Apr 23, 2025
So I went nuts using Bond to play dolly with outfits on Pinterest (+ her undercover as an ADVENT trooper)
Also just a nice excuse to have her present more femme, though she really does prefer her suits lol
seen from United States
seen from Egypt
seen from Morocco
seen from Austria
seen from Brazil
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Bulgaria
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Italy
seen from United States
seen from Italy
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from Canada
seen from Germany
So I went nuts using Bond to play dolly with outfits on Pinterest (+ her undercover as an ADVENT trooper)
Also just a nice excuse to have her present more femme, though she really does prefer her suits lol
Chosen Stories From the War #31: Arguments of Yesteryear
Betos sometimes missed the ocean, but she supposed the green rivers and red hills were beautiful. As long as there was water here, clean water for her people to drink, she would be alright.
Some of the children were already awake this early morning, splashing around in the clear running water. She kept one eye on them always. The rapids could get so fast and so deep, and before they even knew it they’d be swept away.
She never stripped down fully, but even allowing herself to be out here in her bra and undergarments was a mix of hair-raising and relieving. She hated her bulky armor, but her body felt empty without it.
She put one tentative toe into the bubbling water and sighed, relief mixing over her. Her forehead was already dotted with magenta tinted sweat: the day was looking to be a hot one, and the water washed that all away. She strode the rest of the way, nearly slipping on the river rocks as the water suddenly dropped off into a deep pit. She treated against the current, reaching out and holding onto a branch so she could float along the water without fear of being swept downstream.
“I should bring Kon-Mai here.” As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Betos stopped that train where it started. The Assassin had been a staple of her thoughts since her escape so long ago, but since bringing her here...she had often found herself thinking of the blue woman, and not out of fear.
“Arura!”
She heard the children calling for her, and rose from the water to look over to them. She called out to them in Etheric first, then in English. “What is in your hands?”
“Plhaw!” They called out, and one of them ran over, holding something up. “Ezti plhaw!”
“Enshag!” She called out his name. “Be careful!” She swam over as the little hybrid stumbled on the slippery rocks and nearly fell. Betos caught the boy, trending water with one arm while holding him. “Now, what is it that you found?”
Enshag opened his hand. “It’s a plhaw.”
“I see.” She smiled down at the little green frog sitting in his hand. “What’s the human word for it?”
“...Frø?” He said tentatively.
She giggled. “That is but one name for it.” She said, taking the little frog in her own hand. “Like there are many names for us.”
“Mordenna.” Someone called from the bank, and she looked up. Nitocris stood there, her rare, soft white locks pulled back into a bun that sat low on her neck. Her eyes spoke that she was needed, and that it could not wait.
Betos lifted Enshag back up onto the bank. “Return to your friends.” She insisted.
“Can’t you stay longer?” She saw his eyes well up with tears. “Please Arura?”
She looked up at Nitocris, as if asking her permission to stay. The Other Skirmisher but her lip and motioned for her to follow.
“I’m sorry, dhay.” Betos said. “I have to go now. There are many who need me.”
.
.
“So?”
Gur-Rai opened one eye. “So…?”
“Do you like it?” Nazira asked as she parted her black hair over her shoulders, running her fingers through it to remove the tangles. He could hardly see her in the dim light, but the way the shadows framed her face made her look like a painting.
The pile of rugs and pillows he laid on protected him from the cold stone floor, and Gur-Rai was reluctant to sit up. He was so comfortable. “Your hair? It’s lovely~”
“Not just the hair.” She sounded almost indigent. “Surely you noticed the changes? Or did taking out that chip take half your brain with it?”
“If it did, would you still love me?” He lashed his arm out and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her close to him.
“I’ll love you if you answer my question.” She looked serious now, and...nervous? He rarely saw her like that. “Do I still look like...me?”
In an attempt to reassure her, he laid a kiss on her bare shoulder, trailing up her neck and taking a moment to nibble her ear. “Are you happy when you look in the mirror?” He whispered.
She didn’t take long to answer. “...I’d say so.” She said. “I feel more like me.”
“Then I love it.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, rocking her back and forth. “You may look different now, but you’re still the woman I fell for years and years and yeeeeeeaaars-”
She smacked him lightly, and stood up. “You haven’t changed a bit, you know?”
“Well, that’s disappointing.” He put his hand behind his head as Nazira began lacing up the stray threads on her tunic, laying back leisurely on the pile of books they’d used to prop themselves up.
“Depends on how you look at it. Too much change can be a bad thing.” She winked. “Ask the climate.”
“Oh ha ha.” He grabbed his pants, shoving one leg into them and then the other. “You don’t suppose my siblings heard the raucous?”
“If they did, you’d be on the business end of your sister’s blade right now.” She said. “Remember Unification Day?”
“Which one?”
“2034.”
“The one where the Speaker tried alcohol for the first time?”
“No, that was the year before that.” She felt around, one shoe in hand, looking for the other one. “In ‘34 we decided to go pub crawling in Jinan? We tried Absinthe, I got blood poisoning and the owner tried to fistfight you. The Assassin had to send in her personal force to get us out of that one.”
“Oh yeah.” He chuckled, then shuddered. “That was an...experience. I never thought I’d say it but I’m glad Kon-Mai was there.”
Nazira froze, staring at him with a near blank, contemplative expression.
“What?” He shrugged, pulling on his undershirt. “If she hadn’t been there to break up the rigamarole, I might have been beaten to death. By a civvy, no less. And that’s just not an acceptable death for a Chosen.”
“I know.” She chuckled. “I just never thought I’d hear you say you were grateful for anything your sister did.”
He pondered this or a moment, then shrugged. “Sometimes change is a very good thing.”
“Yes, I know.” She giggled.
.
.
“I got it!” Malinalli insisted, shooing Verge out of the way.. She reached down and grabbed the heavy box, grunting as she lifted it.
“I am able to pick it up.” Verge insisted. “My wounds healed long ago, Molly. Please.”
“I know. But I know where Tygan likes the stimpacks.” She said, practically dragging the box down the hall. Verge followed her close behind. “He’s just very picky about...well, you know how Tygan is.”
“I don’t know him nearly enough.” Verge sighed as he watched Malinalli work. “There is much of XCOM I still have not seen.”
“I could give you a tour sometime.” She chuckled.
“When shall we join the others?” He asked. “I have not seen many resistance havens, and this one is said to house former ADVENT soldiers. People like me...”
“Well, when the Commander gives the all clear, I suppose.” She replied as she dropped the box, tearing it open. “You’ve really never been? I’ve seen Sectoids in havens before.”
“No. I mostly took care of...prisoners retrieved after the missions.” He got a bit quiet as he knelt beside the box.
Malinalli struggled for what to say next, not wanting to leave the conversation empty. “Um, well, because of them, now you’re here!”
He nodded. “But is my life worth a thousand of theirs?” He asked.
Malinalli let a small sigh slip through and busied herself with the stimpacks. “...Your life is important.” She finally added.
His silence spoke volumes. Luckily, it was broken by Vicky walking in, her Minnie mouse buns tied tight and prim. “I can do that!” She insisted. “The Commander gave us you the OK to leave the ship.”
“I got it.” Malinalli tried to stop her. “You don’t want to go?”
Vicky hesitated. “...I’ll be fine here…” She finally said. She sounded like she didn’t mean it.
“It is unhealthy for humans to avoid social contact.” Verge said. “I know this to be a fact.”
“Let us know if you change your mind.” Malinalli stood. “Come on, Verge.”
“Me?” He raised a brow.
“You always wanted to see a haven.” She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his feet. “Let’s go.”
.
.
Senuna leaned on the edge of the stone window and gazed out over the vibrant oasis, her blue eyes sparkling like the water in the lake. She brushed back some hair behind her ear as the wind picked up, her cape billowing in the calm breeze. It was surprisingly cool for being in the middle of the desert. A little chunk of heaven.
“You’re thinking.” Bradford said behind her.
“Well I’d hope so. Gotta use this noggin somehow.” She giggled as she turned to him. He handed her a bottle of water, and she popped the cap and took a long drink. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “I’ve been talking with Jane and Zhang.”
“Oh have you now.” She sighed. “Let me guess, we’re giving them too many resources.”
“Yep.” Bradford nodded. “I’m just not sure we can spare that many soldiers without getting something in return. I think we should at least look into making this a mutually beneficial relationship.”
She raised a brow.
“Most of these guys are former ADVENT.” He said. “Commander, I’m kinda shocked you didn’t think of this.”
“You’re suggesting we start training them.” She smiled.
“Exactly. They’re already halfway there. We just have to...acclimate them to working with humans.”
Senuna seemed to pause. “...Hm.”
“Hm good or hm bad?” Bradford cracked a smile.
“I like it.” She said, handing him back the water. “But-”
“There’s hardly ever a ‘but’ with you.” He said. “What’s different this time?”
“Nothing’s different, I’ve always had a flat ass~” She giggled.
