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 Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:50 pm
Did NOT answer my question. "Excuses." Another dismissive wave. "That's not really what I asked, either, but..." He sighed, lay back, and shut his eyes.
Arcadia was stepping out of the hangar when she heard a voice. Glancing toward the source she saw a man- she wasn't quite sure what he was- trying to lure her in with something...
She approached, very curious. "I'm sorry, who are..." She paused, rather surprised and confused. "...Is that ice cream?" the pilot inquired, pointing to container. Still she neared. "Oh, that's... the Ottyo liaison, correct? And... ice cream? How did you get ice cream?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:33 pm
"Oh, whoops!" she replied in that same cheery voice. "I forgot to add in the reason why I joined when I was making up that bullshit. My bad Garrett. Silly, silly me." Cibo happily prattled. She sat down in a chair by his side with hard sigh, seriousness finally, quickly, suddenly taking hold. "Maybe I should try taking a break or something, but I don't trust Marcus that much with the alien...he's probably using him to draw attention or something." Cibo leaned forward for a moment, cupping her face in her hands before sitting back up, straightening her hair back. "I've never really been this sloppy before either. As she propped her legs up on another chair, a faint question escaped her lips.
"Why I joined Intel? Cibo's hand reached for her pocket, and brought up an imaginary cigarette before realizing her hand was empty. She sighed again before forcing herself to look at the two men. "Just..give me a moment. I haven't thought of it in a long time."
****
"Would me, an Intelligence Agent, lie?" He asked, pausing for effect. "Ok, yeah we would, but its real icecream. Don't worry about how we got it, just grab one and melt your troubles away." Marcus offered again. "Besides, we both saw you bothered by something, and decided that sharing was caring. Isn't that right Yotruyan?"
"Yes. Though. It is an interesting phrase."
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:44 pm
Seeing Cibo now determined to share, he folded his pillow and used it as a cushion between his back and the headboard. He waited patiently, having absolutely nothing better to do for once.
Arcadia was hesitant. The 'intel agent' sounded... slippery, but the Ottyo she imagined was fairly reliable. His tone was... depressing though. Pilot Langdon could only imagine what he thought of the phrase, "sharing is caring," but she didn't really give a damn- it was the inflection of his voice that caught her attention.
"Sorry, but I'm a good girl. I'm not going to bury my head in any sort of sugary goodness until I know it was obtained properly. So, I'll ask again: how'd you get it?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:43 pm
Cibo stared at the ceiling for a long while. It wasn't until a nurse went by with a rattling tray of surgical tools that she spoke again. "It's funny, how things turn out. My family was a military family. To be honest, well, if you haven't figured it out already, I was the odd one out. I was going to be a doctor. A doctor!" Cibo seemed to take some glee from the idea, giggling gently as she shook her head. The intelligence agent got up and turned the chair around so she could lean forward. "Long story short, after loosing both my parents, I took a paperwork version of this Job to make a living. After that, my family got picked off one by one over the years."
She smiled at the marine. "I ended up who I am now thanks to them. Turned out I took after my mom; had a knack for this, ya'know?" Cibo crossed her arms over the chair's back and rested her head on them, cocking it off to the side. "What about you?"
****
Marcus looked at her with an expression of shock and surprise. "Well...I know my scars made me look a bit scary, but I didn't think it was that bad." The intelligence agent played the guilt card and sighed while rubbing the damaged flesh of his face as though suddenly self-conscious. "If you have to know, we bought it for him." he spoke. As though on prompt, Yotruyan finished is 8th serving of ice cream. "I know I'm a spook, but, me, stealing this?" He asked, sounding hurt. "That's harsh."
The Ottyo lazily bit into another tub and neatly put the tough paper onto the rest of his pile before speaking flatly. "I am certain she was not meaning harm. Perhaps it was remaining distress from some prior situation?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:47 pm
"Hmph." Garrett briefly contemplated whether or not to share the long or short story.
"It was the only way off the god-forsaken rock we call Earth," he answered. "So I took up explosives engineering since it was already a hobby of mine." Quick, simple, to the point. Quite unlike Cibo's incessant rambling.
She exhaled abruptly through her nostrils and quirked an inquisitive eyebrow, looking unimpressed, as if to say Really? "So sensitive, Mr. Spook. Get a grip."
Again, her attention was on the Ottyo. She sat beside him, taking up a cup for herself. While she went about opening and licking the top clean, the Pilot asked, "So what's got you all bummed out, hm?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:44 pm
At Garrett's meager reply, Cibo leaned forward and onto the chair's pair of legs. "Eh?" she voiced, a mildly annoyed and even lazy expression on her face. "Now, why is it when I gave you a more meaty answer, you practically give me only a bone?" The slim intelligence agent scooted her chair in even closer to the Marine and, frankly, got in his face. "Now, I know you probably don't want to share at this point, but if you yourself didn't want to share, why you ask me, huh?" At this point, her face was practically inches from the recovering marine's face; simply put, her bedside manner sucked.
