There's always someone to blame
For the things you do yourself
You think that everything that's going wrong
Is because of someone else
And you're trapped inside this world you made yourself!
'Cause I'm on the outside...
And I'm lookin' in...
But that's not the world I live in,
This is not the life for me
'Cause my world's bigger than your problems
And it's bigger than me
- 3 Doors Down, My World
The gavel came down as the various members of the court entered and took their seats once more. In any other court, it would've been a signal for quiet, but in this case, the only observers were members of the groups affected. Vanguard soldiers covered the entrances as the Federal Board For Investigation Of Superpowered Incidents once more sat in session. The head of the board of inquiry stood up, drawing almost every eye.
"All rise," the bailiff commanded, and Brightsky stood alongside the Vanguard officer that'd agreed to defend her. Truthfully, it'd been a fairly open and shut case, but she appreciated the sentiment behind it, given Syn must've pulled some strings in addition to keeping herself out of the line of fire, given what Bright'd heard since about what her idea of "staying out of it" had amounted to. Despite herself, she felt a tickle of fear in her stomach as the head of the board pulled out the official pronouncement of verdict. She'd been so sure of herself then....she still was, somewhat....but in the face of this....
"...in the case of the incident on the 13th of November, this board has deliberated extensively on the various charges brought against Registered Hero Brightsky. In the case of deliberate and premeditated misuse of Vanguard authority and clearance, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky....guilty. In the case of deliberate assault upon Vanguard assets in direct contravention of standing orders to all Vanguard personnel, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky...guilty. In the case of voluntary and premeditated assault upon a prisoner of Vanguard in defiance of the proper channels of law and the Geneva conventions, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky....guilty."
Brightsky managed not to wince at each proclamation, though a tiny part of her mind noted she was lucky that the last one hadn't included "unlawful execution of a prisoner of war".
"It is the decision of this board that Registered Hero Brightsky is to be stripped of her current level of clearance, rank within Vanguard, and station within Freedom Corps. However, in recognition of her many years of service and potential extenuating circumstances, it is the decision of this board that Registered Hero Brightsky's hero liscense is to be re-evaluated rather than stripped entirely, in accordance with the proper processes of the law. This board's decisions are final. Court is adjourned."
***
"Well, that's that for now," Evangelia noted as the young heroine leaned back against the conference table in the Legendary base. "So, run the list for me, Lora," she said, looking over at the Kheldian sitting by the control terminal across from her.
"As you saw at the trial today, Brightsky's clearance levels have been revoked, but her hero liscense has not. She's decided to use the re-working of her liscense to register as a Blaster this time around, presumably to explore the limits of her powers in that field as regard her innate gravitational field."
"Makes sense. She's still with us?"
"Yes, her re-registration paperwork's already been filed."
"Right, next?"
"You'll probably need to talk to Amber at some point to reassure her about her inability to avert this. It's not her fault that her mind was somewhere several thousand years in the past driving Emet, but you know how she is. She'll only blame herself for not noticing Brightsky's plan ahead of time, despite the fact that no one, not even the Freedom Phalanx, had a hint of it before she attacked the convoy. Plus, even if she had noticed it, no one could've physically gotten there anyway. Peter's ability to penetrate the War Walls was a one in a million fluke chance."
"How is it I'm team counselor these days?" Eva wondered, getting a slight smile from Lora'lai.
"It's your inspirational speeches. They never fail to lift my spirits, at least," she noted deadpan, getting a giggle from Eva before continuing. "In relation to that, I've begun some research into a possible emergency teleporter to outside the city limits, in case of similar incidents. I'll give you more information on that when I have it."
"How's Inyme?" Eva asked, getting a brief glance down as Lora'lai considered her screen.
"She hasn't woken up since she passed out after Alice found her. Her vital signs are still strong, but brain activity is very low. Not enough to consider her brain dead by a long shot, but she's still in a very deep coma. Given the extent of her injuries, it might be for the best, at least while the doctors were realligning and setting the various broken bones and such. Assuming she wakes up, she should make a full recovery."
Eva nodded slightly. "Assuming she wakes up. Is that all?"
"Not entirely everything," a third voice noted, causing Eva to look up as a pair of familiar figures stepped in, one clad from head to toe in advanced power armor, while the other wore nothing so much as an elaborate set of robes that didn't obstruct the enormous pair of wings extending from her back. Eva nodded in recognition of the two leaders of Riot Force as they stepped in.
"I suppose we owe you an apology for not reining in Brightsky to...." Eva started, before Silicon raised a hand, cutting her off.
"It's hardly your fault. You don't have anything to apologize for, or we'll have to start apologizing for not knowing Inyme was a Rikti when she got involved with one of your members," she pointed out, before reaching up to the seals on her helmet as Eva blinked slightly. Then she blinked again when the face and hair underneath weren't the silver haired beauty she'd seen before, but a much darker haired woman with a brief, business like hairstyle...who she recognized immediately.
"Sylia Stingray?" she boggled. "You're...I mean, a classmate of mine did a report on your business career recently, but I never suspected that you were actually because of the other look and all and did you do that with holograms, or...wait. Stop. I'm babbling. You were going to say something," Eva said, getting a hold of herself.
Sylia smiled slightly. "I decided that, in light of recent events, we could do without some secrets that've been longstanding up until now, at least at this level. I imagine I can rely on your discretion, as much as I can on that of members of my family," she noted with a dryly amused smile.
