oo5 » audio

[gevurah]

[ PRIVATE to LILY ]

Hey, I got you the scarf while I was away.


[ PRIVATE to ELLIE & DICK ]

[ The messages are sent to their tablets separately: ]

Got you something.


[ Her voice, while somewhat tired, is leveled as she speaks. ]

For the time being, the clinic should be stocked with some personal hygienic products anyone might have been wondering about. There's shampoos, soaps, sanitary napkins, and pads and tampons for the ladies. There's also patches for smokers. Anything else you're looking for, like medicine or bandages, you'll have to check with someone at the clinic.

Anyway, I asked the AI the decrypt a couple of drives belonging to the UE. There were various analytical notes specializing in robotics, specifically robotic spacecraft — rovers. For those unfamiliar: a rover is a vehicle used in space explorations. Depending on the design, they can either be partially or completely operated on their own, or they can transport crews.

There's a couple of bad ideas that come to mind knowing this information: one being they may have plans to come up here eventually and if they aren't fully aware how many of us are here, they'll find out.

Research also indicated "interdimensional colonization". We've been well aware for a while they're able to access portals into other worlds.

The drives also contained some notes on Project Chimera and talks of previous genetic projects the UE's researched. I'll forward anyone who wants a copy of these notes to look over.

[ For those who ask and receive: here. ]

Has anyone begun to compile the information we have together to make it more streamlined? I imagine the AI can likely do it if you ask.

Comments

action

[small_berserker]

[Lily notices those dark circles, and they worry her, though she doesn't comment on them just yet. It would be rude, when Kate took the time to bring her a gift.]

The colour is beautiful...and it feels soft. Thank you. I love it!

action

[gevurah]

You're welcome.

Try it on.

[ It's a one size fit all scarf, so it might be a bit long, but it means she can double wrap it so her neck is warm and cozy. ]

action

[small_berserker]

[Lily tries wrapping it around in a few different ways until she finally settles on a way of tying it that she likes - it keeps her neck cozy and above all, it conceals that metal collar of hers.]

How does it look?

action

[gevurah]

[ She gives her an approving thumbs up. ]

Looks good, Lily.

If you ever need to wash it, let me know. Cashmere is delicate, so it's better to do it by hand.

[small_berserker]

What if I wash it in the sink and then hang it to dry? Would that be all right?

[She really doesn't want to be an inconvenience over something as simple as properly washing a scarf. Lily reasons it's something she should learn how to do herself. It can't be that hard.]

[gevurah]

As long as you don't use fabric softeners or bleach. I'll show you the first time how to do it.

You actually need to lay it out rather than hang it for it to dry. It stretches the fabric if you hang it.

[small_berserker]

Oooh. Well, I don't want to ruin it by doing it wrong. It's a very nice scarf.

[And a present. It's one of the only presents she's ever received in her life.]

[gevurah]

[ A light chuckle. ]

The next time I get more time I can try to grab some more if I'm near stores. Just in case.

[ Cashmere is so delicate, it wouldn't surprise her if it got ruined so soon from all the danger they find themselves in. ]

[small_berserker]

Okay. I'll make sure not to train while I'm wearing it so it won't get damaged that way.

[She can't really make any guarantees about what would happen if they're attacked, but she can at least make an effort to take care of the scarf.]

[gevurah]

You've been training?

[ Concern filters through her voice. ]

[small_berserker]

[Lily nods.]

It...it feels weird not doing any training, so I've been using the simulation room. And I want to fight so I can protect my friends and people who can't protect themselves.

[It feels like a waste, not using what she knows. It also feels like there's a point to everything she went through, if she can protect people in the end.]

[gevurah]

Protecting others doesn't have to mean actually fighting.

[ She understands a lot of the kids here are used to it, but there are plenty who aren't and others who clearly aren't fit for it. Lily is not either of those, but from what she's told Kate she's had enough training for a lifetime.

Despite the collar and everything else, she sees a child before her. ]

There are lots of kids here you can be friends with.

