Remnants of the Earth

OUTER SPACE => Open Space => Topic started by: Draconian on October 04, 2016, 11:38:59 pm

Title: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on October 04, 2016, 11:38:59 pm
[ @Lion ]

Cordelia rolled her eyes at the ship.

Stupid alarm.

"Yes. I know we're super close to another ship. Yes I did do it on purpose." She snapped at the ship. It couldn't answer her. It didn't care about her excuses. It just wanted her to move the goddamn ship because it was too goddamn close and it was going to make these awful noises until she moved it.

Cordelia instead put on a suit. A mirror'd face mask to keep out any wayward sunlight, mostly skin tight - where there was skin to be tight against. Her legs were free, metal things, specially made to walk along metal as long as she turned the magnets on - which she'd done. Her leg arm was metal and a little more skeletal, designed to work as a tool. Just about the only thing left of her that was skin and bones was her right arm and most of her torso.

The ribcage had been replaced with a much more sturdy one and that helped with the strange tail she could use to cut open doors. She was her very own set of tools and it really helped with not having to carry around a whole tonne of crap.

Today, she sauntered out of her ship's airlock to the derelict piece of crap that had showed up on her radar. It didn't look cut up by pirates or stripped it just looked... Dead. Once she'd forced her way in with a work of her tools she poked around the rooms, taking careful steps. Doing her best to remain undetected - she wasn't sure what was in here and she was a little afraid of finding out.

The fear escalated when she went through room after room, finding not a soul. Not a suit. Not a corpse. Abandoned? Maybe.

Cordelia found a strange control room, symbols she couldn't read were all along the screen and she passed her fingers over them curiously. Then there were lights and she jerked her hand back. Frowning she eyed the room and took a few steps back.

It was a map.

Her gaze zero'd in on the light. Some sort of indicator? She frowned at the map, looking for some sort of recognizable point she followed the wall carefully, the metal of her fingers scraping against the metal. There. Pods.

"The fuck," She whispered, looking at them. All of them were close and most of them were empty.

Or at least they looked empty.

There was a dried up corpse in one and she reeled back.

Cordelia looked at them while she meandered and stopped at the only one with a fresh body in it.

A man.

A careful breath and she looked around. Maybe she could.... A lick of her lips behind the mask and she closed her eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and removing the helmet. A hesitant little breath and she sighed relief when she could breath. It tasted stale and a little bit like dusty death but she could breath.

Her hand slammed down on the control panel in front of the pod, some strange symbols and she frowned at it. How could she turn it off? Or not? Maybe... Worst case scenario was she killed him, but with the rest of the ship being dead, what was the big deal with that? She moved to a broken pod, like something had burst out of it and grabbed a heavy metal pipe.

The proceeded to beat on the one with the fresh looking man in it.

Maybe she could make it do some sort of fail safe and wake the guy up.

When it doubt with technology... Just beat on it.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 05, 2016, 10:25:19 pm
[Short post is short! D:]

To breath again for the first time for the last time. it was the strangest sensation.  First there was cold, then then there was nothing. Being submerged in the cryo pod was a decision of finality, a motion toward uncertainty, an absolution that would never be found. The last the he remembered hearing was the voice of the crew, the slow countdown, the beeping of life support systems.  Then the submersion.  Then silence.

Only his memories would ring out in his senses. The last kiss he shared with Vex before they were parted, the feeling of his lips, the warmth of his form against him. The Cygnus' commander issuing the order to depart at last.  His heart beat as it slowed into hibernation.

Then he breathed again, lungs activating, the faint beep up emergency systems still active.  Life support pressed air into resuscitator, the face-mask covering the lower part of his head. Steam depressurized somewhere, locks disengaged and the cold was slowly dissipating, billowing out at his feet.

The door was opening...  Why was the door opening?  Had they reached a final destination at last? Had the Empire found them...? Mars opened his eyes, feeling the clasps of his respirator-mask release from his face, as did the belts from around his body.  He was bare to the cold, but the temperature was manageable for his kind.

He saw a face, an unknown mask, and fear shot through him. Where was his voice?  Still trapped in the recesses of his throat.  Panic set in, cobalt blue eyes widening as he lunged for the mirror-masked fiend.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 05, 2016, 10:35:43 pm
Cordelia had been in midswing when the pod opened and a grown ass man fell out.

Shit. Fuck shit. Goddamn shit.

Wasn't there supposed to be a wait time or something?

Cordelia let the bar sail out of her hands so the strange man didn't get it upside the head - it clattered loudly on the other side of the room and she quickly slapped the side of the helmet to hide away the mirror'd cover. Her hands shot out in front of her, the metal one in front since it was way more sturdy and could handle more abuse than her squishier human one.

"Wait!" Cordelia said, moving her hand to her helmet to whip it off, as she backed up quickly, metal feet clanging loudly on the floor, her hands out, "wait! Wait, I'm not here to hurt you!"  she moved her hand behind her to the broken dusty ship - well, not really dusty. "I'm here to help you but I can't help you if you bash my face in!"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 05, 2016, 10:46:10 pm
Mars was stopped.  But not because of her hands but because of the three large archaic plugs that remained honed into his arms and shoulder and thighs.  He sprang back into the pod falling and staring up at her panting heavily and he found his voice in a pained groan.

He reached up to pull the plugs from his body, falling to his knees when he exited the pod.  Shudders coursed through him, reeling now from the cold, and curling in on himself.  He looked up at the stranger in the strange suit, speaking a language he could grasp but just barely.  It wasn't that he didn't understand, it was that his sense now were just coming back to him.

"H-help me?" he managed to croak out, voice raspy and cracking.  He coughed, the darkness surrounding the cryo chamber diminished only by the vague infrequent sparks starved for power.  His gaze fell up on her, vision coming into focus, and when he saw a human face, the apprehension did not ease. 

However he maintained control of himself.  "Have you come to...kill me?"  Throat was clearer now, and he sat upright, huddling his arms to himself.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 05, 2016, 11:06:00 pm
Shit. She hadn't thought to bring a suit or something.

Cordelia sucked in a breath when he ripped the cords from himself and she glanced down at her arm, swallowing thickly. He could probably rip her arm from from the socket. the whole thing. Meaty bits drilled into bone and all. Cordelia frowned at him, confused.

Right. Cryo.

Can't really remember shit if you were asleep the whole time.

C'mon, Cordy, think. Think quick.

"Yeah, my ship was getting a distress signal from this thing and when I boarded it was ... Empty." She looked around again, chewing on her lower lip, 'feet' moving not so quietly along while she shuffled and tried to find him a suit of some kind to make sure he got to her own ship safely.

"I gotta get you onto my ship, okay? Just gotta find you some clothes," Cordelia froze, "Kill you? What? No." A frown, was he a criminal or something? If he was... She'd never heard of him. Or this ship. Though she supposed she could scan the serial number or something from it from her own when they got back and do her research then. 

"Look, you're the only person alive I found on this ship and I'd really like to get back onto mine so..." She held out the metal hand, "please? We'll pilfer some clothes for you but the sooner we get you out of here and somewhere safe the better."

This place was starting to give her the heebie-jeebies.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 05, 2016, 11:44:32 pm
It was a hearse floating drift in the emptiness of space. The derelict junk ships that flowed along the belt marked a prime scavenging location on star maps between Citadel Fort and Onari IX. Cygnus was just as burned and broken as many of the others that drifted along the wastes. However it was more intact, and it's systems in the lowest power consumption available.

The darkness was almost suffocating.  Mars found his strength, standing up now, holding onto the wall of the chamber and looking at her with eyes that seemed reflective in what little light remained.  "The...only one left alive?" he asked, those words being the only one he heard before the turned to look at the pods that had been beside his own.

His heart dropped, and he shuffled along the cool grate at his feet.  Many of the bodies that did remain were still, and the lights on their life support were dormant, the respirators inactive.  Some pods were broken, tempered glass on the floor, the pod empty.

His breath shuddered, horror sinking deep into his body. The fear was growing, but he did it best to push it from his mind, turning back to the stranger with the glass face...  Or the fleshy face, since it was difficult to discern what was real now.

"You're hear to rescue me?" he asked.  He was close to touch her metal hand, but hesitation stilled him. Was the war finally over?  And his palm fell into hers. Mars looked over her clothing and the helmet she'd yanked off.  The desolation he felt was enormous, but he didn't want to focus on it.

"Let us leave this place.  There's nothing for me here."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 08, 2016, 08:35:11 pm
Maybe she should have been less blunt.

Cordelia had never been good with tact.

Always too blunt.

Always too rude.

Much, much too forward.

Carefully she watched the strange pod-man and she swallowed carefully, waiting for him to snap and kill her. Maybe even just... Rip off her last good arm. Cordelia watched him carefully, hand out and tried to smile at him when he took it. The false sense of touch always kind of weirded her out because it wasn't her feeling it. It was the robot arm. But... She could feel it.

That problem was for later though and she replaced the helmet after curling her fingers through his, legs thunking as she walked across the metal. "We need to find you a suit," She said softly, looking over her shoulder at the strange looking man. He wasn't unattractive, just... Strange looking. Sort of like how she was strange looking. 

"Once we find you a suit, we can board my ship, she's tethered since I couldn't find a way to dock," Her voice was soft, her hand firmly on Mars', "We'll get you situated, you can use the computer on the GumDrop." In hindsight, naming her ship legally when she was a little girl hadn't been a good idea for badass reasons.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 09, 2016, 08:29:26 pm
[Her ship name is the best! Second maybe only to Sassy Juice]

The sense of touch didn't bother him any. Mars had dealt with synthetics before, maybe not one quite like this, and not so fleshy. But whatever she was, he wasn't going to question.  Whatever harm he suspected would come to him, it could still come. He would just be grateful when they could get off this forsaken ship. If not, he'd be just another freezing corpse o this hollowed out vessel.

""I don't need one," he said affirmatively.  "I will be...erm 'situated'. Let's just begone from here."  He took her hand firmly and nodded to where she came from.  "How...did you get in here?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 09, 2016, 08:46:20 pm
Cordelia nodded to a corridor with the airlock.

"The airlock works fine, but the outside docking door is torn to shit." She fixed the helmet on and pressed a button to make it airtight with the rest of her suit. "I had to tether my ship - the GumDrop - to this ship and just... Float over" she shrugged as she led him along, footsteps quick and the littlest bit awkward.

"It'll be about ten seconds, i'll hold you," she frowned at him for a moment, "Space is cold. You know that, right?" Her voice was soft and she moved her hand to his elbow to escort him along as they walked, coming to the airlock door and pressing it open so they could get to the second door.

The second door led to a destroyed hallway, attached to it with a heavy magnet was a metal rope and a modest little ship. It looked like once upon a time it had been top of the line and painted a sparkly pink. The outside didnt get much love aside from patching holes but the insides were still amazing.

"Just tell me when and hold onto my waist, I'll get us over there in no time and then we can learn all about one another." Cordelia didnt have the heart - yet - that they were weeks from any sort of civilisation.

Sure this was a good scaveging spot, but unless she wanted to get raped and looted she wasnt about to set foot at any of the docking stations except to fuel up. Maybe. And only if she got desperate.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 09, 2016, 09:14:46 pm
The cold didn't bother him.  And he could hold his breath long enough in the time it would take to get to the other ship.  The shuddering of his body ceased once they reached the exit.  He closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath when he was ready and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

Once they were off, he braced himself, holding firmly but not overly tight until they were safely on the other side.

The outside of the ship was freezing, and he could feel debris scraping against his skin, and he shook from the temperature, but he hedl on strongly nevertheless.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 10, 2016, 10:09:08 pm
The trip was short and well executed.

Cordelia smacked the side of the ship and the airlock opened. She pushed the strange man into her ship and followed closely. Once they were both in the door shut and the gravity kicked in. Warm oxygen filled the room and Cordelia removed the mask.

The other door opened to a modest ship. Most of it was run by the computer. From the airlock was a hallway, off to the side was a washroom, the hallway opened off to a control room where Cordelia spent 90% of her time.

Another door led to a little pseudo-kitchen and tucked into the corner of the ship on the other side was a bedroom. Modest bunk beds that pulled out from the wall.

Cordelia paid no mind to the strange man she brought with her, chosing to peel the suit off as she walked. Her long washed out black hair tumbled down her back while she walked and slowly removed the suit. By the time she hit the door that led to the 'bedroom' she was completely naked, her fake limbs obvious by sight.

The arm had a fake look to it. The seam at her shoulder. The legs, from above the knee down however, were metal and looked to be made for a purpose other than just walking. Along her spine were metal bits, with a port at the base.