“Commander.”
Senuna’s face grew cold and serious for a moment, and she gazed out the window again. “...You know I have trouble sometimes...relating to people.”
“But these guys are different?” Bradford asked.
“They’re human.” She said. “But they’re also so alien. They’re like the Skirmishers. They’re…”
“They’re like you.”
“They’re like me.” She smiled. “...Bradford, I feel bad for them.”
“If you think it’s a bad idea, just say so.” He leaned on the wall beside her. “You get the final say, Commander.”
“No, it’s a good idea. In fact, it’s necessary.” She straightened up. “I should call another meeting with Zafar then. Tell him our new terms~”
.
.
Kon-Mai ran her fingers over the buttons and dials on the control panel. Half of them were rusty, one of them didn’t turn at all, and that was the power button. It was almost laughable the state this thing was in, but still…
“It is fascinating?” He brother asked, standing behind her.
She shrugged. “Gur-Rai would like it more. I am no good with machines.”
“Then that is two of us.” He chuckled. “Although I do like to wonder at the mystery of these things. With the Elders, it all seemed so fluid. It never occurred to me the sheer force of will needed to make it work.”
Kon-Mai sat down in the dusty old chair. “It seems like more trouble than it’s worth.”
“I could say the same about your swords.” A voice said behind her. “But I don’t, because I’m nice~”
She spun around and saw Gur-Rai ascending the stairs, Nazira close behind him.
Dhar-Mon harrumphed and crossed his arms. “I hope you two enjoyed your little premarital escapade.”
“It’s not premarital if you never get married.” Nazira winked. “So hold the insults until I toss the bouquet.”
“What is this machine?” Kon-Mai asked, pointing to the contraption behind her.
“Oh, the old radio.” Nazira walked over and leaned on the desk, pushing a few buttons as she did. “Zafar found this place by locking onto it’s signal. We have no idea what it was originally for, but it’s been very useful.”
“It’s how they found the Avenger.” Gur-Rai piped up.
“To be fair, your ship is big and slow and noisy.” She giggled. “All you have to do to find it is look up.”
“I disagree.” Dhar-Mon insisted. “I could never find it.”
“Well.” Nazira smiled. “You obviously don’t have the best...sense of direction.”
He growled, baring his sharp teeth. “I was the greatest of the Chosen, before I renounced the Elders. If the ship was findable, I would have found it.”
“YOU were the greatest.” Gur-Rai laughed. “Yeah right.”
“You forget, Brother.” Kon-Mai scowled. “Who was it who brought in Pratal Mox as a prisoner? Who was it who saved the Speaker from an assault on his own home? Who was it who-”
“Who was it who lost Betos?” Gur-Rai added. “Twice, Sister. And once when she literally came to you.”
“Betos is a trained warrior, one of the best this planet has to offer...if I had been told of her capabilities, I would not have lost.” Kon-Mai stood, bristling. “My point is, I was just as capable as you when we were under the Elder’s thumb.” Kon-Mai stood, bristling.
“I mean you no offense, Sister.” Dhar-Mon growled. “But if anyone would have fulfilled the Elders’ wishes and captured the commander, it would have been me. You two did not have your heart in the fight.”
“Excuse you.” Now Gur-Rai looked offended. “Hunting the Commander was in my very name! I would have found her long before you.”
“And yet, you didn’t.”
“They had a flying ship! If you ask me, that is an unfair advantage!”
“None of this matters.” Kon-Mai said. “We ceased that trivial hunt long ago.”
“Trivial?! My reputation was on the line, Sister!”
“Your reputation was that of a scoundrel and a flake.” She crossed her arms. “You cannot cry to me about losing your pride when you had none to uphold in the first place.”
“Well what about you?” Gur-Rai spat. “Miss ‘I’d NEVER join those traitor Skirmishers’ sure seems to be getting pretty buddy-buddy with them now. Where’d your pride go, Sister?”
“How dare you? I always keep my word.” Kon-Mai growled.
Dhar-Mon shook his head. “You claimed you would keep your word to the Elders on pain of death. That if you failed them, their judgement and punishment was fair. Where did those words go, Sister?”
“Are you questioning my integrity?” She hissed, her yellow teeth bared. “And if you knew the pain I went through that day, you would agree that my vows to them are forfeit!”
“You insinuate I do not know pain?!” He leaned down toward her. “It was not your skull that Bhandasura tore apart! You sought to end yourself before you dared to face that.”
“Are you saying I took the easy way?!” Kon-Mai gasped.
“I am saying you knew what was coming.” Dhar-Mon avoided her eyes. “So you cannot stand to lecture me on such things, when you are an oath breaker yourself.”
Kon-Mai looked like he’d just slapped her in the face, and stood there speechless, her eyes wide and slightly wet.
Gur-Rai just chuckled. “Well I guess I got lucky then. I got taken down the good old fashioned way.”
“Funny that you brag about being able to hunt the humans, and yet you were the only one truly felled by them.” Kon-Mai snapped. “Stop your gloating, neither of you are better than I am!”
“I’m not saying that!” Gur-Rai snapped.
“I can hear it under your breath!”
“It is like you Brother! To put us down like this!”
“Well you wanna know what I think?” Nazira finally spoke up.
“No.” Kon-Mai spat.
“You are going to side with HIM.” Dhar-Mon pointed to Gur-Rai.
“I do love him, I’ll admit. But no, Gur-Rai can be criticized.” She sat down and crossed her legs, looking the Darkstrider in the eye. “Darling, you were never going to beat XCOM because you didn’t give two shits. We both know it. You stuck with the Elders for the nice toys and the immortality, but Dhar-Mon was right. Your heart just wasn’t in it.”
Gur-Rai looked shocked. “Hunting is what I do.” He growled, but his voice was shaking.
“Exactly. You were the Hunter, not a Killer.” She giggled. “Oh, you’re out there talking big game about being a hard bastard, but you wear your heart on your sleeve, love, and I’ve seen it more than once. You wanted XCOM to win.”
Dhar-Mon and Kon-Mai looked back at their brother in shock, who avoided their gaze.
“You wanted their victory the whole time?” Kon-Mai stammered.
“Konnie. Wasn’t it obvious?” Nazira chuckled. “He didn’t know it of course, but this man hardly ever knows what he’s thinking. I’m one to talk but it’s true.” She reached up and wrapped her arm around Dhar-Mon’s wide shoulders. “And you, you big brute...you were never the Elder’s favorite. I know this, they know it, and you know it too.” She glared at Kon-Mai. “And you, Sweetie, need to get off your goddamn high horse.”
“What?” Kon-Mai hissed more in shock than in anger.
“You heard me. Honor and bravery are nice concepts, but in this world there’s only one thing that matters, and it’s not your false sense of superiority. You broke your vow to the Elders. Granted, I agree with you, you had reason. But you still broke it. You can’t act lawful when your very existence depends on chaos.” She looked up. “That goes for you too, Hero Monk.”
He pulled away from her, and Nazira turned on her heel and sat once again, the chair swaying side to side.
“You three are all you have in this world.” She said. “Whether you like it or not.”
“I know.” Kon-Mai whispered. “I know that.”
“Then stop quarreling.” Nazira said. “My brother and I would have died long ago if we let trivial things like this tear us apart.”
The three were silent, staring at the ground like children who had just been scolded.
Dhar-Mon cleared his throat. “Kon-Mai, I apologize....”
She looked up at him, something shining in her magenta eyes. “...I forgive you, Dhar-Mon. And I’m sorry too.”
They both turned and looked at Gur-Rai, who looked away.
“...I’m sorry.” He finally muttered. “I...I didn’t mean any of it, Brother, Sister. I-”
“It’s alright.” She held up a hand. “Let us forget this.”
There was still a sense of turmoil hanging in the air, but the three of them shoved it out of their line of focus, choosing to instead bury the hatchet where it lay.
Nazira chuckled as she leaned back and laced her fingers together. No doubt Zafar would grill her later about abandoning her duties to go gallivanting across the desert, but this, she felt, was far more important.
.
.
“Thank you both for humoring my request at an audience.” Geist said, his voice slightly distorted by the sound of the radio. His image on the screen was little more than a fuzzy apparition. In the corner, Betos saw her own visage, and that of the Reapers’ leader, Konstantine Volikov.
“This better be good, Geist, you know what fucking time it is here?” Volk muttered. “I’m an old man, I need my sleep.”
Betos rolled her eyes. “Since when did you sleep at such an early hour, Volk?”
“Don’t patronize me, you wrinkly bitch.” His insult was half-hearted and Betos had long ago learned it was easier to just let them roll off her rather than try and fight him on his manners. He took a swig from his flask, belched, and jabbed at the camera. “So what’s the sitch?”
“The Commander is conspiring against us.” Geist said, leaning forward in his chair.
Betos sighed. Not this again. “In what way?”
“She has gone behind the back of the Templars and made contact with a haven.” He elaborated.
