Last hope: One on one

First topic message reminder :

Would anyone care to join me in a one on one? I’m a little rusty, mind you, or else I would have made this into a group somehow. Ah well, baby steps. If anything needs to be explained in greater detail, simply ask!


The year is 4013, and the world has changed. People are different, now more than ever. Race and gender do not matter…only species, and point of view. Humans aren’t the only thing out there anymore. A new species populates the Earth now, and Humans do not like it. Magic, technology, strength, stealth and intelligence are all factors in the new battle. The battle for Earth.
The leaders of the world gathered in 2792 when new life began to contact earth. They came, in ships and with new technology and wisdom, and for a while the Humans were simply curious. However, seventeen years ago things grew out of hand, motives were formed and people died. A war was announced, on every being that was not Human. “Overpopulation,” said the leaders of the world, “Earth could no longer hold so many beings.” But this was not the case. The Humans grew jealous of the other species and their abilities, and decided it was best to be rid of them, or most of them. The Humans did not account for the beings to rise up, and a war began.
Now, the war is over. The armies returned. Humans are the main species of Earth. The beings are still around, yes, of course there was not a genocide. However, with the war over…the battle still rages on. No bombs, no armies this time. Two people, opposites with the same intentions hold the fate of Earth in their hands.

You work for a secret organization, called RDTech. Specialists in Researching and Disposal technology. Research and disposal of what, you may ask? Tamerans. Genetic testing has not stopped since the war ended, and after the testing…no survivors were found. You are the head of the disposal department, looking over all of the…patients…that have ended their tests. You dispose of the bodies, no questions asked. Until now. More Tamerans are being tested on now, more than ever. At this rate, the species won’t survive. Without you. For the past year you have been smuggling patients out of the tests, putting them into hiding and saving hundreds of lives.
One man stands in your way. Robert Greene, developer of RDTech, millionaire and murderer. He now knows you’re the one saving the Tamerans, and he plans to put a stop to your little game as quickly as possible. Which means the battle has begun. You plan to go to the one place that is safe these days. The Hall. It’s a place for Tamerans, the small government that they have. A peace treaty was formed after the war, bonding Humans to no longer cause harm to the Tamerans. The last thing you need is evidence.

That’s where I come in. I was born when the war was starting, and all I have ever known is pain and death. When the war ended in 4011 I thought I was safe, I thought that finally…finally it had all ended. One month ago, as I was walking home from work…the cars came. Two black, sleek cars with tinted windows. Four men surrounded me and the rest I can’t remember. I woke up in a laboratory, in a hospital bed with tubes in my arms and conductors on my temples. For the past four weeks I have been starving, slipping in and out of consciousness, and forced to perform my abilities over and over. I was marked when I came into RDTech, my number is 0632998, and you are my last hope of ever getting out of here alive.

Your plan is rushed and flawed, however it’s your only choice. Take a patient, and their research papers to The Hall, save the Tamerans, and save yourself before Robert Greene can get his thin, bony fingers around your neck. It’s a few thousand miles and a three hour boat ride from RDTech to The Hall, can we make it in time?

Details:
Humans have highly advanced technology in this time, buildings are hundreds of thousands of feet high, the ozone layer was destroyed by pollution hundreds of years ago, however there is now an artificial layer keeping humans alive. Cars are equipped with many different functions, almost any imaginable. Household appliances range from personal artificial-intelligence droids to kitchen sinks that can make your water taste like lemon, rose, or anything you request. Clothing has not changed much, however.

Tamerans: Humanoid beings. They look close to humans at first glance, however if you look closer, one would see how enchantingly strange they look. Tamerans give off a powerful hormone that attracts Humans and animals to them, although one can resist this feeling fairly easily. Their skin has an almost-glowing quality to it, their flesh imbedded with microscopic facets of light-reflecting bio-material. Tamerans are known to be peaceful creatures, only fighting when they need to. The war was difficult on their species, because they had never fought anything before the Humans. Tamerans have deep magic flowing through their veins, the ability to communicate with their environment, shifting wilderness and things around them. Tamerans can sense the mood of every living creature around them, however they can only manipulate plants. Humans figure that the hormone they give off has something to do with their ability. Tamerans originally left their planet, Julimar, because of a natural disaster that caused all of the plant life to die, leaving them with no food and nothing to feed their ability.

If there are any questions regarding this setting, please don’t hesitate to let me know! Help is appreciated greatly.

I don’t expect her movements. It seems that every time we come in contact she feels like she has to read me in one way or another. It’s unsettling, but I don’t think she knows that. I cannot blame her; it was in her nature to be able to read people. I have to do a lot to keep from moving as she jumps down from the counter. I just watch the tile; not wanting to look up into her eyes. Not wanting to have her read me.

