A Puppeteer's Game [LOG]

[Kyrie Blaze]

David B. said:

Aaron stood in the doorway. It had been two days since he got on board. Since he was drug from Utah by the skin of his teeth to come here. And see his brother. The man in the tank. He made sure Damien was gone...made sure that sneaky little bastard was off doing his own thing...before stepping up.

"Hey little brother. It's me. Aaron."

He looked him over, then cocked an eyebrow.

"Jeez...you sure inherited the family dong, let me tell you. Congrats."

He laughed, awkwardly...then proceeded to shake his head and look away.

"The hell am I doing? Talking to a floater...I should go."

He turned to walk out, white tshirt and stained black jeans showing a deep contract to one another. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think for a few moments to himself while he searched the ships walls for an answer.

"Look...I- I'm not good at speeches. I'm not...the type of guy who stands around rallying his men. I wake up, I kick ass, rinse and repeat. People seemed...to admire that. They watched me fight back every way I knew how. A few wanted to help out, then a few more and...we grew. You...you were always the one with charisma. In your freshman year, before I was transferred out, there was that kid- what was his name? Pete? Yeah. Pete Stevens. He put a fellows head through a locker for stealing his soda."

Aaron chuckled.

"We all knew he drank it. Pete. Such a fucking asshole...but. We stuck to our guns and stayed out of it. Then- when we were about to walk away, that girl stepped in. You remember- Heather. God she was beautiful. I had more than one lonely session with her in my head, let me tell you. But she stepped up, and was getting her ass kicked for it. I remember that all the toughest guys in that school stood around and watched Heather get her ass wooped up and down the cafeteria. And I remember...you stomped the bloodiest mudhole into that guys head before he could finish her off. I'd never seen you like that. When you were done, you didn't gloat, or spit on him or...beat up his friends to make an example. You just...took that girls hand and helped her up, looked back at the rest and said...'You should all be ashamed of yourselves.'. And you walked away."

Aaron had some tears welling up, and as he looked down, they fell a bit.

"People watched you after that. Watched all of us, y'know? 'Those Blaze brothers, they sure got something right in them, don't they? I've never seen people more willing to help. Good, to the core.' Student assessment meetings- I was on the student council at the time and...well, I'm probably boring you. But. I need you to know that I know I'm your older brother. I know I've failed you in a lot of ways. And when those bombs fell...you and Damien were all I could think about. I knew I had to do something. Odds were you both were...gone, and I had to make sure your work kept going. I fought and I fought and I FOUGHT, dammit!"

Aaron wrung his fingers a bit, working his left thumb into the palm of his right hand.

"I swear to God David, you just give up and die in there, I will find a way to bring you back. And when I do, I'll make what you did to Pete seem like a backrub. I swear to God."

He stared at Davids floating body, as though waiting for an answer.

Kyrie Blaze said:

He'd been moved. No longer was he in the room with the other kolo tanks, but in a room joined to the Captain's quarters after the friendly neighbourhood spies got a little...too friendly. David had damned himself for essentially putting himself on lockdown in those moments, else he would have torn them to shreds with barely even a thought.

And then in a flash of the dark he was...rescued. Oh, it stung his pride. He was no damsel in distress! But he was nothing more than a doll, then and now. A puppet. It chafed. Even though a deadly ferce Kiyr had shown up...it still bruised his ego.

Maybe he needed that.

She always was good at teaching him humility, at bringing him back down to the ground when he got too lofty.

But it wasn't her at the door. He'd known Kiyr would follow through on her word. The tiny woman...always did. The person standing at the door was Aaron. It set his heart soaring and yet gave a pained lurch at the same time. His qi swirled, unnoticeable, to take in the changes to his brother. It had been so long, and now he couldn't even...

...he couldn't even kick his ass, for one. Again with the naked thing. He wanted to knock Aaron over the side of his head, and then again for thinking he should go. Even if it was going to be more of the same 'please don't leave me', he should stay.

He listened, the only response he could give a slow exhale of bubbles. He would listen to what Aaron had to say. It was interesting that it didn't start out as a plea for him to come back. Then again...that wasn't really Aaron's style, either, though Damien certainly held a stronger aversion for that than Aaron.

The trip to the past, now...that was more like it. The memories played out as Aaron spoke of them. Of Heather. To call her beautiful was an understatement. And that neither of his brothers stepped in was such a disappointment. Their parents had taught them all better than that--so much better. So he dove right in.

But when the burst of anger reared its ugly head, David could have...smiled. There. There was Aaron.

Unfortunately, his brother would have to get in line. Apparently there were other people that would kick his ass. Who knew, maybe they'd have a party while attempting it.

As it was he had no motor control, so Aaron, despite waiting for an answer - some kind of sign - would receive none.

David B. said:

Aaron glanced back at the door.

"They say I look like you, you know. I mean, I think I'm slightly more...robust, but hey, beggars can't be choosers."

He looked back at him.

"What about this Kiyr? She's single, right? She throws out orders like shes the mother teresa, but she's gotta have a perky ass under all those clothes, right?"

He laughed aloud, the sound bouncing off the walls. As he started coming down off it, he sighed.

"Sorry...shouldn't go into detail about dat bod. I suspect she's seen me looking from the corner of my eye and I'd rather she not sick her mohawk-loving friend on me. He's got this glare like my life is some...personal insult."

He scratched his hair.

"Ah, well...think I should ask her on a date anyway?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

Of course there were similarities - mostly - but they were brothers, after all. It would be strange if they looked nothing al--Kiyr? Those streams of thoughts silenced as he focused on what Aaron was saying. And internally, he bristled.

He could have laughed at that, though. Even for all of it, he could have laughed. 'Oh, Aaron, she's not for you. You're not her type.'

If he could have shaken his head, he would have. The other thing that could have drawn a laugh from him was the mention of Einrik. That smartass was in here a while ago - too long ago, it seemed - and assured him she would be watched over. And Aaron's words were probably correct.

Hell, who knew if even the Titan would tolerate him as well if he knew...

David tried to exhale more forcibly. No. Probably not the best idea to ask her on a date. And if he only knew...

Kyrie Blaze said:

From the deep shadows of the room - having tried for solitude and failed, because someone always seemed to show up at the most inopportune times - the blue-eyed blonde in question sat. Stared. Bored holes into Aaron's back with her gaze alone. But she didn't move, and she made no sound.

David B. said:

Aaron began to get ponderous.

"What do you think her boobs look like? Yeah, I know it's immature, and that im no different but...it's just with you guys. Your my friends and brothers and...I mean, are they small? Perky? What about her nipples? Pink, red, brown? C'mon man, don't stay silent on me, you can't have been friends with her and not snuck a peek. Or asked to seem them or something. She is smoking hot. Like her sister."

He picked a nail.

"Damien...lucky bastard. I suppose I could ask him what color Ariannas are and then just...picture them."

He looked at the tank, then tsked.

"Einrik said he thinks you get pissed off when anyone talks about Kiyr sexually. So get pissed off already. Wake the fuck up and take responsibility, dude. You can't just walk out. I mean, your gonna just die? BEFORE you get a look at her perky boobs? Dude. Death is shit. And you don't have permission to do it so...don't."

He glanced at the door, then let out a deep breath.

"Alright. I'll go. But...if you heard me, just think about what I said. Perky boobs."

He got up and started to walk out.

"I wonder if I could talk her into showing them to him...maybe that would wake him up. He's a man after all--"

And, unless stopped, Aaron would walk out...leaving Kiyr alone with David.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Angry would be an understatement. Fury was a better description. If he'd been able to and if Aaron wasn't his brother, the man would be in more pain than even the worst he could imagine.

Times like this were frustrating. It would have relieved some of the fire in his veins to at least be able to throttle Aaron for his words--even though that was exactly how his brother was.

As his brother looked towards the door, David's chin gave a slight, hard, upward jerk.

He exhaled, but made no attempt to try and stop him. Not that he could. Besides, it was for the best if he left.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie, on the other hand, blanched as Aaron continued his base conversation. She shrank down in her position and coiled her arms further around herself, holding tight. She was disgusted. Embarrassed and appalled. The blonde ducked her chin behind her arms and let Aaron go.

Despite the cool tang of that familiar fear, something a little colder still stirred. She made no move to shift from her position, but stayed and stared at the man floating in the kolo tank. Not at his body, which so many had commented on, but on his face. Her brow was slightly furrowed and drawn together...pained.

Her heart--she could feel her heart beat, erratically.

David B. said:

David thought to himself for several long moments, after Aaron left. The man was insatiable, a jokester...but he was his brother. And a kind, loving man. He liked to admire women, and was open about it but...he was kind. All of them got that gene, thankfully. David stayed silent for several seconds...should he return to sleep? No...sleep didn't offer comfort for him, unfortunately. So, he listened to the sound of the ship breathing around him...

And, despite himself, thought a little about Kiyrs boobs.

Still, he tried to focus on his healing...on everything he had left to do. Kiyr would come soon. He knew she would. The short talk they had before Damien arrived...that couldn't be all there was to their story. There had to be more to it. He wanted her to come...but he didn't want to force her.

So, he stayed silent, and listening to the sound of the ship.

Kyrie Blaze said:

It took a while. She tried to calm her beating heart, and when she found she couldn't, the shadowstalker pushed herself into a crouch to start to slink from the side of the room. After a few, practically silent, movements...she stood. Her arms wound themselves around herself, again. A shield.

She watched David for several long moments, then opened her lips to force two whispered words from between her lips.

"Hey, David..."

