Realistic or Modern // Ignite the Spark // open & accepting

[Cruor Flumine]

Doctor Marcus H. Glass


Keys Towers: Infirmary





Marcus sighed and began to think of something similar. He smirked when the thought came into his head. "Think of it like a Jet Injector with range. Point it at the target, pull the trigger. Hold it tightly, but not too tight. It will have a bit of a kick, so don't drop it. When the slide locks back, no more bullets. Aim for the head, or center mass and you'll hit the target. Got it?" He asked after explaining how to use the gun. "You don't have to become a killer, just a defender."


He could see she was hesitant to use the weapon. He couldn't blame her. A doctor taking the life of another was counter intuitive. However, it needed to be done to protect everyone else. Carefully, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just breathe. We'll get out of this fine." He said, trying to soothe her nerves. She was scared. He could feel her shivering everytime a shot rang out. Everyone would make it out safe, he would be sure of that.





@Bhlow

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

It was a slow business, but eminently efficient. For every ten shots Kais heard below he took no more than one of his own, but every shot from Bane struck true. He found a target, tracked them, and waited for the exact moment. If a perfect time did not present itself, he simply didn't take the show. Below, chaos reined on the battlefield. Above all the noise and the motion Kais lay still, the silent killer, far removed from the gory scene on the outskirts of the Ruins. His heart beat slow, his breath came in long, calm breaths, pausing only when he pulled the trigger. He was calm and he was in his element. It didn't bother him that this wasn't target practice. It didn't bother him that these were human lives that he was ending--people with ambitions and desires, perhaps families of their own.

From where Kais lay, he could pick them off one at a time before any of the looters realized he was even there. In fact, from below it was impossible to hear the sound of his rifle at all; with the alarm sounding, shouting from both sides, and gun fire all around it was impossible to hear Bane. For a moment he allowed himself to imagine what it must have been like to stand in a group as a sniper picked off your comrades one by one. It must have been terrifying; standing amongst your allies when suddenly one falls and not even athe sound of a gunshot announces their departure.


Kais took no particular delight in causing that fear, nor in taking their lives. Nor did cause him remorse. It wasn't simply that he did not think about the lives that were lost at his hands, but rather that, when he did think about it, he felt not the slightest shred of remorse. It was the looters or the Sparks, and Kais would be damned if he let it be the latter.


He squeezed the trigger, Bane jerked, and one more body fell on the field below. Kais moved his eye away from the scope, reaching for the box of ammunition next to him. Bane held only two bullets--it would have been nearly worthless if he was ever in a situation when he needed to drop a lot of people very quickly. That, however, was not a sniper's job. Pick your target and drop them--the opportunistic target, the most powerful target, the target in a strategic position, or, barring all those possibilities, any target that presented itself. But not every target, and not rapidly. Slow, methodical, precise death. That was what Bane offered. And Kais was always more than happy to take that offer.


When two fresh bullets were loaded, one chambered, Kais pressed his cheek back against Bane's stock, fixing his eye to the scope and scanning for a new mark. In his pause to reload, the battle had shifted; the average movement was now away from the Ruins. Kais watched carefully, fixing his eye on one target, a looter, as he fled from the ruins; he shifted the sand in the sock beneath Bane's barrel and kept the crosshairs fixed. The looter hesitated, looking over his shoulder, and it was the last mistake he ever made.


Kais reached for the radio once more, "Looters are on the run. Do not pursue; keep close to the Ruins and ensure that the area is secure."

 

[Ashmorne]

SHOTS IN THE CLEARING: PART ONE


a collaborative post between @Ashmorne & @Rissa



​

A few moments had passed since Solara had given the spare pistol to Veda, explaining to her what she would potentially need to do. Killing to Sola was something she never got used to. They would never be just targets to her. It was so much more than that. She was a Scout, not a guard or soldier...but she needed to help defend her city. Sola often folded those memories down, over and over again, until they were nothing but an infinitesimal square tucked deep into the recesses of her mind.


The two women stood crouched behind the rubble, when Sola heard a giggle spill out of Veda’s mouth. She wanted to comment, to say something reassuring, when one of the looters heads snapped in their direction. Sola sucked in a breath. She pointed the gun up, aiming carefully. Without breaking focus, she whispered to Veda.


“They saw us,”


She pulled the trigger, the popping noise of a bullet cutting through the air ringing in her ears.


A piece of Veda nuzzled itself deep within her soul when Sola pulled that trigger. Time slowed when Solara uttered those three dreaded words. Her head swiveled as if she were a marionette and some higher power had pulled the strings. She knew what was coming, but nothing could have prepared her. Nothing could save her mind's eye from the images branding themselves in her conscious.


There was a small ring-ring-ringing in her ears and as Veda watched the graceful plummet of the now lifeless body, she caught a small movement out the corner of her eye. She tracked the moving shadow with moonlit eyes. She leveled the gun as the figure came into focus -- she tried not to notice the feminine curves or the long plait that hung from the figure’s head. Veda pointed the gun without trying to see, pulled the trigger with her eyes closed. The pistol jerked upwards in her hand, and a sharp pain traveled through her wrist. It was nothing compared to the godawful scream that rent through the night air.


The scream reverberated through her bones, it was louder than her pistol.





“I-sh-I shot her…” Veda turned back to Sola, “Sh-she’s not dead... Sh-she’s still screaming.”


Sola jerked her gaze away from the fallen body of the man she had just shot, hearing the echoing screams of the woman. Sola instinctively rose up slightly, seeing the fallen looter clutching her arm and shrieking in pain. She didn’t deserve to suffer like that; she needed to be put out of her misery. But there was still the matter of the one looter left. He was looking at his dead friends in shock, moving quickly towards Sola and Veda.





“You did what you needed to do, Veda,”


Sola got the words out before focusing on the moment. The remaining man had his gun up and was ready to fire, but he was exposed. The looters probably hadn’t been expecting to run into anyone at this part of the outskirts. Sola felt her eyes burning as she rose to her feet, aimed, and fired twice. He toppled to the ground, lifeless.


She stood and moved out from behind the pile of rubble, moving to where the woman lay screaming on the ground. Standing closeby, she aimed her gun.


“I’m so sorry,” she said, pulling the trigger.


The last shot echoed through the night, and through Sola’s heart. The woman stopped struggling, her body twitching before going completely still. Sola wiped a furious tear from her eye, a tear she hadn’t even felt until now, as she crouched next to the death.





“I- I’m sorry,” she whispered again, before reaching out her hand and closing the woman’s eyes.

 

[RZA]

SHOTS IN THE CLEARING: PART TWO

a collaborative post between @Ashmorne & @Rissa
​

Solara’s atonement was heart wrenching. Veda empathized with her; she could feel her own guilt coating every fiber of her being. Her insides twisted, her soul shrank, and she felt like she was holding all the world’s weight upon her shoulders. Veda might not have dealt the final blow, but she played a role in this woman’s death.


“You did what you needed to do, Veda.” Those eight words played on repeat in her mind. She didn’t know how to feel about them. It was true, of course, but was morality that black and white? Mortality sure didn’t seem like it.


She watched as Solara closed her lifeless eyes, wondering what it would have been like if she were doing that to Sola. She didn’t know her, but she was one of the only people she had left in this world. Veda had shed her old life when she broke out of Tranquility, but with that -- everyone she had ever known and cared for. She reached out to Sola, and spoke with a broken, hoarse voice.





“You had to do it…” Veda croaked out, tears spilling from her eyes. She swallowed hard, massaging her aching wrist. “You saved my life earlier you know, thank you.” Veda felt the comfortable yet ghastly weight of the pistol in her hand, knowing that life was never going to be the same again. Not after having blood on her hands.


Sola looked over at Veda, nodding. She felt breathless. She always felt this way after killing...like she was falling, like she would be falling forever, like air would never fully be back in her lungs. She took a shaky breath, her heart pounding. Sola rested a hand on Veda’s shoulder. She could only imagine what might be going through her head.


“I know that this doesn’t feel okay. Honestly, it never feels okay,” Sola said, her voice weary.


She was going to continue when there was another rustling sound from the woods. Sola’s hands were at her gun instantly. A boy, a straggling looter, had wandered into the clearing. The guy didn’t look like he could be older than 16 or 17, with dark orange hair and a scant beard. He saw the ground littered with bodies, his eyes widening. He dropped his gun as he stumbled towards the body of the first looter that Sola had shot.


“Henry?” His voice was small, in every sense of the word. It was fragile, cracking at the edges as it slipped from his mouth.


The air felt static around them, and Sola was frozen in the moment. The boy sank to his knees, grabbing the shoulders of the fallen looter. He pulled the man close.


“Henry, get up.” tears began to leak from his eyes. “Henry, Henry, Henry.”


The boy was wailing now, hugging the body to his chest. He pressed his forehead against the corpse, his own tears wetting the face of the other man. Sola felt her breath stick in her throat, her eyes burning. She took a step back, a twig cracking beneath her boot. The boy’s head suddenly snapped up, his gazing locking on her.


“You,” he spit the word out, his voice strained. “You did this. This is my brother. My brother!”


He was standing now, his eyes wild as he towered over the corpse of his brother. His gun had been discarded, but he pulled a knife from his belt as he advanced towards them.


“You’re a murderer! You killed my brother!”


The words came as a shriek, He began to move faster, charging, the knife raised above his head. She could see the freckles on his face, the blue in his eyes, the despair in the way his mouth twisted.


“You’re a-”


He didn’t finish the statement. Sola had lifted her gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet sliced through the air and hit him in the neck. Warm blood spattered across Sola’s face, across her hair, across all of her. He staggered, his mouth frozen and agape. The knife slipped from his hands, and he toppled forward. His body collided into Veda and Sola, causing them to fall backwards into the grass. Blood was slick over her skin, seeping everywhere.


