Porthos furiously pressed the buttons on Cass' panel. "Come on Cass! open up! I'm here to say hi to the birthday dude." He had a bottle of whiskey for the big guy. "Ceph?! Bro! Open up!"

Cass had placed a pillow over her head to try and drown out the insistent knocking and wailing on her poor door. She and Ceph had did as much as possible to help him celebrate his birthday (which the poor man had forgotten was that day due to the time and year differences of growing up and all that). Ceph found the commotion rather amusing and pressed a small kiss to Cass’ fingers.

“I will deal with him. He’s nice when he wants to be and I think this is one of those times. You rest, alright my dearest Heaven Queen.” He readjusted the blanket around her before going and opening the door, smiling.

“Ah, Porthos. It’s always nice to see you, how can I help you today? Is that contraband?”

portalipsis:

“Ceph…..I mean Othniel misses me?”Chris smiled upon hearing someone he looked up to even remembered him. He was also delighted with news that Annie and Nina worked out. Nina must have been that shy fighter Io since Annie never seemed to show similar interest in anyone else. The ice moon was definitely strange. Miya brought the little potato up and really he only had the previous phone call to go by since he hadn’t spoken to Annie for quite some time. “Oh she said her brother is being nice. I’d have to go over there and kick him as well if he starts anything. He seems nice enough though.” 

“Man I feel that. I gained so much weight when I got back to the states.” He cracked his neck and then ran a hand over it. They had both been through so much and for whatever reason looking around the bar made him question if it was all worth it. Did any of the patrons know of the sacrifices made out in space? He doubted it. “Wait I thought you were a witch.” The tone he used gave away just how silly he was and a grin crossed his features. He rested his hand on his hip. “My sleep schedule would be fine if I didn’t sleep so much now. It’s like I’m making up for old times.” A chuckle escaped him when she mentioned the sun. “Yeah and then there are these little critters called birds that scream at the orb in the sky at the top of their small lungs.” 

Oh so they were getting married. Both Othniel and Miya seemed so lucky to have one another. Naturally Chris kept his childish emotions to himself. There was no reason to cause a scene because he felt a tinge of jealousy. “That’s great! Let me know what the plans are if I’m invited.” He raised his brow at her. “Extreme deadly wildfire? Are you guys having your wedding in hell?” Silently, he thought that it must have been where Miya was from. 

“Well engines aren’t terribly boring…I just had no interest in them or anything else.” He searched behind the bar for the barkeep and raised his hand to get their attention. They held up a finger to indicate they would be over shortly. “You went through a green phase? Why? That’s just so weird.”

“Yeah he misses yah, mate! Thinks of yah as a bro or some weird male thing.” she folded her hands under her chin, grinning like a fiend. So Chrissie Poo didn’t know that Othniel missed his lazy rear? “I think Anne would have an entire legion’s worth of men ready to kill her brother for ‘er if she ordered it. Lifts a finger and there’s all those men, ready to pounce. Truly a lady of ice.”

Her hand went to her chest, a gasp sounding. “I am no witch! sure I messed with the cards but I am not the type to each small children! I know that’s what you were thinking. Oh my god, the birds!” Miya places her hands over her ears, rolling her eyes. “Those Satan spawn just scream and steal mah damn chips! Those are my chips, birds of hell!”

“You are invited you dweeb, just when we have the date is when the invites go out. As for the hell comment, close! Australia is known to be kinda, hellish. I mean, maybe it won’t be in Aussie? Who knows, we’re still trying to figure out everything you know?” She shook her head, chuckling. Chris certainly was an interesting man.

“I don’t get them too too much. I knew them well enough to survive the war and all that but Anne and Oth are just, they say all these words and phrases. Chris, I am a Bio major. Do you think I understand a damn thing those two are saying? No, I don’t!”

portalipsis:

Chris could tell that Miya had maintained her health after coming back. It was evident in the way she nearly squeezed him to death. “Hey really is. I haven’t really had much time to talk to him. I’m glad you two ended up on a team. There were so many out there that didn’t work out. I called Athos recently and the little guy wouldn’t give me his birth name. I’m just glad he’s doing okay. It’s nice to have an update on everyone. I’m just glad that Jules…Phobos spends time with me here. Oh and I ran into you! How crazy is that? One second the ice moon is texting me that you’re in the states and the next thing I know, you’re here. If I knew you were going to throw a surprise attack, I would have brought a foil with me.”