David B. said:

David felt a tightening in his chest at the presence...he could feel small whisps of her in the air. Then the voice-

His finger twitched, but he was silent as bubbles floated up from his mouth.

Oh god...please don't let her have heard what Aaron said.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Her gaze fell. If she caught the slight twitch of his finger, she didn't show it.

Oh, she heard. It cut a new kind of wound in her.

"Is that...all I will be good e-enough for..?" She asked, upset and afraid and uncertain and vulnerable. Though she was still clothed, this was one of the times she felt absolutely stripped down. When Aaron had spoke, she could feel her skin crawl. Now..? Now she felt naked. And whether or not he was aware and could hear her, she could still be vulnerable around him. Or maybe it was because she wasn't sure.

And she had so much to say that she hadn't been able to.

David B. said:

David felt a lance in his chest.

Aaron...was a good man. He wanted to scream at her for sneaking around. His brother had thought they were alone, and was trying to make jokes to him. To wake him up or piss him off. To do...something. Because he was afraid. He hadn't... He had never meant for her to-

He rebelled against his body...but his body stayed motionless, still as death, as a few more bubbles lifted from his mouth.

Kyrie Blaze said:

She didn't know what else to do.

She silently asked for forgiveness and leaned her forehead against the clear barrier. A couple tears slid down her cheeks, and one arm finally unwound itself so she could start to brush her own tears away for herself. He wasn't going to do it for her, after all. Even that stung.

She drew in a shaky breath, but for now, didn't speak.

David B. said:

As Kiyr drew away...she might notice a slight movement if she looked up.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Her thumb brushed over her eye, pressing the tears away, and not terribly gentle about it. She sniffed--and jerked slightly at what she perceived as movement. Her eyes shot to it, her breath catching in her throat--

David B. said:

David stared down at her, bubbles flitting in front of his eyes as he stared.

His strength was sapped, and he felt a hot pain behind his eyes...but his lids were open.

Kyrie Blaze said:

He was going to make her cry.

Wide blue eyes, rimmed just a little in tell-tale pink, went wider still. She gave a choked sound and her hands lifed to press against the tank, up near his face.

"D-David?" Her voice cracked.

David B. said:

He couldn't speak or move or touch the tank or say high or...anything. But his eyes were open, and moving. Watching her. They were a dark blue...trainquil, tired...exhausted but- they showed what she was searching for as the bubbles shifted upward.

Love.

Though he couldn't explain or talk or comfort- he did love her, and though he would find a way to make sure Olesya and Maddie were safe...he still loved Kiyr. He couldn't help it. She just...brought that out at him.

So he searched her face and floated, unable to reply.

Kyrie Blaze said:

This man could break her heart over and over again, yet she would love him, still. The very same if he broke her down to only her base components; the very essence of who she was. There, amidst all the pieces that made up who she was, was love.

Her fingers pressed flat against the glass, stretched out. She wished she could take him out of the tank, if only for a moment to hug him. She wouldn't use that damnable doll to get one in return, even though she needed one--

The tears started anew, and beneath them in her eyes was his answer. Love. And even the smallest of fierce hopes. She stretched her arms against the tube. A hug in gesture if nothing else.

"I miss you--" Her breath caught. "Rest, but, d-don't leave. Please. Pl-lease. Do not go where I cannot follow. Not so soon after th-this last time."

Her cheek pressed against the pane, her breath fogging against the surface. Noticing that, she drew her hands back, so her breath wouldn't obstruct it.

She nearly continued. She wanted to. She hadn't admitted it to anyone...but would it only cause him to give up?

David B. said:

David couldn't say anything. He wanted to explain to her his thoughts...explain why he wanted to go. What...hinderance he and the other Elders were. How much they could grow without him. How...he had failed too many times. If he came back, it would just be setting him and them up for disappointment. He was tired of letting them down.

He was just...so tired. At such a young age he shouldn't be this exhausted.

But her plea caught him in the chest. Aaron, Damien, Einrik, Arianna, Spike- they all tried to talk him out of dying. But when Kiyr stood there and told him....not to go? Well...it broke his heart. He stared, waiting...unsure of whether he should try and blink...or if his eyes would remain closed if he did.

Just a little longer. He wanted to watch her just...a little longer.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Oh if only he could speak. Kyrie was no mind reader, though she would gently give him a piece of her mind if she knew what was rolling through his. It was hard to breathe without her body wanting to stutter teh breath, or to hiccup, or to sob, even. She swallowed, hard, and even that took effort.

"F-Fifteen years...i-if that is the rest you need, if that helps, th-then I support it. Just...do-don't go." He was the only one thus far that had her breaking her normal speech patterns for. In itself, that showed just how much the thought of him leaving shook her. "I could not follow for a very long-ng time."

She took a breath; she wouldn't keep stumbling over her words.

She didn't look away, but, her next words were hushed. He would have to know, sooner or later. He would find out, now by her choice, or when he woke up in fifteen years, truly.

"Hyperion gave me...his Titan Circle. It is no exaggeration...when I say a very long time. Unless by some misfortune I fell in battle sooner than that, it i likely...that I will outlive many people." She choked back her words for a moment. The pain of it was reflected in her eyes. To be as close to immortal as it got for any normal person, without a qi of that nature...it tore her apart. "Please, I know it is so selfish, but--but even if only as a friend in fifteen years, please live and live with me."

Her hand curled into a loose fist, the other remaining spread against the tank's barrier. He'd told her to start taking for herself. Though maybe not in the way he'd intended...she was. And she wasn't afraid to show him that she was, actually, afraid. Afraid of outliving him and any children he would have. Outliving all the countless people she loved.

She already wondered about that. David. Then the next that looked at her with any kind of devotion--he was gone, too. And she hadn't even had the chance to get to know him as a person, love be damned. She hadn't even gotten any chance, that, some tiny voice she pushed away wondered if she wasn't made for love, but to give it, instead.

David B. said:

David felt his heart thrum in his throat for several long seconds.

Then, he slowly let his gaze travel to her feet, then the floor....then his eyes closed again.

Kyrie Blaze said:

The blood drained away from her face as his gaze fell. As his eyes closed. The worst part of this was not knowing. Not knowing his thoughts. Not knowing what he would do. The remnant of a sob bubbled in her throat and escaped as she pressed her cheek to the pane again, arms stretching to stop herself from sliding down.

She would believe in him.

Much as it cut her to admit it to him, but she would rather have him know than find out on his own. Perhaps in time she could ask...or even Hyperion would... It wasn't her choice. Hyperion had, however, done it to keep her safe. And David from her. She just hoped that nothing bad came to the other people surrounding her in that time. The blonde hiccupped and then exhaled, her voice sounding out briefly, three times. Three...

David B. said:

David remained oddly silent...and unmoving. Not bubbles or breath just...silence.

Kyrie Blaze said:

There was no movement? No bubbles? No movement.

Her heart stopped.

"David--" Her head jerked. "David!"

David B. said:

Stone silence.

The voice of the ship would come through, feminine but strong.

"He is alive. I'm sensing a strange build-up in energy in his frontal lobe and cerebral cortex, however."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"David--don't--don't go--I love y--"

Ceres' voice rocked her. Her legs shook.

"What--what does that mean?"

David B. said:

Her voice was curious, probing.

"I am...unsure. I have a few projections, but nothing conclusive."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Her arms held tight; without them, she would be on the floor.

"

[/color]...share them, please..?[/color]"[/font][/quote]

David B. said:

"Very well. The frontal lobe is a memory processing center, and constructs theories and relative thinking processes. The cerebral cortex is the broader term for the four sections of the brain- frontal lobe included. The measure of energy building up is enough to power a small city, which indicates he's using an infusion of his qi to...perhaps force a physical reactionary response or to-"

The tank cracked in front of Kiyr.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"To what--?"

The feeling of the tank cracking - more than the sight - caused her ashen pallor to further pale. To wake up? To end it if it was too much information?

The sensation of it cracking brought her eyes to the tank. Should she try to keep him there?

"David, what, why, don't hurt yourself--"

The only problem with this was she didn't let go. But if the tank continued to crack, it wasn't like she would have much choice. It wouldn't be able to support even her slight weight.

David B. said:

The ship was silent a moment.

"Might I suggest draining the tank? He appears to be breaking it, which will cause a slight flood. If we drain it first, his destruction of the tank will be easily repaired."

Kyrie Blaze said:

She swore...she was losing her mind. Was it a dream? Her brain was scrambled and her heart was drumming a frantic beat. She nodded.

"Drain it." She said, without hesitation. "Tell me if he does not--if something changes."

If he can't. If he changes his mind. So many if's.

David B. said:

The tank immediately began draining, water pulled into the ground as David sank, still silent, no bubbles...though the crack widened a little more. As he sank lower, and lower and...lower, his feet finally touched the floor- and he stood. He stood on his own, his powerful body black against the light behind him. He reached up and took hold of the mask, gripping it in his powerfully strong fingers and pulling, the tube that stretched down his throat coming up and out.

The window shattered inward, leaving Kiyr with no cuts as David stood, holding his rebreather in his hand.

His deep blue eyes opened, watching her for several seconds before he would take a step, then two forward. He planted a hand on the side of her face gently, surprisingly dry and keen but strong.

"You know that I love you too, Kyrie."

His eyes rolled back...as he collapsed.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie stared. Disbelief warred with hope and the crazy tangle of all the other emotions she felt. He stood. To see him stand made her eyes sting anew. He took the mask off, and the tube came out. It was disturbing and shocking and heartstopping.

