Offense and Defense

~VENIN~
*She pushes herself off of the wall pacing the length of her cell restlessly....like a lioness, back and forth, back and forth....the pace never changing, keeping a constant rythym... her once brilliant green eyes now darkened to almost black lay within hollowed circles focus sightlessly before her...~back and forth~...how long she had been in captivity had long since eluded her grasp, nights had melded into days, days into weeks, weeks into months...~back and forth~...for all she knew she had been here for years, or for only a few days...~back and forth~...no longer did it matter, her cage felt smaller with each passing day, her depression grew deeper...~back and forth~... no longer could she sleep, her few restless moment of slumber haunted by dreams and visions of the dead...~back and forth~...her mother and Vince alternating in being her accuser ...~back and forth~...nightmares of being chased down by a beautiful eshvan demon with her fathers face...~back and forth~... but the worst, the reason she refuses to sleep anymore...~back and forth~...The nightmare that follows her, the one she tries to run from, but can't ...~back and forth~... is of her friends, those she now calls family... ~her restless pacing increases~...her breathing increases as the visions once again assail her...~back and forth~... a pale blue limb, the glimpse of a body on the lake...~back and forth~...these and more flash before her eyes...~back and forth~...and deep down she knows the cause of these deaths...~back and forth~...and is helpless to prevent it...~back and forth~...she will betray them...~back and forth~...perhaps she already has...~back and forth~...why not...~back and forth~... she has betrayed others before...~back and forth~...she is a traitor...~her fist suddenly impacts the wall, crushing bone...with her powers withheld she holds no more strength than a normal, no more healing, yet her rage..her anger, allow her to dent the wall, the damage to her hand goes unoticed by her* ...I am his daughter...*Hysterical laughter breaks from between her lips, tears stream down her face as she slides into a heap at the base of the wall...her fingers side through her already tousled hair as she lowers it to her knees* Oh man....I am losing it *the words coming out a low moan* I gotta get out of here.

~BLACKDAGGER~
** Time had passed, but not much. And though the pain from the previous encounter was still fresh, though the manhandling had been long since forgotten by his body. He moved through the check-outs of security, one by one. The examined everything, his muscles, his bones, his health. They couldn't have a herd of sick prisoners. The examined the items he brought, and nearly made him leave them somewhere near checkpoint five. Though instead they simply examined, x-rayed, and quadrupile checked each item. A million questions, and mere surface answers. To simply check the progess of captive 55-07.213 They nodded, as he continued. Retina examinations, power exibitions, urine, blood, every sample convceiably possible. Thre were a few UNnaturals they were assured who could manipulate appearances, but the checkpoints, and records assured that he was who he claimed. After a good 3 hours of procedure, he finally came to the deepest area of the holding cells. Each so spaced that they could not coverse, even by shouting. The entire area UNnatural resistant in a way. He paused a he swiped a card, giving a password they supplied that varied every three minutes. More examinations as he was allowed to her individual holding area, down a hall, and down more stairs. He paused then at the base. Surely he couldn't speak of anything, and he doubted she'd give a favorable ear. And what was he to speak of then. . .dreams? As he pauses he hears the gentle padding of her feet as she paces, slowly like a caged animal. His face again stinging. . a /thing/ He winced as he blinked, and did as he was instructed. . orders, he then retreated as silently as he moved down the stairs, just a few, still far out of view. A /thing/ down there. He felt the guilt, and shut his eyes. Hearing her whispered ramblings, hearing her pace -stop-. He then tilted his upper half to gaze towards the cell, allowing the artificial light to grace his eyes, like a thin ribboned slit, watching. Finally he stepped out, allowing the shade to release him from it's grasp. He moved towards her cell, near glad they left on . decent terms. Parts of him cold and unforgiving. . .parts of him cold and regretting. So Instead he tapped a few keys upon her cell, allowing one of the three other gates that held her in drop. Moving and in sequence, another fell, after the first rose. And soon he was simply standing, a towering structure of muscle, gazing at her. The belongings were simple, a foam pillow and a small foil like blanket. Nothing spectacular. He placed then on the edge of the 'Bed' Which was more like a slab that portruded from the wall. He cleared his throat a little and said something lightly ** they checked these things, like they expected to find I baked a file in them. . .