“Oh man.” He laughed and rubbed the side of his head. “Going back and trying to change your sleep schedule is the worst. Then there’s this new battle I have to face against junk food here that I never had to worry about up there.” Chris knew better than to ask about the royal pair or their personal lives. There was no way she hadn’t seen Ceph without his shirt on. It was the fastest Chris had ever dropped a subject. He did wish that someday he could lift as much as Othniel, but he would have to keep training and do his best to avoid unhealthy snacks.

Without much thought, he reached for Miya’s hand. “Vodka! Do I look like some Sex In The City girl that actually likes to taste my drinks? Wait. Do not answer that.” A small gasp came from his lips as he looked at the source of the sparkling. “I freaking knew it.” She mentioned where Othniel lived and he couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live on Venus with its ridiculous heat that came in waves. He frowned and let go of her hand. “Annie spoke to Othniel about engineering? I mean I know she never slept, but well, I guess she did have more time to talk to him.” Miya shook her hair out. “Oh god. Please tell me you didn’t try any seriously unnatural colors.” He thought she might look good with purple….There was no need to encourage her. A few seconds later, he gestured for her to follow him as he went to the counter. “How about I buy the first round and you tell me about your wedding? Any date set yet?” He also tried to fit in with other navigators by pretending he didn’t enjoy things like partying. Then he was back on Earth looking for the nearest bartender. 

“I am too. He’s been so wonderful ever since the day I met him and I cherish him so much, Chris. He misses you actually.” She laughs. “I know. I know that Anne and Nina worked out, I and my Oth but others just weren’t really all that great of matches I fear. How is Little Annie the Ice Queen of Schaan? Do I need to fly and kick in that brother of hers’ face in yet?” She cracked her knuckles as if to announce her point being serious.

“Oh the junk food fight! Trust me do I get that one.” She laughs. “When I came back, my parents just, they fuckin’ made all these sweets and it was like ‘Mother, Father, why have you forsaken me and are trying to fatten me up? Do you want me to be eaten by a witch?’  And the sleep schedule is just a horror! There’s an actual sun to wake you up and you’re just like, tha fuck there mate? You wanna go?” She just shook her head, laughing at his excitement over her ring. She held the hand up once more, the moon stone and opals glittering in the dim light.

“Yep. Othniel popped the question to me and naturally I said yes. No dates yet but we want our friends from the ship to be there. Anne wants to play the piano for it, I rather her be in the actual party, yah know? Othniel is fretting and making himself a list but no major plans yet. Say, how do you feel about extreme heat and extremely deadly wildlife?” She agreed to the round and followed him up.

“Yeah, they blabbered about engines all the time, even to this day. He’ll video her and they’ll sit there talking about this and that and something involving a rotating thinger. And I tried all sorts of colors, there’s an entire album entitled ‘Miya’s color journey’. My favorite is the puke green phase. It was a riot! But I’ll probably go back to natural when the wedding comes, yah know?”

portalipsis:

Obvious disappointment showed on Chris’ face as Miya mentioned Othniel wasn’t with her, but at least they were still on the phone. “Ah. I’m glad he’s doing well and I really miss everyone. It’s like you’re forced to be on a ship with people and then forget them when you get home. We all risked our cute asses.” There was a breath not unlike a chuckle going to Chris’ receiver. He was standing near her and had to hold back laughter as she stared at her phone. Hopefully she was pissed with him. 

Without being able to see her face full of what he assumed would be rage, she jumped on him for what felt like would be a fight. Then his face relaxed within the millisecond after. Of course he had to smile again when she mentioned his muscles. “Yeah you think I would stop going to the gym just because I got off of that fuckfest of a ship?” After lifting a sleeve, he flexed. “Okay but I already know your husband is probably still jacked.” She called him dear and it was so strange to hear. “It’s good to see you and to beat you in yet another arm wrestling contest.” He looked around the room while thinking about what his australian friend’s life might be like. They were both known as the royal pair and not a single day went by without them appearing so very close. Chris knew even back then that he wanted something similar. 

