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The sudden pressure of an arm around him made Dimitri yelp. Dammit. He was supposed to be a MAN! But no, seriously, Dimitri was on the verge of death, his stump's flesh slowly rotting and dying. Dimitri bobbed around as Lance made a beeline for an exit, and Dimitri simply tried not to fall asleep, even though it was becoming increasingly harder.

She was excited. Hopping from one foot to the other the girl could barely contain her bubbling excitement at the imminent arrival of the man who had saved her from a hellish life only a year ago. She still bore a few small scars from the experience, but at least it had left her with skills most adults didn't even possess. The sound of someone moving around behind her made Koko turn around for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the cottage that she'd come to call 'home'. While not very large, it had a cosy feel, the lightly coloured, soft furnished rooms aiding to the effect. The woman who had moved was one of the girl's many protectors - Chloe she was called - & she smiled lightly, having been watching for a while as she stood by the door waiting for their visitor to arrive. Koko smiled back before the sound of a doorknob turning made her spin round, hair swirling around her face from the speed of the movement.
Alek!
she heard herself yell before launching herself at the scarred, greying man in the doorway. He caught her in one fluid movement, raising her up so she could wrap her arms round his neck - despite how quickly she moved, Alek always seemed able to catch her when she did this. Snuggling herself comfortably into his arms the girl swiveled round as he walked into the cottage, resting her smooth cheek against his stubbly one. She heard him laugh lightly as he got closer to Chloe
I take it she's been waiting there all this time?
Chloe grinned & nodded
I thought she was going to pop she was so excited, bet you're glad he's here now, huh sweetie?
Koko nodded vigorously, bouncing slightly in Alek's arms & gripping his shirt slightly.
Do you have any new stories to tell me Alek?

Taking hold of the girl & holding her out in front of him the scarred man shook his head slowly,
Sorry little one, I have to talk to Chloe for a while, we'll talk later ok?
Oh... okay...
After being placed on the floor Koko scampered off into the next room to do some drawing, leaving the adults to talk. She lay down on the floor next to a half-finished drawing on a bit of paper she'd been given. As she looked at it - a woman with very long black hair smiling back at her - she remembered the day she'd met Lilith. She was the most beautiful woman Koko had ever seen & she was very nice to her, but somehow the girl knew something else lay underneath that perfect image. Still, she was Alek's wife & always had nice things to give to Koko when she did visit, so she liked her. After a few minutes of scribbling, in which time she finished the picture due to her speed, the girl got bored & decided to see whether or not the other two had finished talking.

Skipping over to the door that she'd closed behind her the girl reached up, finding it a little difficult to turn the doorknob due to her height. When she finally did manage to open it a little she peeked through the gap, only to see that Chloe was right up in Alek's face, yelling at him.
What the hell is wrong with you Alek?! You can't seriously be asking me to do this! You want me to put her on a ship that might not even get to where it's meant to go, all on her own, & replace her memory?
Despite how the woman was yelling in his face, Alek's reply was completely calm.
Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking you to do. Listen to me Chloe, her purpose is not here. She needs to leave this planet & wiping her memory is the kindest thing to do. When she's ready, she'll remember everything.
Very slowly, Koko started to walk backwards, away from the door. She was shaking ever so slightly & could feel hot, prickly tears at the corners of her eyes.


With Dimitri still slung over his shoulder, Lance made his way down the ladder, having to go slower than he would like to make sure the other man didn't fall off his shoulder. He hoped Thane would know where to go once they got down through the building, since he himself obviously had no clue where to go in the strange city he had seen below them while they were on the ship. Once he felt his foot hit the building roof Lance swiveled away from the ladder so that he was facing Thane. His Texan accent seemed to have come back full force, he was making no effort to check it anymore.
"Ah'm sure glad tha's over... raht lad, we best be gittin' down the stairs of this 'ere buildin' then y'all 'ave to lead the wah."
He gestured with his free hand to the steps leading down from the roof through the building, the door was hanging by one of it's hinges - a bad sign in itself if ever he'd seen one.

