New earth

Oreron and Owsla Hall

Owsla waved the the blonde haired male as she adjusted herself to the soft space she had claimed. She looked over at her father, the large neco that had begun to sprawl himself out on the floor due to the warmth of the cabin. She could feel the pull of morpheus's touch tug her to the edge of that good night as she slumped further and further into the couch. She smirked, mutter the words she had always said before falling into that goodnight.

"Nearly all the world is our enemy, King and Princess of one thousand enemies. And if they catch us, they will kill us. But first they must fight us...."

---

The glory of the sunrise was always something Oreron had to get used to. Every morning, the light burned his eyes, leaving him blind for a few brief moments. He shoved himself awake as he looked around the cabin for any movement. But it was the smell of cooked deer that got his attention first and foremost. He glanced at the couch, seeing that his little cub was missing from it. "Is that the left overs from last night?" He muttered to himself as he sat up and commanded a hologram of the area to come online. It was a map of at least 20 miles around, noting various landmarks and such. He was so completely engrossed by it that he failed to notice his daughter slipping passed him.

Owsla slipped passed the radar of her father withease, only dressed in a long night shirt that she had stolen from the last city they had been in. Although it was very sheer and made even more so by some splashes of water from earlier. She was making a bee line toward ace's room, with a smirk that could tip of demons to what she was doing.

She opened the door as sikently as she could, keeping low to the ground before getting right in the face of the blond. She gave a maniac smile before taking a a deep breath and pouncing on the man while screeching like a while cat at the same time.

Somethings just never changed.

Once the blonde man left her in the bedroom, Jennifer sat at the foot of the bed and took a few deep breaths. This was...so much more than she could have imagined. So many people of varying sizes and attitudes...they were nothing like the men. The men were all static, almost identical to one another: the same smooth voice that made her feel about as big as a grain of rice, the same flat eyes that saw every mistake she'd make, the same rough touch that left her feeling chafed and used and awful. The men were all the same, after the same thing, giving her the same rules and punishments. But these people...they were all different. Two women besides herself (though could she honestly call herself a woman anymore? She wasn't anything but an empty hull, no gender could make her into what she had been), and two men, but none of them looked the same. The blonde man and the one who had carried her bore such different statures, voices nothing alike, even rhythmically. And among the women, Jennifer felt...alone. She was not one of these people.

But you were, my darling. You were just like them, and you belonged with them!

She was? Was it even possible that she could have been that strong once? It didn't seem likely. But oh, how she wanted it to be true. As she toed off her boots, peeled off socks and stripped down to the nude, she thought. She tried, desperately, to access the part of her that might once have been strong, like the woman on the roof, or the man that had carried her. She thought, and strained, and tried to find it...but nothing came. There was no strength in her. Not anymore. Jennifer crawled under the sheets, and curled into a tight ball, all knees and elbows, awaiting slumber to take her away. Just as she was dropping off however, something bloomed in her thoughts, and she could remember, see herself, calling out to someone.

"Blondie, hurry up."

"Blondie, over here."

"Blondie, you idiot."

"Blondie."

"Blondie."

"Blondie."

Eyes snapping open, Jennifer sucked in air and felt a mixture of joy and excruciating pain. She clenched the sheets between her fingers, balling them up into fists as she tried to breathe through the anguish. Blondie. Her Blondie. That's who he was. He was her Blondie. She didn't know what that meant, but she knew he was her Blondie. She wanted to know why. She would find out. But even this small memory, this small discovery, had left her paralyzed with pain, tears forcing their way out as she whimpered and shook with pain. For an hour, two, she lay as the pain ripped rampant through her body, and finally began to drain away as the sun's bright rays started to creep into the window.

Slowly, her movements stiff from pain, mind still whirring, the raven-headed girl pulled herself to a sitting position, tugging the sheets around herself in a wad of clean, warm protection. She dared to even smile, though it did not reach her eyes. Gaze falling out the window, watching the sun grow higher and stronger, Jennifer felt a little less empty, and a little more peaceful. She knew something. She finally knew something that she actually wanted to know. And she could hardly wait until the blonde man awoke, so she could look at him and say, with as much emotion as her frail self could muster,

"Good morning, Blondie."

---

Akira chuckled lightly at his reaction to her yells, watching his body flinch violently. Still this was more than likely a good thing as it proved his reactions were top skill. Still it made her nervous as it did display that June did not feel safe enough to fall into usual comfort.

"You shouldn't have come down here,"
"Hmmm. I didn't want to drag you into my problems. Now they're going to try to use you to."

"Oh what a honor!" Akira hissed, half sarcastically while pulling an expression similar to swooning. She was somewhat annoyed about all this talk of her being pulled into something she did not need to be involved with. Being honest the raven haired woman did somewhat what to be put into danger. She wanted to live her life on the line once again, it was what she had experienced her whole life and now with the thrill of this lifestyle greatly minimized she felt somewhat dead. As sick as it sounded a red painted world was much more interesting then one with only shades of grey. It would be wonderful to risk her life for just some company. It would make her life worth something even if she lost her life due to walking along side him. "You don't understand June." Akira said, her voice falling to a whisper. "I. Don't. Care."

"Don't worry though,"
"If I get you to a safe place you wont be in any trouble. I'll just leave you there, take care of the problem and ..... No that wouldn't work.......Follow me."

"Would you actually just prefer me to leave? Really." She asked sternly, somewhat hurt even though her point of view would be seen as something idiotic in anothers eyes. Akira was offended about him wanting to leave her somewhere and end this relationship rather than seeing that he only wanted the best for her. The sapien almost growled as he grasped her wrist tightly, squirming and thrashing. Of course this mans strength was far superior to her own, as she was someone who relied on accuracy and agility rather than hand to hand combat. It took her a good few seconds to finally submit and follow him, grinding her teeth in frustration.

"Okay, a train should be here any moment now. I at least hope we didn't miss it. You should have stayed in your room. Now you're going to be identified along with me. Are you okay with that?"
"I can't stop doing what I do you know. So that means the danger is going to get worse from here on out. You sure you want to hang around someone who is basically poisoning you with their presence. You could get hurt you know?"

She stood with her head lowered and her eyes refusing to meet with his own. This was quickly becoming irritating to her. Why did he even care about her life really? Akira was not his family, his lover, or even a close friend. She was just someone he had picked up at a bar for a chat. She was almost disposable. "Stop talking to me like I am a child." The raven haired woman ordered. "I already explained, I don't care and I need a little poison in my life to keep me sane. If you want me to leave, tell me to leave, if you want me to stay, tell me to stay. It really is that simple."

They waited for the train in silence. She felt somewhat bitter due to the last occurrence and conversation, but slowly her bad mood began dissolving away along with the night. Akira began to feel a small amount warmer as the sun poured onto her skin and armour. She always favored early mornings and the sunrise. It sure was a beautiful and rare sight to see.

She turned her vision to June to find his body leant in a awfully unnatural posture against the tree along with his eyelids falling heavy across his irises. Akira stepped towards him and patted him lightly upon the arm to try and keep him awake. "June.." She whispered, shaking him a little more before she slipped her hand along his back to try and pull his body upwards into a more alert position. A wet warm sensation met her palm that caused her to quickly pull backwards and examined her hand. Crimson. She felt her heart fall into her stomach, creating quite a nasty sensation. "Oh god!" Akira cried. "June handsome...You should bloody say something! You can't just ignore this kind of thing!" She spat, suddenly pacing the floor wondering what to do.

It did not take long for the two power-armor trotting adventurers of William Abrams and Quinn Bradley to find shelter within the area. After all, the buildings of the town were mostly intact, despite the constant raids from bandits and subversive groups such as driving away most everyone in this town. There may have once been a thriving commune, however, through acts of violence, acts of god, and monetary problems, many were forced to abandon the places they once called home in favor of safer cities under protection.

