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witharsenicsauce · 5 years ago

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Chosen Stories From the War #22: The Children and The Forest

“A distress signal?”

Jane and Bradford looked over the Commander’s shoulder at the data pad in her hands. Zhang sat on the couch across from them, staring at them; He was still leaning a bit on his cane. “Are you planning to bring home more aliens, Sunny?”

“Dunno.” Senuna said, pressing the off button and laying the data pad on her desk. “Depends on if they want to come aboard or not...or if they’re even aliens.”

Zhang raised a brow. “Could they be human?”

“The distress signal was weird. It came from a UFO but…” Jane shifted on one leg. “It’s different somehow. The commands are coming through in English. Regular ADVENT ships only use Etheric.”

“So there must be English speakers on board.” Senuna said. “Which means humans.”

“Possibly humans.” Bradford clarified. “The aliens on board could be using English to disguise their commands. Make it harder for ADVENT to find them.”

“Zhang, what do you think?” Senuna said. “I pushed past you on the issue of Verge and the Skirmishers. I want YOU to make this decision.”

“Yes.” He said warily. “And you know how I feel…”

“We all felt that way once.” Jane said curtly. “But the more you talk to these people, the more you realize they’re trying to regain their home. Just like us.”

Zhang stiffened. “...But is it their home, Jane?”

“It is now.” Bradford sighed.

Zhang pondered this. “...Aliens or not, that is a distress signal. And I still remember our motto.” He stood, his legs still weak and teetering. “This, perhaps, would be a good chance to test the Sectoid, I think. See where his loyalties truly lie.”

“Don’t look directly into the sun, Kon-Mai.” Someone said behind her. “You’ll be blinded.”

Kon-Mai startled, blinking herself back to attention. “I was not.” She said as she rubbed her sore eyes. That was a lie. The rising sun had seemingly called her out of bed early that morning. It’s warmth was infectious.

Savitr smiled up at her. “You seem to have been distracted recently. Ever since the mission to Georgia.”

“Have I?” She shook her head. “I know where my mind wanders to. I am completely in control.” She smiled. There were few warm thoughts she had from her time with ADVENT, but those that were there, she took refuge in. The few times she and her brothers had worked together...those were good memories.

“The crevices of your mind must be a fascinating place then, if you can spend hours just thinking.” Savitr sighed. “I have so little in there, myself.”

She scoffed. “Petty excuses. You have as much thought as I or anyone else.”

“Not memories though.” He shrugged. “I’m merely a clone, no past life before this.”

Kon-Mai fell very silent. “...So your lack of memories makes you a clone?”

“Not exactly but…” He swallowed. “I suppose it is a symptom.”

She scoffed. “Well, I have good reason to believe I am a clone as well, then. I have no memories of any past.”

“But you said-”

“Before ADVENT.” She clarified. “My mind, my…‘human’ life is a blank slate. Perhaps there’s nothing to remember.” She realized she was shaking and willed herself still.

“Does the topic upset you?” He beckoned her to walk with him, and surprisingly, she did. “I knew your brothers had past lives, but you, Kon-Mai Mordenna, you seemed to come out of thin air.”

She did not know what to say to that. “The scientists never told me.” She finally answered. “And I never found any reason to ask. My life was the Elders’.”

“Your brothers do not share your opinions, it seems.”

“My brothers are…very human.” She looked up. “I do not have such luxuries.”

“I would disagree.” He mused. “I think you are more than human.”

She began to snarl, but he held up a hand.

“What I mean is...you are kind, and tender and caring. You are brilliant and quick, and I have heard you speaking to the Darkstrider, keeping up with your brother’s wit. And he is quite intimidating. That takes talent.” He smiled. “I think you are a good person, Kon-Mai. I wish more humans were like you.”

“What brought all this on?” She asked.

“You seemed to be distressed after the last mission.” He admitted. “And I never had the chance to tell you-”

“Kon-Mai Mordenna, please report to the Skyranger. Kon-Mai Mordenna, please report to the Skyranger.” The loudspeaker sang out.

Kon-Mai looked down at Savitr with sympathy. “I’m afraid I must depart.”

His face fell, but he nodded, bowing to her. “Then I will see you soon, Kon-Mai.”

She sighed, but he could see her slight smile. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For calling me by my real name.”

“You excited?”

Verge straightened up and looked at Gur-Rai, who was watching him from the door. His arms were crossed, and his pistol hung loosely on his finger, where he was twirling it.

“Excited might not be the right word…” Verge ran his hands over the Kevlar armor, tailored to his...unique stature. “I am more anxious.”

“Oh, don’t you worry~” Gur-Rai chuckled. “It’s a scouting mission. Chances are, there won’t even be any enemies.”

Verge looked up at his tall blue friend. “And yet, the Commander sends down all three of her Chosen?”

“We enjoy spending time together.” He shrugged. “Plus, extra protection for you, Verge. You should be happy.”

“Yes. So happy.” Verge picked up the pair of pants and held them up to the light, examining them. “...I do not want to wear this.”

“Well Bradford said no streaking.”

“Why? I have no genitals for humans to be offended by.”

“That is true. But you know what you DO have?” Gur-Rai poked the Sectoid’s scars. “Squishy, squishy organs. And that Kevlar is going to protect those organs from going pop.”

Verge fell silent. He had never considered that. “It feels strange.”

“The Kevlar? I agree, it sucks. Maybe Kon-Mai can sew up something better for you.”

“No.” Verge mused. “To be treated as something...valuable. Not expendable.”

Gur-Rai blinked, nodding his head slowly. “I know what you mean there.”

“Do you?” Verge looked like he didn’t believe him.

“Oh trust me.” Gur-Rai let out a low growl. “My parents made it clear, they’d reclaim me without shedding a single tear if I ever stepped out of line.”

Verge’s face was unreadable as Gur-Rai spoke, and he laid the Kevlar back on the table. “I am sorry.”

