Genetic Survival(IC)

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The vast scenery of the lifeless wasteland past by as Sikes looked out the window of his seat on the Rover Bus. From outside, the Bus hade a long, almost cylinder like, shape with wheels hanging on the side to almost keep the main part hanging in the air. The Bus is large enough to hold around 50 people inside, but the seats are never filled. The reason being that a trip to another Colony is always a risk because the Rover Bus would be an easy target for a Filth to attack. Turning to look inside, he see that barely of the seats were even filled. The people that were on were those few that took the risk for a chance to reach a safer Colony Dome. Sikes was just taking the first Rover Bus out of the last Colony to leave as soon as he could cause of the situation he got himself into back there. As he then sat back on his seat, an annoucment was made over the speakers, "Atttention passengers, we are closing in to Colony Dome Zerken. Estimated time of arrival is about 30 minutes." All around him, people began to look out the windows at the closing in Colony Dome. Leaning to his window, he also sees the Dome growing up ahead.

Alys glanced at her watch with a heavy sigh. She had been informed of another Striker coming to Zerken, which was nothing new. They came and went but today she was to be the welcoming committee. With a bad habit of losing track of time, she had chose to go early, taking a book along for the time being. She had never gone to any other dome's although she had been outside of it. She was a successful member of a team and more times then enough she had proved useful.

She looked back to her book with another long drawn out sigh. Her life was based around improvement and success, and knowledge. Every time she was helpful in this place, they would speak of her fondly as Marcus' daughter. It was her goal that one day, they would appreciate her skill as her own.

There was only darkness; no light to be found. The inside of her apartment bore no light at all, for she never turned the lights on. They were useless to the blind. Instead, there hung from the ceiling a thin chime every two feet. That was the equivalent of two slow steps. And every two slow steps the woman took, she'd reach up. Coiling her finger back, she plucked at the air, striking one chime with her unpainted nails. It would chime softly, the metal echoing a bit. She could hear her surroundings. The way that the sound of that chime echoed through the room, bounced off the walls, floor, ceiling, and furniture.

Continuously she walked through the hall, tapping the chimes over her head as she went. Finally, she came into the bathroom; a master bathroom at that with a wide counter bearing one sink, one useless mirror, a toilet, shower, rather large bathtub, and a hanging closet that was between the sink and toilet. She crossed to it and drew her fingers over her hangers. Each hanger had a series of ridges in it, where she had sat down one day and taken a knife, cutting marks into the hangers so she could define clothes. One circular hole, two lines. She pulled that down and pulled it off the hanger, touching the fabric as her mind went over it.

White T-shirt.

She put the hanger back after pulling the top over her chest, feeling it cross over her skin and bra as she pulled it down to her stomach. Then, she returned. The next hanger she stopped at bore one vertical line, and one horizontal line.

Black pants. Valhalla touched the material. Cargos. She pulled them off the hanger and replaced the empty hanger in the left corner of the open closet, where all the hangers went. Then she slipped into her black cargo pants.

Then, without much further notice, she slipped out of the bathroom. She'd showered already, brushed her hair up into a ponytail and wrapped the black blindfold over her eyes and tied it beneath the ponytail. She had set her knife, boots, and socks in front of the door, and put her lucky bracelet on the counter. She moved through the house again, tapping the chimes as she stopped quickly by the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. Then, back to the hall, and then the front door. Slipping into her socks, boots, and putting her knife into her pocket, she was ready. One last thing though; Valhalla grabbed her bracelet, one made of little cross-shapen charms. When she held her arm up after clipping it on, she quickly switched her hand left then right, causing the charms to clatter loudly with a smooth silvery chime.

"Perfect" Valhalla said, before opening up the door, tucking away her keys, and going outside. From there, it was a walk to the Strikers' building. She planned on being there with the others to meet the new recruit; even though she herself had not been in Zerken for over a month and a half now...

