Facing Fears - The Machine

Feb. 12, 2013

Nea Peka resided in the detention ward aboard the UCS Mahayana. It was perhaps the closest she had felt to home in a long while. The solid white walls, the pristine glow of the luminescent lights, and the sterile sound glowing around her. However, they knew this, they reminded her that she shouldn't savor it. She had defected, and until she could prove her disloyalty to Unity, this was to be her home. Her head would rest merely a few feet from her toilet and her meals would be ushered through a slot on the side of the wall. Rumor was that a Belarus was coming to inspect today, but that was just the guards talking.

One thing about the guards, they could be relied on to spread the word when it need not be spread. Benjamin smiled to the pair of soldiers relegated to guard duty and placed his hand on the door, scanners built directly into the hatch recognizing him and allowing him access.

"Gentlemen, kill it if it tries to escape." With that, he stepped inside and lifted the case he was holding. With a flick of his wrist, it opened up into a chair and he promptly sat down. "State your name."

One brow rose as she was referred to as an *it*. She had yet to smooth over the reality that she was more than a thing for questioning. When he sat at a table, she moved to sit across from him. One leg folded behind the other, hooking at the ankles. She placed her hands on the table in a non-threatening way. "Nea Peka, and you are Benjamin Belarus, son of Dust Belarus correct?"

"Nea Peka, alright. I don't remember giving you permission to ask me anything." He reached into a pocket of his uniform and pulled out a flask of water, sipping some before he sealed it and left it sitting on the table. "My name is Benjamin Belarus and I am the son of Dust Belarus, that is correct. Now, according to reports you defected from Unity. I don't really buy it but I suppose I could let you tell the lie you've undoubtedly been rehearsing. Go ahead." He folded his arms across his chest and cocked a brow at her, waiting for her response.

Fingers laced as he spoke, grey white eyes fixing on the water for many moments. She laced her fingers and folded her hands. Both her lips pursed as she thought of what to say as he labeled her as a liar and deceiver. Lowering her head slowly, she sighed out softly. "I have nothing to say other than I've had enough." Her lips pursed a little and looked to him, her eyes locking on his citrus hues. "Abiding by the rules twenty four seven is rather difficult..." Her head shook a little," I have nothing rehearsed, I have no idea what to say."

"So you would leave because it's 'too hard'? Oh, my heart breaks for you." He reached for the flask again and took another sip of water, giving a satisfied sigh as he recapped it and set it back down. "Things aren't exactly easy on this side of the line. What makes you think you'll do any better? Why should I think you're anything more than a double agent trying to feel out a weakness? Sorry, I just don't buy it. Might be better for everyone if I leave behind some Compound 56 and everything in this room gets to flash fry." He pulled a small, sealed container from a chest pocket and sat it on the table in front of him. "What do you think Nea Peka, Unity infiltrator?"

"Do you have a laser scalpel?" She didn't seemed phased by what was said to her. She merely rubbed her fingers over a spot on her hand. "I will let you hold it, and I will direct you as to where to cut." She opened her palm to reveal a swell under the skin. "I may not have had clearance worthy of your family's trust, but I brought what information I could with me. I can also tell you of Unity's teachings and... Where major cities are within the Unity. But I fear that information is pointless and dated anyhow." A small frown was on her lips. "I really have nothing conclusive to offer.... Well beside what they desire to do to you and your siblings once they capture you, if you can be captured."

"Wow. The fact that you asked me to use a laser scalpel tells me you haven't been studying me. I'm not a fan of precise little nicks and cuts. That's for my older sister." He pulled out a collapsing rubber cup and flipped it open, pouring water from the flask into it before he handed it to her. "Drink. I know you have to be pretty parched." He leaned back in his seat and cracked his neck, a smile spreading over his face. His dark amber gaze locked onto her face and he filed data for later review. "So, you think you have some neat little tidbits of information, huh? Well, even if it is dated, we can still use it." He chewed on his cheek for a moment and his eyes dropped to the table, though secretly he was baiting her. "You're willing to sell out your own so readily?"