“So what got your hubby into engineering? Oh and what are we drinking? Did you think I came out to the strip to stay sober? Ridiculous. Now when are we fighting?” It was better not to dwell on the past.  “Wait. Hold on. Give me just two seconds.” He pulled away from her and stared her down for a few seconds. Then he had to grab her upper arms and turn her slightly from one side to the other. “Did you do something to your hair?” Honestly it was the first thing he noticed. If she weren’t still speaking earlier, he would have thought he had the wrong person.

She laughed, clearly happy at the statement. “We did and we all got the marks to prove it. At least I look fabulous still. Yeah, Othniel wanted to study and let us be. He’s too pure for this universe, Chris.” She squeezed as hard as she could in the hug.

“No of course not! It’s just, your body can be a fucker when you change your diet and hard to change back. It’s all annoying and all that. And Othniel, my boyfriend, is still totally jacked. Now that we’re not on a ship and called by those task names, I get to see that hunk without a shirt on lifting and it’s beautiful.” She grins. “Also we can be pissy and drink fancy drinks or we can get drinks with vodka in them and get as smashed as possible.” She felt her feet back on the ground before bringing her hand up to her lips for a quick laugh, a small sparkle shines in the dim lighting from her finger before the hand went back to her side.

“What got my Othniel into engineering was living on a giant floating metal island that could have died at any moment. Also Anne. Anne was a huge part in that because she’s Anne.” She laughs at the hair comment and undoes it, shaking it out. “After the war, I went nuts with trying out different colors and styles. Right now, the color of the month is burgundy! I spent the war as a blonde to fit in, may as well celebrate my freedom with color, right?”

portalipsis:

The world was far too small and Chris didn’t have all night to play hide and seek with some angry australian woman. It would seem she was smug for the time being so he could relax for a little while. It had been so long since he’s heard her voice. Then she dropped Cepheus’ birth name and it really didn’t surprise Chris that it sounded the same as someone’s taskname. “Othniel? Even his name radiates a true bro. Did he come with you to the states? I heard he guy was from Venus. How the heck does he deal with the ridiculous heat?” He leaned close this phone and kept walking towards the french bar. 

“That’s really cool. You know meeting the boyfriend’s parents for the first time can be stressful. I’m really glad everything is working out for you guys. It was always weird seeing one of you two without the other.” He couldn’t even remember if he had a decent conversation about Miya with Othniel. The hangar was about the only place they spoke and Chris could remember deleting the picture of Miya covered in love bites in front of him. 

He turned the corner and passed a strand of motorcycles resting on the sidewalk. Just ahead sat the french bar and the only disease he saw was the group stumbling out with their voices on their highest volume. “Nice. So you’re here taking a break?” After spotting someone familiar, he stepped into the bar and made his way for the wall. After hanging up on Cass, he started speaking to Miya. “Yeah coming home was pretty tough, but I got a cozy job and a quiet apartment.” He held his arms out. “Fight me.” 

“Othniel Afolayan, my darling boyfriend, did not come with us unfortunately. We invited him. Like all of us told him multiple times he was part of our family, to join us but he’s working his cute ass off to get a degree. Engineering major. He is and by pure strong will and by not wearing too many layers. My dear was heavily accepted by the family. Like my mother, bless her heart, grabbed his face and squished his cheeks in the first five minutes of meeting him. At a family party she kept introducing him as ‘Her new son-in-law’. I think they like him.” She stared at the door towards the kitchen

“Yes I am. My famil-what the hell?!” She stared at her phone, seeing that the call had ended. She figured the call dropped until she heard the voice of Chris off to her side. She grinned and pocketed her phone, immediately turning fully towards him and breaking into a sprint.

