Flesh, Blood, Fight, and Fury

~YVETTE~
*She sat there in the darkness for hours.... Staring into the nothingness over the lake, .her thoughts wandering paths they had trod often in the last months...had it only been that short a time? It seemed forever.... So much had happened in such a short time...Too much for her to even comprehend, too much she didn't want to understand* I should check on Alan. *The words sounding harsh as they break the crystalline silence which had encompassed her.... Stiffly she regains her feet and once more looks around at the open space surrounding her, something which just a short while ago was denied her...She takes a deep breath of the fresh air, trying to forget the flavour, the taste of the recycled air which suffocated her within that living tomb...she carefully reprograms the bracelet and disappears in a bright flash of light, reappearing within the underground confines of the lair.... She quickly reaches out and grabs a passing kid* Did Geoff come back here with Alan? *The kid looks her over disgust plainly crossing her face* Alan? Dunno him, but ya Geoff brought back some dude, over thata way * only then does Yvette become aware of what she must look like…She looks down at what she can see of herself, her tank top, shorts, and runners, all GUARD standard issue, are covered in blood stains.... Alans, James and her own...she can see that her arms and hands are speckled in both dirt and blood...she can only imagine what the rest of her looks like* thanks. *she nods absently at the kid and turns in the indicated direction, looking for Alan*

~ALAN~
*Grumbling to himself in his ''given'' bedroom. He'd become an item to some of the kids around here. Some had heard of his exploits in the NAVY from Geoff. The others simply liked the bad ass attitude and mystique he brought with him. Here was a man who took the entire GUARD on with no regard for what was happening....and won. Around here, that's either the definition of a hero, or a damned fool. But since heroes come back alive.* Fuck...*He tosses a bent shell casing over his shoulder. The black powder set out before him as he recases his own bullets. A mixture of his own. Strychnine and steel. A lethal combination. Though some of the kids duck around the corner for cover everytime he goes to load another shell... See, he's got a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He turns his head over his shoulder to see the staring eyes.* Yer all makin' me more nervous than a whore in church! Ain't y'all got anything better to do?

*She makes her way across the pit and heads down the indicated hall....Most of the kids stare at her, a few glaring as they recognize the logo on her clothing, she simply returns the glares and continues on her way...A few adults recognize her, their reactions ranging from polite indifference to outright hostility, these she simply ignores, showing no reaction.......A brief smile creases her lips, a shadow of its former self, as she hears familiar cussing from down the hall..she can easily pick out his room by the gaggle of kids hanging around it, and the fresh smell of gunpowder hanging in the air....She pushes her way through the kids glaring until most of them disperse and gently raps on the door frame* Alan? *the words coming out quiet, almost hesitant*

*Well, with that startlement he almost drops his cigarette right into the black powder. Suspending it in the air with a small ball of pressure. Turning his head slightly to regard it as he has it tossed across the room with a slight amount of force. Turning his head to the door again, squinting his eyes a bit.* O.....S'you....*The sound of his words rather dark. But hell, why shouldn't they be? He puts his ass on the line for her. So do Jessi and the blueberry kid. And what do they get for their shit? A missing 'Vette for damned near a fuckin' week.* Thought maybe you had a change of heart er somthin' like that and went back to your cell.*He turns back to the powder and starts reloading the shells again.* The /HELL/ did you go anyway? I wake up in this...*He looks around.* HELL! Still don't know exactly where this place is. Just know there's a hella lot of entrances and exits. ANYWAY, I wake up all sore an' shit, you nowhere to be found. Geoffs even got no idea on where you are. And that boy can tail lemme tell you that.

*She moves into the room, pushing the door slightly shut behind her* I'm sorry...I had to * she hesitates, unsure what to say*....deal with things *she licks her lips nervously* You were hurt, had to do something *she leans against the wall with her hands behind her back* Geoff brought you here...I didn't want him to follow me

*She was running generalities around the wrong S.E.A.L. He didn't fall for them for even the slightest moment. Though he acts like he goes along with her statements. As good at interrogation though as he is at killing.* Well, dealing with personal business is good.... What ya have to do?* Seeing as he -saved- her ass... There shouldn't be anything she couldn't tell him. He had his suspicions though from the way she'd acted when they left the GUARD HQ. Perhaps wondering if it was even a good idea to have freed her. She seemed rather taken with BlackDagger, she sure wanted to defend his ass for some reason. Alan'd just as soon put a bullet through the windbags skull. The kid was all talk and no show. Definitely not a soldier, much less a warrior. Like he'd ever take advice from a greenhorned brat. He was killing people before that kid knew what a weapon was.*

I had to *she exhales loudly and runs a hand through her hair* look Alan, *she licks her lips nervously* I just had to return a favour, a big favour *Her gaze flicks around the room, dancing between objects never resting in one place for long* I'm sorry.....I owe a lot of people, especially you *she begins pacing the length of the room..as she walks by the bed she almost absently grabs your pack of smokes and lights one then turns to look at you* You should never have risked yourself for me *she takes a long pull on the smoke* None of you should have.