Eva glanced over at Lora'lai curiously, before nodding at the statement. "Of course you can. Still, it's an honor to meet you, uh, ma'am."
Ifrit restrained a laugh as Sylia chuckled softly. "I think we can dispense with that, since we didn't stand on ceremony before. Just call me Sylia."
Eva nodded briefly, before glancing around. "Wait, we should probably tell Shizuru about this."
"Oh, she already knows," Sylia said. "I saw her earlier while asking a quick favor..."
***
Inyme's head seemed....remarkably hollow at the moment as her mind swam in the mires of semi-unconsciousness. She wasn't quite aware, and yet that definitively proved that she wans't dead. She continued drifting for a moment before a set of neurons fired in the proper sequence to remind her of her last conscious memories.
Alice!
She began to jerk forward, before she was ever so gently "laid back" by a gentle mental pressure.
There there, just rest a moment now, why don't you?
Who are you?
A friend, the voice noted pleasantly, it unique mental "accent" seeming maddeningly familiar to Inyme's addled mind. I'm just watchin' out for you while you recovered. You had a nasty bit of neural shock in addition t' all those broken bones.
I....where am I?
A hospital, though that's not quite why I'm lookin' in on you.
Inyme frowned at the tone. Then why?
Mostly because I recognize someone with...similar problems. I like t' think I've gotten over mine, though, and can advise others of the dangers.
What dangers? What are you talking about?
You love her very much, don't you? Alice, I mean.
...what does that have to do with anything? Inyme noted sharply, her suspicions flaring.
I'll take that as a yes. I saw the recordings, Miss W'tin. You'd do anything for her, wouldn't you? That's just fine...so long as you keep that within reason. Or you start bein' willin' t'do things she'd never want you to. Speakin' from personal experience, you understand.
Inyme scowled mentally, tired of the half-answers, and streteched out her senses. If this person wasn't going to answer her straight, she'd find out for herself.
And for a brief moment, she did, as a swirl of voices and snatches of memory were open to her.
I'll just watch over her from afar for now...
You're sure there's nothin' more I can do to help?
She's so cute when she lets herself relax like that...
That'll be enough...
Perhaps if you were a bit...duller...you probably wouldn't have suffered so much...
If anyone needs a counsellor, I think it's you.
But your love and my love...are two very different things...
I didn't want you to find out...this isn't the kind of love that can be requitted...
....Kiyohime.
Haruka!
Kiyohime.
..ma...ma...?
KIYOHIME.
Inyme was snapped out of the line of memories even as she heard the bestial siren's song that lay behind that word, gently pulled away by the mind occupying this null-space with her.
Yes, that'll be enough, little miss. While I imagine a first person perspective would be...educational...there are certain areas of those memories I'd rather not disclose t' myself, let alone another, you understand.
Inyme nodded, vaguely shaken by what little she'd seen as the voice continued.
Anyway, just...do be careful, you understand? I think you'll be right fine anyway, but it pays to be careful. Anyway, Alice is waiting for you t' wake up, darling.
Inyme blinked, as the strange pseudo-world faded about her, with light suddenly glaring at her unused eyes as she blinked them slowly and moved a hand to shield herself.
"Inyme!" a familiar voice cried out, as Inyme felt her girlfriend's presence cross the vague light and dark shapes of the room with rapid speed, pulling her in tight. She grunted slightly as not-quite healed ribs complained, and Alice's hug loosened as she felt the dull imprints of pain through their link.
"S-sorry, it's just...you hadn't woken up since I found you in the trailer and...."
"Alice...I'm...."
"Don't say it," Alice whispered, causing Inyme to look up in surprise.
"Just...let me ask....was it a lie?" she said, and Inyme could feel the catgirl's psychic potential primed and waiting. As it was, in this state, she couldn't really lie to her if she wanted to, which made that level of concentration entirely unnecessary, but Inyme decided that really didn't matter.
"No. I...I had to protect you. From what they'd do if they found out..."
Alice looked at her for a long moment, before whapping her on the back of the head. "You stubborn, paranoid idiot," she said, stray tears staining the fur around her eyes. "You could've just told me. We would've worked something out," she said, holding her tight.
"Maybe...but now...I..."
"As I recall, you never told me enough about yourself to qualify as lying to me, Inyme, so as long as you didn't lie to me about loving me....I wouldn't care if you were a Rikti or the Easter Bunny. Because I know who you are....and that I love you," she sniffled.
Inyme was silent for a long moment again, before leaning her head against Alice's. "...I love you too, Alice..."
Standing up from her chair quietly, Shizuru smiled softly at the two and stepped out the door.
***
"It seems the board agrees with your evaluation of the situation, Devon," the Lady Grey noted as she stepped into the conference room, the various higher ups of Vanguard looking to her as she entered. "Miss W'tin can not be proven to have engaged in any espionage or deception beyond deliberately hiding her origins, making her either the most incompetent spy in the history of espionage, or, as the board has decided to accept, her explanations of her purpose to be attempting to spy on other Rikti are accurate and her stated intent to operate alongside Vanguard in conjunction is genuine. We are satisfied with the board's ruling, and Miss W'tin will have her clearance with Vanguard reinstated immediately. Or, rather," she added with a twinkle of amusement. "Retroactively, since Devon sent her out to recover another potential Rikti defector a few hours ago. Borea and Levantera are, of course, speaking with this General Bu'Dekka now."
Guassian scowled somewhat, before looking over at the Watcher. "I don't know how the hell you pulled it off, Watcher, but this is turning into an intelligence coup bar none. I trust you're satisfied?"