A flick to the strange man and she went into the room, focussed on one thing.

Putting something comfy on. It was a few moments to change, pulling on a sweater and a loose set of shorts. She left the room with a larger sweater a set of sweatpants.

"Here," she held them out to the strange pod man , "put these on. Then I'll show you where you can sleep and we can scrounge up some food for you."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 11, 2016, 04:44:54 pm
The sound of the airlock was all that he heard that secured his assurance that he was still alive.  For that moment he waited until he opened his eyes and was sure his eyeballs wouldn't be sucked out of his skull.  He breathed out, reclined on all fours on the grated flooring of the GumDrop. When he had his bearings, sensing the gravitational pull, he stood up, watching the suited woman casually move about the vessel.

He wrapped arms around himself, not knowing what more he could do except to follow her.  Even as she found herself getting a little bit more comfortable.  His eyes watched her carefully, noting each aspect of her form. Mainly so he could see which parts were most vulnerable just in case she turned on him.

Stilled now, watching the metal of her limbs glint in the lighting that ignited the hallways.  He shivered again, quiet, looking down at the strange clothes she offered him.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked, still not reaching for the clothes.  Just in case.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on October 27, 2016, 10:47:04 pm
Cordelia frowned at him for a moment before she shook the clothing at him and frowned, "Because, I found you in a pod on an abandoned ship and you're not dead so... Why leave you?" A tilt of her head and she squinted at him before giving him a slow up and down, he was built. He was kinda scary looking. "Why won't you get dressed?" She wiggled the clothes at him, "I can't imagine you're toasty warm."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on October 27, 2016, 11:43:29 pm
He had every reason to expect the worst. The first stranger to show him any sense of kindess, how was he not to be suspicious.  But even Mars could give her the benefit of the doubt. If she wanted to kill him, he guessed she could have just disrupted his life support. Why bother waking him up?

He held the clothes tenatively in hand before nodding to her and slipping the t-shirt over head.  The fit wasn't ideal as he could barely squeeze into it, but the fabric was forgiving enough, and he slipped into the shorts that came with it.  He didn't want to ask if she had anything bitter.  She was over-extending her kindness as it were.
"This is very nice," he said, fingers feeling against the mesh fabric.
"I will find some way to thank you."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on January 28, 2017, 10:15:15 am
There was a snort and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, you can earn your keep or something,"  another shrug and she wiggled her limbs. The not quite sensation of them being real. She couldnt actually feel them... sort of. Cordelia didnt think to hard about it. It just got confusing and muddled up in her head. "Or just say thank you."

She paused again and frowned slightly, "you any good at fixing stuff? Shes an old boat, sturdy, but old and once I manage to fix something something else kinda... breaks." A small friendly smile before she gave an impersonal nod and looks around.

"It gets hot in here, by the way, so you'll probably have to get used to seeing my tits." It was mostly said as an add on. Not important but perhaps something he should remember. "You may also display your tits."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on January 29, 2017, 12:21:09 am
"Tits!?" he parroted back, tilting his head. Of course he understood what she meant, but if the heating radial apparatus was that bad on this ship, maybe it was better that they found someplace to dock for proper repairs.  He moved forward, following her eagerly down the hallway.

"I can try," he said.  "I would say I have my fair share of handiness.  But...if you think there's something wrong with your ship, don't you think it should be docked for proper inspection? It looks rather haphazard as it is. No offense...  Look at the bucket you found me on!"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on January 29, 2017, 04:46:34 pm
Cordelia gave him a hesitant look, "just flesh. They're like a much less useful hand," she smiled at him before shrugging and turning away. A small flight of stairs and into the control room, her feet clanging against the metal of the floor. A few buttons. A few hisses at the controls and she called behind her.

"If you told me your name I don't remember it," she said finally, looking at the navigation system. Almost in dead space. Just a little bit too far from anything useful. Good thing she had enough food for a month stock piled. Well, two weeks, with her guest. Cordelia frowned slightly and sighed. "You have any idea what system that thing drifted from?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on January 29, 2017, 10:51:00 pm
Oh, that's right he hadn't told her his name.

Did he even have a name?  What was it...?

In all the years he'd been asleep, dreaming distant dreams of an absolution that would never come, he felt there was something he forgot, left behind. He closed his eyes and searched deep within his mind's recesses. "Mars,"he murmured.  "That's my name."

He shook his head and brushed at the hair on his head.  "Strange. I almost couldn't remember it."  He smiled and looked at her. "I'm sorry."

He moved forward and glanced at the system. "System...  Bogoda Cetus IV, the edge of the Empire," he said.  "That's where I boarded....  Before I went to sleep.  But where it drifted and how it came to be as you found it, I cannot say.  Where are we now?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on January 30, 2017, 12:32:25 am
Interesting name.

"I was expecting a number," She stated smirking before she looked back to the control panel, tilting her head and frowning. Bogoda Cetus IV. Cordelia pulled a face and shrugged, "Far from there," She decided looking through the computer's map. A lick of her lips and the tap, tap, tap, of her foot-not-foot against the flooring and she shrugged. A brief look at the radar and she cast a glance to Mars.

"My name is Cordelia. You can call me Cordy, Delia, Cord and Hey You," She glanced over his shoulder at him and turned her chair, reaching out a leg and kicking a  button on the ground. A second chair folded from the floor on a track in front of a second control panel, "That'll be your spot," she instructed then frowned.

"So, Mars," She tilted her head, crossing her arms over her chest and tilting her head, brushing her hair over her shoulders, "Why were you in there? Do you remember? You human? Cyborg?" She wiggled her legs at him, "I'm not really sure what I'm classified as anymore, probably cyborg, I think half my insides are fake too. Except for the important bits, as my father would call them."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on January 30, 2017, 10:44:33 pm
Why was she looking for that star system? They were likely lightyears away from any part of the the Cetus Quadrant. The Forge Empire's furthest reaches were often run down worlds with little impact on the main trade at it's center, and it was there that smuggling reigned free as it ought to have. The right officials were bribed, the people cared only for themselves and minded their business.

Mars watched her for a second before she instructed him to sit.  He blinked at her a moment before hesitantly sitting. The chair was a little worse for wear than what he was used to, but it was cared for and he could feel it's shape modifying itself to his body along his back. He perked up an smiled.  "That was new."

"I am Caiber," he said steadily, meeting her gaze, although his own eyes were a little confused, struggling to recall. "I was asleep along with others of my kind. We were trying to escape absolute decimation, our last hope being on that ship.  Seeing it in it's state is...astonishing. I don't know how long I've been asleep.  There's only so much I can tell you. First, will you answer some questions? For whom do you work?  You found me...now what do you intend to do with me?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on January 30, 2017, 11:20:27 pm
"Uhh..." Cordelia stared at him for a moment, "Caiber. Sure." A squint at him before turning away to look at the navscreen and figure out a destination. The nearest port to unload some scrap for one. Refuel. Restock. A brief glance to Mars and she considered for the briefest of moments of trying to sell him but... He wasn't stupid - maybe - and he didn't seem to be extremely gullible. A brief moment of her teeth on her plush lower lip and she blinked at him before tapping at the ships computer.

"I will answer anything you ask me," Cordelia replied honestly after he got his question out. Who did she work for? A owlish blink and she looked around, "Well... Uh. I work for myself," She looked down at her legs, frowned at her fake fleshy arm. Flexing the fingers of her left hand while the right one remained on the nav system while it calculated the nearest port. "I'm kinda a loaner," pun intended, "just trying to... Make my way on my own," She had a far away look in her eyes while she stared ahead, swallowing carefully, "I just wanted to help. Yours was the only pod with life signs, I mean, maybe others were vacated but..." There were a lot of dead bodies, too, "I just wanted to help."

A little shrug, "And I was lonely," Cordelia grinned at him, "You can be my pet."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 02, 2017, 05:13:45 pm
He knew she was joking, but even her grin was somewhat lost on him. Her words resonated in the back of his mind, and he closed his eyes briefly to see the rows and rows of pods filled with his people, all dead.  The only one with signs of life. 

He kept himself together and instead forced a smile back. "Then we'll want to get underway," he said. "This whole place is a graveyard. Waiting around for us to get by some ship scrap won't help matters."  He sat upright in the companion seat and pointed at her nav screen.

"That cluster of dots there.  What is that?  Looks promising. Seeing as I just woke up, i won't be much use as navigator for now."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 03, 2017, 01:31:46 pm
"Already doing better than me," Cordelia muttered, catching his brief far away look. A lick of her lips and she rolled her shoulders, looking at the cluster.

"Thats either a trade-station or pirates," she said briefly. How she'd managed to get out this far was amazing enough. When she'd gotten the Good Ship GumDrop she'd barely known how to pilot. Her metal limbs had still weight an unfamiliar amount.

"Let's go, Mars," she looked at him briefly before she set the location into the auto-pilot. Cordelia turned her chain, resting her hands on her thighs, still flesh, still warm.

"Im not really sure how to... deal with you. I pulled you out of a dead ship. Like... do you need anything? Do you wanna talk? Was that your family in there?" Her tone sounded worried and she chewed on her lower lip, looking concerned.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 04, 2017, 12:18:57 am
They were soon going to be underway and even as she asked her curious questions, Mars simply wanted to be doing something again.  He turned to look at her and gave her a gentle shake of his head.  "Let's just get out of this dead zone, Cord. It's a long story.  If there is time to tell it, I'll do my best," was all he said, smiling at her and offering a wink.

He looked back at the nav screen and made a face at the dots as they seemed more spread out this time.  "That...doesn't look right.  They moved, didn't they?  You saw them move right?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 04, 2017, 12:26:24 am
If a wink had ever looked natural on him she'd eat her own foot.

Which would probably take a very long time on account of it being metal.

Cordelia licked her lips, gave Mars an odd look and simply nodded. "yeah, sure," it was okay that he didn't want to talk about it. Right? That was something about healing and whatnot. His attention to the screen pulled her to it as well and she blinked at it slowly, frowning. "Yeah, they moved." Licking her lips she rolled her shoulders and closed her eyes.

"Might be pirates," Cordelia paused going a little more pale, if it were possible, "You cool with being raped? Because they're gonna want something and it's either going to be all our food or our asses and I don't want to starve to death."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 04, 2017, 04:14:56 pm
"What!? No, I'm not cool with that!" Mars said with a wild look of indignation. "With either one. I haven't eaten in who knows how long, and I don't plan on giving my ass to anyone."  He scowled and looked at the state of their ship.  "You got any weapons on this hulking mass?  Because if it's pirates, we'd best start firing first."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 04, 2017, 07:47:25 pm
Cordelia smirked at him.

"Yeah, but you don't want to starve to death either, right?" She pushed, looking around and shrugging, "I mean, if you're hungry we can grab you a snack. They're still a bit away," She motioned to the dots on the navscreen. They'd be upon them relatively quickly but... Why die hungry, right?

Though his question actually had her bark out a surprised laugh. "A... Weapons?" Cordelia laughed again and shook her head, "You think this tiny thing has weapons on it. It's a scavenger, this rust bucket couldn't handle shooting anything and if it does I sure as fuck don't know how to use them." A worried look passed over her face and she chewed on her lower lip, looking at the nav screen again. "Mostly I just kinda count on them trying to get me because then I can break their face with my multitude of prosthetic limbs."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 05, 2017, 12:19:59 am
"YOU WHAT!?"

Except that didn't give him any time to garner response. Mars saw those dots disperse somewhat as they began to move. And the very fact that they didn't have any weapons on here sent some very nasty chills drop into his stomach.  The dots seemed to be indecipherable between ships and debris of ships.  With the exception of their movements.

They were coming straight for them, and all they could die was try and maneuver out of the way.
"Okay, then pilot the fuck out of this thing, will ya?  I'll look for weapons.  It can't be that hard!"  Except his lack of certainty made it difficult to concentrate. Mars looked at the flight chair console and kept his eye on the movements of the objects on the nav.  It looked like three vessels, but two were smaller than the one at the center.

The two ships were covering the flanks of the mother vessel, carefully navigating or shooting their way through the scrap field.  The scrap.  Mars looked at the semi-frosted windows and breathed slowly.  He hadn't used his abilities in some time.  He wasn't even sure if they still worked.  It was a long shot.  But one he was willing to take.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 05, 2017, 11:57:04 am
Can't be that hard.