She instantly kicked him off of them and rolled over, resting on her knees. The fourth body lay in the grass near his brother, blood making everything dark. Sola looked down at her hands, at the death that was on them. She wrapped her arms around her midsection, her body shaking. She could barely breathe and couldn’t even cry. It was like being kicked in the stomach over and over again. Her bones felt like lead. Silently, still shaking, she turned her head to look at Veda.


The man was heavy and the slick, warm blood gushing out of his neck didn’t help either. Veda couldn’t shove him off her, couldn’t wriggle her way out from underneath his dead weight. The overwhelming sensation of this man’s life blood covering her sent shockwaves through her system. She felt Sola kick him off, and she was able to break free as well. She scrambled a few feet away, her gut emptying itself of the chicken and potato dinner she ate earlier. Veda wiped her mouth, smearing blood over her lips and she retched again.


When her dry heaves eased up, she glanced over at Solara. She trembled violently, arms wrapped around her stomach. Sola was staring at her, with a desperately hollow look in her eyes. Veda crawled to her, recognizing her symptoms as she had displayed them the previous night. Was it really only a night ago that she left Tranquility, high on the crimson pill? It seemed like a lifetime.


Veda reached out and did the only thing that made sense: she wrapped her arms around the only living person in the clearing and held on for dear life. Sola hugged her back, lying her head against Veda’s shoulders. She was able to support most of her weight, giving her the chance to battle the shadows in her mind.


She wasn’t sure who started crying first or if it was a simultaneous affair, but either way they were both blood soaked and tear stained. Sola leaned up and tried to dry her eyes. Impulsively, Veda outstretched a hand to wipe the blood from Solara’s cheek. All she managed to do was smear it into an even bloodier mosaic.


A strange look overcame Sola’s face, and Veda watched as she stood on shaky legs. She walked over to the knife the man dropped, an indiscernible emotion painting her reddened face. Veda didn’t know what was going through her head, but she stood up herself and walked around the looter with the severed neck, over to Sola. She put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, added a little pressure to let her know that she was still here, still with her.


Sola had moved to where the knife lay on the ground. The way it glinted in the night and the color of the handle had caused her to move towards it as soon as she and Veda broke apart. As she towered over it, she felt like her heart was beating in slow motion. Everything around her blurred, the only thing clear being that knife. Black damascus carbon steel, swirling olive wood, slender and elegant. Exactly like the blades that Sola had tucked in her boots. Sola took a shaky breath, feeling like the sky was closing in on her.


She crouched down, her hands closing around the blade. She turned it over in her hands, sucking in a quick breath. Engraved in the side, in swirling letters, was the same carving she had seen every time she took out her knives. It was engraved with the name Solomon Feivel. The blade she held in her hand was the third knife in the set that had belonged to her father, the one that he had taken with him the last time she ever saw him. Sola begin breathing quickly, searching the man for any other sort of related item or clue. Nothing. Sola clutched the knife close to her body, shaking. She couldn’t even begin to think about what this implied, She would allow herself to think about this when Shasta came home. For now, she slid the knife in her boot, reuniting a full set before standing.


She watched as Sola searched through the man’s pockets, apparently searching for anything that could be of use. Veda made her way through the bloody grass, back to the woman she had shot. She looked at her, mesmerized by the look of death upon her face.


Veda bent down, a feeling darker than guilt welling up in the bottom of her gut as she searched through all of the woman’s pockets. There was a small, rectangular box that was full of metal cylinders Veda couldn’t name, a protein bar, a round object with four needles, and a handful of other items. Veda made a small pile of everything she collected, wondering if anything was worth using.


Veda felt dirty, stripping this woman of her gear felt like flaying her own soul. She unclasped the utility belt that was around the looters waist, surely it could be repurposed. As she did so, the arm Veda had shot came into view and she inhaled sharply. She was no doctor, but she knew enough -- all teachers were given basic medical training. Even if Sola hadn’t pulled that trigger the woman would still have died. The bullet from Veda’s pistol went through a major artery -- she would have died from blood loss.


She wasn’t sure if the moisture on her cheeks were tears or still-wet blood, and for a second Veda didn’t care. Veda grabbed the woman’s pistol, prying her lifeless fingers away. She slipped it into the pile to her left, making to get up before something caught her eye. There was a small, green rock on the woman’s finger. Curious, Veda slipped it off and inspected it. It was some kind of ring, but unlike any she had seen before.


Tears leaked from her eyes as she silently said her apologizes. I’m sorry you had to die like this… but we had to... we had to protect ourselves..


She slipped the ring onto her middle finger, vowing to remember this night, to remember the woman’s face.


Veda turned back to Sola, “What do we do with their bodies and all the supplies we get off them?”


“I’m not taking any of the supplies. I-I can’t right now. I just found something that I thought Shasta would need to see, so I took it. Shasta is the leader of the movement, if no one had told you yet. He’s also my brother. We’ll leave the bodies here for now. The guards on duty will get useful items and make sure that the bodies get buried,”


Sola reached out and squeezed Veda’s shoulder. She felt hollow, emptied out with nothing left. Her heart ached, each beat reminding her of a looter woman screaming on the ground, of a boy seeing his brother’s corpse, of a long-lost object belonging to her father now resting in her boot. At the very least, she hadn’t been alone. Veda had been alongside her, experiencing the horrors. Sola herself was a scout, not a guard. It wasn’t very often that she had to fight in this way. She had only gone tonight because of the burning urge to protect her people. But now she was beginning to wish that she would have let Kais convince her to stay. Either way, she hadn’t gone it alone. She had felt a bond now with Veda that she had with few outside of Shasta and Kais. This was the type of bond that came with suffering together.


“Thank you,” she told Veda. “I’m sorry you got swept up in this. Now we go back to The Ruins. We can get cleaned up, and then get some rest. You can have a room in the Grand Oak instead of at the dorms. That’s where I live. I’m going to find you tomorrow, and we’ll talk.”


Sola turned as they walked back towards the Ruins. They left the clearing, moving into the city much slower than they had left it. Sola felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, the blood of a brother on her hands.

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

The sound of gunfire had ceased, though the alarm still sounded. Still, Kais maintained his post on the roof for a few minutes longer, waiting for word from the soldiers on duty. His sharp eyes scanned the ground below, watching for any sign of movement. He could see their soldiers searching the outskirts methodically, following a careful search pattern as they made certain that the last of the looters was gone. Once or twice he heard a gunshot, whether from stragglers or finishing off survivors, Kais couldn't be sure. Eventually the radio crackled to life.

"Perimeter is secure. I count twenty looters dead."





Kais eased his finger off Bane's trigger and sat up before reaching for the radio, "Injuries?"





"At least ten to fifteen casualties--three losses for certain, not everyone yet accounted for."





Three dead. It was a right sight better than twenty, but Shasta would still mourn the loss when he returned--and Sola, as well.


Sola. Kais' stomach clenched when he remembered she had gone to help. Surely someone would have mentioned if she had been killed. Maybe not. Maybe they wouldn't want to deal with his reaction. Still, it was better to be certain.


"Solara...?"





"Unaccounted for, Sir."





Kais' fist clenched around the microphone. Unaccounted for wasn't quite as bad as dead, but it had a definite foreboding ring to it. He flicked the safety on Bane and slung the rifle strap over his shoulder, scooping up the radio as he headed for the stairs. The alarm needed to be dealt with, then Sola needed to be found. After that he would worry about tracking down all those who had been in the battle.


He made short work of the stairs down from the roof. The closest alarm switch was in the conference room; he pushed the switch back into an upright position and silence rang in his ears. Silence. He had nearly forgotten what it sounded like. In the absence of the grating alarm, the quiet was shocking, uncomfortable, and if felt as if he had suddenly lost his hearing. He shut the case over the switch with a snap. The sound seemed muted in comparison to everything before.


There was no time to worry about his new found deafness, however; he needed to find Sola. Radio still in hand, Kais headed back to the stairs, making his way down to the ground floor of the Keys Tower and out. The radio crackled with occasional updates, adding to the body count one way or the other, or announcing the safe return of a Spark. He kept one ear on the chatter as he went, listening for Sola's name. It didn't come.


Outside his mind worked quick; his face was still solid, cold and devoid of emotion. Long strides carried him toward the Grand Oak. Unless she was seriously injured, this seemed the most likely place for her to go. If she wasn't in her room, he would check the infirmary. If not the infirmary then he would join the search on the outskirts, moving further into the forest. His mind worked through possibilities like a machine, lining up a plan of attack, a contingency, and an emergency backup plan for each scenario. Somehow he didn't panic; in fact, he wouldn't even have claimed to feel worry. The professional was, first and foremost, a problem solver; there was no time for concern when there were problems to be solved.


He reached the Grand Oak hotel in near-record time, without ever breaking a fast walk. From the outside he could see two figures making their way up the steps, heading in through the main doors. Kais' eyes flitted over them; one was unfamiliar, a woman he didn't know well enough to recognize from afar, the other was Sola. She was wearing sensible combat gear--a black long sleeved sweatshirt for the dark, a bulletproof vest in case that didn't work--different from when he had last seen her. Still, he knew it was her, if not from her clothes then from her shape, the way she moved. People had distinctive body language, they walked just as differently as they talked. Recognizing someone from afar was important when your job was to shoot people from that range.


Kais took the steps three at a time, making it through the door before it shut behind Sola and the other woman.


"Sola," his voice was neutral, as if he hadn't just raced across the Ruins searching for her. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief, The Professional crossed an item off his mental checklist.





Find Sola





She was covered in blood, but had been walking more or less alright. Perhaps favoring her side a little more than usual; that much was to be expected.Tear tracks cut clean marks in the blood on her face. His eyes flicked over the other woman who looked more or less the same--covered in blood and tears--he recognized her face, now. She had been there that morning when he threatened the other Pill-drunk Patcher.