“Now, I’m not one to defend the Commander.” Volk said. “But who died and made you Elder? XCOM doesn’t need your permission to talk to the people in your region, Geist, as important as you like to think you are.”
“I know that, Volikov.” He spat. “I knew of this haven’s existence long before she met with their nefarious leader and his whore sister. They are Snake Men of ADVENT, and they harbor deadly alien creatures within their walls.”
Betos paused, conflicting emotions rising inside of her. “What deadly creatures?” She asked. “Chryssalids?”
“No, Vipers and Mutons.” Geist replied. “They have a sizable human population as well, but they are more depraved and corrupt than Sodom and Gamorrah alike.” He shook his head, the video shuddering with the movement.
“Geist, I advise you to think long and hard about who you are talking to.” Betos said. “My people are half alien, Ethereal DNA runs in our blood. Are we as depraved as you say they are?”
“Yeah, Geist.” Volk chuckled, clearly inebriated.
“You two are missing the point.” He said. “The Thin Men were confidants of the Elders, harbingers of the invasion. To cavort with them is to dance with death.”
“I think we already are.” Volk said. “She’s already recruited the goddamn Chosen, who knows what she’ll stop at?”
“The Chosen…” Betos had to choose her words carefully. “They have made horrible errors for which they must atone. But they are on the path to redemption.”
“Bullshit.” Volk tossed his cup aside. “Bull-Fucking-Shit. I don’t want those fuckers anywhere near my camp. Which, by the way, is being SWARMED by ADVENT patrols because the Blue Man Group let a Sectoid go free.”
“Perhaps they planned it.” Geist crossed his arms.
““I know we do not always see eye to eye Volk, but if your people need shelter, the Sedona Haven is open to you.” Betos added quickly. “The Reapers and Skirmishers are kin now, Volk.”
“Hm.” Volk smirked. “I keep forgetting we’re technically in-laws.”
She bristled a bit at that, but shook it off. “If we all have these concerns, should we not contact the commander of XCOM and ask her these things?” She said.
“Have you met Senuna?” Volk spat. “She’ll go fucking ballistic!”
“I’ve served on the Avenger, Volk.” Betos hissed. “I was there when she made the decision to capture Kon-Mai Mordenna. She will listen to reason, and barring that, she will listen to me if I ask.” She knew this to be a fact. She’d done it before.”
“You seem very sure.” Geist said. “I do not mean to call your loyalty into question as well, Betos, however-”
“Then let’s not.” Volk said. “Betos, my Reapers might take you up on that offer.”
Betos smiled. “One last thing before we adjourn. What is our goal with this?”
“Goal?” Geist raised a brow.
“Senuna will want more than just accusations.” Betos folded her hands. “I must offer her a compromise.”
“Why don’t you just ask her to fly us out to the haven?” Volk covered his mouth to stifle a belch. “I’d like a vacation.”
Betos pondered that. “...That is not a bad proposal, Volk. Geist, if you want to be involved, this is the best way.”
Geist sighed loudly. “Senuna will never agree to it...but I can reach the oasis without trouble.”
“She will. I will see to it.” She assured the men. “When can I expect you, Volk?”
“In five days.” He said. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“And I shall see you both very soon.” Geist nodded. “Over?”
“And out.” Betos said, and the comm went dead once again.
.
.
Malinalli and Verge sighed in collective relief as they stepped onto open grass, their shoes no longer sinking in the sand. Malinalli gazed around her, smiling at the sight of the quaint and beautiful little hamlet. “Wow.” She breathed in amazement. “This place looks ancient.”
“It is.” Verge said, following her gaze. “Dakhla Oasis, if I recall, has been occupied at least since the days of Nero, and most likely before that. It’s ancient name was Set-whe. Or Resting Place.”
Malinalli reached out, laying one hand on the stone wall. “I love that. It’s withstood so much. And now it stands against ADVENT.” She looked back at Verge, who seemed to shrink back at that. “Hey, you aren’t ADVENT.”
“I wish I could believe that.” He sighed. “But I still feel like some sort of traitor...”
“Verge.” She sighed. “No one here blames you, especially not here. I highly doubt you have to worry-”
They heard a shriek. “YOU!”
Verge’s black eyes went wide as the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps drew closer to them. As he spun around, Malinalli turned and saw the three Chosen dart out from behind one of the stone walls. To her right, a flash of pink crossed her vision, and Verge was practically knocked off his feet. At first, he screamed loud enough to shatter the eardrums of all those in a 10 mile radius, but Gur-Rai jogged up,chuckling. “Verge relax! You know her!”
“I do?!” He struggled out of the snake woman’s vice-like grip. “Enlighten me!”
Nazira crossed her arms. “I know I look and sound a bit different now, V5, but after all we’ve been through?”
He blinked. “...Um?”
She sighed. “N7R42.”
He gasped. “No.”
“Yes.” She gave a little flip of her hair. “I never thought I’d see you again, V5-”
“It’s, um…” He cleared his throat.” You may call me Verge, it seems to be my new moniker, and it’s much easier to remember.”
“Oh? I wonder where they got that from.”
“Don’t ask.” Malinalli sighed.
Nazira chuckled and held out her hand to him. “My name is Nazira Ba’al-Peor. My brother goes by Zafar now.”
“How long have you been in Dakhla?” Verge asked as he took both her hands in his.
“Only three years. We settled here after our base in Isla Huemul was...consumed in a fiery blaze.” She giggled. “It’s boring as the void, but I have to admit I like it here~”
“Isla Huemul?” Verge looked confused. “Strange that sounds like…” He trailed off as Nazira turned her attention away from him and onto the only human.
“And who are you, little one?” Nazira looked Malinalli up and down like she was examining a scrumptious treat. She towered over the medic, looking down on her with curious eyes, but before she could take a step closer, Dhar-Mon put himself between the two.
“She is no toy.” He scolded. “Be gentle with her.”
Nazira scoffed. “I’m not going to eat her! What do you take me for, a snake?” She giggled, and only Gur-Rai echoed her amusement.
“I’m Malinalli.” She reached out from around Dhar-Mon and shook Nazira’s hand. “Corporal Medic on the Avenger.”
“A medic.” She looked excited. “Well, you must have the best stories.”
“Well, that’s kinda confidential…” Malinalli chuckled. “But I can tell you about bootcamp…”
“Why don’t you tell me indoors?” She beckoned the group along. “The sun is murder on my skin.”
.
.
Senuna wasn’t new to receiving surprise calls, but even so, they were annoying, especially now that she had to trek all the way back to the Avenger right before she was supposed to discuss the new terms with Zafar. She’d had it all planned out too, and now she’d be late and screw the whole thing up.
As she sat down in her swivel chair though, and turned on the camera, she smiled. “Betos! How are you, darling?”
“I am well.” Betos was never one for pleasantries, which was a shame, because Senuna could see a beautiful and radiant woman under that armor. She would have gone far on Broadway.
“So what can I do for you?” Senuna crossed her legs and folded her hands over her knees.
“Geist is aware of the haven you have contacted.” Betos said. “He is worried.”
“He’s always worried.” She flipped her hair. “Pay Geist no mind.”
“I cannot do that, Commander.” Betos said curtly. “They are my friends.”
Senuna paused at that. “Hm.” She smiled. “You have a big heart, Betos. But we already know that.”
Betos looked away. “Commander, Geist and Volk want to examine this haven themselves. They know it houses former ADVENT agents, and want confirmation that the people there will not betray the cause.”
Senuna’s eyes practically glowed as she smiled. “...They want to come here?” She giggled.
“Yes.” Betos nodded.
“...How are the Reapers?” Senuna asked. “I know you don’t like to gossip, but I might have a fix to their current predicament.”
“The Reapers…” Betos seemed to debate handing that information over. “...The Reapers have been targeted by raids as of late. They are making their way to our camp in Sedona.”
“In that case.” She leaned forward on the desk. “Tell Volk I have a proposition for him. He and Geist can come check out the haven, if Volk agrees to stay.”
.
.
“So one time, two of our newest recruits were told to trim the hedges.” Malinalli sipped her mint tea. “You know, just busywork. Well, you know how they did that?”
“How?” Nazira asked as she laid back on the mound of soft pillows they had built within Zafar’s living room. The two women were lounging on them, while Verge and Kon-Mai sat politely at the table a few feet away. Dhar-Mon was standing with his back to the wall, watching Nazira like a hawk.
“One guy lifted up the lawnmower, and the other reached his hand into the blades. He thought you started it by turning them really fast.”
“...Did it work?”
“Oh yeah.” Malinalli smiled tautly. “And guess who got to pick the bits of finger out of the bush?” She pointed to herself. “But to be fair, I was new, and that got me over my combat squeamishness.”
“I never knew your job was so demanding.” Nazira chuckled. “I’ve been in a doctor’s office, of course, but my brother and I were on the receiving end.”
“Yeah, the Gene Therapy clinics are pretty cool, I’ll admit.” Malinalli sighed.