Spoken like a true man. Ha. Cordelia shrugged and reached up to the ceiling to a small overhang over the Pilot seat, removing a sort of visor. A few clicks of the button and it reached the right frequency, setting an overlay of the nav screen so she would't have to look down to see the dots. Then it was down to business. Auto pilot was turned off and she took the controls and sighed.

"Soooo... We trying to get away then?" She said softly, curiously, "I mean, what if they just want your ship?" She motioned with her elbow to the direction it was in, which was very close to them to begin with. "I think I already got the most valuable thing off that ship," Cordelia muttered before she started to 'pilow the fuck' out of the GumDrop.

"If this thing falls apart and we die, I'm blaming you, is that cool?" Still, her voice was level and she flicked switches and fixed the controls while she was maneuvering until they were optimal... To how she flew.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 06, 2017, 11:01:32 pm
The three ships were getting closer, and Mars felt sick to his stomach. Because there wasn't a goddamn weapon aboard this ship. Fuck if Cordelia hadn't been right. This ship was just a scavenger vessel. All there were were the shields array and there was no telling just how long those would last.

He would have to rely on moving debris out of their path and into the path of their enemies, which were now readily seen on the edge of their view port.  Along with the bright red of their cannons going off.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 06, 2017, 11:34:20 pm
"Well... Fuck me sideways," Cordelia announced ducking her head down and moving the ship around the debris. A few almost hits but if there was one thing she could do, it was pilot a ship. Didn't matter what limbs were actually hers then. "So," She started, zipping through debris and the wayward attempt to knock them out of space, "I'm sorry I woke you up for you to just die," She sighed and glanced over her shoulder to Mars, "Wanna have a quickie in the kitchen before we bite it?"

Humour always diffused a tragic situation, and the ships were almost upon them and Cordelia, while confident, didn't think the ship would be too great at out running these ships. They would get caught unless a miracle happened.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 07, 2017, 05:07:17 pm
"This is the worse possible time to make that offer," Mars muttered. He twisted in his chair and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. White puffs of air came out, and he thought of the coldness of their surroundings. His heart sped up and hands trembled as he felt his eyes beginning to burn. Tears streamed down the sides of them until he opened them once more, eyes aglow with a soft white-blue.

He saw the fiery laserbeams coming their way and he reached out telepathically with the floating debris around them, shoving the half-burned section of a hull to deflect an oncoming shot.  "I hope you can pilot better than they can shoot. They're getting closer," he said softly and reinforced his focus.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 07, 2017, 08:28:38 pm
Cordelia grinned. Well, at least she was entertained by this.  Sure they were going to die but Cordelia refused to die without a smile on her face. "You mean the best time, everyone deserves--" but she stopped short when she looked over and her guest turned into a lighthouse.  "Uuuuuhm," Cordelia said, casting a second glance over before she returned to piloting.

The fuck.

What the fuck.

Cordelia grew afraid then, despite his soft voice and his help. "Uh, yeah, I'm good," She stated before she veered them out of the path of a hunk of debris. She moved when she needed to, weaved between debris and fixed the visor to help with all the other things around the ship. If there was one thing she was amazing at besides having fake legs, it was weaving in and out of debris and things firing at her. "We going anywhere specific? I already mentioned that we can't out run these guys, right?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 08, 2017, 03:50:51 pm
"Yeah, you mentioned that. Can't say it's not worth trying," he muttered as he focused again, narrowing his eyes, and reaching out tendrils of energy toward the debris around them. By then the pirate ships were much closer and the other ships were firing blasts left and right. Even as they dodged and slipped around them, energy burned against the GumDrop shields.

Scorching heat brazed against the glass and Mars pulled a stray afterburner in closer, the debris crashing into the ship that swooped across their left. The pilot tried to right the vessel only to crash into the side of another dead ship, exploding in the process.

"Shit! We've been hit,"Mars hissed as the ship tilted off to the side and the second ship came swooping around and burned beams toward the rear of the ship. The smaller vessel was too fast for Mars to throw another piece of debris at it, turning back  as soon as it was able.  Alarms burned in his ears, blaring as their shields began to fade and the larger mother vessel came further into view.

"Hold your jets!" came a voice on the com.  "You're not going anywhere!"  Mars felt himself fading, energy drained and he lurched forward in his chair.  He felt sick, and the glow from his eyes left him.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 08, 2017, 06:40:01 pm
Cordelia hissed and felt dread tear through her. Hit. They were going to die. Probably. Heart pounding, throat burning with bile she squeezed the controls as hard as she squeezed her eyes shut. "No shit we're not going anywhere," She hissed, irritated. Angry. "Com's for you," She said to Mars, looking over, though she froze and stared at him, eyes wide.

"Oh god, are you dying?" She whispered, scrambling out of her chair. The coast was mostly clear and it wouldn't be the end of the world if they hit a few things. Super fucked if her new weird brain'd friend was dying though. Cordelia knelt by his chair, hands on his knee, "Hey," She gave him a shake, "Are you okay? You're not glowing anymore."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 08, 2017, 07:19:32 pm
Mars' head was throbbing heavily, the blood pounding with needles poking into the back of his eyes. Mars breathed in sharply, feeling the room grow hotter than it was as he looked dazedly at Cordelia. Oh he could've puked all over her but he hadn't eaten anything in years - he suspected - and he lurched forward toward her.

"Using that much power after so long without just took a lot out of me. I'm okay though," he breathed, trying to convince himself. It didn't take however and he passed out with his head against her shoulder.

This time it was a slap in the face that woke him up, a hard metal slap that left his jaw sore. And they were both properly cuffed with energy bracers and Mars looked around their surroundings, trapped in the loading bay by weapons pointed right into their face. He stared down the barrel of the rifle of the pirate in front of him, a young woman with burn marks along the side of her face and a sneer on her lips.

And there they were again. Except this time they were both naked.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 08, 2017, 07:29:57 pm
"I don't think I've ever been fucked this hard," Cordelia blinked widely and looked around, her own face sore having had the same treatment of the slaps " I don't think I care for it." One second Mars had fainted on her shoulder then it was... Black. Obviously she had passed out too and now... Here they were. Being stared at by a very angry lady. A very scarred very angry lady.

Clearing her throat, Cordelia gave a wiggle of her fingers in a pseudo wave. "Hello, nice to meet you. I think there's been some sort of mix up?  I've never met you and you haven't bought me dinner yet so... Why am I naked and tied up."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 08, 2017, 08:49:40 pm
"Just inspecting the goods, and making sure neither of you can make any sort of fancy getaway," the woman said, but her glare towards Mars didn't have the effect she was looking for. When he didn't show any sort of emotion, she slapped him again this time with what he figured out was the metal thing. The rifle's butt slugged him across the other side of his jaw and he made a sound that gave the woman satisfaction.

"That's enough Ratchet," a voice he could only assume belonged to the Pirate Captain emerge from the tunnels. "We've got their ship on kinetic hold, and they're tied up. Damage the cargo anymore and I'll have your ass, got that?"

Ratchet soured and stepped away from Mars and Cordelia. "Yeah, whatever."

"You two are in luck. Stranded all the way out here.  Names Rhino Rex, but you can just call me Rex," he said and pulled the smoke from between his lips to inspect the pair he'd just captured.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 09, 2017, 10:46:16 am
Inspecting...

Cordelia looked down at herself, frowning slightly. The area was cold and she was naked as a baby. "Nice to meet you, Rex, I'm  Adelia and this here is Jupiter and these are my nipples, I'd super appreciate a blanket or something? Or be let down? They're mighty cold." She smiled expectantly and looked over at Mars.

"Also, we werent stranded.  We were totally still moving." Coasting on fumes but... He didnt to know that.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 09, 2017, 10:49:09 pm
"Haha....hahahahaha!" Rex could appreciate someone using humor under the stress of realized captivity. It was very possible that this cargo would never make it to port and something bad would happen along the way, but in the mean time he got a kick out of teasing them getting his giggles while he could have them. It was Ratchett's job to keep them in line anyway.

"Well, over all, I'd say you both look decent. Although the male is a little worse for wear.  And those...plugs along his body look odd.  Hrm, an exotic, and a, er, cyborg lad. You'll fetch decent prices.  And if you don't we can just scrap you. Nobody will care," he said with a shrug and ordered them to be taken to the holding cells on the upper level.  They were given very little in the way of clothing, just tattered rags that were folded into pants and tattered tanks.

Mars glared at his own, er, 'shirt'.  Of course it had to show his mid-drifts. "At least we're not dead," he said, cracking his jaw back into place.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 10, 2017, 11:26:06 pm
A moment and Cordelia looked at Mars - who looked mostly fleshy - and then at herself. Her two metal legs. Her obviously fake arm. A brief glance down at herself and she supposed she had decent enough tits. Maybe that was going to be her selling point. 'Great tits,' Yeah. That sounded great.  Cordelia made do with her 'clothing' and frowned at it.

She took full advantage of the silly outfit Mars had on and eyed up his midsection with an entertained smirk.

If they were going to die or be sold, there was no use worrying about it.

So, Cordelia looked at him and keep her expression neutral before cracking a smirk, watching him fix his jaw before she folded her arms over her chest and sighed. "How are you feeling? Head sore? That was... Impressive, back there." She meant the weird eye glowey thing - which could be indicated by the way she opened and closed her hands by her eyes. "Wanna rest your head on my lap and try to nap?" She wiggled her hands at her thighs - which were indeed, still fleshy.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 12, 2017, 10:29:44 pm
"I'm okay. In the head I mean, "he said and gestured to his skull. Mars blinked hard, shutting his eyes of the faintly flickering lights and making it so that he was listening to nothing more than Cordelia's breathing and the faint hum of the pressure valves surrounding their chambers.

"But here....I didn't think I'd end up in a cage again."  He took her up on her offer without saying anything and scooted over to where she was, reclining so that his head fell lightly on her lap.  It was cool and yet he could feel the warmth of her blood flowing through her veins. 

Still human somewhere. "I'm sorry about your ship. It's probably scrap now."  He looked up and noticed something he hadn't seen above the cell door, Led lights flashing the day and month and year....  His eyes widened and his heart leapt into his throat.  He felt them burn with growing tears. "Is that...is that date right?" he asked Cordelia.  "The sign above the door."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 13, 2017, 08:57:14 pm
Cordelia gave a helpless little shrug.

"Well, at least you have company this time?" It was a question because... Was that better? Maybe it was worse?  Still, when he got comfy on his lap, she pushed her fingers through his hair for something to do, the other one resting on his chest. Getting as relaxed as she could, she closed her eyes and got comfortable, ready for the long haul and being glad that she had no real legs to go numb from the weight of Mars's head.

"The date?" She questioned, voice soft before her own eyes popped open and she looked at it. Was it? "Looks right, I haven't been really keeping track." She spoke, eyes drifting closed again having answered his questions, fingers still moving through his hair, "Oh..." Golden eyes popped open and she sat up a little straight to look down at her companion.

"I never... I never said the date before, did I?" She licked her lips, hand still pressed to his chest, "I didn't even think of it. Stop..." She noticed his eyes and moved her hand to - hopefully- block out the sight of the led lights with her palm in the way. "Don't look at it, okay? Just... Close your eyes and... I'm right here, okay? Just turn your head and put your ear on my thigh and ... Listen to my heart beat? You can hear that through thighs, right? I guess my chest works too. That has built in pillows."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 14, 2017, 09:40:32 pm
Mars tried not to look at it but the flashing LED lights reflected in his eyes even after he shut them. He turned his head, and subsequently his whole body to wrap arms around her waist.  Even with the attempted comfort, it couldn't stave off the sorrow that slowly built inside him. he buried his face against her belly, which was hard and soft in some parts, but he didn't complain.

"I'm sorry," he murmured after several long moments. "I just didn't realize how long I'd been asleep. I don't know how long my ship was like that. I don't know where the others are...if there are any,"   He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and he laid his head slightly more relaxed against her. "More than 60 years... "
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 14, 2017, 10:21:38 pm
Cordelia's chest tightened and she curled down around him, hand smoothing up and down his back while her real one carded through his hair. What was she supposed to do? There wasn't a kitchen to good humorously suggest quickies in. Still, she held him close and offered what comfort she could.

"Today is just not a good day for you, huh?" She murmured, hand giving his bicep a squeeze before she simply... Held him. "Sixty years isn't that long," Cordelia tried to reason, hand still pushing through his hair, "That's not even a whole life time, that's... I dunno. 60% of it.  That leaves 40% of a regular human length life left," She sighed and ducked her head down, not really too sure what to say about it. Or what she was trying to do. Comfort?