The shattering of the glass caused her to stumble, and some far-off part of her mind thought it a good thing, indeed, that the tank had been drained, or it was likely she would be soaked as she caught herself. His eyes opened and hers were right there to meet his. She stared, long and hard, and backed up just slightly as he took a step, and another, out of the tank.

The hand on her face--she lifted her hand up and blinked, a tear streaking down as she lightly touched the back of his hand. She didn't note the dryness, just that it was him. His words brought a twist of joyful agony to her heart.

His eyes rolled and he began to collapse, triggering the blonde to instinctively wrap her arms around him. Unfortunately, the added strain on her emotionally-strained body meant they would both sink to the floor--but not so bad or quickly as if he just hit the deck, himself. To top it off, there was no way she was going to let him hit his head, even if it meant she had a naked man partially on top of her.

Gasping, she felt for his pulse as quickly as she could, hoping against hope.

"Ceres! G-Get Arianna and Damien a--a-a-and--and Aaron!"

From her hand against his side her qi spread across him in a blanket that slipped beneath his skin and the floor. For the first time in quite a while...David's body was no longer exposed.

David B. said:

David had a strong pulse, and was breathing on his own. His body was fully healed.

"Right away."

Kiyr would hear footsteps a moment later as Damien and Aaron burst through the door, slightly shocked at the body, Arianna likely close behind as she was with Damien no moments before. Ceres spoke.

"His body is fully healed. He can breathe on his own and has no more need for my tanks. I would suggest a bed. One close by, preferably. Tearing his muscles is likely, especially after being so long without their use."

Damien Blaze said:

Damien nodded, aiming to gently lift David along with Aaron.

"We should take him to your room, Kiyr. Its right next door."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Despite the awkward sprawl of her legs, the blonde tightened her core and slowly sat up, her arms still encircling David's side and shoulders as she shifted. His head was carefully deposited to rest against her thigh, which was likely more comfortable than the rapid rise and fall of her chest and stomach. She bowed her head and wiped away teh tears that were now relief that fell from her eyes. Both from her own cheeks and where they fell on him as she tried to regain her breath.

She looked up at the two brothers. While Aaron's words weren't forgotten completely, for now they were. She let them lift David as she nodded with a muffled "U-Uh huh."

Arianna Barrial said:

The sudden alert for Damien, herself, and Aaron had Arianna following behind Damien as fast as possible as she raced around the bend and drew to a stop with a gasp. For a moment she watched as Damien and Aaron lifted David, then swept forward to help her younger - shaking - sister to her feet. Wrapping her in a hug she helped her to walk back into the next room, bringing her close to the bed, but--not too close just yet.

Kyrie Blaze said:

The hug was welcome and warm, and the help much-needed. The younger Barrial held tight as her sister helped, but staying away she would have none of. She pulled away to slip closer, though she wasn't entirely steady. The man, even practically comatose, could drag up such a well of emotion in her, even when she might not have wanted it to show.

Damien Blaze said:

Aaron voted to take David, and lifted him under the legs next door. Damien turned to Kiyr, eyes glazing over the glass.

"He finally get pissed off enough to bust out of prison or what?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie slowly turned her head to look at Damien.

"Something like that, but, not really..." She swallowed, but, didn't look away. Not until she pulled her eyes back to David. She didn't lie, but, it wasn't a story she wanted to go into right now.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien stared at her for a long while.

"Kiyr. My brother is being dragged into the next room. His tank his empty and broken. You were in here alone with him. I expect you can understand why I would be worried."

He glanced at Arianna...it was obvious he was referencing the puppeteer.

Kyrie Blaze said:

She swallowed her heart as it leaped back into her throat and looked at Damien with wide eyes before shaking her head.

"N-No, I just told him the truth about the Titan Circle, and...I asked him not to go. I-If he needed rest that was fine, but, just not to go. To live--with me, even if as a friend."

The reminder of the puppeteer had her jumping into overdrive and she pushed passed to head into the room.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien watched her go, then looked back at Arianna.

"What does she expect? I have to watch her, even with the circle. I don't have a choice."

He would turn and follow after her.

David B. said:

David was comfortably in bed, now, wrapped covered up to the waist. Aaron turned to Kiyr as she entered.

"Hey. What happened?"

He was quite calm.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna curved her arm around Damien and brushed her cheek against his shoulder.

"...it makes me uncomfortable, but...are you sure, absolutely certain, it will come through her..?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

Bright eyes looked over David's form as she entered, then darted to Aaron.

"I was talking with him. Said some things. He woke up."

For her.

She skirted closer and sat at the side of the bed, giving a slow, shaky exhale.

David B. said:

He glanced down at David, then back up at her.

"I see. How long were you sitting in the shadows for?"

Damien Blaze said:

Damien sighed.

"Yes. He loves her. And Kiyr doesn't have a poisoned mind. She's quite innocent in ways and he loves that. He would torture her with what he would do. Have sex with him while she was forced to watch and feel it, then slit his throat in the throes. Or maybe make her save him from a bandit raid, only to flip on a kryptonite bolt and remove his strength and Qi, then make him watch as Kiyrs body gets ravaged."

He looked back at Arianna.

"He's merciless."

Kyrie Blaze said:

She was careful that she didn't touch him, aside from quickly checking his pulse, just to reassure herself. Her eyes slid back to Aaron and she blinked, guileless.

"...long enough, I suppose."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna swallowed, bearing the weight of that. There would be no limits, she knew, but...she nodded.

"I understand. Shall we join them?" She slipped her fingers through his and started to head back to the other room, unless stopped.

David B. said:

Aaron didn't even blush.

"I see. So is that why you could say full sentences to me yesterday, but right now you are refusing to say more than three words?"

He gave a small smile.

"When me and Dave were in high school, we were young, testosterone filled boys. We liked girls. The last memory I have with us together is talking about girls. It was what connected us. We loved each other, but had different friends and goals and values. I was a little less academic, and he got straight A's. But we'd sit down for lunch and talk about pretty girls. Not in the...detail, I did earlier. But when drunk, sometimes even to that extent."

Aaron watched her and tipped his head to one side.

"I think you understand then, when I say that I wanted to bring me and my brother back together in a way that felt familiar. So he would know I didn't feel like I'd been gone for ten years. That I didn't feel left out. That me and him could still be close."

He shrugged.

"He likes you, and you are beautiful. In high school, you fit the criteria for hottie-talk. It's not an insult to you, but a compliment."

He sighed.

"Something tells me, though, that David won't be enjoying conversations like that anymore. Not that I can blame him."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"I said four, actually..." Kyrie very softly intoned, but let him speak and watched him. She made no move to stop anything he said or did while he spoke, just took it all in as best she could with her mind and body coming down from the ride they'd been on.

She sent a silent inquiry to Ceres: 'Damien has reminded me of something important. Though results came back negative the first time, please scan for any indiividuals with the E17 mental signature once again, Ceres. We seem to have gained a few new passengers since the initial scan, and, I wish to be thorough.'

The petite woman took in a slow breath...and exhaled.

"I can understand, I suppose." She wasn't sure she wanted to ask what he meant - exactly - by the lattermost statement, nor did she really want to explain the circumstances. That he was with Olesya, no matter his feelings for her. "Just know that sometimes, words even in jest can hurt, even when you think the person they are about is not around."

She stared. "I will not apologize for being where I was, but, it was not my intention to overhear, all the same."

She really could have done with not hearing that.

David B. said:

Aaron nodded.

"I know. I know they can. But can you honestly say you have never confided something in yuor sister that someone else might find offensive?"

He raised both eyebrows, as though he knew something...but didn't say. Instead he would do as she asked.

"I am sorry, though. It wasn't my intention to hurt you. I will keep the booby talk to a minimum."

A cheshire grin.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien would come with Arianna into the room, and look between them.

"How is he?" He asked.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"I never said I was guiltless. Just to keep it in mind." The knowing look had her swallowing. "What was that look for?"

She would wait until he answered to conclude. "...please, if you would, I would appreciate it."

And not have to potentially teach him a lesson for it. Her hands closed, loosely.

'...are any of those three in this room right now?'

Now that Damien and Arianna were here, she needed to know.

She looked up at Damien, her eyes softening just a little. "...resting."

Truly resting.

David B. said:

The ship answered, obviously speaking with Kiyrs mind.

"Yes."

Aaron half shrugged.

"No reason."

He turned his eyes back on David, studying him closely as Damien nodded.

Damien Blaze said:

"Good. I really wish I knew why he was breaking out now...he seemed so...calm earlier. Like nothing could wake him."

Kyrie Blaze said:

'Can you pinpoint which one?' That...that was the big question.

She just focused on breathing, even though she was starting to feel like a coil, rewinding itself.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna squeezed Damien's hand with a smile, then let go to make her way over to the other three. Mostly to do her own miniature checkup on David.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien followed over and rested a hand on Kiyrs shoulder.

"I hope he's okay..."

David B. said:

The ship would affirm.

"Aaron Blaze has E17 traces."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kiyr turned her head to look up at Damien and nodded.

'...how much is considered a trace?' She queried, uncertain. She wasn't going to decry him yet. Not with two others on this ship and not knowing what 'traces' meant. Had he been taken before? She had no way of knowing.

David B. said:

The ship was silent a moment.

"All three on board have trace amounts of the E17 mental marker. It's likely this trace was passed in one of two ways. Either through physical touch, or by exposure to an airbourne pathogen. It's my assumption that, if the one we're looking for had the E17 mental marker, it would be in traces such as these. But there is no way to tell."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna gently ruffled David's hair as she straightened. She was, simply put, glad he was back. For Damien's, Kyrie's, and Aaron's sake. And Maddie's. And Olesya's, even.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie sighed and closed her eyes. 'Can you pinpoint the other two for me?'