I do nothing to stop her as she walks to me, placing her hands lightly on my cheeks. I can’t help myself as I look up, watching her as she watches me. She’s looking into me again. I wonder for a moment if she’s checking to see if my apology is a lie. It wouldn’t surprise me. What smart Tameran would trust a human?

She sighs and begins to smile, pulling her hands away from me. My cheeks are red, but not from embarrassment or anger. No—I wasn’t exactly sure what emotion was going through me right now. As much as I helped Tamerans, I was no scientist. I did not find it interesting when I interacted with one or when one used their powers. I was at a cross, unsure what to do when they used powers like this. Usually I could fight them; I had been around enough strange Tamerans to learn how to keep them out of my emotions, but this one was different. I was at that same cross here; I didn’t know whether I should be upset or just…

I sighed quietly, not exactly sure where my thoughts were headed. She had spoken, but it took my mind awhile to comprehend that she was talking and decipher her words. I was too lost in my own battles. I told myself I was going to be nice to her…I wondered for a moment if she could tell how uncomfortable she was making me. It wasn’t a discomfort because I thought their powers were freaky. It was a discomfort because I didn’t let people see my emotions let alone a stranger. She was both and she could easily tell what I was feeling.

“I get that a lot” I smirk quietly, trying to pull myself away from the thoughts that were passing through my mind. I turned away from her, walking around the kitchen to get to the Raspberry thumbprints that sat near the drink machine in the refrigerator. I was feeling like coffee instead of tea. Nice, rich, stark black coffee would clear my mind. I pull myself to one of the cabinets, moving through it until I found the green cup with my name on it. I wasn’t sure why I had a cup with my name on it; it had just appeared one day that I was over. I assumed that it was Xander and her pottery club craziness, but I wasn’t too sure. It held enough of whatever I was drinking to make me happy so I didn’t complain much.

“I see that you’re feeling better. I want to leave when it starts getting dark. I’m assuming that you’ve gotten most of your strength back?” I walk towards the fridge, placing my cup in the hole. I push a few buttons on the touchscreen and a few seconds’ later dark coffee starts filling up my cup. I hum quietly, trying to push all thoughts of what had happened out of my mind; I was acting enough like it hadn’t happened already.

As she speaks about leaving I get a jolt of emotion, making me sway lightly, glad Mira’s head was in the fridge so she didn’t see. I wanted her to think I was strong, not some weak RDTech patient who was on the verge of death…as I thought I was merely hours ago.

But…leave? First emotion: Sadness. I didn’t want to leave so soon, we had hardly just settled in. Xander was probably the sweetest human I had ever met. Generous, beautiful, kind…if not a bit nutty. However this place kind of felt...safe. In a way. It wasn’t home, she wasn’t old Ruth back in my little junkyard of a town. However she felt like someone I could truly trust.

Second emotion: Guilt. I bit my lip, looking at the ground as I thought of all that money sitting away under my pillow, the secret stash that silly little woman had given me. Mira had no idea. Even about the sleeping pills that felt like they weighed a ton in my pocket now. I was starting to have a few too many secrets, and it made me feel horrible. I was never any good at lying, or at keeping things from people. However, trust was fleeting in this situation, and I suppose it was nice to have a few tricks up my sleeve…for later, perhaps.

Third and final emotion. Fear. Paralyzing fear of what was to come.

Mira’s hum broke me out of thought, and I cupped the mug of tea with both hands, raising it to my lips and trying to make my face more neutral, less worried. The silence hung in the air as my agreement to her proposal of leaving, chewing on my lower lip as I looked at my shoe laces.

A bouncy, cheery voice cut the butter-thick silence in the room, which was starting to get awkward. “Hello ladies! How does pancakes sound? Or maybe omelets! Bacon sounds great, doesn’t it?” Xander was wearing a fluffy pink housecoat, although her hair was perfectly done and her face was pink and lovely, unlike most people’s hollow-eyed pale look they get when first waking up. Like my face probably looked like now…

I simply smiled faintly at her, moving away from the counter and letting her have her workspace, leaning against one of the far walls with my tea and watching the two move around the kitchen, glancing down at the floor every so often.

The silence in the room is thick like smoke. I keep myself busy in the fridge while my coffee finishes brewing. I knew that she was thinking and for once I could almost tell that she didn’t want to go. There was so much pause in her words. She didn’t speak at all actually. Was she not feeling strong yet, or was it the simple fact that she felt safe here? Did she not realize that the longer we stayed here the more danger we were putting Xander in? Did she not realize that this could end up getting Xander killed if we stayed here?