The Dark Watcher smiled slightly, absently acknowledging the bruises still healing from where his last second force field hadn't quite blunted the entirety of the force of Brightsky's final blow, or the impact with the ground below. "Sometimes you just have to have faith things will turn out as they should, Gaussian," he noted softly.
***
"This is, of course, all very worrying. I'll see to it that a strike force is put together to disrupt Hro'Dtohz's portal work," Levantera said, getting a nod from the now helmetless Rikti general sitting across from her.
"In the meantime, I imagine you'll want to coordinate with C'kelkah, to ease the transition and such," Incandescent suggested, the heroine having returned from the UN to help with the more political aspects of the situation.
Bu'Dekka looked at her before glancing over at where Inyme was sitting to the side, and Inyme felt the general's amusement. If she wasn't so nervous about just having escaped treason charges, she might've shared it more. "Well, I don't think that will be exactly what we'll be doing," Inyme said. "I have a good deal of respect for Councillor C'Kelkah. The decision to break from Hro'Dtohz was obviously not an easy one to make when no one else had at that point, but....I don't think myself or the general will be joining her faction officially. We have rather different politics, you understand."
Incandescent blinked once, the only sign she gave of her surprise, and Bu'Dekka chuckled through her translator. "You look so surprised. Both Chief Mentalist W'tin and myself are Restructurists. And while, as Inyme has said, we do respect what C'Kelkah has accomplished, we're hardly going to roll over and be PR benefits without some compromise."
"Our homeworld lost millions in the initial attack by Nemesis," Inyme said, her voice not wavering for the first time as she described those events. "But the number could have been more contained if we hadn't let our military forces slip into disrepair and token levels. While Hro'Dtohz's intent of military rule isn't what we're after, the Traditionalists simply want to go back to the way things were. Bu'dekka and I don't see it that way. Humanity doesn't stand down their militaries to useless tokenism in times of peace, and you're far from the militant bloodthirsty lot that some Traditionalists expect we'll become if we keep a standing armed force at all times," Inyme noted, sounding amused.
Incandescent looked at the two of them, before sitting back and chuckling ruefully. "Oh, the UN is going to love you two," she noted. "But I can hardly fault your reasoning, so I guess we should get into the nuts and bolts of how to spin it..."
***
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Inyme said as she tugged at the collar of the leather jacket she was currently wearing over a tank top and rather decorated jeans.
"It'll be fun, and it's not like you can't sing. I've caught you doing as much before," Alice grinned, what she was saying reinforced as Inyme's was with telepathic communication to be heard over the current attempt at something like musical entertainment on stage. "Besides, you saw V up there. If she can actually lighten up and have some fun with a song like that, you can hardly do less."
"I guess," Inyme said, before sighing. "Besides, you won't give up until I do, will you?"
"Nope," Alice agreed, smiling like a Cheshire cat. "So get going. The song selection's on your right."
Inyme sighed melodramatically before getting up, heading towards the stage as she scrolled through the options, before picking one, a slight smile cracking her face at the appropriateness of it. As the most recent singer stepped off the stage, Inyme walked up the steps. She got a mostly quiet reception, which wasn't surprising. While the Legendary and Riot Force were both large, few, if any, would recognize Inyme's face, and even fewer would recognize her without her armor or even the standard jumpsuit she'd used as informal wear. In the new clothes Alice had taken her shopping to get, she was about as unrecognizable as one could hope for.
As it was, she began softly to sift through the memories of the crowd, looking for specific ones as regarded the song she was about to sing. Finding the ones she wanted, she waited as the music intro began.
"I was moving at the speed of sound. Hair spinnin', couldn't find my way around and....didn't know that I was goin' down. Yea-ah, yea-ah. Well, I've been where it's all a blur. What I was lookin' for, I'm not sure. Too late and didn't see it comin', yea-ah, yea-aaaaaaah...."
The music spiked as Inyme ignored the crowd, focusing on the one mind in the room that she was actually singing to, even as her voice gained strength with the chorus's musicians.
"And then I crashed into you! And I went up in flames! Could've been the death of me, but then you breathed your breath in meee...and I crashed into you, like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk awaaaaaaaay!"
The crowd began to make appreciative noises that Inyme didn't hear as she continued into the verse. She wasn't aware of just how well she was actually singing, or the emotion her performance was putting out. She ignored her telepathic senses and just sang.
"Somehow, I couldn't stop myself. Just wanted to know how it felt. Too strong, I couldn't hold on. Yea-ah, yea-ah. Now I'm just tryin' to make some sense....out of how and why this happened. Where we're headed, there's just no knowin. Yea-ah, yea-aaaahhhhhh....then I crashed into you! And I went up in flames! Coulda been death of me, but then you breathed your breath in me! And I crashed into you....like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk away! From your face, your eyes, they're burned into me! You saved me, you gave me.....just what I need! Oh, just what I neeeeeeeeeeed!"
The crowd was beginning to cheer and clap in isolated bunches as Inyme sang, eyes closed, the music and the warm place in her mind where Alice was the only thing that she heard. The only thing that she needed, as for once, the burden of her life and mission was completely gone.
"And then I crashed into you, and I went up in flames! Could've been the death of me, but then you breathed your breath in me. And I crashed into you, like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk awaaaaaaaaaay!"
As the crowd burst into applause, Inyme opened her eyes again, ignoring the sweat the heat of the spotlights had generated on her skin. She didn't need to look around, finding Alice's emerald eyes amongst hundreds of other heroes, and in that moment, that was all she needed.
