Chapter 4: Exodus Part 4

=i hear a comm in my helmet. i respond, voice monotone, not registering who it is i am talking to= Sir, yes, sir. Sending the coordinates now.


=i send the coordinates on a reply frequency, and resume waiting for whatever it is=

He could be anyone... Why does he know me..? He never answers my questions..? Why? To protect me? From the truth?

=She drops her head=
What is he hiding...?

Good. I'd suggest getting inside if i was you.

I walk on over to the ODST's and stop broadcasting.

Alright you got me. Bridge is this way yeah?

I point with my finger and begin walking, them following close behind with guns pointed at me. I sigh and keep my eyes open for my target. I grin as i spot them and suddenly kick out at the ODST's, forcing them to flinch backwards. I sprint and reach the SOEIV Drop Pods in time, keying in the co-ordinates and slamming the pod door closed. I launch and sigh to myself as i feel the familiar juddering.

I'm gonna miss that Sabre

=i hear the comm and reply= Sir, yes, sir.

=i stand normally, stance relaxed and gun lowered, and walk into the base. i stand there=

=i decide to go back into the ready stance, in case the whatever it is arrives. the rifle goes back into place, the feet spread out, and my head stays still. my stomach growls but i ignore it=

Must stay ready. Must stay ready. Must stay ready

=Ash began to become shiver=
Its so cold here... I should get moving maybe I can find someone...

=She sighs and picks herself up, using her crutch she begins walk again=
Hello..? Anyone here..?

Looks like I'm alone...

=an Elite where startk-white armour approaches Ash=
Speaking english-

And what, my daer, are you doing lost upon the floor in the manner that you are?
Have you no idea the place where you stay? Or are you taking a brief reprieve from the stress of your life?

(He looks around)
(He decides to stand up and walk around)

Jesus, lonely in here
Frick.

David hears Ash walking and rises, after training for a while without the use of his right arm, he opened the door, making sure he had everything and stepped out into the hallway, "Ash? What's going on?"

=i see a large dent in the wall. i assume it to be what i am waiting for. i go outside to see what it is, and i see a large drop pod. the door is crushed closed. i go to open it, putting the rifle down and trying to open it with my hands. i feel no urgency, no desire to open the pod other than to get it open and see if that's what it was i was waiting for. it starts to creak=

=Ash steps back from the Elite startled=
I... I don't know... I was brought her... By the Doctor.. You know him right? Can you help me find him!?

=She turns to David=
There you are... I was just talking to..

=She looks up at the Elite=
What's your name?

I shake myself, bringing the consciousness back with me.

Urgh my head. That was a bad landing

The pod door starts to creak and i shout out.

Whoever's out there, back off.

I prime the explosive bolts on the pod

Sir, yes, sir

=i stand back, after hearing the voice. it's familiar, and emotions try to break through, but i remember why i did this, why i locked my mind up=

I hit the last bolt and the door flies upwards in the air, coming down to land on top of the base's roof. I climb out of the pod, take one glare at Dormii and hit my comms again.

Draco? Draco you there?

(He hears the comms go off)
(He returns to the chair)
(Comms)
@Jay
Yeah

David walks over to Ash, "Let me help you, you're in no condition to walk." He looks up to the Elite with a neutral expression.

I've got that data for you. Going to need a pick up form the planets surface though. Long story how i got here. Don't ask.

I shake my head

=She pulls away from David=
I'm fine really... I can walk on my own...

=She glares at David=
Don't worry about me... I'm fine... I've been though worse, but.... thanks...

=She turns back to the Elite=

My name is Xerces, and the Doctor has one of mine underlings outside your room. Currently, waiting for your return.

=i receive the glare, and go back to where i was. that wasn't what i was waiting for. i go stand ready in the courtyard, however, i take my helmet off and hook it into my hip. After putting the rifle in place, i stand perfectly still, almost like a statue. my stomach growls again, but i ignore it=

@Jay
Alright.

(He takes Andrea out of the console)
(He puts on his helmet, putting Andrea in)
(He heads off to the Pelican)

He nods, "I should get set up in my room as well," he looks back to the Elite, "Why do the majority of the Elites only speak Romanian?"