"Are you injured?" He asked, turning glassy eyes back to Sola. She was obviously not 'alright,' so he didn't ask that question. Still, he had no idea what to do with emotional pain. If she was injured he would stay and help--otherwise he needed to make sure everything else was wrapped up before coming back.

 

[Ashmorne]

S H A S T A || F E I V E L


spark alpha





Shasta listened to the woman with his eyebrows raised wryly. The dance that they were in was a fragile one, the threat of either of them breaking apart a clear one. He regarded her with cool eyes, leaning his shoulder against a tree as he crossed his arms. Something inside Shasta told him that this woman wouldn't have gone through so much trouble just to kill him in the woods...but of course, he couldn't be certain. He wouldn't put anything past PaxCor and their president.


Still, what she was asking wasn't unreasonable. Maybe Ava was just as uncertain as he, walking out on a limb like this. If she was truly a sympathizer, then he didn't want to think about what would happen to her if Luna Pacecco caught wind of it. But there was still the safety of his own city he had to consider.


Internally, Shasta was irritated as he calculated the possible outcomes. He could just as well let her leave. The Spark wouldn't be any worse for the wear. Safety first? But would he be letting go of their strongest ally yet? Finally, he decided he didn't want her to leave just now. He would give her a small piece of information. Nothing too big or definite, just a tiny appetizer until trust had been established. Who knew how long that would take? He just assumed that this Ava would want to meet again. There were so many unanswered questions. Shasta met Ava's sardonic smile with one of his own, shrugging one shoulder.


"How do I know I can trust you? My people have been anti-PaxCor since before you were born. I'm not going to risk all of that for one person," Shasta had chosen his words very carefully. He wondered if she would realize the small morsel of information he had snuck into his sentence. Anti-PaxCor since before you were born. If she was smart, she would recognize what he was doing, she would recognize the small piece of information...and continue with their dance.


S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





They had walked back to the Oak in relative silence. The alarms had stopped ringing, leaving the town much quieter than before. There was still the clamor of people moving and talking, reorienting themselves after the upset. Sola didn't do anything to hide her face. She walked through the city, the blood and tear paths evident. If people were going to talk, let them...but she didn't think that anyone would notice her or care in the midst of an attack. However, she always tended to underestimate people's appetites for gossip.


They had made it to the Grand Oak with their bodies relatively intact. She couldn't say much for her soul, which had felt completely brutalized. As they entered, she was about to turn to Veda to tell her that she would go to the front desk and get her a key when suddenly Kais was there.


He said her name in a completely detached way, but relief still came to her in waves. She hadn't realized how much she had wanted to see a familiar face until this moment. It took everything she had not to let tears start coursing down her face again. She wanted to hug him, and she wanted him to tell her that she had only done what she needed to do. Then he asked her a question.


Sola stared at him for a moment after he asked if she was injured, unsure of what to say as she considered the events that had transpired. She was physically fine. The man who had watched his friends die was not. The woman whose screams were echoing across the clearing was not. Henry and his brother were not. She had never felt so empty in her life. The relief she had felt seconds before was folding back into that vacant feeling as she remembered the price of her safety. Any peace she had achieved was gone now, replaced by an ache so strong that it felt like nothing. It robbed her of emotion, leaving her hollow and desolate.


At what point would she tell Kais what had happened? About the man, whose name was Henry, who now lay dead next to his brother's body? Would she even tell him? No matter what she decided, she knew that he needed to check in around The Ruins...not just stand there talking with her. There were bigger things going on than Sola and her new demons. She hadn't even begun to think about whether or not the Spark had taken any losses today. She finally just shook her head.


"I'm fine," she said flatly, at least that was true in a physical sense. "We're both fine. I'm getting Veda a key to the empty room next to mine. I'll be here at the Oak for the rest of the night. You can go check on everything else. I understand,"


This was the role of an Alpha, to make sure that the people were alright. Kais was in that role now, with Shasta away. Part of Solara thought about whether to ask him if he needed any help, but she couldn't. She had nothing left to give tonight. If Kais wanted to find her later, he knew where she would be.

 

[whitefoxkiller]

Ava Sebastian

​

Ava’s mind was racing. Before she was born and he used the word “all.” It made it sound like his rebellion was large… like there was a whole different city, but if there was a whole different they couldn’t possibly have the same level of tech as Tranquility, if they did they wouldn’t need to sneak into the city to turn citizens one by one to their cause. If they had the same amount of tech as Tranquility, then they could just take over the city with guns and planes. Also he implied that this was a generational thing. If it was a generational thing then progress is slow… really slow. Ava understood that this was all beneficial to her is she wanted to pull a mutually beneficial deal. She also understood that his slip of the tongue was most certainly not a slip of the tongue.


He wanted something to prove she wasn’t PaxCor, after all, it wasn’t like he knew what guards in costume looked like so well as she did. Ava briefly wondered if Shasta had ever even seen a PaxCor guard, not counting those cambots that are so easily dispatched with. Musing on this she had an idea to prove she had the best of intentions.


“I might have something you’d be interested in.” Ava said delighted. “I assume you’re familiar with the Rust District,” she went ahead and explained anyway, “It’s where almost all of the Tranquil drones go to work, day-in day-out. When the Tranquill are entering and exiting the factories Patch efficiency is at it’s lowest, because, well the Tranquil are going to work for a 18 hour shift and their suppressed feelings of depression can be hard to keep suppressed. To counteract this, PaxCor makes sure these places are plastered with good-feeling propaganda and packed with guards. These measures pretty much do the trick in making sure the Patch maintains proper performance,” Ava explained slowly, leaving out the part that said she designed the posters and designed a lot of buildings and surroundings in the Rust district made to keep Patch efficiency up. “But if your graffiti was there at the factory entrance, or lining the road into the Rust District, counteracting the posters, well then what we call nonconform citizens will be pushed out of the woodwork and feel compelled to come try your pill.” She laced her fingers together, pausing to let Shasta process for a moment what she’d said. She hoped he wouldn’t be suspicious of her intimate knowledge of all this. She was sure that to Shasta is seemed like she was merely skilled with psychology, and knew all the technical details because she was resistant against PaxCor and collected it. When she eventually told him she was the Minister of Propaganda, she wanted it to be from her, not put together by him. If he put it together himself than anything she said afterwards would just make it seem like she was covering her ass, trying to hide the truth somehow.


“You want to be sure I’m not with PaxCor. Well, I just so happen to have with me the guard schedules for and a very detailed map of the Rust District,” She revealed with glee. “It’s yours if we can strike a deal.”

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

Sola was fine, or at least uninjured. Kais was forced to take her word for it, though he didn't think she would actively lie to him about something important. There was definitely

something wrong, he noted, but at the very least she was not injured. He had seen a flash of something--of many things, in fact--on her face before they faded away into oblivion. A flash of pain, sorrow, confusion, fear, all those things and more. At that precise moment he couldn't guess what might have happened to cause her to look like that, or to cause both her and the new recruit to look like that. Perhaps if he had been feeling more empathetic he might have at least guessed at the subject.


But there was no time for that. There was no time to be empathetic and there was no time to discover what was wrong with Sola, or to make things better. She knew as well as he did that he needed to finish things before he could be with her, before he could even shed his emotionless persona. All he had time to spare was a brief touch to Sola's shoulder.


"I'll be back," he said, and though his voice was matter-of-fact and impersonal, he meant it--he would come back to make things right for her, or as right as he possibly could. He gave her shoulder a brief squeeze before turning to go out the way he had come.


Once outside with the doors of the Grand Oak shut behind him, Kais reached for the radio once more.





"Solara is uninjured; what is the status of the search?"





There was a pause while the radio crackled. Kais strode in the direction of the infirmary while he waited.


"All are accounted for; total twenty- casualties, four of those fatalities."





Kais grimaced, wondering who they had lost. Still, there were more important things to deal with before he knew the names, "All injured are to report to the infirmary, help any who can't walk. Living take priority, leave the dead until we have everyone else in."





" Yes, sir," came the crackling response.


By the time Kais made it back to Keys Tower, Sparks were arriving outside in pairs and groups. Some were walking on their own, barely grazed, others needed a shoulder to lean on, and still others were carried between two people. They began to make their way up the stairs, some giving a nod to Kais as they passed; he returned any acknowledgement with the same stony demeanor he had worn all night.


"Kais, Sir!" Kais turned to see a soldier, Isale, struggling towards him as she half-dragged another.


The man who she was struggling to drag along was barely moving his feet. Blood dripped down his face, and there was a dark wet patch in the side of his hair. Kais hastened to help, moving to the man's other side and ducking beneath his free arm. Together, he and Isale were able to half-drag, half-carry him up the stairs.


Kais pushed the door open with one hand, holding onto the wounded Spark's belt with his other hand. The other injured sparks had stepped aside to make way, allowing the three of them to enter the infirmary first, but they followed in after.


"This one first, Doctor Glass, or we'll have five fatalities instead of four," Kais announced as they made way for the nearest cot to deposit the nearly-unconscious soldier there. The other injured walked, limped, or were helped to cots of their own until nearly ever space was filled.

@Cruor Flumine

 

[RZA]

Veda Creed Location: Grand Oak Hotel


The silence was sweet and shattering. The blaring alarm had done a good job drowning out the screams in her mind. Without it, Veda felt like she was back in the clearing listening to the woman howl in pain, watching the man lose his mind after seeing his brother’s dead body. She cried silently as they made their way back to Sola’s home in the Grand Oak, trying not to think about it all. Salty, metallic tasting tears streaked down her face and she didn’t bother wiping them away. The last thing on her mind was what people would think of her, covered head-to-toe in blood and crying, making her way through town.


