Undying Suns

[Xeenah]

Jobe, January 22nd, 29482

Smooth music was playing in the background, punctuated by the delicate fingers almost dancing on the holopad keyboard, quickly entering data. The soft, deep female voice signing was keeping Cher's mind from reeling. This music seemed to soothe the babies as well, as they didn't whirl and bump her insides when this music was playing. Cher laid her glance on the planner window.

"Mm'kay... and interview tomorrow."

She was looking forward to interview this candidate, a martial artist. Like every time she was interviewing a martial artist, she couldn't help having a thought for her former protege. Juxiao has been more than a protege, while she has been less than a master for him. But over all, they have been friends. She had evolved since and would not commit the same mistakes she had with Jux. If she was to take another protege again, she would be a better master now than she could ever be before. With that thought, she turned the holopad off.

The short Opifex pushed herself up not so gracefully, unconsciously putting her hand on her belly in a protective gesture. She could feel her ankles stretches her shoes as she stood up. She grunted faintly.

"Umph... swollen..."

She knew it meant for her to lay her legs higher than her body. She had told Kotras that the perfect position for this would be to sit in an office chair and land her feet on the desk. The cliche would be useful for something else than show off, at least. However, she had already found a nice substitute to an office desk.

Arriving at the bottom of the ramp leading to the living room, she looked in the cabinet and chose up two holovids and clasped one in the reader. While the unavoidable advertisements started rolling on the screen before the main program, she turned the big cushioned round chair aside and laid down in it, her calf resting on the back of the chair, her back and head resting in the seat. She was short enough that her entire upper body was fitting in the chair, which was a surprisingly comfortable position. She tilted her head back toward the low round table and stretched her arm back above her head to put down the second holovid on the table and stopped.

"What the hell?..." she let out, whispering as she frowned.

She rolled on the side and crawled in the chair, pushing herself on her arms. On the table was sitting the empty flower pot. The everlasting bouquet of flowers was gone.

"What happened?... They were fine yesterday!"

Cher closed her eyes slowly, letting out a long sigh as she sat on her heels. The everlasting bouquet was a gift from Juxiao, her former protege and fellow clanner. It would soon be the first anniversary of the day he has been assassinated by Bahirae Seruguisu, on February 8, in the Omni-Pol outpost right next to Assembly's city. His death was not cruel enough due to Bahirae setting it as an execution. No, she had to have it broadcasted.

"Frozen ass bitch, hope ya gonna get defrosted by a full orbital blow."

The curse, muttered through her teeth, seemed to wake the twins, and Cher could feel them sliding slightly to the side.

She tried to calm herself down so the twins wouldn't get as upset as she was. These flowers were more to her than just a memorial. Much more. They were a symbol. Cher opened her eyes reluctantly, her glance hurt by the view of the empty pot. A thin coat of grey powder, possibly some sort of ash, was covering the soil where the flowers have been flourishing for the last year.

Then, she frowned.

From the ash covered soil, a shape seemed to stick out. A flat, angle corner, nothing remotely close to anything vegetal. Leaning forward, she examined the shape closer, careful not to touch the ash with her bare fingers. She quickly jumped on her feet and stomped to the bedroom where she opened Kotras' cabinet, starting to rummage through his tools.

"Ah, there they are."

Grabbing the pliers, she stomped back to the living room. After carefully scraping some of the soil aside, she realized she had uncovered a small datadisk, sealed in a protection pocket. She picked it up delicately with the pliers and brought it to the kitchen, where she proceeded to clean it and scanned it for nanoviruses and other nasty things alike. As the scan confirmed it was only dust from vegetal source, she opened the sealed pocket and pulled out the datadisk.

"Even after your death, you still manage to surprise me... I'll be damned if I don't find out what you hid in your jack-in-the-box."

[Juxiao]

Tir, February 7th, 29481
One year before...


Running the zip across the bags, Juxiao shifted his weight and pulled the bags up with all his might. Loaded up with scanning equipment he waddled across the room like an Old Earth Penguin before putting them in the corner. In so doing he gently nudged the tall lamp in the corner; it rocked somewhat, drawing his attention. It wasn't going to fall. Taking a moment, he stepped away and moved back towards the paintings on the back wall.

The various scriptures and paintings in his room had been stacked into a Dimension Crushing Storage Device and there was only three left on his wall. Previously there wasn't a spare space on the wall in his otherwise cramped apartment. He really adored his paintings and scriptures, intent on capturing a vast amount of pictures of the planet. Sliding two into the device he took a moment to gaze at the last one.

It was wooden framed, capturing the Sun setting over a location in Andromeda, there were co-ordinates etched into the corner of it. 2566.1 2566.9. In the picture, two solitus figures, an opifex and an atrox stand gazing out towards the horizon. Grasping the edges of it he lifted it off the wall and slid it into the device. He clasped the catches on it, locking it closed and sliding it across the room alongside his other belongings.

For the most part, the room was clear, except for the bags, a lamp and a single pot of flowers in the middle of the room.

"Oh, I almost forgot about you." Juxiao added, moving over towards it.

The flowers were in a flashing pot, some sort of control unit attached to the side, recording the details of the plant. Normally, the blooms of it never last more than a week but Juxiao had managed to make a bargain with a neutral trader and get hold of a device that helped slow the aging of small items. "It would work fantastic on plants" the nanomage had said, and so he'd put it to the test, nurturing this plant into blossom, tending to it's every need and then subsequently activating the temporal device to extend it's blossom. He'd payed an unimagineable price for a new power core, one that ensured it'd last about a year, ensuring that the plants remained at their prime.

