Sorry about the lack of post yesterday. I took Monday off work for an M$ certification. I write on days I work, and post on days I write.
...I actually had to retcon in the description of that, but the two events are related.
Also, I'm going to have to re-number things in the SB edit. This double numbering is getting nuts.
Also, this entry goes between thread post #209 and #211. You're welcome, CD.
**********
"Imma. May I have a moment?"
I suppose I should've seen this coming. I turned around to see Cinque standing there, regarding me levelly. "Sure."
After an awkwardly quiet moment, she finally caught the hint. "Alone, please."
We relocated to an empty room in silence. As soon as the door closed, Cinque was in front of me, giving me a rather odd look- half glare and half calculating evaluation.
"I believe you owe me an explanation, brother."
Well, she doesn't look furious. I can probably get out of this without too much violence. "I assume you're talking about the mission?"
Cinque nodded. "I am. Why did you have me removed from the combat area?"
I'd best explain everything in one go. Cinque'd probably accept a complete argument easiest. "Well, to understand why I did what I did, you should first understand the situation as I saw it. I went into the mission with three objectives-"
Cinque cut me off. "Three? We only had one objective."
I snorted at that. "We were only given one objective. I already had two more of my own- keep you and Tre safe, and try to avoid killing any other humans. Now, let me explain.
Because of my objectives, I had four entities to worry about protecting- the Relic, myself, and the two of you. Between my own transfer magic and the lab's transport system, we had two forms of extraction available to us- but I was the only one aware of that, so I had to make a decision.
The simplest approach would be for the two of us to go to Tre, break her out, retreat to the extraction point, and have Uno beam us all back. Having you along would've made this safer-" -Cinque nodded at this, feeling vindicated- "-but it would've left the Relic, and the rest of us, in a combat zone for maybe twice as long."
She thought about this for a bit, rubbing her chin with one hand. "I see your point. Why not send the Relic back on its own, though?"
I smiled. Exactly as planned. "Because that wouldn't have worked. If I had the Relic beamed out, that would've left me trying to transfer three of us back on my own. I've got the power to do that, but I don't have the experience- and the difficulty of the spell goes up fairly steeply every time you add another person. One is easy. Two is doable. Three? I can't manage it yet."
...why is she looking so confused? "Couldn't you have sent the Relic back yourself, and had Uno bring the rest of us back together?"WHAT. I didn't think of that. Why didn't I think of that?!
My poker face must've failed me, because Cinque smiled and patted my shoulder. "This is why you have a family, Imma. You can't take care of everything yourself." She poked me in the forehead -stupid Blue, not paying attention outside combat!- before pulling me into a hug. "Next time, talk with your sisters. We can take care of ourselves, you know- and we might be able to help take care of you." I just nodded, hugging her back- too busy enjoying the affection to say anything else.
So this is what it's like to have siblings. It's better than I'd expected.On her way out the door, Cinque stopped. "Oh, and Imma?"
When I'd looked up at her, she smirked. "Report to containment room B at 0800 every day. I believe you could use some additional combat practice."I take it back. It's worse than I'd expected.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
...I actually had to retcon in the description of that, but the two events are related.
Also, I'm going to have to re-number things in the SB edit. This double numbering is getting nuts.
Also, this entry goes between thread post #209 and #211. You're welcome, CD.
**********
"Imma. May I have a moment?"
I suppose I should've seen this coming. I turned around to see Cinque standing there, regarding me levelly. "Sure."
After an awkwardly quiet moment, she finally caught the hint. "Alone, please."
We relocated to an empty room in silence. As soon as the door closed, Cinque was in front of me, giving me a rather odd look- half glare and half calculating evaluation.
"I believe you owe me an explanation, brother."
Well, she doesn't look furious. I can probably get out of this without too much violence. "I assume you're talking about the mission?"
Cinque nodded. "I am. Why did you have me removed from the combat area?"
I'd best explain everything in one go. Cinque'd probably accept a complete argument easiest. "Well, to understand why I did what I did, you should first understand the situation as I saw it. I went into the mission with three objectives-"
Cinque cut me off. "Three? We only had one objective."
I snorted at that. "We were only given one objective. I already had two more of my own- keep you and Tre safe, and try to avoid killing any other humans. Now, let me explain.
Because of my objectives, I had four entities to worry about protecting- the Relic, myself, and the two of you. Between my own transfer magic and the lab's transport system, we had two forms of extraction available to us- but I was the only one aware of that, so I had to make a decision.
The simplest approach would be for the two of us to go to Tre, break her out, retreat to the extraction point, and have Uno beam us all back. Having you along would've made this safer-" -Cinque nodded at this, feeling vindicated- "-but it would've left the Relic, and the rest of us, in a combat zone for maybe twice as long."
She thought about this for a bit, rubbing her chin with one hand. "I see your point. Why not send the Relic back on its own, though?"
I smiled. Exactly as planned. "Because that wouldn't have worked. If I had the Relic beamed out, that would've left me trying to transfer three of us back on my own. I've got the power to do that, but I don't have the experience- and the difficulty of the spell goes up fairly steeply every time you add another person. One is easy. Two is doable. Three? I can't manage it yet."
...why is she looking so confused? "Couldn't you have sent the Relic back yourself, and had Uno bring the rest of us back together?"WHAT. I didn't think of that. Why didn't I think of that?!
My poker face must've failed me, because Cinque smiled and patted my shoulder. "This is why you have a family, Imma. You can't take care of everything yourself." She poked me in the forehead -stupid Blue, not paying attention outside combat!- before pulling me into a hug. "Next time, talk with your sisters. We can take care of ourselves, you know- and we might be able to help take care of you." I just nodded, hugging her back- too busy enjoying the affection to say anything else.
So this is what it's like to have siblings. It's better than I'd expected.On her way out the door, Cinque stopped. "Oh, and Imma?"
When I'd looked up at her, she smirked. "Report to containment room B at 0800 every day. I believe you could use some additional combat practice."I take it back. It's worse than I'd expected.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.