* Isolation had enhanced her senses......she could now hear the tiniest detail without effort, pick out the varying frequencies of the electronic devices by their pitch alone, the minutest details of her cell were visible to her eye.......yet solitude had also dimmed them, she had more time to reflect, turn her thoughts inward, isolate her mind from her body...her conciousness oblivious to all around... She was not even aware of his presence until the second gate opened, even then she continued to stare wtih reddened eyes, not fully comprehending until the third gate went up.....even then she continued to just look on blankly, emotionlessly..as he speaks, her tear stained gaze turns towards the items, comprehension slowly dawning as she recognizes them..she blinks, surprise slowly replacing the once blank expression as she looks from them to you* for me? *a brief flash of disbelief replaces the surprise...if it was almost anyone else she would believe it a cruel joke...to offer comforts, even such minor ones...was almost unheard of.....but him, she believes, he has his own sense of honour, he was not the type to torment and tease unless he was subject as well...he had an honour...she could respect and trust...James was one of the few who had not been down to see the captured traitor, to gawk and point like she was some side show freak, he had actually spoken to her, treated her as a person...not exactaly a friend, but not quite an enemy either* Thank you.

** He blinked towards her and simply nodded towards her thanks. Looking at the small things he simply took for granted. Looking towards her face tear streamed a small bit nearly wanting to revel in her broken, the rest then still feeling a deep gashed pain. A /thing/. He then looked towards her 'Window' On the far wall, a sun was setting electronically, casting a bit of different colored lights on the cell. There was much he wished to disclose, though looking at her haggered shadow of a being now, he doubted he could. He reached and touched the 'Glass' To have the image instead fizzle and static for a moment. He said absently, not as if to mock. . ** It's raining. ** He was unsure what he could say to her. If anything at all, or if things were better left. . . unsaid. He touched the 'glass' again and watched it static, giving a low buzz. The window always showing a perfect view, the weather never changing he assumed. His hand rested on the cold wall beneath the image and then his fingers curled as he said then ** At least your view is always. . .perfect. I hate the rain. ** He had learned to love the thunder, the crashing, the lightning, he had learned to loath the grey and dim skies, it was crying. He blinked from his memory quickly as he then moved his hand and simply looked back towards her. Standing tall, he allowed his shoulders to relax a bit as he continuted to speak, any words she had said between the first rain comment and now were lost. . he said then quickly. ** I should hate you. With every fiber, with every ounce of energy I have I should . . . despise you. But I think you know Vince would have forgave you. ** Then under his breath, so lightly that it couldn't be heard even to his own ears. His lips not moving, and his teeth not even parting ** or. . did forgive you. ** He rose his voice again in the silence, the humm of electronics, the everything. ** I forgave you too I guess. . . ** he glanced back to her tear stricken face, for the longest of moments. Then offering ** Perhaps I should leave you alone?

*She watches his movements, studying him...he seemed upset, tense, bothered...a brief surge of resentful anger flares through her...what reason does he have to be upset? He's free. While I sit here, caged like a circus animal...something to be feared, yet poked and prodded, laughed at by any who care to see, trapped and put on exihbition...If any should be tense, bothered it should be her..she clenches her fist in an unconcious reaction to her thoughts, a sudden bolt of pain shooting up her arm as bone grinds against bone..until this point she had not even been aware of the injury... her only reaction is a brief grimace of pain as she forces it to the back of her mind, ignoring it....pain was something she had long ago learnt to deal with...just because her body converted it did not mean she did not feel it, she still felt it, only she had learnt long ago how to just ignore it....the pain brings her back from her thoughts, her attention once more focused on you her resentment fading* I don't know, I always loved the rain *she leaves it at that, no explanation forthcoming.... no comment on the screen, instead she simply watches you, studying, her expression much like her fathers, betraying nothing of what runs beneath the surface of her mind* Vince. *the one word softly spoken without inflection* you should hate me for what I did...it should have been me...would have been, except for....* the words trail off... except for what? fate? destiny? chance?..what are those?*