Ties That Bind
An OpMegs Production
In Conjunction With Matrix Dragon Studios
And Industrial Sofas and Spuds
Featuring (In Order of Appearance):
Borea
Gaussian
Serpent Drummer
Levantera
Dark Watcher
Lady of the Peace
Gamma Emission
Purrfect Archer
Neko
Emerald Blast
Inyme W'tin
Amberlee
Captain Sherman
Fake Nemesis #34950-21-3950-A
Captain Wilhelmina Marlena Dietrich
Lieutenant Olaf
Sergeant Branston
Lieutenant Sefu Tendaji (posthumous)
Fake Positron
Brightsky
Syndesis
Net Sabre
Purrfect Scrapper
Edge Sabre
Street Sabre
Quicksilver Nano
Valles
Twilit Blade
Silicon Sabre
Mag Flashlight
Pooky Da Imp
Dark Glass
Lora'lai
Captain Levins
Fusionette
Lieutenant Sanderson
Lady Nogitsune
Warrant Officer Thompson
Cyberman 8
William Bishop III
Jay Stewart
Major Scott Hearns
Lieutenant Sean Anders
Officer Angry (Colonel Andreas Sturmhalten)
Officer Grim (Major Peter Thompson)
Thrust SSC
Evangelia
Shizuru
Incandescent
Bu'Dekka
_Jessica Riddle - Even Angels Fall_
You've found hope
You've found faith,
[Inyme walks out a Rikti portal into Atlas, a cut inside her helmet showing her determined expression]
Found how fast she could take it away.
[Alice leans over Inyme's shoulder in Riot's computer room, brushing up against the side of her face as she leans past]
Found true love,
Lost your heart.
[Inyme traces a fingertip along where Alice'd brushed up against her cheek.]
Now you don't know who you are.
[A shot of Inyme's human face in the mirror, a semi-transparent image of her Rikti face slowly fading away from her perspective, leaving behind a troubled looking human face]
She made it easy,
Made it free,
[Alice talking cheerfully with Inyme, their hands intertwined, Inyme's expression hesitantly smiling despite herself]
Made you hurt til you couldn't see.
[Inyme sobs into her pillow after their date at the movies]
Sometimes it stops,
[Inyme stops and looks over her shoulder, the cutaway shot of her beneath the helmet catching her slight blush]
Sometimes it flows,
[Alice leans against her back, ignoring Inyme's stiffness as she wraps her arms around her.]
But baby that is how love goes.
[Inyme relaxes slightly in her embrace, leaning back against her, camera pans down to her gauntleted hand taking Alice's in her own.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
[Inyme and Alice are fighting against Nemesis in the RWZ]
God knows even angels fall.
[The Fake Positron tears in half as the camera zooms through to see Inyme's tearful, enraged expression behind her helmet.]
No such thing as you lost it all.
[Inyme lets herself be cuffed as she's led away from Alice.]
God knows even angels fall.
[A small tear runs down her face as she looks away, Alice looking at her back with a shocked expression.]
It's a secret no one tells;
[Splitscreen between Alice sitting unhappily on a rooftop and Inyme chained to her chair.]
One day it's heaven, one day it's hell.
[Flashback view, Alice kissing Inyme for the first time, then Inyme led away from Alice's perspective.]
It's no fairy tale;
[Inyme's expression is set as she looks up at the Vanguard interrogators.]
Take it from me,
[Edge sits down alongside Alice, talking with her]
That's the way it's supposed to be.
[Inyme mouths Alice's name, while Alice looks out over the RWZ towards Vanguard's base.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
[Alice bounces across the city towards the outer walls, looking worried]
God knows even angels fall.
[Inyme crawls across the floor of a demolished prisoner transport, heading for a crack of sunlight visible where the doors are jammed partially open, struggling with the door and visibly exhausted]
No such thing as you lost it all.
[The door wrenches itself open, Inyme falling into Alice's arms, who holds her tightly to herself.]
God knows even angels fall.
[Inyme smiles softly, resting her head against Alice as her eyes close.]
You laugh, you cry, no one knows why
[Inyme's hugged tightly by Alice as she's lying in a hospital bed, the catgirl crying with happiness.]
Behold the thrill of it all...
You're on the ride
You might as well
Open your eyes
[Inyme stiffens against the contact, before slowly putting her good arm around Alice's back as she closes her eyes and leans her head against Alice's shoulder, her body relaxing as her other hand intertwines with Alice's.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
God knows even angels fall.
No such thing as you lost it all.
God knows even angels fall.
Mighty Glacier:
The Pace of the Plot
Lost His Head:
Fake Positron
Dialogue and Accent Coach:
Acyl
90 Degree Plot Swerve Providers:
Valles
Sofaspud
Chehkov's Gun Provided By:
Atlantea
Co-Writer and General Outsourcing Labor:
Matrix Dragon
Humorous Interludes:
Sofaspud
Nameless Mook Providers:
Nemesis Army
Vanguard
Longbow
Not Actually Appearing In This Picture:
The Rikti
SIR Not Appearing In This Picture:
Sir Alistair Warden-King, Esquire
Secondary Source Flashback:
Mai-Hime
Cast of Thousands:
The Legendary
Riot 6.1
General Troublemaker:
Inyme W'tin
Special Thanks To:
The Regular Sound Boards (You Know Who You Are)
and
The Readers (For waiting 5 months and 19 days for the conclusion)
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."