“No, no.” He patted Verge on the back, softly, so he did not hurt him. “Don’t be sorry for me. I got out...mostly unscathed. I have my brother and sister, I have a job I love, and one of these days I will kick my dickhead dad in the face. I’d say life is good~”

Verge’s black eyes met Gur-Rai’s smiling purple ones. “...That is a wonderful outlook.” He mused. “Maybe someday I shall share it.”

“Oh, you will.” Gur-Rai slapped him on the back. “Now suit up, Private. We have a plane to catch.”

“Yes, Sir.” Verge chuckled.

The Skyranger seemed to almost shudder as it grew closer to the deep, green sea of trees. Firebrand came on the speaker and gave a “WHOOO-EEE!”, laughing as the chopper seemed to drop a bit. “She ridin’ feisty today!”

“Please get us there fully intact!” Dhar-Mon called to the front, holding onto the seats around him for dear life. Funnily enough, Verge seemed to barely notice the drops and bobs, though Gur-Rai was sure that the Sectoid would have been terrified by it…

“Sorry, sorry.” Firebrand giggled. “I don’t control the winds!”

Malinalli scooted along the seats and wrapped her arm in Dhar-Mon’s. “Hold onto me.” She smiled up at him. “I won’t let you fall.”

He did not protest; in fact there was no hesitation as he wrapped his other hand around her arm as well, and she seemed to anchor the two in place.

Kon-Mai took a deep breath, opening her eyes and looking up from her meditative state. “Does anyone else hear something strange…?”

There was silence for a moment. Then Verge spoke: “Yes...it sounds like talking.”

“Maybe the speakers are bugging out again.” Malinalli put forth. “This vehicle is old, after all…”

Kon-Mai did not look satisfied with the answer, but she could not say anything before the Skyranger shuddered again, and began to descend.

“The signal is coming from around here somewhere!” Firebrand called. “If you can’t pick it up, just call me back. I’ll be circling.”

“Thanks, Bryni!” Malinalli called as the door to the Skyranger opened. She stood up and stretched. “Come on, gang!”

The four aliens followed the one human out of the chopper and onto...what once was grassy plain. Now, it was mostly small trees and quickly growing shrubbery that was transforming into jungle. In fact it seemed as though the trees from the forest were closing in around them, even in this sunny patch where they stood. Winding vines spread out across the dirt and grass, overtaking what buildings had been there. Ahead of them, a faded sign that said Welcome to Kakamega Forest in white letters was hanging sideways from one chain, the other having snapped. The green overhang it had been attached to had fallen to the side, smashing open the ranger’s station.

The four of them surveyed the damage, and Malinalli smiled. “Looks nice.”

“Nice?” Verge looked at her like she was insane. “It looks nice?”

“Well, I’m not saying I’d like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely!” She stepped forward, hands on her hips. “You know this rainforest was endangered before the Elders arrived. Now look at it.”

“I think the people who died in the invasion would take issue with that statement.” Verge hugged himself. “Does the survival of this forest outweigh those lost?”

“I didn’t say that.” Malinalli snapped. “Just...that it’s ironic. Not that it’s a good thing.”

“Furthermore.” Verge said. “This forest could be full of dangerous creatures. Dangerous to humans especially.”

Gur-Rai put an arm around his, by comparison, smaller friend and winked at him. “Don’t worry, Verge, I’ll keep you safe from the tree monsters.”

“Yay.” Verge sighed.

Kon-Mai went to examine the ranger’s station. “There are supplies here that XCOM could use. Should we take them?”

“I don’t wanna traipse through the woods carrying a bunch of boxes.” Gur-Rai said, his arm still around Verge. “Let’s hide them though, come back for them later.”

“Molly, would you-” Kon-Mai didn’t have a chance to finish speaking before a cacophony of birds exploding through the trees caused everyone in the party to jump out of their skins in fright. Within seconds, Kon-Mai had her sword in her hand, and Dhar-Mon had reached for Malinalli to pull her behind him. Verge squished his body closer to Gur-Rai. Silence hung for a moment.

“...Something startled them.” Dhar-Mon growled. “I fear we are not alone out here.”

“You are right, Brother.” Kon-Mai said, sword in hand. “Shall I call Firebrand?”

“No…” Gur-Rai said. “Someone in that UFO sent that distress signal, yes? Best not leave them hanging!”

“What if the inhabitants try to kill us?” Verge asked.

“Well, in UFO’s there are aliens. And we’re aliens too, so they’ll probably see us as kin~”

“Um-”

“Yes, Molly, I know. Shut up.”

“What if our ‘brethren’ decide to kill us?” Verge asked.

“Then I’ll kill ‘em first.” Gur-Rai winked.

Kon-Mai seemed to sigh. “Then let us go.” She finally put her sword away. “And hope that no one else is joining us today.”

“Firebrand.” Dhar-Mon said into his comm. “Can you still see us?”

“Clear as day!” Firebrand’s voice echoed through the comm. “But those trees are awfully thick. I’ll try to keep visual, but keep a note of where y’all’s coordinates are.”

“We shall certainly try.” Kon-Mai said, and beckoned to the others. She took one step towards the forest, the trees seeming to lean in towards her as she walked.

Verge finally let go of Gur-Rai, who pouted. “Aw, leaving so soon? I thought we had something~”

When Verge turned pink, the Chosen laughed.

The trees grew thicker as they kept on walking, and the thick green canopy seemed to blot out the very sun. The party slogged through the wet jungle, the branches seeming to reach out to grab them at every turn. Bugs buzzed around their heads, causing distraction and annoyance all around. Kon-Mai was in the lead, cutting through the thick vines effortlessly with her sword.

Verge looked over his shoulder. “Shrinemaiden, did we not pass that tree before?”

“I don’t believe we did.” Kon-Mai stopped and listened. “...No, I do not recognize these bird sounds.”

“Maybe they’re singing a different song this time ‘round.” Gur-Rai smirked.

“Who is in the lead, Brother? You? No.” She smirked. “I know where we are going. I can lead us just fine.”

“I’m sure you can, Mom~”

“Please don’t call me that.”