*He drops the bullet he /was/ trying to fill on her last statement.* Yer damned right you owe me.... And the /least/ you could do is come clean about where the HELL you been all this time. You have that freakin blueberry worried sick about you. Least, I think you probably do, I haven't seen them and don't know where the hell they are. Was hoping you'd help me look fer 'em when ye got back. Though I was starting to wonder /IF/ you were. *And her last words take him by shock... Standing up and shooting the chair across the room with his leg to slam against the wall right near her.* That is a /HELL/ of a thing for you to say to me. To Jessie, to any of the people who put time and effort into gettin' you outta that place. If there's one thing that separates us from those damned robots you /used/ to serve, and I /DO/ use that term lightly seeing as you were pretty cozy with BLACK back there in that passage, you never..... /NEVER/ leave a man, or woman, behind. *He whirls and opens his door, alot of ears being pressed against it and looking embarrassed as they are caught.* THE HELL OUTTA HERE!!!* They all scatter.* You see that? See how they look at you? They'd give a damn if you died tomorrow. What you done fer them? *He points at himself.* But fer me, it'd cut a part of m'heart out. Hell, I'd protect you like ya were m'sisters virginity! Cuz yer family, at least, yer the only family I got anymore. Same with Jess and the blue kid, Z...Zack. We're a family, you can't deal with it. Then you don't deserve to have it. *He looks her over once.* I just hope that if'n it was me in that cell, you'da come fer me too....*He grabs his shotgun holster off the wall and exits the room.* Cya.... I got more important stuff to do that fuck around all day.

It hasn't been that....*the words cut off abruptly as her hands suddenly clamp over her mouth....she holds them there for a few second before lowering them* oh my god... I forgot.....time is different there. *she looks back at you* how long? *she flinches as the chair slams beside her, but does nothing as she listens to his speech, knowing everything is true..As he grabs his stuff to leave, she merely watches, his words still sinking in, then she looks over as he passes through the door* Alan? *the one word quiet, almost a whisper...* god damn it Alan! *her hand punches through the wall as she pushes herself off and follows in his wake* You wanna know what happened? You really want to fucking know? I had to help James, I had to beat him to a god damn fucking pulp so I could get him back into the damn GUARD...I had to practically kill him, the only one who helped me maintain what fucking sanity I have left!

*He turns around. As though he were simply struck by a brick in the back of his head. As though the look of the light of understanding had come to his face.* Oooooooooh..... The kid from the GUARD who thinks that all wars are fought with no casualties...*Those words said all sweet, while the ending ones coming are full of bitterness.*....n'shit. The guy who thought we'd never make it out without him. I had that thing planned foreward and back. If you'd have let me put him down, and I didn't have to kill him, we coulda got away without even involving him. But you had to /fuck/ around and up the escape. So he's an accessory. Y'know, we used to have names fer kids like him. S'called /dead meat/, with his mindset on how war is fought and how things should be he's on a one way ticket to hell with no refunds. And it was so important to help /HIM/ A GUARD out when you don't even know the state of your friends. Real cool 'vette. Like I said, I got shit to do. Unlike some others, I don't keep friends waiting and worried to high hell over me. *As far as he's concerned she's wrong. Alot of people had laid their lives on the line for her the other day, and all she'd worried about was a useless GUARDian who Alan would just as soon see dead as ever look at again. She was damned wrong, and wether he saved her sanity or not, something that can be fixed with the LAIRs psychics from what he hears, her priorities are all fucked to hell.* Don't count on me bein' there the next time you need me. You got more payback on this than yer body can write checks for.

*She comes to a halt just before him* Yeah, he's naive... a little too naive, but I still fucking well owed him... As for my friends, my family....I took care of you, and I know damn well that Jesse and Zak are going to be fine, they wouldn't have been dumb enough to hang around the farm, and they are both pretty damn good at taking care of themselves...besides, what the fuck do you know about it, you're a goddamn fucking clone...you're younger than Zak with less god damn fucking experience *She steps forward....fire practically shooting from her eyes* When you have been through the shit I had to face then, and only then can you tell me what I should or should not fucking well do......I never asked for you to be there, I never asked for anyone to fucking well be there, for all you damn well know they got to me, and I'm a plant...you don't know the shit that goes on in there. I do!

*He straightens his jaw. He'd actually /expected/ a comeback like that from her. Weather she believed it or not. After all, he might be a clone. But he's a clone of a veteran S.E.A.L. who'd been running more black ops than she probably knew names for. All those experiences, all those memories. Were his. Along with the looks in the eyes of anyone he's ever killed.*Hmph.... Yeah, a clone I might be. And so much of a respect you hold for this Alan you must so reverently revere in your own little twisted mind. Because he'd have done the GODDAMNED same thing. After all, I'm only the compilation of his entire life up to the point he died. I'm the same man, with the same experiences. I remember the child he saved on the Kor-lein river in Laoss. Remember how that child felt in his, no, /MY/ arms when I took it back to base after it's parents were slaughtered by their /own/ people. And yet, it's this same CLONE that pulled your ass out of proverbial hell. You know what... I might be a clone, maybe in your mind a body standing in the shadow of a great man. But, if Dagger, or any of his hunter friends wanted to take you back there dead, or alive. They'd already be softened up enough for you to stop them. Because it would mean they KILLED this /-CLONE-/ to get to you. It's the ONLY way they'd have gotten to you. Up until today that is..... FUCK YOU 'Vette..... You're wrong. *He looks around at the congregation of faces.* And not only -I- but /they/ all know it. And so does Jesse... Hopefully Zack will be spared you traitorous attitude towards those that call you friends. You can kiss my ass....*He turns towards the nearest LAIR exit, just wanting to be away from such an ungrateful bitch. Still not believing she's said that, /even/ though he'd expected it to come up.* /CLONE/ I'm one of the most human things in this room. Unlike some GUARD refugees some of us know. Don't follow me... This conversation is /over/. NOW....*He straps on his shotgun. He was through talking. Never was he a lecturer, usually letting actions speak louder than words. If she really /WANTED/ to push it. He'd fight her. And unlike many of the GUARD, he'd done his research, and he knew HOW to defeat her.*