As the Rover Bus continued it's trip toward the Colony Dome, something suddenly began to happen. The ground began to shake, knocking people to the floor. As the shaking got worse, Sikes looked out the window to see the cuase of it rising above ground. Out his window, he saw the dry and sandy wasteland ground begining to travel in a dome next to the Rover Bus. As it caught up to speed with the the Bus, the ground bursted open to reveal a Large worm like Filth. From it's size, it was a larva that had just recently turned into an adult stage. It was at about the same height as the Rover Bus, but twice as long. It let out a screeching roar from it's circular sharp mouth as it it then lunges back into the ground below. "Shit...and we were so close to." Sikes says to himself as the people began to panic. It was dangerous to go out and try to kill it, especially since the air outside was toxic. But all that ended up not mattering since another shaking from the creature apeard as the Rover Bus suddenly was knocked off the ground. The Filth had resurfaced under the Bus, knocking it into the air. It then landed hard farther ahead and spun over two times before landing on it's roof. As Sikes and the others then began getting up, the sound of the approaching FIlth grew louder. Thinking fast, Sikes went over to the air lock door and ripped one of his sleeves off to wrap around his mouth and nose as a masking scarf. It might not protect him completely from the toxins, but it will do.

Leaving the ROver Bus, he climbed onto the top and faced the incoming Filth. "Now this is what I live for." He syas to himself as he readies to fight.

" Fire Team Bravo Suppressing Fire." Gerald roared as one of the massive males that always stayed behind to bolster the females guarding the nest charged at the Strikers. Why can't the smaller males stay behind. He thought to himself . It was always like this, simple patrols in the wasteland always turned out as nest wipe outs. And as the wind howled over the toxic wasteland the sound of automatic fire filled the air almost overlapping that howling wind.

" Sir we need air support or heavy armor, our rifles can't even dent a Male's Plating let alone punch through." a fellow Gunner said beside him.

" You don't think I know that kid, stop aiming for the body idiots, when it rears up it open's it's eyes. Concentrate your fire on it's eyes. Remember take the head and the body will fall." And practicing his preaching Gerald took up his FAMAS and in short bursts attracted the attention of the male, Rearing up the Filth was nearly the size of a small skyscraper and compared to the black suited Gunners in their enviro suits firing up at it had an aura of invincibility. But Gerald, age 45 knew as big as the males where they stood no chance against cooler heads. But the Strikers of today where hardly veterans like him, no the ranks had to be filled out by 15 to 19 year olds who's only experience with the Filth where simple engagements during training or a handful of females. And who's quality had been slipping lately, no veteran Striker would bother with body shots, a Male's plating might as well made of bullet proof steel for all the damage small arms did to it, Blades and fists did even less damage to it.

Luckily a Male filth had several weakness in that armor plating, the eyes for gunners, exposed nerve clusters for Bladers and Brawlers. The green Strikers heartened by Gerald's revelation did as was told and as their Unit Leader drew the attention of the male they fired up at the exposed eyes, nearly the size of a small car they made good targets even for them.

In the space of few heartbeats the Male tottered then fall, shaking the twisted and blackened ground with it's fall. But it was too soon to celebrate, females still poured out of several holes dug in the ground. Gerald turned his FAMAS on them not taking any particular care with them. A female's chitinous outer shell was weak, it didn't share the steel like nature of the big males and it only took steady fire to kill them.

" Changing Clips." He roared out so that his Unit knew he wasn't covering their ass at the moment. Ejecting the clip caused smoke to pour out of the FAMAS. Unlike normal humans Gunners customized their weapons for max firepower. It resulted in recoil that broke bones,and heat build up that was lethal for most humans. But a Gunner was designed around their weapon, their bodies changed to stand all that.

Slapping a fresh clip in the FAMAS Gerald resumed fire as a couple of Strikers dragged a heavy oval shaped box with a complicated looking computer interface on it. This was a Fusion Tactical Nuclear device, with a yield just enough to kill organic material yet low enough not to endanger anything else. The general idea was to drop it down into a Filth Nest on a short timer then run like hell.

" Nuke, everyone run now." Gerald said suiting his actions to word as every Striker ran expect the two dragging the nuke and the handful providing covering fire. In a few moments the nuke was tumbling down one of the many holes in the ground and everyone was running as fast as possible.

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.....Boom.


A bright white light poured out of the holes as the nuke exploded in the depths of the nest.Setting the visor on his enviro suit to pitch black the gunner waited the obligatory 30 seconds before switching back to opaque mode.

" Yeah take that you fucking overgrown coakroaches." One particular eager new recruit shouted elated and although Gerald wanted to tell him to shut up he felt the same. A good day's work today. He thought as the less then pleasant task of collecting the dead and assessing unit status came.