** He watched her wince, and raises a brow. He comes to the conclusion again and again. She was broken, they had won. Though he didn't celebrate that victory. He then glanced towards the window again and backed from it. Instead simply sliding down the far wall sitting. Watching much as she had, every motion, trying to simply learn. His hands rested to his knees as he watched, and listened. ** I did hate you. More than anything. I didn't even /fathom/ hate until you killed him. ** Not commenting on her self-pity, her reflections. No words he could offer he assumed could change that. She hadn't mentioned for him to leave, so he assumed simply that he could stay. Softly then saying. ** But I forgave you, though it's sometimes hard to /forget/ certain things. Parts of me simply relish every second you are suffering.** But not now. They were dulled in a brighter wash of guilt,the kind that ran through his veins and muscle, and tore at his bone. Made his heart feel as if it could sink a million fathoms and no be insignificant enough. Not being able to say in a highly monitored place he would like to let her out. That she was like an eagle and couldn't be caged without dying. He then thought of what she said. . her instead of him. Perhaps he reflected he should comment. Should say something, anything. He parted his lips in effort, though nothing surfaced, he tried again as his muscles tenced. He listened to the buzz of the lights and the 'fence' That kept her enclosed. Blinking towards his as he lips moved uselessly. Finally saying ** Except for, nothing. It didn't happen. ** Finding his thoughts reflecting, if Exit had killed her, and he discovered. . ., would he have even remorsed? He tried not to think about it. Instead he sat in a dull silence, looking at his hands and fingers, his nails and then his eyes shifted towards her. His face seeming riddled with what could be mistaken as sheer anger. Deep lines over a furrowed brow, his lips pulled to a thin line. Saying then something he had said before, but felt compeled to say. Something perhaps to try to understand her circumstance, or anything. . .a word comfort? Or to wash aside his own guilt** . . . Sorry . .

You may have, but I haven't...it was not something I wanted, but it is something I did, something I will never forgive...or forget *she looks over at the 'window' where night has now fallen, false stars arranged within false constellations....a mocking parody of the world she doubts she will see again.* no..it didn't did it?..Perhaps maybe in another.....*A question asked, without need of an answer, a comment started without an end.....if wishes were horses then.... is all of it just a wish? a dream?....she shakes her head almost sadly* sorry? haven't we been down that road before? nothing was achieved...nothing will be

** He listened as he focused on his hands. Shrugging as she spoke. Listening to the silence more than her. He then slowly lowered his hands from his knees to his lap. Rolling his neck back, resting his head against the wall. Looking upwards as the lights dimmed. He was in no rush to leave. Instead joined the silence for a long moment. Why had he even bothered to come down here. Why? The guilt? . ./thing/. . . He then blurted out something. . something he probablly shouldn't have. Instead it just came out, as if to sear the silence. To wash away her last comment. He said then in a hushed breath ** You know . . . your . .father is proud of you? ** The words seeming clumsy, though all to honest. Saying in a quick addition, near too hasty. ** And I honestly think that your father cares about you. . . ** In his mind his cheek still burning, he thought - He /definately/ does //not// regard you as a thing. And. . . neither do I. . .- Looking towards her wanting to say that, but instead hid those thoughts behind others. And those behind others. Knowing this converstaion would be monitored, He waited for a back-lash the denial she'd present him. The reasons behind that, or simply more silence. He expected both, and at the same time hoped that she could accept it. . .**

*the silence hangs between them, not as a barrier, not exactally expectant, just there...his word play through her mind..proud?* Proud? *a hesitant, unbelieving question, filled with scorn* maybe of the fact that I was born unnatural *she chuckles* He was proud when I became team captain, when I got my rank...* the silence hangs a moment* he was proud of every moment that reflected on him ...now...now everything about me reflects poorly on him...I am sure he blames it all on 'her' *the one word filled with love emotion, a daughter pining for what she has known and lost* so it doesn't affect him *more silence, this one weighs heavily on her mind as she contemplates, decides how to answer...after all she had already harmed James career, perhaps he resented that...why bash the one he respected, looked up to...let someone at least remain blissfully ignorant.....see the world as good and bad* I supposed 'he' *the word a contrast to the previous, all the emotion the last possessed are now turned, the evil twin to its predecessor* cared...in his own way...as one would a possession..I was a prize, nothing more.