For the things you do yourself
You think that everything that's going wrong
Is because of someone else
And you're trapped inside this world you made yourself!
'Cause I'm on the outside...
And I'm lookin' in...
But that's not the world I live in,
This is not the life for me
'Cause my world's bigger than your problems
And it's bigger than me
- 3 Doors Down, My World
The gavel came down as the various members of the court entered and took their seats once more. In any other court, it would've been a signal for quiet, but in this case, the only observers were members of the groups affected. Vanguard soldiers covered the entrances as the Federal Board For Investigation Of Superpowered Incidents once more sat in session. The head of the board of inquiry stood up, drawing almost every eye.
"All rise," the bailiff commanded, and Brightsky stood alongside the Vanguard officer that'd agreed to defend her. Truthfully, it'd been a fairly open and shut case, but she appreciated the sentiment behind it, given Syn must've pulled some strings in addition to keeping herself out of the line of fire, given what Bright'd heard since about what her idea of "staying out of it" had amounted to. Despite herself, she felt a tickle of fear in her stomach as the head of the board pulled out the official pronouncement of verdict. She'd been so sure of herself then....she still was, somewhat....but in the face of this....
"...in the case of the incident on the 13th of November, this board has deliberated extensively on the various charges brought against Registered Hero Brightsky. In the case of deliberate and premeditated misuse of Vanguard authority and clearance, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky....guilty. In the case of deliberate assault upon Vanguard assets in direct contravention of standing orders to all Vanguard personnel, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky...guilty. In the case of voluntary and premeditated assault upon a prisoner of Vanguard in defiance of the proper channels of law and the Geneva conventions, the board finds Registered Hero Brightsky....guilty."
Brightsky managed not to wince at each proclamation, though a tiny part of her mind noted she was lucky that the last one hadn't included "unlawful execution of a prisoner of war".
"It is the decision of this board that Registered Hero Brightsky is to be stripped of her current level of clearance, rank within Vanguard, and station within Freedom Corps. However, in recognition of her many years of service and potential extenuating circumstances, it is the decision of this board that Registered Hero Brightsky's hero liscense is to be re-evaluated rather than stripped entirely, in accordance with the proper processes of the law. This board's decisions are final. Court is adjourned."
***
"Well, that's that for now," Evangelia noted as the young heroine leaned back against the conference table in the Legendary base. "So, run the list for me, Lora," she said, looking over at the Kheldian sitting by the control terminal across from her.
"As you saw at the trial today, Brightsky's clearance levels have been revoked, but her hero liscense has not. She's decided to use the re-working of her liscense to register as a Blaster this time around, presumably to explore the limits of her powers in that field as regard her innate gravitational field."
"Makes sense. She's still with us?"
"Yes, her re-registration paperwork's already been filed."
"Right, next?"
"You'll probably need to talk to Amber at some point to reassure her about her inability to avert this. It's not her fault that her mind was somewhere several thousand years in the past driving Emet, but you know how she is. She'll only blame herself for not noticing Brightsky's plan ahead of time, despite the fact that no one, not even the Freedom Phalanx, had a hint of it before she attacked the convoy. Plus, even if she had noticed it, no one could've physically gotten there anyway. Peter's ability to penetrate the War Walls was a one in a million fluke chance."
"How is it I'm team counselor these days?" Eva wondered, getting a slight smile from Lora'lai.
"It's your inspirational speeches. They never fail to lift my spirits, at least," she noted deadpan, getting a giggle from Eva before continuing. "In relation to that, I've begun some research into a possible emergency teleporter to outside the city limits, in case of similar incidents. I'll give you more information on that when I have it."
"How's Inyme?" Eva asked, getting a brief glance down as Lora'lai considered her screen.
"She hasn't woken up since she passed out after Alice found her. Her vital signs are still strong, but brain activity is very low. Not enough to consider her brain dead by a long shot, but she's still in a very deep coma. Given the extent of her injuries, it might be for the best, at least while the doctors were realligning and setting the various broken bones and such. Assuming she wakes up, she should make a full recovery."
Eva nodded slightly. "Assuming she wakes up. Is that all?"
"Not entirely everything," a third voice noted, causing Eva to look up as a pair of familiar figures stepped in, one clad from head to toe in advanced power armor, while the other wore nothing so much as an elaborate set of robes that didn't obstruct the enormous pair of wings extending from her back. Eva nodded in recognition of the two leaders of Riot Force as they stepped in.
"I suppose we owe you an apology for not reining in Brightsky to...." Eva started, before Silicon raised a hand, cutting her off.
"It's hardly your fault. You don't have anything to apologize for, or we'll have to start apologizing for not knowing Inyme was a Rikti when she got involved with one of your members," she pointed out, before reaching up to the seals on her helmet as Eva blinked slightly. Then she blinked again when the face and hair underneath weren't the silver haired beauty she'd seen before, but a much darker haired woman with a brief, business like hairstyle...who she recognized immediately.
"Sylia Stingray?" she boggled. "You're...I mean, a classmate of mine did a report on your business career recently, but I never suspected that you were actually because of the other look and all and did you do that with holograms, or...wait. Stop. I'm babbling. You were going to say something," Eva said, getting a hold of herself.
Sylia smiled slightly. "I decided that, in light of recent events, we could do without some secrets that've been longstanding up until now, at least at this level. I imagine I can rely on your discretion, as much as I can on that of members of my family," she noted with a dryly amused smile.
Eva glanced over at Lora'lai curiously, before nodding at the statement. "Of course you can. Still, it's an honor to meet you, uh, ma'am."