“Not in ADVENT.” Nazira quickly said. “No, this was after I left…”
Dhar-Mon and Kon-Mai were distracted as the flap of cloth that Nazira called a door rustled a little bit. Kon-Mai could see Gur-Rai slipping past the group and outside, then stopped and looked at her over his shoulder.
She blinked, and he made a “come on” motion with his head. Debating it only for a moment, she stood, gesturing for her eldest brother to follow her.
“Leaving, darling?” Nazira called.
“Only stepping out for some air.” Kon-Mai smiled politely. “Do not let our absence bother you.”
“I’m not sure what kind of air you expect to find.” Nazira chuckled. “But good luck.”
Good luck indeed. The three Chosen met up on the other side of the stone house, the side that overlooked a field of dandelions and led to a path towards the ancient temple, dedicated to three gods.
“I’m sorry.” Gur-Rai said as he leaned against the wall. He met their gaze slowly and reluctantly. “About everything I said in the tower. It was wrong, all of it. I shouldn’t have been insulting you in the first place.”
“Brother.” Kon-Mai stepped forward. “You already said-”
“No, Sister.” He hissed. “I didn’t say it, not correctly. I mean it this time.”
“I must do the same.” Dhar-Mon’s deep, sad voice caught her off guard. “I said things in the heat of anger, yes, but...they were things I still believed, even if they aren’t true.” He shuffled his feet. “I do not believe you would ever break your vows, Sister, but at the time...I rationalized your death. I assumed you were weak.”
That hurt to hear, even in an apology, and Kon-Mai’s lip quivered.
“But you are not weak.” Dhar-Mon said. “You are the strongest woman I know, that I have the pleasure to know. I am proud that you are my sister.” He took her shoulders. “What you did was an act of bravery.”
She shook her head. “No.” She hissed. “You are right brother. I was scared…” She couldn’t stop the tears now, they dripped off her high cheekbones and onto her shirt. “I was scared of what the Elders would do to me. I was scared that they would hurt me, and I…” She hiccuped. “I simply wanted the pain to be over with.”
She felt Gur-Rai hug her from behind, as Dhar-Mon pulled her into his arms. For a moment, they just stood there, and Kon-Mai took deep breaths and tried to quell the sobs.
“Brother.” Gur-Rai said. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't tease you like that.”
“It is-”
“It’s not okay.” He buried his face in the small of Kon-Mai’s back. “I don’t usually do the whole ‘respect your elders’ bullshit, but you’re my big brother. I’m sorry I undermine you all the time. I’m sorry I make you feel less than.” He swallowed. “...I love you.”
“You do not make me feel less than.” Dhar-Mon reached around and massaged his arm. “Gur-Rai, you are my baby brother. We will always poke fun at each other. And I will always love you for exactly who you are.”
“I am not exempt from this!” Kon-Mai protested. “I am so sorry to you both. You are both capable, brave warriors. My I should never underestimate you, even when I mean only to tease.” She reached back and pulled Gur-Rai up close to her. “...When I drove my blade into my body, my last thoughts were of you.”
She heard Dhar-Mon sob quietly and pull her closer.
“I have loved you both since the day I was born.” She whispered. “And I will love you both until the day I die.”
.
.
“They’ll be fine.” Nazira chuckled, reading Malinalli’s worried expression as she stared at the door. “Those three are thick as thieves. You know that better than I do.”
Malinalli nodded. “Yeah...I just worry.”
Nazira chuckled. “You doctors. You either worry too much or not enough.” She took a drink of her tea and hesitated to speak for a moment. “The doctor who helped me and my brother. She used to be XCOM.”
“Hm?” Malinalli looked curious.
“Yes. I was wondering if you know her.” Nazira asked. “Dr. Vahlen?”
Malinalli couldn’t hide her shudder as Nazira said that. “I know of her.”
“Oh?” Nazira raised a brow. “Before your time, I suppose.”
“Yeah.” Malinalli chewed her lip. “She did a lot for the first war, they wouldn’t have held out so long without her but…” She sighed. “Reading her research notes is...kind of terrifying. She had a lot of big ideas and it just...seems so detached from the actual goal.”
Nazira chuckled. “And what is that ‘goal’?”
Malinalli folded her legs under her and stared into her tea. “Doctor, Do No Harm.”
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(I know it’s 11 PM but it’s still technically Sunday!
Apologies for the lateness of this chapter, guys, but my brain just didn’t want to do any sort of writing last week. And then the week following I developed a sinus headache and that lasted four days! But I managed to power through it, and next chapter will be out as per the regular schedule.)
Archive: https://chosenstories.tumblr.com/
SURPRISE! I AM NOW IN THE XCOM FANDOM
so far I've only played Enemy Unknown/Within, haven't got XCOM2 or Chimera Squad yet. But I do know that the aliens eventually start becoming allies to humans and tripped and now I have a Thin Man OC. she's very Gender
Having the alien designed for infiltration be the seventh of many subjects Strike One brought in meant the captor couldn't resist asking Dr. Vahlen to nickname her "Bond". Bond stuck with it after she turned to the humans' side, figuring it was as good a name as any, and slowly worked her way out of the "do what you're told and never deviate from the Elders' desires ever" mindset she had been living with. Once the wars are over she gets into Hollywood.
There's a more detailed version of the backstory I have for her but it requires explaining other OCs I have already lol I'll do that some other time. probably on main. I'll find out how well I understood what I read of XCOM2/CS when I get those games on sale
but the more rumpled-but-still-basically-standard Thin Man is her in XCOM EW/EM era after her capture, she doesn't get changed back into a Viper for XCOM2 since she's already gone to the humans' side by then, and her losing the suit entirely for a more casual one is once she's retired from military service and integrated into human society and the film industry.
posts more of my Girl
been a while since I've done a chibi
still not done obsessing over my girl btw
she,
Chosen Stories From the War #34: All Quiet on the Western Front
(Content Warning: This chapter contains descriptions of gore, minor character death, and trauma)
For a moment, Jane happily lay in her state of half consciousness, reveling in the warmth of the unfamiliar bed. The blankets were surprisingly comfortable for being so rough, and the mat she relaxed upon was soft and warm. She turned over, for a moment entertaining the idea that sleep might return to her.
“Jx habet los Exletos.”
Jane threw an arm over her head, attempting to drown out the sound of talking but...it caught her attention. While she didn’t know the meaning of the words spoken, she knew the voice all too well.
“Jx habet onx botu, onx erinye, ‘n lau lophndia.” A moment of silence, but Jane could hear gentle murmur in the background. She sat up slowly, as her partner that evening, Althaea, said one more thing. “Jx deluge.” She broke off, slamming something metallic down on the desk as she saw Jane was awake. “You’re up.”
“Calling your side pieces?” Jane chuckled. “Or am I the side piece, and you’re calling your wife?”
“You? Sweetheart, you’re a diamond in the rough.” Althaea slithered back towards her and curled up in the pillows again. Jane scooted closer, trapping Althaea’s tail between her legs, and the Viper wrapped her tail around her waist.
“Who were you talking to?” Jane asked.
Althaea was strangely quiet for a moment, and when she spoke there was a bit of hesitation in her voice. “My sisters at another haven.”
“Didn’t know they had phones.”
“If you can build it, you can keep it.” Althaea assured her. “And eventually I banged rocks together long enough to make the thing work.”
“Hm. Then you’re a woman of many talents.” Jane chuckled, winking.
Althaea rolled her eyes and straightened up. “I should be charging you for this.”
“Okay. How much?”
“I said I should.” Althaea stuck out her tongue in a long hiss. “Not that I will~”
“Isn’t that a bit unfair?” Jane rolled onto her back, eager to drift back off to sleep, but something still felt...off. “What language was that?”
Althaea didn’t say anything, just curled her long tail around Jane’s waist once again.
.
.
“What do you mean, you lost the rat?!”
“I didn’t lose him!” Gur-Rai protested. “I left him on this bench right here!” He pointed to the sunny stone bench, parked right by the oasis’ edge.
“And you expected him not to walk off?” Kon-Mai ran a hand through her hair in exasperation. “Gur-Rai! He’s an animal!”
“I know he is!” He snapped at her. “But he’s important to me! God, he’s probably really scared right now...”
Her face softened a bit. “He is most likely fine.” She said calmly, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “He is probably hungry, and went off to catch bugs somewhere.”
Gur-Rai, chewing on the nail of his little finger, seemed not to hear her. He was just staring at the empty bench in despair when Dhar-Mon finally spoke up.
“There is plenty of food in this haven...” He said. “I say that is the first place we check.”
“I swear if that thing got into the food stores…” Nazira grumbled, picking at her cuticles in a way similar to Gur-Rai when he was nervous. She stood towards the back of the Chosen, isolated at this time. Her own brother was nowhere to be seen.
“The sooner we find him, the sooner we can ensure that is not the case.” Kon-Mai said. “Nazira, where is it that you store the supplies?”