[Xeenah]

"Dear Master Clay, I have some matters that I wish to bring to your attention, and additionally a few things for you in my move to Jobe. If you could stop by my Apartment in Tir (Area Eight, in case you forget) I'd much appreciate it. – Jux"

The offline message had been relayed as soon as she turned her comlink on.  She smiled faintly. He'd never let go of his habit of calling her Master, despite the countless times she told him that Cher would do just fine.

"Hmm, his comlink's off, but he might be packing... I'll take a chance and drop by."

She slid in her armor, ran her buffs and headed outside her apartment in Apartments Complex 5.

"Uh... Where the heck is backyard 8 already?"

Cher chuckled. She had been living in Tir for almost a year now but still didn't fully know this city.  Granted, it wasn't an easy city to get around, which was probably one of the reasons the Sentinels chose it as theirs. This is why she moved out of West Athen to settle in Tir, so she would be forced to learn her whereabouts in this city. She started to wander, as did her thoughts.

Jux wouldn't leave an offline message just to tell her he had stuff for her. He did mention that he wanted to discuss some matters. Since he was not the kind to be trivial about such things, Cher was more than a little curious. It could be anything, his message wasn't giving any clue about the nature of the "matters" he wanted to bring to her attention. Nothing to speculate from, nothing to draw conclusions from, which in a way was both irritating and intriguing. But that was Jux. He had a knack at building up his effects of surprise. That and his quick wit humor were refreshing.

"Oh stop wondering, silly Opi... You'll know soon enough. Gotta be this so-called cat DNA to be curious like that..."

She grinned, looking up at the Apartments Complex number.

"Alright, number 9... Getting closer."

She kept going, zoning in the Arena area.

"Okay, it's not within this zone, that's for sure..."

She briefly glanced at the arena entrance where Kotts and Ridge held their duel.

"Good thing Kotts won... There's still no saying what Ridge would have done with that recording. It wasn't too bad, at least I was still wearing something..."

She stopped.

"Wait a minute... Backyard 6?!  Where the heck did 7 and 8 go?"

She looked around, puzzled.

"Okay, okay... go methodically, maybe the order is scattered.  That would fit the city layout anyway..."

The short silhouette started walking around in what turned out as a pilgrimage.

"Two backyard 13, uh?...  Guess the civil engineers were enjoying some strong booze when working on that city..."

She kept walking, going over the same paths over and over, until she finally noticed an alley she didn't check yet. Sure enough, there it was, right next to the East wall, immediatly North of the arena.

"Riiiight..."

Cher rolled her eyes, chuckling, and entered the Apartments Complex.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with this upcoming Valentine's day..." she suddenly thought, smiling.

[Juxiao]

Juxiao looked around the room for a moment, shouldering the DCSD and carrying to the front door. Putting it down he sighed as if trying to expell the metaphysical weight from his shoulders.

"Computer, reconfirm that the sensors have been built to the specifications in file Juxiao-Beta-Nine."

He tapped a few buttons on his wrist pad, an almost nervous tint to his voice. It beeped back at him, showing an exact match to the prototype, the design, and the ones he had bagged.

"Fine, alright."

Juxiao looked up and down the room once more, confirming that he had indeed cleaned everything out.

He tapped his foot as if to a tune that only he could hear. Pursing his lips he pulled the band out of his hair and shook it loose.

"Come on Master, it's almost time."

He looked towards the door, almost as if he was trying to gaze beyond it to find where abouts she might be. Throwing his head back his hair followed suit and came to rest on his back, giving him a chance to slightly twist it and put the band back into it.

[Juxiao]

"Jux, it's Cher, I finally found your lair!" she said with a chuckle in the door com.

"Okay, one moment!" came the reply.

Jux moved across the room, darting for the security release. He'd switched the voice activation off since he was moving it all out of the room. Cher grinned.

"Hope he didn't stumble across one of his boxes, heh..."

Juxiao released the door and sighed a sigh of relief as he leant against the frame.

"You wouldn't believe what I've been through to try and clear this place out"

"I'll take your word for it, then!" she retorted happily.

She raised an eyebrow.

"It will look empty, I guess..." she added, peaking beyond the large Atrox from aside his chest.

"Oh come in, come in!" Juxiao stepped out the way of the door, forgetting that his cumbersome figured blocked most pathways. "I had most of the stuff shipped out already, just a few small things left."

Cher bowed her head and slid past her protege, taking but only a few steps forward. She wasn't too eager to see the vacancy of the apartment he was about to leave.

"Where is it you're moving again?..."

"To Jobe" Juxiao added, throwing a sheet over the bags he'd placed by the door. "Just the paintings, a plant and a few other things left to put into place and I'm just about done."

He smiled.

"I'd offer you a drink, but my tea-set is elsewhere at the moment, packed up and sitting on the Plaza."

The Opi chuckled low.

"I know it's Jobe, I was wondering where exactly, but wherever it will be can't possibly be as hard to find as -this- apartment!" she said with a smirk.

"Jobe Plaza, the big one, near the bank." Juxiao added, hesitating slightly as he checked the sheet was really over those bags once more.

She brightened up. "Oh! We're gonna be neighbors, then?  Well, there goes the neighborhood..." she added playfully, not meaning it one bit.

She glanced about, finally, and sighed a bit at the emptiness around her.

"Sorry. I couldn't really afford anything else."

He shuffled slightly, looking across at the plant in the center of the room.

"There is this though, I've been cultivating it for quite a while."