The sound of a well-known voice is loud as I turn around, warm cup in hand. By the time I got to look at Fiona, Xander was already in the room asking about breakfast. I sighed quietly, walking slowly back toward the counter, grabbing a cookie and shoving it into my mouth. I chew silently, walking back towards the table. I sip a bit of the coffee, feeling it burn the back of my throat. I sigh, that felt good.

I could tell that Xander was waiting for some kind of response from one of us, but as I open my mouth to speak, the vibrations of my comms unit draws my attention away. I look down to my arm, seeing that it was an old friend. I take in a short breath; either something was wrong or he had heard the news and wanted to check up on me. I look to Xander and she turns, still waiting for an answer. I turn, starting back towards the doorway.

“Just make whatever, I’ll eat it” My words are simple as I escape out into the hallway that separated the kitchen, stairwell, and the living room. I make it across to the living room, pulling myself into the room and starting towards the opposite side. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to answer this; I didn’t need any more bad news. I’m obligated to, since Joseph was the one that had saved my life and a few other important assets of mine over the years. I look down a moment before pushing the small button on my earpiece.

There’s rustling on the other side and I wait a moment to see if he would greet me first, I knew very well that he always greeted me first. There was a ritual to how I talked on the phone with people. There was a way just so I knew if something was happening and I needed to give false information. Another moment goes by and there’s silence—I know there’s something wrong.

“Hello?” The words cross my lips easily as I wait, listening for the rustling to stop once more and a response. There’s a cough and the sound of spitting before a breath out.

“Hey Mira. It’s Jo” He never called himself Jo. I wait a moment, listening to see if he said anything else. “I heard about what happened; I’m worried.”
“I’m fine Joseph. Everything is fine.” There’s another pause and more coughing. A deep breath fills his lungs and I can hear it over the microphone.
“Can I just know where you are? It would make me feel a lot safer knowing that someone good was taking care of you” I sighed, giving a half laugh. I knew this was fake; someone had gotten to him. I couldn’t let them know that though.
“Oh, Joseph! You always cared about me! I’m in the Sevine district, in the town called Jelseph.” I smile quietly, knowing exactly where I was leading the people that had Joseph on the phone with me. “I’m at Fredrique’s house.” There was a sigh and more coughing before I hear more moving around.
“Thank you Mira, I feel much better knowing” There was another pause before the call was cut off. I took in a deep breath, gritting my teeth and walking back towards the kitchen. The Sevine district itself was already a six hour drive and the town I had named was even harder to find once you got to Sevine.

I walk back into the kitchen, face as neutral as I could make it. I pulled the coffee cup that I still held in my hands up to my lips, taking a very long drink.
“So, what’s for breakfast?”

Mira left the room quickly, and I finished my sweet tea, setting the class on the counter in the sink. A rush of steam enveloped it and it was clean in an instant, sparkling even.
“Bacon and eggs sounds perfect.” Xander was talking to herself as she was rushing around the kitchen, grabbing pans and things out of the large fridge.

I stood in the middle of the kitchen, hugging my arms to my chest and rocking back and forth on my heals slightly, feeling useless. “Um…do you need any help?” I asked shyly after a moment, Xander pausing, breaking out of her cooking-bubble to turn to me and smile sweetly.
“Oh no, dear, don’t you worry. Make yourself comfortable, it’ll just be a few minutes.” She winked, before turning back to the eggs she was expertly cracking into the skillet, next to some already-sizzling bacon. The smell of bread toasting made the kitchen feel heavy, and slowly I walked toward the window, gazing at all of Xanders’ fake plants that lit up the window sill.

My fingers hovered over them slightly as I felt for life. Desperately, I squeezed my eyes shut as I leaned against the window sill, hand starting to shake as it passed each fake potted plant and artificial flower. In a flash my eyes fluttered open and my hand stopped.
It was hovering right above a small, prickly cactus. One of those little gift-shop ones that look like they have white fur, because their prickles were so thin and fiber-like. It was dying, I could feel it’s life force fading.

“Oh! My sister down near Lake Caesar gave me that last spring! It’s supposed to bloom once a year, but the poor thing looks horrible! I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” Xander called to me across the large kitchen. I smiled faintly, such a neat and tidy, creative and skilled woman like Xander couldn’t keep a plant alive for more than a year. It just seemed kind of goofy to me.
Slowly I walked across the kitchen, picking up my clean tea mug and filling it with water. The cactus plant was still alive, and I wasn’t about to let a living creature die before me. I was a Tameran after all.