“Why? You’re too young to be a Grandma-”

Dhar-Mon whacked Gur-Rai on the back of the head, causing Malinalli to snicker. “You are too old to be acting like a five year old.” He scolded his brother. “And yet, here we are.”

“Shrinemaiden.” Verge said again. “I am certain we have been this way before.”

“No, we have not.” She snapped. “Why ever would you think that?!”

“Because…” He pointed to the ground. Along the path they were walking, in front of them, were a line of footprints. Their own footprints.

The group stared ahead at it, Kon-Mai rubbing her eyes. Dhar-Mon put a hand on her shoulder. “Let me lead, Sister. I am the Eldest of the Chosen, and therefore have a natural sense of direction.”

“Oh sure.” Gur-Rai crossed his arms. “Like that one time in Bighorn-”

“Do not speak of that, that was an honest mistake.” Dhar-Mon snapped. “And I believe it was you who decided to shoot the Gatekeeper, Gur-Rai.”

“Yes I did, but that was after you got us lost.”

“Boys.” Malinalli said. “I hate to be that person, but it is getting dark. If we don’t find the UFO soon-”

“Yes, yes.” Dhar-Mon patted her shoulder. “You are right, Malinalli. Come, I shall lead.”

Gur-Rai rolled his eyes and fell into step beside Kon-Mai. “He’s gonna get lost.”

“Maybe you should lead.” She mumbled. “You are a hunter, are you not?”

“A hunter, not a tour guide.” He said. “I’m just here to kill things.”

Kon-Mai shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder if you shall ever change, Brother.”

“I sincerely hope so~”

The sun sank beneath the mountains, casting it’s orange rays across the savanna, but the group would not have seen it anyway. From their view, all they saw was the green of the trees fading into blue, and then various shades of grey and black as their main light source disappeared from the sky.

Gur-Rai pulled a flashlight off his belt and turned it on, and Kon-Mai seemed to be walking with her eyes closed, relying on her excellent hearing to guide her. She gasped, darted forward and caught Dhar-Mon before he stepped down. “Snake. Do not move.”

“A viper?!” He hissed.

“No.” She almost chuckled. “A small snake.” She waited a moment. “Step back. Slowly.” As he did, she pulled her sword and felt along the ground with the tip, lifting the tiny, colorful snake up by her blade. In the darkness, all they could see was a writhing worm-like creature, which Kon-Mai held at arm's length for a moment before tossing it into the trees.

“It is safe now.” She said.

“Is it?” Verge asked. “There are many dangerous things in this forest, not including anything we might find in the UFO.”

“Well, the pathway is clear.” Kon-Mai gestured ahead.

“We cannot be sure of that.” He replied. “We cannot see.”

“I can hear.” She sighed. “I assure you, we are-” They all broke off as a loud rustling in the bushes echoed through the dark trees.

“Look, it’s dark, it’s cold, we’re all on edge and I don’t see any UFO’s out here.” Gur-Rai held up his hands. “Why don’t I put in a call to Firebrand?”

“That is unnecessary.” Kon-Mai said with a sigh, but her brother was fiddling with his comm while she shifted on her leg, taking up a more relaxed stance.

“Bryni, this is Gur-Rai.” He said. “We need a pickup, things are dark and spooky out here.”

Kon-Mai listened in. There was silence for a good, long moment.

“Firebrand, this is Darkstrider.” He waited in silence again. “Firebrand, come in.”

“Is she not answering?” Malinalli asked.

“Um…” He dropped his hand. “Someone else try theirs.”

“Firebrand.” Dhar-Mon’s loud voice boomed. “This is the Hieromonk. We request immediate extraction.”

A full minute passed of absolute silence. Verge reached out for Gur-Rai’s arm and the Chosen took it.

“Maybe the trees are blocking the signal…” Malinalli said. “I wish it wasn’t so dark.”

“What do we do now?” Dhar-Mon asked.

“We should continue the search.” Kon-Mai asserted. “The sooner we find our target, the sooner we might return home.”

“And if we end up with injured that need an evac? And Bryni can’t find us out here?” Gur-Rai shook his head. “I say, we make camp.”

“Make...camp?” Dhar-Mon blinked.

“Oh come now, Brother. You’ve been camping before.” He nudged him. “Right?”

Dhar-Mon’s blank stare answered that question.

“Sister.” Gur-Rai turned to Kon-Mai. “Surely you have. The woods are full of those blissful shadows you like so much.”

“They are.” She admitted. “But never have I set up...sleeping arrangements in the woods.”

“Why not?” He pouted.

“Because my stronghold was a beam of light away.” She crossed her arms. “A camp had no purpose.”

Gur-Rai looked to Malinalli, who shrugged. “Technically my childhood home was a campsite. I was raised in a tent.”

“Finally some good news.” He nodded. “Can you make a fire?”

“Sure can!”

“Excellent. Brother, Sister, you two find some dry wood for our human friend to use. And Dhar-Mon, if you could find a large branch or something that would make good shelt-”

“Now wait, Brother.” Kon-Mai hissed. “Why are you suddenly giving orders?”

“Because I’ve spent whole weeks in the woods before, and could survive out here with just my bare buttocks and my hood.” He smiled, his teeth glinting in the low light.

“I don’t like the way you phrased that.” Verge said. “Please keep your clothes on.”

“Says the Sectoid.”

“If I must wear pants, so must you.”

Kon-Mai rubbed her hands together, watching from her crouched position as Malinalli began the process of starting a fire. “The forest is cold tonight…” She mused, blowing on her hands.

“Mm.” Malinalli said in agreement. “Kinda worries me…”

“Is the air here not usually this...frigid?” Kon-Mai looked around.

“Normal temperatures for the Kakamega forest should hover around 52 degrees fahrenheit at night.” Malinalli stood up, rubbing her arms. “This feels colder...Where are the boys? I need one of them to help.”

“Dhar-Mon is…” Kon-Mai looked over her shoulder. What was he doing? She could see him far behind her, messing with what looked like a bundle of sticks. “Brother? What are you doing?”