The water wasn't accepted, she wasn't foolish, she knew what he was, and therefore he was immune to most toxins and poisons that would hinder her freethinking. Gulping quietly, she studied him and sighed,"
Look. I am not fond of this. I left my family, my mother, father, siblings. I left my fianc?. I left my life behind to take a life within the empire." She frowned a little, her light eyes stoic as they met his gaze. In all those years, she hadn't quite gained the ability to display emotion. Swallowing lightly, she spoke out lightly. "Am I willing? Yes? Do I do so readily...?" She swallowed painfully," I've never been so afraid in my life. The second I walked away with Unity I signed my death note..."

He shrugged and took the cup, pouring it slowly into the toilet as he looked over his shoulder at her. "That's all I needed to know, Nea Peka." He folded the cup up and placed it back into his pocket before he did the same with his flask. He placed his hand on the back of his chair and it folded back up into its case form. "I'm sure someone will be along to question you further. My sister, perhaps. I wouldn't wish to be you when she comes calling." He moved over to the door and paused, hand raised a few inches from it, ready to open it. "Is there anything else, Nea Peka? A parting question or statement for the record?"

Both her lips pursed and her head lowered. There were tears forming in her eyes, her hands moved to cover her eyes. A long sigh left her as she tried to gather herself. Nea didn't look to him as he paused by the door.

They're planning an attack against the Belarus family. They have a target, who I wasn't told, but one of the three children are going to be crucified... When or how I don't know, but once they get their hands on one of you, it will only be a matter of time." Her head shook, sobbed, and she whispered out softly," I gave up everything..."

He turned then and stared at her, his mind processing all of what he had heard and what he was now seeing. The fact that an attack was planned on his family, that one of his sisters could be in danger, it flared in his mind and made him see red. The only thing keeping him stable was watching a former member of Unity, a woman who had barely shown any emotion at all during his questioning, breaking down right before his eyes. "Please, don't do that. Just pull yourself together. Please?"

Tears continued to flow, running along her palms as she used them to shield her eyes. Her head shook to and fro as she tried to pull herself together. It wasn't helping. She continued to sob out as she spoke through the sobs. "All I could think about is what if your family did that to mine? I would be so heartbroken. I don't care if you are machine, you have a family and those you love, same as I and I could not support it." Her hands wiped at her eyes as she sniffled and sobbed out," I am the youngest of my family, but by telling you this I will certainly die a traitors death."

He chewed on his bottom lip and moved around to her, not fearing for his welfare. After all, if he wanted he could kill her in an instant and walk away just fine. Stopping beside her, he leaned down and rested an arm around her shoulders, staying as distant as he feasibly could. "There there."

A wee sob left her and her hands moved to wipe her cheeks. Little sobs left her and her frame nearly shrank when he put an arm around her shoulder. She might have not showed it, but she was afraid of him, afraid of all of them. She was a stranger in a strange world she was taught to fear and hate. Yet there she was abandoning everything she knew just to warn a family she feared above all.

He pulled his arm and body away, moving to stand in a corner as he observed her, watching and taking note of everything, his emotional mind subdued in favor of the analytical. "Listen, would you like me to get someone to help? Someone you could speak with, maybe, get you to stop... Doing this?" He gestured at her and gave a weak smile, trying to be comforting. He wasn't used to this.

Grey eyes fixed on him, brows scrunched," Why does it matter if I'm doomed. You don't believe me, no one trusts me and I have given very little to change that." She drooped a little and wiped her eyes, her eyes turning to fix on the lump in her hand. "I would rather you be here. I have spoken to you." She trusted him, slightly.