Slowly, I watered the poor baby, taking the small, brown pot into my hands and looking down at it. It was such a small little plant, the pot was small enough to fit into my palms easily, and the cactus sprouting out of the soil was a sickly grey.
As I closed my eyes, I could feel my skin glowing slightly more than usual. At the facility they had made me grow trees from seeds in seconds, for hours without breaks. It was hard, and made me never wish to see another plant again. But seeing this small, dying thing in my hands, it was different.

I opened my eyes again, and sighed in relief. “Isn’t that better?” I murmured to the plant, and a small pink bloom was poking itself out along one of the sides. It was still small, but more green than grey now. I set the prickly cactus back into its place, not saying anything. It was better for Xander to see it in her own time…I’d already displayed my abilities to enough humans.

Just as I was turning away from the window, Mira walked back into the kitchen. I couldn’t help it as I smiled at hear, my face beaming from the energy I had just felt coursing through my veins. I hadn’t felt such a pure, enlightening feeling in weeks.

When I walked into the kitchen I noticed that Fiona wasn’t where she had been when I left her. Instead, she was standing near the window, walking around the room. I watched her curiously for a moment and she seemed to smile a very luscious smile. It was like she had just done something very fulfilling. I didn’t talk about it for just as I am about to ask, Xander chimes in with an answer.

“The best bacon and eggs you will ever have!” She giggles from in front of the stove. She just cooked her little heart out. It was sweet of her to baby us, but once we left it would get a lot harder. I walk toward the counter, leaning against it to watch her a moment.

“So, who was that on comms?” She questions me as she flips a few bits of bacon. The smell wafts through the kitchen, making me smile. Even in the current situation I could smile over something as simple as bacon.

“It was Joseph…but…it wasn’t him” My words are simple. I’m trying to keep it just that way so I don’t scare the girl that was somewhere nearby; listening. My words are enough and Xander turns towards me, giving me a half-frightened look. I shake my head, turning myself around so I can look around the room. I take a long drink of coffee, sighing as I rub my eyes with my open hand.

“That means that plans have changed a little you know” I was talking aloud, but I was addressing no one in particular. I wasn’t going to stay in this house and get Xander killed because she helped us. Of course there was a side to this woman that Fiona had yet seen. Not only was she the sweet fluff of a woman, but she could kill. I chuckle quietly at the thought. The woman had guns stashed in places you wouldn’t even think to look; hell I didn’t even know where she hid them all. You wouldn’t be able to tell it by looking at her, but that woman could put a bullet right between your eyes without so much as looking at you. It was no surprise that she had caught me trying to steal her pocket book all those years ago.

I’ve been silent for a long time and I look up. The only sound is that of the bacon popping next to me and the quiet, jittery hums of Xander. I look up, watching Fiona for only a moment.

“I hope that the guest bed treated you nicely?” I asked a more simple question. It had been very obvious that she didn’t want to answer the last one so I just acted as if it hadn’t been asked. That was the easiest way to keep from being too abrasive with her.

I found the smile that was painted across my face hard to let go of. As Mira spoke to me, I tilted my head, wondering why she was being so…friendly. Not that it wasn’t welcomed, but…perhaps I was actually gaining a friend? It would be nice not to have awkward tension all the way to The Hall. My smile turned into a grimace as I remembered our journey ahead.

“It was lovely.” I said with a nod toward Xander as a thank you. It was on a whole different level than what I was used to at the facility. The beds at RDTech were about two steps up from a cot. The mattresses were like wood, the blankets were that weird scratchy kind of fabric that caught on your skin, and the pillow was stained with some sort of brownish blob that probably came from the patient ahead of me. I shivered at the thought of what it could have been and dismissed the thought.

Xander plated up the meals, giggling brightly as she glanced over at the oven clock. “Well, nothing says late lunch like bacon and eggs! Eat up, ladies.” She made a plate for each of us, and I took a chair, looking down at the large, creamy orange egg yolks that seemed to be gazing up at me too. The bacon made a kind of a smile, and I let one corner of my mouth twitch up slightly as I sipped some orange juice, ripping off a piece of toast and dipping it in the eggs. I was kind of a strange eater, trying everything then picking what I liked, and saving that for last. Bacon. It would definitely be the bacon.