“I am making a tent!” He cried from the darkness. He sounded incredibly irritated.

“You do not know how to make a tent.” She scoffed. “Come, join us.”

“I know how and if not, I shall teach myself!” He snapped. “Now silence, Sister!”

She scoffed. “How dare he.” She muttered as she turned back to the glowing wood. “Perhaps I could help.”

“Better than anything I’ve got! Put your hands over the wood.” Malinalli said. “I need some extra psionics to give the fire a jump-start.”

Kon-Mai understood why the human nurse had preferred Dhar-Mon for this, but perhaps her own limited psionic potential would be enough. She knelt beside the hot wood and put her fingers close to it, the tingling of the energy already there licking at her fingertips. She closed her eyes, listening to Malinalli quickly rubbing the smaller stick against the larger log, her movements getting faster and faster-

“ARISE YE PARTY!” Gur-Rai’s voice cut through the quiet, breaking their concentration. Kon-Mai startled and let out a scream, the logs bursting into flame just as she tore her hands away. Malinalli only barely managed to get away in time, losing her lighter stick to the flames.

“Gur-RAI!” Kon-Mai hissed, jumping to her feet. “What is the MATTER with you?!”

“Nothing.” He said cheerfully. “I found some food out in the jungle.” He held up a handful of small, reddish-purple fruits.

“...We don’t need food.” Kon-Mai snapped. “We do not EAT!”

“WE don’t. But our little human nurse here does. And I think Verge can as well. Where is he…?” Gur-Rai turned around. “Verge!”

“I am here.” Verge grunted as he came running up towards them, holding a similar fruit. This one, though, was the size of a basketball. “My back hurts, Darkstrider.”

“Where are you finding these?” Malinalli cried, running over. “What is that?”

“Based on my limited knowledge of Earth fauna…” Verge cleared his throat and set the fruit on the ground “I believe this is from the Moraceae family.”

“So it’s a fig.” Malinalli said. “How did it get this-”

“Huge?” Gur-Rai chuckled. “I have no idea, but isn’t it amazing?! This’ll feed us for days!”

Malinalli swallowed. “...Days?”

“Well yes, Molly, we have no idea how long we’ll be lost out here. We need to start setting up our shelter.”

There was a crack, then a loud THWACK noise, and Dhar-Mon cried out in pain. As they all turned towards the sound, they saw him march confidently out of the trees, the fire illuminating his face.

And revealing the large, red mark that stretched across it, from his forehead to his chin, in the shape of a tree branch.

“I have finished making the tent.” He insisted, pointing behind him. His brother took one look over his shoulder and burst into hysterics.

“Brother.” Kon-Mai hissed.

“That is NOT a tent.” Gur-Rai said. “That pile of shit? It’s coming down with a slight breeze!”

Malinalli and Verge looked over. It really was a piece of shit: barely even a shelter, it consisted of several small sticks balanced haphazardly on a few larger ones, which were leaning precariously on a log that was suspended in the air by said branches. The entire thing teetered as it relied on itself to remain upright.

Kon-Mai whacked Gur-Rai across the head, stopping his laughter. “He MADE that for us!”

“I think it’s nice!” Malinalli said, obviously a lie but with a smile sweet enough, Dhar-Mon either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“You do?” His voice was small, like that of a child, and his eyes were large and hopeful.

“I do! It’ll keep us nice and warm tonight while Gur-Rai sleeps outside.” She smirked in his direction.

He shook his head. “After all I’ve done for you, Molly? I got you figs, for Jupiter’s sake.”

“Thanks.” She rolled her eyes. She plucked one from his grasp. “Come on, it’s getting chilly. I’m going to get warm by the fire. The one your sister was kind enough to help me with.” She smiled at Kon-Mai as she turned back to the pit. “That was impressive by the way. You’re more talented than you think.”

“I am one of the Chosen.” Kon-Mai nodded. “Perhaps Elder Bhandasura did bless me with more power than I thought.”

As the group began to gather around the fire, Malinalli mused on that. “What did he bless you with, per se?” She asked. “I’m a bit confused about how your…” She waved her hands.

“How was our conception achieved?” Kon-Mai chuckled.

“Yeah.” Malinalli began digging into a fig with her thumb. “I’m guessing it wasn’t a case of a Mommy Elder and a Daddy Elder doing the sideways tango.”

Gur-Rai chuckled and Kon-Mai seemed to blush a bit, while Dhar-Mon looked thoroughly confused.

“We were born in tubes.” Gur-Rai said. “I remember most of my birth, unfortunately. It was painful.”

Malinalli nodded somberly. “How did they do it…?”

“One of the Big Three was assigned to watch the whole thing.” He continued. “For me it was Camazotz. He designed my body, and gave me one...special talent.” He pointed to his face. “My eyes. He was very, very proud of my eyes. Vision almost like precognition, he called it.” He sat back. “But throughout the process my...other parents were brought in, too. My ‘mother’, Abyzou, gave me cunning and tenacity, a mind that could solve any problem in front of me, and a personality that does not…” He coughed. “Well, that isn’t supposed to take no for an answer. And ol’ Bhandasura, he gave me a steady hand and a grip that doesn’t shake when I hold my gun.”

“For me as well.” Kon-Mai cut in. “Though I do not remember the details of my birth, when I awoke, my parents were surrounding me.” She ran her hands over her chest, down to her stomach, along the curve of her hip. “Abyzou was the one who supervised my birth. She gave me this.”

“Gave you...hips?” Malinalli cocked her head.

“She gave me my body.” Her voice was quiet, almost like she was ashamed of it. “She was so proud of...the features I have. The things that made me…’unique’. She told me this body of mine was a gift, a jewel to be protected, delicate as glass and as tough as Cydonian Steel.” She sighed. “...And that in my reflection, was death.

“Camazotz gave me quickness, my reflexes, and the speed of a bird gliding through the air.” She smiled a bit. “And Bhandasura…” She thought for a minute. “He was never clear but...when he met me, he put a hand on my cheek…” She touched her face “and told me that I will always know love for those close to me.”