Ifrit restrained a laugh as Sylia chuckled softly. "I think we can dispense with that, since we didn't stand on ceremony before. Just call me Sylia."
Eva nodded briefly, before glancing around. "Wait, we should probably tell Shizuru about this."
"Oh, she already knows," Sylia said. "I saw her earlier while asking a quick favor..."
***
Inyme's head seemed....remarkably hollow at the moment as her mind swam in the mires of semi-unconsciousness. She wasn't quite aware, and yet that definitively proved that she wans't dead. She continued drifting for a moment before a set of neurons fired in the proper sequence to remind her of her last conscious memories.
Alice!
She began to jerk forward, before she was ever so gently "laid back" by a gentle mental pressure.
There there, just rest a moment now, why don't you?
Who are you?
A friend, the voice noted pleasantly, it unique mental "accent" seeming maddeningly familiar to Inyme's addled mind. I'm just watchin' out for you while you recovered. You had a nasty bit of neural shock in addition t' all those broken bones.
I....where am I?
A hospital, though that's not quite why I'm lookin' in on you.
Inyme frowned at the tone. Then why?
Mostly because I recognize someone with...similar problems. I like t' think I've gotten over mine, though, and can advise others of the dangers.
What dangers? What are you talking about?
You love her very much, don't you? Alice, I mean.
...what does that have to do with anything? Inyme noted sharply, her suspicions flaring.
I'll take that as a yes. I saw the recordings, Miss W'tin. You'd do anything for her, wouldn't you? That's just fine...so long as you keep that within reason. Or you start bein' willin' t'do things she'd never want you to. Speakin' from personal experience, you understand.
Inyme scowled mentally, tired of the half-answers, and streteched out her senses. If this person wasn't going to answer her straight, she'd find out for herself.
And for a brief moment, she did, as a swirl of voices and snatches of memory were open to her.
I'll just watch over her from afar for now...
You're sure there's nothin' more I can do to help?
She's so cute when she lets herself relax like that...
That'll be enough...
Perhaps if you were a bit...duller...you probably wouldn't have suffered so much...
If anyone needs a counsellor, I think it's you.
But your love and my love...are two very different things...
I didn't want you to find out...this isn't the kind of love that can be requitted...
....Kiyohime.
Haruka!
Kiyohime.
..ma...ma...?
KIYOHIME.
Inyme was snapped out of the line of memories even as she heard the bestial siren's song that lay behind that word, gently pulled away by the mind occupying this null-space with her.
Yes, that'll be enough, little miss. While I imagine a first person perspective would be...educational...there are certain areas of those memories I'd rather not disclose t' myself, let alone another, you understand.
Inyme nodded, vaguely shaken by what little she'd seen as the voice continued.
Anyway, just...do be careful, you understand? I think you'll be right fine anyway, but it pays to be careful. Anyway, Alice is waiting for you t' wake up, darling.
Inyme blinked, as the strange pseudo-world faded about her, with light suddenly glaring at her unused eyes as she blinked them slowly and moved a hand to shield herself.
"Inyme!" a familiar voice cried out, as Inyme felt her girlfriend's presence cross the vague light and dark shapes of the room with rapid speed, pulling her in tight. She grunted slightly as not-quite healed ribs complained, and Alice's hug loosened as she felt the dull imprints of pain through their link.
"S-sorry, it's just...you hadn't woken up since I found you in the trailer and...."
"Alice...I'm...."
"Don't say it," Alice whispered, causing Inyme to look up in surprise.
"Just...let me ask....was it a lie?" she said, and Inyme could feel the catgirl's psychic potential primed and waiting. As it was, in this state, she couldn't really lie to her if she wanted to, which made that level of concentration entirely unnecessary, but Inyme decided that really didn't matter.
"No. I...I had to protect you. From what they'd do if they found out..."
Alice looked at her for a long moment, before whapping her on the back of the head. "You stubborn, paranoid idiot," she said, stray tears staining the fur around her eyes. "You could've just told me. We would've worked something out," she said, holding her tight.
"Maybe...but now...I..."
"As I recall, you never told me enough about yourself to qualify as lying to me, Inyme, so as long as you didn't lie to me about loving me....I wouldn't care if you were a Rikti or the Easter Bunny. Because I know who you are....and that I love you," she sniffled.
Inyme was silent for a long moment again, before leaning her head against Alice's. "...I love you too, Alice..."
Standing up from her chair quietly, Shizuru smiled softly at the two and stepped out the door.
***
"It seems the board agrees with your evaluation of the situation, Devon," the Lady Grey noted as she stepped into the conference room, the various higher ups of Vanguard looking to her as she entered. "Miss W'tin can not be proven to have engaged in any espionage or deception beyond deliberately hiding her origins, making her either the most incompetent spy in the history of espionage, or, as the board has decided to accept, her explanations of her purpose to be attempting to spy on other Rikti are accurate and her stated intent to operate alongside Vanguard in conjunction is genuine. We are satisfied with the board's ruling, and Miss W'tin will have her clearance with Vanguard reinstated immediately. Or, rather," she added with a twinkle of amusement. "Retroactively, since Devon sent her out to recover another potential Rikti defector a few hours ago. Borea and Levantera are, of course, speaking with this General Bu'Dekka now."
Guassian scowled somewhat, before looking over at the Watcher. "I don't know how the hell you pulled it off, Watcher, but this is turning into an intelligence coup bar none. I trust you're satisfied?"