“Gladly!” She jumped, securing her arms around him and squeezing as tightly as possible, shoulder blade length burgundy hair slipped from its ponytail holder. “Damn, look at you Porty darling! Have you gotten more muscles? Won’t save you in an arm wrestling contest!” She smiled.

“It’s good to see you again, dear.”

portalipsis:

A few minutes passed and Chris assumed that Miya had answered to silence her phone or something was wrong with the signal. Then she spoke and a he smiled like an idiot. It had been such a long time since the glitter incident and even longer since the fight in the hangar. “You’re absolutely right. I’m kind of disappointed in myself as well. You think I would be on top of that annoying business.” The only annoying he wanted to do was either some form of handshake or preferably squeezing her to death in a hug. 

She mentioned Cepheus and Chris couldn’t imagine the big guy out in civilian clothing. “Wow you got me there Miya. There’s no way I could be cooler than Ceph.” He looked around. “You are absolutely kidding me! I’m right around the corner from somewhere named after a french disease. I’ll go check to see if there are any australian ladies there. How is Ceph by the way? Oh and what have you been up to? I was supposed to come back a war hero, but you know how it goes.”

Miya leaned against the wall, smiling. She missed the gossip between them, the thinly-veiled pokes. The woman looked off to her side, eyeing the door with a smirk. “I thought you would be better at such things, Chris.” She pushed up from the wall.

“Of course I do. Othniel,” she made sure to place the stress on the name to help him connect that Othniel and Cepheus were one in the same, “Was always by far the coolest man on that ship. And I managed to get to call him mine, even to this day. Othniel is good! We’re working on getting him all sorted and settled, the family loves him. He’s well accepted by my parents.” Her expression darkened slightly.

“I’ve been going and finishing up my degree is all. I want a masters in biochemical engineering. I’m here in the States on a family vacation. My parents and siblings went to watch a movie, with premise in the war. I, opted on not going. I can guess how coming home was for you. For any of us, really.”

portalipsis:

[Text to: Iced potato] 🦃 Gobble! 🦃[That’s “you’re welcome” in turkey. All Americans know it.] [Text to: Iced potato] Great! Keep it that way. The day my father tries to contact me is the day I kick my cell phone habit. [Text to: Iced potato] LOL. Drop a tear for me kay? But that’s great! [Text to: Iced potato] I mean would you prefer to take the meds? Taking pills sucks.It’s even worse if they prescribe you something clearly made for a horse.

The night wind swung around his frame, but Chris didn’t mind walking down the sidewalk on a warm night. As he heard the phone ringing, he could feel his heart racing. It wasn’t like she was going to sound any different. Cass picked up with another name. “Cass! My favorite angry lady! What’s going on? Did you miss me? Yeah it’s only the coolest guy on the Kepler. You might have known me as Porthos? Well since you blew your secret identity, it’s only fair that I do the same. The person that could totally win against you at anything right now goes by the name Chris. Now where are you and why are you in my country? I want to annoy you.” Bars buzzed with the sound of chattering every time the doors opened or closed.

Miya stood there, perfectly still as the voice rang through her phone and into her ear. She hadn’t expected to ever hear from the man she knew as Porthos. She figured at war’s end, everyone would just split and that was that. Anne kept in touch, with Anne came Nina as well. Miya swallowed thickly, situating herself to try and stay standing.

“Po-Chris. It’s been, far too long since you annoyed me properly I suppose. Also, you were not the coolest guy, that was my Fighter, please stop trying. I’m currently standing at some weird bar called ‘La Mort Rouge’? Sounds like a French name for a disease. As for why I am in America? Reasons.” She looked at her nails. This was going to be a long night.

portalipsis:

[Text to: Iced potato] GOTCHA. THANKS Annie! ! ! Don’t kill any turkeys.

Chris heard some commotion near one of the bars, but avoided the sound of it. There was no reason for him to get into that sort of trouble when he just wanted a drink and some company. Then his phone buzzed. Apparently Jules found some guy he wanted to hang out with. Chris sighed and continued walking along the strip. Each bar held it’s own lingering chatter and smells. 

[Text to: Iced potato] You get house calls? Sweet. Are they making sure you get some shut eye?