Cher followed Jux's glance to the plant in the brightly colored pot, standing out in the middle of the flat toned apartment.

"It's a rather rare breed I've been working on, crossbred, notum linked series of plants. Indigenous to Rubi-Ka, but nevertheless quite beautiful."

Cher widened her eyes on the gorgeous red-orange flowers and smiled.

"Wow... How are you gonna carry it to Jobe to protect it from the weather? They're beautiful..." she added, half-voiced.

Her eyes were fixed on the flowers and she had to shake herself out of it to turn her glance to Jux.

"Usually their blossom only lasts a day or so, but I've enhanced them to hold up for quite a while."

He peered over his shoulder at the sheet covered bags once more.

"So yeah...they should be zipped, I mean...kept on Rubi-Ka, but they'll do okay in Jobe."

She frowned slightly for a split second.

"They'll be great in your future apartment, and the Jobe ones have windows too, so they'll have more light..."

She studied his face while saying that, which led to her question.

"What's the matter, Jux?... I can tell you're distracted."

With this, she locked her eyes on him, watching quietly.

"I've been thinking, working infact on a project of mine."

Juxiao looked gingerly at the bags over at the door.

"It's a study, a spy study infact. It's an experiment of mine, to learn more about Omni-Tek's outpost near Assembly's main base."

She slightly tilted her head to the side, as per usual when she was thinking or paying very close attention.

"Is that my cue for saying 'Uh oh'?..." she smarted but her eyes were serious.

"Perhaps, but I have it under control. Nano sensors, followed some clan specifications with a few minor modifications that I read in some old books." Juxiao added, a kind of uncertain, if curious smile blessed his face for a moment.

"I want to deploy them soon, tie them into the base, so we can see what they're up to inside."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Okay... Who else is gonna help you with that? And when?"

Her mind was reeling, obviously. The prospect of throwing monkey wrenches at this outpost has been itching her for a good while, since Bahirae had established her HQ there and came bullying Assembly during one of the CC maintenance run.

"Can't say I'd hate to shove one o' those up Bahirae's uptight arse..." she muttered.

"The outpost is very active now, you know that?" she said, intently watching Jux's face.

"I know, which is why I'm working on a temporary increase to concealment, a cloaking device if you will."

Juxiao looked over at the flower. He gazed a moment and turned back to Xeenah.

"Master Clay, I want you to have the plant."

Cher blinked, caught by surprise by the abruptness of his request. She shivered briefly, with the uncomfortable impression that this mattered in the universe's scheme of things.

"Oh, silly Opi, stop imaginating things..." she thought, trying to convince herself.

She was staring at Jux and may have stared a bit too long. Snapping out of it, she nodded, her throat slightly tightened.

"I'll put them in my living room. They fit with my hair anyway" she answered, hoping humor would chase the discomfort she was suddenly feeling.

"That's good then" Juxiao replied, rocking back on his heels slightly. He looked back and forth across the room.

"So umm...as much as I'm sure this'll work and I'll come away from this unscathed. I just want to say it's been an honour."

He snapped his fingers.

"I'm not saying this is goodbye, pfft." he huffed. "If i'd of been saying this before every mission I never would have left, so umm.."

The thoughts mustered an uncomfortable silence.

"Uh huh..." she said, at a loss for words.

She knew him enough to know any attempt to discourage him would just roll off his shoulders like summer rain on a swan. And in her eyes, he was that. A swan, with its innocence, its loyalty, a swan with two large fists and a hard head.

And a friend.

"Did you double check everything? Are you sure those sensors are not gonna backfire at you? And you never told me if you're gonna get help with that, either."

She twisted her mouth slightly.

"Nor when, for that matter."

"I've triple checked them, and checked with the computer as well. They won't backfire and they won't disclose my location. I intend to do it with minimal Assembly activity that way it's harder for us to be discovered when our HQ is on lower power, despite the fact we've got the place's cloaking device active."

He moved across the room, took the sheet off, unzipped a bag and pulled one of the sensors out.

"It's best that I do this alone, because at the end of the day I'll only have myself to look after and won't have to worry about anyone else. Not that anything'll go wrong, It's going to be as simple as sunrise."

The amber eyes trailed to the device he was holding. She never had much sympathy or, for that matter, trust for machines. Even nanobots.

"Still. Going out alone is out of the question. Take someone else with you, at least... Do you have any idea of what kind of welcome they reserve to us now? They sent reinforcements, over there, and they don't mean to play nice, Jux."

She drew a deep slow breath.

"It's dangerous at best..." she added, worry shadowing her face.

"As I said, erm...it'll be fine, I promise Zee."

Juxiao leant forward and reluctantly clasped her hand.

"You know me, when I put my heart into something I can do it, and when have you found anything I've done to have gone wrong?"

He smiled. She smiled faintly.

"When you left your comlink on and made some colorful and revealing comments, hehe..."

She was meaning to dissipate the dense aura of impending demise that loomed above them. He grinned.

"Okay, fair enough. But I've never failed in doing what I do best, fighting."

He let go of her hand.

"I want to fight Omni-Tek, and it's all I know ever since I crash landed on this planet, sought out Assembly and found you Master. I need to do this to prove to myself."

She knew it was what they were trained for, directly in the line of their activities. She had no valid reason to keep him from attempting this.

"When?" was all she managed to ask.

Juxiao thought for a moment, knowing full well that he was intending to put the scanning devices out tomorrow.

"Sometime next week maybe, week after."

He shrugged.

"Honestly, don't worry about it, by the time it's happened you'll of forgotten about it and we'll have a fantastic multi-spectral view of the inside of that Outpost."