It was truly disgusting to Quinn. These sorts of individuals were the sort of people who Quinn hated the most; those who cannot be reasoned with, despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them. Truly, one could consider these simplistic individuals, after only valuables and the like, bringing wanton destruction within their wake, those without a future. Those who would deprive others of their future. It was not something that sat well with Quinn. Although not a "hero of justice", there was no way she could approve of such actions.

Though Quinn had hoped originally to speak with William about certain incidents that occurred, she had informed the other that they should rest for the time being. After all, piloting her "Darius" was not something to take lightly. It was a device that utilized the user's energy to enhance every fiber of their being in both combat and mechanical application; a device that would, if under prolonged use without rest, danger the user's life. It was a device that could be considered a true "double edged sword", however, utilizing the "Darius", Quinn was able to achieve feats in battle many others could consider "impossible".

There was so much she wanted to ask William. The two had not seen one another in years, both going dark within their years. They were not able to contact one another, despite their political importance within their respective factions. William was the pride of the Abrams, driving their production forward. Or at least, he was. Quinn was the head inventor of the Bradleys, both rivaling one another in prowess.

But that was not the main focus of Quinn’s questions.

There had been events which changed Quinn’s life somewhat recently; Events that seem to have sparked out of nothing. Events that would leave the weaker of mind without the desire to push forward.
However, Quinn was not most people.

She was strong.

She had skill.

She was educated more than most.

It would come as no surprise that after her world was changed, she would continue forward. After all, the only way to a brighter tomorrow is to fight all adversities which might prevent one from achieving their goals.

Either way, Quinn was tired, and she was sure that William was as well. Though there is no rest for the “wickd”, there is sleep.

---

It was that dream again.

The same Quinn had many times in the past.

She was younger. Not by many years, but younger none the less. She was but a girl, however, she was mature. Quinn had been one of the greatest minds of the military-industrial complex. As heir to one of the largest military conglomerates, she had been taught the trade that her family had been continuing for decades. Innovation is the greatest importance when it comes to warfare as well as the cheapness one can produce results with, and one must keep ahead of the competition to remain innovative. However, there were those who would come to dislike the Bradleys. After all, one always becomes jealous of success, and considering their position in the world, the Bradleys could be considered successful.

That was the reason “they” came. Or at least, this is the reason that Quinn had figured they had come.

“They” were numerous. Though the private estate of the Bradleys was well protected, there was no way that the trained guards could overwhelm such a numerical superiority. As such, the defense crumbled under the might of the attackers.

Though “they” might have seemed like typical bandits, there was no way that they did not have purpose; external funding and the like was probably utilized by those who despised the Bradleys to smite them down whist they did not have countermeasures. Before Quinn was her father; someone she had come to respect and care for, killed in cold blood by these individuals. She could not believe that the person she had looked up to all this time to be killed. She refused this notion, despite the truth being obvious.

Despite the warm, fresh blood now staining the floor.

Despite his lifeless corpse now sprawling itself out.

“F-father…”

“R-run,” his fading voice attempted to croak out before he had succumb to his injuries.

---

Quinn had awoken in a cold sweat.

How many times had this dream been repeated? She had lost count by now, but it was well more than twenty.
She could not allow the past to be but a ghost to her. She had to press forward.

And there was one person who could assist her. She had various questions for William. After all, the other had promised to answer her questions in the morning. Therefore, she would not

…but

…but

…But

She had enough. He would not even budge, staying perfectly still with a seemingly content look upon his face, much to Quinn’s chagrin.

“WAKE UP ALREADY!” she shouted, relentlessly pestering the other in a shaking manner.

How could someone she remembered strong act so leisurely. Sleep was important, but such would simply cause one to become a lazy dullard. And Quinn could not have that from someone destined to be her “beloved”.

"...idiot..."

---

Although he was quite accustomed to a more luxurious estate William surprisingly did not have any serious problem taking refuge in something that amounted to a shack. He had long ago realized that if he complained about everytime that he would have to sleep somewhere he did not particularly find attractive, then he would be wasting his breath just about any instance where he went to close his eyes. This, of course, did not mean he enjoyed sleeping in ruins or the like, it simply meant he would tolerate it. Getting sleep was necessary for the body to function after all.

There had been little talk when they finally found their place to bed, and that did not really bother William. Here was a woman from his past, one he was supposed to wed and spend his life with, but he did not show any real sign of being too interested in her at all. He was tired from the stress of all the events that had happened today. Being tainted by that beast-woman's touch, finding a possible lead and then losing it, becoming a victim of thievery, and, most importantly, reuniting with his biggest rival in the weapons industry. Going to sleep, even if it be uncomfortable, was much more appealing that dealing with any more fatigue. William was out in mere seconds after lying down.

...................
..............
..........
.......

...Father?

"..."

Discovering his father face-down, broken and bleeding on the ground was not as traumatizing as it normally would be for William. It was typically how people ended up after being shot and losing consciousness or, in this case, his their life. The crimson pool continued to grow as blood seeped from the wound on William's Father's chest. His heart had been obliterated by a single bullet, and it was unlikely he even felt much pain before he died. The blonde man that gazed upon the corpse did not feel anger or sorrow. He did not tear up nor did he clinch his fist. But perhaps that much is to be expected. When introduced to death at a very young age, it becomes much to easy to shrug a life off, especially of those you don't particularly care for. In William's mind, it was not much different from witnessing the death of someone they had captured and used as live tests for the Abram's weapons. It was just a death, nothing to feel anything from. Nothing to be sad, angry, or happy about. But he... he felt something. Something foreign, something strange, something awkward, something unknown. The feeling was not positive and he did not hold any sense of attachment to the owner of the body that now lay on the floor. He expressed no desire to remain near the body any longer.

So.... why did he not just pass it by like the many bodies that littered the grounds of the estate before?

Showing respect to those who did not deserve it was not something William was capable of. He had no qualm about kicking his father's deceased body to roll it over, save maybe that he'd get blood on his shoes, although the aforementioned dead bodies scattered across the ground had already accomplished that. He wanted to know what was causing this strange feeling inside of him. He knew it couldn't be some form of hidden sorrow, he knew that was the truth - that he did not feel sadness towards the man's death. But, then what was this? As the body rolled over, his father's face was revealed. It was then that William knew what the feeling was.

He felt disgust.

A pitiful, cowardly expression was the last thing his father wore on his face. His features twisted in fear, it wouldn't be too hard to predict his last words, had he managed to mutter any. He probably died saying something along the lines of, "Please.... no" or, "I don't want to die...". It nearly made the golden-haired boy puke that he was related to something like that. Something so weak, so helpless, so pitiful. If there was anything in the world William could wish for that he did not already have, it was a parent he did not absolutely loath. But, well, perhaps no parent at all would suffice. Even with all of those accomplishments, a coward was a coward and a coward was useless, unnecessary. Good riddance.

.......
..........
..............
...................

"...idiot..."

The dream had not brought any particular luggage with it, be it physical or mental. That was not the first time that William relived that day, in fact he did so quite often and moreso than he'd like, so it certainly did not cause William's mood to change for the worse. However.... waking up to an insult did not have absolutely no effect, as William awoke with a scowl and a swift thump to her head.

"Do not insult me, especially in the morning, woman. I am up." he grumbled as he sat up, stretched his limbs, and popped his neck. When he was done, he turned to the blonde-haired beauty/annoyance. "Ohayou, D A R K A N D D A R K Good morning, Quinn. I assume you need something?"

June King

The feeling of exhaustion the man was feeling was only to be blamed on by himself. He opened and closed his eyes only to see a blur each time. The sun wasn't helping any either, but it at least reminded him that he was still awake, him being able to see hints of light from beneath his eye lids. It had seemed that even though the man was used to walking around with wounds, his lack of sleep and heavy drinking the night before didn't help his current situation.