Wandering around he saw his HUD display was warning him about the latent radioactive build up the nuke left behind, which combined with the wasteland's toxic air would kill any one within seconds if they weren't wearing a enviro suit. But it was a mere warning, his suit wasn't compromised.

" Corporal, what's the initial estimate."He asked as a group of nearby strikers gathered the dead and stripped them of any gear that was still useful. These where lean times and nothing could be wasted. Even parts of their suits would be reused as soon as the salvage teams got here.

" At least 30% KIA." The Corporal said, there was no such thing as wounded out in the wasteland. Even a minor suit breech was fatal.The toxic air could rapidly mutate cellular structure resulting in cancers that where untreatable or even controllable. And more then one shot rang out as Strikers with suit breeches where put down, the mutation process beginning even as they died. DNA could only take so much punishment.

" Alright burn the dead and pile the gear and suits with a beacon for the Salvage teams. We moving out ASAP." Gerald ordered his gunner unit. Burning the dead was the only way they could be sure the corpses wouldn't feed other filth and increase their numbers. After all his unit was a hunter-killer one. It roamed the wastelands on patrols, wiping out whatever nests it found and killing the males wherever they roamed.

"Sometimes I wish HQ wasn't so stingy with the armor and air support Sir." A shaken Striker said, barely 17 the gunner probably weighed less then the massive SAW he held with such desperation it was a wonder it didn't snap in half.

" You and me both private." Was all Gerald said in response before grabbing some ammo that lay in the salvage pile. And he wasn't the only one, filth may be stupid but they where a lot of them. Wiping out a nest took a lot of ammo and HQ had organized teams of Bladers and Brawlers for the simple reason Blades and Fists didn't need reloading.

Yes but punching a Alpha Male is hardly the most effective way of going about the task of killing it. He always said to himself but he couldn't deny HQ's logic. The limited manufacturing power left was strained to the breaking point making ammo,tanks, choppers for the patrols out into the wasteland.

" Where to Sir." His second in Command asked, a grizzled Sargent the man had seen 40 years of combat and knew more about the filth then any person alive but age was beginning to take it's toll on him. Gerald had noticed the Sargent breathing heavy after runs and battles, but there was still a lot of fight left in that battle scarred frame.

" Colony Dome Zerken, it's the closest and we need resupplying and reinforcements." He answered as his men fell into line, their tasks done.

" Alright you heard the Captain, Double Time March." His Sargent roared with an authority that nearly made Gerald jump. And in no time at hall they where soon making a beeline to Zerken, although it would be several hours before they would even see it on the horizon. And despite the exhausting battle against the nest the Strikers footfalls where steady and fast each gunner doing the best to keep up with their captain and Sargent.

Closing her book, Alys glanced in the direction that the Rover Bus would be coming from as her senses perked up. She dropped her book and made a small sprint for a group of Strikers. "Get your asses in gear, the filth are nearby and we have a.." she turned her head as the shouting started, watching the bus as it was rolled. "Dammit." The Strikers that she were alerting were quick to suit up and head out. Sensing the Filth through the dome was a difficult task for her.

Valhalla had gotten their in time to hear a familiar voice of one of the Striker's shouting about Filth nearby. Valhalla began to twist her wrist, letting it chime as she began to spring forward, moving through the building and into the locker-room. She touched her locker, knowing it by the cuts over it she made with a knife. Inside, she pulled out a leather jumpsuit, pulling it on and zipping it up the front. She pulled the collar up over her neck and zipped it too, strapping one thin strap over it to assure it did not unzip. Then, she grasped a black mask, barely covering her nose and fully sheathing her mouth, the straps falling behind her ears. With all her gear on, her face was not seen but two flecks of tan skin that were her cheeks over the mask before the blindfold continued to take over.

Then, Valhalla was off, moving towards the exit of the dome with the rest of the squad. When outside, she decided to walk alone. Setting her feet on the ground, she began to absorb sounds and feels. Then, when she heard the insect cry out, she moved towards the sound. Her feet pounded the earth hard as her powerful legs sent her forward faster than most track-stars. She could hear the world around her, spotting someone and a toppled shape; a Rover Bus most likely. When Valhalla arrived, the insect was about to attack.