Nazira looked around, pointing to a square building that resembled a stone warehouse. “Well over there is where we keep most of the raw materials. Grain that hasn’t been made into flour, dried fruits, salted meats, stuff that keeps. There are a couple of refrigeration units in the Generator room but I don’t think he could get in there.”
“What of farmland? Do you have any fields or gardens?” Dhar-Mon asked.
“Most of it has been harvested already.” Nazira shrugged. “But the dandelions are in bloom right now. He might be hunting for bugs in the grass.”
“Okay.” Kon-Mai stood up tall. “We shall split up, then, cover more ground.”
“I shall search the storage units.” Dhar-Mon said.
“Wonderful. Gur-Rai.” Kon-Mai turned to her brother. “Will you help me search the fields? My eyes are lacking compared to yours.”
That seemed to at least shake him from his trance. “Sure thing.” He nodded, looking over at Nazira. “You’ll be okay?”
“This is my house, Gur-Rai.” She giggled. “I’ll be fine without you.”
He faltered at her words, but Kon-Mai dragged him off quickly. Nazira lifted her hand in a wave, then sighed and turned towards the generator room.
As much as she hated going in there, if this possum was as important to Gur-Rai as it seemed to be, she’d brave it for him.
.
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“Of all the people I thought I would see again.” Zafar looked over his cup of tea, meeting Verge’s black eyes. “I’ll admit I never expected it would be you.”
“And I would have agreed.” Verge admitted, a slight smile on his face. “I could barely talk last time we worked together.”
“And you certainly wouldn’t hear talk of disobeying the Elders.” Zafar’s gaze turned cold. “You’re lucky Nazira forgives you, after what you said to her last time.”
“I know.” Verge hung his head. “I’ll admit that for someone who was supposed to be her comrade, I was...far too spiteful. Aggressive. I did not know how my actions, and my words, hurt her so.”
Zafar held the silence for a moment. “She does not seem to hold a grudge.” He admitted. “And she is excited that you are here.” He put his tea down. “But I need to know, Verge. What changed?”
“Everything. Slowly.” Verge said. “Interrogations gone awry. When you’re inside someone’s head while they’re being probed for information, you feel everything…”
Zafar took a deep breath. “That’s one thing I never had to suffer.” He pinched his own brown skin, smooth and hairless but otherwise so human. “These human ‘suits’ gave me the illusion of being a man, but I never had to gaze into the mind of one.”
“So what you’re saying is, you can make a snake into a Thin Man-”
“But you can’t get rid of the reptile brain.” Zafar smiled. “You get it.”
Verge leaned on his hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever read a Viper’s mind.”
“I’m sure it’s not a unique experience.” Zafar parted his black hair along the side and tied up half of it. “...How much smarter are humans, anyway?”
“Jealous?”
“No. Curious.” Zafar was lying, he stunk of it, but Verge just smiled and did not insist on antagonizing that point.
“Truth be told, actual intelligence isn’t exactly what they excel at.” He admitted.
“Oh?” Zafar raised a brow. “Emotional intelligence then?”
“Some learn it quickly, but it doesn’t come naturally.” Verge shrugged. “But that’s something they have to practice. What they do excel in is creativity.”
“Creativity?”
“Humans have a tendency to jump to conclusions.” Verge continued. “And in doing so they are...inspired to try something, even if it might not work. Because to them, if there’s a chance it will work, then it will work.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” Zafar crossed his arms. “Do they not get discouraged?”
“Surprisingly, no. And if they do, not for long. It’s as if their brains don’t let them rest until a problem is solved.” Verge chuckled. “And it’s beautiful. Because with it, they’re inspired to not just spread their wings, but to glide and dive and reach for the stars. Quite literally.”
“They must be careful then.” Zafar said. “Overzealousness is what led the Elders to their rapid decline.”
Verge almost questioned what Zafar meant by decline, but part of him already knew.
.
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“Phoibos, Savitr, Calliope, Murillo, Diodor.” Prata Mox called out, and the officers stepped forward. “You are to patrol the Western Front, along the established road. Avoid the sands.” He said with a great amount of emphasis in his voice.
“What if we see something?” Phoibos called out.
Mox seemed to think for a moment. “...Come back and report it immediately. Do not investigate. I do not wish to risk a soldier’s capture.”
Calliope looked over to Savitr, who seemed lost in thought as he stared into the golden sand. “Ux ezom okay?”
Savitr looked up at her, blinking for a moment before giving her a warm smile and nodding. “Thinking about something, don’t mind me.”
She smiled, and then looked around. “I bet you can slip away and find her before we leave~”
“Move out!” Mox called, and the five of them began the march toward the Western Front.
“Well, it’s too late for that now...” He chuckled, as he and the rest of his platoon began the march down the sandy road.. “And even so…” He trailed off.
“Even so?” She nudged him. “That is no excuse.”
He kept silent, his usually sunny disposition strangely overcast. The once well maintained black asphalt had crumbled under years of neglect, and he had to hop the major cracks to avoid tripping.
“Maybe she feels the same way.” Calliope insisted. “It never hurts to ask, and after that mission you went on together-”
“I don’t want to be presumptuous.” He insisted. “She hasn’t had the experiences I have, and I don’t want to force her into something she isn’t ready for.”
“You wouldn’t be forcing her into anything.” Calliope rested her hand on her hip as she walked, the sand in the road crunching under her feet.
Still, Savitr shook his head. “It’s not something I feel confident in.”
“No one ever does.” Calliope giggled. “Don’t tell me you’re intimidated by her.” She thought for a moment. “Actually that’s a pretty normal reaction, with that skull face of hers-”
“Hey.” Savitr snapped, actually scowling at her. “That’s uncalled for.”
Calliope shrank back. “...Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He grumbled. “We’re not exactly the apex of beauty, Calliope. Please, take care of what you say…” He blushed a bit. “I happen to like her face very much.”
Calliope sighed. “You’re hopeless, Savi-” She broke off, craning her neck and covering her eyes with one hand. “Phoibos?!”
Savitr looked up, and saw his brother-in-arms waving to them frantically, pointing to something off the trail.
.
.
It was still surprising to Gur-Rai that within this dry and barren desert, just along the edges of the lake, lay such a fertile and promising land. Of course, such promise didn’t hold much hope for him if he couldn’t find his lost possum.
As he pushed the brush aside, he looked over his shoulder to his sister, who was kneeling in the weeds, making clicking noises to call Pangu towards her on the off chance that the possum was listening. It had been quite the day for her, and in the late afternoon sun, she turned briefly towards him and he saw the faint outline of the acid burn along her lip.
He watched her work for a moment, then stood up. “Hey. Sister.”
“Hm?” She looked up, breaking her concentration for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak but in that moment, she sighed and cut him off. “No. Do not apologize.”
“Huh?” He blinked.
“I know what you are about to say: that you are sorry for snapping at me.” She smiled. “It seems as though in this heat, we have spent the majority of our time offending one another and then apologizing for it. I shall save you the trouble, Gur-Rai: I forgive you.”
Gur-Rai crossed his arms. “I didn’t tell you I was sorry, yet. Can’t forgive me if I don’t.”
“Yes I can.” She straightened up, brushing the bits of dandelion fluff off her leggings. “Did I not just tell you yesterday I will love you until the day I die?”
He looked away. “...You did.”
She approached him and stretched her arms out, beckoning him closer with her hands. “So come on.”
He stepped forward, and she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He waited a moment, then embraced her as well, burying his face in her shoulder. She may have been his little sister, but she had a calming strength in her grasp that made him feel so secure; something he’d never been able to replicate.
“I’m sorry I pointed my gun at you that one time.”
“That was nearly six years ago, ‘nweghị.” She chuckled and rubbed her hand over his back. “I’d long forgotten about that. And I knew you would never actually shoot me.”
“How do you know?” He muttered. “I seem to remember you responding with a knife to my throat.”
“How else was I to get you to cease your little games?” She chuckled. “You are very annoying, Brother, but I trust that you would not hurt me on purpose.”
“Doesn’t mean I won’t on accident…”
She pulled away and patted his sunken cheek. “What makes you think you would?”
He sighed. “I don’t actually think it, just...” He admitted. “It’s more the principle of the matter.”
“Principle?” She furrowed her brow.
“Yeah.” He went back to wading in the weeds. “I do something to upset you, or accidentally cause you harm, that’s pretty similar to shooting you, isn’t it?”
“Oh, where is all this coming from?!” Kon-Mai grabbed his arm.
“From trauma.” He laughed, but it was dry and humorless and carried hurt with it. “We all have open wounds, Kon-Mai, and I pulled at one of yours this morning.”
“Do you mean-” She reached up and touched her lip, where the acid burn scar was still healing.. “...No, no Gur-Rai, you did not. You were trying to help.”
“Intention doesn’t mean dick. You were still in pain.”