The Dark Watcher smiled slightly, absently acknowledging the bruises still healing from where his last second force field hadn't quite blunted the entirety of the force of Brightsky's final blow, or the impact with the ground below. "Sometimes you just have to have faith things will turn out as they should, Gaussian," he noted softly.
***
"This is, of course, all very worrying. I'll see to it that a strike force is put together to disrupt Hro'Dtohz's portal work," Levantera said, getting a nod from the now helmetless Rikti general sitting across from her.
"In the meantime, I imagine you'll want to coordinate with C'kelkah, to ease the transition and such," Incandescent suggested, the heroine having returned from the UN to help with the more political aspects of the situation.
Bu'Dekka looked at her before glancing over at where Inyme was sitting to the side, and Inyme felt the general's amusement. If she wasn't so nervous about just having escaped treason charges, she might've shared it more. "Well, I don't think that will be exactly what we'll be doing," Inyme said. "I have a good deal of respect for Councillor C'Kelkah. The decision to break from Hro'Dtohz was obviously not an easy one to make when no one else had at that point, but....I don't think myself or the general will be joining her faction officially. We have rather different politics, you understand."
Incandescent blinked once, the only sign she gave of her surprise, and Bu'Dekka chuckled through her translator. "You look so surprised. Both Chief Mentalist W'tin and myself are Restructurists. And while, as Inyme has said, we do respect what C'Kelkah has accomplished, we're hardly going to roll over and be PR benefits without some compromise."
"Our homeworld lost millions in the initial attack by Nemesis," Inyme said, her voice not wavering for the first time as she described those events. "But the number could have been more contained if we hadn't let our military forces slip into disrepair and token levels. While Hro'Dtohz's intent of military rule isn't what we're after, the Traditionalists simply want to go back to the way things were. Bu'dekka and I don't see it that way. Humanity doesn't stand down their militaries to useless tokenism in times of peace, and you're far from the militant bloodthirsty lot that some Traditionalists expect we'll become if we keep a standing armed force at all times," Inyme noted, sounding amused.
Incandescent looked at the two of them, before sitting back and chuckling ruefully. "Oh, the UN is going to love you two," she noted. "But I can hardly fault your reasoning, so I guess we should get into the nuts and bolts of how to spin it..."
***
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Inyme said as she tugged at the collar of the leather jacket she was currently wearing over a tank top and rather decorated jeans.
"It'll be fun, and it's not like you can't sing. I've caught you doing as much before," Alice grinned, what she was saying reinforced as Inyme's was with telepathic communication to be heard over the current attempt at something like musical entertainment on stage. "Besides, you saw V up there. If she can actually lighten up and have some fun with a song like that, you can hardly do less."
"I guess," Inyme said, before sighing. "Besides, you won't give up until I do, will you?"
"Nope," Alice agreed, smiling like a Cheshire cat. "So get going. The song selection's on your right."
Inyme sighed melodramatically before getting up, heading towards the stage as she scrolled through the options, before picking one, a slight smile cracking her face at the appropriateness of it. As the most recent singer stepped off the stage, Inyme walked up the steps. She got a mostly quiet reception, which wasn't surprising. While the Legendary and Riot Force were both large, few, if any, would recognize Inyme's face, and even fewer would recognize her without her armor or even the standard jumpsuit she'd used as informal wear. In the new clothes Alice had taken her shopping to get, she was about as unrecognizable as one could hope for.
As it was, she began softly to sift through the memories of the crowd, looking for specific ones as regarded the song she was about to sing. Finding the ones she wanted, she waited as the music intro began.
"I was moving at the speed of sound. Hair spinnin', couldn't find my way around and....didn't know that I was goin' down. Yea-ah, yea-ah. Well, I've been where it's all a blur. What I was lookin' for, I'm not sure. Too late and didn't see it comin', yea-ah, yea-aaaaaaah...."
The music spiked as Inyme ignored the crowd, focusing on the one mind in the room that she was actually singing to, even as her voice gained strength with the chorus's musicians.
"And then I crashed into you! And I went up in flames! Could've been the death of me, but then you breathed your breath in meee...and I crashed into you, like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk awaaaaaaaay!"
The crowd began to make appreciative noises that Inyme didn't hear as she continued into the verse. She wasn't aware of just how well she was actually singing, or the emotion her performance was putting out. She ignored her telepathic senses and just sang.
"Somehow, I couldn't stop myself. Just wanted to know how it felt. Too strong, I couldn't hold on. Yea-ah, yea-ah. Now I'm just tryin' to make some sense....out of how and why this happened. Where we're headed, there's just no knowin. Yea-ah, yea-aaaahhhhhh....then I crashed into you! And I went up in flames! Coulda been death of me, but then you breathed your breath in me! And I crashed into you....like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk away! From your face, your eyes, they're burned into me! You saved me, you gave me.....just what I need! Oh, just what I neeeeeeeeeeed!"
The crowd was beginning to cheer and clap in isolated bunches as Inyme sang, eyes closed, the music and the warm place in her mind where Alice was the only thing that she heard. The only thing that she needed, as for once, the burden of her life and mission was completely gone.
"And then I crashed into you, and I went up in flames! Could've been the death of me, but then you breathed your breath in me. And I crashed into you, like a runaway train! Your will consumed me, and I can't walk awaaaaaaaaaay!"
As the crowd burst into applause, Inyme opened her eyes again, ignoring the sweat the heat of the spotlights had generated on her skin. She didn't need to look around, finding Alice's emerald eyes amongst hundreds of other heroes, and in that moment, that was all she needed.