She nodded.

"A'ight. In the meantime, I'll check if anyone else could help you with this, either in stand by for back-up or to plant those sensors with you."

"No rush. I'll wait," he added, putting the sensor back in the bag and zipping them up.

She was relieved. Jux could be impulsive, behind his appearant calm, and she'd seen him go off once. At least, he wasn't running into this one head on. She walked up to the middle of the room and carefully lifted the plant.

"I won't let it dry." she said, before turning around to smile at him.

"Good, because it depends on the twin suns, as much as it depends on the water." Juxiao nodded solemly.

"Some may even argue that the Twin Suns depend on the plant too. But that's anyone's guess, it in itself is only a plant."

She shivered again but gathered herself and nodded.

[Juxiao]

"Sure... heh. I'm gonna let you finish packing and you prolly got some unpacking waiting to be done in Jobe as it is."

She tilted her head down to the flowers then smiled at him.

"Thank you. Call when you have a minute, I know you're gonna be busy for a while."

"I promise I'll call."

Juxiao moved towards the door access panel, keying in a command that saw the door open with a hiss.

"I'll just be glad when I'm out of Tir and all this apartment emptying will be done."

Cher smiled warmly and bowed in a salute.

"Sorry, no joined palms while holding this plant, but next time, I'll make up for it."

She grinned.

"There's always next time."

He smiled, nodding slightly. She sneered.

"Yeah, 's what all men say..."

She winked and turned around to walk to the door, snickering to herself.

[Xeenah]

February 8th, 29481

[Assembly] Juxiao: Hello Assembly?
[Assembly] Monczeli: Hello.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Awfully quiet up in here.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Still helping --  Jux?
[Assembly] Juxiao: Quite unbelieveable eh?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Sembly is down, she didn't announce your arrival *smiles*
[Assembly] Monczeli: We got bored of her interjections, insults and non-sequiturs and gagged her.
[Assembly] Juxiao: I want no such announcing, it brings unwanted attention.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Oh?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Are you around for a while?
[Assembly] Juxiao: Quite, but in a capacity that may well be...preoccupied
[Assembly] Juxiao: Why?
[Assembly] Juxiao: You're welcome to join me if you wish./
[Assembly] Xeenah: Because I'm helping Steely and the Black Company at the moment...
[Assembly] Xeenah: So if you're not around for long, I'll part with them
[Assembly] Juxiao: I'm setting up a series of transmitters around the Omni-Pol Outpost in Stret West Bank.
[Assembly] Xeenah: *grins sharply*
[Assembly] Juxiao: I'm not too good at this,
[Assembly] Xeenah: Hehehe
[Assembly] Juxiao: But I'm hoping that I can begin some sort of penetrative scan into the inside of the complex.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Anythnig that can make their day cloudier is pleasant to me *smiles*
[Assembly] Monczeli: Well, I have to go and write a very bellicose letter. I'll be back in about an hour or so.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Bellicose?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Well, good inspiration, Roland!
[Assembly] Monczeli: Those Vanguards are gonna get a piece of my mind and thank me for it!
[Assembly] Monczeli: afk
[Assembly] Xeenah: *giggles*
[Assembly] Monczeli: ...Sembly's donw.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Hehehe
[Assembly] Monczeli: [*down]
[Assembly] Xeenah: Yup, she is
[Assembly] Monczeli: Well... yes, but the thought was there... *mutters*
[Assembly] Xeenah: *nods*  Talk to you in a bit, then *smiles*
[Assembly] Juxiao: God I hate this place.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Don't we have the loveliest neighbors? *smiles*
[Assembly] Juxiao: Quite.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Woah.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Whatever's inside this building, it's got a massive power signature.
[Assembly] Juxiao: this bit at the back...looks like some sort of hangar.
[Assembly] Juxiao: and by the look out to the east, someone missed.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Missed?...
[Assembly] Juxiao: Crashed ship.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Two...infact.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Eep, best be careful.
[Assembly] Juxiao: This place is crawling with Omni-Tek probes.
[Assembly] Xeenah: *nods*
[Assembly] Xeenah: ~Uh hoh...  That's gonna hurt...~
[Assembly] Juxiao: Sorry, what was that?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Hmm, that's this goon called Hezak the Immortal in the Inner Sanctum...
[Assembly] Xeenah: I think we'll get a state of the art beating.
[Assembly] Xeenah: *shrugs*  I'll go down fighting, at least, that's for sure.
[Assembly] Juxiao: oooh, someone's coming out.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Shit...hide hide hide...
[Assembly] Xeenah: Don't get in trouble, now's not a good time...  I won't be able to pick you up frmo where I am
[Assembly] Juxiao: Oooh, it's Bahirae.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Get the hell out, Jux.
[Assembly] Juxiao: She's with someone.
[Assembly] Xeenah: She's a clone.
[Assembly] Juxiao: I can't get a clear reading though.
[Assembly] Juxiao: She's with...herself?!
[Assembly] Xeenah: They cloned her.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Many times, even.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Bad news come in batch.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Okay. Now there's ten.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Does it mean you're still there?
[Assembly] Juxiao: I am not defenceless Xeenah.
[Assembly] Juxiao: I may be atrox in origin, but I am not beyond....fuck.
[Assembly] Xeenah: *snickers*
[Assembly] Juxiao: Shit, I've been seen.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Mm hmm
[Assembly] Xeenah: *grins*
[Assembly] Juxiao: Fine, lets test their mettle.
[Assembly] Juxiao: Urgh. they hit hard.
[Assembly] Juxiao: No! Put me down!
[Assembly] Xeenah: I don't mind if you take them on, just don't get caught
[Assembly] Juxiao: No! Let go! Please! LET ME GO!!!!
[Assembly] Juxiao: NO!!!!!!!
[Assembly] Xeenah: *raises a brow*
[Assembly] Xeenah: ...Jux?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Jux?
[Assembly] Xeenah: ~Uh, that doesn't sound good~