She was not atop the bus, but instead in front of it. She did not look to see if the man was behind her on the bus, because she could not see. It was useless, she could barely hear him though, like a foggy haze on her sonar-like vision. The map of her world was not clear in any way, but it was frequently refreshed every millisecond and she could sense the Filth before her. When it leaned forward, she jumped. Her powerful legs sent her up into the air, her body turning as she back-flipped. The Filth was not perhaps completely mature, but it was no small thing. Her jump did not take her to its back. Far from it. It almost seemed as if she had launched for his mouth, falling short a few feet. Her hands reached out and she suddenly grasped onto the rib-like segments of its body. Holding onto it as it swiped at Sikes.

Life source... She thought quietly, pressing her ear to the insect. She was listening for the area through the exoskeleton with the greatest flow of life or fluid. It needed a heavy blow. Suddenly, she climbed up a bit more, and stomped her foot down heavily, as if to crank a bike. The rib below her foot broke off and the Filth screamed, as she let go and landed on her feet like a nimble cat. The blind woman then turned and jumped, rolling when she met the ground again, getting out of the way. Now that spot she had cleared, where the rib no longer stood defense, that was the place to attack.

"Hit the soft spot!" She called out, moving with a graceful trained body, avoiding the Filth while trying to distract it all at once.

As a blindfolded girl suddenly arrived into the scene, he looked back at her and judging by her suit he guessed she came from the Dome. Before he could do anything, she leeped at the incoming Filth, attacking a spot in it's shell as it then screamed in pain to show that she hit a soft spot of it. He watched as she then leeped off and told him of the soft spot. Grinning at the little hint, he pulled out his blade handles. With a swing from each, he made the blade part come out of both of them as he then dashes toward the beast. The sleeve he ripped off to use as a mask for the toxins was helping abit, but because it was a quickly made mask out of his clothes, it wasn't going to help for to long.

The Filth, now being hurt abit from the girls attack, started to change course. "Oh no you don't!" Sikes yells at it as he dashes after the Filth. Reaching it's back end, he forces himself onto it's back as he ran on it to reach the soft spot. Once he got to it, he readied his blades and jabed them hard into the soft spot. His blades managing to pierce through the filth as it's liquids began to leak. It let's out a high pich scream of pain as it begins to lose control and slightly rol over to try and get Sikes. Leeping off, Sikes lands straight onto the ground and watches as the Filth makes a turn to charge at him with it's mouth wide open. He chuckles at the monsters stupidity as he then stands his ground infront of it. "COme and get it!" He yells at the charging beast. As he stood there, his blades formed a strange lighting to them as he held them above his head to strike.

The Worm like Filth closes in fast and as it's open mouth reaches a few feet from him, Sikes swings downward hard. The next scene would make anyone watching drop their mouth open. As the worm Filth charges past the point where Sikes was at, it's body get's cut down the middle as it keep moving due to the speed it was going. Once the two halves past him, all that was seen was Sikes covered in the Filth's liquid, breathing heavily as the two halves of the Filth lay side by side behind him. "Got yah...." Sikes saids as he then, loses his balance and falls face down on the ground. The strength it took to take it down, plus the poorly made "mask" of his was taking it's toll as the toxins began to get to him.

Loa pressed the button to let her out of her capsule, causing a gentle hiss as it twisted its slender pod over, letting her out. She let out a sigh, feeling the filth's death outside, now she was awake enough to reach out. Looking wearily between her jumpsuit and her clothes, she decides to do without the latter. She zips the suit over her bare skin, careful not to pinch any of her pale skin in it. She took a quick look round her clinically clean room, checking everything was in place. She picked up her small knife tossing it in the air with slight, practised grace, sliding it into its sheath. Finally she pushed her mask over her face, obscuring her face completely.

She exited the room, pressing the button on her mask, making it opaque so she could see. Her eye's had turned to their palest shade, she reached behind her, plating her hair. Such things could get in the way of her examination. Reaching behind the door she pulled out her bag, which held almost all of her kit. Then she pressed the door locking it silently. Jogging easily down the corridors, ignoring the people, going about their usual business. Pushing through the main docking area, where the filth lay, split down the centre. Reaching out she picked up a spare mask.

She walked across the toxic waste outside, in long easy strides. She looked down at the man, a blader, who had helped to destroy the beast. She lent down, fixing the mask to his face, her eye's looked down at him apathetically. She decided since their was a team, and he was breathing, she'd leave it at that.

