War is Not the Ugliest of Things
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:45 pm
Invasion – Day One
What happened between the start of the invasion and the Rikti withdrawal in Talos was unclear. At some point Ves had the presence of mind to say something on the comm. Someone, Jason maybe, asked where she was. All she could come up with was “Talos. Somewhere in Talos.” Before she knew it, other SJS students were converging on the area, possibly trying to regroup. When the Rikti pulled out of Talos, all of them returned to campus together. Ves swung by the dorm long enough to find undamaged clothing.
They were gathered on the school grounds hoping to hear word, having been joined by others from various parts of Paragon after the first wave of the attacks had ceased. Ves and Arthur held a whispered conversation apart from the other students, as she caught him up on what she knew of the attacks. He held her hand in his, and she felt it was that alone that kept him rooted there. Arthur wanted to go out and fight and strained at the proverbial reins, reins that Ves imagined she held at the moment, reins that pained her to hold.
With a furrowed brow, Arthur all but snapped out, “Why do we have the damn hero licenses? You said yourself you can take the ground troops.”
Ves glanced around to ensure that his outburst hadn’t caught anyone’s attention as she told him about the drop ships, the bombs, the blasts raining destruction from the sky from impregnable flying weapons platforms. She told him indirectly about the people dying.
Arthur looked down. “Maybe so... I understand Ves, I just…”
“Just what? If this is another invasion? If this is REAL war? What...? What can we really do? I mean... the BEST heroes could hardly stop 'em last time...”
Only moments later, the discussion within the group mirrored their own private whispers as another wave of strikes was announced and Gabe began an impassioned attempt to rouse everyone into fighting the invaders.
“I'm sure you've ALL fought Rikti before.” Gabe challenged.
“Yeah,” Ves intoned quietly.” Stragglers. Beaten leftovers from an old war, skulking about.”
“Yes, Gabe. Leftovers... Starved, sick, stupid.”
Ves almost winced as Artie added his voice to hers, trying to help her convince the others. She couldn’t help but feel sick to her stomach. She knew they needed to wait. They couldn’t go out onto the field and be an unknown rogue element facing an unknown situation. ”Artie’s a fighter, though. What am I thinkin’, I’m a fighter!” Holding him back, holding back herself, hurt something inside of her.
“That wasn't a whole alien race intent on slaughterin' everybody. Gabe, the very BEST we had to offer went up against the Rikti... The very best...” She wouldn’t admit it, but she was scared, not for herself, but for Artie, Sam, Eddie, Bryan, Alice, Jessiy, Bri, Jason… everyone she knew. Names ran through her head faster than she could make them out. This had all the look of a full-blown Rikti invasion. So many of the world’s heroes had fought in the last war and died. What did a bunch of high-school teenagers, superpowers or not, have to offer in a real war? How could they possibly compare themselves to the likes of those heroes lost in the last invasion?
Suddenly, it was over. Kalie had slipped away in the confusion of the argument to try to find her lost father. Gabe went after her. Others trickled out to see what was going on or to fight the Rikti on the streets.
Arthur whispered quietly, “Ves? Thanks for... forcing me to use my brain.”
Numbness flooded Ves. Her stomach churned, leaving the bitter taste of bile in her mouth. She wanted to throw up. Artie was right. They should be out there, doing whatever they could, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say those words.
What happened between the start of the invasion and the Rikti withdrawal in Talos was unclear. At some point Ves had the presence of mind to say something on the comm. Someone, Jason maybe, asked where she was. All she could come up with was “Talos. Somewhere in Talos.” Before she knew it, other SJS students were converging on the area, possibly trying to regroup. When the Rikti pulled out of Talos, all of them returned to campus together. Ves swung by the dorm long enough to find undamaged clothing.
They were gathered on the school grounds hoping to hear word, having been joined by others from various parts of Paragon after the first wave of the attacks had ceased. Ves and Arthur held a whispered conversation apart from the other students, as she caught him up on what she knew of the attacks. He held her hand in his, and she felt it was that alone that kept him rooted there. Arthur wanted to go out and fight and strained at the proverbial reins, reins that Ves imagined she held at the moment, reins that pained her to hold.
With a furrowed brow, Arthur all but snapped out, “Why do we have the damn hero licenses? You said yourself you can take the ground troops.”
Ves glanced around to ensure that his outburst hadn’t caught anyone’s attention as she told him about the drop ships, the bombs, the blasts raining destruction from the sky from impregnable flying weapons platforms. She told him indirectly about the people dying.
Arthur looked down. “Maybe so... I understand Ves, I just…”
“Just what? If this is another invasion? If this is REAL war? What...? What can we really do? I mean... the BEST heroes could hardly stop 'em last time...”
Only moments later, the discussion within the group mirrored their own private whispers as another wave of strikes was announced and Gabe began an impassioned attempt to rouse everyone into fighting the invaders.
“I'm sure you've ALL fought Rikti before.” Gabe challenged.
“Yeah,” Ves intoned quietly.” Stragglers. Beaten leftovers from an old war, skulking about.”
“Yes, Gabe. Leftovers... Starved, sick, stupid.”
Ves almost winced as Artie added his voice to hers, trying to help her convince the others. She couldn’t help but feel sick to her stomach. She knew they needed to wait. They couldn’t go out onto the field and be an unknown rogue element facing an unknown situation. ”Artie’s a fighter, though. What am I thinkin’, I’m a fighter!” Holding him back, holding back herself, hurt something inside of her.
“That wasn't a whole alien race intent on slaughterin' everybody. Gabe, the very BEST we had to offer went up against the Rikti... The very best...” She wouldn’t admit it, but she was scared, not for herself, but for Artie, Sam, Eddie, Bryan, Alice, Jessiy, Bri, Jason… everyone she knew. Names ran through her head faster than she could make them out. This had all the look of a full-blown Rikti invasion. So many of the world’s heroes had fought in the last war and died. What did a bunch of high-school teenagers, superpowers or not, have to offer in a real war? How could they possibly compare themselves to the likes of those heroes lost in the last invasion?
Suddenly, it was over. Kalie had slipped away in the confusion of the argument to try to find her lost father. Gabe went after her. Others trickled out to see what was going on or to fight the Rikti on the streets.
Arthur whispered quietly, “Ves? Thanks for... forcing me to use my brain.”
Numbness flooded Ves. Her stomach churned, leaving the bitter taste of bile in her mouth. She wanted to throw up. Artie was right. They should be out there, doing whatever they could, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say those words.