"Woman would you stop? You aren't doomed. You've exchanged one life for another. The old you, she's dead. This is a new you. Welcome to the world, Nea Peka, happy birth day." He moved back over to her and rested a hand on hers that bore the lump. "Now stop being scared and sad. It isn't going to help you in any meaningful way."

Blinking as his hand covers hers, the tears stopped and she gulped a little. Biting her lip softly, her gaze turned to look up into his. A little sniffle left her and she whispered out," Do you mean it?" Snow-white hair shifted in front of her face as she looked back to his hand over hers.

"Of course I do." He let go of her hand and crossed his arms over his chest, a small smile on his face. "Why would getting overly emotional ever help in any situation?" He shrugged and set the chair case back down, popping it open so he could sit. "I didn't have anything too pressing, so if you need to talk I can stay for a bit. Wouldn't feel too well if I left you and you did something rash."

She fidgeted a little and frowned a little, her nail tapping on the table as a nervous tick. Bottom lip pursed a little, her head lowering ever so slowly. Both eyes closed and she murmured," My family isn't an elite member of the household. We generally don't have privy to needful information. When I found out what my Aunt and Uncle were planning I knew it was nothing I wanted to be part of." She fidgeted a bit. "So I broke the law, stole a computer chip, stole information off my father's computer, and implanted it in my hand. Once it was healed... I figured it was the best time to surface."

"First off, you look me in the eye when you speak. You don't, I think you're hiding something or you're ashamed. You don't want me to think either, because I will walk out of this room and set off some of the C-56 I brought with me. Is that understood?" He waited a moment for her response before he continued. "What you did was brave. You have made a very noble sacrifice in service to my family. Once we are absolutely sure we can trust you, I'm sure you will be taken care of. Take pride in that, Nea Peka."

Both her eyes lifted, locking with his eyes and going wide. Swallowing a little, she chewed on her bottom lip as she studied him. "I am ashamed, I'm ashamed of my family and what they are doing with their power and popularity." Her gaze settled on his orange hues and spoke softly," They could be working with the empire and aiding the conflict against the Nano empire, but instead they are choosing to cause more issues."

?Which is exactly why you are better than them, Nea Peka. You understand that what they are doing is wrong." He reached across the table and took her hands in his, his eyes unblinking as he looked into her pale spheres. "You should not feel shame for their idiocy or their evil. You left it behind. Hold your head up high and take pride in the knowledge that you are right!"

Gulping a little, she studied Benjamin and murmured," All the stories I've heard of you Benjamin Belarus is that of a man in love with flair and explosives. But here you are, quite the motivational speaker. You must make your father proud..." She almost lowered her eyes, but she perked her chin a little upwards and gulped softly," I have no such charming qualities, my father wanted to insure his daughter was seen not heard."

?Then your father is a fool as well as a monster. It is the right of all beings to have a free voice and the chance to be heard." He pulled his hands away and rested them flat on the table, a sigh escaping from his lips as he mustered his thoughts. "My father is... Sometimes a hard man to please. I have not really focused on gaining his approval or pride in a long time." He chuckled and shook his head, clearing his mind and fighting back the dark thoughts that threatened him. "And for the record, I do love explosives and a bit of panache. Nothing else comes close."

A sheepish smile blossomed on her lips when he chuckled. Lightly her head tilted to the side and she beamed to him warmly. "Do you do fireworks for your family on special occasions?" She perked a brow, wanting oh so desperately to change the subject and make him smile more frequently. Pale gaze met with his as she beamed lightly to him," I love to paint and garden.

"Uh, not for a while. Lost my eyebrows once, haven't been asked to do it since." He ran a hand through his hair and looked to his left for a moment before he looked back at her. He wondered for a moment how truly difficult it must have been for her to turn against her very family. He could not imagine having to make that choice. "I like to blow up paintings and gardens. I mean, I can see why people enjoy that stuff, they can be really beautiful. I'm more of a fan when they're scattered over a big distance."