(Last memory guys, sorry these have been so long ^^; )

Everything was so strange here. White, unnaturally clean... All the corridors & rooms, they all looked the same. As she was carried through this odd place, Koko looked up at Chloe, looking at the woman's face with a peculiar intensity, trying to read her impassive face. Despite her previous fears, the girl now felt a strange sense of acceptance, knowing that she couldn't stop what was going to happen. Though he wasn't here now, Alek had arrived to meet the pair outside the huge ship, taking the girl aside for a moment to talk to her. He hadn't said much, only that she shouldn't worry, she was just going to sleep for a little while & that he'd 'meet her on Ares'; though she didn't know what he meant, Koko had felt an immediate sense of calm in his presence, driving away her fear of the great unknown gaping in front of her. Just before she'd entered the craft, she'd flung herself into Alek's arms, burying her face into his shoulder & whispering,
I love you...
The man had returned the sentiment, before letting her go & ushering her gently towards the awaiting Chloe.

It seemed like an eternity to the young Koko before the woman carrying her finally stopped outside a large closed door, placing the girl on the floor next to her. After glancing around, as though expecting something to be watching them, Chloe finally leant towards a small pad next to the door. There was a brief flash of light, a quick 'swish' as the door slid open & a tiny click as it engaged into wherever in the wall it has slid to. Turning her head up, the girl once again looked at the other woman's face, earning a small smile in return, though she knew there was no warmness in it. The smile was fake. She wasn't happy at all, in fact, the small facial motion revealed a deep conflict & sadness. Without a word the small girl reached up & took hold of the woman's fingers, providing a strangely reassuring gesture.

Nothing was said as the two entered the room, heading towards a smooth contraption that lay in the centre. It looked almost like a pod - a smooth, white, metal pod. Inside it was cushioned, but the outside was nothing short of cold & foreboding. Still, Koko didn't whimper or complain, she simply allowed Chloe to lift her inside & lay her down.Her eyes followed the woman as she strode over to the other side of the pod & her gaze locked onto that of Chloe, a small, delicate smile passing onto her lips.
Don't worry, papa Alek says everything will be okay.
Now Chloe did smile, a proper smile full of warmness, though still with that deep sadness hidden just below the surface. She put a hand down into the pod & gently stroked the top of Koko's head.
I know sweetie...
Drawing her hand back, Chloe looked to the side of the pod & a few beeping sounds filled the silence. The woman paused for a moment, seemingly debating whether or not she should continue with what she was doing. Koko saw this hesitation & simply assumed she was waiting for her to go through the regular bed-time motions, so she spoke in a high sing-song voice.
Goodnight Aunt Chloe!
The woman looked over at the girl with a in surprise, though her expression quickly changed to the same bittersweet smile from before.
Goodnight sweetie...

With a sudden rush of heat, Koko sat bolt upright, her eyes opening wide & her breath coming out in a loud gasp. She half-expected the woman to be stood before her, but all she saw was a rolling sea of green, waving gently with the slight breeze. She could feel the wind against her skin now & turned her head slowly to look around herself, trying to get her bearings. As she moved her body to see behind herself, her gaze fell on two figures nearby; with a slight jolt she tried to get to her feet, only to lose her balance & fall down again. She remembered everything. Her sprint from the Aiolos, the sword, the strange person, the memories.... She wasn't sure how she knew, having not had time to process what had just occurred, but still she knew who that person was. With the voice of someone who daren't believe what they're seeing, Koko spoke one word.
"Finn...?"

Jackals eyes remained fixed on the young woman as she went awkwardly about her business, jotting down notes on a clip-board of jackals heart-rate, blood pressure, blood-sugar level, all the while trying her hardest to avoid Jackals cold gaze.
"Just so you know," Jackal began the sentence with a surprising amount of calmness in his voice, causing the woman to stop what she was doing and move closer to the table, curiosity furrowing her brow as her pretty eyes met his. "When I get out of here," Jackal continued, "Just because you're a woman, its not going to stop me from killing you." The young doctors eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. There it was, fact, not a petty threat spoken in anger, a statement of intent. He was laying his cards on the table, no trace of a bluff in his voice or demeanour.
The raiders carefully chosen words lay between the two of them like a corpse, and the few moments of complete silence felt like a millennia, only broken by the harsh clap of military-grade leather-soled shoes on laminate flooring drawing closer and closer to the room in which Jackal found himself imprisoned.