=She smiles at Xerces=
Thanks for your help... Could you point me back there..? I'm kinda lost

Urm Draco. Sorry, i couldn't find Ash's family name. I didn't have enough time to check everything but still. I'm not too sure about it. I had to download everything, you have the entire database of Arcadia on your hands here as well. Sorry, i couldn't cut it down. i needed to be quick.

I glance over at Dormii, worried

@Jay
Thank you, really.
Both of us appreciate it.

(He hops into the Pelican)

Coming down now.

(He starts up the engines)

Alright. I'll meet you in whats left of the courtyard.

I walk on over to Dormii, taking off my helmet as i do and reaching out to touch his arm

(The Pelican lifts off and through the exit of the Tropheum)

Glad to be off that piece of crap again

(He puts on the speed and tries to get down as fast as possible)

=i feel the need to speed the whatever it is. i recite a poem, unsure of where it came=

A hellbound soldier marches along
to the beat of a broken drum

In his mind is a locked box
containing all that he is, but

if this box were to open
all around him will be in danger

his mind is in conflict
open it, don't open it

neither side has any chance of winning
yet they continue anyway

the soldier cannot stop the fight
nor can he continue

he simply marches along
to the beat of a broken drum

Dormii?

I cautiously lean into his sight

Only the elites pledged to Black-Hans, he was a comrade of mine, Speak the language you call romanian. I however am part of Nikolaus' intelligence team.

=xerces looks at the elite behind David=
You know that there's an elite ready for take you to your room. He's been waiting for you.

=to ash=

Of course my dear, I would consider it an honour.

=my voice stays monotone, as does my face, but emotions struggle to escape in my eyes. i recite another one=

A Demon walks the Earth
War following in it's wake

War is the Demon's only friend
All it ever knew

Then one day an Angel came down
To stop the madness

The Demon knew nothing about Angels, or madness
Only that what it was doing was normal

The Angel stopped the Demon, but only shortly
The Demon continued what it knew

The Demon harmed the Angel
And the Angel left, only to return

What the Angel found was nothing new
The Demon continued what it knew

I move my hand along his arm and down to his hand. I grasp it and move myself right in front of him.

Dormii? Hey, You in there?

(He enters into the atmosphere)
(He sighs)
Need to find her

(After sometime passes he lands just outside of the base)

=i recognize the person in front of me= I am.

=emotions struggle to get out again=

=She tilts her head in confusion=
An honour..? What do you mean by that....?

=Her eyes meet the Elites=
What's with these people..? Why do I feel like I'm missing something?

Mind coming out to talk to me?

I give a cautious smile

David nods looking to Ash, "Get to your room without breaking anything else?" And with that he turns to the Elite now in front of him, waiting for the route.

=my mouth twitches when i see her smile, the same smile i love. my voice remains monotone= About?

No, no, no. We don't talk until you come out.

Quill wrote:

=She tilts her head in confusion=
An honour..? What do you mean by that....?

=Her eyes meet the Elites=
What's with these people..? Why do I feel like I'm missing something?

Ha! So you do not know? There has not been a human woman on this ship for over 50 years now, you are the first and as such I would consider it an honour. And why is it you look at me so curiously?

=She laughs nervously=
Oh no reason... Fifty years? Really...? Wait..? Who was on her before..?

=some emotion creeps into my voice. fear and sorrow mix with my words= If I do, I will become a threat. I will endanger others, including you.

=i look into her eyes, the same emotions gather there= I can't do that. I can't let myself do that.

=a tear forms= I don't want to do more harm to you. Whether you think it's minor or not, it is still pain, still caused by me.

=i look away=

You do more harm to us staying this way than you ever could if you relapsed. Physical pain can heal. Emotional pain never truly does.

=i slowly unlock myself, my emotions, my free will, everything. more tears fall= Not when I've caused it. I can't forgive myself for what happened that time in the forest. And I can't see why you should either.

I am a Demon, walking this Earth, with War as my only friend, the only thing I know.

I forgive you because it's not worth continuing this existence without you. now look, i knew what i signed up for when i chose you. I knew what risks i'd have to take. I'm still here aren't i?

You are.

=i unlock myself all the way, breaking down right then and there. i fall to my knees, tears unstoppable. i hang my head in shame, sorrow, and fear. Shame and sorrow for what i did, fear for what may happen=

=i hug her back, just as tightly. i kiss the side of her head=