The walk back into the heart of Spark territory was taking forever. Despite the horrors in the clearing, she found it hard to keep her mind off it. Every step she felt it calling to her, reliving the scene in her mind, reminding her of her wickedness. With every step Veda could feel herself walking away from her innocence. Her heart ached for the looters, but she deserved this pain ﹘ and Veda took a vow to endure it as gracefully as she could.


When they reached the Grand Oak, Veda breathed a sigh of relief. Her throat itched and burned, and she craved water. To drink, and to bathe.


She had barely made it through the vestibule when a voice spoke behind her. The voice belonged to the man named Kais, the one who had verbally assaulted Keanu the day prior. From her vantage point in the lobby, only a few feet from Sola, she could see both of their faces clearly. She didn’t like him too much, but Sola seemed to. Veda was new to this world of emotion, but she recognized the plaster of no emotion that was Kais. Solara was his opposite; a faint sigh of relief escaped her lips when she first looked at him, followed by a myriad of unfamiliar expressions. A nagging suspicion ate it’s way through the back of her mind, but she decided to save her questions for later.


Veda watched as Kais examined Sola, hoping he wouldn’t ask the most obvious question. In the light of the Oak’s lobby, they looked much worse for wear. The blood was starting to dry and crack on both their faces, and Veda wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to stand on her feet. Exhaustion swept through her and the last thing she needed was to relive that terrible moment with a total stranger ﹘ and one who frightened her at that.


Don’t ask, please don’t ask why we’re covered in blood.


When Kais did speak, he only asked if she was injured, and Veda thought that was a rather obtuse question. Could he not see her shattered spirit?


Sola spoke but nothing really registered in Veda’s ears. At least until her name was mentioned and she realized she’d be getting the empty room next to Solara’s. Veda thought that was nice, at least she’d be living next to a familiar face.


Sola’s impromptu goodbye was short and to the point, but as she turned around to walk to the front desk, Veda could see the fatigue etched in her face. She revised her earlier thoughts ﹘ they shared the weight of the world together. With a fleeting farewell glance to Kais, Veda turned and followed Solara’s path to the front desk.


Whether Sola worked magic or the clerk was afraid of getting blood all over her desk, Veda received her room key in less than a minute. Veda mouthed a thank you as she turned to go, and was surprised at how hoarse she sounded. She cleared her throat, finding it sore and froggy. Veda glanced over at her suffering companion as they made their way up the Grand Oak staircase. It was hard to tell through all the blood, but Sola looked how she felt: on the brink of exhaustion.


The ascent was silent, but it was a comfortable silence. They didn’t need words to communicate how they felt, they were both too well aware. As they reached the second floor, Veda worked up the last of her energy and asked the question her curiosity had been begging for.


“Is he your Marriage Pact partner?” Veda asked shyly. Normally she wouldn’t have asked such an invasive question, but after tonight’s events Veda felt like she could ask her anything.

 

[Ashmorne]

S H A S T A || F E I V E L


spark alpha





Shasta considered what Ava had said. She had revealed a sizable chunk of information for what little he had told her. The Rust District was an area he was relatively familiar with, from conversation with recruits who had come out of PaxCor. Being able to place graffiti where the workers were most susceptible to deviating would be a great addition to the cause.


Just hearing about the slavery of the Tranquil made Shasta's blood boil. No human being should be treated so indecently. PaxCor was truly a dictatorship, and those enslaved didn't even know it. Ava acted as though this was just tossing him a bone, like she had even more that she could offer eventually. How was it that she seemed to know so much of what was going on? Everything came at a price, however. Shasta needed to know her's.





"What you say sounds appealing, but what are you asking in return?"


Shasta looked at her, not feeling threatened anymore. If anything, he was curious. He simply needed to know her angle, why she wanted to help them. She seemed so eager to lend a hand, but this was all so sudden. Why the interest? And to what extent would that interest take them? The Spark had been alive for a long while, slowly growing in size until they filled and renovated an entire city. It had been a steady process, but they had made it this far. Shasta was the Alpha because he cared not only about his people, but also about the Tranquil. There was a Spark in each of them, just waiting to be freed of the Patch.


If Ava could help them do that sooner, Shasta wanted to be allied with her. For the first time in his life, he could start to see The Spark truly taking over. It didn't seem that far away anymore. They had never had an ally in the Diamond before. Things were starting to pick up speed. But he was getting too ahead of himself. He wouldn't make any decisions just yet. He couldn't chance his faith until more trust had been established, though his gut was telling him that something good could come out of their potential alliance.


S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Kais was gone just as soon as he had arrived. She hadn't expected him to ask about how she had gotten so bloody, or why there were obvious tear trails on her face...not while he was in the professional mindset. Besides, she was too consumed in her thoughts to really feel hurt that he didn't ask. Right now, she didn't think she could feel anything besides the hollow expanse that was spreading behind her ribs. So he left with nothing but a squeeze of her shoulder, and she didn't stop him.


With a sigh, she made her way to the front desk. It wasn't hard to obtain a room key for Veda. The attendant, a man named Clark, had given her the key almost as quickly as she'd asked for it. People in The Ruins knew who she was...Shasta's sister. She hated the feeling of having people's attention simply because of who she was related to, but in this moment...she didn't care. If being the Alpha's sister got her that room key faster and in her own bed sooner, then what of it?


They climbed the stairs quietly. Solara didn't feel as though she needed to say anything. The only other living people that she had ever fought along or been in the field with, outside of training, were Kais and Shasta. Even she and Ryder hadn't gone on a delivery together yet. Veda was already in this exclusive category, within 24 hours of knowing Sola.


It was interesting how a day could change so much. Sola felt a pang of sympathy for her companion. As if leaving your only home wasn't enough, Veda had also experienced a rare looter attack. What a lot to go through in such a short amount of time. The pain inside Sola's own heart felt crippling, and all of this had occurred just outside her lifelong home. How must it have felt to come to a new, strange place, and to feel the fullness of emotions for the first time, only to be faced with such a harrowing experience? Sola herself couldn't get Henry's brother's screams out of her mind.


It was then that she decided that she would be there for Veda. This experience had bonded them, and Sola didn't take that lightly. When she decided to place her loyalty with someone, there was very little that could ever cause her to take it back. After what transpired tonight, her friendship and loyalty was the least she could give.


They had just passed the second floor when Veda spoke. Her question had caught Sola off guard. It wasn't that she didn't feel comfortable talking with Veda, it was that she wasn't sure how to approach the question. Marriage Pacts like what she was referring to were very much a Tranquilian construct. She hadn't realized that Veda didn't know how different life in The Ruins truly was.


"Kais? Oh...no. Not my Marriage Pact partner. There are no Marriage Pacts here, not like how they are in Tranquility. Here people only marry for love, after they've gotten to know one another. It doesn't really happen right away. There's not really any set guidelines for how or when it happens, it's all really up to the couple, if they decide they even want to pursue marriage," Sola explained carefully, thinking about how to explain the concepts of love and attraction to someone who had probably never experienced them in their entirety.


As they walked out onto the third floor, Solara thought about how she was also unsure on how to speak about the nature of her relationship with Kais. Clearly, Veda had noticed something about the way they had interacted that caused her to ask. Sola and Kais had yet to even talk to anyone about what was happening between them. Not even Shasta. Hell, they had yet to even talk to each other about what was happening between them. She briefly thought back to earlier, when Kais had kissed her as they stood alone in his house. Had that been just this morning? The stretch of hours between then and now had felt much, much longer.


Sola waited to see if the other woman would ask any more questions. She could only imagine everything that Veda might be wondering about. As they approached the room door, Sola tried to work out mentally how she would respond to any more queries about Kais or about how relationships worked in The Ruins.

 

[RZA]

Veda Creed | Location: Grand Oak Hotel


“So, wait… how do you know if they get it right? How can they be sure they’re truly compatible?” Veda asked confused, curiosity burning in her eyes despite the exhaustion attached to her mind, body, and soul.


Veda spoke again, before Sola could answer her first two questions. “How are you supposed to choose then? If there's no Marriage Pact is there no Unit Status either? How does reproduction work without it?” She shook her head and sighed, utterly baffled. “I don’t get it.”


She thought back to her time in Tranquility - less than thirty two hours ago - and deduced that life there was systematic to the point of automaton. As she glanced at Solara, who was probably struggling to come up with her answers, Veda had to admit there was a certain beauty in systems, in routines and traditions. At least then you could predict its outcome. Here, outside the walls of Tranquility, improvision seemed to take precendence over a systematic structure.


But as Veda’s foggy mind chewed it over, she came to the conclusion that maybe that was the point. An automatons life was to be dictated, programmed, and predictable - mankind’s life was meant to be lived to the fullest, meant to be enjoyed and loved. The citizens of Tranquility could never experience that because they lived the life of an automaton, controlled by their totalitarian government.


She looked to Solara, wondering if she found any answers to her wandering questions. She wouldn’t blame her if she couldn’t. The thought of choosing your own life-mate sounded incredulous, but it was more than likely due to her PaxCor induced ignorance than anything else.

 

[whitefoxkiller]

Ava Sebastian

​

Ava was excited at his physical reaction to what she revealed. He looked like his suspicions were melting away. Good, her offer intrigued him. She did have much more to offer though…especially with her place as the Minister of Propaganda. Shasta made the logical connection that Ava wanted something from his organization. She’d been planning this pitch for a long time in her head, though some things were very different. She pictured the Pill People (that was her unofficial title for them) as a group of young inexperienced and newly patch-free Tranquil, and her as convincing them to join her like Ava was their senior. But Shasta, he seemed like Ava’s senior in this situation (not that she’d ever let that feeling show), and he certainly wasn’t a freed Tranquil. He was much different than she’d imagined. But in a very good way.