I never fucking well asked to be pulled from there! I never asked anyone to risk their fucking lives for me! *both blood caked, mud splattered hands reach up and run through her hair as she leans against the wall* I never asked for any of this goddamn shit!*the last word punctuated as she kicks her foot behind her and through the plasterboard wall, slowly she slides down the wall crouching at its base* All I ever asked for was to be left alone *The words coming out more to herself than to anyone in particular...she wraps her arms around her knees and lowers her head..perhaps to hide the tears, perhaps to muffle the words, the reason is uncertain* I should have died in that escape. *the words quiet, not exactly meant for anyone ears except maybe her own*

*About to step out. He hears her words to herself, as well as muffled.... something. He turns his head slightly, the entire room watching her. Eyes softening some. Was he the asshole in this? Hell....... He punches the side of the doorframe. After all, how long could he stay mad at her? A day, two? She was the closest thing other than Jesse that he considered as family. He turns to look at the rest of the room again, nodding his head for all to get the hell out of here... Some of them look at him as though he were insane, after all, this was the most action that's been in here for months other than the endless partying. He moves his hand towards his shotgun... Then they scatter. Like roaches when the lights come on even.* Why you gotta make everthin' so damned difficult? *He sighs a few times, getting a bit frustrated.* I'm wrong... I'm wrong about you, I say I'm wrong. You been through some serious shit god knows that much. But damned it 'vette, you're wrong about me. You're wrong about your worth to your friends. Damnit.... We love you, love you like you were a part of us. Without you there, the farm just didn't work. *He shakes his head, he wasn't making sense, what the hell else was new?* Tryin' to say you should trust us... Or maybe it's just me you don't trust. You, me, Jesse, even Zack. We been through a heap together. More'n some definitely..... We had to get you out of there. Not because you asked for it, or didn't ask for it. But because we wanted to... No, we had to. Our lives just didn't work without you. I just hope you realise, you're better for havin' us as friends'n family. You'll never fin' that back at the HQ. I trust, that in your mind and heart, you'd come after me, or Zack, or Jesse... That's why we did what we did. We knew you'd do it for us. *He smiles and laughs a bit.* Bitch and moan about it all the way, but you'd do it... Well, y'v hear m'sermon. Hopefully you'll be a part of the family again. We missed the hell out of you.... Come back, to where you're loved. Please. Make it a choice, not a feeling of obligation.

*she slowly raises her head up off her knees and looks at you, the tear runnels leaving shocking white marks through the streaks of blood still on her face* That's my problem.....I do trust.... *she shakes her head* and I shouldn't....I trust Jesse and Zak and *she hesitates a brief moment as she takes in everything you have done to rescue her* I trust you..*she stands up* but I shouldn't, and noone should trust me...* she sighs* I've betrayed too many people too many times......As for GUARD *The word tinged with disgust* have no fears about me rejoining them......that would be just what 'he' *she still won't refer to him by name, let alone call him her father, she hated him* would want, and I will have nothing to do with 'him'.

*He shakes his head.* No... Yer wrong 'vette. Ya should trust. Theres nothin' wrong with it t'all. It's what makes us better n' the GUARD. They don't understand that it takes friends to survive an ordeal or even a war. You can't fight with people at yer side if'n ya don't trust 'em. Ya go into battle with someone you don't trust, yer signin' yer own death warrent. Maybe that's why we beatin' 'em so far. They don' trust one another enough to help each other. You want friends 'vette. You want trust, and you want to be trusted. Else you'da never invited Jesse to the farmhouse ta live with ya, or m'self. And ya wouldn't like Zack as much as ya do. Ya need it, and admitin' it wouldn't make ya look weak. It's weaker ta say ye need no one, when ever'one knows ya do.*He holds out his hand towards her, offering to help her stand up.*

There is.*She sighs*..when it is but in someone who hurts or betrays you...and I have done that too often to too many * ...GUARD? are we really better? or are we merely different sides of the same coin? both with their own ideal, neither completely right yet neither side ever meeting.....* I never asked to be in a war, let alone survive it.....maybe if I had stayed out of it, everyone would be better off....Jesse and you would have fallen in with the lair, eventually...and you wouldn't have been at the mall that day to get killed *she closes her eyes in pain* and I wouldn't have been at the lair to shoot Vince....and Zak would have.....* where would zak be? spare parts for another machine? or fodder for a bonfire?..something would have worked out..she takes the extended hand and stands* I never said I didn't need anyone to trust, I just said that others shouldn't trust me.

*He grins.* Yeah, but people shouldn't breath, or smoke either. All three could be hazardous to their health. But when ya got friends like us, least ya know we'll always be there for ya.*He pulls her up from the floor, surprisingly easy. After all, beneath his clothing, Alan is still VERY much a S.E.A.L. He's never let himself go like some do when they are booted or discharged. Working out every day in some form or another. Be it a ten mile run, or free weight lifting He pulls her from the ground and into a one armed loose hug.* Some thin's we don't ask fer babes... and they become the greatest o' things after all. Not that war is great, though I admit, lifes boring without it. I'd be lyin' if I didn't say that fighin' didn't do somethin' fer me. Not that it gets me off more'n a little femme fatal ever now and again. But it keeps life interestin'.*If he'd known her thoughts about the GUARD, he'd have refuted for her ideas... How freedom's better than the oppression they strive for. How letting people go about their business instead of trying to control them. Hell, with the powers displayed in this room, every R.UN.er could help the goals that man's strived for in centuries, and make it happen in a few hours. But that can never be as long as GUARD is trying to keep things hush hush.* You can't blame yerself fer me gettin' killed 'vette. I hope that's not the way you felt. Pole was a coward who couldn't win without his pet psychic. There was nothin' you could have done, and there was nothin' I could do. I can tell you that it never was, and never will be, your fault. Now that his psychic pal's gone. I ever see that shit again, and he's gonna wish I kill him over what I will do to him. He weren't nothin' before, an' he's less now.

