Last Stand: Azdar P.R.I.M.E. ~ IC

[MiscChaos]

Ty looks to the restroom a few times before giving a shrug. "I think she'd be safe enough with the civilians. I hope." he says, a small look of worry on his face. He shakes it off and decides to redirect his attention by answering Blanc's second question. "We're headed for the escape pod. Our employers want us to get outta here for pickup." he whispers back to her, starting to move towards the pod already.

[Zender_Solarheart]

Jon sees Kath's troubled demeanor, and can't help but wonder if she's met with a similar tragedy to the one he faced, all those years ago. Truth be told, it still plagues his mind every so often, when the memory re-surfaces in a nightmare...the trauma of seeing your own father killed, with your own two eyes, isn't something that just goes away. He can still recall that dark, grisly moment...

(flashback)

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

A 16-year-old Jonathan runs frantically from the orange glow of raging flames, and the outburst of nearby gunfire. The insurgents have killed God knows how many militia-men by now, not to mention the civilians, and he doesn't want to be next. He sticks to the narrow passages, aided in his getaway plan by his somewhat thinner frame...but it doesn't take long for him to round a corner, and find an insurgent looking right at him. "Sh-shit!"

He attempts to dart past the insurgent and cut him with the dagger on the way, but Jon's slash is stopped cold by a blunt rifle-butt strike to his stomach. He reels back, gasping and groaning from the pain, as the enemy points his rifle straight at his head...and then...

"Jon, get down!"

Reacting to his father's voice, Jon drops to the ground prone, as a sweep of SMG fire streaks over him, perforating the insurgent. Jered Edge dashes over, mutters something about "soulless zealots," and helps his son up. "You okay?" he asks, though evidence clearly points to the contrary on a number of factors. "S-sorry dad...I screwed up...thanks for- "

"Death to the infidels!!"

Hearing the insurgents' war-cry, Jered pushes Jon aside, who falls down just narrowly in time to avoid the oncoming hail of bullets. His father cries out in pain, and his body thrashes about as countless armor-piercing rounds blaze through it. Jon recalls militia-men carrying him off as he looks back at the spot his father took the bullets at. He sees a medical officer get up from the fallen body, look down, and shake his head in a "no" gesture...Jered Edge, the veteran soldier of immeasurable skill, is no more...

Jon can't recall how long he wept when he realized that loss...or how many nights he cried himself to sleep...it was horrific, watching the only family he'd ever known be killed in vicious blood-lust...and being completely unable to prevent it...

Feeling rather empathetic to what Kath might be suffering under, Jon kneels down next to Kath's bed, putting his other hand on top of her own, and begins to pray in his mind:

"I don't know if there's really a God out there...and if there is, I'll bet you have a few accounts to settle with me, and we'll get to that...but for now, if you're listening, please grant me one simple request...protect Kath. I know I've only known her for less than a day...but the small amount of time we have spent together has helped me remember why I'm fighting this war. It's not to get 'even' with those aliens, and it's not to make a name for myself...it's for people like Kathy here, who just want to live a decent life, the way they want to. So please, I beg of you...watch over her...don't let those brutish...space-apes destroy what I risked my life to protect...and if it's not too much trouble...please provide guidance for me...Amen."

Jon's not really a religious man, so praying like that did feel a bit awkward...but at this point, he just wants to protect Kath, by whatever means he can find. Of course, he also wants to keep himself alive and healthy...if Sue was told that he died, her heart would be crushed faster than a peanut in a trash compactor.

[Lady Foxy]

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Alicia's sleeping body 'moved' away from Reaper.. Which was basically turning and moving around the bed until she was on the opposite side of Reaper.. Her delicate, smooth looking figure would be just there for him to see.. However, he was now free to move without triggering an accident.. Reaper can also remember that Alicia wears black socks with little cute pink hearts on them.. Although he better cover up the foot he took one of her boots off if he doesn't want to end up in the bad end of a pistol's side..

Skies ~ 'Luck' Freighter

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Blanc nodded and following Ty as she hugged his left arm in the process, grinning in comfort while rubbing her face against his shoulder in a sisterly way.

Mia basically is being pulled along by Blanc's left hand, blushing slightly as she looks around in curiosity.

Skies ~ 'Masa' Freighter

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Kaythleen's hand would give a sudden twitch while Jon held it with both of his own.. But her breathing seemed to have gotten normal and peaceful by now.. A slight sign of a smile could be seen on her face.. As if somehow she had been granted comfort by Jon's company..

[Reapergod36]

(Facepalm Foxy.. Too obvious a hint, but eh whatever.)

Reaper slowly slid down to the bed's end. And put her boot back on. He then stood in front of the bed, and wondered if he should stay and keep massaging her back. Or leave immediately because of all the close calls. Reaper would see about it, then head for the door.

[Lady Foxy]

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Reaper would find it strange that the door wouldn't slide when he stepped near it.. A slight flashback should bring him back the glimpse of him seeing Alicia using her hand on a scanner.. Then Reaper would notice a similar scanner on the right of the door..

