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Post by KayKay on Jun 30, 2018 9:31:23 GMT
"Can new statues be built?" Kyra asked quietly. "I... I know that's not the same. Some things can't be easily replaced. But there's probably sculptors and architects in Mival that would be willing to takes jobs."
–
Mole's sunken cheeked crinkled as the corners of his lips turned upwards. His smile seemed to tremble as if the excursion was too much; the muscles involved had not been flexed in a long time.
"Thank you, Leslie."
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Post by Stage on Jun 30, 2018 9:37:41 GMT
Lora's head twisted around like an owl's, glaring, but Cipo took her hand and discouraged her with a whisper in their native tongue.
"It is kind of you to think of us, Fox. But they must be made by lebran hands. It will take time. But that is all many of is have left."
-
Leslie let the silence that fell between them settle. She had nothing else to say and, unlike his friend guiding them ahead, she knew he was comfortable in silence.
Just like her.
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Post by KayKay on Jun 30, 2018 10:22:01 GMT
Kyra nodded in reply to Cipo, but her gaze fell to the floor. She had caught Lora's glare, and an oppressive cloak of guilt fell over her shoulders. It hadn't been her intention to offend their religion – she had hoped that by continuing to ask questions she would have been able to come to a better understanding of Lora and Cipo's spiritual beliefs. She wished she hadn't let her mouth run without thinking. Lora seemed to be growing to dislike her the longer they walked together, and this slip-up hadn't helped matters.
The tunnel widened into a spacious underground station. Two rusted train cars sat derailed on rotting tracks, and the smell of garbage and fouled food wafted from the shattered windows – they had likely been used as temporary homes many times in the past.
The few remaining signs that decorated the station that hadn't been stolen or damaged beyond legibility were written in Chinese – Kyra wasn't sure which city this subway had belonged to, but she was fairly certain it wasn't one of the cultures above-ground. Above the tracks was a steep stone staircase that lead up to ground level – though no light shone in from the cracks in the rusted doors above. Kyra knew it would lead them inside an abandoned building, which connected to one of the alleyways in Mival's central hub.
She fumbled for her radio as she spun around and performed a last headcount, making sure to crack a smile for the children.
"If Vessy's back maybe she can cook for the kids," she told Wolpoch. "Her food's amazing."
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Post by Stage on Jun 30, 2018 23:55:26 GMT
Wolpoch returned Kyra's smile along with the children crowded around his legs. Meanwhile, Cipo repeated her message in Lebran. She laughed when a jumbled chorus of small voices answered her.
"They are excited," she told Kyra. Glancing ahead, she gave the gunslinger a rather mischievous smirk. Scurrying forward, she threw her arm around Lora's shoulders with a skip. "And so is Lora!"
"C- Cipo," the taller lebran whispered harshly, mouth twisted into an uncomfortable frown. It was obvious that she was not used to doing the chiding.
Her cousin only giggled though. She laid her head on Lora's shoulder, almost riding her back, and smiled at Kyra. "She still has to thank her after all."
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Post by KayKay on Jul 4, 2018 8:39:12 GMT
There was a laugh from Kyra as well. She could feel Cipo's mischief lifting her spirits out of the dark well that they had been trapped in, and a warm glow returned to her face. The wide grin that spread apart her cheeks wasn't just for show for the children. Her eyes met Cipo's, and she realized how much she was going to miss the lebran woman once they reached the airships.
"Let's not keep her waiting then." Kyra gave Cipo a wink before turning to lead the Pientans up the stairway.
The roof shuddered as a dull boom echoed through the streets above.
Kyra stopped in her tracks, raising a hand to motion those behind her to freeze. Dislodged dust fell from the ceiling and clouded the air.
"Mole? No holidays this time of year is there?"
There was a shuffling behind her as Mole joined her at the front of the group. "None that I am aware of, I'm afraid."
"Not fireworks then..."
The roof shuddered again, more violently this time. Kyra stared upwards with narrowed eyes. She trusted the structural integrity of the place well enough – it had survived a trip into another world without collapsing in on itself. It was what might be in the streets above that made her nervous.
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Post by Stage on Jul 4, 2018 17:17:23 GMT
Kyra hardly needed to give the order to stop. Many froze on their own. A frightened murmur rose up from the Pientans. Lora shrugged Cipo off and instead covered her with an arm protectively.
Leslie voiced what they were all thinking from the back.
"What in the hell is that?"
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Post by KayKay on Jul 10, 2018 17:17:38 GMT
Mole and Kyra met each other's eyes. Though neither answered Leslie, both knew they had the same suspicion. A monster. Raising her two-way radio next to her lips, Kyra pressed the talk button with her thumb. "Vessy, you in Mival yet? We're hearing some strange shit down in the undercity." It took a few moments before a crackle of static responded. The concrete separating them from the surface was interfering with the signal, but Vesyka's voice could be heard under the static. "Kyra! There's –– in the streets –– killing people! –– help!"
Kyra's stomach churned. "Vessy, Vessy, we're down in Serenity Station! Meet us down there okay? We'll figure this out."
The radio was quite. Kyra's chest felt heavy.
Crackle. "Okay."
The woman let out a loud exhale. Her eyes fell towards the group behind her.
"Wolpoch, Lora, I need to you take these people into the train cars. Prioritize the kids. Lock the doors."