"Breath easy." She made a gesture over her mask, respect at his kill. Then standing quickly she moved to the filth's still cooling body. She snapped on gloves, covering her delicate skin, before reaching out to touch its steaming insides. Hidden beneath her mask, she smiled, setting to work. She opened her bag, placing it near her feet, and selected a small blade. She cut wafer thin slices from different sections of its body, sliding them into their clear plastic pockets for research later. She walked to the head of the beastly thing, carefully taking sections of its brain and eye tissue. She almost wished shed been able to see what had happened, so she could add it to her report. Bracing herself against it's head she pulled some of the smaller scales out, knowing she didn't stand a chance against one of the bigger ones.

She turned placing everything into her bag, satisfied at the close opportunity for study. Snapped it closed, turned nodding to the team and left without another word.

Alys was right behind Loa. As the woman moved away from Sikes, she was there to help him back up to his feet. She pulled his arm over her shoulder, placing a hand on his chest as she did so. "Come on, Let's get you to the dome for medical attention." She said gently. She took her gaze from his face and watched Loa's back as she walked away. Rolling her eyes, she looked back at Sikes. "That was very brave of you. Quite stupid, I might add, but brave. Can you walk?" Reaching down for a second, she picked up his sleeve. Perhaps she might be able to get his shirt fixed later on. For now though, she would focus on his health.

Slightly dazed from his condition right now, he he remained silent as the two females came and helped abit. But when the second one began to help him up and commented on his foolish behavior, he finally spoke out. "Heh....atleast.....that killed... that worm...." Was all he said before he began to test himself to see if he could walk. Standing abit now as he kept himself on the ground now that he started breathing fine again. "I'm alright.....just...get some people....to the Rover Bus..." He tells her as he tries to walk on his own now, showing signs of still being alittle worn out.

Loa dropped off her samples, before returning outside. She felt that she might have been a bit abrupt, in her eagerness to get samples. That and she wanted to ask the man about the experience. She shook her head as she turned the corner, and opened the airlock and waited for the other side to open, so she could help the woman holding her new subject up. Her eyes ran over the other woman quickly, she just about recognised her. She only really knew a few other scouts, so she must be one. She tilted her head, watching them come closely, before striding over.

"Would you like a hand? Sorry about before, I needed that data before it was cold." She swung down picking up his blade, taking care with it. It was far to heavy a weapon for her small frame to work with, but she carried it carefully, knowing he would be angry with someone, if he forgot it. She kept her pace slow on the other side of the man to the woman. She nodded deeply to her in gratitude for taking on the task, she would have done herself normally.

"The team is taking care of the bus." Alys assured him as she followed along side him to make sure he was alright. Her eyes looked Loa over for a moment as the help was offered before looking back to Sikes. "Besides, It is my job to worry about you. I was to be your welcoming committee." She had been living Zerken her whole life and knew most of the Strikers that moved in and out of the place. Somehow it had not surprised her that the data is what came first before getting him to the dome. Many of the scouters and scientists alike responded in that way.

Nodding in understanding at the other things, he then looked abit confused when she mentioned a welcome. "Welcome me? Well wasn't expecting that." He jokes abit as they then reach the airlock and manage to get inside the dome at last. Once in, he begins to try to go ahead on his own completely. "Ok then...so....do I have a place to stay or something?" He asks, wondering if he could rest at the moment. Turning to see the one that brought his blades in, he reaches to take them from her. "Thanks for bringing my blades by the way."

She smiled politely "Many of the people I'v worked with couldn't go without, I'm glad I could help." She gave him and his lady a small bow. She pushed her hand through her hair, fiddling with the straps behind her head. She pulled the mask off, enjoying the freedom of fresh air against her skin. She ran a finger along one of the fine red lines, caused by the tight mask. She would need to do work on that later. Her mind ran quickly over her current list, adding her new jobs to it with ease.

"When you're feeling recovered, could I ask for you're assistance?" She watched each movement he made, storing the information away, for her report later. She would need his experience both of the filth and toxins to his body. "Also, I'd like to run tests on you're level of toxins." She gave a short nod to the other women. She knew she was in the way, but as usual work came first. Her eyes moved in colour once the excitement had gone, settling on a more muddy green, she wanted to get her tests going.