That got a weak giggle out of her, her grey eyes softening as she studied him. "You seem like if you had the chance you'd be at the blasting range all day." She itched at the spot on her hand once again and sighed, her eyes falling to it. Once again her eyes lifted," Can you remove this? It's really itching and it kinda hurts." She opened her palm, her hand showing the lump again.

Ben closed his eyes for a few moments and looked to be in deep thought, that fading to a relaxed look after a few more seconds. He opened his eyes and stood, going to the door an instant before a knock was heard. He quickly opened the door and took a black case from someone outside in the hall. He sealed the door behind him and moved back to the table, pulling out a laser scalpel and antiseptic liquids as well as a small bandage and medical tape. "Alright, let's see it."

She held out her hand, slightly shaking at the sight of the scalpel. Swallowing a little she looked to him with a small, timid look. "I was kind of in a hurry to get it in my hand." She kept her lock on his eyes with her own," I cut open my hand with a knife before I left my home and stuffed the chip in there." Swallowing gently, nervously. "Then I wrapped my hand and ran with a few clothes, a few silvers, and never looked back."

"Oh, this is gonna make it really fun then. Here, take this and put it in your mouth. Be prepared to bite." He handed over a thick rubber tube and then swabbed her palm with a numbing antiseptic. He activated the laser scalpel with one hand as he kept a tight grip on her's with the other. "On three. One... Two..." He forewent the three and began cutting, paring away layers to expose the device in her flesh. Seeing the attachments her body was already making with the foreign object, he cut them away and cut away the excess scar tissue. Reaching back, he grabbed a set of tweezers and pulled the chip free, setting it in a small vial of sterilizing agent. With that done, he swabbed the incisin and began to bandage it, his hands careful as he handled the new wound. "There we go, Nea Peka. All set."

There was a large grunt, teeth digging into the tube as she sucked in a sharp breath. Both her eyes closed and tears welled up in her eyes. Fighting back the urge to cry out she let him work out the chip. Her other hand had been gripping the table, leaving light marks in it with her nails. Sucking in sharp breaths and huffing, she nodded when he said they were all set. Her hand drew away, shaking ever so slightly as she looked to him with her faded orbs," What's it like? Being a machine that can readily turn on and off their emotions and nerves when needed..." She bit her lip softly and swallowed gently.

Once she was calm, Benjamin left her to sooth the new ache in her hand. There was no word then to what would happen to her. All was silent until the hatch opened and dinner came with a bright red jumpsuit. They would continue to treat her as a risk.

Charles had gotten up early that day after resting. The day before, filled with such turmoil, he had to sleep. Slipping into a brand new uniform before grabbing his gear. He skipped over breakfast, he was too nervous for that. Instead he used his brisk steps to carry himself to Alyx's office. A moment to pray for courage before knocking quietly on her door.

"Come in." Alyx's office was spacious, decked out in crimson apparel and fit very much like an apartment, of sorts. There was a couch by the window that looked recently groomed. The desk was glass and had several files reflecting upon it. In the background was a fish tank with several crimson fish swimming about. Obviously there was a favorite theme to think about.

Opening the door quietly he nodded and saluted her "Lt. Commander" He addressed her before stepped in front of her desk, slight glances around to get the layout and anything else that he felt he would need to know. "You asked for a report Sir?"

"I did." One leg was folded over the other. Her fingers laced, elbows propped on the arms of her chair. Eventually one hand moved to the glass surface and wiped over it, closing the files with a quick whoosh! "Sit." She motioned to a black chair settled opposite of her.

He removed anything that would restrict his movement to sit down. Mainly that included his personal gear, the Knapsack and his rifle. Sitting down he looked at her, choosing his words carefully before speaking "In technicality I believe I owe more than one report. Which would you like first?"

Alyx shifted a little and chuckled hearing his question. Her head shook and she drummed her fingers. "Let's start with Miss Peka, shall we?" She arched a brow as she studied him in his new uniform.

