground whose annihilated legs hung as shreds down to the bone and bled like a stuck pig.

They grew exceptionally aggressive at that moment, forcing enough room between them so they could quickly grab the writhing man on the ground and pull him away behind their line and out one of the doors, groaning and crying all the way.

It would have brought a smile to her face, but there was nothing to smile about when she stood to see their redoubled numbers now surrounding her. They also turned the power of their prods up, making them audibly hiss and crack.

Very well. It would be difficult–more than difficult–but Adrian had shown her that it would not stop her should she have the will to overcome it.

Standing tall and surrounded by encroaching evil, she summoned all she could to honor him. In honor of his struggle and now her own. She would do him proud. She would finally do right by him.

Looking within herself, channeling all she held, she snarled and brought it forth in a burst, projecting it into one large maleficent aura to surround her and engulf all who dared try to take her from him again.

While not as potent as it had been the first time, and her now spreading it amongst so many, this power–which she still did not fully understand herself–was slower and more subtle in its efficacy. Still, for such a supernatural thing, it did not take long for the latent effects to take hold.

One of them wobbled on their feet and had to be propped back up by the person behind them. Then, another unconsciously brought their hand up to their head and glanced away until they were sharply reminded to focus on her.

Yet, this time, she began to grow a slowly beating headache of her own. The sheer force she employed to impart her anger and wrath onto so many at once took its toll, but she did not relent as more began to show these patterns repeating amongst their ranks.

An order was given to her side, and she was just quick enough to turn and stop the few who approached her in their tracks. Save no crack or whip of her tail was required, as they suddenly stopped, hunching and gagging as she focused in on them, and when those behind her tried to take advantage of this, she cut their shins with the tail they had not noticed lying so low and out of sight.

They screamed out, and a few were replaced. They were yet to break, but they were well on that way.

Another set of commands was given, and their circle suddenly began revolving around her, albeit with some difficulty.

Each of their electric prods were pulled back and forth, each snapping and biting in the air, threatening to be the one to lunge forth and punish her.

Except they didn't try anything more than this.

A sudden pit grew in Elena. They were stalling for time, and it seemed they'd found it.

Abruptly, they all stopped and backed away, to the point that she could easily force a break through their line.

Such a prospect would never come to fruition, though. Not when she suddenly felt the ground shake in measured, intermittent steps behind her and a large shadow that encroached upon them all.

Behind you, Elena! Missy, hidden yet lingering nearby, cried out with a fear that sparked Elena's own.

There had been no new presence, no new soul that she had felt. Especially not one so prominent as to warrant such weighty steps.

With all the trepidation in the world, and perhaps as the most foolish thing she could have done, she turned to face the harbinger of this overbearing dread that now gripped her like it had when she'd first watched Adrian be beaten down and taken from her.

Adrian. She whispered, crushed and mortified beyond description as the approaching beast drowned her in its shadow that summoned nightmares of the past, for a harbinger of doom it was.

I'm so sorry.

And Missy could only watch in horrid fear through the vent grating. She covered her mouth, afraid to make the slightest sound lest this terror find her next.

All she could do was cry.

No…!