“I only want to be partners Shasta.” Ava began diplomatically, “Let me explain fully. From what I had come to understand about your organization, you were well stocked and you had more than five members. As you can imagine, There aren’t many opportunities to make allies in the Diamond Sector, so I jumped at the chance to make even five allies. But I did have a plan. Assuming I deemed you capable to help me. Coming here, I see you appear to be quite capable,” Ava alluded to the people or person she knew was waiting in the woods, the fact that Shasta came extremely well stocked, and the hint Shasta had given her that the Pill People were more numerous than they appeared, “and I know you can help me.” Ava, surprisingly, looked into Shasta’s eyes with earnest, “I want to free the Tranquil. With my connections into the Diamond District and your force, Shasta we can take down PaxCor once and for all.“ She stood up and walked closer to Shasta, lowering her voice, “We can kill Luna Pacecco, and stop the enslavement of my people.” Ava was unconvinced the word “my” was the proper way to describe them, but that’s how she felt, and it kinda just came out. Ava’s people were really her peers in the Diamond District, but to Shasta, her peers might have been everyone in the city. She hoped he wouldn’t react adversely to that.


Ava took another pause. Shasta would likely be shocked. Ava, a moment ago, was very suspicious and didn’t want to give him any info. She made a note in her mind that she’d made an unconvincing transition, but then again, he gave her the info she wanted: that the Pill People were larger than they seemed. All the same, Ava’s discourse was getting sloppy. She was giving too much information too soon, revealing her feelings instead of just displaying a poker face, and using words like my, that might have unintended consequences. She was probably just getting swept up in the excitement; while she had rebelled against Pacecco before, she’d never done something like sneak into the woods at night to meet a Pill Person and ask them if they want to help her kill Pacecco before.


Ava wanted desperately to know more about him and his resistance, but she figured if she waited long enough she’d get taken to the base one day or another. She had the outline of the infiltration, assassination and emancipation already planned out, but there were a few things they needed to iron out and she assumed Shasta might want to do that with his team, which got Ava wondering. Who was Shasta among the Pill People? She wondered if he had betters he was representing. He didn’t seem like he had actually made any decisions. Maybe he had to find out what my pitch was then go communicate it to his leader. Ava hoped Shasta was the leader. He knew how to handle himself in a discussion and seemed extremely capable.

 

[Ashmorne]

S H A S T A || F E I V E L


spark alpha





I want to free the Tranquil.


So, that was her angle. Though his face remained neutral through Ava's words, Shasta could feel something that felt a lot like hope blooming in his chest. His mind was whirring, processing all of the information she had just given her. This woman seemed invested in their cause, and it was personal for her. It was her people, or so she said. Her ambitions seemed to align well with his own. When she met his gaze, Shasta did not look away. There was one piece of information that had stuck out to him.





We can kill Luna Pacecco.


She was the woman behind PaxCor, the current dictator in the line of many that had kept the institutions of slavery in place. If they could incapacitate her, Tranquility would be left leaderless. It would make room for The Spark to come in, to neutralize the Patches outside of The Diamond. They would be able to find other sympathizers and forge a new society out of the ashes of the old one, and create a system that is free for everyone instead of the select few. Shasta could see the vision of his father and his father's father, and of all the Alphas before him. This is what they were working for.


For freedom.


The fire of ambition was burning through Shasta now, a glimmer of it lighting in his eyes. He didn't fully trust this woman yet, but that didn't stop hope from coursing through his veins. Ava seemed passionate, strong...controlled. She seemed to know what she was doing. Who was this woman, to know so much and to have the power to act on that knowledge?The Spark had never before had this sort of advantage. It would be a risk to trust her, but would it be foolish not to? Ava Sebastian had the potential to be their strongest ally but also, if things went awry, a deadly enemy. Shasta needed to get back to The Ruins, to discuss this with other Spark advisors, with Kais...even Solara. They needed to know the weight of what Ava was promising them.


Shasta crossed his arms, and nodded his head.


"Your ambitions line up well with that of ours," he said slowly. "I'm willing to consider this partnership,"


He figured that Ava would know what he meant; she was skilled enough with the art of speech. He needed time to go back and talk with the others. There was no way he would be able to make this decision without consultation. When and if she would arrange for them to meet again, he would have an answer.


"If you agree to give me the guard schedule now, I will meet you again on the day after tomorrow. Same time, same place. I'll have answers. In the mean time, take this,"


Shasta took off the red brooch that was pinned to his chest...a four petal bloom, a rose of fire, an emblem of who they were. He held it out to Ava, a small token to hold her for now. He could something in the way she talked, in the passion that laced her voice, in the flame lurking behind her expression. There was a Spark in Ava just yet, waiting to ignite.


S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





A small smile quirked up the corner of Sola's lips. If for a moment, she was slightly amused, with her mind briefly focused on something besides the clearing. She thought for a bit on how to answer Veda's questions. Life in The Ruins, Patchless, was incredibly different that Tranquilian society. How would she go about explaining these topics? Veda didn't seem to find any of this at all awkward. She seemed rather pragmatic, looking at it from a logical perspective even though this topic was far from analytical. Sola played with her ponytail absentmindedly, thinking about how to respond.


"Well, here it's not about getting it right. You choose marriage based on how you feel, on whether or not you love someone. Love isn't about equations, productivity, or efficiency. I guess that people get married when they love each other so much, they don't want to be with anyone else. It's hard to explain it. It happens over time, usually. Sometimes marriages work out, and sometimes they don't. It's something that you sort of just have to experience," Sola paused for a moment, thinking about her parents. She had grown up with the ideal model of a relationship. She then thought about Kais, about how opposite they were. The two of them were very different people, but that did nothing to change how she felt about him. There was no compatibility test fit to define them. "There's no way of knowing for sure that you have the absolutely perfect match, because love isn't some perfect thing. It's just about caring for someone so much that you wouldn't know what to do without them. You think about their wellbeing as much as your own,"


Sola didn't quite know how to explain that you just knew when you knew. Love was something that had to be experienced, not mathematically defined. She decided to continue onto Veda's next question for now, they could come back to the other if they needed to. She touched her chin in thought as she tried to figure out how to tell Veda about how families began. In Tranquility, family units were created via in vitro fertilization. Sola proceeded carefully, not wanting to further confuse Veda.


"Families happen naturally here. When a couple has intercourse, there is a chance of pregnancy. I'm sure you've learned about this when you went to school. Here, it's like how things were before common in vitro protocol was put into place by PaxCor. It's completely up to the discretion of the couple. We don't organize how people go about their lives. Part of being free of the Patch means making your own decisions,"


Sola wasn't quite sure how to explain it any further. She'd never had to give this sort of talk to anyone before. She didn't really feel awkward about the subject, but rather just flummoxed that she didn't have the words she was looking for.

 

[Zoola]

Eve Salem


PaxCor Government Headquarters, Eve's Office | | Diamond Sector


"Eve,


There has been word of a security breech in the Cloud District. Two guard bots were dismantled in Peace Park at around midnight yesterday. Find out if this is something I should be concerned about. Let me know by tomorrow night.


Luna"


The message illuminated the tablet's screen, the notification catching Eve's attention from across the room. Eve raised a curious brow as her eyes quickly scanned the message. An upset in Peace Park? She couldn't help but note the irony in the statement. For a city that was essentially founded on the basis of peace, Tranquility saw a curious lack of its founding principle. However, it wasn't her job to ponder the ills of Tranquility - unless was told to; that is. Luna had instructed her to investigate the incident, nothing more, so she quickly disregarded the thought.


Up until she had received the message, her day had been marked by a series of menial tasks - paperwork, phone calls - work that needed to be done, of course, but that didn't make it any less mind-numbing. After spending the entire day there, she was glad to have an excuse to escape from the lifeless atmosphere of her office.

PaxCor Security Offices | | Diamond Sector


After arriving at the PaxCor Security building, Eve was ushered into an office by the secretary. The room was cold and sparse, save for the multitude of screens decorating the otherwise bare walls. The environment was that of an unwelcoming one. A gruff, imposing man rose from his seat to meet her, and Eve extended her hand to him in greeting.


"I'm Eve Salem. I've been sent by President Pacecco to investigate a recent security breech in the Cloud Sector. You're the head of security for that sector, I'm assuming?" she asked. The man nodded, shaking her hand.


"Frank Hayes. Pleasure, Ms. Salem. At 12:22 PM last night, there was an incident at Peace Park." The man, Frank, spoke with a certain weariness that only came with years upon years of a monotonous life. Staring at cameras all day certainly wasn't the most exciting thing. Frank jerked his thumb towards the back of the room, where a cluster of computer screens displayed footages of the current happenings within the Cloud Sector. "Two guard bots were shot at. As of right now, we have no idea who did it. We couldn't get a glimpse of the shooters."


Eve rose a quizzical brow. "Let me see the tape." She instructed. Frank nodded. Within seconds, footage of the incident was projected onto the center screen. The serene image of the bots played for a few moments before the scene was interrupted by a flurry of bullets. As quickly as it began, the assault ceased, the bots destroyed in the attack. Eve pursed her lips as she analyzed each detail of the tape, unable to glean anything else of note. Curiously, the delinquents never crossed the camera's line of vision. Though the camera captured glimpses of a boot or the tip of a gun, the shooters' faces seemed to be just out of the camera's reach. It was as if they were purposely teasing whoever was watching on the other side. "President Pacecco wanted to know if this is an area of concern. Was this an isolated incident?"


"Uhh..." Frank stuttered, frantically scrolling through his tablet. After a moment, he found what he was looking for and answered, "Looks like this was the second security breech this month. The other was minor, just a few deviants messing with a guard bot. We'll be, uh, definitely be increasing security measures out there, anyway. We replaced the broken bots n' we'll send out more first thing."


