one

[inmylight_commander]

[So guess who also shot at the Moogles and guess who also got to experience a stop spell stasis field, and who's less than happy about the whole thing?]

[This girl.]

[A video feed opens on another fully armored personnel, her Israeli accent edged with frustration.]

Noble Two calling Noble Actual. Come in Noble Actual. Colonel Holland? Auntie Dot -- Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on.

[Some brief, jerking movements as she tries to brush off the Meow Wow that keeps rubbing up against her leg and snuffling affectionately.] Stop it. If I'd known you are what I was making I wouldn't have bothered. Go away before I shoot you.

Comments

encrypted; video

[inmylight_commander]

[Aaaand she's headed in your direction.]

Are you kidding? Mine looks like it just eats everything in sight. [She glances down at the Meow Wow as she walks, watching as it struggles with a certain amount of eagerness to keep up with her strides. Nope, not getting left behind if she walks fast. Drat.]

encrypted; video

[spaceracist]

[Emile snorts, sounding amused.] They only eat the treats that Nightmares drop. Or they're only supposed to, anyway.

[Taking this as his cue, Spikes the Hebby Repp, sporting a custom paint job to have the colors of Emile's armor, jumps up to stick his head in the viewscreen and chirps a greeting at the Meow Wow.]

Down, you.

encrypted; video

[inmylight_commander]

[The Meow Wow jumps up and down in excitement at the greeting, wuffling back at Spike.]

Is there an obediance course we can take, at least?

encrypted; video

[spaceracist]

Trainin', yeah. There's balloons and water barrels the monsters drop, or you can buy 'em from the Moogles.

...Don't ask how it works, it just does.

encrypted; video/action

[inmylight_commander]

Right.

[Kat's only got more questions at this point, but she switches the communicator off and slips it into her tactical hard case when she finally closes in on Emile's position.]


Action

Status?

action!!

[spaceracist]

[Emile jumps down from the top of the fountain and puts off giving his status for a few moments to go over and clasp her shoulder in what is, for him, a stunning display of emotion. Maybe it's only been two weeks since he saw her last, but damn, it's been a long two weeks.]

Kat.

Everything's green with me.

action forever!!!

[inmylight_commander]

[That's curious, coming from him, and while she reciprocates and grips his arm in solidarity, she can't help but tilt her helmet at him.]

Good. You have a base set up??

[spaceracist]

Temporary, on top of one of the shops here in town. [Rarity's boutique.]

Also been building up a base on the Mother of Invention, but there's a threat there we gotta take care of first. So far I ain't met it.

[inmylight_commander]

I want to see the base in the Invention. It's one of ours, isn't it?

[Hello, nice to see you again, Kat's jumping right into the thick of things.]

[spaceracist]

UNSC Frigate, yeah.

[brb checking out her helmet for any sign of damage]

[inmylight_commander]

[Okay that's getting to a point of irritation. Kat takes a step back and pulls her helmet off, looking at him with a frown. It's more annoyed than anything, but there is concern in there somewhere.]

Noble Four, what are you doing?

[spaceracist]

[Emile places his hands on his hips in an unsure gesture, but let's face it, he's not one to beat around the bush.]

What's the last thing you remember before wakin' up here? Running to the bunker?

[inmylight_commander]

[She gives a nod, sensing an incoming bombshell, and answers slowly,] Yes, evacuating New Alexandria, getting redeployment orders ...

[spaceracist]

Last thing I remember's being stabbed by a damn energy sword. I took the bastard down with me, but--

[He shrugs, clearly more than a little unnerved by the subject.]

I didn't make it out.

[inmylight_commander]

[Kat goes still, watching him, working through the details.]

[The vast difference between their deaths is she didn't have the time to process she was gone. But, she's smart enough to fill in the holes. Her tone is tight and careful when she speaks.] Are you saying what I think you're saying, Noble Four?

[spaceracist]

Sniper. Right as we were goin' into the bunker.

[He shrugs and looks away briefly before returning his gaze to her.]

Good to see you again.

[inmylight_commander]

[She watches him, hard and unblinking, while the full implications hit her. Then, she gives a tight nod and replaces her helmet.]

[It was just part of their trade, wasn't it?] You too, although I guess it begs the question why are you here first?

[spaceracist]

[It really was. But as to her question, Emile shrugged.]

Beats the hell outta me. Same reason the others ain't got here yet, I guess.

[...you know, like Jorge.]

[inmylight_commander]

[Yeah he'd better just mean Jorge. Kat's not sure she wants to ask about the others yet, but there's a definite hitch in her step at his words.]

Just show me the ship, Four. [Let's drown our sorrows in science!]

[spaceracist]

[There's Thom, too! And...yeah, okay, Carter. Sorry, Kat. Not that he's going to say a damn word about that unless Carter himself shows up and gives him explicit permission.]

This way.

[He'll lead her a little through the town toward the portal, but before they get there a group of Nightmares appears. Moving smoothly into battle position, Emile doesn't waste a moment as he wades in with his knife and instructs Spikes to spit fireballs at them from a distance.]

Watch out for the bears.

[inmylight_commander]

[Yeah she just doesn't want to know. Not right now.]

[She follows, periodically glancing down at her Meow Wow dubiously. When the nightmares appear, she swiftly flanks Emile and draws her pistol; this was familiar. This was good.]

[spaceracist]

[Emile seems to be using melee attacks a lot more than his guns, unusually enough. But then, bullets were a little more expensive than having a relatively unlimited free supply from the UNSC.

Besides, these are just the town Nightmares. Save ammo for the important ones.

Dream Eater follows Dream Eater into a shower of munny and dropped treasure as Emile and Spikes work together, and he's sure Kat will do just as well.]

[inmylight_commander]

[She notices Emile taking a more hands on approach, and adjusts her own tactics accordingly, trusting his judgement on this particular battlefield. The Meow Wow seems eager to help, if untrained and frankly ignored by Kat (except for the couple times she almost accidentally shoots him).]

[The raining munny is a bit of a surprise, though, and she drops her guard for a moment from a mix of surprise and what the hell is going on here]

[spaceracist]

[Emile chuckles a little, but between two Spartans and the two Spirits, the battle is soon over and Spikes runs around grabbing the little treats that were dropped.]

Share, you.

[The Hebby Repp chitters a little but then nudges some of the little ice creams over to Kat.]

You give those to your little Spirit there. It's what they eat.

[inmylight_commander]

[The Meow Wow hops back and forth in excitement, pressing the front end of its body down and wiggling its rotund butt in the air. Kat looks at it, then at the treats the bat-thing is carrying, then at Emile.]

I'm not going to get used to this, you know. [She takes the treats, hesitates as the Meow Wow wiggles a little harder, and then tosses the lot down where it's quickly vaccuumed up by the excited dreameater.] At least I think I know what to name it.