Alys pulled the mask off of her head, shaking her hair out. One of the men standing around handed her the book she had dropped earlier. She thanked him before placing her hand on her hip. "Loa, right? " she asked trying to remember the woman's name. "Would you please let me get him settled before you start running a bunch of tests? I have my orders and I am sorry but I can't let you keep me from following through." It wasn't a fear of punishment for not following orders but the irritating memories that the mention of tests that made her wish to follow through. "On top of that, He is quite clearly exhausted and in need of rest."

Turning to look at Sikes, she smiled gently. "Yes. You do have a place to stay. If you would follow me, I will take you there." She said calmly.

"Of course I apologise." She gave them a final low bow and turned heading back to her room. She walked steadily along the corridors, listening to the idle gossip of the younger generations, smiling at some of the children who were relatively knew. She taught a few of the first year scouts, it was a knew assignment, and so far she was enjoying the process. She waved happily to one of the youngest and pushed the button to open her room. A small electrical zap pinged out from it, touching her scarlet hand for identification.

"Miss Lola" The little girl ran up to her tugging on her leg "Are you doing tests today?" Her wide eyes peered up into Loa's smiling face. She knew she wasn't supposed to encourage them to act this way, but she had always loved children and enjoyed their less serious approach to things.

"Why yes I am, Eve, right?" She asked, she was pretty sure that the girl with long black hair was Eve, she reached down and picked the girl up, placing her on her hip, even if she was far to big. "I suppose you want to watch?" She asked as the girl swung her legs, knocking her knees with her little pink feet.

"Yes, but cant I help? I'm big!" Eve smiled unashamed at Loa. She was only 5 or 6, one of her brightest students. Though she only helped out on a small class. She nodded, walking into her room, the girl dangling their like a monkey.

"No helping today, maybe if you're really good, next time you can pass me the equipment, rather than asking so many questions." She smiled affectionately and placed the girl sofa. She turned picking up the clothes from the floor, discarded from her rush earlier. She chucked them easily over one shoulder. "Stay here while I change, then we can see what might have bought this beast so eagerly to our door." She knew they couldn't find out from these samples, but the girl so enjoyed playing the game.

Loa turned into her bathroom, quickly pealing off her suit, replacing it with worn linen trousers and a faded blue t-shirt.

Sikes stood, waiting for the two to finish talking to each other. Once they were finished, he waved the other girl off and then turned to teh one that said she was going to show him to his place. "Thanks, lead the way then." He says jokingly as he follows behind her. As they walk along, Sikes looked at the place as they went by. Around him, he saw kids playing and people just enjoying themselves. Thinking to himself, "What's with them all? Don't they know about the dangers? I guess thie Colony Dome hasn't had to much trouble to worry about." Walking along, he wondered if the reason they sent him here was just to keep him out of combat becasue of his, so called, wild behavior on the field. AS he thinks this, he walks with his hands in his pockets, looking at the floor infront of him as he walked.

She walked out of her bathroom, scooping the girl up in her arms, swinging her high, then down on to her stool. She pressed a button on her wall, watching as her small lab slid out. She picked up her long red lab coat, pulling it over her comfy clothes and buttoning down the front. She watched the girl fidget at her slow movements.

"Ok fine, tell me what you've done so far in you're lab work?" She asked, unbraiding her hair, considering the thought of the girl lending a hand. She was hungry, and wanted to get things done, before she headed out again. Sure shed forgotten something, she walked to her calendar, putting her hair up again. Yes, she had a short run out in the waste land later, collecting samples. She snapped on a new pair of gloves, picking up her chilled samples. The litany of words spewing from Eve's mouth made her smile, she decided the girl could help her today, it would do her good.

She handed her girl some of her smaller gloves, and watched the girls eyes light up. She stopped fidgeting, just long enough to put the gloves on before jumping down and hugging Loa's knees. She looked out of the door, hoping not to be seen, so completely at ease.

Briefly, before they started on their tests, she walked over to her inset computer. Pushing buttons, listen to the hiss of pistons as it slid out. She tapped a quick message into the computer, requesting the blades assistance once he'd recovered from being without a mask. She flicked briefly through the data base, finding his allotted room and setting the message to show later after his R n' R.

As they walked along, Alys brushed some dirt off of her book cover. She was trying her best not to let her curiosity overwhelm her but it was something she couldn't fight. With a glance towards him she smiled. "I forgot to introduce myself, My name is Alys." She said trying to be friendly. He was here now and being part of the team meant that she would have to get to know him. Learning about the people around the dome was more of a hobby to her then anything.