[/i][/font][/quote]

David B. said:

The ship would calculate.

"There are four individuals, now. One is Aaron Blaze. One is David Blaze. One is Augustus Ronshield. One is Devon Mercer."

Kyrie Blaze said:

'Can you trace the pathways? And who is Devon Mercer?'

Her attention slid back to David. Airbourne...

'Check all points that someone could access the filtration system.'

David B. said:

The ship calculated.

"David Blaze was infected through touch. There are initial trace residues on his hand. Devon Mercer is a Dragon civilian. There is no way I can backtrack the pathways. After my initial attack by those who used the Captain, I put strict security locks on all access points to my systems. They are currently inaccessible."

Kyrie Blaze said:

'How recently if you can tell?' She pressed her lips together with a sigh through her nose and gently set her hand on his arm. How long ago would give her an idea. She knew August was close to David. Extremely close.

[/color]'...please share with Damien. He needs to be aware of this. Better to be cautious than caught off-guard.'[/color][/i][/font][/quote]

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna moved forward to tuck herself under Damien's arm.

David B. said:

Damiens mind would feel probed, and he turned his eyes to the ship, letting down his mental barriers so it could come in. It brought Damien up to speed before speaking to them both.

"Damien, Kiyr: Mental energies linked. I calculate within the last month, all were infected besides Aaron, who was infected between three and five years ago."

Damiens eyes slid to Aaron. He stared, long and hard.

"Aaron. Could you please run down to deck five and grab me some clothes? And a glass of water, for David?"

David B. said:

Aaron looked up, eyebrows going up.

"Ah, sure. No problem."

He stood and walked out of the room.

Damien Blaze said:

'We have six minutes.'

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie continued looking at David, her eyes partially closed, as if she were going to fall asleep. She asked Ceres to monitor where Aaron went.

'Damien..? Can those previously infected be taken against their will at any time?'

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna was about the only one with no idea what was going on, but, she knew Damien well enough to sense the shift in him. She leaned up and pressed her lips to his jaw. "What's wrong..?"

She knew to wait until Aaron was gone to ask, though it didn't stop the kiss.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien leaned into the kisses, but didn't say anything for a moment aloud.

'Yes. So long as the host comes into contact with an infected. But it still must be a willing takeover. The E17 just makes the transistion smooth, and allows complete control. It's how he prefers to operate.'

He looked to Arianna.

"I'm not sure."

Kyrie Blaze said:

'...so is there anything you recommend with our current selection..?'

She reached up and - lapsing on what she had just found out - lightly brushed her fingers against David's jaw before retracting her hand.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna frowned a little. Not sure could be good and bad. She pressed her lips to the same spot before resting her head against his shoulder.

Damien Blaze said:

Kiyr would feel a slight buzzing in her head, and was now unable to communicate. Damien spoke out loud after a moment.

"Ah shit. You touched him. Kiyr, you have the E17 now. We need...to quarantine everyone infected, as one of you is the host."

He looked to Arianna, unsure of what else to do but trying to think it through.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Ceres...was David infected before he freed himself from the tank..?" She questioned, softly to keep her voice from shaking. Quarantined. Great. Not...not what she wanted. Her hand fisted. "Why did it not affect me when I checked his pulse a few minutes ago?"

David B. said:

Damien turned and glanced at the door.

"Aaron. He touched his hand just before I had him leave. While...while you and him were talking. That transferred the infection. You touched his cheek right after. It...works very fast."

Ceres responded.

"After."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie frowned.

"So...do I take the chance, if by some chance he actually follows through to take me on a date? How will I know if it is really just your brother or...him..?" This complicated things. "And will the circle still stop it if I will it to, now that I have the traces?"

David B. said:

Damien sighed.

"Kiyr...I don't know. I don't have extensive experience with it. The only thing I can suggest is to trust your instincts. They are usually right about this. Someone will just...feel different. Especially to the next person he wants to claim. Thats...how I've always felt about him. But we can't risk this spreading. Ceres, is there a cure?"

The ship responded.

"I am unsure. I can attempt to track one down."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"If you would." It would make her feel...safer. Try to immunize people infected...only it wasn't really immunization...just helping them from being taken so easily. "Have there been more infections where Aaron is?"

She looked up to Damien, but didn't try to touch him. Or Arianna. Her gaze slipped back down to David and she let loose a soft, mirthless half-laugh, half-sigh. "Sorry...I convinced you to wake up at the wrong time..."

David B. said:

Through the doorway, Aaron would be seen going flying, grunting as he hit the wall.

A man burst into the room to recieve a kick from Damien in the chest, sending him flying back out in the hall. The man landed and rolled several feet as Damien started removing his dress shirt, signalling Kiyr should step back. As Damien walked out, Aaron stood wiping the blood from his lip.

"There are three others just like this fellow, Damien. He's a replicator. And he can do...well, several other things."

Damien Blaze said:

Damien nodded.

"I know, Aaron. This is the puppeteer. Slade Maston. The faceless man. We've fought before." Damien looked up. "Ceres, please seal Arianna, Kiyr and David inside the room behind me, please."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna's reaction to the flying form that was Aaron was simple and instinctual. She knew what would come, now. She flinched and pressed her face against his shoulder, her arm tightening against him--only to stumble. He moved so blindingly fluid and fast that even the sensation of him being gone didn't register until partway through the stumble. She caught her balance and twisted her body to stand upright and stare as the shirt came off.

Her hands clenched into fists, yet, this time she did not call out or try to stop him. She stood, resigned. These were hard lessons. Would she ever be able to not flinch when he strode away to fight? In many ways, it had been so much more simple when they had travelled together. There wasn't quite so much deep-seated fear that came to the surface with all the more they stood to lose, now that they were with everyone. Now that they literally had everyone and everything to lose.

Involuntarily, she took a step forward when he asked for the ship to lock them in. She stopped herself, however. Arianna knew it was for their safety. They would be safe here. If only reasonably so. Gold eyes looked out from a slightly pale face. Brave. Hopeful. Alive.

But she could be commended for her progress in not showing so much. Even if all she wanted to do was run and pull him back in, along with Aaron, before the door slammed shut.

Kyrie Blaze said:

The motion drew a very different reaction from the younger blonde. She was up and off the edge of the bed like a shot, qi and Hulda brought to bear with no stoppage of motion. She surged forward, slower than Damien, to was the aggressor roll back over top of himself. She eyed Aaron warily for the briefest of moments.

Damien's motions caused her to back off, much to how she didn't want to. If she remained without the room and if she fell prey to this puppeteer, if the Titan Circle failed, then David...

She grit her teeth and drew back.

As the doors slammed shut she spoke aloud: "Ceres. I need visual and audio feeds of this displayed in here. Leave no blind spots. As well, try to quarantine August so he does not touch anyone else."

She silently apologized to her sister for whatever she would see. But so far Arianna had done better than the other two times. It would be hard, but Kyrie was not about to be blind to any information as well as the outcome of this fight outside the Captain's Quarters.

Her eyes were frosty, steely, as she stalked back to the bed, re-sheathing Hulda before she sat, perched on the edge of the bed. She didn't move to touch Arianna, not wanting to contaminate her.

"How is the progress in a search for a cure?"

David B. said:

A projected image would appear on the wall, with all visuals on the ship up for her to see, including the one in which Damien and this puppeteer stood.

The man Damien kicked stood, slowly. He had a wicked grin on his face as the doors sealed shut.

"My name is Devon now, Damien. How good it is to see you."

The mans hands stretched and cracked as he prepared himself. It had been so long since he had the blood of a Blaze on his teeth. Aaron was strong, but like Damien, he succumbed to numbers. Damien was a smart man- he knew he couldn't beat him. He kept his eyes locked on the black haired Blaze as he drew out two knives.

"Alright then, Devon. You remember the last time we fought, I know. I haven't forgotten either. It's why I carry so many of these around."

As Devons clones launched themselves around the corner, Damien threw both knives and crouched, grabbing a third from his boot and tossing it at the ceiling. The forth cloth was walking on his hands and feet across the roof, like a crab. The knifes found two necks, and one shoulder. The two bodies dropped, and the original Devons attention was snapped at them, then back to Damien.

"Ah....you come prepared then. Well."

And he launched himself forward, the wounded Devon trying his best to come back to his feet as Damien and the puppeteer fought.



Meanwhile, the ship would respond to Kiyr.

"I have run an internal search and found no qualifiers for a cure, so I expanded my search to within one hundred lightyears of our position. There is a small planet fifty four lightyears away, where a small plant may supress or, when concentrated with unsoiled blood, cure the E17 virus."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"How long would it take for us to get there?"

Something was off. Why give his guise up so easily? Did Aaron manage to eject the puppeteer that he'd had to find another host in Devon? She glanced down at David and then returned her gaze to the screen.

"Is there any way you can seal them in this hall, Ceres? If we take the trip, I do not want them or any of the others with traces of the E17 getting off the ship...were you able to isolate August? Tell him it is just temporary, and that I say it, if you have."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna stared at the screen and, slowly, began to breathe again. She just had to be resolved. She trusted him. She had faith in him. He would get through this.

David B. said:

Damien blocked a left punch, then threw a kick to the front of Devons knee. He spun and threw a backfist for the approaching, wounded clone before stepping left and hitting a right heel kick into the first, who was thrown into a wall. He sat there a moment, coughed, and laughed.