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Post by Stage on Jul 10, 2018 17:24:56 GMT
As the old boran began gathering the tan-skinned children, Cipo darted away to collect the fair ones and Lora strode up to Kyra.
"Take me with you," the yellow-eyed woman demanded, reaffirming her grasp on the knife gifted to her.
Leslie also pushed through the crowding Pientans towards the gunslinger, but she asked more tactfully. "Got an extra piece?"
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Post by KayKay on Jul 11, 2018 8:32:03 GMT
With a curt nod towards both of them, Kyra handed the revolver she had lent Leslie earlier to the shorter woman. "Careful with over-penetration. It's loaded with nanosteel rounds this time. They'll go right through walls if you're careless, but they pack a hell of a punch."
Then to Mole, she passed over her radio. "I need you to stay here and watch over these people. If there's any trouble, call Ves. She can make it here faster than I can–"
There was a horrific screech in the shadows behind her. Kyra whirled around on her feet, but to her relief a familiar small shape ran out of the darkness.
"Kyra!"
The body of the small woman slammed into her and squeezed her tight around the waist with a sob. Her hair was still damp, and smelled strongly of shampoo. Her cheeks were also damp. "I was so afraid! There are so many monsters! They are killing people!"
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Post by Stage on Jul 12, 2018 2:14:06 GMT
Startled by the metallic shriek, Leslie had pounced back a few feet. She lowered newly acquired revolver. "Jesus, don't do that! And monsters? Shit. I hope you don't mean abes."
Before Vesyka could answer, she was peeled away from Kyra. Lora held her by the shoulders. Instead of simply asking, the lebran woman spun her around to see if she was alright.
"Good," she nodded after determining that she was.
"Say," Leslie said quietly to Cipo, who was smiling at the sight. "Your cuz... she's awful pawsy with that gal. Is she... like that?"
The gentle Pientan's smile stiffened. "No... not Lora."
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Post by KayKay on Jul 12, 2018 3:41:13 GMT
"No, I do not think they are abes," Vesyka said, after nodding her thanks towards Lora. She trembled as she spoke. "They are only our size, but they are an army. They have red skin and wear black armor. They are like demons!"
Kyra sat down on her haunches next to Vesyka, looking up at her with concern. "How bad is it out there?"
"They were only contained for a few blocks until very recently. They are not far from here." Vesyka's eyes were wild with fear. "Oh, Kyra, Adra is still out there! We were trying to protect people–"
"Adra?"
"She is the farfadet, the one who helped us last night! I told her that I would send help, but she does not know French or English!"
Another tremor shook the underground station. Kyra brushed the falling dust away from her eyes. "What does she look like? Vessy?"
"Sh-she is very tall, and has very dark skin, and her hair is almost white. And she m-may have wings of sh-shadow." The small girl was shaking heavily now, and Kyra gently took her hand in an attempt to sooth her. "I-I... I c-can take you to where I last saw her. I hope she is n-not hurt..."
"She'll be okay, Vessy," Kyra whispered. "You said these monsters were only contained until recently?
Vesyka nodded. "They a-are starting to spread out."
Kyra glanced up towards the concrete ceiling. Her green irises glimmered red as her vision changed into a field of yellows, blues and reds. She could see the heat signatures from the people above ground, and true to Vesyka's words, a marching force spreading across several blocks nearby.
"Hey, Vessy?" Kyra squeezed her hand. "I need someone to take the perimeter. Someone to get people out of harms way. You up to that?"
Again, Vesyka nodded. "But what about Adra?"
"I'll find her." Kyra smiled. "Promise."
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Post by Stage on Jul 12, 2018 21:37:05 GMT
Stepping away, Lora whispered fiercely into her cousin's ear. Sporting a small smile despite the situation, Cipo nodded and approached Vesyka as the taller lebran rejoined Kyra and Leslie.
"I can assist," she told the much smaller woman. "If you will have me."
"Jesus Christ," Leslie muttered in the meantime. Her grip on the revolver was tight. "An army of demons marchin through the streets. Have family that said it would eventually come to that. Bet they could never guess about everything else though."
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Post by KayKay on Jul 15, 2018 16:59:31 GMT
Vesyka froze. Her hesitance did not go unnoticed by Kyra, who quietly approached the pair. She could tell what was going on in Vesyka's head. To prevent casualties the small woman might be forced to reveal the Phantom in front of Cipo.
"You can trust her, Vessy," Kyra told her. "I promise. Cipo's a great gal, right Lora? You don't need to be afraid of her."
Her wink seemed to sooth Vesyka's nerves, and the small woman nodded in reply. "I.. yes, I will have you."
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Post by Stage on Jul 16, 2018 3:57:14 GMT
A fiercer voice spoke up. "And she will protect you if need be. Right, Cipo?"
"Of course. Thank you for trusting me," Cipo said, smiling softly at Vesyka.
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Post by KayKay on Jul 25, 2018 5:56:11 GMT
Vesyka nodded quietly. "And... and I will protect her back," she told Lora.
After giving Leslie some brief instruction on avoiding over-penetration with the nanosteel bullets loaded in the revolver, Kyra pulled her own weapon from its holster as she lead the way up the stairs.
"Stay safe Vessy, Cipo."
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