He turned a corner and had to stop. Usually how he felt about a text didn’t quite show on his face, but he couldn’t hide his frown. 

[Text to: Iced potato] I’m back in the same old apartment. Oh and my parents called me once, which was great. :| [Text to: Iced potato] Anyway so are you guys making any breakthroughs? 

Before he saw what she texted back, he dialed Miya’s number. 

[Text From: Iced Potato] That's it! A turkey! You’re welcome! =D

Miya shrugged on her coat, paying her tab before heading for the door. She was kind of lonely but her entire family had gone off to see a movie with premise in the war and Miya still couldn’t handle that. So she opted for the most blessed past time of people, drinking and bar hopping.

[Text From: Iced Potato] Fun. My parents don’t have my number or know where Del moved to. He made sure of that.

[Text From: Iced Potato] He cried. A lot. I screamed. Also a lot. It’s a work in progress most def.

[Text From: Iced Potato] They have me on a strict time frame. Figured it would make everything easier. Plus I am pretty sure meds are being hid in my food, with permission of course. Still nearly puke seeing them.

Miya glanced to her phone before picking it up.

“Metaxas speaking. This is Miya.”

portalipsis:

[Text to: Iced potato] Well where is she? I was going to pay her a visit. My friends wanted to meet her but I have no clue where they went. We’re trying to bar hop. 

Chris searched around the block and couldn’t find any signs of Jules or anyone else. He heard people talking about some foreign lady coming into their bar. Without anymore information, he figured it couldn’t hurt to wonder in that direction. “Hey Jules, Man. Where did you go?” A quick look over another guy’s shoulder cost him a glare. 

[Text to: Iced potato] So how’s it going anyway? I mean we really don’t talk enough. I’m suppose to keep bugging you. 

[Text From:Iced Potato] I forget the name in English! Uhm.. Frick! Bloody Evil Chicken? Evil Chicken...Americans eat it in November? Here’s her digits. Give her a call?

Miya didn’t remember what really had happened. Only an arm going to grab her, her instinct to flip the man onto his back and place a foot firmly on his throat. She stared down her nose at him before twisting her foot and walking off.

“Now I wonder if I should keep doing shots or go back to the room. Hmm.”

[Text From: Iced Potato] Del has me going to appointments but the lady comes to our house.

[Text From: Iced Potato] He and I are working on some. Underlying issues from childhood. A lot of them. You?

From X @portalipsis 

Miya wasn’t sure why she was convinced to going into America. She was now standing in some random bar, clearly annoyed at the various men who kept offering to buy her a drink. She would use her toe to gently push their leg. She decided one of them got a bit too close to her personal space.

“If I am not interested, and have expressed this highly, it may be in yah best interest tah hop off my dick, you diarrhea of a koala!” Chris’ phone pinged with a text from Annie herself.

She’s in the States. Her family decided to take a family vaca or something. Why?

“I wonder if there is any coffee left in the Mess. Hrm, I should go and check.”

paxeuropaea replied to your post: “I want to fight you. In zero G. With foils.”

twas Cass

“Come at me in real life you salty, aggressive, angry woman. You think you can fight with foils in zero gravity better than I can? Well you’re wrong and I’ll show you by suplexing you the way I should have in the hangar. You’re lucky Cepheus is my bro or we would go. It would be on so fast, not even the pull of a black hole would be able to compete with how fast I would fight you. To me it sounds like you’re jealous. I bet you think you have more skill and can beat me any day. HEY ARE YOU LISTENING?!”

portalipsis:

The laugh that Porthos held back had a sick feeling and burned his tongue like acid. He had already spread word around that the ice moon was having issues at home. No amount of non-verbal apologies did anything to warm him during the cold. Cassiopeia mentioned the frigid look upon Europa’s features and the man could see it again.  She did offer to answer one question back at the observatory. He took the chance to learn more about her brother. Only a small hint gave him any inkling that anything had to do with her parents at all. Focusing on the positives brought him to the conclusion that she must not hate her brother as much as she despises her parents to give the cold expression when speaking of them and not him. 