Thankfully, Cibo pulled away before he could do anything, now standing. She started to pace, an arm crossed over her chest, and the other pressing a finger to her chin. Cibo looked at Garret from the corner of her eye. "Wait...Don't tell me you were seriously Stranded on Earth AFTER the attacks? Wow. A real Earthling." She grinned. "Maybe watched your family and friends die one by one from the radiation? Or the food. Oh! Scavengers and raiders and gangs! Oh my!" She placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward, expectant. "Anything hit close to home?"
****
Even as Marcus looked away in a pained manner as though he were telling the truth, his mind was at work. 'Ha. This is why I like other Intel Agents and Pilots. Harder to get. But there's always round two. And three. And more.'
Yotruyan, on the other hand, eyed Acadia as he squeezed the remaining half of the little container, forcing the icecream out and into his mouth. A moment passed as it melted in his mouth before he swallowed and replied. "Garrett-Lieutenant's comments were harsh like yours, but that is not what bothers me." The rainbow of feathers on Yotruyan's face fluffed up for a moment before settling down. He went on, watching for a response with his yellow slit eyes.
"I was so close, and so very far from my people. I could not embrace them, or even speak to them. Just do as my position demanded." He cast away the piece of paper, sending it off to top his neat tower of paper cups. Yotruyan eyed the backpack they gave to him. He still hadn't opened it yet. "It is accurate to say that most sentient species feel something that goes by the word 'loneliness' in this language. Is it not?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:09 am
He gave another dismissive huff at her metaphor, and otherwise ignored her.
But when she leaned in, he grasped her collar and rose to his feet. He had only three inches over her in height, but his bulk certainly made him more... impressive. His voice was quiet, but very clear and very intense. "You had better be listening damn well. There's this little... little word, a beautiful and abused little word called respect. You had better learn its meaning in the next thirty seconds, okay?
"Now, yes, I am a full-blooded Earthling. I survived the attack, the only one of all the people I knew. Homeless like so many others, I joined a gang. My gang taught me teamwork, order, and respect, but mostly it taught me people are full of s**t, that life's rough and you roll with the punches, and that if you can't walk your talk, you aren't worth my time.
"When I finally figured it all out, I burned their little clubhouse down, and got the Hell out of Dodge. That's when the military found me, found my skills, and put me to work. And now I'm here, working hard and fighting strong. So don't you ever, EVER disrespect the people or places I've seen to get here, or I will- let me make it very clear that I WILL- crush your scrawny little legs."
He let go and heaved a sigh, his stare still heavy and bearing down on her, awaiting a reaction. To defend his actions, or at least his train of thought, Lieutenant Garrett Hendlow had found that the quickest way to teach respect was to take away something someone took for granted- like their ability to walk. When they were forced to change their way of life for a period of time over something so utterly simple to the average human being, they quickly learned to appreciate that worth appraisal.
Arcadia's expression softened. She didn't know who she was talking about, but was willing to admit she was sharp-tongued; she quite liked it that way, really. Didn't mean she couldn't be soft, too.
"I think it's quite fair to say so, and I'm sure I have no idea what your society is like in terms of relationships, but I think I have a good idea of how you feel. That's got to be tough- tougher than I can imagine," Pilot Langdon had always been a bit fond of solitude, "But you've got to stay strong. I know it's easier said than done, but wallowing isn't going to help anyone. Come on." She stood and offered a hand. "Enough of this moping around and eating ice cream. You have to be proactive."
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:38 am
As Cibo was lifted into the air by the muscular marine, she instinctively grasped his arm with both her hands, caught unaware. 'Ha. I already expected Drathonians to do this.' Out of Garrett's sight, a spring loaded blade popped out of the sole of Cibo's boot. All she had to do was kick the Drathonian in the reproductive parts. And her eyes widened at the thought; this was a MAN. A TERRAN. Her superior. Her coworker and compatriot. Cibo's eyes started to tear at the thought of what she was about to do, and did nothing. She simply hung there in the air, and listened to the Lieutenant's words as she knew she deserved. That was the hardest part. Knowing she deserved it, hating every moment of it, yet allowing it to come at her and taking it.
By the time Garret released his grip, Cibo was already in her own self dug pit of despair. She fell hard on the floor, the tip of her blade embedding itself deep into the floor before breaking off. Cibo started to cry, and then weep. The sobbing wasn't quite loud enough to draw attention, but was obviously real.
"I'm sorry." she managed through sniffles. As she sat there on the floor, the very tip of her boot shone a brilliant silver.
****
Yotruyan purred. "Reminds me of our youngest Imperator." he commented. "Oh-kay. I am up." At that, the Ottyo got onto his feet and tossed away the trash that had been building up into a disposal box sitting nearby. He easily towered over her, but refrained from casting Arcadia in his shadow. "Are these all escape pods? They seem very small to me. And that group there." He spoke, pointing out Sean and Istavan, "They seem important. Who are they?" He asked, jumping right into business.