"We'll get out and figure out how to find some of your people, hmm? Maybe I can sleep my way out of here, I mean, my cooch isn't enhanced but I don't use it often - or like ever - so that's good, right?" Cordelia was mostly just talking to listen to herself speak at that point but her hand didn't stop it's movements through his hair and she sighed again. "Maybe you should get some rest, hmm? I'll be here when you wake up, because someone tearing your pillow from under you will probably wake you up - if that happens."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 14, 2017, 11:02:47 pm
Even if she wasn't sure of what she was doing, it brought comforting tingles down his back and along his scalp. The length of life for a human varied greatly and even more with one such as he.  He knew sorrow could only hold him for so long lest he let the silence in his mind drive him insane.

They were farther away now. And it seemed as it it had been so much longer than that 60 years. Perhaps it didn't seem that long to her, and it was only a flickering memory in his mind's eye. Mars closed his eyes and laid his head back down on her lap, reaching up and touching her face gently with his thumb, bracing the side of her cheek.

"Thank you.  I don't know if I can ever repay you...But I'm glad you found me." he murmured and pressed his head in against her body.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 14, 2017, 11:25:35 pm
It was an odd moment of tenderness and Cordelia pressed her cheek against his hand. A sort of hug. Only his palm and her face. Her hand didn't stop gliding through his light hair and she looked down at him to examine his features. With his eyes closed he wouldn't know she was staring. Still, she smiled, a friendly one and she smoothed her thumb over his forehead in slow circles.

"I'm glad I found you, too," She said quietly because this probably would have happened anyway and she would have been alone here. Cordelia felt her heart thump a little faster at the idea of being alone here. Was it just the company that comforted her or who she was with?

Probably the who part. This guy seemed calm and steady. Besides, he'd seen her naked and didn't stare. Probably also into the men-folk which meant it'd be fine to keep him around. Things were less complicated that way.

"Sleep," She whispered, hand still in his hair, voice soft. "We'll be woken up when they sell us or whatever. No use worrying about it right now."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 15, 2017, 08:05:42 am
Mars did fall asleep, although it was light and somewhat fitful. He heard screams from across the way and woke up because of them, staring at the door. He couldn't be sure if the screams were from his dreams or from the ship itself. Something in the silence was startling, and disturbed him to the bone.

"Cord," he whispered and sat up, shifting closer to her.  "Something is wrong." And it was then that the magnetic lock on their cell door clicked and the door slid open.

[Thinking either being attacked by alien creature or perhaps a mutiny, just making it up as I go.]
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 15, 2017, 10:22:30 pm
Cordelia jerked awake at the sound of an awful nickname.

Right. Her name.

She stretched while listening, mouth open in a yawn and only half listening when the door slid open and she froze. Cordelia slowly closed her mouth, stared at the door, stared down at Mars and moved her hands down to press against him in a slight moment of panic.

"What the shit," She whispered, looking at the door and frowning at how quiet it was. How... Silent.

Never a good thing on a ship.

"How about we close the door and just stay in here," She nodded to the door, "At least we'll be safe sort of."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 16, 2017, 12:16:00 am
She was right. He knew she was right. But after being held captive in a capsule for approximately sixty years, he was tired of sitting in one spot. Staying here would leave them vulnerable no matter what. If they could find a way off this vessel, or perhaps find out what was going on, they could survive.

"I dunno," he whispered. "Feels a lot like being bait in a cage. And I'd rather not wait to find out, you know. Besides, I'd really rather not just let myself go down so easy.  Are you with me?"

He stood up and held out his hand to her to help her from the bench. He stood by the door until they were ready, opening it only a fraction when the moment felt right. The hum of the engine told him the ship was still in motion and perhaps it was only this level that was silent. Mars stepped on through into the shadow, the floor only lit by neons beneath the grates. giving way to emptiness.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 16, 2017, 10:40:50 pm
Cordelia sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

"Have I mentioned I'm not brave? Or a hero?" Still, she took his hand though. Helped herself up and made sure to make herself decent. Wouldn't want to get eaten alive with her vagina hanging out. Terribly unladylike. Cordelia took metallic steps - she couldn't help it, her feet were made of metal - and waited.

"Well... Is death in the air?" Her voice was soft but her pulse was even. It was easy to be Not Scared when you - while not brave - didn't really fear dying. "I saw a movie about an alien and it had a mouth in it's mouth, Blood was acid," She wrinkled her nose, "Think we could punch one out fine?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 16, 2017, 11:52:52 pm
[Lol. I thought she had clothes on...y'know the rags? xD]

Mars glanced at her and her ladyparts. Nothing to be ashamed about there. Punching aliens and monsters. great.  It was a sound plan once they figured out what was going on. Moving down the corridor gave way with someone running toward them.

Mars grabbed Cordelia and pulled her into the shadows, hiding in the dark until the pirate ran around the corner. As they turned, he snatched the man by the ankle and dropped him to the ground. The gun in his hand clattered to the ground and Mars was on him in an instant.

"What the hell is going on here!?" he hissed.

"You!  You're the cargo...!  How did you get-"

Mars gripped his hand around his throat. "Answer me."

"Fffuck!  Fuck if I know!  There was screaming on the com from this level, and then the power went out. Rex sent me to investigate!"

Mars took his head firmly in hand and slammed it hard against the grate until the man was sufficiently knocked out.  He took the gun and any cartridges that were on his person and handed them to Cordelia. "I guess only more questions come from that. Let's hope it's not a monster like in that movie."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 21, 2017, 07:16:16 pm
[Yeah! Rags! No panties! her bit's'll show if she moves too much!]

Cordelia watched, a little frightened, when Mars went all Commando soldier on the pirate-soldier-guard-guy and blinked owlishly while she watched. Trying in vain to pull her clothing down to cover her parts appropriately so. It was drafty.

Then things were pushed into her hands and she opened her mouth to protest.

"I don't..." She started, looking at the gun, her one real hand was started to get all sweaty from nerves. While she put up a good front, she was no soldier and would much prefer to hide until the danger went away. "I don't know how to use a gun," She said to Mars, licking her lips and shaking her head.

"I can just stick my legs in it's mouth or something, high quality and all that, right?" She whispered, looking down at her metal shins, "I seriously don't know how to use these though," She repeated, holding out the gun and cartridges to Mars, looking a little worried now.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 21, 2017, 08:58:05 pm
It was Mars' turn to stare at her owlishly at her admission. But what could he expect. In truth, it was probably the wrong time to admit it. Better later when they were somewhat safe. If they could get off this fucking ship or commandeer it.  He looked between her and the gun and he carefully moved to stand behind her.

"You'll have to learn. I don't much like guns myself, but if you must survive, better to have it than not," he said and carefully wrapped his hand around hers, raising the gun to aim ahead of the corner of the door they'd come out of.  "The sights are on the front. Trust the weight of the gun, but don't let it overwhelm you. Steady, take in a deep breath now. Release, and pull the trigger. Aim at what's in front of you and you can't go wrong. Take a practice shot on the wall. Try to hit that burn mark by the cell door."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 21, 2017, 11:11:22 pm
Cordelia found she quite liked his flesh on hers and, while not the time nor the place, she wished she had more real limbs to feel it against. Right. Quick gun lesson.

Golden eyes focussed on Mars and she gave a weak little nod. Cordelia was a talker, not a fighter and she took in a steady breath and aimed and shot aaand... it was okay. The mark was in the vacinity of where he'd told her to shoot and she hit.. the area.

Same thing, right?

"Okay, shot the gun. Let's go?" She pressed her cheek to his arm, needing a moment, however fleeting, of comfort. A careful breath and she looked around, "I'll keep you safe, I guess? Uhm... But you're scarier than me, so you go first."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 21, 2017, 11:38:47 pm
The contact was a comfort that Mars did not voice.

"Good for the first one," he said. "We can take it from here. Whatever is going on here, we can handle it." He nodded to her and did as she bid him. Really he wasn't sure what more he could do, since she seemed resilient only in limbs more than anywhere else. He crouched low, running along the corridor to where a lift would take them up.

Yet it's lack of power was telling. "The ladder. That'll lead us up, I think. And keep us largely out of view of the halls."  He saw the ladder within the cylinder of the lift, and saw that a port door beneath was opened.  And something else was dripping.  Something green.

Mars paused.  He felt a jolt in their surroundings. "It's close.  Whatever it is... But this is the only way up."  He paused and looked across to anything that might be useful. It was too bad that pirate only had the one gun, so he instead found a loose pipe from the side of the wall and pried it, keeping it part in hand as he began to scale the ladder.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 22, 2017, 11:06:17 pm
We can handle it.

Cordelia mocked him in her head. So confident. For what? The space monster was going to eat them and that would be that. She'd never... Cordelia swallowed her fear and nodded. It would be fine. Sort of. Sure she was totally mostly naked and should have spend the last half hour of her life banging the weird kinda hot guy who was just recently a Dudesicle.

Instead.

She let him nap.

Cordelia looked up when he started up the ladder, opened her eyes wide and then immediately looked back down. Whoops. Just saw way more of him than she'd wanted to even before she decided she'd tap that. Still she followed, making sure to keep her eyes level with the ladder because looking up was... Well. Some hard core too much information. "If I get eaten first, do you promise to remember me?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 22, 2017, 11:57:51 pm
[Lol, wasn't he wearing pants? xD I don't remember]

Mars scaled the ladder quickly until it brought them into the base of the lift, sparks emerging from ripped wires and cords. He looked down and helped Cordelia up through the opened hatch.  What....  What a weird question.

Since he really had no memory of anything else - not without adequate time at least - he supposed it was a promise he could keep. "Truthfully," he muttered. "I don't think I could forget you."  He smiled at her and took her hand before pointing up to the shaft above them, the hatch already open.  Just one more climb.
He helped her up before following, jumping and pulling himself up.

"Well you remember me?  If I die, that is?" he asked.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on February 24, 2017, 11:21:34 pm
[ you said they were rags! rags mean like, useless shitty shirts. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY GET.]

His inability to potentially forget her was pleasing and Cordelia sighed a small breath of relief she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Still, she held her breath as a nervous habit and let herself be lead along by Mars, appreciating his ability to think so clearly in a very shitty situation. Cordelia sort of wanted to just wake up in her shitty little ship and drift off into deep space and then die of starvation. Maybe find a jug of water and drown herself.

Deep breaths.

Cordelia tried to help him up after the second climb, hands on his arms and chest and hips, finally he was up and she was on her knees looking at him.

"Well, sure," She said, silly smile on her face, humour was obviously her number one ability and she deflected easily with it. "I don't think I'll ever forget the man I didn't bane within two hours of meeting," It was a tease and she easily stood up, impulsively dusting off her metal knees. Cordelia took another big breath and held it, cheeks puffed out before she let it out in a whoosh.

"So..." she looked at the gun in her hand, amazing that'd she climbed all this way up with it without shooting herself. A weary glance at the gun. Now that she'd thought it she was pretty sure the thing would just float, turn around and put a hole through her heart. "What do we kill?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on February 25, 2017, 11:37:46 pm
[I did mean more like raggedy clothes, lol. But rags work too!]

It was nice to know that she didn't easily fall under stress. At least not outwardly. Nothing was worse than trying to undergo a life or death situation with someone else that was prone to panic and mania. Mars could understand stress quite well, and yet he knew any attitude more than level-headedness would get them both killed.

Standing in the elevator shaft didn't bring Mars any comfort.  And he looked up and saw more drippings around them. The walls were aglow with a neon liquid. It lit their way, but also made Mars' stomach drop at the thought they were dealing with something less human.

He climbed up to the open door just above them, leading up to the next level, grunting with effort. "Likely an alien, and from the color of that glowing substance...it's probably bleeding.  Which means someone wounded it."  The ship seemed much larger from the inside than it was, but they had been below in the brig, and were now mid-level.  They would need to get up onto the bridge to commandeer the vessel.

Which Mars had every intention of doing.

That was when another scream was heard, echoing savagely down the hallway from where they were, and there Mars saw Ratchet trying to run, coming out of an open powered door, only to be dragged back by a yellow-tipped tail, and there Mars saw a brief glance at the creature that was now tearing apart that space pirate.

Black and yellow spots dotted it's scaly form, and although it had no mouth on it's humanoid face - with black glassy bulbs for eyes - with four arms, and tendrils sticking out from it's back. Then...then Mars saw the mouth, the face splitting open vertically and attempting to eat whatever meat it found.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 04, 2017, 11:04:47 pm
"Oh..." Cordelia said softly, looking at the monster.

