And Danger Will Follow Me...(Kiyr, open)

[Your Mom~]

...everywhere I go.

Olesya felt like a whole new person, fresh and refreshed, bright and shiny and new. She had a purpose, she had a mission. She had lost so much, but it didn't take away from who she was, or what she could be. She could rebuild, she could become bigger and better than she was before.

Her auburn hair had grown long in the duration of her treatments, but it was a nice change. She often tied the top back in two braids that met on the back of her head. Her eyes were back to their natural hazel, and her skin had a healthy glow to it. She was a complete 180 to the thin, pale, white haired, angry person she had been when she was brought to the ARC against her will.

Now she worked for the ARC. She didn't want to call herself an employee per say, because she didn't so much work for the ARC as she worked for Aster. Her mission was to gather a specific herb from the Brazilian rainforests. It was a rare find, and told to have medicinal properties that the ARC wanted to test. It was straight forward enough for her first mission back in the real world.

The hover jet took her as far as the Brazilian border, Les leapt from the hatch, free falling for a good distance just to feel the rush. She activated her Sky Force jacket, slowing her descent and taking control of the skies.

[ooc: This can take place prior to the war, during a lull in the action, or whatever. Just reintroducing to the main storyline.]

[Kyrie Blaze]

'Captain. A craft has been detected, one unit deployed. Uncertain of the alignment. The craft has departed but the deployed unit remains.'

Kyrie's eyes opened and she pulled in a long, quiet breath. Her brow crumpled into a thoughtful frown. She didn't particularly want to investigate with everything...

...with everything the way it was.

But it certainly wasn't something she could just brush off, not when the safety of so many depended on her. If this was a spy, then she had to route them and find out what was going on. It didn't matter how she felt. Many felt the same. But she was the one everyone looked to, now, and as far as anyone knew, it was permanent.

She believed that the vision she had was right. But the when was another matter entirely.

'Show me the way.'

Once again she only spoke when necessary, it was just one of the ways she could express the grief she felt. Eventually she would speak more, but for now, it was silence she embraced. She pushed herself up from the place she had curled up to catch whatever sleep she could and brushed herself off, straightening her clothes, though the wind from her impending flight would do the rest to even out whatever creases came to be in her...extremely short nap.

From her connection to the ship she was relayed directions and the location.

'Continue tracking the unit. Update me on their location.'

Ceres chimed an affirmative and Kiyr clapped a hand against the shoulder of the first person she encountered - Titan or Dragon, it mattered not - and spoke.

"The ship detected someone. I am going to investigate, should anyone be looking for me."

She only waited for the agreement before she turned and stepped out and took to the sky to skim over the rainforest treetops, heading for the mental beacon Ceres was feeding her. She plunged back into the canopy and down through branches and trunks once there was an opening. From there it was a matter of fast weaving before pulling up to carefully close the gap to find a spot she could first observe whomever it was.

[Your Mom~]

The air was humid, it felt heavy and sticky as Olesya landed on the rain forest floor. It was much different than the climate she was used to at the ARC. She took a minute or two to adjust, her body acclimating to the pressure and the density of the air around her. Once her dizziness subsided, she activated the communicator on her wrist, signalling back to the ARC.

"I've landed, no immediate threats. I will check in every hour if able, keeping location active."

The communicator bleeped in affirmation, and Les started walking, keeping her eyes peeled for the tell-tale magenta leaves she was looking for.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The figure may not have been familiar...but the voice certainly was. Kyrie's eyes widened. David told her Olesya hadn't wanted to leave the ARC. But here she was. And looking entirely different. The blonde bit her tongue as she listened, not wanting to speak with Olesya's mic activated.

She didn't want the ones on the other end to know Olesya wasn't alone. She didn't want to draw attention to this place; or, at least, any more attention than what was already given by Olesya's presence.

And taking her back to Hyperion's cave wasn't likely an option.

For now, not wanting to jump out, the blonde was content to shadow Olesya, warily, in lieu of making herself known. What was going on?

[Your Mom~]

Olesya would appear to walk almost aimlessly, her gaze trained on the ground, though a couple times she would glance up and admire the foliage around her. She had never been to the rain forest, and either they had managed to escape the bombs of Fate, or the rain forest was just that strong and regenerative that it regrew what it had lost. Much like she had.

There were a lot of sound sin the rain forest, the dripping of water, the rustle of trees, the various sounds of the fauna, it easily masked Kiyr's quiet trailing.

Once or twice the former Voice of the Storm Dragon would stop and kneel to examine a plant. She would scan it, frown, shake her head, and move on.