[Xeenah]

[Assembly] Sanjei: *Blinks*
[Assembly] Sanjei: Jux... ?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Mm hmm
[Assembly] Sanjei: *Sighs and shakes his head*
[Assembly] Xeenah: And Albus from Rising Phoenix, but he made it out, he's here with us.
[Assembly] Sanjei: But... How the hell...
[Assembly] Xeenah: Dunno
[Assembly] Xeenah: He might be locked down by Omni-Pol as we speak.
[Assembly] Sanjei: *Sighs*
[Assembly] Sanjei: One more reason for me to kill Bahirae...
[Assembly] Soviet91: *sighs* Whats our next move?
[Assembly] Soviet91: Sit and do nothing or organise a revenge strike?
[Assembly] Sanjei: You know I vote for the last one, compadre.
[Assembly] Xeenah: I've got my hands full at the moment...
[Assembly] Xeenah: ~I hate Inner Sanctum...~
[Assembly] Soviet91: Fuck, I really cant think of anything...
[Assembly] Soviet91: Where the fuck is BP when you need him...?
[Assembly] Xeenah: Preparing more fireworks
[Assembly] Galadan: I'M GONNA KILL THIS FUCKING BITCH RIGHT FUCKING NOW!
[Assembly] Soviet91: Chil the fuck down...
[Assembly] Soviet91: Panicing and blind rage wont help
[Assembly] Soviet91: One for sure, we have to strike back
[Assembly] Galadan: They won't get away with this... *sobbing*
[Assembly] Soviet91: I think I should contact some fellow Sentinels...
[Assembly] Sanjei: Dorian, calm down. We'll get 'em. *Sighs* Fuck being locked up in my apartment. I need to kill something'.
[Assembly] Galadan: No way I'm calming down. Are you crazy or what? That's a goddamn war declaration, it's now more personal than ever..
[Assembly] Soviet91: War declaration...?
[Assembly] Soviet91: *silently chuckles*
[Assembly] Galadan: Any Pol I see from now on is dust, no questions asked..
[Assembly] Soviet91: Look, we have to plan carefully first... Omni pol gives a damn if you kill some of their operatives, simply cause he will get ressurected later anyway...
[Assembly] Galadan: So what if the assholes reclaim, I'll shoot 'em up all over again!
[Assembly] Soviet91: Nah, I say we nuke Rome, Omni one... or whatever they have...
[Assembly] Galadan: Well I'm starting right now.
[Assembly] Monczeli: *shakes head*
[Assembly] Soviet91: Right, lets stay focused...
[Assembly] Xeenah: For the record, gentlemen, we don't pull people out from wreckless moves *grins amusedly*
[Assembly] Soviet91: I do
[Assembly] Monczeli: But what if we get pulled in by them/
[Assembly] Soviet91: But I beat him up hard after I pull him out...
[Assembly] Xeenah: That's another story.
[Assembly] Soviet91: Anyway, dont start any assault just yet!
[Assembly] Monczeli: Right, that'll limit our options at a later time.
[Assembly] Sanjei: *Mutters*
[Assembly] Galadan: *voice shaking* ..I'm not waiting...
[Assembly] Soviet91: *nods* Right you are
[Assembly] Monczeli: Do you know what Jux was doing in that area?
[Assembly] Galadan: And one damn Pol down.
[Assembly] Soviet91: Negative... I was away...
[Assembly] Xeenah: Yes, installing sensors
[Assembly] Xeenah: Oh, incoming...
[Assembly] Xeenah: afk
[Assembly] Monczeli: Installing sensors. Gathering intelligence.
[Assembly] Soviet91: Fuck it! Disengage all OTs, thats too high profile...
[Assembly] Galadan: 3 down.
[Assembly] Monczeli: The whole purpose was precisely so we could have a considered approach to any assault. Not so we could make some futile damn-fool crazed rush.
[Assembly] Galadan: 4 down.
[Assembly] Soviet91: I see
[Assembly] Monczeli: If nothing else, we owe it to him to honour that action.
[Assembly] Soviet91: *nods*
[Assembly] Soviet91: Aye, hes a hero. The best way to die for a warrior so to say...
[Assembly] Xeenah: It's not the first time Jux stays too long in a place and is spotted.
[Assembly] Soviet91: However, a revenge is neccessary here
[Assembly] Galadan: 5.
[Assembly] Xeenah: But it was a good thing to try installing those sensors.
[Assembly] Monczeli: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
[Assembly] Soviet91: You know, with each Pol that fool is killing our revenge chances shrink
[Assembly] Galadan: Revenge is a dish best served with a bullet in the face.
[Assembly] Soviet91: Agreed
[Assembly] Galadan: 6.
[Assembly] Soviet91: En masse, not alone
[Assembly] Xeenah: *sighs*  alright, I'll let the Black Company know that I'm leaving the team...
[Assembly] Galadan: 7.
[Assembly] Galadan: 8.
[Assembly] Sanjei: *Mumbles* Never forget, never forgive...
[Assembly] Galadan: 9.
[Assembly] Xeenah: Are you at the Omni-Pol outpost?
[Assembly] Sanjei: I'm looking at it.
[Assembly] Galadan: ~Come and get me, asshole... I'll shoot you enough times to have reclaim fail on you..~

[Xeenah]

"Sembly, link me the latest OTPC article, please."