“Her face went to that expression?” Even Cass could hit a wall of ice. “Yeah…..She did say that her parents were happy when she left for the Alliance. I mean I could relate, but there was definitely something else there when she said it.” He gripped the side of his pants. 

“I think she said she got along with her brother maybe a week before she boarded. Obviously it wasn’t enough to mend whatever damage he must have done.” It was nice having someone else around to help him put together the puzzle pieces. Europa was the most complex puzzle he’s tried to put together in his life. Cass proved she could also be difficult.  “Your siblings want you back. Well I’m pretty sure it would be nice if you could be with them. If we get out of here then you would have defended them and you’d get to be back at their sides.” What kind of life was his daughter living back on Earth? Was Linda truly taking care of her the way she should? 

“You’re a strong older sister.” He never mentioned how obvious her own accent was. Everyone on the ship came from different places on two different worlds, except for Cepheus. He still fought alongside the martians and the earthlings as if he were one with them.  They were a single fighting unit out in deep space and Porthos would do whatever he could when the time came to get back home.  

“If we don’t face Cook, I guess we work with him as best we can.” The plan wasn’t so awful. It included the fall of a rival and the emotions of those on the floating bucket.  “We can still use a dangerous machine, as long as we’re careful not to get our fingers caught in it’s gears. There won’t be fingers to point if we end up losing to the Colterron.”

“It’s so strange, Porthos. You think that she gives a certain amount of warmth but she’s so cold and guarded.It’s honestly like she wants to crack but the layers of ice are what she’s used to. Like a guard to prevent hurt or something. But there is something interesting about the way she goes about interactions with us.” Cass looks to Port.

“It’s almost as if she’s playing a game with us. I don’t mean like cat and mouse. No, more like chess. Allow me to explain. Her moves, her words, everything seems to be precise and purposeful when we don’t make her angry or upset. Everything about her is just, strange. “ She sighs, shaking her head. The mention of the words Europa’s parents said to her made her stomach drop.

“Did she say the exact words they said to her? Did she say that they were happy that she left or did she say that they were proud of her choice? Because there is a huge difference. The words ‘my parents are proud that I left’ means that they know that she goes with honor and bravery. ‘My parents are happy that I left’ would point to them being glad that she is probably going to go off and die. Porthos, what were the exact words she said about her parents and her departure?”

Cass thought to all the times she had tried to get through to the Ice girl. The careful words, the movements. It just seemed as if Europa formed herself to be a more robotic being. The mention of her siblings made her laugh bitterly.

“I know they do. I want to see them as well. My sisters and brother know that I just am being over protective of them all. That this is just their big sister being a worrywart and doing what she thinks will prevent them from harm, even if it means she gets hurt herself. And you know, maybe that’s why I am so worried for Icy. She obviously needs someone in her life to be a better sibling figure. “ The Navigator shook her head.

“We work with Cook, yes, but should he prove himself to be against us, well then.” She looks to her hand with a scowl. “I will do what I can to make sure that it is humanity that wins. Is that not what we all want? Humanity to win this god forsaken war? 

portalipsis:

“How long have you known her anyway?” Cass seemed to know more than Porthos when it came to the short navigator. She really is a mystery. “We spoke in the observatory one time. After that I felt weird about it so I told people she was strange because of her family. I know it was wrong, but the past is in the past and I can’t change it now so moving on. She mentioned her having an issue with her brother Del. She said he was fighting with her up until the week she left for the Alliance. He called her Bellatrix after a star and she had some jewelry relating to it. That and that she’s afraid of medical things is all I know.” He pushed off Cass’ terminal so he stood straight.

He took in the room before bringing his attention back to her. “So you have nothing you’d like to go back home to? You came out here knowing you’d die? Okay I’m going to stop answering your question with more questions. The whole thing just doesn’t make much sense to me. What is Cook’s problem? The guy seems like someone who might snap one day. We are never safe under his charge, that’s for sure. Plus why would he give up any secret plans? I mean maybe he’s in the dark too.” Porthos knew the commanders weren’t in the dark. He didn’t wish to fall under her scrutiny. “The only thing we can do is keep fighting.” He shrugged.