Thanks Alan *She leans into the hug, lightly returning it...human contact, connection...that was one of many things she missed during her confinement, until it was denied her she never realized how much she had relied on it......she pulls back and looks at him* That will always weigh on me, as do so many others, but unlike them *She moves forward and gives you a light kiss on the cheek* You're alive *she steps back again* Pole...he's just.....Dedicated *She shakes her head* He always has been, to him it has never mattered how, just as long a GUARD wins, that is all that counts to him *She closes her eyes as if in pain and shudders slightly* That one might be gone, but he has another.

*With confidence in his voice. He smiles as broadly as he can.* Jesse will stop the next one. Shred was their trump card... Now he's just another dead vegehead. Pole will never have another like him.*He looks to the floor slightly as she talks about weights.* Yeah, that never gets easier. In my time with the NAVY, I had to write about...*He stops to think for a moment.*...it's funny... You can't seem to remember how many. I think it was five. Though if I were ever faced with their parents again I'd remember their names easy. I still see their faces from time to time, people who died for the team so that the rest could live. It's never a small deal to the parents you talk to. Have to look in their eyes, tell 'em their child's dead. That you held his head in your lap while he bled to death through a 4 inch wide hole in his chest while some medic, who was never trained for such a heavy wound and doesn't have the supplies to help it, tries to frantically keep him alive until the real medics arrive. *He opens his eyes, having had them shut as he remembered.* I remember there was this young kid on my S.E.A.L. team one time. Real young kid, 'bout 18-19. Well, we got pinned behind some trees, blocking our escape route to the mini subs and wet gear waitin' fer us underwater. We all knew someone was goin' to stay behind, and that person wouldn't be comin' back less they were in real good with whatever god they believed in. I didn't have to assign anyone. This kid just stood up, just stood up and started firing. We all took off for the beach, made it to the mini subs. We stayed underwater as long as we could near that landing sight... Kid never came back. Government insisted we were never there. All I can remember is lookin' back to that kid while I was runin' fer that beach. I knew if he hadn't stood up, i'd be in his place firein'. S'all I think about sometimes. Seein' his eyes as I look back, him knowin' he weren't comin' home.*He shakes his head and massages the bridge of his nose.* Strange things memories, either they make you stronger, teach you somthin'. Or they teach you nothin' and ya never learn nothin' at all. I was determined to learn somthin' from that kids sacrifice. I learned that for everyone to go home, sometimes someone else doesn't. And it's all right with them.

*she shakes her head* I don't think she would *Not could...would, she's never been quite sure what exactly was between Jesse and Aerik, she's not sure if she ever wants to know.....but what would Jesse do if forced to choose sides? choose possibly between her lovers? her friends?....would she take on Aerik? or was she even strong enough?......a hand rubs absently at the area just over her heart, where he ghosted through...if he was that powerful, could anything stop him?.....She pales slightly as the last thought goes through her head* some memories make us stronger, others....just more cautious *She shivers as the memory of her capture plays through her head, fully clear for the first time..did he really do that? reach into her chest?...she remembers the movement, and how his arm seemed almost clear...then.*She closes her eyes and hugs herself as the scene recreates itself within her head* .then she remembers the pain in her chest, the suffocation, the burning, and the certainty that at that moment she was going to die...without a chance*

*He shrugs.* Ya deal with the cards as they come. I dealt those vipers a sting they'll not forget soon. Waltzed right into their home and took what I wanted, they'll find they aren't the only ones that can do it. *For a while he's been toying with an idea... But for it to take hold, he'd have to get a hold of some serious stuff.... Including a base of operations himself. And he doesn't trust the LAIR... For some reason, people he didn't know all being in the same place... It stinks of MOLE heaven. It was only a matter of time in his book. After all, everyone had their price. He watches as she seems to hold herself.* somethin' wrong 'vette? Why don't we get the hell outta here for a while? This place stuffs me up y'know? Too many eyes unwanted around here.*Looking around the place as he tries to convey to her that he suspects this place isn't as entirely safe as all these kids seem to think it is.*

*She forcefully pulls herself out of her memories* Lets just hope that those particular cards are never dealt *She briefly meets his eyes, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips* Aces and eights are not the cards to hold when the deals called *she looks around the lair, she had never been comfortable here, she always felt as if at any moment someone would seek revenge for her past, not that she didn't deserve it, but it was an uneasy feeling none the less....and now this place was even worse, it was confining, closed in, no windows to the outside world* sure but uhmm *she looks down at herself, the GUARD issued clothing covered in blood* I think I at least need to clean up a little

*He nods towards the room he'd been given for his duration here. Making his way back there, after all. He couldn't leave without his recased shells anyway.*Hell, y'can use m'shower in the room. Even got some cloths that might fit ya, though they be a little loose. We might as well go shoppin' after all. There wasn't nothing they got from yer house I don't think. So what you wearin' is what you ownin'. *He makes his way back into his room, sitting down in his recasing chair as he finishes some loads. Jerking his thumb over his shoulder.* Head's in there. Feel free.... If ya need more towels, call. I'll fix ya up.*Women for some reason had a tendency of using alot of towels after a shower. He never knew why. One was enough... Hell, sometimes he air dried.*

Thanks *She heads into the bathroom, closing the door behind her...Without hesitation she strips down and steps into the shower, throwing the hot water on full blast, scalding her skin.....she scrubs off the blood and grime, relishing the thought of a private shower...GUARD left nothing to chance, even the shower was monitored, she knew that..certain that her skin is finally clean she then moves on to her hair..finally she steps out of the shower, and drys herself off...She runs her fingers through her hair, pulling ruthlessly at tangles* Hey! you got a brush in....never mind *She grabs the brush off of the counter and straightens out her hair.......she catches her own reflection in the mirror and stops...staring at it in disbelief, unable to recognise the haggard figure staring back from within its fogged depths.....the face was familiar, yet changed, no longer that which she remembered...hollowed, haunted eyes stared back at her like a spectre.....and the hair, it was too long now, no longer the short utilitarian cut she preferred, it had grown out...she looks down in disgust at the clothes by her feet then picks them up and dumps them in the garbage can, she was not going to wear those again...no matter what...she wraps the towel around herself and opens the bathroom door* Find anything that might fit?