[Zender_Solarheart]

Seeing that Kath is progressing further in her recovery, Jon feels some of the heavy concerns plaguing his mind begin to lift away. He knows that Sue's his girlfriend, and all...but still, seeing Kathy feeling a little more comfortable than earlier is comforting to him, as well. He can't help but think that Sue would get on his case with fury if she saw him like this, however; Kath may not be taking Sue's place, per se, but that's something that only he knows right now.

Linking up with the recruiter he contacted is still on his mind, but he wants to at least wait for Kath to wake up, first. After all, it'd be rude to suddenly go and leave her behind, without even saying good-bye...and in all honesty, he's going to miss her when the time for him to leave does come...

[Reapergod36]

Reaper would whisper a cuss. And wonder if he should risk using his hand. He can't drag her over to it. So he tries to open it with his hand.

[MiscChaos]

With Blanc and Mia in tow, Ty makes his way to the escape pod. Not too hard to find since it's in the same place on every freighter. After making sure everyone was inside securely, despite it being a little cramped, he says to Mia, "Last chance to back out." as his hand hovers over the launch button.

[Lady Foxy]

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The door is made of some kind of hard titanium metal.. It doesn't even budge to move since there isn't a single 'edge' you can manually open it.. It seems Reaper is stuck.. Unless he finds a sort of way to get out.. Or hide undetected..

Skies ~ 'Masa' Freighter

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Kaythleen's grip on Jon's hand seemed to have gotten a bit tighter for a second.. Then she began squeezing it but in a soft, tender way.. As if wondering what was she holding unconsciously in her sleep.. It seemed she had let out a soft gasp.. Was she waking up?..

Skies ~ 'Luck' Freighter ... Escape Pod 020

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Mia shook her head.. Hugging Blanc for comfort as Blanc could only let out a charming giggle at such human emotions.. It seems Mia had closed her eyes, knowing that the way down won't be nothing but easy..

[Reapergod36]

Reaper looks for a vent to unbolt, and get out of the room.

[MiscChaos]

"Alright then." Ty says, hitting the button. As a last thought before the pod launches, Ty has a random thought... 'I wonder if an alarm goes off once this thing is gone.'

[Lady Foxy]

Skies ~ Escape Pod 020

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

There would be a loud; 'ESCAPE POD OUT AND ABOUT!' little voice echoing back in the Escape Pod room at the freighter, but since nobody was around at the time.. They were practically incognito unless somebody looked down at the windows on the sides..

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

There isn't a single vent nearby.. At least for the minimal size for Reaper to fit in.. There's only high-tech looking vents that Reaper's fist wouldn't even fit inside..

[Reapergod36]

Reaper looks around for another exit, but can't seem to find any. Reaper guesses the best way is to wake her up.

[Lady Foxy]

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Alicia's sleeping body was enjoying a smooth, warm rest.. However, Reaper's conclusion couldn't be bad for him to try..

[MiscChaos]

'Well, that answers that question. Ty thinks as the pod makes its way to... wherever it's going. Some coordinates for it to land it would've been a great idea. Too late now though. Nothing to do but talk or stare into space at this point. "So, Mia, where do you come from?" he asks, a bit curious since he knows so little about the girl. Or her brother for that matter, but it'd be best not to bring that subject up.

[Reapergod36]

Reaper would try to gently move her, to get her to wake up. "Sergeant....." He would say lowly.

[Zender_Solarheart]

Jon can't help but feel rather perplexed at Kath's subconscious actions. Sure, people can do strange things when they're asleep, but curiosity makes him wonder what might be causing it all...

Well, he can see her exhibiting signs of waking up, so it won't last much longer. For now though, he stays quiet, and lets her awake without disturbance. There's a part of him that's wondering how she'll react when she sees that his hands are on her own, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[Lady Foxy]

Skies ~ Escape Pod

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

''I-I was born back at Mother Earth..'' Mia spoke rather shyly, looking away before trying to look somewhere else.

The escape pod would rock back and forth.. However, there seemed to be a little red sensor beeping lowly on the pod's controls..

ALPHA BASE ~ Alicia's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Alicia groaned quietly, using one hand to sleepily smack away at Reaper..

''I-I don't want to go to school yet, Mom.. Just.. Five more minutes.. She somewhat groaned out.

Skies ~ 'Masa' Freighter

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Kaythleen's hand seemed to be groping Jon's hand more curiously.. Trying to understand what was it in her half-awake state before gently yawning to the side.. Her eyes half-open as she'd look over at Jon, then at her hand.. Still not knowing what was truly happening, but she would smile brightly, nonetheless..

[Zender_Solarheart]

Jon can't help but smile back as Kath's eyes open. There's still a bit of sadness in the back of his mind, mainly at the thought of having to leave soon...but one wouldn't be able to see that readily, as he's doing a good job of hiding it right now. As for the moment at hand, Jon is careful to keep his hand in a place where she can reach it without stressing her arms too much, then asks a question that's been pegging his mind for a while now:

"Feeling any better, Kath?"

A simple question, but rather important to him, as that little scare her vital-reader pulled earlier still has him a bit on edge, watching for any other hiccups in the system. Mostly, however, he just wants to know that she's recovering; such knowledge will help them both, and even if she only feels a tiny bit better than before, it'll help soften the inevitable blow when his time to re-group with the recruiter comes.

[Reapergod36]

Reaper didn't want to disturb her sleep. So he laid next to her. He wasn't really scared of her right now.