Cher inhaled deeply, trembling. She had been so focused on battle that she didn't realize what was really going on. Even Cord, Kotts and Jen had to yell at her more often than not to snap her out of it, so she'd stop fighting in order to be able to move forward with a more strategic attack... When it finally made it to her brain that Jux has just been executed, she was already outside the Inner Sanctum. She uncompressed Betsy, her old Yalm, hopped aboard and pushed the engines as much as she could. The Yalm obeyed, engines screaming as it was shooting to the sky. When she reached the limit of altitude her Yalm was able to fly, she came to a stop, the Yalm hovering in the sky. She punched in a few codes and opened a link to Sembly. She had to see this article with her own eyes.

Sembly's detached voice came in.

"Reference found. Gridlink: http://forums.anarchy-online.com/showthread.php?p=4577321."

She closed her eyes slowly, frowning, and her voice, slightly strained and hoarse, ordered the bad news to be displayed in front of her.

Editor: OTPC

Ultimatum to the Resistance
8th February, 29481 - [Atlantean][/color]

OTPC: Little after 14:00 hours Rubi-Kan Standard Time this afternoon, a clan individual was attempting to spy on the inside of the Omni-Pol outpost in Stret West Bank. After repeatedly setting a few devices in the area, the individual of Atrox breed began to attempt to penetrate the permacrete walls and scan at what was inside the complex.

The Outpost, claimed as Bahirae Seruguisu's base over a year ago has been on high alert with the proximity to two Clan headquarters for The Fist of Chronos and Assembly. Unprepared intruders in the area are often shot at, but mostly make it away either unscathed or worst case, reclaim a few miles away.

With the recent submission via OTPC from Omni-Pol in relation to bounties on Clan heads, Omni-Tek is literally taking no prisoners in respect to those who repeatedly violate their territories, attempting to aggravate individuals and disrupt Omni-Tek's work on the planet. Those well versed in this planet, familiar with nano capabilities and what one can achieve with notum can provide ample defence on behalf of Omni-Tek.

What follows is a message provided as both a warning and an ultimatum that was, pardon the pun, executed as of 1700 hours this afternoon. The speech took place from within Bahirae Seruguisu's base and was reported to Sub Directors and Directors of Omni-Tek to ensure they were aware of the message being sent, in the hope that they too could relay it.

While we at OTPC are not at liberty to replay the message, we can describe it for you, and repeat the audio side of the message:

It begins in an open meeting room, Bahirae and fourteen helmeted guards standing around a single individual, battered, bruised and bleeding with his right arm is missing from the elbow down. The camera zooms in shakily on the individual, showing ginger hair swept back in a ponytail and a tattoo down the right hand side of his forehead. The camera quickly switches to Bahirae as she begins speaking.

"For continued aggravation and attempts to pervert the course of justice, trespassing on private Omni-Tek territory in a repeated and aggressive manner. You have been involuntarily extradited into Omni-Tek custody, your insurance, thanks to this here fingerprint recognition system..." Bahirae lifts up the soggy stump of an arm. "...has been changed to incorporate you within Omni-Tek as a corporation, so that we may pursue the correct course of action for you. Do not fear, this will be clearly displayed so that your clan...brethren can truly see the power that Omni-Pol wields."

"Wha..." came the solitary reply from the Atrox.

"What have you done to deserve this?" Bahirae interrupts him. "I have already described what you have done in order to deserve this, now all that is left is punishment."

Bahirae turns to a subordinate and nods, "Insurance Pattern deleted, Ms Seruguisu" comes the solitary reply and with that Bahirae raises her hand to the surrounding guards who draw guns. "I Bahirae Seruguisu, on behalf of Omni-Pol and Omni-Reform deem you beyond reformation and duly, I authorise the only known fitting punishment under the judicial system. Permanent Death. 'Master Juxiao' of the Clan resistance guild Assembly, you have had your chance on this planet, have you anything else to say before punishment is carried?"

The atrox tries to struggle to his feet, but with his legs tied he slips and falls flat on his face. "I hope you rot in hell" he replies.

Bahirae smiles, cocking her head to look down at the individual, "Lovely. Ready." The guards pull the safety switches off.

"Aim" they take aim at the writhing Atrox on the ground.

Bahirae takes a momentary breath and drops down to her knees, waves a slow goodbye to the Atrox, and finishes off with the word "Fire." The camera flickers with the muzzle flare of guns and no more than ten seconds later stops to show a body limp on the floor, riddled with holes with blood sprayed off in different directions.

Bahirae finally steps forth, checking the pulse of the individual. She stands up and turns to the camera. "Permanent Death of Atrox subject 'Juxiao' confirmed at....17:14 hundred hours Rubi-Kan Standard Time. Omni-Pol Protects." She smiles right before the transmission ends with "Omni-Pol Secure Channel Alpha Four. Images courtesy of Bahirae Seruguisu."

Cher was staring blankly at the sky through the cockpit, trying to breath. Her thoracic cage was feeling compressed, her mind was bombarded by an overwhelming whirl of thoughts and feelings, both intense and contradictory, and her skin seemed to burn up from inside. She unconsciously grabbed the sides of the seat, nails biting in the suede.

Struggling, she forced her ribcage to stretch and inhaled a big gap of air, and wanted to hold her breath, hoping to calm down. The storm in her head decided otherwise.