“And on your sixteenth birthday, you’ll prick your finger on a spinning wheel and fall into a deep slumber.” Gur-Rai chuckled. “Thanks, Dad. He always did love Dhar-Mon the most.”

“That is not true…” Dhar-Mon sounded so unsure, his booming voice a whisper. “What he did to me was not love.”

“Do you remember it?” Malinalli asked.

“My earliest memory was like that of my sister’s.” He admitted. “I awoke with Elder Bhandasura standing over me. I got to my feet, barely able to manage a crawl, and my parents stood over me and proclaimed me their Chosen one.”

“And what did he give you?”

“My father Bhandasura,” Dhar-Mon began “gave me this.” He held up his hand, purple energy dancing in his palm. “My powers, the knowledge of how to wield them, and the strength to nearly rival gods.” He lowered his hand. “My mother Abyzou gave me my voice, a tongue to drown the throat of war, and a voice that could silence the cosmos.”

“She did a good job, I’ll give her that.” Gur-Rai chuckled. “And what did my old dad give you?”

Dhar-Mon thought for a long time, his face lined in the dim firelight. Then finally, he spoke. “He gave me fear.” He whispered. “So I would always know that what was given to me could be taken. So I would always know where the line was, and how far I could go before I crossed it.”

“...Man.” Malinalli tossed her fig into the fire. “Fuck Camazotz! And fuck the rest of them!”

Dhar-Mon looked up at her, in shock at her language.

“What?” She asked.

“I did not expect such language from you, Malinalli.” He seemed to chuckle.

“Giving you fear as a gift?!” She spat. “Giving Kon-Mai a ‘body’? You know what I think, I think she HAD a body and Abyzou just wanted to take credit for something she had no control over!” She turned to Gur-Rai. “And I don’t know who you were before they got you, but I’m willing to bet your hand was pretty steady before all that!”

“I’ll match that bet.” He nodded.

“They gave you blue skin and some cool powers.” Malinalli sat back down. “But those...THINGS are not your parents. Abyzou is NOT your mom, and the other two are not your dads.”

“They have names.” Dhar-Mon said.

“I don’t care.” She crossed her arms. “So do you, Dhar-Mon. You have a name. And I call you that name because I lo-I respect you.” She said quickly. “I do NOT respect the Terrible Throuple.”

Gur-Rai cackled at that, nearly doubling over. Kon-Mai seemed to relax as well, leaning back against the log she sat on.

“What of you, Verge?” Dhar-Mon asked. “You have been silent, yet you are also a child of the Elders.”

Verge was quiet, picking at the red skin of the fig in his lap. “Well...I was made on an assembly line. Like all the other Sectoids.” He chuckled. “The Elders barely acknowledged my existence before my betrayal. In fact, I never saw the Three. I was under the jurisdiction of Vox Imdugud, and even then, I did not report to him directly.”

“So there are more than just the three?” Malinalli asked.

“There are…” Verge began to count on his fingers. “...Right now, there are eight.”

“Eight?!” She cried. “We have to kill eight Elders?”

“It has been done before.” Verge assured her. “They came to this planet with a crew of twenty.”

“...What?”

He smiled at her horror. “Your kind has killed many Elders before. You are perhaps the only who could.” He pulled his knees to his chest. “A crew of 200 Sectoids came with them on the Temple ship, to Earth. We are made of the Ethereals, born of their blood and power, but designed to be slaves.”

Now Kon-Mai looked interested. “I did not know Sectoids shared Ethereal blood.”

“Yes.” Verge nodded. “We are a race that has no homeworld of our own, no kingdoms that we rule. The Ethereals created us for one purpose. They needed slaves. We...we were those slaves.”

There was silence all around, and Malinalli scooted a bit closer. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I know how that feels. Human history has a lot of cases like that…”

“But your history is also filled with color and light.” He added. “And while oppressors may have come over ocean blue, you consistently cast off the yoke of tyranny. We Sectoids could never do that.”

“Why not?” Gur-Rai asked. “My siblings and I did, and we were literally the Chosen Ones.”

“Because you are made of human DNA.” Verge said. “Gur-Rai, you even remember bits of your human past.”

“Yeah, bits.” He shrugged. “But my brother and sister don’t, who knows where they came from.”

“He is right, Verge.” Kon-Mai said. “I do not remember a human life. Sometimes I doubt I had one at all. For all I know, I am a clone off an assembly line, just like you.”

“Oh, but Shrinemaiden.” He met her gaze. “You haven’t looked?”

There was a collective silence.

“What do you mean looked?” Dhar-Mon asked the Sectoid.

Verge looked slightly embarrassed. “You and yours have such great psionic powers. I thought you would have used it for…”

“For what, Verge?” Malinalli leaned forward.

Verge put his fig on the ground. “...Psionic energy not only comes from the individual, but from the very cosmos. We are surrounded by it, all the time, without fail.” He folded his hands. “And sometimes, this energy can be called back from...another place. Another time. And from that, we can see snippets of times gone by.”

“Like water memory.” Malinalli said.

“Yes.” Verge nodded. “If you three had any life from before, any memories from before your time as Chosen, I could, conceivably, call back those memories.”

A deep, cold silence hung in the darkness around them, just as the weight of Verge’s words settled over them. Kon-Mai seemed to fold her hands over her knees, and even Gur-Rai looked hesitant. Dhar-Mon was the only one who met Verge’s gaze.

“I would like to see.” He insisted.

“What if there’s nothing to see?” Gur-Rai said. His tone and face were hesitant and somber. “You won’t be disappointed?”

“Dhar-Mon shook his head. “It is an interesting display of Verge’s power, and a shame that a master such as myself cannot utilize it.”

“If it fails we can fall back on mine.” Malinalli piped up. “I’d love to show you all my village before it was totaled.”

Verge chuckled. “Alright then…” He held out his hands. “I will need everyone to sit close to me and join hands.”