Reaching into his pocket, June pulled out a piece of cloth, long enough to tie around his arm to stop the bleeding, as well as put pressure on the wound. Though, he knew that he would need to take out the bullet before covering the wound. He listened with his eyes closed, rested in a semi-feverish state. Once he was sure she was done with her worry he slightly opened his eyes, looking towards the ground and resting his posture. "C-come here for a sec," his voice called under a whisper. Slightly pointing to the cloth set beside him, he reached in his coat to pull out a small thick flip knife. "When I'm done, can you wrap that around my arm?"

He didn't really feel the energy to give much warning to his actions, but he was sure she had an idea of what it was he was meaning to do. With the way he felt, he wondered what hassle he'd have hitching onto the train when it finally came. However, he knew that at the moment that really didn't matter. What needed his attention was the bullet in his arm. It was a bother to dig the bullet out of his arm, but he knew it was for the best that he do it quickly. So, with his hand on his blade, he moved passed his shirt and dug into his wound, trying his best not to worsen the wound. Once he found the bullet, scooping it out was painful, but quick. With a few grunts and a couple minutes of pausing and stabbing, he successfully removed the bullet. Breathing heavily he looked over to Akira, motioning her to wrap his arm.

It worried him how he would succumb to such a small wound. So much so, he kept the bullet, so that he could inspect it later. Usually, losing a few drops of blood wouldn't hinder him as much as his current injury. He had no choice, but to think that maybe, the bullet was coated with a type of poison that would work quickly against him. If so, it would mean that the preparations made against him. Which would mean that he'd need to also start being more cautious.

Ember had tried to stay still during the night, but she could not resist the need to move and just wandered the area. Wandering wasn't bad, but she knew that she needed sleep as she's gone days without it and despite being a Neco, she could not live without sleep. She pondered this as she made her way back to Ace's cabin just when the sun began baking her. "I don't need sleep and this at the moment." She spoke out loud as she shrugged out of her leather jacket and huffed her way toward the door of Ace's cabinet.

The sound of a blade shearing through empty space filled her ears as she threw her head back, going limbo style she slid under the katana blade above her and got back into her feet. She whipped around with a backward roundhouse kick aimed at where her attacker's face would most likely be, but... surprisingly someone grabbed her leg instead and literally threw her aside. She hit the ground roughly and rolled several times before she got up to face her attacker. "Okay, Jackas-" She stopped talking, her eyes going wide as she saw who appeared before her.

Violet long hair. Seductive Amethyst eyes. A black blue scarf wrapped loosely around his throat. A black coat, and black slacks. "Shrade?" A quizzical expression written on her face she questioned, "What are you doing here?"

Shrade arched a cool eyebrow before sheathing his katana and allowing a small smile to touch his lips before answering with a lie, "I stumbled upon this cabin thinking it was abandoned, and instead, appear to have found you. How unexpected."

Ember narrowed her eyes at the lie but didn't question any further, instead a practice smile fell upon her lips as she held out her right arm, her hand was a fist as Shrade's left arm came out and his forearm touched hers. Their arms made an X shape for a second before they pulled back. "So... What are you doing here, She-Wolf?" Ember ducked her head at the nickname before motioning to the cabin, "I've got friends inside."

The violet haired man smiled teasingly, "You actually have friends, oh my. May I greet them?" He watched his former pupil nod and walk into the house. He followed her inside and stopped to see a man or at least what looked to be a man looking at a hologram of the area. Shrade didn't say anything, but kept silent and still as he watched Ember move away from him and toward a door.

Ember's mood was.. not exactly neutral but more lifted, more spirited as she walked into Ace's room to find... She smiled softly before clearing her throat and speaking, "Ace, did you even sleep at all last night?" She displayed mock disapproval before walking back out of the room to Shrade's side where she promptly stood.

Shrade glanced down at Ember before moving away and over toward a table where he sat and threw his boots onto the table, he leaned back as he sent a playful smile toward Ember as he threw a deck of cards onto the table.

Ember scowled at what Shrade did before copying his actions and asked, "What game?" "I don't know; guess." She glared at him and murmured a curse before picking out some cards. The cards held pictures of gruesome carcasses, all with a symbol of an element at the top right corner. She threw a card that had the skeleton of what looked to be an angel with a ball of fire at the top right corner on the table. Shrade threw a different card atop hers and said, "Go fish." The card had the drawing of a skeleton of a fish on it with no element symbol. Ember snarled, "You jackass!" She got to her feet with a fist pulled back. Shrade laughed at her reaction and pulled his hands up, "Calm down, She-Wolf, It was a joke!"