“I think she just has issues with her family.” The whisper was low, as if she was afraid to be heard. She glanced around before looking at Porthos once more. “I was talking about my mum and dad right? Naturally I asked her about hers, yah know, because it was the topic at hand. She just looked at me and there was this, look in her eye. She responded with such an icy ‘I do not want to talk about them’ that I thought I would get frost bite from it.” Cass looks at him.

“She has a brother? Who was fighting with her? Until she left? What kind of sibling is that? I’m the eldest of my own set of siblings and we never fought for all our lives. I think maybe it is time we pressed her for more information. As for me? I came out here expecting to die. Look, I have three little siblings back home and if this is what it takes to make sure that those bundles of life remain alive and grow up? I’ll do it.” she rested a hand on her hip.

“Though I trust Cook as much as I trust an Australian Soldier to fight an emu. You just don’t win against them. At all. Cook is not a man I would trust with my sandwich. He is far too shady and I swear he smells of something that is not natural. No way that man is in the dark about anything. If you ask me, he’s the one we should point fingers at if this all goes to shit’s creek and we’re left without the paddles.”

portalipsis:

“You must have dug deep because getting Euro to talk about herself is like pulling teeth.” Chris didn’t have the energy to roll his eyes at Cass. “So you researched where she was from. You never said I was Canadian, but you did call me an island off of Canada. Well you’ve got me figured out. Yep I’m from the states and it’s not all that hard to notice.” She seemed to slip out of a good mood. He turned his gaze to her terminal and he looked into his own reflection. 

“Yeah I don’t remember much of it, but we had to read excerpts from it in school. I figure why read more about it when we go over battle strategies here all of the time?” He rested his hand on the side of her terminal. “What you’re saying is, they’ve put us in a position of stress on purpose? Isn’t that counterproductive? I guess it makes sense since no one can really leave. It just doesn’t seem that we’re going to put much of a dent in enemy forces. The Alliance just seems wasteful. There’s so many other ways they could take down the shipyard without humans being involved.” 

“She trusts me more is all. Though when I first met ‘er, good lord she was cold. Still don’t know much about her but I got some tidbits. And yeah, I did just to get to yah. You know, I asked her about her family and she just, clammed down. Honestly, I ask you now. Tell me everything you know about her. I want to see if it’s as little as the rest of us.” She looked to her terminal screen, sighing.

“I don’t know Porthos. It’s a war, we’re following orders. Just, how do we even expect to go back home? Isn’t this basically a suicide mission anyways? Do they not wonder why we’re all slowly are losing our hope? Why do we need to use human lives for this and not robotics? Fly a ship in, crash it without a human piloting it! Just, what are they planning here? Why are they doing it this way? Not like we can question Cook-a-traz there. Man’s more uptight than a virgin’s asshole if you ask me.”

portalipsis:

“Euro never said where she’s from, but I’m going to guess she’s German with her accent.” Chris noted how at times it was thicker than at others. “I’m definitely not Canadian.” His tone bordered on a chuckle. Cassiopeia went silent for a moment too long. He stood there more worried that anyone might find out about his friend’s snooping. 

He flinched ever so slightly as her hand rested on his shoulder. The fight in the hangar still had it’s toll. Cass is just intimidating, but she should never know. “We go over strategies well enough. I know literally nothing other than some ship designs belonging to the Colterron.” Those blueprints were terrifying enough. 

He raised a brow and without much thought, raised his hand to rest over hers hanging from his shoulder. “Yeah. There’s no reason to go down without a fight. There’s also no reason to go out hating anyone. It would be nice if we could all make it back home. Sure i think a bunch of people suck, but it doesn’t warrant death.”

“Close. A small nation called Liechtenstein. I did some digging when she mentioned Schaan once. She was talking about how long it took to get ‘home to Schaan’ from Vaduz.I did my geographical research and I can give you the basic facts. And never said you were Canadian. No, you’re too arrogant to be one.” She grins.

“You got a sort of, WASP air to yah there. That would point yah to a Former English Colony country. My guess, the states. Plus the accent.” She sighs, her mood dropping as she glances around the room.