*Searching even now as she steps out of the bathroom in the towel, his door shut so that she could walk around however she wanted. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen a naked woman if she'd decided to come out without the towel. But he figured she wouldn't want the kids seeing all that she had. After all, there's no such thing as privacy in the military. Especially on S.E.A.L. teams. Turning around to see her in only the towel. He nods, pulling out a white tee and some pants. He tosses them to her.* Sorry 'bout the underwear though. I don't go drag, contrary to popular belief. Yer gonna have to go, what we called, freeballin' I'm sure ya got a set o' yer own under that towel there.*He continues to look through the dresser a little more, he hadn't managed to save many of his own cloths, though he'd packed a duffle bag with everything he though he'd need and left it at a french bank in a safe box. SOP for anyone that might not be able to go back to HQ. Have an ulterior plan....*

*She easily catches the clothes* Gee and I thought in your spare time you slipped into some of Jesse's silks *She turns and heads back into the bathroom....growing up in a military institution she didn't think too much of exposing herself, and especaily after the last few months...however doing so in front of someone elses boyfriend when you don't have to is an entirely different matter...a few minutes later she emerges, the pants hanging baggily with the cuffs rolled up, the shirt fitting snugly across the chest, her biceps filling the sleeves almost as well as his* Thanks for the clothes *She dangles a pair of GUARD issued sneakers from her hand* Guess I'm still stuck with these for a bit though *She leans over and puts the shoes on, then looks up at you* So where we hitting?

*He looks up slightly as she talks about being stuck with the issued shoes. Nodding at them slightly.* Less you wanna wear my sandles...*Pointing over to some absolutely disgusting looking shoes, grime, and no doubt fungus, proliferous over them. He shrugs at her last question.* Where you wanna get some stuff at?*Figureing that he'll just get some stuff at the same place she does. After all, it's not like he expects her to actually buy /girl/ clothes or something like that. He turns around slowly, strapping on his thigh held shotgun... Placing a few cartridges in the bullet sections, then throwing on his duster.* Shall we?*He waves towards his door.*

*She grimaces in disgust as she looks at the sandles* Oh god, I thought I threw those thing out, next time I will remember to burn them *She shrugs* I dunno, guess I need a computer first so I can open one of my alternative accounts. I don't want to risk using an old one *she looks over at him* unless you got something I can use in the meantime...after that I suppose we could hit...*She pauses briefly,she was not taking him there, not after last* I know, there is this great row of shops a few block from here, you'll love it...leather one one end of the street, guns on the other *She opens the door and steps out, glaring at the kids still hanging around the door* What ya got nothing better to do?

*He raises a brow at her. She was after all talking to a private business man. Of course he had his own accounts. /MANY/ of them. Pulling a couple cards out of his briefcase, which was hidden under the bed. Great place... Not as though anyone in here sweated having money, they all seemed to respect each others property. He walks over to her as she talks about the types of stores they'll be visiting. Seeing as he re-gained his hummer from the clutches of Geoffs hands.* Sounds like my kind of stores.*He heads out the door, walking towards the ''exit'' he knows to be where the Hummer is parked outside of.* I already got transportation in hand.

*She chuckles at the cheesiness of his hiding spot* great place * She nods* thought ya might like them *she shrugs and follows him* Besides, I need a new jacket, and I somehow doubt that any of you thought to grab my gun cache......So I need a new piece. *she sighs* Somehow I doubt that I will manage to get another Berretta like that, maybe I will just go for another Sig....transportation? boy you are ahead of the game

*He grins. More than likely he could easilly get her a beretta with the specifications she was after, he'd just have to get in contact with his fixer. He smiles at the thought of ''being ahead of the game''. It was, after all, how he stayed alive.* Yeah, procured my hummer back from a......''friend''.*To use the term loosely. He'd caught Geoff playing ''race car driver'' in a parked state after following him. He'd had a suspicion a few days after they arrived that the kid had it. He was big on boasting after all... They emerge into the light after useing the exit from the LAIR, the hummer not fifteen feet away at the beach. He climbs into the drivers side silently, starting it up as she walks up to it. Slipping in a special CD he's made into the player. The radio blasts to life with some Van Morrison. Then, after the first few tracks, as they make thier way up the beach from the small cave he had the Hummer hid in, the music switches to Motley Crue.* So.... The hell is this place anyway?