Charles adjusted himself, setting up straight "Yesterday I recalled what happened in Rhy'din. I wanted to check up on her, but I also knew that I would most likely be denied access. As such, taking matters into my own hands so to speak I knocked out her guard, Stole his uniform and walked in. Once inside I checked up on her. She was avoiding food and drink, so I fed her and gave her what she needed. We talked, mainly about nothing. The only thing of interest was how, almost racist, the people of unity are."

Her fist bumped down on her desk as she grunted," No man, no. I want from the beginning. Why did you help her evade us?" She was trying to keep calm. She liked Charles, his diligence. She liked how hard he was working for the Empire, but sometimes she thought he was a bit scatter brained.

He nodded "Because of two things ma'am. One the sudden aggression against her in such an public place meant that she had to have some sort of intelligence. In the back of my mind I knew that taking her with me meant at least she wouldn't be attacked or rough handled before being brought in for questioning. And 2 she knew where I was. I was in cloak, high on top of a building. And she stared right at me. That drew me too her."

"The training is acceptable. I understand the need to get involved on Rhy'din, the Royal family encourages it." She paused and studied him for a moment. "Do you need a while more to work over your personal issue with this girl? Or are you ready to return to your duties aboard? I know that Mrs. Belarus has been wondering if you're willing to assist her in the dying planet."

Charles nodded "I need to return, this is my home. I just have to convince her to allow me to stay once we get..." He paused there, a few moments passed before the word came through on a sigh "married...? He blinked and watched how Alyx would respond to that.

"I see." She shifted, opening another file. A few buttons were pushed as her eyes fell on the papers within. She placed a data chip into the processer and allowed it to receive the information she was giving it. "This is a pass giving you two weeks to get settled in the family level on the ship. Bring her to the ship and show her around. Show her why you love this world."

Charles shook his head. Normally someone like him would accept this "She is also a soldier. Or rather was. Hero of her people. She knows what it is like. That?s why she wants me to stop. But she also realizes that I can't. Right now she is imprisoned awaiting trial due to complications in her family. She is supposed to be leading a nation, but ran away from all that."

Brows raised a little and she nodded to him softly. "Uh huh. Do we need to send a diplomat to speak with the people of their government?" Simple question, right?

He shook his head "That?s all been handled. She is a hero; the people are willing to revolt for her. So the government won't dare to do that. As such she is being released soon." He smiled at that "And about the dying planet Alyx, what is left to do?"

"Make it live again." Said as she smiled to Charles. "Mrs. Belarus is ready to perform the final stages and she was impressed with you and how you carried yourself. She is requesting your assistance in completing her goal with her."

Charles nodded softly "Yeah. That be nice" He closed his eyes for a second, hands twiched ever so softly before his eyes would reopen back into reality.

"Easy soldier, it's going to be a lot of labor and a lot of work. You're going to be sweating bullets every day. A lot of crops need to be planted after the atmosphere is purified." She said as she pulled up the file and added that to a different data chip.

Charles stated almost too quickly "I?m doing this Alyx" He snapped those words quickly before he could realize "sorry sir" He quickly apologized.

"Once the work is done a small unit will be assigned to protect this planet. It will be a jewel in the Empire." She said with a warm smile to him.

Charles nodded "That?s good to hear" He tried to relax but he simply couldn't, so he resorted to tapping his fingers against the arm of the chair.

"One more thing. Miss Peka is going to be released. But we need someone to watch her whenever she's free to leave the building she's assigned to." She said with a small smile to Blackstone.

He looked up "I don't care too at all, but I have a question or a few actually. One more related to everything and the others off topic"

She nodded softly and took note of that. Leaning back, her hand waved out. "Ask away."

"Well the first one is can be taken as you perceive it. When are we going to total war against unity?"

"That information has yet to reach my desk." Alyx said while her hands folded on her lap. Next??