---

Champ was a very groggy canine in the morning. He seemed to be sulking due to yesterdays events and would not leave Oreron's side as he now deemed the Hall family and Ace his only friends. Once Ember and her new acquaintance entered the room he growled for a mere second before plopping his butt next to Oreron in silence. He hoped this man would provide him sympathy and give him food.

~~~

Ace did not hear the door creep open as Owsla slipped into his room; he was too busy drooling on his pillow and making odd sleepy groaning noises. It was rather comical to look at to be fair. The blonde man stirred as this familiar shadow scuttled around his floor. This time 3 years ago the man's body clock would sometimes force him to wake up before she jumped on him as he had gotten used to this unavoidable threat every morning.

YOOOOWWWLLLL.

"OH MY GOD!!!" Ace sat upright pretty sharply, forcing the woman to stumble off his bed and into the stomach as well as smacking his head clumsily on the lampshade ahead of him. It made a rather satisfying thud noise as they collided. He panted hard and rubbed at his forehead while waiting for his vision to become clear and awake. "Owsla..I...hate...you." He hissed, but still managed somehow to let out a chuckle. "Good morning. Just like the good old days eh?"

Still the man flopped his body back into the bedsheets for a few more seconds before turning his gaze over to Owsla. It was only then he noticed her lack of clothing and recoiled up to the bedframe. Not only that but he had torn off his clothes apart from boxers in the night too. The pair of them looked rather odd in his room like this. "What have I told you about suitable clothes around me!? Y..your Dad is in this house too!" Ace stammered, his cheeks flushing a dark red. It did not also help that it was early morning and he was hard as balls.

"Alright I'm up. Go tell your Dad to look for something for breakfa-?" Ace was silenced by the sound of a new voice that he had not heard before. It made him a little uncomfortable to be honest. He got out of bed and leant his head out of the door, to only be greeted by the sight of Ember. "Oh hai. Good morning."

"Ace, did you even sleep at all last night?"

"Screw you anyway." He grumbled with a comical pouty face, but tried to smooth his blonde hair into place after becoming paranoid about her comments. Ace then plucked his dressing gown off the back of his door and tied it loosely around his near bare body. "Have we got a visitor? Give me two seconds." Ace told her before heading to Jennifer's room.

He knocked twice on her door before slowly pushing it open and peeping his head through the gap. "Hello?.." Ace said softly before stepping inside to another clotheless body, and once again his cheeks flushed a shade of dark pink. Atleast she was covered pretty well by the covers and looked a lot more lively than the day before. "Good morning Jenn. Would you like some breakfast? I'll start making it if so." He questioned, still in a very lovely tone but it was clear he was rather uncomfortable, but atleast not in tears unlike last night.

Excited though she was, Jennifer was tired. It must've been days since she'd slept, given the way her eyes began to drift closed as she sat there, wrapped in sheets like a child. It was warm, and cozy, and she could hear people speaking and beginning their day. It was peaceful. She closed her eyes for just a minute, it seemed, let her own warmth catch up to her...and was jolted awake before she knew it by two quiet knocks at the door. For a moment, she panicked. Whenever the men would come to collect her in the mornings, she was supposed to be prepared; dressed, bathed, hair combed flat, bed made and room tidy. Right now, she was anything but. Her hair was fluffed up and messy, she was undressed and swathed in sheets clumsily, her clothes in a heap at the foot of the bed. She wasn't prepared in any way for company. But when the Blondie poked his head through the door, the fear dissipated slowly, replaced by a gentle buzzing and the beginnings of throbbing pain behind her right eye.

"Good morning Jenn." His voice was so soft, but rigid, and it made Jennifer's stomach sink. She'd displeased him somehow. It was barely morning, and he was already disappointed. She was supposed to make him happy so he wouldn't kill her, but she'd already upset him. She had failed, already."Would you like some breakfast? I'll start making it if so." Oh. Jennifer stared at the blonde man, lips parted in surprise, and silently nodded. Breakfast. With the men, breakfast had to be earned. If you didn't work hard enough, well enough, you didn't eat. It was simple. Made sense. Work means food, food means life. So she'd worked hard, been allowed to eat, and gone on through life. Easy. But not here. Here, food, safety, a bed to sleep in, was all offered freely. It made her head spin. So she nodded again, lifting her right hand and pressing it against her browbone, as though trying to work the information in, and the pain out. This place had a whole new set of rules to learn.

Keeping his gaze trapped in hers, Jennifer tried to force a smile, though it was empty and left her eyes looking pained. She had to speak to him. Had to actually tell him that she remembered who he was...or, at least, his name. And it would go over better with a smile. So smile she did, in her empty, painful way. Then, with a voice shaky with sleep and fear, mumbled a gentle, "Good morning, Blondie." After the words finally passed her lips, she stared at him expectantly. I said it! a part of her wanted to shout, I was able to say it! You know that that's you, don't you? You know that I'm trying! Please, you have to know that I am trying!

---

June was clearly sliding in and out of consciousness and it made Akira feel guilty due to the fact she did not even realize he was wounded before. Was she actually that oblivious? She watched as he pulled out his cloth, and soon quickly after a clean blade. Of course she understood, she had been through warfare, but it still made her heart sink and her heart thud fast at so much as the idea. Especially since it was someone she actually gave a toss about.

"C-come here for a sec,"
"When I'm done, can you wrap that around my arm?"

She nodded in silence and grasped the cloth tightly, before also pulling a arm around his waist and holding him. Akira did not exactly know why she did that but it was somewhat a sign of comfort, affection and support. It was horrible looking at him like this, with somewhat ill appearance. She began to wonder if it was just due to the pain of the injury or something more, as his warm fiery skin was not something she had commonly seen in victims.

As he began to dig around in the wound with his knife Akira turned away, not because it was gruesome or anything, just because it was a nice thing to see someone to go through. With her arm still clasped around him, she rubbed his side softly as he let out moans of pain and distress. Once the sounds stopped she turned to quickly wrap the nasty looking wound it did it pretty well due to her knowledge about first aid. She did not remove her arm from around his waist, but was now using it to support his body. She was afraid he could collapse at any point.

"Good job." The raven haired woman praised him before quickly rummaging in her bag. She pulled out a flask of cold water, unscrewed the lid and splashed liquid on his face to try and perk him up as well as keep his flesh cool. "Stay awake and take these." Akira ordered, handing him two strong nutritional pills and the water; all thought they would not do much to whatever was happening to him they would most certainly boost his immune system fighting it. "What is with that bullet!? I have some healing ointment in my bag but its no use until the bleeding stops. Maybe we should wash it or let your wound bleed out whatever is doing this to you but I'm not sure if that would only make things worse. This is why you can't try hiding things like this June!" She scolded, now glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone was in sight. Akira was starting to get rather paranoid as it could be completely possible that other men had been sent to find them. Not only was she paranoid but rather afraid.

"When does the train come handsome? Tell me what to do! Please!" She pleaded desperately, tapping at his side lightly incase he was struggling to keep his attention on her.

oreron and owsla Hall

Oreron gave a deep laugh as he heard the reaction at the Tyrant Neco received his rude awakening. He knew that feeling of having his daughter tackle him awake in the morning hours. For them it was for practical reasons, to wake each other up quickly so they could move on before those that would seek to harm them found them. He sighed, now closing the hollogram and giving a hard but gentile pat on the head of the canine. "Seems like your master is preoccupied with the girls. How about wee get you some food, no?" He said before standding on all fours. He stalked to the kitchen, his gait liking more wolfish than a Neco who was trying to mimic an animal. In essence, he was an animal.

He followed the scent of deer meat and water boiling on the stove, noticing the stew being his daughter's handy work. As much as he wanted to dunk his head into the hot pot, the burns that he would receive and fact there was a new male in in the cabin. One that he didn't notice before or had broken in. Natural instinct kicked in and so did his restraint as he put his hands on the table. Claws digging into the wood before. "I've never seen you in the wastes or in this glen before. You name and business here?" He said slowly and with a snarl in his voice. Very willing and ready to start a fight if needed.

---

Owsla laughed as she feel the floor, the reddness of his face making it harder to stop laughing. "It's just skin and meat Ace, chill!" She spattered as she collected herself and trotted off. She never had a problem with nudity before, feeling quite comfortable in her own skin and with her own body. She often walked around happily in not only her armor but what ever clothing she wore. It was the sort of thing that confused her when other people started a fit about.

She slipped into her armor quickly before trotting into the kitchen to find her father looming a purple haited man that looked around her father's age. "You may want to make yourself look more like Ace and less of a threat. He'll rip your spine out of your back if you don't." She said, point blank assuming that the man knew who he was before walking around the kitchen in intent.

Well, it had appeared that William had finally come to his senses, although rather late into the morning. How could someone she had known deteriorate to a state of laziness? Then again, Quinn was a rather punctual individual who preferred things to become a scheduled and organized matter over that of “living by the wind’s code” or some sort of other free-spirited individual. Rather, Quinn was an individual who valued habits and predictable means of existences. Though not one to consider “thinking outside the box” as a valid point of discussion, Quinn understood that the world was operated upon by “laws of existence”, of which are unchangeable, undeniable rules that govern the world before her.

“S-sorry,” Quinn meekly apologies for her outburst, a bit ashamed of her own tone of voice. What was the reason that she had been so worked up about this conversation. The two could have discussed it at the point which Will had awoken, but for some reason Quinn felt the need to be impatient around this individual. After all, there was much she wished to discuss with this man. They had not seen one another for years, after all. There would be much “catching up” to do.

But, there was a topic which Quinn had wished to discuss with William. She wished to seek out William for a while now in order to discuss this manner, but William seemed to be a rather evasive individual to find, leaving and going, with the wind always by his side, a trail of death not too far from his wake.

Her position seemed to switch from a more lax posture to something that seemed to convey a sense of seriousness; as if the individual known as “Quinn” had changed disposition at the drop of a hat.

“It was not too long ago,” She began, as if recounting something painful; something she wished she did not have to experience once again, but would attempt to press forward, informing the other of the situation which had taken itself a position within Quinn’s heart forever.

“It seemed like an average day. No different than the one before it. My family and I were at our villa. I was continuing to work on this armor to the best of my ability; the one we had originally planned to release as a Bradley-Abrams product with the merger underway. It would, however, not retain the peacefulness of earlier in the day. “

She paused for a moment, before recollecting herself. “What appeared to be heavily armed raiders had gotten past our security personnel at the villa had begun an attack. It was a bloodbath. I was lucky to escape with my life. My father… he sacrificed himself to protect me. However, I cannot allow such a transaction against my family slide.”

Quinn looked directly at William, her icy expression never wavering, never faltering, never batting her lip in a tremble.
“Do you have any knowledge on the ones who had attacked my family? I have been searching for a while now, but all the leads I have come across lead to cold trails. Do you know anything about this, William?”

"I've never seen you in the wastes or in this glen before. You name and business here?" Shrade lifted an eyebrow at this, before flicking a somewhat disdainful look toward Ember, "I'm here to share some private information with this wretched bitch, nothing more, nothing less." His serious demeanor changed quickly to that of a slaphappy idiot as he held up a deck of cards, "So anyone here want to play a game of-" His eyes widened as movement darted across his peripheral and... "Owmfh!"

He held a hand to his temple before his eyes watered with tears as he looked up at Ember with a hurtful expression on his face, "But Ember!" The woman glared him before speaking, her words filled with contempt and disgust, "I'm not, and neither are they, going to play that sicking game." She sat back down with her arms crossed as she glared at Shrade, who was babbling about games and how some were "Educational" and how they were designed to inform about the opposite sex and crap like that.

After a minute or two, he crawled back into his chair and huffed, "Okay, fine... not THAT game but how about S-" "Not that one either!" With a loud bang, his head was slammed into the table, "Ow! Again, really?!" Not even embarrassed or shamed by how he was being abused by Ember, he let out a weak, and dramatic sigh, "So.... Since someone's in a bad mood, why don't we just sit in silence?..." A bead of sweat formed on his temple as his expression turned into that of frozen fear as he watched Ember dare daggers at him. Feeling not so safe near the abusive and overly-aggressive person he stuttered, "You know I'll just give you some space, and greet this.. hmmmm... Animal? Dog? Canid? Canine? What a fine specimen... Perhaps some augmentation and..." He looked off into the wall, a grin of mischief and awe at the sight of an augmented canine, thinking of ways he could quickly turn this dog into an actual dog of war like those he'd seen and helped create.

---

Ace could not help but frown as she simply nodded as her response. She seemed fearful of him and that was rather heart breaking for him. This woman before the present day was a panther, she used to be afraid of nothing and was always ready for whatever life had to throw in her direction but now the lay there in bed appearing to be waiting for the horrors to drown her. It disgusted him. It disgusted him to think that his Jenn had become weaker than himself when he thought he was the weakest.

However, she then forced a smile, but he saw right through her lies and made his heart thud quickly in his chest. The raven haired woman also seemed to be in some amount of pain. It was odd for people to awake with headaches.

"Good morning, Blondie."

He felt tears prickle in his eyes once more, but he only allowed them to linger in the corners. She said his name. It was HIS name. It made him feel like his existence was worth something. He had a title he was PROUD to have. Ace smiled softly and came to sit on the side of the bed, a little away from her in case she would become startled. "That's me..." He reassured both himself and her.

"I can tell you are still missing a lot of memories though, because you would have normally punched me in the jaw for getting this close to you naked, or maybe not? The girl Owsla does not seem to understand why skin makes me uncomfortable and views a body as a shell for us to walk round in. I think in the past you would have said something similar." Ace chuckled lightly with bright eyes. He slowly moved towards her and held out his hand before placing the back of his finger tips on her forehead in the kind of way you did to earn a animals trust. "Do you have a headache? I can get you some painkillers if you would like? If trying to remember things is making you ill you don't have to push yourself so much." He questioned with a deep sigh before standing back upon his feet and heading towards the door.

"If you want a shower there is one to the room to the left and clean clothes in the wardrobes. Come and find me once you are ready. Is that okay with you?" Ace seemed to be very fussy and asking a lot of questions. He just wanted her to be comfortable and more importantly safe.