As I was eating something became clear to me. Xander was terrified. My eyes flashed up to her, and she hid it quite well. No human would ever see past the curtain she had drawn over her expression. However this was a different story.
My heart began to beat hard in my chest, and I realized how little time I had here, in this house. Safe. After this Mira and I would be moving around fast enough not to be tracked. Suddenly, without even finishing my bacon I stood.
“I-I….” I waffled around for words but nothing came. So I simply left, pushing my chair in slightly before I quickly walked out of the room and ran up the stairs. I suppose I was getting my strength back, although my toe caught on the top step and sent me tumbling forward, landing on my wrists but quickly scrambling up and racing to my room, closing the door, pressing my back against it, sliding down. This wasn’t the same as when I had an emotional break last night. This was just…the need to be alone. I couldn’t handle the feeling of terror that close to me. It was like poison. I had been around terror my whole life, it was like a sick memory that would never go away.

I rubbed my wrists where I fell, looking down and seeing the RDTech barcode tattoo and making a frustrated noise, stumbling up and walking over to my bed, fists balled up tight, lips set, eyes frighteningly wide like a deer about to be smashed into by oncoming traffic.
In a blinding fumble of sheets and pillows I held the knife that Mira had given me, holding it an inch away from my wrist.
Two choices.
One: Kill myself and be free of all this bullshit, hate, fear, fighting, death…
Two: Live on, but be branded as a thing for the rest of my life.

I let the knife drop, no tears daring to wet my eyes now.
I wasn’t that weak. I didn’t need the escape. What I needed to do now was fight harder than ever. I slowly sat down on the bed and curled myself into a ball, putting the knife back where it had been, fingers grazing the envelope as a whole new wave of guilt washed over me. I laid down in the bed, stiff as a board. Waiting. Waiting for them to find me. Waiting to be on the run again. Waiting.

I nod quietly as she answered. It was good that she got the rest she would need. It was good that she could be comfortable for at least a little while and not have to worry about anything. She didn’t need to be worrying so much about all of my problems when she needed to be getting ready for the best thing to ever happen to her race. She was going to have to fight for her freedom. RDTech wouldn’t let her get away that easily.

Unlike the girl beside me who tastes everything one at a time before picking something to eat, I know what to go for. The sound of glass hitting glass echoes through the quiet of the room and I giggle, pushing my fork down into the yellow running yolks. I hum quietly, continuing to attack my food before starting to put some of it on a bit of toast and into my mouth. I savor the flavor a moment before leaning back in my chair.

“Those are the best-“ I’m cut off by movement beside me. Before I can hardly see her well, she’s out of the kitchen and stumbling up the stairs. I watch the doorway a moment, dumbfounded and the way she just ran off. What was wrong with this girl? Did she not know that she wasn’t supposed to run away like that? I take in a deep breath, gritting my teeth and pulling myself forward.

“I can’t even have breakfast without that girl running off” I close my eyes, leaning forward to rub them. “If she can’t keep from running off now, what is to say she won’t do it later when I need to keep her with me?” I pull my fork up to my lips, licking off the yellow liquid.

“You have to remember, she feels a lot more than you do. Give her time…” Xander watches me a moment before shaking her head at me. She is afraid. Maybe she thinks that’s what ran her off? I sigh a moment, taking another bite before standing.

“I’ll be back” I mutter the words, grabbing the girl’s plate and cup before turning and walking out of the room. I take in a deep breath. The girl was beginning to rub my patients very thin. I take slow breaths as I make it up the steps, knowing that soon I will be faced with her and I will have to keep myself under control. I make it to the door, looking at the white wood again for a moment before knocking with the knuckles wrapped around the cup.

“It’s Mira”
(I'm sorry about the past week. I somehow got the flu and just got well enough to get online today.)

Slowly, with hands shaking and eyes wider than a baby deer’s, I brought myself under the blanket, drawing the covers up over my head and laying there in the soft, dark cave I had made for myself. Quietly, with my voice shaking more than my hands, I began to hum under my breath, squeezing my eyes shut in order to calm myself.

It was an old song my father used to sing to me when I had trouble sleeping. The words were lost to my now, but I could still remember the tune. Something about the stars all smiling, something weird like that. I enjoyed it as a child, as anyone would love the sound of their parents voice carrying them to sleep.
I think I missed them now more than ever. I was still a child, I was still trying to find out who I wanted to be in this world, and my place amongst everything. I guess none of that really mattered now, did it. All that mattered was surviving.

So as I laid there, in my little cocoon made out of the biggest duvet cover I’d ever seen, I hummed. And I began to let go of the thought of ever being normal, and the fear that was wrapped so tightly around me I thought that I might suffocate.
Suddenly, a voice made me open my eyes. It was Mira, of course. I cringed internally, knowing that I had to stop doing that. I had to stop running away and breaking down whenever she was around, and in general really. She might think they did something to my brain at RDTech that caused some permanent damage.