Ties That Bind
An OpMegs Production
In Conjunction With Matrix Dragon Studios
And Industrial Sofas and Spuds
Featuring (In Order of Appearance):
Borea
Gaussian
Serpent Drummer
Levantera
Dark Watcher
Lady of the Peace
Gamma Emission
Purrfect Archer
Neko
Emerald Blast
Inyme W'tin
Amberlee
Captain Sherman
Fake Nemesis #34950-21-3950-A
Captain Wilhelmina Marlena Dietrich
Lieutenant Olaf
Sergeant Branston
Lieutenant Sefu Tendaji (posthumous)
Fake Positron
Brightsky
Syndesis
Net Sabre
Purrfect Scrapper
Edge Sabre
Street Sabre
Quicksilver Nano
Valles
Twilit Blade
Silicon Sabre
Mag Flashlight
Pooky Da Imp
Dark Glass
Lora'lai
Captain Levins
Fusionette
Lieutenant Sanderson
Lady Nogitsune
Warrant Officer Thompson
Cyberman 8
William Bishop III
Jay Stewart
Major Scott Hearns
Lieutenant Sean Anders
Officer Angry (Colonel Andreas Sturmhalten)
Officer Grim (Major Peter Thompson)
Thrust SSC
Evangelia
Shizuru
Incandescent
Bu'Dekka
_Jessica Riddle - Even Angels Fall_
You've found hope
You've found faith,
[Inyme walks out a Rikti portal into Atlas, a cut inside her helmet showing her determined expression]
Found how fast she could take it away.
[Alice leans over Inyme's shoulder in Riot's computer room, brushing up against the side of her face as she leans past]
Found true love,
Lost your heart.
[Inyme traces a fingertip along where Alice'd brushed up against her cheek.]
Now you don't know who you are.
[A shot of Inyme's human face in the mirror, a semi-transparent image of her Rikti face slowly fading away from her perspective, leaving behind a troubled looking human face]
She made it easy,
Made it free,
[Alice talking cheerfully with Inyme, their hands intertwined, Inyme's expression hesitantly smiling despite herself]
Made you hurt til you couldn't see.
[Inyme sobs into her pillow after their date at the movies]
Sometimes it stops,
[Inyme stops and looks over her shoulder, the cutaway shot of her beneath the helmet catching her slight blush]
Sometimes it flows,
[Alice leans against her back, ignoring Inyme's stiffness as she wraps her arms around her.]
But baby that is how love goes.
[Inyme relaxes slightly in her embrace, leaning back against her, camera pans down to her gauntleted hand taking Alice's in her own.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
[Inyme and Alice are fighting against Nemesis in the RWZ]
God knows even angels fall.
[The Fake Positron tears in half as the camera zooms through to see Inyme's tearful, enraged expression behind her helmet.]
No such thing as you lost it all.
[Inyme lets herself be cuffed as she's led away from Alice.]
God knows even angels fall.
[A small tear runs down her face as she looks away, Alice looking at her back with a shocked expression.]
It's a secret no one tells;
[Splitscreen between Alice sitting unhappily on a rooftop and Inyme chained to her chair.]
One day it's heaven, one day it's hell.
[Flashback view, Alice kissing Inyme for the first time, then Inyme led away from Alice's perspective.]
It's no fairy tale;
[Inyme's expression is set as she looks up at the Vanguard interrogators.]
Take it from me,
[Edge sits down alongside Alice, talking with her]
That's the way it's supposed to be.
[Inyme mouths Alice's name, while Alice looks out over the RWZ towards Vanguard's base.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
[Alice bounces across the city towards the outer walls, looking worried]
God knows even angels fall.
[Inyme crawls across the floor of a demolished prisoner transport, heading for a crack of sunlight visible where the doors are jammed partially open, struggling with the door and visibly exhausted]
No such thing as you lost it all.
[The door wrenches itself open, Inyme falling into Alice's arms, who holds her tightly to herself.]
God knows even angels fall.
[Inyme smiles softly, resting her head against Alice as her eyes close.]
You laugh, you cry, no one knows why
[Inyme's hugged tightly by Alice as she's lying in a hospital bed, the catgirl crying with happiness.]
Behold the thrill of it all...
You're on the ride
You might as well
Open your eyes
[Inyme stiffens against the contact, before slowly putting her good arm around Alice's back as she closes her eyes and leans her head against Alice's shoulder, her body relaxing as her other hand intertwines with Alice's.]
You will fly and you will crawl;
God knows even angels fall.
No such thing as you lost it all.
God knows even angels fall.
Mighty Glacier:
The Pace of the Plot
Lost His Head:
Fake Positron
Dialogue and Accent Coach:
Acyl
90 Degree Plot Swerve Providers:
Valles
Sofaspud
Chehkov's Gun Provided By:
Atlantea
Co-Writer and General Outsourcing Labor:
Matrix Dragon
Humorous Interludes:
Sofaspud
Nameless Mook Providers:
Nemesis Army
Vanguard
Longbow
Not Actually Appearing In This Picture:
The Rikti
SIR Not Appearing In This Picture:
Sir Alistair Warden-King, Esquire
Secondary Source Flashback:
Mai-Hime
Cast of Thousands:
The Legendary
Riot 6.1
General Troublemaker:
Inyme W'tin
Special Thanks To:
The Regular Sound Boards (You Know Who You Are)
and
The Readers (For waiting 5 months and 19 days for the conclusion)
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."