“Ever read ‘The Art of War’? I heard a few quotes from it because of my mum but there’s one that sticks out right now. ‘ Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.’ If you ask me, Porthos, I feel pretty trapped in whatever may come.” She frowns.

“If that’s their plan, then I fear we all have fallen into it perfectly. We’re not going to run now. We’re going to go down fightin’. I may find yah annoying but I don’t want you to die either.”

portalipsis:

“You think I don’t know Europa’s positive traits? Please. She bores me with them constantly. And who are you to judge how I decide to handle rumors? If I’m telling the truth, is it really gossip? Sure, Euro works her ass off and does a great deal to help with this war effort, but she’s weird. I have every right to express that.” Something about Cass always got under Porthos’ skin. It really was irritating being around self righteous people and it was even worse when they were perfectly comfortable pretending to be humble. He had no reason to fight her at that particular moment and so he simply folded his arms over his chest. 

Cassiopeia was right. They didn’t have any hard evidence that the commanders were up to anything. Only Phobos held the flash drive full of information and he wasn’t willing to listen to any of Porthos’ reasoning. “Alice? What do you mean? I fully intend to get out of this hell hole. If I have to plant myself down in that control room myself and turn us away from the enemy, I will. We can’t just allow them to throw us all away. Why would they have us work so hard like this?” 

None of it made sense. Then she mentioned Abel being in on it and that was the thing, Porthos knew the frail navigator had nothing to do with it. At least Porthos and Phobos had a legitimate reason to hate Cain. “Cass I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but I’m sorry. It doesn’t excuse everything, but that apology is all I’m going to be able to give before we’re up in smoke. There really isn’t anything we can do.” 

“I’m just the protective type, you know that. I know she can be strange but I just mark that as being, you know, European. Do yah even know where she’s from there Port? Also, Port Alice is a town in Canada.” she rested a hand on her hip, leaning slightly as she thought about her next words.

“i’m just not sure how to feel about this at all. We’re getting closer and closer to the main objective and what do we know about how we’re taking it down? I just want this war to be over, as the rest of us do, and we all want to survive. Or well, most of us do. Others do have their death wishes.” She clasped his shoulder, frowning.

“Thanks Porthos, means a lot your apology. I’m sorry too. I think this right here is the reason that the mood has just, dropped and we’re all seeking. We know this can and will go south and we’re not sure if any of us are going to make it out of the fires. It feels like the death bells are starin’ to ring. Now we’re just waiting to see who the reaper claims.”

portalipsis:

Good. 

Cassiopeia took Porthos as seriously as she took the English language. What he did gather was alarming. His pale eyes widened and he recalled pieces that fit into a puzzle. Phobos did come back from the commander’s office with love bites and a glow. “Okay that’s insane. I said absolutely nothing about sex. Are those Europa’s conspiracy theories? Because I thought I was crazy with the secret plans and all, but clearly my information isn’t the most fascinating spreading around. Well I guess you’re right about Bering looking like a bear. Do you think he clogs the showers? Oh gosh nevermind.” 

He steadied himself on the side of her terminal. Then she mentioned the booze he enjoyed illegally. “So you don’t believe me and began speaking some kind of jargon so you could eventually call me drunk? Nice. I need to go high five someone less aggressive.”  

“Oh no, I believe yah there. But I know that most people on this ship are sex maniacs so it has to be brought up. And you know, she may have some strange theories but she is extremely intelligent. Maybe if you weren’t such snake and always betraying trust for gossip, you would notice.” She looks at him, clearly ready to actually ignore him.

“Look, I believe you that there is something rotten in Denmark but unless you got major proof, it is just another conspiracy theory. You gotta understand here, Port Alice, we’re in an awful hard place. For all we know this could be our Shiroyama, our Battle of Thermopylae, whatever last stand yah know best there but to think that the highers got us in this spot on purpose for some sort of, what, shady ass plan? For all we know, we are all on our way to a utter slaughter. I won’t put it past any of ‘em.” She folds her arms, leaning forward and whispers softly.

“Do you think Abel is in on it all?”