~~~~

---

"Seems like your master is preoccupied with the girls. How about we get you some food, no?"

Preoccupied with girls? Champ had never seen Ace with a girl at his side before, though he did know of the horrible yowling and moaning noises he sometimes made in the shower on a evening.

Champ was quickly becoming very fond of Oreron and actually was starting to consider running away with him and Owsla. What is better than a soft girl and a feral master who always promised food? All Ace did was make wooden bench swings after all. The canine let out a soft yip and followed after him, the pair on all fours.

"You know I'll just give you some space, and greet this.. hmmmm... Animal? Dog? Canid? Canine? What a fine specimen... Perhaps some augmentation and..."

He stood defencive as the group conversed and spatted but did not make any noise until he was addressed by the purple haired male. Champ let out a snarl and recoiled backwards, standing against Oreron's shins with his tail high. Of course he did not know what the man was saying but he was a smart enough creature to get the idea. Displeased and unsure with the new guest Champ barked twice to alert his master of new company. This man stank too much like Ember.

---

A sharp throbbing in his head told William that he'd already gotten a headache and he had not even been awake for more than two minutes. Was it brought upon him by the pestering of the gold-headed woman he was traveling with? Quite possibly. In fact, he'd be willing to bet that this was most certainly the case. Hopefully she would not be this irritating or pain-inducing in the future, for he really did not desire to deal with it.

“S-sorry,” the woman apologized, apparently seeing that she'd done something uncalled for. At least she was not like the last woman he'd met, who had no apparent trouble referring to him as an 'ass' or something similar. Or hugging him. Or living like a feral mutt. As he thought about it, if all she did was wake him up abruptly and she did this because she had business with him, well, he could see himself fine putting up with it. In any case, she could be a lot worse than she really was.

"Try not to make it a habit if we're to be venturing these wastes longer." he rubbed his temples, only feeling the smallest of throbs now. If he was lucky all he would need is to drink a bit more water than usual today and it would calm down. Deciding this was the best course of action, he retrieved the Pocket and grabbed a bottle of water from it, thinking that the drinking should start sooner rather than later if he wanted the stinging to subside.

“It was not too long ago,” Quinn had begun, her posture straightening up suddenly. Was this what she'd woke him up for? “It seemed like an average day. No different than the one before it. My family and I were at our villa. I was continuing to work on this armor to the best of my ability; the one we had originally planned to release as a Bradley-Abrams product with the merger underway. It would, however, not retain the peacefulness of earlier in the day.“ William respected her enough to actually put effort into listening to the story, but initially was not too interested. Well, he was not until the second half of her story came about, and this piqued his interest about as well as any subject could. “What appeared to be heavily armed raiders had gotten past our security personnel at the villa had begun an attack. It was a bloodbath. I was lucky to escape with my life. My father… he sacrificed himself to protect me. However, I cannot allow such a transaction against my family slide.”

William pursed his lips a bit as he thought deeply about what she'd told him, and knew immediately that there was no way this was a coincidence. Both his and her family attacked and overwhelmed? Had it not been for their ingenuity and desire to survive, it certainly would have spelled the end for both the Abrams and the Bradleys. It could be assumed this was one goal of the attackers, although it simply did not make too much sense if it was their main objective. Why spend that much manpower getting rid of leaders of the weapons manufacturing industry? For what reason? There was more to this, as he'd initially suspected, but with another huge family obliterated in much the same way, it was all but assured that this had something to do with his research.

“Do you have any knowledge on the ones who had attacked my family? I have been searching for a while now, but all the leads I have come across lead to cold trails. Do you know anything about this, William?”

"You want to know who did this?" he repeated the question then asking quite seriously. The expression and way he asked his next question made it seem like that was odd or weird, even. "Did you really love your family enough to wish to avenge them?"

June King

It wasn't his intention to kill the man. He didn't even want to come in contact with him. Instead he watched as his men fell one by one to the assassin like tricks of the man. Every move, which he personally, thought was predictable. Oh how he envied the idiocy of others at times. This of course not being one of them. In the end, he received all the information he needed and decided to let the man go. For he knew that the next time he laid eyes on the him, his target would be dead.

"Yes."

"How was it?"

"Entertaining if anything. He's too reckless. Like a beast or something other. Which in turn, I suppose, makes your assumption right."

"Nothing but a tasteless animal eh? Though still worthy of your affection?"

"That remains to be seen. In any case, since you were the one who requested it, I will bring his head to you."

"Fine then. Commence with the final test and exterminate the test subject."

"As you wish."
................................................................

After putting pressure on the wound and taking out the bullet, June began to feel a little better. Akira's pills may have helped too, but June wasn't the one to belive in man made medicine. Of course he felt obliged to accept, not having the strength at the time to decline. The woods that made up the outskirts of the beautiful city they were just in, along with the open area where there were no trees and only dirt made June wonder about the rest of the world. It was like this in most places. Woodland areas which should flourish for hundreds of miles cut down by humans who have nothing better to do than to populate the world and destroy its beauty. Sure he knew that in a lot of places the opposite happens, but he couldn't help but wonder if one everything will be flat and open. In any case, it was almost a certain thing that the next time he returned to this place, the trees would all be cut. At least that's what building transports in the middle of these areas usually mean. Not that he'd really mind either. He'd much rather bourd a train legally than have to hitch a ride.