“You were right to try and help.” She said. “I...have my demons…” She hugged herself, looking down at her body. “I have the remnants of what Abyzou gave me. But that is not for you to try and tiptoe around.” She approached him again. “Camazotz left you something similar, did he not?”
Gur-Rai froze. He didn’t move a muscle for a long moment, before kneeling in the weeds, pulling away from her grasp. “...The Elders had fucked up ways of showing love.” He admitted. “But I don’t think Camazotz even liked me.”
Kon-Mai sat cross-legged in the grass and pulled him down beside her, holding him silently in her arms, and letting the silence carry forth his words. Her strategy worked, and Gur-Rai kept talking.
“I’ve fucked up so many relationships, Sister. There’s a reason I leave before the sun rises.”
She held the silence, waiting for him to continue, but he just pulled away from her embrace and curled his knees up to his chin.
“Maybe Pangu wanted to go.”
“No.” She pressed her hand to the top of his head, pulling off his hood in the process. “Do not think such things.”
“Konnie. How much do you think the Elders care about losing me?” He looked her in the eye. “I was just their punching bag, anyway. How many of my exes do you think cared enough to actually stay in contact? Even Nazira disappeared; she straight up left ADVENT territory all together.”
“That did not have to do with you.” Kon-Mai assured him. “I am sure she had her reasons.”
“She did but…” He sat back. “What if one of those was me?”
“You stop this right now!” Kon-Mai stood. “You matter, Brother, to many people. You matter to me. Did you forget that I demanded XCOM spare you?! If I truly held a grudge, would I not have let you die?”
He thought about that for a moment. “...I suppose.”
“Suppose nothing, for it is the truth.” She held out her hand to him. “Stand now, my brother, for we are bound in blood, and when I say I love you, I mean it.”
He looked up at her hand, and slowly reached up, his fingers curling around her wrist.
.
.
The generator room was always cold, and Nazira hated the cold.
Part of what she loved so much about her darling Gur-Rai was that he was always hot. Not in looks, although that was certainly true, too. His natural temperature sat a good three degrees higher than a human man’s, making his body infinitely warmer than hers. She did not know the cause of it (the Elders had always seemed so cold to her), but either way, she wished she had a bit of that touch now.
She tried to contain her shiver as she stepped into that dark, cold room. Shaking her head to rid it of the fog that was quickly covering her thoughts, she looked around. “Pangu?”
There was no answer, so she blew a short whistle through her teeth and clapped. “Here, little possum!”
All Nazira heard was the chattering of her own teeth. If he was in here, chances are he was probably frozen dead by now. She hoped not; the idea of taking his little pet’s freeze dried corpse back to her lover did not make her excited in the least.
She looked back at the semi-open door to the room and wondered if she should just leave, but something compelled her deeper into the metal maze.
There was a shuffling noise nearby, and Nazira turned her head hopefully, the action suddenly making her lightheaded and dizzy. She stumbled a bit, and as she reached down to steady herself, the sleeve of her suit pulled up, revealing her cuffs.
She froze, eyes half closed, the room around her now stark white. People in lab coats swarmed her and suddenly, before her eyes, Vox Camazotz’s acidic gaze cut into her very bones. She heard screaming, but though she could feel her mouth open and her vocal cords vibrate, it was detached from her, as though someone was screaming for her.
“I like this much better.” He reached one gnarled hand towards her. “Much, much better.”
Nazira shoved the heavy metal door open with her shoulder and sprinted back out into the sun.
.
.
Savitr followed Calliope as she sprinted down the road after Phoibos, who had taken off into the dunes and disappeared behind a wall of sand. He called out to her, but she was so far ahead of him at this point that she either couldn’t hear him, or pretended not to.
“Calliope!” He shouted again. “Wait! We shouldn’t go into the sand!”
His sister-in-arms turned to him, indicating she had heard this time, but she just gave him a look of excitement and gestured for him to follow.
Savitr hung back slightly as she climbed a dune and disappeared over the ridge. The only human in the group, Murillo, stood beside him, hands clasped and thumbs twiddling.
“What did Phoibos see?” Savitr turned to him.
Murillo shook his head. “We saw a great purple flash over the dunes. Phoibos wanted to investigate.”
Savitr grimaced and gathered a cloud of psionic energy at his fingertips. “Stay here.”
“Wait!” Murillo called after him. “Don’t you go, too!”
“I’m not going to cross the dune.” Savitr tried to assure him by offering a smile. “I’m just going to see if everyone’s alright.”
There was a whizzing scream as something flew past his head and landed in the sand beside them. Savitr acted on instinct, grabbing Murillo and throwing up a stasis shield as the grenade exploded, sending them both flying into the dunes and cracking the damaged road even more.
Murillo lay moaning in the sand, and Savitr stumbled to his feet, ignoring the pain from his own injuries. He scanned the area, trying to locate where the grenade had come from, before he heard Calliope scream.
.
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Nazira took a deep breath, trying to shake the last shiver from her body, and pushed aside the door flap, stretching as she walked inside. “Good afternoon, boys~”
Her brother and old friend looked up from their tea at the sound of her arrival. Verge seemed to shift uncomfortably at her comment, but relaxed as she plopped down on the cushions beside him.
“Finally decided we were worth your time?” Zafar chuckled. “I expected you to be all over Gur-Rai.”
“He’s looking for his possum.” She sighed. “It waddled off while he was busy fawning over Kon-Mai this morning. I swear, he loves that animal more than he loves me.” She laughed.
Verge set his empty teacup down, and Zafar stood up to refill it at the kettle that was now whistling on the stove. “Why do you say that?” The Sectoid inquired.
Nazira blinked. “Oh...it was a joke.” She chuckled. “I know he doesn’t really, it’s just a bit silly to get all worked up over.” She wrapped her arm around his neck. “You’re awfully nosy for someone with no nose~”
Verge nodded. “I’m...just not really clear on the status of your relationship, is he-”
“Are you jealous?” Nazira giggled. “I don’t blame you~”
“No!” Verge’s pale pink skin turned orange with blush. “I just...I’m just curious.”
“I’m sure. And fair enough, I am too.” She took the teacup that her brother handed to her. “Black Cranberry?”
“Lots of sugar, no cream, just how you like it.” Zafar handed the other cup back to Verge and sat down.
Nazira smiled warmly and stared into her cup. “Well, to answer your question Verge, I suppose he’s technically my ex-boyfriend.” She sighed. “But as you have seen, the ‘ex’ part can be left up to interpretation.”
“Did you end on bad terms?” Verge asked.
“Not exactly.” Nazira stuck her pinky into her tea and swirled it a bit. “It was just something that was a long time coming.”
Verge looked at Zafar, who was leaning on his hand, his long nail tapping his temple.
“I didn’t want to be part of ADVENT anymore.” Nazira shook her head. “No, maybe that’s wrong. I couldn’t be part of ADVENT anymore. I couldn’t stand living my life as something I was not.” She put her cup down. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to touch a suit again, and not to mention a plasma gun...”
Verge slid his hand across the table. “I didn’t know why you left. I do not think anybody did.”
“I kept it very quiet.” She said. “I just couldn’t do that anymore. And in the end, I had to make a choice between my love for Gur-Rai and my love for myself. And I couldn’t love him when I wasn’t even...me.” She looked past them, staring into nothingness. “I wanted him to come with me but...he wouldn’t. Even after everything the Elders did, he still hoped beyond hope that one day, they might love him. Just a little.”
“Perhaps we all hoped for that.” Zafar cut in. “Just a little.”
“Not me.” Nazira sneered. “They lost my love when they meddled in my genes, made me into something that only suited them.”
Verge stared at his hand on the table, his fingers long and clawed, but his skin pink instead of grey like his predecessors. He stood tall in comparison to the Sectoids that came before him. His heart was very nearly human itself.
Zafar looked up at Verge, who met his gaze with his own black eyes. “I, um…”
“It’s alright to be confused.” Zafar assured him. “It is a curse many ADVENT escapees bear. There is much I still need to decide for myself as well, but I cannot be burdened with those thoughts now.” He sighed. “Not when our people-”
“Our people are ex-ADVENT.” Nazira said. “If push comes to shove, many can fight. You spend so much time worrying about them, Zafar, I think you forget that.”
“Can they fight like you?” He raised a brow. “I am not trying to insult you, Sister. But many are scarred from their time under the Elders’ thumbs, just like yourself. And we saw the effects of that this morning.”
“I have to agree with Nazira, actually…” Verge cut in. “I know you want to, but you can’t protect your people if you’re running yourself ragged.”
Zafar rolled his eyes. “I am not ragged, Verge.”
“You yourself admit you barely sleep at night.”
It was then that Zafar stood and took a deep breath. “Speaking of our people, I need to consult Althaea about the grain stores. She wanted a portion to turn into beer.”
“You’re avoiding the situation!” Nazira called after her brother as he disappeared out the door. “Damn him.”
Verge chuckled. “I almost wish I had a sibling like that.”