Honestly, even in the deep recesses of space, she'd never seen an actual alien before and she felt every bit of herself go dry. Her mouth hung open and her mouth felt like sandpaper. Instantly he hand went to curl around Mars' elbow and she pressed her cheek to his arm.

"Mars," Her voice was soft and she looked up at him before she gave him a nudge, "Do you know how to kill that thing?" Golden eyes wide, Cordelia clearly was out of her element. Flying a ship? Sure, anytime anywhere. Fighting an alien in a ship? Absolutely not.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 06, 2017, 08:02:14 pm
Fighting creatures that were on vessels that weren't supposed to be was something Mars had been accustomed to. He was a soldier, even if he denied it, and seeing an enemy before him triggered those primal responses. The creature clearly had killed before, maybe half the crew. Maybe the whole crew.

Details, details. Because right now it was kill or be killed. Mars felt his mind relax and yet somehow was intently focused. He leaned forward and darted from the corner toward the door way while the alien thing was distracted, and raised the pipe high, slamming it hard against it's head.

The creature squealed and reeled backwards, momentarily stunned and shifting onto it's hind legs. Mars felt the room still, his mind settling just before he pushed his aura outward and pressed the alien creature against the far wall. Mars advanced, keeping the pipe steady, trying ignore the squealing interference the creature was trying to seep into his head.

The static was loud and almost blinding and the creature scittered forward on all fours to lash out at him. Mars yelped as tentacles wrapped around his wrists and ankles, pulling him up into the air and trying to pull him apart.

Eyes shut and the strain on his body threatened to give way.  His mind reached out for the pipe, the barbed end of it wriggling a second before lunging forward and piercing the thing within it's body.  A screech and he was released.  Mars flopped to the ground and turned over, crawling to the thing, dizzied and panting hard.

He scowled and reached his hands into the wound, ignoring the burning against his skin and tore the creature in half from belly to skull.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 06, 2017, 11:03:16 pm
Nasty.

Mostly Cordelia was terrified.

A fighter, she was not.

Sure she talked a big bag, could throw her shoulders back and beat her chest with the best of them but when it came down to it, she didn't fight. Cordelia was a lover, not a fighter. A pilot, not a solider. So she was more than happy to let Mars take care of the strange alien but she wanted to help. Almost tried to help. Except when he needed it she couldn't move, frozen by fear and left trembling in her metal legs.

"Ma..." She trembled out, reaching an arm out when it was trying to rip him apart. She was weak and good for nothing and she couldn't help. "Mar..." Cordelia felt tears in her eyes, fear made her heart pound. Mars was going to die and then the monster would come after her but she didn't do anything and...

She froze, panting hard before it got impaled. Had Mars done that? Blinking her tears away she watched in awe and horror as he ripped it in half. "Mars," She panted, rushing to him, curling her arm around his waist and pressing her cheek to his chest, a few hiccups of fear and she started to usher him away from the dead beast. "Mars are you okay?" her voice was small and she took his hand to examine it, trembling still.

"I'm sorry I didn't help, I'm sorry I'm so useless," She breathed, tears still in her eyes, "I'm sorry." Taking his hand, she lowered her head over it  and cried for forgiveness, "I just woke you up and now you had to rip an alien in half, your first day back has been shit and I'm sorry."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 06, 2017, 11:12:36 pm
Mars didn't know what came over him. Or what made him want that thing to just die. But once it was dead, he slowly returned to reality, the loud buzzing in his head slowly fading and he shook his head of his mania.  And felt arms around him.

"Cordy?  Cord," he muttered, swallowing thickly and pushing her up a little to get a better look at her.  He couldn't understand what she was sorry for. Or why she was crying.  He blinked and cleaned the blood off his his hands on his shirt, and he pushed the tears away from her face, streaking green across her cheks.  He shook his head.

"No, no, no.  Don't say such things.  Don't ever think that you are useless.  Cordelia.  We have to get to the bridge. It's okay.  We're still alive.  And we're going to stay that way. You can still pilot.  I'll make sure of that."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 06, 2017, 11:29:42 pm
Cordy?

She hadn't noticed it before, but the nickname made her chest twinge and she smiled wetly at it. He had a nickname for her. Sure Cordelia was a little bit of a mouthful and she couldn't blame him for not wanting to say the whole thing but... She smiled at him and nodded.

"Right, the bridge," A long look at the carcass and she sucked in a breath and closed her eyes before she stood up and wiped the green from her face. A look at his hand and she closed her eyes for a moment. Deep breaths. Calm.

A roll of her shoulders and she wiggle of her limbs and another big breath. "Okay!" She tossed her hair from her shoulders, wiggled her fingers and hopped up and down like she was psyching herself up, "I'm good. We good?" She nodded, "We good," then she paused, "Where is the bridge?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 06, 2017, 11:45:11 pm
They were good, and as Mars got to his feet, they were off again heading up toward the bridge. Which it seemed was much closer than anticipated. He could feel the dregs of adrenaline fading and he walked along with care the bloodied pipe in hand, dripping small beads of neon blood lighting up where they were walking as if it were to help them trace their way back.

He scouted the hall, pushing out with his mind, scanning their surroundings until he was sure the path to the bridge was clear. The hum of the engines was secondary to the sound of their shared breathing and hearts. Everything seemed louder, more constant, yet slower and distant.

The years of being asleep had clearly taken it's toll on him, but he could only do what was natural to him.  Caiber were built for war, for survival.  Even at the expense of their enemies or allies. But he was determined not to let Cordelia feel the effects of the anguish that was radiating off of him.

He was weakening, but he had enough energy left to get them to the bridge.

The lift took them to the top, and there Rhino Rex stood with his rifle pointed at them.  He was shaking, trembling as if the fear of god had slammed into him like a fucking truck. "You!  You're one of those fucking creatures!  Turn away or I'll blow your goddamn head off!"

Mars scowled at him and didn't look to Cordelia's gun.  If she even intended on using it. He pushed out once more and his powers pulled the rifle right from his hands, firing only once and the energy ricocheting off the side of the wall and scorching his left arm.  "Fuck."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 09, 2017, 07:00:59 pm
Cordelia was a little alarmed, watching Mars work. It was obvious to her then that she had no idea what she'd woken up. Sure he was nice but... At what cost? Was she on some thin wire between him being nice and him snapping her neck? So far, he'd only sought to protect her. It confused her. What was he? He looked... Normal, for the most part. Sort of how she looked normal. But wasn't normal.

A little afraid still - not of Mars - but she followed behind him like a little duckling, breath quick, heart pounding. The only sound she was really making was the hard clang of her legs against the grate of the floor. Something she couldn't stop unless she put soft pads onto her feet which, while a fleeting idea, made her smile ever so slightly.

Then they were up and she stared wide eyed at the weird guy from before, gun in hand she slowly rose it to aim it at him. Finger hovering over the trigger. Cordelia blinked at him, a little panicked. Creatures? A look to Mars, thinking back to the strange alien. Is that what he was talking about?

A quick glance to Mars was all it took and then, the shotgun going off had Cordelia jerk and her finger fluttered over the trigger. It, luckily, didn't hit Rex. Unluckily? "I'm sorry!" She gasped out, looking panicked and pale, a cold sweat on her forehead. If she had a home to go to, she really wished she could go to it right now. Curl under some blankets and pretend the world didn't exist. "Mars," She breathed, looking at him slowly, gun still in hand, "What... What kind of creatures are you?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 09, 2017, 08:54:01 pm
Mars had turned his attention to Cordelia for a moment, frowning. Her body language made her seem afraid, unsure.  And he was just as much, although he couldn't allow himself quiver in fear, to be locked in a cage of inaction, waiting for death to come. He looked into her eyes, locking a gaze for a moment.

He was about to answer her when a blade entered into his arm and Mars screamed. Rhino Rex had closed the distance between them, pulling out a knife and sinking it into his arm.  It was in almost to the hilt and he fell back, turning onto his side as his blood poured out of the wound.

"I know you brought those things onto my ship!" Rex hissed and reached for his discarded gun, charging a round to blow Mars' head off.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 09, 2017, 09:09:20 pm
The few seconds of distraction were enough.

Cordelia felt her terror seep into sudden hot burning anger. The guilt sizzled in the background but... For now, it was anger and rage and Cordelia only saw red when she raised the gun. Rex was close enough to not miss and she pointed it at his head and pulled the trigger before he could. Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut the second she pulled the trigger and she was paler than normal and deathly silent after.

It took a moment, to open her eyes and realize what she'd done.

It was easy to look at Mars and blame him for this.

But it was her fault. She was the one that got lost in deep space. She was the one that woke him up from his sleep and he was the one that had saved them. Cordelia felt tears well in her eyes and she ignored Rex's dead body, the hole left from the gun still smoking, his eyes rolled back. his fingers gave a little twitch and she paused and stared at it for a moment before she finally turned to Mars.

Cordelia ripped her raggity clothing more, glad for the moment that this particular garment was made of fabric and not her usually strange form fitting suits. "I'm sorry," She breathed, pushing his hands away from his wound and pressing the cloth to it. Shifting and moving so his head would be pillowed on her thigh and while her lower legs were no doubt very uncomfortable, it wasn't like she could grow new ones.

"I didn't..." Cordelia shook her head, taking a deep breath,"Are you going to be okay? I don't know anything on this ship and..." She leaned down, pressing her lips to his forehead, though she didn't kiss him, just rested there. "I killed him," she trembled, talking against his forehead, "I've never killed anyone before."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 09, 2017, 09:22:03 pm
The wound had not been a mortal one, but if she waited any second longer there wasn't any doubt that the blast to the head would have. Mars was dizzy with pain and his whole body throbbed as he pulled the knife out of his arm with his free hand and he tried to stave off the bleeding as much as he could.

A whimper escaped his mouth, feeling his head being pulled onto a lap and he scowled at his weakness. Not her. No, she did the right thing.  And anyone trying to convince her otherwise would also get a bullet to the head.  Glossy eyes gleamed up at her. "Cordelia, you saved me," he breathed.  "You did what you had to do. It wasn't easy, it never is. But you saved my life again.  Thank you."

His arm swept up and whatever awkward hug could be gained from his hold on her, he held onto her form and breathed hotly against her neck.

Soon his wound was bound and the rags bloodsoaked and he pushed himself up from the ground.  "Take the controls, I'll find his holotags," he muttered and rummaged through Rex's clothing. A set of dogtags were thrown aside, and a cardisk was taken to the center pilot's chair and he shoved it into the back.  "Get us the heck out of here, Cordy." 
And he strapped himself into the seat beside her.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 09, 2017, 10:28:17 pm
Saved his life again he said.

Cordelia licked her lips and swallowed carefully, giving a little nod and snuggling into the awkward hug. It was a surprise, how much she needed it and she felt like the contact ended too soon and all she wanted was more. Time to be strong though. Cordelia squared her shoulders and chewed on her lower lip.

With Mars's wound taken care of she stood awkwardly, trying not to look at Rex's dead body but watching him go about and... Cordelia swallowed back bile when she saw the dead body. It was different to see just a dead body... It was... This one was her fault.

That was someones child.

Cordelia shuddered, eyes straight ahead she moved to the pilot's seat and looked at all the buttons. It was either dumb luck or some innate ability, maybe it had been coded into her when she was growing in a vat, either way, she took to the controls to the ship easily and once she was given the Go Ahead she set coordinates.  It was easy to find the auto pilot, there had been no proximity warnings, there had been two crafts identified on the com.

One was Mar's derelict ship and one was her GumDrop.

"Bye GumDrop," She said pursing her lips before she ducked her head down and heaving a sigh, "You know," she started, casting Mars a brief glance, "I ... Thank you," She took her hands from the controls, the not on the screen indicated they'd get to their destination in about forty-eight hours or so. Two days to clean the bodies from the ship. "I..." Cordelia shuddered, "I would have ... If you hadn't been here... This would have happened anyway and..." A shake of her head and she shuddered, not wanting to even think about how deep space slavery worked.

"Mars?" She said softly, "Can we just throw them out the airlock?"
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 09, 2017, 11:12:42 pm
Mars' wound would heal quickly. The pain could be dealt with, and already he could feel the knife wound closing as he relaxed in the chair. Instead another ache was throbbing inside of him, and he knew why. The withdrawal of Hydra was a powerful one, and using his abilities had drained whatever energy he'd had in reserve while asleep.   It was the only possibility. 

He looked at the plug in his right arm, clenching his fist and exuding a deep breath.

She was saying something, and he glanced at her.  "I.... " He was about to speak defensively, he instead gave a gracious smile and nodded. "You're welcome. I...couldn't let you just, die...  Not after you woke me up. So, I guess we saved each other."  He smiled at her.