Even though the man heard her question and the alertness in her voice, he didn't say anything to it, still feeling a little heavy in his breathing. She patted him as if he was going to die. Was he going to die? He thought not at least. He didn't feel that way at all. Though he did feel the sensation of fever.

"Calm down," came the slow, but calm words from his mouth. He reached his hand over and patted her knee to give her a little contact to know he was okay. "Train should be here any time now."

Honestly to say, he didn't mind waiting for the train. It wasn't often that he was able to rest in the arms of another. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time, even when he was with a woman romantically, that he let someone hold him. It wasn't even really a matter of letting. He couldn't explain the barrier he had around him, nor how it got there. Maybe he just didn't feel the need to let someone hold him so. In any case, now that he was being held, he felt a sober feeling. One that would have put him in a deep sleep. Though, of course, right when he was getting use to the comfort, it was time to move. His eyes opened as he listened to the sound of the train, coming not to far off away from them.

Letting loose a sigh, he moved to sit himself up so that he could eventually stand.

"Alright. You should hold on to me. I'm going to grab onto one of the side rails and we'll go to the cargo hold. Later I'll find an empty cabin for us to stay in so we can order from the train attendants. Though, if there aren't any empty cabins, we'll probably have to find another means of food."

It was a smooth sounding plan, but anything could happen on public transportation. Still, as June grabbed onto the train, leading Akira to one of the supply cabins, which for one smelled of farm animal(mostly because of the cows), he was sure they wouldn't have a problem.

"Are you okay," he asked, sitting against one of the animal cages. "You seemed a little too worried there for a moment."
He turned away from her for a moment, thinking about what he just said. Of course she'd be worried. He did just introduce him to his world. Hell, practically pulled her into it and almost had some type of biological attack on her. He knew if he didn't take her into consideration and at least try to be a little open with her she'd be worried. Anyone would. People don't like walking around in the dark.

"Listen.... I.... Well.... You don't have to worry so much." He took a pause for a moment, looking back towards her, "What I mean to say is that I'm not going anywhere. Even if it looks bad. Even if it seems like I'm gone. None of that matters because I'll always be here, okay? You need to have more faith in me Akira. I'm stronger than I look." A small grin formed across his face. Though he was still feeling tired, he tried not to dose off. Least he leave the girl to her own boredom.

Quinn pondered the other's inquisition after her own story. "You want to know who did this?" he repeated the question then asking quite seriously. The expression and way he asked his next question made it seem like that was odd or weird, even. "Did you really love your family enough to wish to avenge them?"

Did she really love her family to the extent of being able to avenge them? What was the true reason she wanted to defeat these transgressions against her clan? She could not answer this question without first giving it some thought. Perhaps it was not her own family that she wished to avenge. If anything, this was a blotch to the pride of the Bradleys, and she needed to bring to justice those who would harm innocent people. Assuming that the enemies she had faced were organized, if they were able to invade a stronghold of an important weapon designers like the Bradleys, they were a dangerous group of people for sure.

Quinn could not allow this. Her future should be one of light, however, the festering group unknown to herself was simply a blight on the world that should be removed, even if she had to do such herself. She believed in her ability. She believed in her strength. After all, in a world which had suffered so much suffering and pain from war and strife as such, this was the least that Quinn could do.

"I cannot allow for this transgression to slide. The Bradley clan has been brought to ruin because of them. I must bring them to justice at any cost I can possibly give."

This much was true She could not allow these people to continue operating as such. This group was clearly dangerous if they would be willing to slaughter civilians without any disregard for what is "right" and what is "wrong", though subjective as these terms can be. After all, if they were the victors of this situation, then their word would truly be "just" and "fair". Quinn shuddered at this thought, but the validity of "history is written by the victor" is indeed a strong concept in society. After all, the Necosapians vilified the "humans" for being inferior, as did the humans, but the result favored the Necos, even if only slightly. therefore their justice reigns supreme.

"I don't wish for your pity, nor sympathy. I simply have a mission I decided for myself long ago, and I cannot allow this "obstruction" to prevent myself from progressing towards this "goal"."

Though not much for bravado or something similarly testosterone-fueled, Quinn valued simplistic designs and efficiency over all else. Though often designing things that appear "cool" to her, most of these constructs, like her Darius' Hammer, worked extremely well due to her own ability to produce something that can be both efficient and "cool" at the same time. This was also true in her philosophy on life. She wished for a simple, effective means to bring an end to strife and the like which has plagued her life over the time these individuals had appeared, and revenge against them seemed like the option to push forward upon. After all, obstructions must be removed in order to appropriately press forward with a "future forged in light".

Maybe she took after her dad a bit too much. She seemed to hold dear to the concept of a "future forged in light" through technical advancements, just as her father proclaimed during her youth and leading up to his inevitable downfall. This was not a trait she disliked particularly, however, she did seem a bit more "optimistic" during most situations. Or at the very least, she is not the sort to give up until a goal has been reached. One might be able to call such an action stubborn, but Quinn did not mind this. It was a trait which had pushed her designs further, never giving up at hitches in the road.

That was the moment she realized something was off. A draft had appeared and chilled her. For some reason, she was much colder than she normally was. Was the temperature outside a bit cold? It did not seem to change much from yesterday. This was strange to Quinn to say the very least, but she could not determine the cause of such.

However, she seemed to have forgotten to place on "appropriate" clothing in her haste for answers and was still in her "Night outfit", which was nothing more than the layer of her undergarments. Definitely unbeknownst to Quinn that this had taken place. After all, it was embarrassing for her to open up to a man like the "Abram's boy", it would not be something she would prefer to dress so scantly in front of the other, but here she was.

"E-either way, I do not know the reason for my actions, but I do desire to bring these individuals to justice. By the way, is it slightly cold in here for you?"

Oreron and Owsla Hall

The larger male huffed in reply is ember reprimanded the male for what ever reason. Just the suggestion of playing a game seemed to infuriate ember, making him keep a mental note for later. He backed off, attempting to calm himself with the scent of cooking stew as he felt the presence of Owsla behind him, already scooping out stew for herself and champ. She bent down and the knees to pet the canine and set the bowl down in front of him. "That's a good boy~ Yes you are!" She cooded to the shepard, lavishing all sorts of attention onto the canid like a mother to a baby.

Oreron rolled his eyes, knowing that his daughter had always been fond of large preditory animals; she would often treat war hounds as personal pets.

Something that one should usually do in times like these.

"Since you are with ember, I suppose you are welcome to a meal while you're here." The aged general said with some relucance. He didn't trust the male in the least. But the least he could do was ignore the male for the time being. It would keep him from killing the man for the moment.

He lumbered out to the living room, trying to calm himself as he looked around looking for traces of the tyrant boy andthe girl again. "FOOD'S UP! GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT AND HERE!" He bellowed, nearly rummnling the house where it stood. He couldn't stand stragglers with it came to meals.

---

As Oreron lumbered away as if he were not used to walking on two legs, Owsla turned her attention toward the royal haired male at the table. Her uncovered eye glinted at him as she started walking around him in curiosity like a feline inpecting a new toy. "What'cha gonna do to champ?" She purred in curiosity, though her reviled eye glinted with malaceful mischif and slight madness. "And what'cha do to make fatha' angry? You must stink of war to make him react that way."

---

William was met with an interesting answer, to be sure. He honestly expected her to answer openly about it, but it seemed even asking that question had caused some sort of internal conflict within herself. Unfortunately, William was not the type to enjoy manipulating others, it just simply wasn't his thing, so he decided to leave the subject at that. It would be much better this way anyway.