“Oh what are you talking about?” Nazira put an arm around his shoulder once again, squeezing him close. “You have me.”
.
.
“Do not go off the path” should have been a simple instruction. But considering that the remains of the path were now lying in shards throughout the sand, Savitr figured Mox would probably forgive him for this.
He clenched his fingers as he pulled a shield of energy from the air around him, deflecting the rain of bullets from the trooper that stood before. The distorted voice of his brethren shouted for him to stand down, but Savitr responded by condensing his shield into a beam that cut through the armor of his foe and sent him flying back into the sand.
Murillo was still in the dirt, groaning from the injuries he’d sustained from the grenade, and it was now a choice: get Murillo to safety, or cross the ridge and gather what was left of his brothers and sisters.
He looked back at his fallen compatriot, and that short hesitation left him open for what happened next.
A black shadow darted out from behind the dunes, wielding a weapon that was glowing purple. Savitr barely managed to duck under it, and even then it struck him along his brow, shattering something and leaving a long gash. He fell into the sand and rolled away, getting back to his feet and raising a shield just as the purple lance came down again. His shield bent noticeably, and the purple sparks erupting from the contact sent shivers down his spine.
He looked into the eyes of his adversary and saw a foe he barely recognized: a crested woman with skin burnt red, her eyes glowing with psionic power, her face carved with shimmering runes. As she pushed forward and he fell back, he felt her own energy lancing into his, and with horror he realized she was so much more powerful than he was.
There was the sound of audible gunfire, and suddenly the pressure lifted. Savitr stumbled back, the hybrid woman turning from him towards where Diodor stood, rifle in hand. The bullet wounds in the woman’s back leaked dark blue, nearly black ichor that sizzled as it dripped onto the sand.
Savitr drew his own pistol and cocked it, but as soon as he pointed it toward her head she had already vanished from his immediate view. He glanced around frantically, and with a spark of fear he noticed Murrillo was gone.
Diordor began limping across the sand, and Savitr approached the younger hybrid and took him by the shoulders. “What happened?” He demanded.
Diodor shook his head, mouthing words, but his voice seemed to fail him.
“Calm down.” Savitr said coolly. “What happened? What’s out there?”
“So many…” Diodor threw himself into Savitr’s embrace. “There were too many! I think Phoibos is dead!”
Savitr looked around, still wary as he tried to search for the woman, and any sign of Murillo. “Where is he? Where are the others?”
Diodor clung to him closer, and Savitr felt the younger man’s tears fall on his own armor. He hated to push him away, but they were very much in danger. He gently shoved him back, helping him down onto his knees on the sand before stood up again.
Closing his eyes, Savitr reached out with his mind, feeling for any signs of life. And a sign of life was what he got: in fact the feedback of energy was so incredible that he nearly seized right there, but taking a deep breath, he pushed past it’s intense waves of light and heat.
There were at least two signatures he could feel, one he recognized as Calliope, and the other much stronger and stinking of rot. He focused on Calliope, trying to call out to her, and that was when the lance buried itself in his shoulder.
The connection severed immediately, and he tore away from the weapon, the hybrid woman standing dumbfounded behind him. Diodor had fallen in a puddle of his own blood, and with the fading of his life, Savitr saw red.
He lifted his hands, energy pulsing in his grasp, but as he was about to release it all, blowing up this woman and himself in a final act of retribution, she sheathed her sword.
*“Your sister is safe for now.”* She said in Etheric that was even smoother than his. *“It is not you I want. Return to your village. Tell them what is coming.”*
*“...And what is coming?”* He growled. *“Who are you?”*
*“I am an instrument of justice.”* She said as she stepped backwards into the sand. *“We are coming. Be ready.”*
*“No.”* He hissed, his shoulder throbbing. *“Stand and fight me.”*
*“I have no time for such tomfoolery.”* Her voice was cool and emotionless, and her eyes were nearly empty. *“You are not what I seek. There is only one I need.”*
Before he could stand to say another word, the woman jumped backwards into the dunes and disappeared.
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Zafar arrived at the door of Althae’s Ban just as Kon-Mai and Gur-Rai stepped up to the door. The former bowed in greeting and he returned it, bowing lower than she had in respect to his “teacher.”
“You would not have happened to see a possum anywhere?” Was the first thing out of Kon-Mai’s mouth.
“No, I haven’t.” He chuckled. “Nazira informed me you were looking for it. Any luck?”
“Nope.” Gur-Rai sighed, looking downtrodden, but he picked up a bit as Kon-Mai put her hand on his back.
“We’ve decided to take a break from the heat. A drink, something clear our heads.”
“In that case.” Zafar held open the door for her. “After you, my lady.”
Kon-Mai rolled her eyes but stepped inside, pulling her brother along with her. They stopped to dust the sand off their shoes before stepping onto the freshly swept floor, while Althaea the Viper stared at them with watchful eyes.
“Well, I was wondering when the famed Chosen would show up.” She grabbed two glasses and poured two drinks stinking of alcohol in preparation for them. Kon-Mai seemed to grimace at the sight of it as she sat down, but she took a sip anyway. Gur-Rai chugged half of his right then and there.
“Well, you two haven't changed.” Althaea chuckled, looking across the bar briefly as Jane emerged from the back.
“So that’s where you took off to!” Gur-Rai grinned happily and beckoned the ranger over. “Thought you’d left with the Commander.”
“I may be one of her many hands.” Jane said, leaning against the bar beside the two of them. “But I still like to relax from time to time. And Althaea is very relaxing.”
“Nice~” Gur-Rai nodded, turning back to the Viper woman “Hey, you didn’t happen to see a possum, did you?”
Althaea raised a brow. “A what?”
“It resembles a large rat.” Kon-Mai said.
“We get rats every now and again.” Althaea admitted, looking behind her towards the back rooms. “Do they eat rats?”
“They eat scraps.” Gur-Rai said. “Mostly he’ll eat whatever's in front of him, if it’s edible.”
“Oh that’s just great. Really, that’s what I need.” Althaea threw her rag down onto the counter.” Nobody touch the bar. I’ll be back.”
“I can look for you.” Jane said, beginning to stand up.
“No!” Althaea snapped, so harshly that Jane froze in her tracks. Even Zafar seemed startled by the snake’s outburst.
“Why?” Jane asked as she sat back down. “I’ve been in there all morning.”
“I...have a way I like things organized.” Althaea said quickly, slithering to the back. “Don’t touch the bar!” She slipped behind the curtain, disappearing into the stone walls again.
“Okay…” Jane sighed, slumping into a seat with her head in her hands. “There I go again, falling for emotionally unavailable women.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Gur-Rai tapped his glass to Jane’s.
Kon-Mai stood from her own seat and picked up her glass, watching the brown liquid slosh around in the cup. “Does anyone want this?” She asked. “I cannot stand the taste.”
“You can pour it out.” Zafar assured her. “I won’t tell Althaea.”
“I do not want to be wasteful.” She protested.
“We have more alcohol than we know what to do with.” Zafar chuckled. “In fact we may have a bit too much; we were supposed to start repairs on the roads a week ago, I’ll give you one guess where all the workers are.” He turned around to the group of human men in the corner table. “Isn’t that right, Ali?”
“We’re on break!” The man responded, his comrades raising their voices in agreement. “I’ll take that drink though!”
“On second thought.” Kon-Mai walked around behind the bar, looking around. “Is there a sink?”
“No running water.” Zafar said. “But I believe there’s a bucket under the bar that Althaea dumps poorly mixed drinks into.”
“Oh, here-” Kon-Mai reached for the blue bucket and hauled it from the cubby, noting that it was heavy for only containing liquids. “Does she pour out this much?” As she dumped her drink into the bucket, something squealed.
Gur-Rai jumped up. “What the hell?!”
“Indeed!” Kon-Mai exclaimed, reaching into the slop of discarded alcohol and pulling out a thoroughly soaked Pangu, who blinked at them in confusion. “What on EARTH were you doing in there, little one?!”
Gur-Rai ran around the counter. “That’s where you were?!” He shook his head, taking Pangu from his sister and hugging him, not minding the foul smelling cocktail soaking his clothes. “Deglu ux, you lil scamp!”
Kon-Mai shook her head. “We have been looking for you all day!” She lifted a finger and scratched Pangu on the top of his head. The possum seemed to barely register it. “And now you are drunk, you little rascal! I hope you are proud of yourself!”
“Alcohol won’t hurt him, will it?” Gur-Rai kissed the top of Pangu’s head, then spat on the ground. “That’s nasty. You need a bath, lil guy.”
Zafar laughed, his grin shining in the low light. “And they all lived happily ever after.”
.
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Dhar-Mon stepped out into the heat once again, sighing in disappointment. His brother’s beloved pet was nowhere to be found, and it brought him great worry to think of how young Gur-Rai would take losing the animal.