He looked to the bodies and nodded.  "I'll take care of it.  It probably wouldn't be a good idea for them to just rot here."  Undoing the belt on the seat he got up and left Cordelia alone for a few long minutes.  Taking each body individually down to the cargo level took some effort and time, but it was a grateful distractioin from the burning pain in his blood from the withdrawal.

After fifteen minutes, he returned to the bridge, sitting beside, Cordelia once again. "All clear.  We're about 7 corpses lighter, and one less alien.  Captain."  It felt weird to addres someone as that again, but when he said it, there was an edge of respect to it.  And he was surprised he meant it. "Yeah, sounds about right.  Captain Cordelia."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on March 17, 2017, 01:11:10 am
A slight wince.

"Please don't call me that," her voice was soft and once she read the instruments right and they were on their way. Cordelia removed herself from the chair, standing up and looking at it like it hurt her. Posture was small, shoulders forward, knees together.  "I don't..." She sighed and pressed her real palm to her face, rubbing at her eyes.

"I don't really... Want to be anything," and, boldly, she moved to sit in Mars's lap, hanging her legs off the side of the chair and curling her arm around his neck, tucking her face against his chest. "I'm sorry," She cried, "you got hurt. I shouldn't have woken you up. It's been nothing but awful. I could have been alone. They might not have even looked at your ship and..." She leaned away, giving Mars a teary eyed look before she sighed, "I don't know. Someone better could have come around. I'm sorry, Mars. This is all my fault."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on March 17, 2017, 09:15:52 am
He didn't except to be hugged again and as much as Mars was feeling more weary now than ever, he wrapped his arms delicately around Cordelia. "Why are you sorry, Cordy?" he murmured and pushed her hair aside.  He breathed in deeply, feeling the anxiety in her aura.

Mars pressed his head against hers, clasping her tightly to him.  It'd been decades since he'd felt the contact of another. And he relished it, his hands roving up her back.

"I'm just glad it was you and not them," he murmured gently in her ear. Mars coaxed her to look at him.  "We survived, they didn't.  Don't be scared. We have each other. I wouldn't abandon you. I don't leave people behind."

He pressed his forehead to hers.  "So do not have sorrow for how you'd rather have things be. Take them as they are and make your future what you will."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on May 18, 2017, 08:30:57 pm
Before, Cordelia's future has always been...

Salvaging.

Lips drawn thin, she closed her eyes against Mars' face and took a breath. If she hadn't come here. If Cordelia had just... Kept to the outskirts instead of... Gone in. It was a risk and now she was paying for it. Or Mars was paying for it.

"Future doesn't work quite like that out here," She whispered, heaving a sigh, "You're either alone or you're in danger." She sighed and curled in close, and quickly enough, her breathing was even and she'd fallen asleep.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on May 19, 2017, 04:30:12 pm
"You're not alone, though. You found me didn't you?" Mars thought it was rather silly of her to think that she should have done any differently. Of course, being filled with regret and having someone get hurt that you offered to help might have done that part in for her. Mars didn't blame her however, and he wanted her to know that.

And just when he received no answer, he blinked back at her and saw that she was fast asleep. Mars had been asleep long enough, and even as the withdrawal was closing in, and his heart felt like it was beating languidly, he kept her curled up on him. His arms kept her caged to his chest, and just when he thought he couldn't take the look of deep space anymore, he too fell asleep with his chin on her head.

And when the hum of the engines slowly came back online, the noise of the jump drive ceasing, he stirred, blinking and seeing Vex before him. Mars stilled, and knew he was seeing a ghost. Vex was there, a memory that moved in the reflection of the  windows, and he turned his back to Mars, disappearing into the darkness of space.

Mars tried to stand up, momentarily forgetting that Cordelia was there. Oh right! His right hand reached up to cup her face, patting it gently. "Hey, wake up," he murmured. She was sweet looking when she slept, and kind or adorable. He leaned in and kissed her brow.

"Cordelia," he whispered. "We've reached something. Looks like a space station? Do you know this place?" The ship seemed to be automatically docking, sensors positioning itself correctly and the quiet hum of the ship was gradually replaced with the hissing of landing gear.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on May 30, 2017, 04:57:40 pm
The name woke her up.

Eyes popped open and she blinked owlishly up at Mars, heart beating rapidly for a few moments. What? A glance around and - What? "We're there already?" she whispered, mouth falling open. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. Cordelia scrambled off of Mars's lap, metal feet hitting the floor with a clang before she landed heavily on her knees and scrambled to the captains seat. Oh no.

"We're the only people on this ship!" She cried, hands moving over the various buttons. "If this vessel isn't registered to us we're no better than Pirates and..." Cordelia felt her breath catch. Go to lockdown. get locked up. never see the vastness of space again. Her hand moved to her chest while her imitation hand kept moving over the buttons.

"Mars," She whimpered, almost completely hooked up. They'd have access to the registry on the ship in just a few minutes. Mars. Cordelia Mars and Mars Mars? no. Uhm.  Cordelia didn't think, she just did her best to rewrite what information she could.

Mars Winter and Cordelia Winter. Married. Scavengers/Cargo transporters. Basic stuff. Simple answers. Enough to trick the computers. Let them in. Not put this on lockdown and high alert.

It was a well made ship and wouldn't need a large crew. With the running around Mars and Cordelia could do it would be fine to be ran by two people. Licking her lips she took careful little breaths and closed her eyes, shaking her head after a moment and turning to Mars. "I didn't... I thought there would be more time. My ship would have taken a week to get here but..." She smoothed her real hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat.

Of course the other hand could feel too ... This one just felt... Right.

"okay," She glanced around, "If anyone asks, our last name is Winter. We're married. We're the only crew this thing needs. We're looking to sell the cargo and the ship and settle down somewhere nice together because we're tired of traveling." She looked around, " I didn't mean to head to this one." She glanced over her shoulder and shivered,if she could be anymore pale or washed out she would be.

"We're fucked if they find out the crew died," swallowing she closed her eyes and sighed. "It should be fine though. It'll be fine. I have a few Whatever These Guys use - currency whatever - and... We can find somewhere to spend the night. Have a meal. rest. Rest for real I mean. Get you feeling better. Fuck Mars." She sighed, "I'm so sorry."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on May 30, 2017, 09:54:16 pm
"Wait! What!?" Mars didn't do anything to stop her or even try to calm her amdist her panic. Because it all came flooding back of what they did, where they were, and who this ship had belonged to. Or belonged to before it recently came into their possession. Mars watched her reset the registry and resumed his seat beside the Captain's chair.

"Married?"  His tone was clearly skeptical, but if they had to pretend to be married, then he could deal with it. It wasn't like they hadn't just cuddled in that chair and in the prison cell on the bottom level. She was warm, except for her metal bits. And he found he really missed being warm.  So a little smile played on his lips when he buckled in and fixed his clothing.  His clothing!

"We can't get off the ship looking like this," he said.  "I'll go scrounge us up something proper to wear. You deal with the docking. I haven't piloted a ship in....well, a long time."

Mars got up from the seat and shifted around to her. "Cordy. It's  all right. We'll be all right. We're in this together."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on May 30, 2017, 10:29:35 pm
"Married," She confirmed.

Right. He didn't know what that was probably. Did she? Sure. She'd heard it before. "It's when two people are... Bound together by... Laws or something. I couldn't come up with two last names and we don't look like siblings." She whispered, glancing away. Ready to apologize for it. "it... Only on the station. And we don't... Have to actually do married people things." she said before she pressed her hands to her face and sighed.

In this together.

Right.

They were in this together... At least until Mars found something else and then he would leave.

Cordelia nodded at him regardless and docked the ship carefully, hands tight on the controls and hitting the right buttons and settings. Basically on auto pilot, she worked while Mars found them more appropriate clothing.

After they were docked and Cordelia calmed down, hands sweaty - or at least her real hand - and she pressed it against the flesh of her thigh. Looking down at her legs. Married. That was an awful idea. She was mostly metal. Who would want her? Deep breaths. Cordelia did deep space scavenging for a reason.

She didn't do well with crowds.

Spacestations were always crowded.

"Mars?" she breathed, moving to stand up, trembling hand moving to the intercom. "Maybe I can just stay here and... You can go and... Figure stuff out." Which wouldn't work. he'd been asleep for gods know how long, "I can't. I just... We can... Can we stay here and then head over? I haven't been on a station in years and... I don't..." Cordelia let go of the intercom and turned away from the captains seat.

Was it years?

or months?

Cordelia didn't even know.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on May 31, 2017, 04:39:32 pm
He knew what marriage was of course. It was more of a human thing, a legality to confirm that two people were obligated toward one another. Marriage was a concept he was familiar with, but it certainly seemed foreign to him. Yet, he wouldn't protest it and as he stalked around toward the rear of the cabin, he found a utility closet with some spare blank jumpsuits there. He discarded his ragged clothes and jumped into a green suit, zipping it up and over his chest. The fit was a little tighter than he was used to, but it would do for now.

There were spare work boots that auto-sized to his feet and he brought the left over gear back to the main cabin, and set them down beside her before he resumed sitting beside her.

"We'll play it cool," he said with a nod. "Cordedlia. Why are you so worried? We're married, we're here to trade all the junk in the cargo hold. We're just traders. I've got your back, you've got mine."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on June 07, 2017, 09:10:26 am
Cordelia didn't know how to explain that she usually sought out some middle man to sell her junk for her. Pay him some, she got some and she'd never have to set foot on a station or a planet. Now though. Cordelia looked to Mars when he came back with better clothing. 'Clothing'.

Slipping from the chair she changed right there, peeling the rags off and brushing at her skin. Cordelia was a washed out colour, like a nice tan would look perfect on her but all the years without real sunshine sapped it out of her. Standing naked for a moment, she looked down at herself.

The seams where real met fake.

Cordelia got lost in it for a moment. Her legs were the most obvious, mechanical limbs graphed onto thigh bone. Skin encouraged to grow to the knee. It was strange and skeletal, the feet delicate looking but clearly metal. Her arm though, the only thing that gave that away was a thin seam around the shoulder. 

The skin matched. The hands matched.

The only thing the fake hand couldn't do as well as the real one was touch. It never felt right. Never had.

Cordelia flexed her fingers, listenjng for some fake whirr.

Still naked, she looked to Mars and tried to smile. "I woke up on a Space station," her voice was soft, "I had this arm. But my legs were real. I sold them," she said, lifting her head, " for the bones and... for the meat. The metal ones were complimentary," she wiggled her fake foot at him.
 
"Bought my ship," Cordelia bent down to grab the suit, tugging it on. It hugged her like a second skin and she plucked at it until it felt comfortable, fixed her long black hair and tied it into a messy bun on her head. "I... Stations have never had good things in them for me." She whispered, glancing at her companion, "but I'll do my best. For you."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on June 07, 2017, 05:01:52 pm
Seeing her exposed as she was, made Mars' eybrows raise and he observed her with interest.  The odd assymetry of flesh to metal ratio was surely intriguing  and he waited quietly, watching her as a cat might a mouse as it played unknowingly within its presence.

His eyes were nearly neon as the ship was coming into the dock, nothing more than the soft highlights of that cockpit chamber. The ship on auto could do all the work necessary to land, and despite whatever disdain she seemed to have for herself, Mars' expression was nothing short of taken.

"You're beautiful," he found himself breathing out slowly.  His smile was small, appreciative and he moved closer to her, reaching a hand out to take hers. "Okay. I'll accept that. Seeing as we both woke up in weird places, all alone. Well almost."

Mars squeezed her metal hand and shifted when the call from the docking administration called on their com.

"Welcome to Station Cancer. State your name, your occupation, and reason for your visit please."

Mars crossed toward it and pressed the button. "Mars and Cordelia Winter. Married. Cargo transporters looking to sell some wares."  His pulse rate increased as he awaited the response and he zipped up the suit closer to his chin.

After a few minutes of waiting, "Clearance. Granted. Proceed. And again welcome to Station Cancer."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on June 10, 2017, 09:51:47 pm
Cordelia had always been afraid that someone was chasing her. Trying to find her. Trying to put her back to sleep and into that vat. Harvest her body parts to sell. Her hand smoothed over her breasts in the suit, it left little to the imagination despite its thick sturdy make and she took a moment to process Mars's compliment.

Was she?

Looking down at her hands, she pressed her palms together and intertwined her fingers while she waited for them to be allowed to dock. Heart in her throat.

Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch and she moved closer to Mars. Frowning at his eyes. Were they always so bright?

Cordelia took his chin in her hand - her real hand- and turned his head towards her.

"Mars. Are you okay?  We can stay on the ship tonight and venture out tomorrow. Get to process all this," her voice was small and she looked to the com. Hating rhat they were on a station.
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Lion on June 10, 2017, 10:50:13 pm
The hesitation, the fear, the worry, was clearly evident in her gaze. And the moment they met his, Mars kept their eyes connected, and he reached out to her psyche. He projected calm, outward warmth and although she touched his chin, his hands fell to her face, real-fleshy hands that were cool to the touch, and had little thrummings of warmth just underneath his palms.

He tuned into her pulse and pressed his will to her. "We can't stay here. I won't stay here. And I know you're scared. Fear is perfectly natural. It helps you survive. But if we stay on this ship, what will we do? I need to find out what happened to me.  What....happened to my crew," he murmured to her.

He leaned in and pressed thin lips to her brow.  "Come with me, Cordelia. I trust you enough. I hope you trust me enough. I know the risks you're taking simply by being here. But I will not force you. Come as you will. Or stay. That is your choice."
Title: Re: All The Stars Inbetween
Post by: Draconian on July 04, 2017, 07:55:48 pm
The eye contact felt intense. Cordelia stared at him and unwillingly calmed down. Her pulse slowed and she let her eyes drift closed after a moment. The world melted away. Everything was calm and serene and good.  What would they do on the ship?

Die.

"Okay," she whispered and didn't recoil when he pressed his lips to her forehead. Also comforting. "Okay," she looked up at him and squeezed his forarms with her hands, "I'll go with you. We'll sell all this and... and then we can trt to find out what happened to you and your ship." Her hand moved to his cheeks and she took a deep breath before glancing around. It was hard to pull away but she did and fixed her outfit, finger combing her hair while she jazzed herself up.

"Okay. Let's go," she took mars's hand and led him along to the airlock, "ready? Look tough," she teased softly, hand on his arm, trembling slightly while she tried to ready herself for the station. "Will you hold my hand?"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on July 06, 2017, 04:38:10 pm
Mars pulled back long enough to meet her gaze still and when at last she acquiesced to going with him. The touch on his forearms left an odd tingle, a residue of energy rather unexpected. It startled Mars, and he felt his stomach tilt. Odd.  He shook himself as the comm called out for them to depart from the ship so they could meet with the attendant there.

Mars gave no answer to her request. His hand slipped easily into hers and he tugged her along toward the airlock panel that descended for the pair and opened up to the space station cancer. Mars...had never seen so many lights, so much going on, so much happening at once when they made it too the attendant that took down their names and the credentials on the ship.

"Welcome to the Station," the young man said and walked away from them as Mars glanced back at the ship, as the door closed and leaving the pair of them standing in the middle of that hanger.

"Wow...I...I've never seen anything like this..  In well, for a few damn decades. Are all human settlements like this?" he asked, practically breathless. "I...I don't even know where to start.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on July 09, 2017, 01:07:44 am
Cordelia didn't let go of mars's hand.

In fact her hand tightened around his and she slowly curled her arm around it. Pulling herself to his arm and pressing her cheek to his bicep. Sure he was scared. Cordelia felt her pulse pick up and she watched and looked around.

"No?" She said softly, finding everything too big. There were a few. She'd been to fewer. "There's another space station. This is... The..." Cordelia shrugged and nuzzled at his arm for a moment, eyes closed. Time to pretend.

Cordelia took a breath and stepped away.

Back straight and chin up. "Do... Are you any good at ... negotiating?" Her voice was soft, "and do you want to find somewhere to stay now? I... Can probably barter something."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on July 10, 2017, 09:04:13 pm
Fear surely had it's uses. It was a fairly firm reminder to keep yourself alive and out of harm's way. And in many other ways, it was a trap, stifling you and chaining you in place to keep you from venturing forth into a new and different experience. Mars was afraid, yes, but his fear could not hold him in place. There was far too much at stake now to remain stagnant. He could feel Vex...

He had to find him.

"I can negotiate if I must," he said and squeezed her hand. "It's just all so...new, different. But we can't hide. We already decided that, yes. We're in this together. And the moment we turn back, we're already doomed. So.. One step at a time."

Mars watched other people pass by, strangers the lot of them and he could vaguely sense their thoughts, the jumble of words and phrases that made no sense and all seemed to meld together in a garbled language he couldn't understand. He blocked them out, took in a deep breath and ventured forward into the first shop they saw on the right.

There was a good deal of junk along the side, electronic parts, junked plasma cutters, and a one armed robot dusting the shelves to the wall. Mars had no idea why he walked in here. But once they were inside, the robot turned to them and greeted them with a vaguely human smile. "Hey there. How can I help you guys?"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on July 10, 2017, 09:52:49 pm
Cordelia followed quietly.

Weary.

Inside her ship, the sound of her Not Feet hitting the floor was comforting. The way her metal feet echoed through the small hull. The fact it echo'd. Sure she was alone but she was alone and felt safe. Here... There were too many people and she looked over her shoulder constantly, like she was waiting to get stabbed between the ribs.

It was fine. Everything would be fine. She'd left from one of these places years ago. Sure she usually sold to a middle man but... It would be fine.

"We... Have cargo to sell," she said, stepping forward and putting her hands on her hips, leg out. Cordelia frowned at the robot, "Who do we talk to?" She finally said softly, looking a little weary. Eyeing the lack of arm. A glance to Mars and Cordelia put her hand on the counter - her fake hand. "Well, cargo and a ship. Discount if they all go at once," Her voice was stern and she did her best to look intimidating.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on July 12, 2017, 12:37:24 am
"Yeah, to sell." All their stuff. Well, borrowed stuff. It wasn't theirs to begin with and Mars had a feeling it wasn't the pirates' either. Nothing that large was earned honestly, and all the cargo inside was probably stolen. It was better they cut ties with all of that. They'd find another ship. Another, better one that could get them out to the stars should it come to that.

"All righty, sounds good. Name's Robo. I know I know. I've heard it all before. That's what Thatcher calls me, and it's easy to remember. Let me get her fer ya. This is her store after all," the robot said, and shuffled around the counter toward the back door of the shop, shouting for customer service.

"We're...we're selling the ship?" Mars whispered to Cordy. "I know it's not ours, but is that wise?"

Just in case.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on July 17, 2017, 09:07:55 pm
Is that wise?

Cordelia frowned up at Mars, looking at him, eyebrows drawn together with a confused look on her face. "What else are we going to do with it?" She whispered, hand on his arm before looking at the robot yelling for the owner. "Are we going to abandon it?" Panic bubbled up Cordelia's throat and she looked at her meaty hand before flexing her fingers and looking back at Mars.

"We were gonna sell it, sell the cargo buy a small ship, supplies and go. Remember? If we abandon it we'll be stuck here for months, Mars!"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on July 17, 2017, 11:31:08 pm
"Oh..., well, when you put it that way, I just feel like an idiot," Mars replied. He snorted actually and inwardly rolled his eyes at himself. "Valid points I did not consider. it's a good thing you pulled me out of that ice box, Cordy."

He winked at her when the owner at last showed up. She was an old grizzled woman, with short gray hair and spiky glasses. She pried them off when she spied the pair and took a double-take at Mars."Oh, aren't you a big 'un? Hah! Surprised you could fit through my door," she snorted.  "Anyway, Robo tells me yer selling a ship and cargo huh?"

"Yes, ma'am. It's docked right outside actually. "

"Ahh. I guess I'd have to see it to make an offer on the ship. Shall we go take a look?"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on July 22, 2017, 08:29:25 pm
A confused frown and she glanced away.

Cordelia chewed on her lip before she rubbed her arm, not sure what to say about him feeling like an idiot. Did she need to comfort him? The nickname led her to believe she probably didn't but...

Her head snapped to the side when the old woman wobbled her way out. Instantly a jolt of posessiveness rolled up her spine when she commented on Mars. Cordelia almost exclaimed that he wasn't for sale but, luckily, the old woman didn't go that far.

"Of course," She said simply, glancing down and away, holding Mars's hand tightly in her own while she turned to lead them along to the ship. What was the cargo even? Did it matter here? Her heart was pounding and her thighs tingled. "We're just trying to do away with it. Got it as inheritance and it's just too small for a crew of two after we downgraded to retire," Cordelia tried to keep it conversational but she hiccuped before turning her head.  "When they explained a ship,  I didn't think they meant such a large one, but that was my bad."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on July 25, 2017, 12:34:40 am
"All right. We can have a looksie," Thatcher grumbled, cleaning at her hands and maneuvering around the counter. She led the pair of them back outside toward the docking station where the ship was in port. Nothing remotely interesting happened to it while they were speaking in that short time, and it was Mars that squeezed Cordy's hand and stepped forward to deal with the old ornery woman.

"She might not be in the best shape, but we're looking to take whatever we can get really. The vague scoring on the side is not irreparable, and she made it all the way over here from deep space," he explained.

"She did, did she? Hmm, she doesn't look bad. I am concerned though...if she's made it through deep void, how come you don't just want to keep her?"

"Downsizing, like my wife said," Mars shrugged. He crossed his arms and felt the itch of the ports on his arms. His skin twitched. And he cracked his neck as a temporary distraction. "If she won't do, I'm sure we can find someone else willing to take her on."

Thatcher cut a glare to him. This giant blonde man with eyes like ice...  He was haughty demeanor wasn't quite the turn-on that she'd been counting on, but he didn't budge. She could admire that. He had balls.

"Okay, but dirt cheap. We'll talk shop back in ...the shop," she snarled a little and punched her fist against his arm, smacking a port and making Mars twitch again.  Already she was headed back, shuffling along passed Cordelia. "100,000. And not a credit more."

Mars returned to her side, glancing down at her. "Is that good? Is that a lot?"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on August 30, 2017, 12:02:50 pm
Stressful.

Cordelia felt herself tremble before she closed her eyes and let Mars squeeze her hand for comfort. Thankful that he dealt with it even though he had no idea what he was doing. Shit. She should do it. Though, by the time she came to that conclusion they were already talking and negotiating. Deep breaths.

Cordelia was fine by herself. Stranded in deep space? what was she going to do about that? Kinda exist. Let the Space Tide take her whereever. Took her to Mars, didn't it? Not that she'd been stranded. A pang made her chest tighten at the thought of the gumdrop. Thank the gods she hadn't had any valuable crap on it. They'd stolen Mars, too.

The amount of credits made her head jerk up, dark hair bouncing at the movement.

"150,000," she said, trying to squeeze out whatever she can get.

"105,000." The woman replied, looking sour.

"120,000." Her voice again, hard cutting."

"108,000."

"Sold."  Her voice was quick and she nodded, resting a hand on Mar's elbow. Sure the extra 8k was pennies but it was going to be Useful pennies. Maybe they'd be able to get an extra set of rations for it. Mars ate right? Cordelia glanced at him before she moved to take a step in front of him. It was unfair of her to make him deal with this. "Let's sign, hm? Transfer the credits." A smile and she bounced lightly on her feet - sort of - mostly she just bent her knees a bit in the illusion of bouncing.

An expectant look and she reached behind herself to grab Mars hand again, having found she quite liked the contact.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on September 15, 2017, 02:49:48 pm
They were back in the shop, back to real life. And Mars' heart was pounding harder and harder. It was getting more and more difficult to think, to focus on what was going on at the task at hand. It was simple negotiating, nothing more. Mars' palms were getting clammy and he felt like the walls were starting to close in on him.

Then Cordelia took it upon himself to speak up. Thatcher jumped at the robogirl, with the funny legs, and while it might not have been all that unusual to anyone on the Cancer or even to the cantankerous old woman about to buy their ship. Well, "their" ship. Mars had been listening, yet there was no response, and he could hear the thoughts and voices of the people outside that shop closing in.

They were loud and growing louder still. Until the volume and pitch dialed down into a low hum and he felt someone taking his hand. Mars shut his eyes tightly, sweating in that jumpsuit, and when that palm slipped in his hand the voices quieted abruptly.

Vex?

"Oh...." he murmured, disappointment tinging at the edges of his voice. "It's done. Yes. Sign." Mars vision focused on Cordelia and he wondered how the voices quieted so quickly when she was not of his mind. They were not bonded. But they quieted, and something flipped in his belly at the thought.

A small smile played at the corner of his lips. Mars squeezed her hand back and once the paperwork was finished and the credits transferred over, he stepped back out into the crowded loud space station. "Okay we have money now. We find someone selling a better ship? Smaller ship? Larger ship? I...I think I need something to eat. I haven't had any real food since ...."  he couldn't even remember.