But why did William ask that? Was he starting to regret the relationship he'd had with his own parents? His own family? Was he starting to regret every relationship he'd had up to this point? Thinking hard about it, he had realized that the people he liked most weren't existent. He did not prefer his father or mother to a stranger on the street, and he did not prefer a neco to a homosapien. The woman in his bed weren't treated that differently from the woman on the streets, save for some smooth talking he never truly meant. Had he been living a empty life? He only ever seemed to truly be happy when he was working on weapons, and those murdered people, if one was to be extreme. But even then, this was the first time he decided it necessary to question it, in his own way. Before it had never bothered him in the least.

"I don't wish for your pity, nor sympathy. I simply have a mission I decided for myself long ago, and I cannot allow this "obstruction" to prevent myself from progressing towards this "goal"."

"I won't pity you nor try to hinder your attempts. It is a fact that I myself am currently investigating the whereabouts of the same group of people you are, and it would perhaps be best if we were to search for them together, as they caused me similar grief. I had been working on my Alexander when a group of men had stormed my estate and murdered everyone there, save for myself. I managed to bring my prototype with me." he answered, then added, "It would be safe to assume that there was a reason for the attacks on us, and we're connected to it somehow. Although I can only give a few educated guesses as of now, the suits are most probably the cause."

William had noticed the weapon that Quinn's model owned when they had first met earlier. It was some form of hammer, albeit with much modification likely meant to differentiate it from others. What it was capable of was information William was not privy to yet, but he assumed due to that that Quinn preferred to go on the offense, as due to him being limited to buffing his armor's integrity, he was unable to produce a suitable weapon in the same amount of time. He deduced that her suit might not be able to handle near as much damage as his could, though with that hammer it definitely had the better offensive capabilities. But this was fine. A suit was meant to protect. There was little William feared Alexander could not handle when it came to weaponry. Small arms fire was all but useless against it, and heavier weapons could typically dent at most. Only the heaviest weapons had a chance of outright destroying it, and that would likely be impractical. Needless to say, the only true weakness with his suit was its power drainage. And he'd get to fixing that soon enough.

"E-either way, I do not know the reason for my actions, but I do desire to bring these individuals to justice. By the way, is it slightly cold in here for you?"

The gold-haired man did not hide his eyes as he checked the woman out, and spotted the very reason why she would make that sort of comment. "If I had to guess, it is because your choice of apparel is rather lacking as of now." he said straight. He would admit she did rouse him in some ways, but he certainly wasn't about to get flustered over something like this. It just wasn't like him at all. "I assume you don't plan on going out like that?"

Ember nearly growled at Shrade when she watched him move about like a bumbling fool. She hated to see him like this, and much preferred the hard-core bad-ass side of him that had taught her to be the deadly person she is today. "Since you are with Ember, I suppose you are welcome to a meal while you're here." Ember stiffened at this and narrowed her eyes at Shrade. Why can't he just be his normal self so I won't be... She balled her fists, admitting to herself that yes, she normally would not be caught dead with someone acting like Shrade at the moment, but....

Shrade glanced at the food before noticing Owsla circling him. "What'cha gonna do to champ?" He cocked his head to the left, yes, just like a dog would do, and smiled as if ignorant of how dangerous she could be. "And what'cha do to make fatha' angry? You must stink of war to make him react that way." Stink of war? Yes, I know I do... His posture changed at the words, his lazy and loftily manner changed to that of a skilled and hyper-aware killer. His violet and seductive eyes quickly coming to life, letting anyone know that just because he appeared disinterested didn't mean he didn't pay attention. He actually paid a lot of attention, and was very... focused and present at the moment. A cough from the far side of the room made him turn and shrug at Owsla, changing back to that of a lazy and insolent person.

Ember had watched as her former C.O. come back to the life, but then... She had coughed and brought him back from whatever bad memories he was reliving. She watched as he threw himself onto the cough, sprawled face down, it coon became apparent that he was asleep.

---

"Calm down,"
"Train should be here any time now."

Akira was so on edge that when he reached over and brushed his palm over her knee she flinched as it was not expected. Even though his touch was warm and comforting she felt like every bit of contact had faded away into something meaningless due to the overpowering paranoia within her. She did not reply to what he had said and continued switching from looking down the tracks for the due train to examining his condition.

When finally their ride arrived she stood back to let him stand.

"Alright. You should hold on to me. I'm going to grab onto one of the side rails and we'll go to the cargo hold. Later I'll find an empty cabin for us to stay in so we can order from the train attendants. Though, if there aren't any empty cabins, we'll probably have to find another means of food."

Akira grasped his unwounded shoulder and clutched to the material of his jacket and with a free hand grabbed a second rail to secure their landing. It was smooth enough but as they made contact Akira's chest slammed into the side of the train knocking the wind out of her. It would have even been noticeable to a Neco, but of course she was a Sapien and her body bruised a lot more easily. Still after a few heavy inhales, Akira dusted it from her shoulder.

"Are you okay,"
"You seemed a little too worried there for a moment."

The raven haired women just let out a little "Hm" sound as a reply before sitting facing a cage full of pigs, quickly becoming more comfortable with thin environment but not with the conversation. She seemed a little irritated by these comments and could not understand how he expected her not to be worried, but did not yet voice it. "I am fine, I knocked myself a little on the landing but it was nothing." Akira explained, now examining the pigs with interest before patting one on the head softly. "Oink oink!" She exclaimed in a overly cute tone, to which the creature grunted happily.

"Listen.... I.... Well.... You don't have to worry so much."
"What I mean to say is that I'm not going anywhere. Even if it looks bad. Even if it seems like I'm gone. None of that matters because I'll always be here, okay? You need to have more faith in me Akira. I'm stronger than I look."

Her fists then clenched tightly and she concealed a icy snarl, she broke the silence after a few seconds. She glared hard at the floor. "Do you know what happened to the last people I saw shot? I mean not the people that I have killed at my own hand, I mean MY people." Akira met with his pupils holding a stern expression. "They died. My Asher died. My friends died. I don't doubt that you are amazing, impressive and powerful June, but the fact is even with your skills you are still very lucky to be alive. I don't let God roll a dice for my life everyday."

"You should be pleased to have someone looking out for you. You are less reliant on luck then. I'm here for you June. I know what you are saying and I will try my best to not fuss you but maybe its good to worry. It's programmed in our mind to worry and fear so that we don't get ourselves and those we care about killed."

Akira stopped ranting and leant against the animal cage with a sigh. It was odd when she talked like that. Her idiolect was missing the usual seductive comments and informalness and she sounded more like a tactician with many stories to tell. "So where are we heading now my love? You look like you need some rest." She questioned.

June King

"Do you know what happened to the last people I saw shot? I mean not the people that I have killed at my own hand, I mean MY people."
"They died. My Asher died. My friends died. I don't doubt that you are amazing, impressive and powerful June, but the fact is even with your skills you are still very lucky to be alive. I don't let God roll a dice for my life everyday."


June would have apologized if it would have changed anything in her words. He even would have told here that he just wasn't use to someone caring about him enough to worry about a bullet wound. Instead he decided to remain silent. In the end words wouldn't prove anything alone and personally he wasn't expecting much from life after he had completed his goal, much less living. Especially since suicide after killing his only living close family member was a thought he had been pondering. He was of course now having second thoughts about that plan. Since he started talking to Akira, her and her words of living a normal life were kind of getting to him. So he stayed quiet, pulling out another cigarette and decided they'd just find out latter if he would be able to keep his word.

"You should be pleased to have someone looking out for you. You are less reliant on luck then. I'm here for you June. I know what you are saying and I will try my best to not fuss you but maybe its good to worry. It's programmed in our mind to worry and fear so that we don't get ourselves and those we care about killed."

He was actually thinking if he should have been pleased. If his luck was even worthy of its title. He used to think it unlucky to be the survivor of a battle between his life and someone elses. What made him so special? Why, with everything he had done and had gotten people mixed into, Akira even mixed into, would he be special enough to live on and even have someone look out for him? It was one of the many questions in life that eluded the man of an answer. Maybe it was a continuous sign that he should just stop what he was doing. A second chance maybe. Either that, or a sign that his goal was a rightous one and he'd live on to complete it. Fear? Fear for others..... He did know how that felt. Couldn't deny it either. Though, he wondered. Stil.... he wondered.