She exploded. Expulsing the air of her lungs in a long shrill scream, she bent forward as she was emptying, her forehead touching her knees as she went out of breath. She was panting quickly, her nails dug in the sides of her seat, bent in two under the weight of crushing emotions. Words fused out of her lips quickly, in her homeworld language. She cursed Jux for being careless, she cursed Bahirae for being herself, she let out a long string of colorful insults at the Omni-Pol bitch, frothing at the mouth as she was going on, growling threats and more curses, crying at the thought that this was not a nightmare, cursing at herself for not being more careful despite Jux's pride and not assigning him people to help...

Oh, how she wanted to kill something now. Someone. Bahirae. This whole rathole they called their outpost. She wanted to tear the whore's eyes out with her bare hands, peel her flesh from her writhing body... Still cursing and swearing, she was banging, punching and thrashing in the cockpit.

At an altitude of 500 meters, Cher let her rage out, her comlink carefully muted.

Cher cried for a while, then calmed down, still shaking, but eyes drying out now. She was fighting to overcome her own feelings, and she hated herself for that. "That's part of the job, Clay. You signed for it, now shut up, shove it down your throat and do what you must."

She couldn't afford to let her burning desire for vengeance take over. She was expected to use her head, she was expected to keep her cool, she was expected to help calm people down so we didn't get ourselves killed in a stupid attempt at simply barging in this gods forsaken outpost.

When she finally found enough strength to do what she had to, she turned her comlink.

Vengeance is more tasteful cold.

[Xeenah]

Jobe, February 5th, 29482

Cher was watching the news on the holoscreen, digging idly in her salad. Veggies were the latest of her cravings, after a phase of sushis, bronto burgers, reet pie, ice cream. Chocolate didn't count as a craving, it was a permanent favorite. Dark, bittersweet chocolate with full bodied flavor. Like life. She decided she would have a piece after the salad.

The news were not good. Since last year, Omni-Tek has been pressing its advantage more and more. On the long run, organization and credits were steadier than speeches, hopes, deeds and calls for freedom of the Clans. Clans were having a hard time avenging their losses. The truth was, Clans were losing ground. They would either need to gather themselves and make a significant stand, receive external help, or both. Something Simon Silverstone would not admit openly, and in a way, he could be right. Tir was still standing and as long as a Clan city, the only Clan city, kept standing, there was hope.

Her ears picked up the hissing of the entrance door, immediately followed by a happy calling that brought a smile to her face and interrupted her train of thoughts.

"I'm home, kitten!"

These words, seemingly casual, meant the world to her, each and every time. It meant he was safe, and that he still loved her. Being so obviously pregnant, her silhouette transformed by the carriage, past the point of no return in a lifetime commitment, she was appreciating those simple words fuller and more than ever.

"I'm in the living room, hon, news are on."

Kotts soon leaned down to her, landing a kiss on her head. She smiled to herself and patted the large round chair. He sat behind her, stretched his long legs around her and, drawing his arms around her, craddled her against him. She let a blissful sigh and leaned against him when he rested his hands on her belly to feel the faint movements of the twins. They were rather quiet, for a change. He rested his head next to hers and whispered.

"I cracked the code of this datadisk you found in the plant..."

"You did? Really? Did you find anything?"

She quickly turned her head aside, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Mm hmm, I found something, but it doesn't say much. Your name, an address and a number is all I could dig up. The number is not a comlink number, so either it's a password, a code or something like that. I did a little search about the address and it turns out it's a lawyer's office in Tir."

He watched puzzlement grow on her face.

"An address, a number and my name... I wonder what Jux had in mind. A lawyer office, uh?..."

He nodded. She stretched aside to push the salad on the low table and leaned back on his torso. The two Opifexes were silent for a moment, their eyes on the holoscreen.

"My name, the address of a lawyer's office, and a number. Sounds like I'm gonna be paying this office a little visit. Do you have the data with you?"

"Sure, sec..."

He put the datadisk in Cher's comlink interface and uploaded the data. He then raised his eyes to her face to see a smile slowly stretching her lips.

"I have a call to make" she said.

Moments later, she was on line with the lawyer's office.

"What d'you mean, you've been expecting my call?... Oh, really?... Yes... Yes, of course... Yes, I understand... On the 8th?... Very well, then... Yes, sixteen hours Rubi-Ka time. I will be there. Thank you very much."

Cher closed the link and turned to Kotts. He nodded to her. He knew all too well that in the next three days, Cher would be holding her breath, anxious to see what it was all about.

[Xeenah]

Jobe, February 8th, 29482

"D'you want me to come with you, kitten?"

"I'd prefer it, yes. I have no idea of what Jux left in this laywer's office, but I'm sure it's not just a plant. Besides, I'd feel safer, in case the bad guys out there were tempted to take advantage of my condition. As someone once said, my SMG wielding husband could teach them some manners."

He just smirked, but Cher could read the feral look in his yellow eyes. He already knew she'd give her life for him, and now for their soon-to-be children. He would do the same without a second thought, ten fold.

Five minutes later, they were both in the grid, heading for Tir. Five minutes after that, they were walking into the lawyer's office.

A lady smiled pleasantly at them as they walked to the desk, checked the appointment information and sat up to lead them in the office. She saw them through the door and offered her congratulations and best wishes for the babies before leaving them with the lawyer. After the formal handshakes and introductions, Kotts galantly pulled the chair for Cher, which amused her and reminded her of what her parents used to do. He then sat on the chair next to her, slightly tilting his eyebrows as he felt her hand blindly seeking for his. He took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. They both turned to the lawyer as he started.