All the party members scooted to the forest floor, staring directly into the blazing fire. Gur-Rai reached out and took his sister’s hand. She then took his and their elder brother’s hands in hers. Malinalli reached over and squeezed Dhar-Mon’s grasp like she had so long ago in the hospital, and then reached for Verge. He hesitated, looking Gur-Rai in the eye, who just stared at him with an expectant look. Finally, Verge reached over and took him as well.

The circle completed, Verge closed his eyes, and the others did the same.

“Look deep.” He said. “Find something, even if it’s just a feeling on the tip of your tongue. Something you can’t place. I will find it, and I will follow it.”

Kon-Mai squeezed her brothers’ hands. She called on that feeling deep within herself, that feeling from before when Tsiuri was in her arms, when Ismene looked up at her with a beaming smile, the feeling like all of this was so familiar. Like she had done this all before. She took a deep breath, the smell of the forest enveloping her. The wood and leaves, the whistle of the wind, insects at her feet, the cold air closing in on her…

No. It was warm. At first she thought it was the fire, but she soon realized the very air around her had shifted temperatures.

“Don’t open your eyes.” Verge said. “Follow that feeling.”

She felt something rising in her chest, like a scream. Or a laugh. Something tingling and...comforting. Gur-Rai squeezed her hand.

Then the ground beneath them disappeared, and for a moment it felt like she was falling, before she felt the crunch of forest leaves beneath her.

Kon-Mai scrambled to her feet, looking around, suddenly panicking. Her brothers were gone and, furthermore, so were her clothes. As she scrambled to cover her shame, she heard Verge’s voice behind her.

“Oh dear, that was my mistake, I apologize.” The ground beneath her feet seemed to shift, and she was once again dressed in her light armor. “I forget that not everyone can go naked like me.”

“How’d you do that?!” Kon-Mai turned and saw Malinalli and Dhar-Mon approaching where Verge stood behind her. Malinalli was clothed, but in her civilian wear, and her curly hair was loose. “When I tried something like this, Dhar-Mon and I were both naked the whole time!”

“This is all a dream, Malinalli.” He said. “And like a dream, you can control anything you desire here...to a degree.”

“Anything?” Gur-Rai emerged from behind a tree. “So I could surround myself with-”

“Yes, anything you desire. Food, beautiful women-”

Gur-Rai shrugged. “I’m in the mood for dick today.”

The entire party groaned, and Kon-Mai walked over and gave him a gentle pinch on the ear.

“Ow.” He giggled. “So, whose memory is this?”

“I am not sure.” Verge said. “It appears your sister called it forth, but around us, I feel traces of all three of you.”

Kon-Mai looked around. These trees, this forest, it all did seem so familiar. She knew this place, intrinsically, deep in her bones. “Let us explore, then.”

They began to traverse the landscape, their shoes sliding on the leafy floor. Malinalli almost tripped and would have fallen if Dhar-Mon hadn’t caught her. Looking up at the flora above them, Kon-Mai noticed the trees around her were...quite peculiar.

“We are not in Africa anymore.” She said.

“I would assume not.” Verge replied. “Unless you have been to Africa in your youth?”

“I have been to Australia…” She looked around warily. “Please, if a koala makes its appearance-”

“Koalas are cute!” Malinalli interjected.

Kon-Mai hissed at her. “They are demons who wear skins of fur.”

Malinalli shrank back a bit, but chuckled. “Don’t like koalas, huh?”

“No.”

They left the conversation at that. The pine needles under their feet crunched silently. The Darkstrider looked up and noticed the puffs of pink and white petals. Cherry blossoms. “I wonder where we are.”

In the silence that followed his musings, there was a sound. Kon-Mai stopped, straining her ears. “Do you hear that…?”

Verge also listened, falling in beside her. “...That is the sound of a child’s laugh.”

“Huh?” Malinalli looked excited. “Which way?”

Kon-Mai gestured up a steep, green hill, the sun guarded by tall pines standing at attention. Before her brothers could stop her, she took a running start and climbed up the slope, gripping the grass like an animal. Gur-Rai followed her close behind and even managed to briefly overtake her as they got to the top and stared, shocked, across the clearing.

For a distance of a good 200 yards, there were no trees: just great, rolling mounds, upon one stood a singular tree dotted with pink and white cherry blossoms. Around that tree, three figures danced and played, like nymphs, laughing in shrill voices.

“Children.” Kon-Mai breathed quietly. And as though they could hear her whisper, they all stopped their play and turned to look at her.

It was then, as they were joined by Dhar-Mon, with Malinalli and Verge emerging some feet away, that the wave of familiarity swept over all three Chosen. The figures, though shrouded, looked to be two boys and a girl, she being the smallest of the three. The tallest stepped forward in front of the other two. The three Chosen held their gaze, unmoving. The children stared back, as though they were waiting.

Then one of them, the tiny girl, moved. And as she drew closer, Kon-Mai stepped out to meet her halfway.

The child’s eyes gazed up into her own purple ones with only curiosity, and Kon-Mai felt her chest tighten as she gazed upon her. Her skin was dark caramel: not as deep as Malinalli’s, but with hints of olive and a dark umber base. Her eyes were just as dark, their color a deep, warm chestnut, and Kon-Mai sore she saw red in them. Her black hair was not smooth, but curled in tight, fluffy coils that made her black locks resemble a cloud. She was so small and so unmistakably human. And yet, as Kon-Mai knelt down before her, she sensed something deep and old and knowing within this girl.

The child met her gaze with confidence, reached up, and put a small handful of cherry blossoms atop Kon-Mai’s head, showering her in pink petals. She heard Malinalli squeal, and Gur-Rai cackled with the absurdity.

Kon-Mai smiled at the little girl, who smiled back, giggling only a tiny bit. The child clasped her hands in front of her and bowed deeply, but as she was about to speak, someone grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.

It was one of the other children. Where the girl had been barely over four, this boy looked at least nine, but his face was wise beyond his years. He gazed warily at Kon-Mai, almost like he recognized her from somewhere. She, too, felt a sense of familiarity.