"Come on, Damien! You don't...you don't think I'd trust the fate of my mission on a fistfight with you, do you?"



Ceres thought a moment.

"Close to eight minutes."

She would hum a moment, then return to Kiyr.

"It would seem that I have been disabled. Interesting, as I felt no access to my systems. Recommend a thorough system scan."

Kyrie Blaze said:

The audio feed made her shake her head. No, she hadn't thought so. Could it be transferred to the unconcious? They were open and...well, she was already infected.

"Run scans. Start with David as the potential source, then carry on as normal."

Unsure of what else to do, she tried shaking David's shoulder, firmly. But...she was thinking she was probably going to need to be a bit more convincing.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna turned and looked at her sister. She wanted to go over and help, but...she wasn't going to risk it, yet.

David B. said:

The ship lurched to a stop...and gravity would release its hold on everyone. Ceres now would not respond as the generally soft glow of the lights turned red, indicating a mechanical problem.

Damien felt the ship lurch, and his feet leave the ground, but strangely did not seem shocked. Devon grinned....and held up a finger in front of his lips.

"You spent so much time worrying, Damien, that I would take Kiyr to see it done. I have evolved over the last sixty years, my friend. I no longer need the comfort of the kill. Just the money that comes with it."

Devon and his bodies would vanish.



The doors would open, and in would float Ceres.

"Kiyr- We were pulled out of orbit of the moon and...are spiralling toward a star...a rather bright, hot one."

Like the sun.

Arianna Barrial said:

Uh--! Up? She was floating? Arianna flailed a moment with a gasp, overturning to awkwardly float before she twisted, using her arms to set her into a gentle spin and again in the opposite direction once she was upright.

"Damien--?" For a moment she was a bit elated, and then the gravity of the words the puppeteer had spoke sank in and she blanched.

Kyrie Blaze said:

The sudden lurch and weightlessness were...disquieting. She didn't have the time to enjoy the sensation as she might have, her mind was already clicking ahead. "Do you have a manual override for things like this? Any suits that could be used to get outside the ship?"

...she didn't think she could handle that, though...

David B. said:

Ceres shook her head.

"The only one who should have had access was the Captain. He asked me to restrict such ports, just in case. However...it is possible that the E17 virus transfer caused a loophole in my systems...my scanners might approve anyone with it, once David had it."

She seemed quite unsettled. Damien floated back in with a cut lip.

"What the hell is going on?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kiyr glanced at Damien. "We are spiralling towards the sun. Apparently he disabled the system."

"How about the pods? Are they operational on their own or did the tampering extend to them?" She turned back to Ceres. "...you are troubled. Why, aside from the obvious?"

She hesitated.

"If all else fails we can see if the fact that I have the virus will work. How much time do we have?"

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna frowned and gave herself a one-fingered push from the nearest surface to float to Damien.

David B. said:

Damien chewed a lip as Ceres responded.

"I was checking my database and running a hypothetical scenario that returned with a seventy-two percent probability. I believe that Davids capture, when they tried to force him to access the computer was a ruse. It's likely the location of his tank was through highly populated areas, and there were several stationed guards at intervals making access difficult. He wanted us to move him. This...Devon wished direct access himself, so that he could upload the E17 virus to me, and with David becoming infected, he would have access to my systems."

She paused another moment, staring off a bit.

"Yes, He has contacted me. He is offering the complete survival of all those on board, so long as he gets to overide my conciousness with his own."

She refocused on Kiyr.

"We have fifteen minutes at current speed."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie frowned.

"And the pods? Are they affected by this?" She was thinking...tugboats. As ridiculous as it seemed, that's what she had right now. It was either that or she tried the outside of the ship...and that outcome, she could see, wouldn't end well.

It was gutsy, though...but that wasn't the problem.

She glanced to David, Damien, Arianna..and then her gaze fell back on Ceres. "Do not answer him right now."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna reached out...then retracted her hand to begin to float by. "Uh--is it okay for me to touch you..?"

...that was one of the most awkward questions she'd ever asked. But he was just fighting Devon, and thus had been in contact, and so...

David B. said:

Damien shook his head.

"No. I am infected." He wiped a little of the blood from his chin as he watched Kiyr.

Ceres shook her head.

"No. They are part of me, and it is total system override. I suspect he has a plan that will result in him living, should we refuse."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"We can do the manual override at the bridge, right?" She would rather exhaust her options than give in or just submit to the sun's embrace. If so, she would use her qi and wind it around David, Damien, Aaron if he was there, and Ceres.

Einrik finally shot into sight, hauling himself down the hall as Kiyr shot them out with her qi. To the bridge or where-ever Ceres directed her to.

"Einrik, take Arianna and catch up."

Arianna Barrial said:

Making a sound of discomfort, she nodded...and then watched, wide-eyed, as her sister's qi surrounded...well, everyone else. Her only consolation was that she wasn't alone and she could travel, protected, with the Titan. He seemed to be good at this navigating with zero gravity business, for they kept up reasonably well to the others.

Kyrie Blaze said:

As Kiyr slung them through the halls, she addressed Ceres: "Ceres, being that you are infected, I want you to corral the E17 together. With your infection, and with Damien's...he knows how to open up to you already. Use the virus as a pathway to him and see if you can leech his contamination from him by drawing it towards yours like a magnet."

Might be even better than a manual override of the ship itself. If they could isolate the virus to only two beings - herself and the ship - well...first they had to see if it would even work.

"How was he communicating with you, exactly?"

David B. said:

Ceres didn't seem to follow. Gravity kicked back in, dropping them all. Ceres landed on her feet and stayed put a moment.

"It's...a mental connection. He believes he can force his Qi into my Neural wave, as im not technically human. It feels quite strange. He says if you plan to track him down, you'll need your ability to walk."

Ceres sat.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien paused, looking at her after coming to his feet.

"Ceres, get up."

Kyrie Blaze said:

One moment they were zipping through the ship and the next...floor. Kyrie retracted her qi to allow them all freedom of movement, and also so she could roll and not face plant.

Coming to her feet she glowered a little. Yes. Slow them down. Of course.

She glanced between Ceres and Damien. She didn't know what she could tell Ceres to do to shut him out. "Damien?"

She hoped he understood the underlying questions. What was going on? What did he know? Any ideas on how to get through this?

Arianna Barrial said:

Einrik and Arianna fared less well and wound up in a heap of two bodies and eight limbs, though she wasn't harmed in the fall. His back was a bit scratched up, though. He helped Arianna to her feet from his position beneath her...and wondered with a grin if he would have gotten pissy had he only seen the position they wound up in.

Probably.

But there was no time to dwell. He picked himself up and Arianna to run towards them. He was just faster.

Damien Blaze said:

Damien stared at Kiyr a moment...then turned to look at Ariannas body on the ground. He then brought his gaze back to Kiyr.

"I have an idea. But...none of you are going to like it."

He turned, and ran through back the way they came. He started heading down...down down down. He reached the lower level and spoke to the ship.

"Ceres. Seal the door behind me. Drop a secure tendril into the wall that can withstand the vacuum into to space while securing my weight and, once im held, open a doorway outside."

Ceres paused....but complied. Damien held himself on the tendril, hyperventilating in order to over oxygenate his blood. As the doorway was about to open, he let out all the air in his lungs, so that space wouldn't pull his organs out through his mouth. He closed his eyes and used his fingers to press on his eyelids, forcing what little air there was out before the door opened, and he was lifted, space ripping the air from the smalle room.

The clock in his head started.

He had two minutes

Arianna Barrial said:

"Ugh..." Gathering her legs beneath herself after Einrik set her down, Arianna shook her head. At catching the words 'not going to like it' by the voice she knew too-well and the man she still wanted to know, her head jerked up.

For a second, she held his gaze--then he was gone. And she was unmoving.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie swallowed her protest. He was going to try something. She jerked her gaze forward. He would have to. There wasn't much choice. She silently apologized to her sister.

Swallowing, though she felt she should have pursued to help, she directed them forward, helping Aaron bear David's weight.

"Einrik--carry her if needs must be. We have to root out this plague."

She would need Arianna safe. She silently inquired as to the safest place aside from the vault that Ceres had suggested for David.

Einrik nodded and stood. He took one look at the blonde still on the floor and could only bring himself to curse Damien for hurting her, but not whatever necessary actions he had to take. Before the Titan could scoop her up, she waved him off...and stood, herself, to follow.

David B. said:

Ceres would respond to Kiyr.

"The training room has been reinforced to withstand temperature differentials, and has reinforced walls which will offer additional protection."

Damien Blaze said:

Damien, meanwhile, would slowly release the cord and start crawling like a spider...undtil he reached the outer corner of the ships propulsion tubing. One minute left. He threw an elbow into the tubing and ripped it out. fuel started pushing out. Ceres sensed it, and frowned...but Damien was already speaking to her.

"Ignite the fuel."

She perked up. "You will burn" she said.

He insisted...and she did so. The fuel would light aflame and blast with tremendous force from the tube, lighting his arm and chest on fire. He grit his teeth and pointed it outward...and slowly, the ship stopped rotating. As he pointed it up, the enertia stopped....and the ship was out of danger.

If only the same could be said for Damien.

The fire on his clothes went out as his eyes were sucked from his skull, ice started forming on his skin...and the fire stopped burning, keeping them solidly in place as Damien froze to the tubing.

He died, and outside, his Qi was unable to regenerate. He was stuck in a frozen death.