** He was unsure, if he should defend, or agree. Axcept one thing he was assured of, with every part of him, and he rose his voice in contempt ** He /loved/ her Yvette. Regardless what you think or feel to be true, he loved her with all he had. **eyes turned cold, and he narrowed them. He looked to his hands and said then, a pause, nearly regretting the tone in his perhaps /more/. . . And ** His voice. ** /He/ does not see you as a thing. . . ** The word he, used as if to correct her, as you would a young babe learning to talk. . . saying it mildly, near affentionately just for that /mere/effect. He then moved his gaze from his hands that wandered to rest back to his knees. A dark voice, something more of defending. . ** Perhaps if you bothered to listen to The commander rather than clinging on views you can't feasibly conceive as false, you could see that too. ** He glanced to his hands again and shrugged a bit, letting the anger pass, forcing it to pass. Then quietly adding ** though it's probably none of my business. ** Figuring she'd agree with this, he glanced to his elder sibling. Just watching. Perhaps wanting to change the subject, anything. But again his lips moved uselessly. **

*she stares at the wall over your shoulder, her voice dead calm, almost icy* Loved her? *Her voice alters dramatically, dripping with both scorn and loss* She's dead..incase you hadn't heard...shot by his own squad. *her voice changes with each emotion she feels, her emotions shifting rapidly, erractically* If that is his love....I sure don't want it. *she pauses...once again the silence standing there, between them...her expression suddenly calm, devoid of all emotion* why do you defend him?...to me anyhow? ... You respect him, fine....even I will admit he can be a brilliant leader....but even you must admit, he should never have been a father.

** He blinked towards her retorting just as quickly as she ** Perhaps you ever think for a moment his 'Troops' Did it without him knowing? Ever occur to you? Think back and think hard, was he even there when they found you? ** His voice colder yet. His hands in small fists, very lightly clasped. He breathed slowly, still confused, he hated, admired, loathed, and. . loved?** I defend him? I defend him . .because ** He shrugged looking again upwards, the camera mounted in the corner ** Because he isn't here to defend himself. ** His body again ran cold, as she spoke. She simply didn't know. Instead he slowly looked towards her as if his gaze would tell her everything. He remained silent, and then finally he agreed by nodding, in an unsure way. . . - I taught, and I /loved/ to the best of my ability. . .- He blinked and simply lowered his thoughts, and thought of other things. Why were things complicated... to protect her from the truth? Could he, should he. And instead he simply said then ** I wouldn't know. ** The words cold and devoid of anything. As empty and seeming to hiss over the silence. Slowly then **I know some men though were never suited for the title, and others. . .** He simply couldn't describe it. So he didn't. Instead he allowed his legs fall to a cross-legged possion and his hands resting on his knees as he spoke. He said then ** I didn't expect you to take me seriously anyway. You probably think I'm sadistic and mocking you. . .** that said with a bit of reluctance and bitterness. He washed out the anger, that he assumed was his fatal flaw. Why had he tried to take it upon himself to talk to her anyway? He knew nothing would have been accomplished. . .**

Think? that is all I have done in here *Her gaze lock with his* what do you think haunts my dreams? torments my waking? *She closes her eyes in remembered pain her voice taking on a monotonous tone, as she almost recites* For years I blocked it.. perhaps it was my doing...perhaps it was a Psi...I was at an age where it could have been either, but memories still haunted my sleep, things I would just barely remember upon waking *She takes a breath and opens her eyes, staring blankly at the wall before continuing* Back then, I tried...I tried to be everything 'he' wanted...a good little GUARDian....*her gaze swings to you, a hint of amusement in her eyes* I tried to be what you are...his ideal...someone who follows orders but had enough attitude to prove they weren't a drone..*Her gaze once more unfocuses and her voice takes on a hint of sadness*..I tried....until I remembered anyhow.