“Come in.” I said in a quiet, mouse-like voice, watching the soft light stream through the stitching of the duvet cover as I curled myself into a ball on my side, facing the direction of the door as I heard it slowly open, the gentle sound of Mira’s heels clicking against the hard wood floor and then becoming more muffled as they approached the carpet near the bed, until she was right above me. I didn’t bring the blanket down, which probably made me seem like some strange creature, hiding away all wrapped up but I couldn’t bring myself to care.


ooc: It's okay, I just had exams so I was pretty busy myself.

The food probably wasn’t very warm anymore. As much as I hoped that it would keep fresh, the movements I made with it and the fact that it had been just left would probably have turned it cool by now. Really it was her fault, but I tried my hardest not to blame her. I really had to say that it was hard sometimes though. It was hard to remember that she wasn’t just another Tameran that was free from RDTech. She was my saving grace. I owed her everything.

A deep breath fills my lungs as I turn the door handle, pushing the door open. It was just enough to get me in before I pushed it closed with my foot. I take simple steps to the bed, seeing only a mound of blanket that I assume is Fiona. She was hiding like a child again; having another mental break down for some unknown reason. Man, this was aggravating sometimes! I take in a short breath—I couldn’t be that way. I had to be conscious of her feelings even if I thought she was being a little sissy.

“I brought you breakfast…You need all the energy you can get you know.” My voice is much softer, like how a mother speaks to her child. I wait a moment beside the bed before coming to sit on the edge, crossing my leg and setting the cup down on the bedside table.

I don’t say anything else. I don’t want to ruin the feeling of hunger that might linger in her stomach. Even if she was freaking out, she could be hungry, and it wouldn’t be me to force that away. I wait a moment before turning my head slightly. I knew she wasn’t dead by the soft lift of the blankets as they rest on her body. She was just being quiet, as always—oh so quiet.

Slowly, as I felt her come sit at the edge of the bed, I pulled myself up, pulling the blankets down and tucking my hair behind of ear as I looked at Mira.
“Thanks.” I said, feeling the faint tinge of frustration tugging at her mind. This was probably just as hard for her as it was for me. She was strong, and I was her opposite. She was probably fed up with babysitting people like me. So I tried to smile, letting a bit of kindness touch my eyes as I searched her soul for what felt like the millionth time.
Then, I was drawn to the food, placing it on my lap and taking a big bite out of the toast, mainly to please her, and to not seem as if I were a broken object anymore. I didn’t want her to think of me as fragile anymore. Because I was starting to feel as if I wasn’t anymore.

“You know, I’m not always like this.” I said around a bite of bacon, probably the longest string of words I’d put together around her. I gazed up through my eyelashes, trying not to be so shy. Because I was always quiet, I just wasn’t always so…
“Breakable, I mean.” I tilted my head to the side slightly as I bit into the toast again. “I’ve taken care of myself for a long time. But…it’s nice to know someone has my back these days. When I need it.” I took a sip of orange juice before I looked up at Mira again.

I wasn’t always so talkative, and she knew that already. My voice was softer than a feather, however it seemed to echo around the room slightly. When I gained my strength back, I would have to prove myself, I knew that much. Words were cheap, actions were louder.

I finished my plate quickly, glad that it wasn’t the weird facility food at RDTech anymore. That stuff tasted like a dried up kitchen sponge.
Absentmindedly, I gazed toward the window, seeing the faint glow of the sun beginning to set as I realized just how much we had all slept the night before. I didn’t want to leave this safe haven, but I knew that our journey together had hardly even started yet.

Everything worried me…From the small noises outside, to the thoughts that danced around in my head. I was so worried that she wouldn’t be where I intended for her to be when I needed her, or that she would get killed in the process of getting her away from here. Maybe I was more worried for my own skin rather than hers. I wanted to survive. This was just a job to me, and a job was a job. I had to get her to The Hall so I knew that I could be safe. Of course, I knew things wouldn’t end like that. They wouldn’t stop, but they would be easier. I wouldn’t just be an unknown, unnamable casualty of prejudice. I would be “Mira La’Mar: The woman who saved thousands of Tamerans”. I would matter more to people and it would be so much easier to keep myself alive. So yes, I was being selfish, but really, I was her guardian at the moment; I only kept her with me because I had to.

I didn’t want her to get the wrong feelings about all of this. I didn’t want her to believe that I actually cared about her. We were two strangers on the same journey; I knew how to use guns; I could kill a man and forget.

My eyes glance around the room as I listen to her eat. She is very fast. She wasn’t as good at lying as she wanted to believe. I was contempt with her eating, but it made her look no more strong to me. She wanted me to believe that she was a capable Tameran, but she would have to prove herself to me. Something in her eyes told me that she knew that so I left her to her food and her words.