[ And just be a kid with, if it's not too late for her. ]

[small_berserker]

I know, but it's my choice to fight. It makes it feel like there was a good reason for all of my training instead of...

[She goes quiet as the words "Kill each other. I will love the last remaining child" echo through her head. Lily shakes her head and tries not to dwell on it.]

Instead of it just being for some vague war that I didn't understand.

[She pauses.]

The friends I'm making here are why I want to fight. So they won't have to.

[gevurah]

[ She kneels down to level with Lily instead of tower above her. She can be the authority figure when she needs to be, but Lily's probably had enough of that. She doesn't want to scare her, even if she's attempted to scare Dick and Collette out of it. Lily's different; it worries her more than she expected it to.

She puts her hands on either side of her small shoulders. ]

Some of the kids in a village in Africa [ thank you comics for once again not specifying a place in Africa ] I did some relief aid in said similar things.

Are you sure it's your choice and not someone else who's convinced you?

[small_berserker]

[Lily nods without hesitation.]

I'm sure. Anyone here that's trying to convince me of anything is trying to convince me not to fight. But...I can't just not fight and find some other way to help instead. I have this training and a body that heals almost instantly.

[More importantly, though, she's managing to hold onto at least a thread of control rather than losing herself entirely and blacking out when she fights. That's reinforced that this is something she should be doing now.]

[gevurah]

[ They've come from different worlds and walked different paths, and yet in the most disturbing fashion, Kate can sort of relate to Lily. ]

Then I need you to promise me something.

[small_berserker]

[Lily blinks. A promise?]

Promise you what? I can't promise that I won't fight, because that would be a lie and I don't want to lie to you, Kate.

[gevurah]

[ She can't help a slight, earnest smile. ]

That's good, because it means you'll keep your integrity.

[ She pauses. ]

Promise me if you feel in over your head, you'll protect yourself, too.

[small_berserker]

[Oh. That brings a little blush to Lily's cheeks. She's not used to people showing real concern over her safety. She's more accustomed to having a few people show concern if she was upset. It's easy to get casual about injuries when they're a daily occurence and heal so quickly.]

I promise. I...kind of do that instinctively, actually.

[Although it's not in the best way.]

If I get scared, everything goes black and then when I'm back to normal again, I'm okay...

[The same could not be said for whatever was attacking her.]

[gevurah]

You black out?

[ That doesn't sound too good to Kate. ]

[small_berserker]

I used to...it hasn't been happening here, though.

[It's one of many reasons Lily wants to stay rather than be sent home.]

I don't remember fighting that werewolf very well, but I remember that I did...and that I knew to hold back a little.

[Something that she knows she never did during her blackouts. Whenever she came to, everything was blood red.]

I think it might be that "sentience" the Initiative talked about.

[gevurah]

You got attacked by those kids?

[ She knows it's not their fault; being on the moon nearly screwed them over. But she wonders how Lily held her own against any of them.

Which begs the question: just how strong is Lily? ]

The weapon.

[ She nods. ]

Can I ask what you chose?

[small_berserker]

[Lily nods her head and tries to recall as much as she can from those blurry memories.]

I got attacked by one of them. I don't remember much about it, but I remember he ran away after I fought him for a bit.

[Subconsciously, she rests one of her hands on the other arm, letting that arm hang down loosely.]

I picked my healing as my weapon. I thought the best weapon of all would be if I was almost impossible to kill.

[gevurah]

[ That's surprisingly clever of her. ]

Were you okay?

[ She extends a hand toward her head to push back her hair if she'll let her, almost expecting to see bruises. ]

You're a smart girl, Lily.

[small_berserker]

[ Lily flinches from the prospect of having her neck touched and takes a step away. Then she reminds herself that Kate is kind and safe . Reluctantly, Lily lifts away her hair from the back of her neck to reveal the base of her collar, implanted right into her spine. There are no cuts or bruises in sight.]

I was fine. I never stay hurt. I could have my arm torn off and I'd still heal and regrow it.