** He blinked towards her and then lowered his head as she spoke. Everything /he/ was? And all this time he had been trying to be someone else. Someone worthy, someone who could be. . .someone who could be. . . proud. He glanced towards the cameras then and said quietly ** Why didn't you try to be yourself? It it a fatal flaw somewhere that forced people to try to be what. . . they aren't? ** He continuted to watch the camera. Saying then quietly ** I'd exchange in an instant for everything you had. ** He nearly chuckled, he had looked up to her, when he had seen her files, when he had been training, he had admired her.. . .until she ran. He could no longer blame her for running, knowing what she believed, and he could no longer hate her. How shocking that the human mind can be so fickle. He looked towards her and stood nearing her, squatting near her, and saying again ** In less than an instant. . . ** He squatted there and looked back towards the blankets and pillow, and to the floor. Pausing hovering and then standing, resting a hand on her shoulder for a brief moment, though his attention at the floor and then the items ** I hope you use them . . ** Feeling she simply was not benifiting from his presence. He stood fully his hand falling away and then looking towards the 'night' time. **

*she chuckles* be myself? I don't even know who...or what that is anymore...if I ever did *She looks around the cell* and I think it is a little too late to figure it out *She almost unconciously leans into your hand...contact..real human contact..that was something she had missed, though she didn't quite realize it, not conciously* believe me, I will use them *she almost purrs with pleasure* and fully enjoy them *....her own hand comes up to briefly rest on yours as her gaze meets yours, her gratitude for your gifts of kindness shining through* take your own advice James....try to be yourself..but be it for yourself, noone else.

** He looked down and grasped her hand allowing a hint of a smile to pass his lips, that soon was brushed away. He said looking towards her, kneeling ** But if I did that wouldn't I be doing it for /you/ since you sugested? ** Raising a brow a bit, trying to add some humor in the gloom. He then squeezed her hand lightly and regardless of what cameras were watching, wrapped his arm around her shoulder as if to give a brief hug, as if to say -I understand, in the mildest of ways. . - He then stands and moved towards the gates, the lazers, the containment. His hand fell away as he wandered out of the first of the baricade of the cell, using the card, and the random tap of the keys, opposite that she could see. Then saying, perhaps to relieve his own heart and emotions, and perhaps to subside his guilt. Vince forgave her, he forgave her, she hand't forgiven herself. . this made him a bit. . . sad. Though instead he said as he exited the last of the gates. .not looking forward to the 3 hour journey out of the area, ** Remember the file is in the third fold of the blanket. . . ** His voice a bit light, though his expression still unchanged. Seeming a bit remorseful, though not letting a single thought surface as to why. Knowing she couldn't understand his kindness, and he decided never to burden her already heavy load with a trivial fact. He backed away , still facing the cage, and waited, for even the smallest response**

*A smile creases her face at the sudden attempt at humor, her response simple..no witty replies...just a plain simple* Thanks. *she seemed to be saying that to him a lot, she owed him a lot...a lot more than he knew..or could even comprehend..this time she does lean into the hug, returning it* She watches as he rises and closes the gates, sealing her once more within this tomb...she could have run, should have...perhaps they would have shot her down...there are always those who are overzealous, there are also plenty who hate her, who have good reason to wish her dead..perhaps she would have lucked out.....a full laugh rings from her throat, one not tinged by the edge of madness which her previous laughter had contained* don't I wish.....if only a file would get me out of here *she stands there for a moment, almost hesitant to speak..to ask one question....one that haunts her mind and dreams, then in a rush she quietly asks* Have any of my friends been caught?

** He blinks and then shakes his head as he stares at her, a sudden flash of a thought. ** No, I'd warn them not to try. . . Well if I were you . . if you could.** knowing she caught the meaning. . that GUARD was more than likely VERY prepared for an assault this time. He paused then thinking for a brief moment. .And then steping closer, his voice ever so light, and bearly audiable over the hum of electric bars that caged her, in response to her thanks.** Anytime. . .** He watched her for another moment. Perhaps he'd visit her again if permitted, He backed a bit, and then looking at the cell and his hands fell to his hips ** You'd think they'd at least permit a phone call. . . ** He shrugged and then retreated for a moment, then fully. Not giving his ears a chance to hear her if she were to call out again. Instead he wandered back through the check points. The mental one they held him with questions. He passed, keeping truths beneath truths. He wasn't proficent at lying, he wasn't one to deceive. And perhaps in their routine of things, they simply missed everything. He wandered towards the last gate some time later. . . wondering if he had done the right thing. Morals had seemed to have changed recently, reasons have been since skewed. He then wandered towards his room, and some hours later to visit Bill, and the Rec room, still hiding deep, not thinking, when he could. . .**