She had grown very loose lipped with the food in her stomach. I knew that it would be good for her to speak. It would give her at least a little bit of confidence.

“You won't have to feel breakable again; if you trust me.You will never have to go back to RDTech, and I will do my best to keep you from getting killed…” I trail off. I wanted to be better with words for times like this. If I had been a little smoother, I could have made things sound a lot better than what they were. “I make no promises. You could die, but look on the bright side; what they do to you will be paradise compared to what they’ll do to me if they catch us.” I chuckle quietly. The darkness that loomed over my words was a very true and simple darkness. If they caught us before we made it to The Hall, they would simply kill the girl. I knew for a fact that I would be placed in a room and more horrors would done to me than the Tamerans. I was ready for that though. It was a very simple idea and a very easily thought out process.

“We must be leaving soon.” I had been saying that for a long time. Each time we spoke the words seemed to utter from my lips. I take the plate, giving her the best smile I could manage. It was a very hard thing to do; living the way I did, you didn’t get many chances to smile. It wasn’t natural anymore. I turn quietly, leaving the half-filled cup on the bed side table. I wanted to leave tonight; I knew we could be ready for that, if we didn’t dawdle.

Her grim chuckle made the food that had just entered my stomach turn and flip, an unsettling calm washing over my skin and causing goosebumps to rise along my arms.
Then, the topic of leaving came up again, and I stayed silent. The same silence that filled my head for the past couple of hours echoed around once more, and I searched for something to say desperately, mouth opening but only a soft breath drawing itself inward was my reply.
Mira stood to leave, and I looked down at the clothes that were given to me, the baggy heaviness feeling like they weighed a hundred pounds. I brushed the side of my mouth with my sleeve, gaze following Mira as she walked.

“I’m ready when you are.” I called to her before she left me alone once more, the simple lie sounded almost convincing, until my voice shook on the last word, breaking it apart into two syllables instead of one.
Because it wasn’t true, and it would never be true. What I wanted was to stay in this bed forever, however things were never that easy, and I knew that. From the beginning, my life had never been this good, but the sensation of being loved and protected was just being ripped out of my grasp before I had even gotten time to accept it. But I suppose it was better this way. There was no way in hell I was going to let myself be caught once more.

Moments later, I had everything together on the end of the bed. Everything I possessed. The knife, the envelope of Xander’s money, and the two white pills that stared at me like two white, unblinking eyes. The sound of the door opening made me jump, but it was only the bright form of Xander coming to say goodbye. Her soft cheeks were stained with single lines of tears as she brought me into a hug, and I tried more than anything to resist the pull of her emotions. No more breakdowns, not this time.

“Oh dear, I hope you two will be okay.” Xander sniffled, raising a light lavender square of fabric to her eyes, dabbing lightly. “I just wish I could do more!” She smiled down at me as she was obviously trying not to break into a fresh wave of tears.
I took her hand gently with a soft smile. “You did everything. I could not ask for more.” I replied, eyes catching on the worn, old black backpack she held in her other hand, tucked against her side under her arm.
Xander followed my gaze, blinking away the new coating of tears, even if her voice still quivered. “Oh, this is for you. A few weeks of sandwiches and instant meals. Don’t you let my Mira starve, she’s already too skinny.” The old Xander peeked through once again, as she laughed past a sob. I was starting to get effected by her overwhelming mood crushing over the room, my eyes beginning to shine with their own layer of tears.

“I…I can’t thank you enough.” I murmured, taking the knapsack. Peeking into the pockets, I found another set of clothes and a toothbrush, toothpaste and hair brush. Blinking, I set the bag on the bed, shoving the envelope of money into the depths, putting the pills in my back pocket and gazing down at the knife.
“Don’t thank me, it was my pleasure. Oh, and one last thing.” She held out her hands, and in it were two small objects.
The first one made me smile, and I let a few tears slip onto my eyelashes. “Xander…” I reached out and took the small prickly, blooming cactus into my hands, touching the wispy white fibers affectionately as I felt it’s life force. The second item made me tilt my head to the side faintly, but a realization made my gaze fall to the floor.
“You are much too generous.” I said softly.
“Oh pish-posh. This old thing used to be Mira’s, but she left it here years ago and won’t take it back. But safety comes first, although she knows I don’t like weapons.” Xander fastened the small leather strap onto my belt, the perfect size to hold the knife Mira had given me.