Eve nodded, leaning forward towards the screen as the footage replayed itself. "Good. Increasing security measures will certainly help." But perhaps, Eve thought, the root of the issue lay on the inside. Increasing security measures would merely discourage them. They needed to address the heart of the issue, to rid Tranquility of the deadly infection called defiance. Loyal citizens would have no reason to rebel against their city, she reasoned. The solution, then, would be to increase the loyalty of the Tranquility residents by force-feeding them more of the propagandistic material that kept them docile. Luckily, she knew just who to speak with about that. "I have my ideas as to how to deal with this, but keep me updated on the security advancements, will you? And let me know the moment you find out anything about the attackers. Keep in touch." With that, Eve turned on her heel and was escorted out of the building by the secretary. As she walked, Eve typed out a message on her tablet:

"Ms. Sebastian,


A recent security incident has raised some concern. I believe this incident merits some improvements in the propaganda being delivered to outer sectors. I'd like to meet with you to discuss this. Can I expect to see you in my office first thing tomorrow morning?

Eve Salem


Special Assistant to the President"



​

@whitefoxkiller

 

[Skeleton]

Keanu Forrester


location: dorms at elim university
​

The alarms had finally stopped ringing. The commotion was dying down, and it was time to find a place for the night. Keanu had eventually made his way to the residential areas, after time spent hiding in the infirmary. A kind Spark at Elim University had helped him get situated with a room in one of the dorms. Keanu had stepped inside the space, standing in the middle of it. It was small, a bedroom with an attached bathroom and mini-kitchen. There was a bed, a desk, a table, and a dresser. For the first time ever, though, he felt like he had something that was truly his. He couldn't wait to truly personalize it. This was his space.


Keanu sank into the bed. It was covered in a basic black blanket. He wondered if there was a place where he could work, and then buy a new one? Maybe something green. Dark green. He was beginning to think that might be his favorite color. There were a lot of questions on his mind.


He took off his shoes one by one and laid back on the mattress as he replayed the events of the day. He thought about the life in Tranquility that he left behind. Maybe he would see his family again someday. He hoped that the Spark would be successful in their resistance. Things seemed very efficient here in their territory. He was surprised at what a true city it was. Beyond the structure of the city, was the life that filled it. Even now, he could hear the voices and laughter from people outside his door. People were happy, sad, angry. They were able to feel things. He was savoring each new emotion, like a candy melting on his tongue.


His mind moved to that first feeling of rapture when he took the Pill. He thought of the woman who had fainted, unable to handle all of the emotions. He thought of the auburn haired woman called Veda who had spoken to him right after Kais had taught him what fear felt like. His gut clenched at that memory. When the fear had ebbed away, all that was left was dislike. He wasn't scared anymore. Just angry and embarrassed. Then, he allowed himself to think about Solara.


Maybe it was the fact that she saved his life by getting him out of Tranquility. She had even gotten shot getting them out of Tranquility, and he would forever feel indebted to her. Or maybe it was the way she treated everyone with such a warmth and friendliness. She talked to people in a way that made them feel heard and important, as if she had known them for years. He had observed this in the way she talked to him and Veda after the incident. Or maybe it was just that he thought she was pretty. Whatever it was, she kept popping up in his mind. He hoped, despite the threats from Kais, that he would see her again.


Keanu pulled the dark covers over him, trying to figure out what his new life would look like. In the morning he would go back to the infirmary to tell the head doctor os his training, and he would put his skills to use. Maybe he would have time to venture into the forest and learn more about the plants too. A flare of excitement rose in him as he realized that he now had the room to learn about herbs and natural medicines. As he laid in the bed that now belonged to him, he continued to think about all the things he hoped to do. Sleep would come easily tonight.

 

[Cruor Flumine]

Doctor Marcus H. Glass


Keys Towers- Infirmary


Marcus damn near shot the two that walked through the door. With a heavy sigh, he holstered the massive pistol and took the gurney. He turned to Nurse Lucy and Rose. "Rose, come with me please, I'll need a hand. Lucy, please administer first aid to the injured." He barked out the commands quickly, there was a patient before him after all. He would need to be quick in his work. Sadly, Doctor Davenport has vanished mysteriously and he had no professional doctor to assist him. From what he understood, Rose was a chemist. She may be able to assist him during operation, she may not. Marcus turned to the man who helped the injured. "Do you have any medical experience?" He asked. Rose may be of help, but more hands would be useful in helping the soldier.


@Blhow @DrakeAlistair

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

Things moved quickly, as was to be expected when a horde of injured came pouring into an infirmary. Kais stood for a moment, watching as the doctor barked commands and his nurse hastened to obey. He wondered if they were going to need help--there were rather a lot of injured people, and only one doctor with his nurse. There was one other woman there, Kais glanced at her and thought he recognized her, but it took a moment to place her face. She had been among those who came to the Ruins with Sola the previous night; she had been unconscious at the time. Was she a doctor, as well? Or just hiding out in the infirmary during the raid?

Kais didn't have long to wonder before the doctor asked about his training. Kais nodded, face blank, and cast his eyes over the people gathered in the room. All of them had medical training--it was required for any combat personnel to know at least basic first aid. Among the injured, there were a handful of healthy soldiers, including Isale, who had helped the injured make it into the infirmary. The uninjured could help those who were worse off, and the lightly injured would likely be able to take care of themselves. That would at least reduce the strain on their slim medical staff.


"We all have. Given access to your medical supplies, the soldiers and scouts who aren't badly hurt can help." Kais glanced at Isale, who nodded her agreement. He gave her a curt nod--no words needed, but it was an order anyway.


"Alright, you know the drill. If you're not hurt, help your mates. If you can help yourself, do it. Every treatment gets assessed by the doctor or the nurse, no exceptions!" Isale announced in a strong voice; a flurry of motion greeted her words as the soldiers and scouts who were able jumped to obey. She, herself, went to help the injured, leaving Kais and Rose to help the doctor.


Kais stood by mutely, waiting for instructions. There were more things to do--more things to check off his mental list before all the loose ends were tied up--but this was more important. Shasta would never forgive him for not putting the injured first, and if this man died because Kais crossed the injured off his list before helping... he didn't even want to imagine Shasta's reaction.

@Cruor Flumine

 

[whitefoxkiller]

Ava Sebastian

​

Ava was heartened by what he said. It was obvious he took her seriously, despite her obvious lack of experience in outdoors covert meetings like this. He had to go back and discuss it with his peers, of course. She was expecting that. She could imagine him going back home to some hole in the ground and trying to convinced them that her offer wasn’t as shady as it sounded. Still, Ava got positive body language from Shasta despite his guarded features.


She was surprised at the pin he gave her. She was confused as to the meaning of it, but she could tell it was a good sign. She tilted her head slightly, “Thank you,” walked to her bag and slowly pulled out her datapad. “Here’s the datapad. It has a PIN but the number is 2510,” she explained, opening it herself with the number so Shasta would know it wasn’t programmed to blow up when he put in the code or anything like that. “You have to get the number right or the hard drive will short circuit and the data will be destroyed. It’s a safeguard if I ever lost it or something,” Ava handed the pad to him, “2510,” she repeated.


Ava smiled wide at him and held out her hand for a handshake. She wasn’t sure he’d take it but she held it out just the same. She felt good. This was her first step in making some real allies so she could make real change happen. Her memory of sneaking off when she was eleven flashed into her mind. This is what she’d been imagining since she first compared her gilded friends to the poor ghosts drifting through the streets of the Stone District. The hair on her arm stood up strait thinking about it and she hoped Shasta wouldn’t notice. “Next time we meet maybe I’ll be able to acquire some reasonable clothes for trudging through the woods,” she let the mood lighten.

 

[RZA]

Veda Creed | Location: Grand Oak Hotel


Veda listened to Sola’s earnest testimony. There was a hesitancy in her voice that Veda rarely heard, and she wondered what it meant. She listened carefully, absorbing all her words and dissecting their meaning.They reached the third floor with Solara still answering her questions, and Veda didn’t notice the door in front of her when she finished; her mind was stuck on something she had said.


“Naturally?!” Veda spat out, completely nonplussed. “Tranquility has always said natural fertilization was far too inefficacious because of the impact biological warfare had on our generational genetics!”


She was aware Tranquility leaders had brainwashed her and her entire society, but she was only just realizing how far that brainwash went. Her brows furrowed deeply as the red hot welled in the bottom of her gut. How dare they, Veda thought savagely, a new feeling she had never experienced rising up out of the ashes of her soul. She thought of all the Tranquility citizens who lived in the walled Diamond sector, living Patchless and free while the masses slaved underneath them, unaware of all life had to offer. May they choke on all their luxuries.


A few, thought-clearing deep breaths eased the red hot, and she was able to gather her bearings and reply to Sola’s other answers. She didn’t know what it meant to love, at least not the kind of love she was referring to. Were there multiple types of love? Veda loved her parents, or at least she thought she did — but how could she be sure if she didn’t know what love was?


“It still doesn’t make much sense Sola,” Veda said with a sigh. “Shouldn’t you base a decision on fact not on how you feel?”


She thought about what Solara said about caring for someone so much you wouldn’t know what to do without them and caring about another’s well being more than your own.


“What happens when marriages fail? I’ve never seen one not work out.” Veda asked while putting a hand to her forehead where she felt a headache forming. “Does this love you’re talking about happen to everyone?”

 

[Bhlow]

Rosemarie (Rose) Hayward

Rosemarie refrained from answering him after he gave her an explanation of how to use the gun, instead she kept the gun in the waistband of her pants and considered his words. Killing someone to her was still killing someone albeit in self defence or out of human emotions.