*she nods as she sees the hummer* Yeah, and I can easily guess who that friend was... *She rolls her eyes at the music...she prefered lighter stuff, something a little mellower...Pink Floyd and Bauhaus...this stuff was too harsh, too violent, it reminded her too much of battle.....She turns it down slightly* Head up to Jackson, then take a left to Victoria and grab the first damn spot ya see, its usually tough to find parking

*The hummer springs out onto the road, right in front of one of those little JAP jobbers..... Much like their military, and subsequently, their culture. It's cheaply built. The small car barely grazing the American built Hum-V, sending it careening into the side of the cliff. Totally ruined. Now, a hit like that a hummer, or other american steel car, could take without blinking. He looks over his shoulder, not slowing in the slightest.* Well..... Piece-of-shit.*Shaking his head at the stupidity of some people. Why they insisted on buying inferior goods was beyond him. He tears through the country side. Raiseing a brow at her as she turns down his tunes... though he makes no move to do otherwise. If she was anyone other than who she was, she'd be jaw hit by now. He dirves on, making his way into Victoria and parking in the first place he can, actually cutting somone else off. A shaking fist is what greets him from the passing motorist. He flips 'em off and exits the vehicle.* Okay, where first?

*She looks back over her shoulder at the now demolished car, carefully watching people get out, making sure everyone is okay* God damn it Alan! Ya coulda hurt someone *Assured that everyone is okay,, she turns back* Its not a fucking war zone, those are civilians, you don't need to take them out *she turns her attention back to the road, watching as you take the corners as if they were hairpin turns...did she survive that night to die in a car wreck?...she smiles...at least she will die free* Personally I am starting there *She point at a leather store* My jacket and boots are first *she looks back at him* would you expect less of me? *She crosses the street and head for the Wilsons across the street*

*He just shrugs at the idea that they were civilians. He never claimed to be a /nice/ guy. And training does certain things to you. As well as seeing people die, gets you to the point where you don't care anymore. Besides, he hadn't known they were coming down the road. How often is a country road like that travelled on a Monday. Nodding towards the leather store, he makes his way towards it with her at his side, hands reaching into his pockets to find a pack.. Pulling a cigarette out of his pocket with his teeth. He whips his zippo out of seemingly no where, lighting it up in a second.* Want?*He offers her a cancer stick. Entering the leather store and making his way to check out the biker jackets, as well as the long leather dusters.*

Sure *She reaches for one....something she had never done before her capture, she had given up smoking years ago...and here she was, starting up again* thanks *As they enter the store an old woman looks up from the counter {woman} Your back again? *She comes out from behind the counter and walks over to the rack of womens bike jackets* You go through a lot of these, Angel, I should start giving you a discount {Venin} *she shrugs* bad luck I guess {Woman} This one's your size *She holds one up…Venin tries it on and moves around a little* Its a little tight, I need something a bit bigger {Woman} Been working out I see, Here try this one *Venin tries it on* fits great, I'll take it, thanks Marie *Venin walks over to the cowboy boots, grabs a pair off the shelf and puts them on, while Marie walks around the counter ringing up the jacket* {Venin} I'll take these too *she hands the tag to Marie and throw the runners into the trash* {Woman} Going all out today? Your my best repeat customer *She points over her shoulder at Alan* so who’s the looker? A new 'uncle'? or your pimp? *Venin smiles weakly and winks* Something like that...*Marie leans over the counter whispering quietly to Venin* You ain't looking so good Angel, you gotta get outta the business. It ain't for us old timers, best ta leave it to the young ones *Venin shakes her head and chuckles sadly* sometimes I wish I could just leave things, but there are some things you just can't *Venin walks over behind Alan* See anything you want?

*Still looking at the jackets, his advanced hearing that all Unnaturals share always active within him. He'd been looking at a few choice leather dusters when the conversation at the counter switched and started refering to /him/. He blinks as he turns around. Pimp? /PIMP/! He's definatley about to unload a face full of shotgun blast into the womans face. Then she'd see who the damned PIMP is. He turns back to the rack, shaking his head. Offing somone in a leather store for no reason wasn't good policy, not to meantion not a good way to keep a low profile.* Pimp....*Whispered as he shakes his head more.* Hmph.... Old b|tch.*He picks up the leather duster he'd been eyeing. taking it over to the counter and passing Yvette up on the way.* Hell yeah I found somthin'...*He tosses it uncerimoniously on the counter.*I'll take dat one.*Pointing to it non-chalantly. Furrowing his brow at the old woman.... What honor would there be in beating an old prunes a$$ though?*

*She can hear the whispered comment quite easily from where she is and just shakes her head....she had to come up with some reason why she kept going through so many leather jackets, and Marie just happened to come up with this idea all by herself....Yvette had never actually ever said what she did, she just simply let this woman assume, it made things much easier.....helped her get a nice discount too..when ya spent as much buying leather jackets as Yvette did, a discount is really nice.... she glances a the duster you dump on the counter...* nice jacket * ..handy too, Alan always did like carrying around the heavy weaponry..Marie finishes ringing up the order and Yvette grabs her new jacket, ripping off the tags before donning it...she turns to Alan* Okay, thats first order of business, shall we move on to the next major one?

*He takes the duster off the counter. Pulling off his old overcoat and putting his credit card back into his wallet. Donning the black leather duster, his weapons having been in full display before he did it. Both to Yvette, and MARIE. He tosses the old duster to the ancient crone of a woman.* Here.... Can you burn that for me? S'already been to hell an back, but I don' need it no more. *Slowly striding over to Yvette.* Yeah, le's move onto the next major sh|t..*Pulling another cigarette out of his pack, then a match. He lights it off his new leather. Glad that this stuff is tough enough to take it. Lighting up the smoke, he heads for the outside. Blowing a few ''O'' rings out of his mouth.* Where to next babes?