His own thick, black hair was styled in dreadlocks that reminded her of her own, back when she had worn her circlet religiously. His features resembled the girl’s but his skin was far darker, darker even than Malinalli’s skin tone. Those same chestnut-red eyes stared at her expectantly.

Then his gaze shifted behind her, where Dhar-Mon had approached them. He and the boy locked eyes, the boy almost challenging the Chosen to do, or say, something to hurt the child he’d pushed behind him. The girl hid behind this boy, looking up at him like she knew he was the only thing standing between her and the world.

“Woah, hey!” They heard Gur-Rai yell, and the eldest boy turned and called to the child now attached to Gur-Rai’s pants, trying to grab at Darkclaw. Gur-Rai managed to pull the boy off but he clung to the Chosen’s arm, intent on getting to play with the dangerous weapon. Gur-Rai pulled out the gun and held it above the child’s head. “Cut it out, kid. This isn’t a toy.”

“Genjiro!” When the eldest child called that name, it seemed to echo in the air around them, reverberating and almost tearing the whole vision asunder. The younger boy looked back at him, then up at Gur-Rai again. His eyes were lighter than the other two, as was his skin, that had more olive in it than umber. His hair, instead of the tight curls, lay in a black, floppy mat over his eyes. He smiled up at Gur-Rai, and the Chosen saw the boy had lost his front teeth recently, leaving him with an adorably menacing pair of fangs.

Gur-Rai chuckled. “When you’re older, kid.” He assured him. “Come find me when you’re older, and I’ll let you play with this.” He gestured to the other two children. “Go on, now.”

The boy dove for his leg again, but this time only to squeeze it in a tight hug. As soon as Gur-Rai was over the shock of that, the boy let go and ran back to the others, where the eldest grabbed his shoulder and spoke to him harshly about running off toward strangers.

“But they aren’t strangers!” Again, a voice rang out all around them, shaking them to their core. No other sounds could be heard, though, as the eldest took hold of the younger boy and youngest girl by their hands, and pulled them back towards the tree.

The Chosen watched the Children go, standing side by side as the Children turned once again. Kon-Mai, facing the girl, smiled, shyly bearing serrated teeth. The girl met her eyes, a smile on her lips, like she had reunited with a loved one long lost.

Under the wind and sky and cherry tree, they all stared at each other. It felt like an eternity.

Then a loud sound, like shriek, cut the sky in two. This vision collapsed and Kon-Mai’s eyes flew open when she was in front of the fire again, in the darkness of the woods. Beside her, Gur-Rai scrambled to his feet and pulled Darklance off his back.

“Get under cover!” Dhar-Mon ordered Malinalli and Verge. “We are being ambushed!”

The Sectoid hissed and clenched it’s fist at this traitor that looked like them, but wore clothes and scurried away like a scared rat. They had Verge pinned, his back against a tree as three of his former comrades surrounded him. This time, though, he would not be deterred. He held out his hand, a miasma of purple energy surrounding his fist…

Just as he lashed out at one, however, the Sectoid to his left hit him with a psionic blast of their own. His vision went white and he slumped against the tree, feeling the other two tugging at his armor to get it off.

“I don’t recall him giving consent.” Gur-Rai’s voice cut through the chaos. One of the Sectoids shrieked, and it’s body fell on top of Verge. Another ran away, and the third decided to die a hero and launched itself at Gur-Rai.

Bad idea. While the Darkstrider was weaker at close combat, the shadow behind him drew her sword and sliced the Sectoid in two.

Malinalli ran over to Verge and checked his pulse, doing the math quickly in her head. “Stay down. They hit you hard.”

“We must run.” Verge croaked. “More are coming…”

“How did they find us?” Kon-Mai asked.

“They came for the distress signal.” Gur-Rai grumbled. “Looks like ADVENT got here before we did.”

“Entos mavopis.” Kon-Mai hissed. “If our rescuees are not already dead, they shall be soon.”

“I have located the wreckage of the UFO.” Dhar-Mon said, approaching them. His hammer was covered in orange blood, and his robe was slightly torn. “They attempted to hide; the cloak seems to still be operational. Luckily, I can see through such petty tricks.”

“Good work, Brother.” Gur-Rai nodded. “Let see if anyone is still alive in there.”

“Someone must stay here to guard Verge and Molly.” Kon-Mai insisted.

“I’ll be fine.” Malinalli said. “I have my own pistol.”

“Yeah, so did Shammy.” Gur-Rai said. “What happens if a Chryssalid shows up?”

Malinalli sneered at him, then lifted her hand. A bubble of green psionic energy covered her and Verge, and she smiled as she dropped it again, the bubble disappearing. “That’ll happen.”

Gur-Rai and Kon-Mai both blinked in shock, and Dhar-Mon smiled at her in pride. “I see you have been practicing diligently.”

“I always do your homework before any of the other teachers.” She giggled. “Now please, the sooner you three find the ship, the sooner we can find our way out of here and go home.”

Kon-Mai nodded at her brothers. “Shall we?”

“They won’t know what hit ‘em~” Gur-Rai chuckled.

Dhar-Mon raised his hammer in his hands and took off into the trees, his siblings close behind.

Kon-Mai raised her arm to protect herself from the Viper screaming in her face. Instead of the terrified reaction the Viper clearly expected, Kon-Mai gave her a look of annoyance and pulled her dagger from her belt, jamming it into the roof of the viper’s open mouth and into her brain. Behind her, she saw a flash of purple, and heard Dhar-Mon shouting in Etheric.

She let the viper drop. “Gur-Rai?! Tell me your location!”

“Duck!” Was the only thing he said in return. Kon-Mai dropped into a crouch, and the Sectoid that had been about to leap onto her was hit with the piercing red bullet of her brother’s rifle. It dropped to the ground, gurgling as it died.

She waited in the silence for a moment. “...Is that all?”

Dhar-Mon put his hammer back up on his back and approached her, holding his hand out to help her to her feet. Gur-Rai dropped down from the trees and put his gun away, whistling.