[Kyrie Blaze]

It didn't seem that she was looking for the battle that had occurred, which meant the ARC may not know of it. At least, she was assuming that whomever was on the other end was the ARC, but it only seemed logical, given the fact Olesya hadn't wanted to leave them. She slid along, behind and to the side, so that there was less of a chance of Olesya looking behind or to the side and spotting her.

It seemed likely she was looking for some kind of plant.

Content enough that it didn't seem to be a ploy, it didn't seem to be false even though Olesya's appearance had changed drastically. All that was left was the inner turmoil and debate of whether Olesya should know, or if it was somehow kinder to leave the woman in the dark as to David's fate. As to whatever potential there was... Kyrie crept through the foliage, taking the long way around.

Out of sight.

Eventually, the blonde would be seen somewhere in front of Olesya.

Standing, non-threateningly, her hands at her sides.

Watching.

Waiting.

[Your Mom~]

Les caught something in her peripheral vision, and when she glanced up to see the figure in front of her, Les jumped and gasped, a hand flying to her chest. "Jesus! ...Kiyr?" She asked breathlessly, quickly scanning the area around them for any other surprises.

"You startled me." She took a deep steadying breath and drew to her fully height, as she had been examining a plant prior to the scare. "What are you doing here? Where are the others?"

[Kyrie Blaze]

Olesya would see no other surprises, despite being in a rainforest where most anything could happen. The blonde inclined her head in silent greeting, but gave no apology despite startling her. She knew she would, considering Les hadn't been paying attention.

She passed her tongue over her lips and swallowed. Some things she would have to say, and would need to break her silence more often than she would like, right now. But when she spoke, her voice was even and neutral. "Ceres notified me of a craft in the general area, with one unit deployed. I decided to scout it out, but, you I was not expecting... The others are safe, with her, and some others I trust."

[Your Mom~]

She dusted off her hands, giving Kiyr a once over as she spoke. It was almost a year now since had seen the blonde, but besides looking worn and a little thin, she looked very much the same. Olesya on the other hand, had clearly made some changes in her life, now sporting her natural auburn hair and hazel eyes of years past. Her entire disposition seemed much lighter, as well.

"Ceres?"

She asked, not recognizing the name. Were they a guardian? A soldier? And what of August and Youichi and David? What of Maddie? But...one question at a time.

[Kyrie Blaze]

"The ship that David...procured, from under Strike's nose. Soon after, Strike attacked. We had an evacuation plan in place, and retreated to space for some time. Maddie is fine," She continued, able to see the questions brimming in the woman's eyes. The blonde didn't slouch, but Olesya was right when she interpreted Kiyr as worn. So much loss could do that.

"August and Youichi have been very diligent in looking after her. David..." She swallowed. "Had been comatose until a month ago, so I had taken on responsibility as Acting Captain and an interim leader for the civilians and Dragons. He finally woke during a time he was in danger from a very peculiar and dangerous man aboard the ship, though we defeated him. We came back to Earth to help an ally of mine, though at that point we were actually following his brother, Damien, for reasons outside of that."

She blinked. There was no easy way to continue. Up until now she had been a narrator, speaking of what would have been difficult months ago when she hadn't the slightest idea if he would wake before that fifteen year buffer zone that Ceres had stated. Her brow crumpled, and her eyes glinted with tears before she blinked rapidly, trying to prevent even one from falling.

"He came to see you, before the battle. But, Olesya... In the battle with the Titans, he called a tornado with the full compliment of his strength to take down one of the most powerful enemies, called Typhon. He sacrificed himself."

She choked on the last three words, but didn't move aside from a motion that was, essentially, a shudder.

[Your Mom~]

Everyone was safe. Maddie, August, Youichi...aboard this ship they call Ceres. She knew about the coma, David had mentioned it when he came to the ARC to break her out, and wound up breaking up with her instead. But as she continued, it was clear that something was bothering Kiyr, so she listened.

And felt time stop.

Olesya's eyes widened, and she slowly brought her hand to her mouth, her other arm wrapping around her stomach, clutching at her elbow. Her gaze fell to the forest floor, and she stood still, unable to breathe. Her eyes closed, a pained expression crossing her features.

She was scavenging back in Crow territory, when a hand grasped her shoulder and spun her around, bring her face to face with the boy who had been her captain back at PHS 259, and she his pillar.

All of the fights, both physical and verbal, all the laughs and smiles, all of the kisses...

They had been gone the moment he walked away from her at the ARC, but Olesya had still hoped that she had time to reconcile with him, after everything they've been through. She couldn't imagine two people whose fates kept crossing as theirs did would just walk away never to see each other again.