All these unexpected gifts had made me lightheaded, and I slowly slipped the straps of the knapsack over my shoulders, gingerly picking up the knife and folding it away into the leather and holding the small cactus delicately between my palms.
Xander walked me to the door, and I was nearly numb as I walked behind her stiffly, ghostly eyes gazing blankly as I gripped the little plant tight.
“Be safe.” Xander kissed my cheek, and I slowly raised my hand to touch the warm spot she had left, eyelids fluttering as I tried to blink.
“Thank you.” Was all I could possibly say.

To be honest, it was quite sad. She tried so hard to assure me that she was strong. I didn’t need to know through words that fell flat as her voice shook. I needed to know through actions. I needed to know that she could kill a man if her life depended on it. I needed to know that she would protect herself if it needed to be done.

I stop quietly at the door. There was nothing else I could say to her. There was nothing that I could do to show her that I could protect her; the simple fact was that everything wasn’t going to be okay. It was obvious that hell would break loose soon. Leaning down, I take the duffle bag that sat next to the doorway. Inside was enough weaponry to kill an army if you could make it last. There were a few changes of clothes and some other items that could be useful later on.

Only a few moments after I get the bag, I continue out of the door, balancing the two items easily enough. I decided to leave the weapon securely in the beside drawer. It would be useful to someone sometime. Maybe I would be lucky enough to have the girl have some brains and take the weapon herself. I doubted it, but one could hope.

I take my time getting down the stairs. I know that soon enough, Xander will wonder when we are leaving and telling her will be another sobbing breakdown. I sigh quietly, dropping the bag next to the door before making my way into the kitchen. Xander has been taking her time with cleaning. She is sad; I can see it in her eyes as she works, humming a sad song as she wipes down the counter. I walk to the sink, placing the dishes inside; they will clean themselves. I turn quietly to see that she’s still wiping down the counter. She’s just wiping away small drops of water. I sigh quietly, walking towards the counter.

“We have to go soon. I believe she’s getting ready right now.” My voice is much softer than normal. She’s smiling, but the sadness overwhelms her. She gets so attached to those I bring in. That’s one of the reasons I try to keep her from holding a Tameran for more than a night. It’s easier for her that way.
“I’ll be back. I’ve just got to get this cleared up first.” I smile to her. This is the longest silence I’ve heard out of her in a while.

“Do you know where you’re going yet?” I wait a moment. I wasn’t actually sure the person I had in mind was going to come through. I knew she wouldn’t like the idea, but I didn’t have much of a choice if I wanted to get farther on our journey. Sure I had many friends in this town, but I had to branch out, make it to another area. I needed to get there before whoever was after me came any farther.

“I think…We’ll head to Gideon’s” There’s a slight pause, her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. She knew there were a lot of things that would have to change. There was a rule I had. Gideon only got male Tamerans. He wasn’t the best…

“He’s a creep, Mira. You have to have someone else.” I sigh quietly, shaking my head, and walking towards the door. “Well…I’ll go say my goodbyes then” Her words are soft and I sigh, knowing this will be much harder on her than she imagined.

…

It had been a long bit of traveling. Even taking the fastest way it took him almost two days just to make it to the province he had been directed to. He doubted that this damn girl was where he thought she was, but he had nothing more. He would find out soon enough.

A deep breath rolls through the air. It was much cooler up north. You could see the white breath of air as the breathed. It took only a few minutes before he was at the back door of this Frederique character. It had taken him a few hours to find someone that knew of this man and knew exactly where to find him. It cost him a great amount of Credits to find out. Now he was here.

Unbeknown to him, it was simple coincidence that he found a Frederique in the town of Jelseph and when he made it inside and found this out, he was much more than angry. Now a civilian family was dead and he had nothing to show as a prize. He did not have the girl.

“She wasn’t here” His voice was rough into the Comms unit. There’s a pause before the much known voice of Robert Greene returns with more anger than one could imagine.

“It looks like you’re going to need the help of some of my men aren’t you. I have something that could help you out. You’ll be receiving it soon. You get results or you don’t get paid.” The conversation ended with that; short and very unpleasant.

…

Xander returned down the stairs before Fiona. She was very close to bursting into harsh tears. I knew by the way that her eyes had glassed over. She was feeling many things that she didn’t want to, and I felt sorry for that. This was all my fault. It was easy to see why she was so soft.

“I hope that means we are leaving soon?” My voice questions her as I start to the door, grabbing my bag. Whether we were leaving now or not, I would be putting my items in the truck. I turn just to see her nodding quietly and I sighed, turning to escape out of the door.

“I’ll be back in to get the girl in a moment, I need to make sure it’s safe” The words are simple and before she can respond, I’m gone.