Charles nodded "Then soldier to soldier, when do you think we will." His eyes a piercing silver at that question, it seemed he had been asking that question for years before

"Honestly, I hope we never go to war with Unity. Many lives would be lost." It was an honest answer. She had seen many wars and many deaths, she wasn't tired of it. She craved the blood lust, but it was something she feared would be pointless.


Alyx nodded softly. "So you want to be there when reconstruction begins and life is restored. It's going to be a long road, not everything is going to be instant and we want to use as little magic as possible in the process. We want the soil fertile and pure enough to grow crops that will sustain them, but that may take years. The first thing we need to do is get the plants to come back and stay back on their own."

He nodded "Yeah... I still feel responsible for one of those attacks." He sighed a bit, a hand running down his face. As his hand went over his left eye, a gruesome scar started to appear again, passing over the eye. "I had other questions but I forgot them" He chuckled lightly.

"Well, feel free to ask me whenever you'd like." She said while looking to him. The drinks came from the wall and over to them. She motioned to him to drink while she smiled to him warmly.

He thought for a moment then recalled something. "You hated me for some time didn't you. Since I volunteered you thought I was here for fame and fortune, not the betterment of the Empire?"

"No I hated you because you disrespected me and all that I stood for as your commanding officer, Blackstone." She said with a dead stare at him. Alyx took a drink and gulped it down.

He nodded "I hope you understand by now that anything that I outburst on , like yesterday, Means no disrespect. I just have less control of my lip anymore. And it isn't about what you stand for. Because what you stand for is what I stand for. But it's the way we do things. You grew up in a culture of fighting on the front lines. I was trained to fight as a one man army."

"I grew up as one of many yes." She said while looking in his eyes," But I also grew up experiencing the effects of Blood lust and fighting on my own. More or less, all that was there, I was taught to fight with family and friends."

Charles shook his head "That?s where we differ. On the battlefield no one was friends during my first 2 wars" He stated "But I understand. And i will try harder to keep my mouth shut sir."

"There are duties to uphold Blackstone. We work as one as a team and as a family. The second you joined the Empire, the lone wolf should have been left to Dust and Sentinel. You're part of a family now. Get used to that." She said with a kind smile. "Understand?"

Charles nodded "Yes sir" He hated not being able to go lone wolf. But he knew he had to uphold her wishes fully "Anything for me? Has to be something."

"Nothing other than your side of the story Blackstone. Now that we've had this conversation you won't be thrown in the brig." She grinned," Unless my judgment is over ruled."

He shrugged "In honesty as long as I'm not tortured I?ll be fine"

She grinned," No torturing what so ever." Alyx winked for a moment before looking to the data cards she had made for him. "Don't forget those."

Charles nodded "I won't." He looked around "Nice office. pretty sad when an office can have more personality then my room" He smirked a bit then thought "Hey Alyx, do you ever do SIMs to try something new?"

"What do you mean?" She perked a brow being called Alyx so openly. It had been some time since someone had used her first name. She sipped at her drink once again.

"Like, for example, there is this one mission I remember ever detail of. One of those easy missions that go to hell the second you hit the ground. I was training a new guy. Was a surveillance mission that became a week long shoot out. Wanted to retry the mission in a SIM if i could, learn what I did wrong, so it never happens again"

"All right. We can do that." She said while she pondered," Are you speaking of the mission in the city?" She was trying to understand just what he thought he had failed at.

"No this is one from my past Alyx" He tapped his fingers tensely "It?s really, interesting the things you will see. I hope I never see it again, but I failed that mission, I need to know why" He sighed

"Send the information to us and we'll figure out why as a team all right?" Alyx gave him a reassuring smile.

He nodded, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as he pressed his drink to his lips finally

Alyx was easy to get along with, right? She smiled to him and leaned back in her chair, sipping her drink.

Yeah she was. Still he couldn't relax, but that was the past hitting him hard. But at least he was finally drinking and eating. He hadn't yet done that today.