"Just breathe. We'll get out of this fine." She frowned at his words, he didn't know if that was true and yet he seemed to already guarantee it, it was a horrible thing to instil false hope. Worse yet with the body contact, which forced Rose to shrug the hand off and move away, uncomfortable - so everyone in the Spark didn't respect personal space. She was about to release a quippy remark but was stopped when his words were proven true and the alarm stopped ringing. She breathed a loud sigh of relief however the peace didn't last very long as a person with what looked like a bullet wound walked in, and after that others followed. "Ophelia, I need you to go upstairs - now, and don't come down until I get you, you shouldn't be seeing this". The girl looked as if she was about to protest but she stopped at the look Rose gave her, and with a final unsatisfied look she trudged upstairs.


"Rose, come with me please, I'll need a hand". She blinked at the words, wondering how the doctor knew her name, she didn't remember telling him but she followed him nonetheless, working on ignoring the stench of blood that invaded her nostrils and made her feel sick. She had so much theory in the medical sphere, and it had never affected her but now she felt her legs turn to jelly and al she wanted was to run away from this scene.


But as she forced herself to look onto the injured, she forced herself to see past the blood and gore, turn off her emotions that constantly boiled and simmered within her and focus on the job at hand, these people needed help, for some of them their life depended on it and there was no time to be squeamish of blood. "I have extensive medical training, it was simply not a field I specialised in", she replied quickly, grabbing a wet towel and washing away the blood from the wounds of the man who has literally been dragged in, but the blood kept coming. Instead she pressed the towel against his main wound - applying as much pressure as she could manage before she spoke again. "Do you have any saline solution?" Rose asked, casting her calculating eyes around the room, it would be impossible to work in an area where she didn't know where anything was.

 

[Ashmorne]

S H A S T A || F E I V E L


spark alpha





Shasta watched carefully as Ava opened the datapad, his eyes scanning the interior as she showed him that it was safe. This datapad was different from the other, in that it didn't have screws. Instead, it was easily dismantled. When he took it from her, he opened it once again. No tracking devices, no extra hardware. It was just a simple device programmed to hold a message...or in this case, a schedule. Shasta was eager to get back to The Ruins, to consult with the others about this new opportunity.


Tucking the datapad into his vest pocket, he glanced up to look at Ava again. She was wearing a wide grin on her face, as if she was rather excited. Maybe she was. Shasta returned the smile, shaking her hand. When she talked about getting better clothes, he couldn't help but chuckle. They were rather impractical.


"Yes, that might be for the best," He replied as he let go of her hand and took a step back. "Thank you, Ava Sebastian,"


He inclined his head and chose not to give her any more information. They would talk again soon, and then he would be more open. For now, he could only convey his thanks. If Ava was what she said she was, they would find a powerful ally in her.





"I'll see you soon," he added, a quiet smile on his face as he turned to go. As he receded, he let out a slow whistle so that Roux would know that it was time to move on. They would meet Damien and Ryder on the way back home.


S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Sola considered what was said as she unlocked the door to the room and went inside, motioning for Veda to follow her. It was a room similar to her own...a studio with a bed, desk, table, kitchen, bathroom. Hearing about how much PaxCor had taken from the Tranquil made Solara feel sick to her stomach. How did those within The Diamond live with themselves, knowing that they were denying people of their basic human rights?





"No...natural conception is still very much effective. I'm here, aren't I? Many of us were born right here in The Ruins. I'm so sorry for how much they lied to you. It's despicable," Sola responded, shaking her head. "If marriages fail, then people split apart. They're no longer lovers anymore. The love that I explained doesn't happen to everyone. But I believe that everyone experiences love in some form, or has the capacity to. Emotions aren't black and white. I'm sure that you're recognizing that already. Sometimes it is good to decide based on fact. But sometimes all you can really rely on is how you feel. I can't fully explain it; you've got to experience it. As you continue to live here and discover new emotions, you'll understand more of what I'm saying. It's frustrating, but it will take time,"


Sola glanced at Veda, seeing the tiredness on the woman's face. She had a hand pressed to her forehead. The best thing for both of them now would probably be getting some rest. Answering more questions would probably just further add to the confusion and stress.


"We can talk more tomorrow. I'll come by here in the morning on my way to the dining hall. We can go together, and I'll answer any more questions you have. We can also figure out what your role here will be," Sola stopped to gesture around the room. "This room is kept ready just in case. It's yours now. There's a first aid kit in the dresser by the bed. Inside are white tablets that will help if you have a headache or feel sick. The dresser also has a couple clean sets of clothes. Just basic things. There are towels in the bathroom, along with some soap and other hygiene products. We can go to the Market Square tomorrow to get you anything else you may need or want. For now, I think we could both use some rest,"





The day had been long, and what Sola needed was a shower and a hot cup of tea. Part of her considered going to sleep, but she wanted to stay up as long as she could in order to wait for Shasta's return. As she turned to go, she glanced back at Veda. Her eyes skimmed the other woman's tear-stained and bloodied face. She was sure her own face looked very similar. The two of them had a burden to carry together now.





"My room is directly to the left. You can come find me if you need anything. Will you be alright for the night?"

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

Kais fixed sharp eyes on the woman as she came forward, efficiently taking control of the wounded soldier. So, not a doctor, but medically trained, she said. At the very least, she seemed to know what to do with a serious injury better than Kais every would; he was trained in basic first air and could get himself or his partner patched up well enough to get them back to the Ruins in most cases, but some things were just beyond him. This was definitely one of those things. When she asked for saline solution, Kais made a move around the injured man, to stand on the same side of the cot as her. While he had no medical training, he

did know where things were in the infirmary--he had helped himself to fresh supplies often enough.


"Common supplies are here." He opened the cupboard next to her, revealing neatly organized shelves of supplies within arms reach. If she wanted anything more exotic they he wasn't going to be any help. Saline was just below eye level for him; he grabbed a bottle and passed it to her. Whoever she had been before last night, she seemed an efficient sort of person, now, and Kais appreciated that. What they needed more than anything else at that moment was efficiency. Between her and the doctor, they seemed to have the situation well enough in hand for the moment, so he turned to making sure that the others were getting the care they needed.


Most soldiers and scouts were efficiently managing on their own, either bandaging their own wounds or helping those too hurt to help themselves. Kais moved from cot to cot, delivering supplies as needed, or stopping to help. Isale flagged him down after a moment, however.


"What about the others, Kais--sir? Leave them, or...?" She sounded like she didn't like the idea of leaving the fallen where they lay.


Kais looked around the infirmary before responding. The situation was well enough under control that he felt justified in thinking about the dead, now. The question was what to do with them. They wouldn't be buried at least until the morning, and there was no space in the infirmary--besides, the injured didn't need reminding. It was cool enough out that they likely wouldn't start to smell until past the morning, but if there was somewhere cooler and drier, the process could be delayed longer... the basement was likely the best bet for that--though perhaps it seemed odd to store dead bodies and military supplies in the same place. Regardless, it was a matter of practicality.


"No. We'll put them in the basement until morning," Kais said. He grabbed a spare blanket off the nearest cot and motioned for Isale to lead on.


Isale led the way out of the infirmary and Kais made to follow her. He paused to look back at the doctor and the new recruit, "The others are all trained in basic first aid; they can help if you need them."


And with that he turned and followed Isale out.


It was slow work, and the four fallen Sparks were spread out more than would have been preferred, but with Isale's help Kais got all four of them into the basement. They fell into a routine after the first; lay out the blanket, roll the body onto it, and haul it to the basement with the makeshift stretcher. It was a right sight easier than carrying a dead body by himself--Kais had only tried to carry someone who was not conscious a few times before. None of those times had it been a pleasant or efficient experience. Bodies were heavy and awkwardly shaped--dead weight was intrinsically more difficult to carry because conscious people unconsciously shift their weight to make themselves easier to support. The stretcher was awkward, but not nearly as awkward as it would have been without.


When all four bodies were laid out, Isale covered the first with the blanket they had been using as a stretcher and stood looking over them, tears in her eyes. Kais felt nothing in particular, except the small sense of satisfaction from having completed the next task on his list. He turned back toward the stairs, his mind turning back to Sola and that look he had seen on her face at the Grand Oak--that empty, haunted look. There were still things to be done but this was more important; had Shasta been there, he would likely have agreed.


Isale looked askance at him, but said nothing as he climbed the stairs. If she expected him to feel some smidgen of empathy towards those they had lost she was at least wise enough not to voice it.


As he crossed back toward the Grand Oak, he began the process of packing the professional back away. It took longer than the last time and when he reached Sola's door, his eyes were still glassy. He knocked twice and waited for a response. There was none. He was feeling enough to be somewhat concerned at that; his hand moved for his pocket and he pulled out a pair of keys. One opened his room at the Oaks, the other opened Sola's. The key slid in and the lock clicked back; Kais opened the door and entered. From inside, he could hear the shower running and his concern eased somewhat. She had been covered in someone else's blood, after all.


Not content merely to sit and wait, Kais instead set about making tea; he poured two steaming mugs full and set them on the table before folding himself into a chair to wait for her.

 

[Ashmorne]

S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





"You'll be the first to hear my screams if I have any nightmares..."


Veda had faltered after saying that, the words that had meant to be a joke actually holding truth. Sola raised her eyebrows and touched Veda's shoulder.





"Well, I'll be here in a second if I hear screaming. Just promise me you'll do the same," Sola said the words lightly, almost sardonically. She was hoping to ease Veda's spirits at least a little bit. Dropping her hand, Sola gave a small wave as she left the room. "I'm right over there if you need me,"


With that, she was gone. As soon as she closed the door behind her, that empty cavernous feeling began to expand within her once again. As she stood by herself in the hall, she pressed a hand against her chest and took a shaky breath. Talking with Veda had taken her mind off of what had occurred. Now that she was by herself, nothing was stopping her from replaying the evening's events in her head. The boy's broken voice repeated over and over in her head as she unlocked the door to her room.





Henry?