And now...she would never be able to say that she was sorry. She would never be able to say that she forgave him.

Olesya stood motionless for what seemed like forever, her shoulders shaking ever so slightly, but no sound of outward display of mourning. Her hand closed into a fist, allowing her to speak around it. Hazel eyes opened, trained on the ground.

"D-Does Maddie know?"

The waver in her voice gave away the amount of emotion she was suppressing. Pre-treatment Olesya would have exploded with no control over her emotions or actions. SHe probably would have razed half the rain forest in her fury and pain. The new and improved Olesya remained composed in the face of undoing, at least until she was alone to mourn herself.

[Kyrie Blaze]

As Olesya dealt in her own way, so too did Kiyr. She stifled a sob and pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. She just couldn't afford to break down again right now, even though Olesya and her...shared the same pain, despite their different experiences with him. And Kiyr's grief was more layered than just this, but this certainly hurt the most.

"Sh-she does. I... I told her, myself." The blonde choked the words out and swallowed to clear her throat. "I... I also told her something. And, given our shared feelings for David, I...I will share the same with you.

"Much and more has happened than what I have told you, Olesya. It would take a long while to explain it all. But there is a chance that David...will come back. I just do not know how long. It could be weeks, months, years...or longer. I saw him reviving. I do not know where...and especially when. It may be beyond this lifetime."

Out of self-preservation, she didn't say more.

"I hope it would be months, but, right now I have no way to know. I will do everything in my power to find him."

[Your Mom~]

The corner's of Olesya's lips drew together as Kiyr took the shredded string of hope and latched onto it. Her eyes narrowed in a steely expression, drawing up what strength she could in this time of pain.

"It won't do to hope in things that might not come to pass." She had searched for months, year, for any sign of her family. Her mother, father, brother, sisters, all of them were gone. She remembered holding onto that desperate hope that she would somehow find them alive, even when she had seen the rubble of her family home herself. She remembered how much it tore her apart. She couldn't do that again.

Her gaze softened though, as she realized that Kiyr was hurting just as much, if not more so. The full reality had yet to hit Olesya, her mind was still in a cushioned state of shock. It would hit her soon enough, and she would be undone. And she would be alone.

"I need to see Maddie. Please, can you take me to her?" Her poor child, first losing her mother figure, and now losing her father figure. She would not allow for her to be an orphan, again. Though Youichi should still have the paperwork giving custody of the child to herself and August, Olesya felt a strong urgency to be with her daughter. She had been gone for ten months, and that was ten months too long.

[Kyrie Blaze]

"May not, yes. But the worst thing in this life is the death of hope."

How could she explain that she'd been given a gift that put her on par with Beings nobody here was aware of aside from a select few individuals? How to explain that she'd travelled to a parallel universe, not once but twice, and on that second time, with those powers...changed the course of that planet, and replicated it among other universes to keep them safe, lest one of the Beings find her and strip her of the gift she would give back to Ouranos? And that outcome was the least worrisome of anything inside or outside the box.

She looked at Olesya, and the two seemed to share an understanding. Neither was angry at one another.

"I still felt it had to be said. There is hope, but, nothing is saying that either of us has to cling to it and desperately search. If I focused on that, I would wind up neglecting the civilians and Core. And that is unacceptable."

Kiyr's lips twitched in concern. She wasn't going to deny Olesya to see Maddie (and goodness knew the child needed her mother, too), but there was also no way she would let whomever it was on the other side of the comms locate her allies.

"I cannot take you to her, but, I can bring her to you."

'Ceres, send Youichi and Maddie to my location with Liliel. The deployed unit is Olesya. She would like to see Maddie.'

'...of course. ETA fifteen.'

"...she and Youichi will arrive where-ever I wind up being in about fifteen minutes."

[Your Mom~]

"Why's that?"

She asked, a shadow of confusion crossing her features. Perhaps it was that they were out of range, or something, but then how would Kiyr ever get back to the ship? And if they were bringing Maddie to her, couldn't they just as easily beam up? Or, fly up? Or whatever?

No, Kiyr could easily beam up. Olesya could not. Kiyr's words came back to mind. 'I would wind up neglecting the civilians and Core. And that is unacceptable.' It reminded her of the last conversation she'd had with David, and she frowned. She had neglected her people by staying with the ARC. She was a traitor.

"E's hud y Tnykuh yhosuna, ys E?" The words were slightly unwieldy on her tongue, because no one at the ARC spoke Dragon, and she wasn't about to teach any of them. So she was a little out of practice.