The Long Journey Home

[Universal_narration]

Echo Squad:

Meia continues to look at Arthur unimpressed. She pulls the pin out of the grenade and holds the grenade so that it doesn't blow up. She then grabs Arthur's hand and places it on the grenade and her hand. Arthur notices that if he tries to move to much she'll let go of the grenade by accident and it might explode.

"I have further questions now.. so tell me, what is this again? Just a grenade?"



Foder looks down at his lab coat, then chuckles. "Oh yes most unsanitary, however we are on a tight schedule and we have only oh so many lab coats. I'd prefer not to dirty them all in such a short window.

OOC: Yes all crew have individual communicators, all yours are linked for the moment only to your squad members. There are other contacts like emergency contacts and the bridge.

 

[Ray_Ray]

"Could you give me a list of the missing crew members?" she asked politely "Would be rather simple to combine that information with echolocation, might give us some idea where they are no?" She couldn't help but laugh at the doctor's comment "True, but a bloodied doctor is like a soldier with an unloaded gun, looks rather sloppy... we wouldn't want people to be worried under your care no? Not everyone on the ship is as used to blood and guts as us"

 

[Arthur Campbell]

Arthur sighed Yes, it is just a grenade. Now if you excuse me...
The hand holding the grenade started shifting, its fingers making short work of the grenades already damaged outer casing before moving on to its inner workings. Having set up this grenade, it was a with a few small movements the grenade was rendered completely inert. Arthur let go and allowed the grenade to fall to the table, its low thunk echoing around the room.

I would like to procure some explosives for my assignment

Arthurs' deadpan sober expression was gone. It had been replaced with a dark smile and a look in his eyes that revealed a slither of the insanity that lurked behind his countenance.

 

[Mikhail Zhukov]

I joined because they promised Starseeker to be the best of the best. Brightest minds earth has to offer. Well if this is the best earth has to offer I am starting to get concerned for our planet.But really the reason I joined is because this is the only unit I could find where I could be just me.

Turning to Olga

This is my bar and in here I am God his son Jesus Christ and the holy spirit combined in one and I can mix my own damn cocktails. And unlike my sister I prefer my gear silent and mysterious not loud and pestering.

Addressing Olga's owner.

So sis, how is life?

 

[Ray Ray]

He gave a nod to the doctor as he passed and walked off grumbling, as he returned to storage to procure Rey's suit.

			Bah. If I do her enough favours the rest of my team will start thinking I'm a big softie. I'm a soldier damnit, not a packmule!

 

[Aleksandra Zhukov]

"Oh you're no fun Misha" said Olga, blowing a huge raspberry and then dancing to the back of the tank. There she dived behind the bar to try and pull Ula out of hiding. The pink glow faded and eventually Olga coaxed the timid holo back into the open.

"I'm sorry J.D I might have to have an uncivilised conversation for a moment." Aleksandra said quite warmly. Suddenly a nasty edge crept into her words. "I need to explain to my brother the finer points of timing and respect, just please hold that thought."

She stood up and turned away from J.D and went over to the driver's cabin a veritable fury coming off of her in waves. The two recovered holos slid back down behind the bar.
"So tell me dear brother," Each word spoken sweetly but dripping with poison. "Are you really going to ask me that question, right here, right now, in the middle of a crisis where other people are in desperate need for our utmost professionalism, you're going to ask me how the last 16 years of my life have been after you cut and ran from your familial responsibilities and forced me to take your place shattering what little dreams I had before university?"

Aleksandra stepped up right behind Mikhail so that he could see her reflection in the guidance monitor and she almost whispered with horrifying menace into his ear "Are you really about to try to open this can of rotten worms brother dearest?"

 

[Mikhail Zhukov]

Mikhail expression went blank


I didn't run from anything. I made a choice. What was I supposed to do, sit there and watch as my entire life is decided for me? Put on the crown and sit on the Zhukov throne? his voice getting louderI left because I wanted to become somebody,I didn't want to be made like some statue, a praise to our family's legacy. I wanted to be a soldier, not because HE told me to but because I WANTED TO! he hit autopilot button and turned around low menace in his voice And I never forced you to do a single god damn thing dear sister. The reason you took my place is because you never had the guts to stand up to our father!!

Mikhail brought his right hand covered in glove he never took off to his face

You think I am sorry for what I did?I was fifteen when I left but if I had to make this choice now I would do it all again.He took a step forward So you can bring out all the worms and the ghosts and old skeletons in the closet because believe me dear sister I have seen far worse.

 

[Aleksandra Zhukov]

OOC: брат means brother and до свидания means farewell or goodbye, I'd have done it in english with "russian" brackets but for only a couple of words I hough this would work.

"I was 12, you were my big brother you were the world to me and then you vanished no word no call, I almost died when we heard about Korea. I went my self on a plane to find you. Dad had me arrested and brought back under armed guard. It's a miracle I finished university at all." Aleksandra's voice raised in kind, reaching pitch and temper quickly. "You ran away from me and I was left alone with 300 years of military lineage leaning down on me. I did the best I could with what I had but you tore out my heart брат.

She stepped back and clasped her hands to her chest, head low. "He couldn't have forced me, you know that. I was always too strong willed for his stupid games and I had mother she'd be on my side but I didn't have a choice because he died." she looked up tears welling in her eyes her voice quite and wavering. "And I'm sure you didn't know and I'm sure you're glad he's dead but his dying wish was that I follow in his footsteps so I had to be the good little soldier. I have done unspeakable things брат. I became a killer in the service and it ripped a little of my brightness away and it's all your fault.

She paused for a moment, tears beginning to stream down her face.

"You were my big brother, you were supposed to protect me from the world and you ran." she shook her head and stemmed her tears. "I've wanted to say this for 16 years and with what you've said I feel justified: I will never forgive you for what you've done to me. I hope you enjoyed your freedom брат, до свидания."

She then turned her back on him and began to move back to the bar.

 

[J. D. Tsuba]

			weeellllll... this is awkward.

 

[Mikhail Zhukov]

Mikhail spoke quietly.

You think it is that simple? Just paint the world black and white. I did run away and if it makes you feel better 16 years latter I still haven't stopped running.He paused.I didn't hate him. Not any more. It is our surname that I have been running away from. "It is Zhukov's destiny to lead." father used to say. Well I just couldn't deliver. And no matter where I went this destiny would follow me.A quiet almost desperate laugh escaped his throat. Freedom? There never was any.

Mikhail's face for the first time since he came aboard took on an expression of sadness

You think I never wanted to give up and come home, just play along? I tried, чёрт возьми I tried. I never asked to be a squad leader but they made me one anyway."Put Mikhail in charge, he is Zhukov its in his blood" And I decided to simply surrender. Accept it. But we both know how that ended. We both know what happened in Korea. Do you believe I could come back after that? You see in the end the only difference between us is that you were good at it and I wasn't.

He turned around and looked at the external monitor

The reason I came here? Starseeker was the only unit that didn't care who I was. But now that you are here just proves that fate is стерва.I am sorry for being a terrible brother and I am sorry for what you had to go through but I could never see another way.He added much more quietly Or maybe I just never looked for one.