Sola walked in, shutting the door. The ache in her chest was so strong, that she was beginning to detect an absence of anything except that singular feeling. It was like couldn't separate herself from the pain. All she could do was push herself through the task of getting cleaned up. She went to her dresser and extracted a loose pair of loose sage linen pants and a sleeveless black cropped tank top.


She moved to the bathroom, and shut the door with a soft click. After hanging the fresh clothes, she paused to look at her reflection. She took off the beat up baseball hat, the vest, the hoodie. Underneath all of it was a desolate looking girl in a worn out tank top, not a murderer. She didn't want to be a murderer. Yet, there was someone else's blood coating her skin. It was in her hair, on her face, on her neck. As she looked at her reflection, she didn't recognize herself. There was a certain despondency in her eyes that hadn't been their earlier. This wasn't the Solara that she knew.





Henry, get up! Henry, get up! Henry, get up!


Those three words played continuously in her mind, a record skipping. She ran the hot water. As steam began to fill the room, she felt tears running down her face again. They came without warning or noise, leaking from her eyes. Those tears weren't going to stop her from getting the blood off of her body. As she shed the last of her garments, she winced at her bandaged side. She peeled back the gauze to reveal a little bit of new blood, but mostly just scabbing. It would be good to let it breathe for a while.


Sola stepped into the shower, allowing the hot water to take away some of the dirt. She then began scrubbing furiously at the blood. If it remained on her body any longer, Sola was certain it would burn away her skin somehow. She needed it off.





Henry, get up!


Tears mingled with the water from the shower as Sola washed away the physical evidence of her actions. She kept crying as she cleaned her hair and skin. Every now and then, a strained sob would escape her throat. Eventually, there was nothing left to wash off. Henry's blood was gone, but his ghost remained.


Sola stepped out of the shower, the tears ceasing momentarily. She dried off, anxiously dabbing at blood that wasn't there. She tossed the towel in a hamper and changed into the fresh clothes, her cropped tank allowing the wound to air out. After she toweled off her hair, she ran a brush through it and let it fall lightly against her face. In the mirror now was a slightly more recognizable Solara, if only because she was clean. Her eyes hadn't changed. She shook her head and pressed her palms against her face, taking another deep breath before dropping her hands and exiting the bathroom.


A small jolt of surprise went through her as she saw Kais sitting at her table with two mugs of something hot, probably tea. He had let himself in while she was in the shower. She felt some comfort at not being alone, but the shattered feeling within her remained.


"How long have you been here?" she asked, though not really expecting much of an answer.


Sola blinked and moved across the room to pick up the mug of tea meant for her. She nodded her thanks and walked to her bed, propping a pillow up. Stepping over the covers and sitting down at the far corner of her bed where the walls met, she rested her back against the wall and stretched her legs out. There was no way she was sitting on an uncomfortable wooden dining chair right now. She held the mug tightly in her lap as she looked back up at Kais. The words that she wanted to tell him about that evening wouldn't come out. It was like speaking them would make it even more real, and Henry's ghost would materialize from the nothingness. She chewed her lip, trying to ignore the sharp stabs of grief in her heart.


"Are you alright? How is everyone after the attack?"


If she couldn't bring herself to tell him what happened just yet, at the very least she could ask about how the attack had gone for her fellow Sparks.

 

[RZA]

Veda Creed | Location: Grand Oak Hotel


Sola was gone but their conversation was still running through her mind. There was so much to learn, so much to experience here in the Spark that she didn’t know where to begin. There was a sharp, throbbing pain like someone was jabbing a knife into her right temple repeatedly. Veda stood up from her dining table and made her way to the dresser Sola mentioned earlier. She grabbed it and made her way to the kitchen, filling a small cup with water from the faucet. Veda swallowed two of the white tablets, downed the rest of the water and refilled it. She finished that second one just as quick. Filling the cup up for the third time, Veda knew she need to slow down or else she’d make herself sick.


She walked around her studio, sipping on the ambrosia, feeling it rejuvenate her body. It was smaller than her old place, but it felt more like home than that Tranquility apartment ever did. There was a bed with a thick, black comforter and two thin pillows. She’d do anything to just lay down right then and there but the scent of blood in her nose would only encourage the nightmares already forming in her subconscious. It was hard, but she tore her gaze from the bed and checked out her new kitchen. Though the kitchen was small, everything you could ever need was there. A refrigerator, albeit a small one, an electric stove, and even a pantry. She felt betrayed by her own body when her stomach growled, despite not having an appetite whatsoever. She opened the pantry and fridge, but thankfully there was no food in sight.


Veda left her small kitchen and went to look out the window that was parallel with her bed. The sight was incredible, and a small smile played on her lips. The ambiance of Spark Territory warmed her aching soul, if only just a little. Here, at least life was lived the way it was originally intended. From her third floor studio she could see small figures walking in and out of the flickering glow of the Oak’s exterior lighting. But that wasn’t all; pinpricks of light could be found here and there all throughout the city. Tranquility shielded themselves from the darkness, but the Spark embraced it.


The tablets seemed to be working and she finished the rest of her tour by guzzling the rest of her water and making haste to the bathroom. Like the rest of the studio, it was small but entirely sufficient. There was even a packaged toothbrush that came equipped with it’s own paste. An ounce of delight surged through her, knowing that she was about to bathe away the turmoil of today. Studying the shower dials, Veda made quick work of it and made the water as hot as it would go. Grabbing the body soap, a washrag, and what she could only imagine was hair wash, Veda placed them in the shower before undressing.


Her clothes stuck to her like a second skin, and she had to literally rip them off. She could feel the blood tear off a layer or two of her skin. When she was completely nude, she walked back through the heart of her studio and laid the horror-filled clothes right next to her door. Veda made a mental note to ask Solara if there was any possible way she could watch them burn. As she made her way back to the bathroom, she noticed the room key Sola left for her. It was on the desk she had walked past to get to the window. She picked it up slowly, thankful that she was here in the Oak instead of in one of the dorms. She laid it back down and made her way back to the bathroom, where the allure of running water was almost too much to handle.


She grabbed a towel from underneath the sink and hung it on the rack next to the shower curtain before she stepped in. The first splash of water was scalding, the next: ecstasy. Steam soared through the air and she was glad she hadn’t closed the bathroom door. Veda grabbed the washrag, lathered it up and scrubbed until both her hands were numb. The blood flowed off her in waves and she tried her hardest not to gag. But it was no use, she could feel the dry heaves coming. She knelt until they eased up, then continued scrubbing. Her skin was dark pink and raw but she still felt dirty.


A dark, treacherous voice entered her mind that sent chills up and down her spine. The dirt in your veins run soul deep my darling, you can’t just wash away that kind of stain. The voice left as soon as it came, leaving behind a tenebrous peal of laughter that was worse than the warning she'd received.


Tears mingled with the scorching water, and Veda went through the rest of her bathing as though she were in a trance. She wasn’t sure how long she had been in the shower, but satisfied with her cleanliness and her pruny fingers Veda turned off the water, grabbed the towel and dried herself off. Wrapping her hair in the towel, Veda stepped in front of the sink, thankful that the mirror was all fogged up. She was scared of falling into her own hollowed eyes. She grabbed the packaged toothbrush, ripped it open, and scolded herself for the joke she tried to make as Sola was leaving. Nightmares were nothing to joke about — and with the day she had, Veda was sure she had jinxed herself.


She brushed her teeth with her mind going back over what Solara had said. Besides the rare occurrence of young widows, Tranquility citizens never had more than one… lover. Even the words Sola used were foreign-sounding in her mind. The teacher in her found it frustrating but her curiosity savored it. When she finished, she surveyed the bathroom once more before clicking the light off. Veda followed suit throughout her entire studio. She climbed into bed without getting dressed, hair still wet and wrapped in the towel, and surprisingly, fell asleep almost at once. Her last coherent thought was that of Solara and the promise she made to her.

 

[DrakeAlistair]

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​

After a few moments Kais heard the water shut off and Sola emerged shortly after. A look of surprise crossed her features briefly, then something like relief, before they faded back into that haunted look he had seen before in her eyes. She looked harrowed, dispirited, and Kais studied her carefully with concern building in his features. Something had happened since the last time they had met, something that had changed her for the worse. What it could have been, Kais couldn't guess. Sola had been in battles before--they were rare, and it seemed to always be hard on her when she was forced to take a life--but he had never seen her like this before. How had she gotten all that blood on her, if she wasn't injured?

His eyes flicked down to her exposed waist; the had removed the bandage and the bullet wound from yesterday was clearly visible. It didn’t look great, but it didn’t look bad, either—it certainly hadn’t been the cause of all that blood. He suspected she intended to leave it unwrapped for the night, otherwise she would have gone for the first aid kit, or asked for his help. Or maybe she wouldn’t have; she was decidedly distracted.


“Long enough to make tea,” Kais said vaguely. In truth he hadn’t been there much longer than that; he’d hardly had a single drink of his own tea before she came out.


He watched her move across the room and take a seat on her bed. When she spoke again he was rather surprised by the question. Something terrible had happened to her, and she wanted to talk about the others? One of his eyebrows twitched upward, an unspoken question. If pretending like bringing news of the others was what he had come for would make her feel better, then he was happy to do it, and yet....


His sharp eyes studied her openly and the confusion on his face transformed into thoughtfulness. He was obviously fine. She cared about the others, but she didn't want to talk about that; she was talking to fill space, talking to forget. People did that sometimes, he noticed--Kais had never tried it, so he couldn't say for sure if it worked. He suspected, however, that this avoidance wasn't going to get them anywhere. Something was haunting her, hurting her, and he wanted to fix it. He picked up his cup of tea and crossed to her bed, taking a seat on the edge of it and ignoring her second question.


For a moment he merely sat in silence, looking at his tea instead of at her. When he looked up at her his eyes were bright with concern.


"What happened?"