*Marie catches sight of the weapon arsenal and raises an eyebrow, looking from it over to Venin, but she does not say a word....in this part of town she deals with enough of the seedier crowd to know when to keep her mouth shut...Marie simply grabs your old jacket and tosses it under the counter, she'll deal with it later* Thanks Marie, see ya soon *She nods at the woman as they leave...* Got one for me? *She raises an eyebrow eyes your pack and reaches to steal one anyhow without waiting for a response and waits to see if she can manage to snag a light off you as well* How about we hit the 'toy' store? I need some new gear

*He raises a brow as she reaches for the smoke... People have /lost/ their hands for less with him around. He offers up a cancer stick though. He watches for a few moments as she seems to expect a light too..* Damn yer demanding...*He snaps his fingers, expelling a little power as the cigarette lights with a resounding pop.* ''Toys''.... My -favorite- place to go.*He scouts out the street for a moment, pointing towards a place with a sign reading,''Guns, ammo, and picnic supplies.''* I like the looks of that, could be interesting.*He starts to make his way over towards the store, crossing the street right in front of a car that skids to a halt. The driver laying on the horn and yelling out the window at him. slowly turning his head towards the ''RUDENESS'' displayed to him, after all, he's walking here!* Piss off ya fvckin' basterd.*He extends his finger at the driver, and not the pointing one either. Enraged, the driver gasses the car, barely missing Alan as he passes by. Alan though, always prepared for a practical joke. Pulls something off his belt and tosses it expertly into the drivers side window as the car passes by. The driver, looks down at his crotch and sees the grenade sitting between his legs. He grasps at the pineapple and tries tossing it out the window as he turns the corner. A slight pop can be heard from the unseen street as the paint grenade goes off inside the car.* Man... I kill me.*Wiping an invisable tear off his cheek. Waiting for Ven to catch up.* And what pray tell does this teach us boys'n'girls? Never mess with someone ya don't know. Ya never know if they are gonna cap ya or not.*He smiles sickly as he heads into the store.*

Thanks *she isn't worried about repercussions, not from Alan, not from anyone..especially after what she had just been through...as long as she is out of that cell, anything goes..she takes a long drag, the harsh smoke burning her throat...but it felt good, it felt damn good, just to be out and free..she stops on the sidewalk and watches Alan cross the road, pissing off a driver who in turn pisses him off....in this neighbourhood it wasn't neccessarily smart to piss people off, sh!t happened..she watches the paint grenade go off, then shakes her head and crosses the road, catching up to Alan easily...she doesn't say a word at his comment, she merely continues on into the store...once inside she stops dead...the humm of the flourescent lights, the whirr of hidden cameras....even a holographic wall meant to show a field of deer....all of this brings recent reality crashing back down on her...she simply stands there frozen, like a deer in the headlights...unable to move*

*He walks in behind her. Not having expected her to stop in the middle of the room like that. Almost walking right into the back of her as his eyes adjust to the lights of the place. Stopping quickly, eyes roaming over her. The rigidity, the silence. He'd seen it before. Once when him and his S.E.A.L. team happened on a group of Vietnam vets they'd gotten a tip on. She was having a slight flashback. All someone could do was try to bring them out of it gently, otherwise they'd certainly explode if their mind was allowed to dwell on it. And an un-natural like Venin exploding was /NOT/ a good thing. Especially around here at the moment. He steps right up behind her slowly, and quietly. Placing some strong hands, that have a forbidden gentleness about them on her upper arms. His hand still about as big as her entire bicep, some never appreciated exactlly how /BIG/ alan is until he's right next to you.* 'vette.... we aren't there.*Words whispered in her ear.* We're in Spokane Washington. Not Hell, France. You have to calm down, concentrate on where you are. C'mon girl, you /can/ do this. Don't let the bastards win now. Not when you've beaten them. You took all they could give, and you've won.*Though not without scars that are becoming more obvious to him... Maybe there would have to be a visit to one of the LAIRs telepaths... He slides his hand slowly to the side of her neck, fingers that'd killed men in untold numbers feeling for a pulse, how fast it was. then rests the palm of his hand against the back of her neck.* C'mon babes... Calm down now.

*She is unaware of his approach, her gaze remaining focused on her inner eye...that cell, where she had spent months, isolated, watched....her only contact with humanity being those that came down to see and mock her...her, the GUARD traitor, the daughter of Scratch, so easily captured.....so easily betrayed....Her fists clench angrily...* Aerik *The one word spoken quietly, yet containing as much venom as that which she holds for her father...she would get him, make him pay somehow..before he turned someone else in....she remains focused on her own world, within her own head, her fear turning to anger....her pulse changing from the rapid beat of terror, to the steady adreniline filled one of anger...your words dont' penetrate....however, a presence behind her is felt...images of Aerik, Pole, Scratch....all these dance before her eyes, her anger building with each.....with lightning fast reflexes she turns, her fist flying towards what she instinctively perceives as a threat...her enhanced strength fully behind the move*

*He feels the movement in her neck before she does move. Well aware of how fast Yvette is, though he'd never fought her before. He pulls his arm up easilly, seeing as it was already almost in blocking position. Her fist meeting with the sharp edge of his arms bone. He feels, and hears, a slight cracking noise, knowing it to be minorly fractured already. Biting down on the inside of his mouth with the sharp pain he suddenly feels, a warm flow of blood entering his mouth. He swallows it down with a sickly smile, his own trained and brain washed mind taking over as he drops slightly, even as her arm is connecting with his. Alans own enhanced un-natural speed, turning him around as he drops and sweeping his foot behind her knees and legs. Unless she can jump about as high as his hip level before he hits her, she's going down. His fist, of his still good arm, already prepared to deliver a punch to her nose in hopes of splattering it when she lands on her back. The owner of the store goes to call the cops. Alan destroys the phone in sight with crushing pressure... It wouldn't do to have the bluecoats showing up right now.*

*She feels her fist impact with his arm, the slight cracking noise almost like music in her ears as she sees Scratchs face floating before her* Die asshole *Two words quietly spoken, with a deadly calm....within her mind she was back, back in France, in the cell...and it wasn't Alan facing her, it was her father, the one she most despised.....A second fist swings for the stomach, but pauses mid-strike, foggy confusion written on her face as she wars with herself....in the hesitance she is unaware of your leg sweeping behind her until she lands hard on her back, your fist connecting with her face...blood splattering from her nose as it is crushed by the force of your blow....the instantaneous flare of pain clears the fog of confusion from her mind and she simply lays there, looking up at you...uncertain* Wh...what happened?