David B. said:

"Kiyr. Damien is stuck outside the ship. He is dead, but we have stopped."

Ceres voice would speak in Kiyrs mind, calm but direct.

Kyrie Blaze said:

'Is it able to be temporarily sealed? There is nobody inside and Einrik and Arianna are still untouched by the E17 strain?' She silently questioned, changing course as her plans temporarily shifted. She added in additional words of gratitude for the update.

She pushed faster with a word to Aaron so he would know and keep pace.

Einrik, seeing this, took initiative and hoisted Arianna - who squirmed in protest until she noticed it was only to move faster, and she sighed her wary acceptance of it - and put on a burst of speed after her.

David B. said:

Ceres would affirm it.

"It can be, yes. What about the Captain? It would seem there are two individuals heading for your room- perhaps they expected him to be there. They may be able to follow you..."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kiyr narrowed her eyes. 'How strong and who are they? And yes...I will have no choice but to keep David with them for now.'

David B. said:

Ceres would reply.

"Analyzing. Their strength is approximately ten percent less than your own."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Weaker but no less capable of killing someone defenseless. No less capable of taking someone stronger down, as well, too. 'Who? Give me their faces, Ceres. Please.' She directed them into the training room.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna glanced at David...then her sister. Then her own hands. She bit her lip, struggling and watching her knuckles progress to a sharp white.

David B. said:

She would get a display that travelle along the wall with them. their faces would look unfamiliar- one was blonde, one had brown hair. They wore civilian clothes.

"Theory: They came aboard during the evacuation."

Kyrie Blaze said:

'Probably part of the spies, I would think. Is the training room clear aside from us?'


Einrik streaked in with them and set Arianna back onto her feet, lightly patting her shoulder a second before lifting his hand.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna looked around. God, she just wanted to bolt off to where he'd gone. But she didn't know and for now, didn't ask.

David B. said:

"Yes."

The men, meanwhile, cursed at the state of the room, and would bolt down the hall after Kiyr and her crew. They shouted, sprinting after Kiyr. She would hear them closing in as they moved into the training room.

Arianna Barrial said:

"Kyrie--"

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie's lips pulled back, baring her teeth as the sounds carried down the hall. "Aaron, Ceres, I need you with me out there, now--"

She hesitated as her sister called her name and turned to her, silently questioning.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna's hands were clenched and her eyes were bright, yet dark. She spoke quietly enough that even Kyrie had to strain to hear. "If you take David's life, I can bring him back. It should take...the virus. It cures everything... I might be able to do both, I think, but...just in case."

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie's eyes widened. Kill David? Here? Now? What if it didn't work? What if he didn't come back? Could she bear it? What she offered was invaluable and outweighed the risks and price of it, but ONLY if it worked, but...

"Arianna--I--no time--I can't--" She didn't know what she was asking her to do.

Arianna Barrial said:

"Not if you stall! Trust me! DO IT."

Kyrie Blaze said:

The snap had her eyes swimming and her heart clenching, knowing it would be forever burned into her memory, she would choke back a cry that escaped as a very muffled sob and take the kindest route she could think of... Her qi flung out and unless there was protest, she would use it to snap David's neck. It brought her to agony...but it was a risk she would need to take to keep them safe within the training room.

But it would haunt her, even if it worked or even if someone tried to stop her. For however long she would live, it would follow her and batter her.

David B. said:

Davids neck snapped like a twig, his breath leaving his lungs in a rush as Kiyr killed him instantly. The men were upon them!

Aaron turned and tackled the first one, lifting him up after plowing his shoulder into the mans abdomen and running back with him. The second man would attempt to attack Kiyr, aiming a roundhouse for her cheek. Once/if it hit or she defended, the man blanched.

"YOU KILLED HIM!? WHA- WHY! E17 WILL-"

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna didn't breathe a sigh of relief; the burn had already started to manifest once she'd made her decision--and her sister's actions made her bank it to an inferno. She didn't wait, but slipped past Einrik to rush those few steps to David as the flames began to overtake her body. She screamed - she couldn't help it, still - and collapsed on top of him, holding tight despite the agony.

Kyrie Blaze said:

There was no peace with that decision, it seemed. Nor was there peace, now. She ducked and carefully caught the man's leg to redirect his momentum and send him to the ground, her body shaking.

"What--"

David B. said:

The man would try and stop Arianna before she lit on fire.

"E17 controls al functions of Qi and emotion! If you bring him back, he won't remember any of you! God Dammit!"

Suddenly, the man didn't seem to be trying to fight. Instead he would step forward and hold a finger to Davids throat.

"You people are so eager...far too rash. I hope whatever he has planned for you...hurts."

The mans skin started to dry up, and he would puncture Davids neck. Suddenly, the guy seemed to age almost instantly, and his body shriveled as he fell over, turning into ash. The other one, who was fighting Aaron, would look at Arianna. Stepping back from Aaron.

"Michelle could see Qi and absorb the E17, though he knew it would kill him. He had the sight. Do...do your thing girl. We'd rather him be alive and not in our hands than dead."

He seemed eager to leave her alone and let her do it

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie let him go. Her pulse was far too loud in her ears. The blood rushed through at what seemed to be an alarming pace, for her. She let him go. The tears fought their way through as she stood, not fighting though everything in her urged her to not let him touch David. Too rash.

Too quick.

Too...panicked. It wasn't something she was used to feeling, nowadays, even though that had been what she had felt several times these past few weeks. She stood back and watched, now. She watched the man age, shrivel, fall.

She looked to the other and spoke with her voice hoarse. "The sight? You realize you are infected with the E17 as well, right..?"

Unless something about himself or his qi prevented that. She was wary, but far less prone to striking out right now. Her body trembled in violent rebellion at what she'd done. "...who are you..?"

Arianna Barrial said:

The woman doubled over, the fire eating away her insides as she tried to wrestle with it. Tried, as the flames consumed her. They licked through her spine as she watched in a kind of delirium. As he fell and turned to ash, she didn't wait. Couldn't, really. She only had enough strength to step and collapse in agony and pain on top of his form, her hands clutching reflexively at David.

One last scream escaped her lips before the sound cut off as her lungs burnt to a crisp and she fully ceased to live. The fire would be quick to consume them both, her own body like paper. She was so much more susceptible to fire of any kind, all thanks to her qi.

David B. said:

David and Arianna would burn to a crisp!

The man smirked, and waved...as he seemed to sort of turn invisible, as they could see right through him, and shake his head.

"No, I don't have E17. If I did, I'd be like my friend there. No, im special. As are you. I'll be back for Davids body, once we get this ship to Earth."

And he stepped backward through the wall, sort of "phasing" through it.

Kyrie Blaze said:

As she was? Back for David's body when they got to Earth?! She had so many questions for this man that just blipped out of their sights by passing through the walls. Well, it looked like sealing Einrik, David, and Arianna in the room would do little good. She didn't want him getting in and even though she would have enabled it to let her through when she commanded...it didn't change the fact that it would lose precious seconds. She would hve to think of something better...and get Damien's body back inside the ship.

'Ceres is there any way you can bring Damien back into the ship? What did he do, anyway?'

She would, for now, ease to keep the smoking remains in her sight, her skin having lost most of its colour, and it wasn't returning. She had a thought to try...something, but knowing her luck, it would backfire. Or it was too rash.

And really, she couldn't come back like Damien. And Arianna was...out of commission for the moment.


Einrik looked between the ashes of the Blaze and Barrial that weren't paired up and frowned, then slid his gaze to watch Aaron.

"Is there any way you can track that fucker, Ceres?"

Call him frustrated. This was a game they seemed to be being beat at every turn and he didn't even know the rules.

David B. said:

Aaron cursed as the man phased through the wall...but turned back into the room as Ceres spoke.

"I can liquify the particules in my wall, so they superheat when the man enters. I understand the mechanics of his Qi, and it is vulnerable to heat...though he is difficult to track and I can't do it for all my walls. As for Damien, he is stuck in one of my propulsion shafts. He tore tubing from my wall and I lit it on fire per his instructions, which caused a force stop...though he is dead, currently, frozen to the underside of the shaft."

Ceres spoke to Einrik.

"Fucker? What is a fucker?"

She apparently didn't totally understand the nuances of human cursing.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Just as well. It caused Einrik to backpedal. It caused him to think, rather than focus on his anger. He ran his hand over his mohawk. Was he really needing to explain this?

"...shit. It's like...a derogatory term. Fuck is a very useful word--you can make anything into a swear or use it to even reference people. Which is what I did."


Kyrie continued to stare. The smoke began to shift...and light began to glint against the pile of ash and untouched clothes. They smoked and were coloured like charcoal...but strangely in tact.

Arianna Barrial said:

There was a flash of golden light, a plume of it in brilliant fire as Arianna and David's bodies would be restored, some ten minutes later. She twitched, heaved a gasp and instinctively wound her arms around herself. Not much luck with the clothes, this time. Only one arm was through a sleeve and she was a messy sight to behold as she jerked into a sitting position, one hand splayed against the floor. Her eyes darted, half-wild and pupils dilated.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Arianna..." Kiyr spoke, but quietly. Gently.

David B. said:

David took a deep inhalation, coughing as he came back to life, before turning over and throwing up a cup of strange white fluid. He shook.....but was otherwise alive, now on his hands and knees and totally in the buff.

Aaron would step into the room.

"Close the door, Ceres."

Ceres would do so before speaking directly to Kiyrs mind.