"So, I see you are coming regarding the dispositions taken in the contract number ILR-RK-1644946. You are unlikely to have been informed of anything related to the content of this contract, there is a clause of non-disclosure. We were instructed to wait for you to contact us. If you did not come forth by June 24th, we were instructed to contact you."

Cher raised an eyebrow.

"June 24th?... It's..."

Her gaze fell on her wedding ring. June 25th, almost three years ago... Speculations were rushing through her mind. She gave an intent glance aside to Kotts and saw a similar expression on his face. They both turned to the lawyer as he continued.

"Yes, it would seem it is your wedding anniversary on that date. Mr. Juxiao the Exile gave us precise instructions to make sure you would be contacted by the 24th. But allow me to go to the core of the contract. Mr. Juxiao had this contract established following the purchase of a plot of land. The land is located in Andromeda, at the coordinates 2566.1 by 2566.9... The land has been purchased in 29479 and is referred, herein, as the Twin Suns Temple..."

Cher didn't move, but her mind spinned. She didn't realize either that she was now squeezing Kotts' hand in a firm martial artist's grip. The sound he made, inhaling through his teeth, reminded her to release the clutch of her fingers. The lawyer kept talking and when he was done, Cher, like in a dream, agreed to the terms, submitted to the identification procedures and signed the contract.

She was still under the shock of surprise when she came out of the office, absent-mindedly nodding a greeting to the lady at the desk before walking out the door that Kotts held for her. Once outside, he turned to her, studying her face.

"Do you want to go now?"

She answered by a simple nod, smiling faintly. She uncompressed her Yalm as he did the same, climbed aboard the best she could, her tummy reducing her movement range, then closed the hatch and entered the coordinates in the navigation interface. The engines revv and two Yalms, one screaming red and one bright yellow, shot to the sky toward the ICC whompah. They didn't exchange a word during the short flight from ICC to the north of Andromeda. Words could simply not keep up with all the thoughts crossing Cher's mind.

A beeping sound draw her glance down at the map on the navigation panel. There it was.

"Disengage auto-pilot, hon, it's down there..."

He grinned.

"What auto-pilot?..."

Cher just smiled. The Yalms inclined their course toward the structures that were nearby the land, providing flat even surface to park the Yalms. Cher pulled herself out of her Yalm, taking the hand Kotts extended to help her. She gave him a long, silent look, that he returned quietly. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and nodded to herself, then turned toward the hill behind the stone structures.

She climbed the hill, closely tailed by Kotts. It was not such a difficult climb, and they reached the top of the hill. Cher stopped and froze.

"Oh dear..."

"What is it, kitten?.."

She didn't answer. He followed the amber gaze to the point it was staring. On the grass was laying an ever lasting bouquet of flowers. Kotts blinked and quickly leaped to her side, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Her voice was soft as she spoke.

"It's the flowers I laid for Jux... There was no grave for him to lay flowers upon... Long lasting flowers, what a coincidence... The Twin Suns... The twins... the timing..."

She sounded like enumerating fragments of thoughts as they were rushing by her mind. Kotts was frowning gently, his glance fixed on her face, visibly worried.

"Cher..."

Before he could continue, she turned her face to him and, to his surprise, smiled very gently. She bent down, a little clumsily, and picked up the bouquet delicately.

"Yes, I am fine. Jux couldn't know, last year, how events would turn out... We wanted to make of this place a haut-lieu to further the martial arts, by gathering martial artists together... A temple of sorts. At the time... I had just received my second Purple Dragon wing and became master..."

Kotts nodded.

"Yes, I remember when you received it. You kept saying you were not about to open a monastery, not by a long shot..."

Cher laughed softly.

"And the name... The Twin Suns. This name takes so much more meaning now. The Twin Suns are also growing inside of me."

She leaned against him and he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze, looking down at her tummy. She turned her face up to catch his gaze.

"In a way... it is a strange twist of faith. But it makes more sense for me to think it's life's way of keeping things in motion. This will be where I will build my Monastery. And this will likely be, with you and the twins, my longest term commitment."

The amber gaze embraced the plain laying before them and came back to meet the feline yellow gaze.

"What about the Council?"

She let her eyes trail off.

"The Council of Truth... will either fire up from its embers or fall. It belongs to the Clans, it always had. It is time the Clans realize it is not a government that will tell them what do to... It's a gathering of the clans themselves who agree to work together in a common direction. The Council is the Clans. If a majority supports a specific clan, the Council will promote this way. If the clans do nothing, remain absent, keep silent... They will have to start over again, like it was before Radiman. A bunch of clans, disorganized, isolated, vulnerable. They'll try to start over, maybe... Just with another wrapping, like a company revamping their image... People like what's new... Then they'll come to realize it's not about the name or the varnish of the new. I give them one year maximum. After that, I will move on. Possibly earlier, if I see no improvement despite our efforts."

He nodded.

"You might be available for your monastery earlier than you think..."

She turned her glance to the field, down the hill, and just nodded, then shrugged in her familiar way. They stood there a long moment, in silence. Assembly was going through hard times. He had warned her, foreseeing the decline could soon reach a point where survivability would be difficult.

"From death springs life, after all. Our fight against the corporation is getting tougher. This place might prove more useful than just a monastery. I think Jux would agree. Now, this place will have a future, not only a past."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You're starting to sound like an old wise master, baby..."

She smiled and without a word, she placed the flowers back where they were. A silent prayer later, both the Opifexes left, two trails of red and yellow flying south.