"So where are we heading now my love? You look like you need some rest."

June blew out smoke and left his mental cluster of thoughts to answer the woman's question. "Now we're going to Moi Delim. You've heard of it right? A town that isn't actually kept up with the times so to speak. It's pretty dirty and the people there will stare you down to your grave, but it's probably the most genuine place on this massive rock we call earth. I don't know. The wine's good at least."

When it came to rest, June didn't think much of it. There was a time earlier when he wanted to rest for a while, but now he was seeing it as more of a crutch than anything. Besides, what would happen if he fell asleep and she was gone? The thought itself drawing a question in his head of why would it even bother him.
June smiled. "You know, if you keep treating me so nicely I might start thinking of you as my wife on accident."

Standing up slowly, grunting a little from the pressure on his arm, he went over to the door. "I'll be right back," he said, opening the door, leaving and beginning his search for an empty passenger cart. It took him a while, but he ended up finding one and returned, putting his cig out on the wall. "Let's go to a better location. If you stay around farm animals and their.... leavings for too long in a boxed area, it'll strike you with fever."

With a wave of his hands to beckon her, June lead the way to the empty quarters and stretched out on the couch seat. He sat in silence for a while, staring out of the window at the passing trees that seemed to be endless despite the renovation. Something was on his mind though. It was a question that he was pondering, but didn't even exactly know the whole feeling of it.

"So why do you dote on me? If you don't mind me asking. I'm not really that special of a person to be given the gift of affection from a young woman such as yourself. You're also not naive. You must know how I live my life by now. Still you show me such kindness. Why is that?"

His words were calm, as his usual manner of speaking, but he couldn't leave his thought cloud while talking to her this time. Whatever was going on in his head, he was starting to feel different. So much so he couldn't even remember how he felt about anything the day before. It was too obscure for him.

"It's just that, it feels like I'm dreaming."

Maybe it was from the loss of blood. Could have also been from the poison. Junes face displayed a mellow grin. The same as someone who had not a care in the world. He didn't care. He knew it was temporary, but at this state, he wouldn't have minded if the train had never reached a destination. If the ride continued on going forever.

Jennifer stood under the hot spray of water, relishing in the way it caressed her stiff, under-used muscles as it cascaded down her back. Having the water as hot as she could make it, turning her skin stinging red, she loved it. Painful and comforting all at once, enough to keep her thoughts off her past and more on the present. What she was going to do today. And she'd decided she'd spend the entire day outside, roaming around nearby, looking for any other memories (the less painful, the better).

She stepped out of the shower, cranking the water off, and rubbing herself briskly with a clean towel on the counter. She felt, for the moment, truly clean; like someone had rubbed off the layer of dirt that she'd been trapped under for weeks, like someone had scrubbed the filth and lies from her hair, scraped the hatred and fear from her flesh, left her raw and exposed, but willingly. Combing her fingers through her hair, she stared at her reflection in the looking glass on the wall.

She'd become so small. The men had told her that she'd taken up entire buildings without saying a word, but she was meant to be small and dainty and leave the power to the warriors now. She was meant only now to watch the others be strong, to cheer them on. Never to be the protector, the fighter. Not anymore. She stared at the way her body looked...awkward, now, like someone had erased all depth from a picture they'd drawn. She still had the curves she'd once had, but now her wide hips and shoulders were not equally proportioned by strong legs and muscled arms. She was like a young girl, pre-pubescent, still gawky and graceless. Not a woman. Barely a scrawny rabbit.

Dressing quickly in a pair of men's pants (too long, probably Blondie's) that she cinched tight around her slim hips and a tank top that she'd taken from a chest of drawers. Clean clothes, clean hair, clean mind, she opened the door and emerged in a plume of steam, padding barefoot down the steps to the kitchen, but coming to a gentle stop outside the doorway. Tension was rolling all over in droves, seemingly centered around a single man that she did not recognize. Jennifer decided that staying out of the kitchen was her best bet until she was invited in or sent away, and so chanced a weak-voiced "Good morning," to those inside.

---

Ace went back to his room and also treated himself to a hot shower in the cabins other bathroom. He was always someone to do nothing productive what so ever in the shower and just stand there until it shrivelled his skin and washed his hair. He was still very much like a teenage boy despite being a few years over.

"FOOD'S UP! GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT AND HERE!"

The blonde leaped in the air at the sound of Oreron's booming roar and so slipped on the showers slippery ground, once again clumsily smacking his head with a violent thud. "OWWWWW......Co...Coming!" Ace yelled as a reply as he stumbled out of the shower and pulled on a white shirt and jeans over his still damp body, causing the material to stick to his chest rather flatteringly. He also ruffled his hair with a towel but as he left the room it was still just as damp.

As he entered the kitchen he politely smiled seeing everyone there and well. "Morning~" Ace greeted the group. Champ briefly pounced up to his master, forcing his palm to pat him before returning to the ever loving Owsla and his meal. Her soft hands seemed much more pleasant than Ace's after all. He followed his canine with his eyes before having them land upon the white haired girl and her new found...admirer. His eyes were securely locked on her body and it made Ace's blood boil, not even with jealousy, he was more having a protective spur. After all she was still his little girl. Just before the stranger lie his head upon the table the blonde haired man heavily placed his hand on his shoulder and gripped it tight. "Who's your friend Ember?" He said, turning to her for some kind of explanation with a pleading expression. He was rather uncomfortable with this man being in his house and just hoped she knew how to keep her friends in order.

"Good morning,"

"Ah Jenn!" Ace smiled, laughing softly at her choice in clothing before walking to her side to lead her to a seat at the other side of the room away from others. "You look adorable. Sorry I don't have anything that would fit you better. I'll get you some food." He said lightly, as though trying his best to please her and make her feel welcome but it came across as more awkward than flattering. He made his way towards Oreron to collect two more bowls of stew before taking a seat alongside Jenn. "Thanks for making this Oreron, you did not have to."

The Blondie guided her to a chair, and placed food in front of her before she could even say another word. She was as far from the people, she noticed, as she could casually be, but she still tucked tightly into herself, ankles crossed tightly, shoulders nearly up to her ears, hands clasping each other fiercely. Today could be the day they decided to kill her. The day they decided she wasn't worth the effort, the time, the resources. She wondered if she'd even resist the blade they'd slash across her throat.

She raised her hands up to her neck protectively, fingers running across a scar there, feeling the ridges and bumps calmly. She'd almost been murdered. A slice across the throat should have killed her. But it didn't. She didn't know why. In fact, she didn't know why she hadn't been killed by any of the injuries that had left her scarred. Her arms, legs, chest and back were covered in soft scars, her forearms braided with harsh burn marks, her throat forever slashed by the remnant of that violent act. But she was still there, alive, sitting in the kitchen, a bowl of stew that smelled of spices and heat and made her mouth water before her.

It occurred to her that she was, in fact, incredibly hungry. She hadn't eaten in days, since the men sent her on her way. With a quiet bow of her head to the man that had carried her yesterday, she quickly dug into the food, spoonful after spoonful filling her stomach as fast as she dared to eat. She had to pause a few times to pant, let her tongue cool, before resuming her rapid feeding pace. Having the Blondie sit beside her was...comforting, though she felt some tug at the back of her mind to slow down, eat like a lady, like the men had taught her to. But she was too hungry to really stop eating, so she shushed the voice, and finished her food before letting out a contented sigh.

Sitting back, she pulled her knees up onto the chair, and let her bright eyes fall on the Blondie at her side. She wanted to smile. But she knew if she tried, that it would look empty. And sad. And he would get that unhappy look on his face, and he would stop smiling. And she never wanted him to stop smiling. Because when he smiled at her, even just for a moment, even though his eyes still screamed sadness, it felt a little like forgiveness for anything she might have done.