"It would seem my aft propulsion is no longer under my control...and we are being pushed back toward earth. In a few hours, Damiens body will burn up in the atmosphere....and I have no way to get him back."

David held his stomach, covered in sweat.

"What...the...hell?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

'...where is it being controlled from?' She was going to have to get Damien. Somehow. She didn't know how. But if his body totally disintegrated...she didn't know if he could come back. One thing at a time.

Her eyes, worried, flit over her sister and David. She could have began to cry in earnest, but she wiped away the tears on one cheek before stepping forward. "David..? I can not...I cannot touch you right now, but...are you okay?"

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna shivered, gaze darting to - her sister, she reminded herself - as she moved forward. The blonde struggled and slid her shirt on--backwards, but she only wanted something to cover her skin. Underwear was the last thing on her mind, she just needed to be covered. She grabbed her pants to put them on. She would need to calm herself enough to check on David right away, but...

Kyrie Blaze said:

Einrik stepped forward, saving Arianna the trouble by handing her her pants, at least. He knelt by David's head, but...gave him space. "I'm not gonna bother to pretend I know how you're feeling right now, but--need a hand?"

David B. said:

David gasped, head swimming.

"Where...where am I? Who...who ARE you people?"

He clenched his teeth and spat on the ground, trying to ignore their voices.

"It's being controlled from...the bridge."

Kyrie Blaze said:

The blonde made a sound of frustration in the back of her throat and swept around to crouch, out of reach of both David and Einrik, to press her cheek against the floor. There was no way to hide the pain in her gaze, nor the love--it was ironic, now, that this mirrored Gregory and her when he had lived. "David, I--I am sorry. I have to leave and find some way to bring your second brother back on board the ship...and stop whomever is controlling it on the bridge. Th-Then we can explain..."

Her heart heaved and tore. What had she done? Why did she listen to Arianna and forego all caution? She felt beyond devastated. What would happen, now? Would he be the same? Would he view them as the same in time?

She abruptly pushed back to her feet and looked at Aaron, both in apology and to gauge. "With me. We go, now."

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna shuddered in place. And, gradually, uncoiled an arm from around herself to scoot closer to David...but not touch. "...my n-name is Arianna..."

She spoke, quietly, trying to be soothing despite the catch to her voice. She was too frazzled to sort out how she was feeling. Everything would hit her, when she came out of the fog that hazed her mind.

David B. said:

David winced...but looked over at...a blonde? She had turned away, so he couldn't see her face. He turned to look at Einrik- this man was completely unfamiliar to him. But when his gaze turned to Arianna, his eyes narrowed just a bit.

"Arianna...Arianna...I..."

He held a hand to his head. grunting as he almost seemed to lose conciousness for a moment.

"I have a throbbing headache, Arianna. Where is Kiyr?"


Aaron stood, prepared to go with her, but stopped when David spoke.

"He said your name."

Kyrie Blaze said:

She was just walking out when Aaron spoke. The blonde jerked to a stop as they sank in and she turned back. Would the roller coaster never end? She could cry and weep at the same time. But she couldn't go back and get close. She was still...a carrier of the virus and she didn't want to give it back to David.

It wasn't like she knew if there was another like that Michelle on the ship. But it halted her. 'Ceres...try and delay what you can, if you can. Keep me updated on the time we have...'


Einrik grinned as that name popped from between David's lips. He gave an awkwardly timed chuckle and stood to step back and give him room.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna watched him for a second, then half-smiled. She scooted closer and reached out to measure his pulse...and then place a surprisingly cool hand to his forehead.

"She stopped. She's just standing at the entranceway behind you. But...she'll have to leave, soon." She didn't want to speak of the trouble. "Just trust me on one thing: don't try to connect with your ship for now."

David B. said:

David nodded.

"Right...I'm...a bit woosy but. You should all know I was awake the entire time. That kind of hell..."

He turned to look at Kiyr.

"Come here. I need to give you something."

Arianna Barrial said:

"...well. Uh. Good to know." Arianna murmured, mostly pleased he did. And kind of dismayed he did all the same.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Einrik swallowed a snicker. Well, fuck. Oh well. Wasn't like he hadn't said anything he didn't mean for David to hear, anyway.


Kyrie swallowed and stepped forward. Around. She slipped to a knee and into a low crouch where she had at first. "...David...you can not touch me. You know that, right..?"

Though it would hurt, she was fully prepared to spring away if necessary. All that couldn't be for naught.

David B. said:

David would ignore Kiyrs words and grab her by the neck, then open his mouth in a silent scream and breathe on her. She would feel a strange tingle shift down her throat and into her lungs as David forced his Qi into her body before he faceplanted and passed out. (Kiyr: +137 CHA)

Ceres frowned.

"Interesting. It would seem he is still not infected and...for that matter, neither are you, anymore."

Aaron ran over to check on his brother, who was once again asleep. Kiyr would seem to...know her abilities once again, like she did before when he gave her this. She knew now that, if she poured oxygen into her bloodcells she could last for hours outside the ship with no oxygen.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Well. She would have, if he wasn't so fast and so strong. She hissed an inward breath and stiffened, as if to wrench away, when the breath hit her...and the qi slid in...and settled. Her hands, planted against the floor with the shift, trembled. She forced them to stillness as she caught his head before it smacked the ground.

The damage, in her mind, had been done. But Ceres' words caused her to bow her head...and press her lips against his hair. Her hands slowly slid out from beneath him as everything settled. She looked up and waved Aaron away, lightly.

'...then I am really curious as to what that man meant. Ceres...can the person on the bridge prevent the doors from being opened?'

She had to see which directive would take priority right now.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna moved forward and glanced at David's body. Poor guy. Naked again. "Einrik? A hand or two? Clothes."

Kyrie Blaze said:

With another laugh - what was he supposed to do? Inappropriate or not...this stupid situation was kind of funny - he slid forward to help shift the unconscious deadweight that was now David back into clothes. Underwear or pants, anyway. He didn't give a damn about a shirt.

David B. said:

Ceres frowned.

"I would theorize that whoever the man was who is now ash and bone on the carpet...he infuzed Davids blood and Qi with his own, which cured him. By passing his energy to you, he cured you as well. As for the bridge...that is unknown. He seems...able to do a lot of things I did not know were possible. I can tell you that he was merely toying with us before, during the fight. In order to stall, test resolve or...some other hidden reason. He is much stronger than he lets on."

Aaron nodded.

"I'm fairly strong, and he took me down with no problem. Almost...insultingly fast, like I was a fly on the wall."

Kyrie Blaze said:

She looked between the two...and nodded, slowly.

"...must it be physical contact that the E17 is relayed through? Or, say if I were to touch one of those infected...would it transfer to me through the qi?"

It was a very important question. She might have been special...but she'd been infected once before. And she didn't know if David's qi would now be immune. Or if Aaron would even transfer it back to her. Or even if it would cure Aaron if she did. Would the ability of the transfer cleansing her be why she was special? There were just too many questions that came unanswered, so she had to choose the most expedient one for the moment.


Stupid clothes. The duo finally managed to at least cover David with underwear, though. No more nakedness!

David B. said:

David was subconciously pleased at the feel of fabric around poseidon!

Ceres would shrug.

"I...don't really know. I'm merely stating probability and theory."

She blinked...but watched them. David, meanwhile, remained once again out of commission.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Then...Aaron, Ceres. I need you two to try and catch up as quickly as you can. Until I know, I cannot chance it. You three..." She turned her head to look at David's prone form, as well as her sister and Einrik as she rose to her feet. "Get to come with me."

With a brief amount of concentration and a quick snap of her fingers, she lifted David, Arianna, and Einrik--the latter of which scowled slightly but caught onto David and Arianna so as to make them more like one unit.

"Ceres, I need the location of the closest door Damien's body is at."

She didn't want to seal the room and potentially cut Damien's line, even though he was frozen to the fuel line. If there was nothing else, Kyrie would shoot all of them off towards the destination.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna's eyes widened and she knotted the bottom of her shirt. She gave a squeak from the arm around her--but seemed to be more or less recovered.

David B. said:

They would all lift easily!

Ceres would nod.

"Sound logic. It is three floors below, from the central hall. I would close the door Damien opened and pressurize the room before you enter it, so you may prepare as he did."

Kiyr would get three dots, lighting along the floor and flashing in sequence that would show her the way she needed to take.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Please do so, but be careful."

She would tag the lights with her gaze and shoot off with her 'luggage' in tow, as quickly as she could manage with her newfound abilities. (CHA: 199)


Said luggage items were...surprised. Even delighted at the speed and...well. Even though they'd been floating not long ago, it was a rather heady experience.

David B. said:

With her abilities, Kiyr could move at vast speeds with a hairs trigger of mobility. she would arrive at the needed tunnel in less than a minute, her packages in tow! The room was clear, though a tendril still hung from the ceiling. Ceres would come into Kiyrs mind.

"He used it to tether himself...opening the door outside creates a strong vacuum and he didn't want to be sucked away from the ship."

Kyrie Blaze said:

She set them down.

'Our unwelcome pilot is still at the bridge, right? Can you tell me what other preparations Damien made?' She began to do what she could, instinctively. Which was use her borrowed qi to swamp her blood and cells with oxygen. David had taken them high once before...but she didn't think a bubble would be enough to save her, right now. She would need to...do similarly to Damien, once again, but follow his line to his body.

She just didn't know about what initial prep had to be done.

Arianna Barrial said:

Arianna sat where her sister set her down and held her head. The ship needed to stop spinning. That was way too fast for her.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Einrik grunted. "Gods be damned."