He drew a small line in the sand with his foot, staring aimlessly into the shimmering distance. Staying completely still for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, he only moved his head slightly when he noticed a black, humanoid shape cut through the mirage in the distance. For a moment, Dhar-Mon kept his eyes trained on it, still not moving as he watched it draw closer. It was only when he recognized the black lumps as Skirmisher armor that he snapped from his trance and began to step forward.
The Skirmisher limped towards him, and as he got closer, Dhar-Mon recognized his face, albeit vaguely. “Savitr?” He called, waving him over. “Savitr Vallinor!”
Savitr looked up, his eyes wide, and began to drag himself towards the Hieromonk faster. His progress was slow and his gait was uneven, and Dhar-Mon rushed out into the heat of the sand, meeting the Skirmisher halfway. “What has happened?!” He cried, as he came face to face with the man’s extensive injuries.
The worst wound was in Savitr’s left shoulder, a gash through which he could see meat and muscle and veins sticking through the armor. But as he stepped closer, hands raised and ready to heal him, he noticed his entire body was riddled with deep cuts and burnt shrapnel.
“We were ambushed.” Savitr said, pushing Dhar-Mon’s hands away. “No, not now, there is no time. Where’s Zafar?!”
“I do not know.” Dhar-Mon admitted. “You must be healed-”
“No time.” Savitr coughed. “Will you help me find him? I can hardly walk!”
“Of course.” Savitr may have expected Dhar-Mon to simply help him stand, but the Hieromonk scooped up the smaller man into his arms. “He rarely ever leaves his home residence, let us check there.”
“Go, please.” Savitr was breathless. “We have no time.”
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This time, Kon-Mai held the door open for Zafar and her now alcohol-soaked brother. “Age before beauty.”
Zafar grumbled and Gur-Rai snickered as he stepped inside, into the cool air of the stone home. Nazira got to her feet, a smile on her face. “You found him!”
“Yep!” Gur-Rai chuckled. “He was getting drunk off of the wasted alcohol. I think I’ve been a bad influence on him.”
“So, you could say he was wasted on waste...” Verge quipped, which earned a snicker from the Darkstrider and a sigh from the Shrinemaiden.
“If you are comfortable here, Gur-Rai, I shall go locate our eldest brother.” Kon-Mai folded her hands in front of her. “No sense in leaving him in the heat of the blazing sun, when we have already accomplished our mission.”
“You sure you want to be out there?” Nazira asked. “You’re supposed to keep your burn out of the heat, right?”
“I have been inside for a while.” Kon-Mai assured her. “A bit of sunlight will not hurt me.” She turned around, reaching for the tapestry just as it flew aside, and in stepped Dhar-Mon with a very bloody Savitr cradled in his arms.
Kon-Mai looked between the two in horror. “Nalla itzar…” She helped Savitr down from Dhar-Mon’s arms and led him towards the loveseat. “What has happened here?!”
“We were ambushed…” Savitr coughed, his skin pale and his voice weak. “On the Western Front, about 3 miles down the pre-war road…”
“Ambushed by what?” Zafar demanded, stepping around the table. “Ambushed by WHAT?!”
“ADVENT.” Savitr choked out, blood on his lips. “They were led by a hybrid I’ve never seen before: a woman with a crested head and red skin...her power was almost as great as the Wa-as Dhar-Mon’s.” Savitr corrected himself quickly, his voice faltering. “She killed my entire platoon, except for one. I believe she’s captured…” He pressed a hand to his injured shoulder just as Kon-Mai was reaching up to peel the torn Kevlar away from the wound.
Zavar went pale, stumbling back into the table. “We have no defenses. Barely any weapons. We can’t...we can’t defend ourselves.”
“Then we run.” Nazira said quickly. “We hide in the mountains! There are caves in there”
“We can’t move everyone that quickly!” He snapped. “It will take an hour at least to round everyone up! Half a day to get to the mountains!”
“Then just get on the intercom and tell everyone to scram!” Gur-Rai leaned forward, urgency in his voice. “At least give them a running start!”
“And let them run headfirst into the enemy, like cows to a slaughter.” Kon-Mai growled. “No, that is no solution. We ourselves have weapons, do we not? Let us stand and fight!”
“I’m going to make myself useful.” Verge stood. “I’m radioing the Avenger. Maybe they’re close enough that they can turn around.”
“What if they don’t have enough soldiers?” Zafar asked. “We don’t know how many troops ADVENT brought.”
“It’s our best option.” Verge said. “If anyone can help us, it’s them.”
“Place a call to the Templars…” Savitr winced as Dhar-Mon pushed the edges of his wound together to expedite the healing. “They’re nearer to us than the Avenger, with any luck they may already be on their way.”
“In the meanwhile.” Kon-Mai stood and pulled her sword off her back. “Gur-Rai, get your armor on and follow me.”
He nodded, not daring to argue with his sister, and handed Pangu to Savitr. “Watch this one for me.”
“You can’t.” Savitr reached out, grabbing Kon-Mai’s hand weakly. “It...She’s powerful. Too powerful.”
“I am the child of gods.” She curled her lip at his words. “Do not underestimate me.”
“I’ll try not to…” He pulled away. “Just do not die.”
“Rest, my friend.” She nodded. “I do not intend to die this day.” She turned as Gur-Rai clipped on the rest of his armor and pulled his gun off his back.
“Let’s move.”
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The west road was empty, but Kon-Mai could see in the distance the remnants of a battle. From within the fading heat lines and the vaporous mirage, pieces of armor and abandoned bodies lay like heaps of trash in the sand, discarded and forgotten.
Her brother knelt low on the roof they stood upon, his sniper rifle trained in the direction of the bodies, where vultures were already circling.
“How much do you wanna bet it was just pirates?” He muttered.
“Did you see the wound?” Kon-Mai closed her eyes, keeping her ears trained on the sounds around her, waiting for any signs of movement. “That kind of gash had to be made with a sword.”
“Pirates can use swords.” Gur-Rai scoffed in response, learning forward a bit. “...Hey. What do you hear, Sister?”
“You, currently.”
“No, listen closer.” He hissed. “I see something.”
Kon-Mai lifted her chin and closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the oasis carry on the breeze towards her, and in that moment, an ear-splitting boom rocked the very foundation they stood on.
As Kon-Mai stumbled, in her peripheral vision she saw a great flash of purple light. The sky suddenly went dark, deep black clouds circling the small village, and Gur-Rai dove to the ground and grabbed her, holding her under him.
“What are you doing?!” She tried to shove him off of her.
“Keep down!” He hissed, but the crackling noise was so loud that he had to nearly scream.
“What is that?!” She struggled under him. “Let me up!”
“No!” He shifted, and for a moment she saw intense terror in his eyes. “Do not go up there! Konnie!”
Kon-Mai wrenched herself away for just a moment, long enough to sit up and gaze directly into the violet portal that had opened outside of the Dakhla Oasis. Dark-clad psionic warriors, the likes of which she had never seen, poured from it’s murky mouth onto the sand, lances drawn and weapons ready.
Right before her brother grabbed her hand once again, a tall grey figure emerged into the light, it’s four arms raised as it called upon the kind of power only a god could use.
“Humans and Traitors.” Vox Imdugud’s voice cut its way into her very soul. “We know who hides among you. Return unto us the Chosen, and no harm will come to you. Refuse, and you shall die.”
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Summary: The chapter begins with Jane waking up in Althaea the Viper’s bedroom, where she hears her speaking in a language she doesn’t recognize to someone on the phone. When asked about it, Althaea says she is speaking to her sisters, but avoids any further questions. Outside, the Chosen and Nazira begin a search for Pangu the Possum, who wandered off when Gur-Rai left to check on his sister. The group splits up to cover more ground, searching in the places where food is commonly stored. Nazira searches the generator room and has a flashback to her days in ADVENT, and as Kon-Mai helps her brother search, he confesses to her he feels guilty about how he treated her before. Outside of the oasis, Savitr and his brothers and sisters-in-arms are sent to patrol the western front.
Nazira, after abandoning the search, returns home and talks to Verge and Zafar about their days in ADVENT. Upon the other two questioning him about his health, Zafar leaves and goes to the bar, where he meets up with Kon-Mai and Gur-Rai, who have taken a break from the search. It is here they finally find Pangu, hiding in the bucket of wasted alcohol.
Savitr and his party are attacked by a mysterious hybrid woman, unlike any he has ever seen and with incredible psionic power. The woman, seen previously as Dua-Zoar, kills all of his friends except one, and tells Savitr to warn the village of an upcoming attack. As Savitr returns, Kon-Mai and Gur-Rai go out to meet their assailants, upon which a great psionic portal opens, and Vox Imdugud emerges, demanding the Chosen reveal themselves.
(We’re in the thick of it now, pals! Next two chapters or so will be the big fight! We’re almost at the end of what I like to consider “season 1″ of Chosen Stories, and I really hope you enjoyed!)
Archive: https://chosenstories.tumblr.com/chapterlist