As Marcus sat there, pretending to be hurt and otherwise sad, let himself grin as though slightly brought out of his sulking.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:55 am
He gave another sigh, leaning over to grab her arm. "Don't go making a scene now, Malinowsky." Whether or not she liked it, Garrett hauled the Intelligence Officer onto her feet with a grunt. "Apology accepted, but you best remember what I said, because I meant every word." Only then did he notice the broken blade on the floor, but scoffed at it. She hadn't stuck him like a pig, so it was no big deal to the Lieutenant.
"Clean yourself up. They ought to be letting me out here soon."
"Most are fighters or bombers; we're small, so we don't need much room. They," she pointed to the group as well, "Are pilots, an Admiral, and some supremely intelligent madman who designed just about everything that flies in our military... and then some. Important, but not to us. Come on." She beckoned Killy to follow and she headed for the hangar doors.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:23 pm
Cibo stood there unsteadily as she tried to wipe the tears away. Her crying had subsided by now, and was reduced to just the occasional sniffle as she tried to keep her nose from running. She took a few of the tissues from a dispenser nearby and blew her nose; Cibo always wondered why they were there as a child. Now, she knew better. Hospitals, Med-Labs and Clinics were where people cried as often as they rejoiced.
"I'm sorry Garrett..." Cibo quietly spoke. "I almost even. Well. That." She partially went on, gesturing towards the broken knife, next, glancing at Kai before casting her eyes down. "I um, hope I wasn't too loud. Does Kai know? I mean, about you."
****
"Arcadia. That is what the symbols on your uniform say, yes? I. Cannot go with you. Yet." Yotruyan made an exaggerated gesture with his head, knowing that Terrans had a hard time telling just what he was looking due to his skull's geometry. He pointed is nose to the Admiral, Madman Genius and Pilots so she would understand.
"Proactive. To be proactive, I must court your ranking members and foster good relationships with your people." The Ottyo wrung his fingers in a gesture that seemed oddly out of place on something like himself. "I would come with you, but not right away. I must speak. Could you, stay? While I do so?" he pleaded.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:10 pm
He shook his head, and waved his hand to dismiss the whole thing. "If you want to apologize, just remember what I said." Then he glanced at the supposedly sleeping Lieutenant. "Well if that whole ordeal didn't wake him, then no, he doesn't. I can count the people that know on two hands, if it makes you feel special."
She was about to say, "If you want to foster good relationships, come with me! I know the place!" Instead, she listened and gave into his request in the end. "Alright, Mr. Ottyo, I shall." Arcadia strode alongside Killy toward her comrades with a soft smile.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:25 pm
As Cibo got onto her knees, she spoke. "I'll try." The intelligence agent took out a special cloth from a small pouch on her belt, and gripped the broken blade with it. The cloth was designed specifically for handling the mono-molecular blades frequented by knife users, and wouldn't easily be cut. "It's harder than it sounds though. I know it's crazy, but it's true. I got to where I was because I was...disrespectful." Cibo gently wiggled the blade until it came free and slid out; she wrapped it up in the cloth and tied it off with a zip tie to ensure it wouldn't slip out.
As Cibo got up, she eyed Garrett seriously. "You're funny Garrett. I got a feeling a court marshal couldn't give to me from you."
****
The Ottyo eyed Arcadia for a moment. He tilted his head to the side before giving a few light chirps and going off to the small group. With the black silk pack on his back, and an arm holding onto the cooler, he approached Admiral Sean first.
"Greetings."
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:46 pm
Sean was now watching as his grandson started giving directions to his subordinate. He knew that Steven had been promoted to the rank of Captain, but he now took a step back and looked at his grandson in a new light. “Oh Marcus, you would be so proud of how your son turned out. He looks just like you,” he thought to himself. He sighed and took a deep breath.
He was snapped out of his reminiscing by the sudden greeting. He turned around and was going return the greeting when he saw who had issued it. He was momentarily caught off guard but quickly regained his authoritative demeanor.
“You must be the Ottyo liaison. Yotruyan, correct?” Sean asked. The Admiral, now standing straight up, did not even compare in height to the alien.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:02 pm
The Ottyo gave an affirmative "Churr." from his throat as the feather crest widened a little in excitement. His free hand reached up to the Admiral's chest height, but twitched as he stopped it from going any higher, staying his cultural greeting and attempting to replace it with a handshake. "Kerning-Admiral. It is a pleasure to meet you. The Shipmistress-Admiral of this vessel said that--" The Ottyo's sentence stopped cold as he froze, next, sniffing the air.
"You have your young one here? Is that correct?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. Yotruyan spoke in a lower tone, emulating how Terrans varied their voices. "I was not aware Terrans remained...active for so long."
A "Gak." sound came from his throat next.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:38 pm
Sean paused for a moment as he processed the question. Then he leaned forward as though he were about to tell a secret. “If you are referring to what I think you are, that is my grandson. The young one of my young one,” Sean said. He then cleared his throat and also lowered his tone. “And you would be surprised just how long we Terrans remain…active.”
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