“Are you alright?” Dhar-Mon checked his younger sister’s arms. “You are not hurt?”

She shook her head. “Gur-Rai shot them down before they could harm me.”

On that cue, Dhar-Mon went to check on his little brother, who loudly objected. “I’m fine, I’m fine, this isn’t my blood!”

“Hold still!” Dhar-Mon scolded, trying to use his finger to wipe the blood away.

“I’ll be fine. We’re already here, anyway.” He gestured to the...very dinky flying saucer. “That’s what we’re here for? Kinda...small, isn’t it?”

Dhar-Mon sighed. “Yes. But these early scout ships often are.”

“Perhaps there are supplies within.” Kon-Mai approached it slowly, her hand raised as though something was going to come shooting out of it at any moment. When nothing inside moved, she touched the smooth surface.

“Unrecognized signature. Please identify.”

Kon-Mai tore her hand away, gasping. Gur-Rai’s eyebrow shot up. “It works!”

“Unrecognized signature. Please identify.” The computerized vice repeated. The saucer blinked expectantly.

“You heard it, Sister.” He said. “Who are you?”

She thought for a moment. “This is before our time. It will not know me as Kon-Mai.”

“Yes…” He smiled. “But maybe it will know Mordenna.”

She grimaced, stepping away. “I can’t.”

“Sister-”

“I can’t. I am sorry…” She retreated over to her brothers.

“Do not worry, Sister.” Dhar-Mon said as he approached the machine, laying his hand on the pearly surface.

“Unrecognized signature. Please identify.”

“...Madron.” He said, his voice heavy. “I am...Madron.”

“Welcome, Bhandasura.” The door slid open and Dhar-Mon staggered back, shaken by the words the machine spoke.

Kon-Mai sank into a crouch. “It thinks we are our parents…” She began. She did not finish the thought.

Dhar-Mon wrapped an arm around her, while Gur-Rai began to climb inside the tiny ship, half buried in the dirt. “I am sure it is mistaken, Sister.” Dhar-Mon assured her. “This machine is very old. It probably thinks the Sectoids are Ethereals.”

Kon-Mai did not look convinced. “Or perhaps I am simply a clone, grown in a vat from the Elder’s blood. Perhaps I have no true birth mother, and Abyzou and her twisted ‘love’ are the only frame of reference I have.”’

“Oh, nonsense.” He patted her shoulder. “What did we see in the forest just now?”

“I don’t know.” She said. “Perhaps we saw what we simply WANTED to see.”

“And yet, I was human once.” He assured her. “And it still thought me Vox Bhandasura. This machine is old and mistaken.” He ran a hand through her hair. “You are nothing like the Elders.”

That did not seem to console her, and thankfully his brother emerged with something in his hands.

“Is there anyone inside?” Dhar-Mon asked.

Gur-Rai shook his head. “No dead, so that’s good. It looks like they managed to make it out before ADVENT got here.”

“That is good.” Kon-Mai nodded and got to her feet. “What are you holding?”

“Check it out.” The Darkstrider came over to the other two, holding out a very small, black brick.

“What is that?”

“This is an old Samsung Galaxy s6.” He said. “It’s a...smartphone. Like a data pad but you can also call people, and watch videos and shit.” He turned it sideways. “I popped the back off, and it still looks like it should work.”

“And the significance of this is what, Brother?” Dhar-Mon asked.

“Well, for one thing I can probably hotwire this to contact Firebrand.” He said. “If I connect it with my own comm it’ll give me a signal boost. We might be able to push through whatever is blocking us.”

“And then we may finally escape this forest.” Kon-Mai sounded relieved. “Thank goodness.”

“Yep.” Gur-Rai pushed and held the power button on the phone, and it buzzed as it came to life. “Huh, it’s still got battery.”

His siblings crowded around him as the phone came to life. As it did, they all gasped in surprise at the image that decorated the lock screen.

“Is that Senuna?” Kon-Mai asked.

It definitely was a picture of Senuna. Her hair was shorter and slightly curly, but she looked just as young and chipper as she did when they last saw her on the ship. She was standing on a beachside pier, arm-in-arm with another woman, her darker green eyes framed by short brown hair.

“Well that’s no doubt the Commander.” Gur-Rai chuckled. “Who’s she with there?”

“You two really are so young, to not remember” Dhar-Mon shook his head.

“Not remember what?” They both looked up at him.

“That woman has been a search priority for ADVENT for years.” He took the phone and held the picture up to the light. “This woman is Dr. Moira Vahlen.”

(Dun dun DUN!

In this chapter, we saw Senuna asking Zhang for his opinion on potentially bringing alien recruits on board the Avenger. Zhang seemed to agree, on the condition Verge was sent out, in order to “test his loyalty.” Upon getting to the Kakamega Forest, the gang gets lost, and are unable to call Firebrand before it gets dark. Malinalli and Gur-Rai set up a camp fire, Kon-Mai uses her psionic powers to help start said fire, and the Chosen discuss the gifts they received from the Elders at their birth: Gur-Rai received his eyes from Camazotz, his mind from Abyzou, and his steady hand from Bhandasura. Kon-Mai received her quickness from Camazotz, her body from Abyzou, and an unclear blessing of love from Bhandasura. Dhar-Mon got his powers from Bhandasura, his voice from Abyzou, and an overwhelming sense of fear from Camazotz. It is also revealed that Sectoids are created from Ethereals on the home world, in order to be slaves for them.

Upon hearing this, Kon-Mai voices her fear that she may be a clone as well. Verge takes the Chosen back through their memories, where they encounter three young children playing by a tree. They share a small conversation, but before anything is revealed, the gang is ambushed by ADVENT. They fight off the aliens and find the UFO, which is now empty. However, one thing remains inside: a phone with a picture of Commander Senuna and Dr. Moira Vahlen arm in arm.

A lot of stuff was revealed today, but the gang may have more questions than answers.)

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#xcom #xcom 2 #xom au #au #barely lore friendly #xcom assassin #chosen assassin #chosen hunter #chosen warlock #xcom war of the chosen

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