trans_9 | Invasion: Endgame

The crew's fight was desperate and valiant, though their foe seemed unstoppable - the Ohm were unrelenting, tireless, and without number. For every one that fell, three appeared to take their place. As a handful of brave fighters made a final, last-hope strike against the Node in the hopes that it would throw the Ohm into disarray and save this planet for destruction - and as the Node lashed out at them with its hidden might - victory seemed a faint hope at best.

Then in an instant, it all stopped.

On the ground, in the air and in the skies above the planet, the battle suddenly paused. The Ohm ceased their attack, and the crew would get the odd sensation that they were now being watched - no, observed ... and assessed. Before, the Ohm had just been fighting the crew, but now? Now, there was the distinct sensation that the Ohm were aware of them in a way they hadn't been before.

And without any further notification, the legions of Ohm turned all at the same time, as if guided by one singular consciousness, and moved to depart. Their land forces skittered away, and the Shrikes flew into the sky as they returned to their massive carrier ships.

The battle for Zokez II was over as abruptly as it had started.

The crew had fought tooth-and-nail to defend the innocent residents and tourists of the resort world, and to their credit had been able to buy time and space to allow many of them to evacuate to safety. Whoever had not yet been safely evacuated would surely be rescued in the days to come ... in that sense, it was a small victory but a victory nonetheless.

But that was the only victory. The once-idyllic resort world lies ruined, its surface left tainted and scarred by the Ohm. The tropical paradise burns in its death throes, the smoke and fires visible from orbit. Nor will it ever get the chance to heal - the Ohm are not retreating after having being beaten back, but rather seem to be leaving out of their own accord. It may not be the next day, or the next week, or the next month, but it is certain they will return in greater force.

And then this peaceful paradise will be wholly consumed. Until its final death, it will be abandoned and left to rot.

Stacy sends the Observation Deck back down to the planet for her crew. It is time to return home, to nurse their wounds and rest from the battle - to take solace in whatever small victory they can claim. It is time to return to the Bleed - to Stacy's mission.

There is still a duty ahead of the crew ... but now, it seems, the Ohm know they're coming.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I- O.K."

Cassie sped up the shrinking process a little until she finally reached her normal size. Her eyes started to roll back into her head for a moment until her body jerked herself to stay awake. Yeah, that had to look good.

"Sorry, I'm O.K."

When her eyes started to roll back, Jonas immediately reached out to catch and support her. He did not let her go when she steadied herself, instead shifting position so that he could get an arm under hers.

"[I am going to carry you back to the ship,]" he said in a voice that refused argument.

"O.K., O.K.," Cassie repeated, leaning into him. "You're right." And then she paused. "Jonas, I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

He put his damaged arm underneath her knees and lifted her up.

"[If you could put your arms around my neck?]" he asked. He definitely did not want to drop her, nor did slinging her over his shoulder seem like a good idea.

...Of course, the bridal-style carry was rather inappropriate.

"[You do not need to apologize,]" he said, not meeting her eyes. "[I made it clear that I did not want to be a substitute, and you did not want a substitute either.]"

See? That sounded perfectly logical.

As awkward as it was, Cassie put her arms around his neck. Now she just had to keep herself from pressing up against him and falling asleep because oh, she was tired. "Jonas," She said softly. "You aren't, and were never a substitute. And you deserve someone ten times better than me."

"[I know that I am not a substitute,]" Jonas said. Then, because that had come out sounding harsher than he meant it to, "[but thank you for saying so.]"

He began to pick his way through the wreckage, considering shifting back into something more like his original, more Iron Lad-like shape under the hologram so that he could fly without becoming intangible and dropping Cassie.

Cassie was silent. Between the pain, the haze her head was in, and just the awkward, it was hard to think of what to say. Or rather how to say it. But, maybe because her brain wasn't operating on all cylinders, this was the one time where her inhibitions were down enough to say what she needed to say.

"I understand that you don't want to see me but with this... Ohm thing... I was hoping we could be friends. I've missed you." Which was true. She hadn't seen him in what felt like forever.

"[Of course we can be friends,]" Jonas said. "[That was always my eventual intention. I believe that I can accelerate the recovery process, given the circumstances.]"

Invasion: Endgame

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