Jackal's body tensed as the man he only knew as "The Commander" entered the room, his straight-laced military posture, and authorative presence demanding respect, even from a brute such as Jackal.
Turning to his subordinate, the young lady doctor, The Commander cleared his throat, "Have the equipment brought through." He spoke with a slight Texan drawl to his load, clear voice. The young woman shot one last fearful look at Jackal and exited the room.
The Commander straightened the jacket of his uniform as he perched on the edge of the raiders mortuary slab, his face silhouetted by the harsh light above the operating table. Jackal seethed quietly, trembling slightly as he struggled to control the adrenaline coursing through his body.
"Now, Mr. er, Jackal I believe." He paused for effect, and Jackal hated him all the more for the lack of due respect shown to his name. "Allow me to explain all..."

Koko's eyes were wide in disbelief & she kept opening her mouth as though she were about to speak, yet no sound came out. The feel of the hand, from the man she somehow knew to be Finn, on her back made a strange shiver shoot straight down her spine. Not from fear or revulsion, but from the clarity that the man before her was actually tangible. That he was real. As he took her hand, the mercenary's tired brain was trying to figure out how the scarred man she could see - the same man from her memories as a child - was also the man who'd raised her on Ares. Only after Zed spoke did she decide that it didn't matter; whatever strange forces had caused Finn to be both in her Earth childhood & her life on Ares just wasn't important now. Slowly the woman lifted her gaze to meet that of the pilot, a tiny smile on her face.
"I'm fine Zed, ya shouldn't worry about me."

Turning slowly, Koko once again looked up at the man that had been such an integral part of her life. Carefully, as though afraid he might fade from existence, she reached up & gently placed a hand on Finn's face, her eyes beginning to shimmer with tears.
"You've changed.... but I know... it's you..."
Letting her hand linger on the man's face for a while, Koko stared undauntingly into the desolate, colourless eyes of the ancient man, as though trying to read him, even though she was on the brink of tears.

Without warning, the female mercenary suddenly slapped Finn across the face, resulting in a fairly impressive sound & probably a red mark on his cheek. She then began to hit the man on his chest with her fists - not hard enough to do damage, but more as a method to vent her emotions. She was yelling at him now, tears streaming down her face.
"You left me! You said you'd come back! You promised me you'd come back! But you never did! I waited for you, I waited & I hoped! You never came back! You never came back... you...."
Her voice trailed off. Having finished her outburst Koko leant against Finn & just rested her head against his chest, falling silent save for the occasional sniffle.

For a moment Lance couldn't understand why his former assistant didn't understand him, then realised he must've slipped into the heavy accent from his country of birth. After years of practice, he had managed to train himself to speak in pronounced English but every now & again he forgot to check it - he figured his long stay in cryo must've caused a momentary lapse in his speech. After following Thane down the stairs & emerging out of the partially collapsed building, the slightly greying man ran a hand through his hair & exhaled through his teeth. This time he made sure to speak in Standard English,
"Jeez, this ain't exactly the homeliest of places. Sorry about before lad, forgot to check my old accent. I was saying you'll have to lead the way."
He glanced over his shoulder at the practically comatose Dimitri, a look of intense focus on his face. The last thing he wanted on his first day in this place was to lose a man.
"& I think we'd better hurry up, this lad hasn't got long left.."

Giving his mentor a tired smile, he nodded.
"It's fine really, sir. I just..uhh.......nevermind...let's just get going?"
Thane ran a hand through his dark hair, glancing around the street. There were a number of people walking around, not many though. He remembered this street from the map Aria, the woman who had taken care of him when he had first woken up, had given to him. Not that he needed it now. The hospital wasn't too far from here, up the street and around the corner if he remembered correctly.
"This way sir."
Thane walked briskly up the street, eyeing each person as they passed them. Many of the people who lived here hadn't the money to move into the center of the city and would do almost anything to get that sort of money, which was what he had learned in the first week of waking. But this wasn't the time to be thinking of that, he had to make sure that Dimitri got to the hospital.