*He'd been totally prepared for a killing strike. So much was his training about the quick and easy kill, so one could move onto another. He, himself, fights the urge to bring the killing blow to bear. Fingers poised in the air looking like two fangs of a vipers head, the other hand behind her head holding it back to bear her throat... Through the rage he feels within, the fractured arm barely noticed with the rush of adrenalin he's feeling. Barely do her words register in the back of his mind, hand held in air twitching nervously. He takes a few deep breaths, calming himself slowly until he's able to speak back to her.* You.....attacked me...*A slight wince makes its way back to his face as he feels a bit more of a twinge from the fractured arm. Not even worrying about her nose, she'd deserved that. He drops her head to the floor and stands up, examining his arm. An area of it already turning purple from the great bruise he'll sport the better part of a few weeks.* Fvck....*No yelps of pain or the like. It's happened too many times for him to worry about...*

*She lays there for a moment, simply staring, disbelief written on her face* I...I...what? *She slowly regains her feet, one hand coming up to staunch the flow of blood from her nose...she winces as she feels the extent of the damage, and straightens it, letting her healing factor take care of the rest....Her gaze travels around the room, resting momentarily on the owner who is simply staring with open mouth astonishment between them and the destroyed phone.....slowly her gaze travels back to Alan disbelief and confusion still clearly written on her face....until she sees your arm* Oh ..My God! *she shakes her head and backs off* I didn't? *she closes her eyes and takes a breath* why? How? *she licks her lips nervously and backs off a few paces more....how could she?...what if it was someone else? someone not trained?.....what have I done?.. she closes her eyes, each word coming out almost pained, as she contemplates what could have been the outcome of this*I.. am.. so.. sorry.

*He continues to examine the arm... It's been a while since he's actually been this minorly hurt. Sorta feels good to have a wound that can be waited on rather than an emergency room style one. He watches her as she backs off...*N..no no.. It's not your fault 'vette. Ya were havin' a flash back. Happens after a long time of bein' held up. Musta scrambled yer brain more than I thought.*He reaches down to where his shotgun is, pulling the thigh mounting sling off and putting the hand cannon into the inside pocket of his duster. Then makes a makeshift sling of the whole thing. Winceing a bit as he eases his arm into it. He waves her appoligy off, was no big thing. But he's rather concerned for her though.* S'alrigh'. Ferget about it already. Just will have it fixed when we get back home. /BUT/ yer lettin' one of the head jobbers look at you.*Meaning one of the psionics, prolly Jesse.* That's my price for this...*Pointing to his cracked arm. He looks over at the store owner... Pointing towards the phone.* Ya hate it when they do that.... S'gotta be a small explosion or something. There's been defective models you know. Might wanna check it out.*The human mind finds ways of believeing things that are more believeable than what can be explained. He starts to take a look around the store, there might even be a toy in here he -doesn't- have yet. Though he seriously doubts it. He's got stuff this store can't even get permits for, because they don't exist.*

*She swallows nervously, this wasn't supposed to happen...she was supposed to have full control, she always had...she had never, had a blackout like that, never.... she closes her eyes and shakes her head* I'll be okay, I'll work it out *There was no way she was letting anyone in her head, not even Jesse...the thought of someone actually entering her mind, altering it..a shiver runs down her spine..that was..it disgusted her...she takes a breath, and steps forward* I'll work through it *one hand reaches up to touch her already healed nose* I wish I could give it to you {the healing that is}*she lays a gentle hand on your uninjured arm as if in apology, then she turns away, walking toward the shop owner as if everything were normal* I need a Berretta, what do you have?

*He watches as she walks away.... Yeah, she'd work this through.... /NEVER/. Flashbacks and memories like that didn't go away on their own. And they are near to impossible to work through on your own. He follows up behind her, this conversation wasn't over by a long shot. But he'd let her calm down and dwell on it for a few days. Then he'd bring it up again, when he was sure he could more fully defend himself. He'd not make the mistake of underestimating her strength ever again. He wanders off into the rest of the joint to look for a few things. Wandering over to the ammo surplus isle, wandering past a few of the racks encased in glass... Now there was something he hadn't seen for a while. An /old/ nazi machine gun. One of his buddies had a thing like that hanging on the wall...* Hey man, you got nice stuff in here.*The shop owner just shrugs... Alan really doesn't see anything he wants. But it's 'vette that needs the piece. Personally, if she'd asked him, he'd have been able to get her a .50 cal Dessert Eagle. Sucker shoots through schools and keeps going.*

*Her mind races with possibilities, of what might have happened..what could have happened..as she looks over the weapons on display...she points to one and the owner unlocks it, bringing it out to show her....she tests its weight, dry firing at the wall then checks ithe housing, muzzle and clip..she'll deal with it, she doesn't know whats wrong with her, but she'll deal with it....she'll just have to be careful, very careful.* I'll take it..and some ammo too *normally permits and waiting periods are required, but she knows this part of town..for a little extra, you can get anything immediately...she looks over her shoulder at Alan* Can I use your plastic again? *She smiles weakly* I promise I'll set myself up soon.