Arianna Barrial said:

That drew a gasp from Arianna and her gaze shot up to stare in horror for only a brief second before she blanched and closed her eyes to hold her head again.

David B. said:

Ceres confirmed she could.

"Damien hyperventilated to over-oxygenate his blood, similar to what you are doing with the Qi but on a smaller scale. He then emptied his lungs of all the air in his body, so his organs would not be sucked out through his mouth when the door opened. He scaled along the wall to the lower propulsion unit and...there is hangs."

Ceres seemed far more matter of fact about it...and was not phased in the slightest by their collision course with earth.

She would continue.

"And our guest...is on the bridge, though my visuals are now offline, though I can feel him still there."

She sounded troubled.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"...I will try and be as quick as possible. Let me into the room. Notify me the second he is no longer there."

As she saw it, she would only have a brief window in time. She continued using the qi she held to saturate her blood with oxygen and - once in the room - would search for another tether if possible. If there was no extra tether to be found, she would look for a way to wedge herself and hold on to the one Damien used. She scanned over her body with David's qi as she did so, finding any other small pockets of air, like her eyes, and breathed out the oxygen in her lungs as she rid herself of the little bit in her eyes.

'Go.'

Einrik didn't need to be looked at. He knew his purpose here. His life before theirs, if it came to it. He waited.

David B. said:

The doors would open, and new clean air hit her. She would see the cord, which she could reach easily, and once the door was open would feel a blast as the air was sucked from everywhere arounds her. Davids Qi would now be useless but it did its job, he blood down overflowing with oxygen, she felt a panic from not being able to breath, but manageable, as she knew she did not need it.

She would crawl out into space, the sun blaring off in the distance....it was a beautiful sight, but for the circumstances.

Kyrie Blaze said:

For several long, agonizing seconds...she thought she would die and nearly hyperventilated. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds...then opened them again. Then, quickly, hand-over-hand, she shot along the cord that lead her to Damien's body. She wasted no time, if she made it there, and would push some of the oxygen - no more than a half breath - from her blood into her lungs...and exhale the burst of it onto the frozen fuel line to cut through it, her lips incredibly close to the line, but in no danger of touching it. One hand was on the cord...the other on Damien's arm.

David B. said:

The cord snapped, recoiling like a rubber band. Damien would have drifted away if it weren't for her hand on his arm. She got him! She would be able to bring him back, though his load taxed on her oxygen levels.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Kyrie grit her teeth against the strain but turned them to spider and pull the two of them back to the inside of the ship as quickly as possible. She didn't want to chance staying outside longer than necessary, especially if there was to be any trouble.

David B. said:

She made it back without issue...but once back, would note that Einrik was unconscious, and Arianna and David were both gone! Einrik did not seem to have any issues with his body...but his lips were blue.

(Arianna removed from player control until found.)

Kyrie Blaze said:

This...was not a sight she wanted to see. She deposited Damien's body on the floor, nearby.

"...Ceres...the E17--is it present in Einrik at all?"

David B. said:

Ceres responded.

"No. Kiyr...someone is attempting to knock down the door outside this room."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"...the training room?"

She lifted both...and shot off, back the way she'd came from, eyes glinting and frosting over. She was so tired of all this. It needed to end.

David B. said:

"Yes. May I kill them?"

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Who are they? Show me."

David B. said:

And on the screen would appear fifteen civilians...this time, they were dragons, but their eyes were white, like they were blind, and their skin was a strange...paleish color.

Kyrie Blaze said:

"...can you knock them out instead?"

Not that it would matter...she would be there right away, but every second counted. She didn't know...was this the virus at work, or..?

David B. said:

Ceres thought a moment.

"Possibly, if I gassed the hall. You might be caught in that, though...."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"...I will be there as soon as I can."

She spared a feeler of qi to see if Damien was making any progress...but she guessed the damage would take a fair time to mend, even with the warmth of the qi surrounding him. Sne she wasn't sure she liked the blue on Einrik's lips...

...she checked the screens. Blue lips on those attackers?

David B. said:

Blue lips indeed! They were all frothing at the mouth, but she could see the blue tinges along their lips, a little darker than Einriks, which were slowly getting darker.

Damien was warming up, but he was not yet alive, his body needing more heat.

Kyrie Blaze said:

She set her jaw and set the air around them vibrating to intensify the heat.

'Keep them from entering as long as possible. I--I can not help right now. I am sorry. Try and reinforce the door?'

She would slip them all to a stop in front of the first empty room she found and lob Einrik's body inside...and seal the door. Then, despite a heavy heart but realizing she couldn't do everything at once, she sped with Damien's body to set him off just before the bridge and hoped that it was warm enough to jump-start what he needed. Because she needed him back on his feet. But she couldn't wait.

In the next moment she was gone, using the qi like a battering ram if the door would not open.

David B. said:

Ceres would agree, but would query.

"Do I put them out when they enter, or can I kill them!?"

Damien was left as his body began to sweat...before she was gone. The door gave a squelching groan of argument as it was knocked down...she would find four men in there, three of them looking exactly alike. One was sitting in a chair, reading a book...the other two would phase into him, having been practicing hand to hand.

"Ah. I expected David. Not...you. Interesting."

The fourth man stood at a small doorway in the back...where it could be assumed Arianna, David and Aaron were being held.

Kyrie Blaze said:

'...Einrik is afflicted as well...for now simply knock them out. If needed, later...I will end them myself.'

Kyrie quickly oriented herself. Her eyes darted between the men. One was - might be? - Devon, still. But who was the other? She clenched her hands and then relaxed, her feet touching the ground slowly.

"I can not apologise for it." He would just have to deal with it. She took stock of the room, her gaze wavering between them. Her hands clenched, again. Then opened, again.

David B. said:

He smirked.

"I see. Did you come here to kill me with your newfound power, then? Go ahead. Please, try."

He smirked.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Her hands clenched, again. Yet, instead of focusing on the one that was speaking, she immediately tried to draw the air from the lungs of the one who wasn't--the one near the door that wasn't Devon. Enough to cause him to collapse and pass out...not necessarily to kill him. Her gaze she kept on the one that was taunting her. 'Devon'.

David B. said:

The man that had been with Michelle quickly caught on to what was happening. He paled and quickly went transparent, choking and sputtering as he shifted through the wall to the next room.

Kyrie Blaze said:

She was tempted to be arrogant. To taunt, herself. But ego would not serve her, here. If there was something steadfast and sure she knew, it was that. So she looked at the body that belonged to Devon, that was being controlled, and blinked. The taunting seemed very much like a trap to her...and she could only wonder why he would want her to hit him with the qi she held.

"There was mention of you being a replicator...among other things. I wonder if that means just those physical clones...or if it has something to do with qi as well."

David B. said:

Devons eyes lit up. He leaned forward slowly, crossing one leg over the other.

"Ah...you are a bright one. If you were David, I would already have the Qi."

He studied her.

"Tell you what. How about...we play a game? If I win, I get your mind and body and soul for the rest of your life. If you win, I will leave you, David and the rest of your friends alone for as long as you live. How about it?"

He smirked, planting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand, waiting.

Kyrie Blaze said:

The blonde's eyebrow raised a bit before falling back into place. Yes, wasn't it just too bad that he was stuck with her? Though it was likely she was foiling his plans bit by bit, she didn't want to focus on that.

Her head slowly tilted.

"What kind of game do you mean..?"

If he would even tell her. It wasn't like she couldn't ask. He could simply say no. Whether he explained or whether he said no, she would ask one more question.

"And if I were to refuse the offer of your game..?"

David B. said:

Devon shook a finger.

"Mm mm. Spoilers, little one."

He tilted his head to the left.

"I came here to kill David. If I have to crash this ship into the planet...I will do so. Or, I could cause it to explode with the force of three Atom bombs."

His hand started to glow.

"A little...gift of mine, from General Eisenhower."

He would sigh.

"Rather boring but...it gets the job done."

Kyrie Blaze said:

"Yet...you indicated earlier you wanted the mind of this ship under your control. For more than simply killing David, I would imagine." She settled into calm. Into composure. "So while perhaps you would make the ship explode, you would also be losing that...which makes me think that crash-landing this ship would be more profitable for you."

She wondered what his angle of escape would have been - or would be - if he decided to go that route. Would he have taken a pod and overridden it? Would he instead use his little phaser or someone else? She didn't know. She didn't expect that someone like him would care one way or another about the men who served beneath him. The years would do that to him. Damien...while hard and cold, was also a good person despite all the years he had endured.

Certain death or a chance, then.

She breathed out, slowly. She didn't dare to check in with Ceres or send her qi trailing back to check on Damien.

She stared at the man holding Devon for his own and let her chin dip in a shallow nod. Hand-to-hand...she wouldn't be able to beat him. At all. Maybe her chances with this were going to be utter crap...but she would have to take her chances. There was little she could do, otherwise.

David B. said:

He laughed.

"Look at you..."

He leaned back, legs still crossed, as she agreed.

"I didn't hear you. Do you agree to play the game?"

He smirked. He liked to hear them say it.

Kyrie Blaze said:

Even as disinclined as he would be to make this ship nothing more than space dust...she didn't trust that he would stay his hand from it. Though, really, she could have just ben nodding at a random thought.

Kyrie reached up to brush her fingers against her ear, following from top to bottom and brushing against her earrings, thoughtfully.

"I will."

David B. said:

Devons eyes rolled back at her verbal agreement.

"The last thing they say before they lose everything...its intoxicating."

She would start to get blurred vision...hear a ringing in her head...and pass out.