As they reached the end of the street, Thane turned down one of the back-alleys. Emerging from the other side he caught sight of a friendly face running towards them.
"Thane! I- oh... Who's your friends?"
A dark haired man came to greet them, glancing at Lance and Dimitri. He wore a dark green hoodie with dark grey trousers, a pair of handguns were also holstered to his waist.
"Drake, not now."
Thane sighed as he continued walking quickly, giving Lance an apologetic look before looking back at his friend.
"Actually, can you tell Aria I won't be back? That I'm at the hospital and that she shouldn't worry? You know how she gets."
Drake nodded and placed some money into Thane's hands, before patting his shoulder.
"Don't starve this time, kiddo. I hope your friend gets better."
Thane shook his head as Drake stopped and started walking back the way he came, glancing over his shoulder every now and again.
"Hospital's just...here."
He indicated to the building in front of him.

((Hi, I fail miserably at introducing new characters :I ))

With a grunt, Dimitri felt his body hauled from Lance's shoulders and lay down on a bed. A sharp scratch penetrated his good hand as he heard worried mumblings and loud orders. "I..I feel ill.." he murmured, almost incomprehensible. "Why am I...why am I here?" he asked, becoming delusional in his state. A woman mentioned surgery, and not long after that Dimitri felt himself falling asleep. "No! Thane, Lance! I don't wan...ashlee...don wanna sleep..." he panicked, tossing. But he soon succumbed to the anesthetic and entered a sedated sleep.

Jackal gritted his teeth as The Commander gave him a tight lipped smile. This was going to be a long story, and from what he'd seen so far, it wasn't going to be a particularly pleasant one.
"You are currently detained in an experimentation centre of one of the many military compounds of the New Ares Empire, codename; "The Force". My name is Commander Johnathan Starr, I run this particular operation, and am a pinnacle member of the board of Directors in charge of our," He paused for a breath bringing his large hand up to rub the stubble on his cheek, searching for the right word, "Company."

Alarm bells rang in Jackals head at the mention of the word 'experimentation', he was in trouble. "'The Force' eh? Can't be too hot-s**t, I've never heard of ya'."
The Commander, smiled his tight lipped smile again, it was beginning to get on Jackals nerves. "Hm yes, unfortunately Secrecy is imperative to our operations." He cocked his head acutely, raising his brow before adding, "For now."
The raider inhaled deeply, in a feeble attempt to calm his shot nerves before asking the question playing through his racing mind. "So, why am I here then, why didn't you just finish me off back in the desert?" He thought about adding something glib, but then thought better of it, he didn't want to antagonise this man in his current situation.
"I'm glad you asked." The Commander straightened his tie and stood up, a grin playing across his angular features as he began pacing around the operating table.
"You see, Mr. Jackal, to enact a military takeover of any regime no matter how well or ill-established, in this case starting with the urbanised areas of Ares, you need men." He paused for effect, his hands animating his words. "Highly trained, well equipped, endurant men." He stopped, resting his hand on his chin in thought. "My only problem is that my men, while good, are hardly the battle-hardened mercenaries that are hired to protect most urban areas. They are well trained, but as you demonstrated with your little stunt back in the desert, somewhat wet behind the ears." He stopped and did the smile, Jackal was really beginning to hate that f*****g smile.
The raider rolled his eyes and put on his business tone. "So hire some mercenaries then? I'll even cut you a deal, you let me go, and I'll find you the most cut-throat men on the f*****g planet." - Jackal didn't care who ran Ares, so long as he left the compound alive. Starr's smile widened and he patted the mercenary on his scarred chest.
"Now, both you and I know that would draw far too much attention." He savvily tapped the side of his nose. "Secrecy, remember?"
Jackal gritted his teeth and waited for the Commander to continue, this was going to get a whole lot worse before it got better.