"Cordelia, where do we find food here? Nothing grows on a space station."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on September 15, 2017, 11:06:46 pm
Credits changed hands. They had something to buy something with. A fake real story. Cordelia squeezed Mars' hand again and moved to tuck it at the small of her back where she leaned against him for a moment before he spoke. A wide pale golden gaze to him and she opened her mouth. When had she last eaten? Probably sooner than Mars. A day at least. The hunger never gnawed at her. Though, now that he mentioned it she was hungry.

"Uhm. Bars or something?" she said softly, tugging Mars along close behind her, his hand in hers in a tight grip. The grip from her fake hand would have been stronger but she wanted to feel his flesh against her flesh. It gave her comfort. The simple heat of another being. Using what she could of her memory of Cancer Station - which was shoddy at beast.

It took a lot of effort and a great deal of wandering to find some sort of food vendor. It took a minute and she was absolutely sure she got ripped off but she came out with a small bag of 'food'. Calling it food was gracious but it was better than the rations that she had on her ship. Hm. They probably should have taken some of those from the big ship - there was no chance they didn't have rations.

Whatever. Too late now.

Cordelia opened the nutrient rich bar and handed it to Mars before she dug into her own. It tasted like some form of fake chocolate, but she wasn't going to complain. "So. A ship." she said simply, though she paused and swallowed what food she had tucked into her cheek to talk, " Unless... Um... Do you want me to... Help you find someone? Here? And then you can go with them? Do you know if you have anyone to look for?" Her voice was small and she'd dragged him into a little corner where they could have some sort of pretend privacy. "I know life's been shit since I found you... I'm sorry," Cordelia sighed and looked at her half eaten bar before taking a nibble, appetite gone.

"If you want to stay with me, we'll find a ship, load it up with everything we'll need for a few months and then... Figure out why that ship was the way it was. Okay?" She looked determined, if a little crestfallen that maybe, just maybe, Mars didn't appreciate the fact she thawed him out.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on September 18, 2017, 12:08:33 am
His stomach jerked and the coiling calmed momentarily. She had touched him with her own flesh, a simple a gesture as hand holding and it had calmed him; that quiet desperation that was boiling just underneath the surface. Mars didn't understand what had happened. She'd touched him and it quieted the noise, the buzzing in his brain and the twitches that made him want to peel out of his skin.

Mars' heartbeat was loud in his ears, thrumming quietly as he allowed himself to be lead on. He didn't know what they were looking for, or where they were going other that he focused on her hand and the grip he returned. It anchored him, and let the security of it wash over him as they pressed forward through Cancer station.

He trusted her. Together they'd gotten this far and together they'd go even further. Mars felt the burn in his veins intensify, and his heartbeat growing louder in his ears.  His hand gripped on Cordelia's, stepping in closer.

He grabbed at the food she'd offered him. Smelling it skeptically. "I need some time to think," Mars sniffed at the bar again and took a small nibble. She was eating, so it couldn't be all bad. Another bite and he forced himself to swallow it down.  "Cordelia. Don't apologize for the actions of other people. Those were their decisions."

Mars curled his arm around her neck and gave her a soft hug. "You've found me. Unless....you don't want me around anymore, then I'll understand. I just need some time to adjust. And finally being around people...feels like my brain is being crushed."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on November 28, 2017, 09:36:38 pm
It felt nice, perhaps too nice, to be hugged. Even a pseudo hug. Cordelia sighed softly, mouth falling open before she looked up at Mars with her big golden eyes. A soft pink to her cheeks. What else could she do but help? It was her fault he was here at all. "I think I owe it to you to find you where you need to be," She said softly. Not where he wanted to go. Cordelia pondered at her choice of words for a moment, looking off to the side before she pressed her cheek to his chest and sighed.

"C'mon," She pulled away, shoving the last of the nutrient bar into her mouth and chewing it, hand slipping into his to leave him along. They weren't made for good, but they were made for while. Just the two of them would last longer. It would be fine. Get double what she usually got for rations to account for two people... Did he need more food because he was so big? Did extra limbs mean you ate extra? Cordelia swallowed what remained in her mouth and threaded her fingers through Mars's.

While she wasn't the most amazing at being on Space Stations she knew the Cancer well enough from business deals - dirty and legit - that she knew where they could bunk down for the next few nights relatively cheap while they go their thawing ducks in a row. Cordelia quietly got their rooming situations sorted out - one room, one bed, far cheaper. "I hope this is okay," She said quietly, pressing the cardkey to the lock and waited for the little LED to go green and permit them inside. 

Sure enough. Small. Not dingy but it didn't sparkle. One bed. simple. One pillow.

"You can sleep and I'll  keep watch if you're uncomfortable," Had he even slept yet? Cordelia couldn't remember after the Whatever Amount of Time it's been. "Mars?" She whispered, "Do you know where you were going? Maybe we can go there. Look for others or something."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on January 28, 2018, 12:11:41 am
The initial confusion would subside. Just like it did on the ship. Just like it did when they managed to find their way off the pirate ship and find themselves here. Mars was mentally kicking himself for all the moping he'd done in the last 48 hours, or however long he'd been awake. He didn't want to sleep because sleeping meant change and losing something that you thought you once had.

At once it'd been the world he once knew. And now it was Vex, and he would go to sleep and Cordelia would be gone. And what would he have then. Lost in thought all the while he managed to find himself in the room and sitting on the bed and blinking when Cordelia whispered her question to him. Did he know where he was going? Hell no. But he could only follow the vibrations, the feelings that he had building up inside him with Vex's absence.

He didn't answer. Couldn't answer, not since there was actually nothing to answer with.

Instead he reached up and grabbed her metal hand in his and pulled her close, settling her between his legs.

"Why are you helping me?" he wondered aloud, letting his arms wrap around her and tugging her close. "Cordelia, you don't have to. I'm just...I trust you, but I can't give you answers I myself don't even know."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on February 19, 2018, 11:45:28 pm
There was no regret that she'd woken Mars up.

Cordelia chewed on her lip and stared down at the ground, coaxed her fingers through her hair before she felt herself being tugged forward. Was he hugging her? Cordelia sighed and closed her eyes, moving her real hand from her hair to his, carding her fingers through it and pulling his head to her stomach in a strange pseudo hug.

"I woke you up," She said, her voice soft and she let her head droop before she started to move. Cordelia sighed and crawled from his embrace, one leg on the bed before she grabbed his arm and started to drag him down with her. "And we destroyed my ship and..." Cordelia sighed and tugged Mars so she could coax him down, "You need to sleep. We need to sleep. Maybe you'll find answers in your dreams." It wasn't a big bed, but if they smooshed together it'd be fine, "You can have most of the pillow," She said, smacking the cool pillow with her hand. "I promise I'll stay right here and everything but my legs are pretty warm."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on April 06, 2018, 02:57:26 pm
Mars tried to still himself, still his mind and push away the sorrow he had in his gut at the careful realization that he might be the last one of his kind. Nothing else made sense, and wrapping his head around it only made him physically wrap his arms around Cordelia even more. She woke him up, found him, and decided to help him. She didn’t even know him, or what he was. He had been responsible for the loss of her ship, and now they were stuck in a place she hated because of him. It was his fault, and yet here was she was still, allowing herself to be coaxed into a hug and even somewhat hugging him back, carding her fingers through his loose blond hair.

Mars felt a small shiver go down his spine, feeling cold even with the recycled air of the space station around them. He still felt cold, still felt the icy grip of that contained cryopod and the ports on his body being pumped full of Hydra and his brain throbbing with the ignition of a thousand racing thoughts. Instinctively his arms curled tighter around Cordelia and he whimpered, feeling pathetic and wasted. A husk just like the ship, that last ditch effort to save his people.

And now he was alone.  Or so he assumed.

How long had he even been asleep? How long had the others been dead and why was his pod the only one that remained intact?  The answer would change nothing, even if he wanted to know why beyond anything else.

He didn’t know when it happened, and he couldn’t say if asked, but he eventually fell limp on the bed, exhaustion taking hold and sleep making his stretch out onto the bed, feeling Cordelia beside him and instinctively tugging her closer, so that she was practically on top of him. He was swimming thought those same racing thoughts, hearing them from distances you could only envision in your dreams.

There were fires across those stars, glittering in the dark, igniting portions of black where it cut through it and scored across metal ship hulls. Screams pulled and muted the second that hull was broken, yanking out crew members like specks of dust. Fire burned and ships no longer manned collided with one another, become debris. Becoming husks. Mars felt that connection still, threads of a voice he knew so well.

“Come and find me,” it called out. Strong and familiar. “Edanith.”

Mars jerked awake, his eyes popping open and he felt his heart was racing.
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on April 07, 2018, 10:57:10 pm
It didn't take long for Cordelia to pass out. It never did. If there was a super power that Cordelia had besides knowing how to Pilot a ship, it was falling asleep. Cramped space? Pass right out. Loud? Pass out. Man with arms curled around her making noises and kinda moving around a bit? Pass out. Though, the most current of sleeping situations was in fact the most comfortable. Her face was pressed to his chest and she could hear his heartbeat in her dreams.

Like usual, they weren't pleasant dreams. They weren't bad either. Always, always, she woke up uneasy. Remember that the world looked like it had been underwater. Faces. Cordelia was convinced she lived a life as a fish in her dreams because she knew she was always underwater. Woke up thirsty for air and her eyes snapped open, one leg thrown over Mars's waist, her head pillowed on the middle of his chest, heart beat thumping away in her ear.

Cordelia didn't move, didn't want to leave the warm pillow with the comforting noise but...

Was he having a nightmare? Maybe? Cordelia gathered her hair over her shoulder so she didn't pull on it and moved slightly to wriggle upwards and rest her head on his shoulder, watching him.  Having been resting on her side, she moved her real flesh and blood hand to rest on the middle of his chest. Observing more than seeking to help.

Pale golden eyes were on his blue when he finally snapped them open and Cordelia moved her thumb up and down in a lame attempt to be comforting. "Are you okay?" Cordelia's eyes were hooded and sleepy and she breathed slowly before resting her head on his shoulder again, tired. Exhausted. Going back to sleep would be easy and she had a keen interest on doing so. "You looked like you were having a nightmare. You awake now?"
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Lion on May 07, 2018, 10:55:37 pm
His heart was still battering heavily in his chest and adrenaline wanted to rush to every limb and appendage. Yet when his eyes fell upon hers, those pale golden orbs, he panted softly and forced himself to ease into the bed, resting his head back down against the frumpled pillow that was slightly damp from his hair.

"I don't think so," he said with a stern note of resoluteness. "I mean...I'm sorry. Yes I'm awake."  He shifted underneath her, lifting his head to look down at her where she rested in the crook of his chest and she rose and fell with each breath.  "I had a dream. I think it was a dream anyway. I saw familiar faces engulfed in flame.... My friends were dying.  And I couldn't help them.

"Edanith. Do you know that name? What is it?"  Mars shifted around so that he could sit up, forcing Cordelia into his lap so that he could look at her more clearly.  His arms fell to her shoulders, where metal came to his hand and his fingers tenderly squeezed her fleshy shoulder.  His eyes fell onto hers, locking gazes as if he wanted to just delve into her mind, flay it apart and take the information he could.

In theory he could and if he were anyone else he would have. But it was getting hard to focus, and it was taking everything he had to keep the faint thoughts and voices from without their room from seeping into his mind.

"Cordelia, tell me the truth."
Title: Re: All The Stars In Between
Post by: Draconian on May 16, 2018, 12:21:59 am
For some reason, it never occurred to Cordelia that Mars was as strong as he looked. Stronger, even. When he sat up, he took her with him, light as a feather. She blinked at him, sleepy still, eyes lifting slowly before falling closed for a moment in a lame attempt at resisting just resting her head on his shoulder for five more minutes of sleep.

Cordelia pushed her hair over her shoulder, the black strands getting tangled between her fingers while Mars spoke. Edanith. A confused look was on her face and she just... Watched him. Watched him watch her and she frowned slightly and pursed her lips.

"Edanith?"

She'd never been there before, but she'd heard stories of it. "I think that's the... "She rose a hand to press her index and middle finger against her temple, "They put something in mages so they can't do magic. And... Someone uses it for them?" Cordelia shrugged, she'd never been interested int he details so all she knew was the basic storyline to Edanith. "Slaves," She said softly before lifting her head and looking up at Mars, taking in his image.

Slowly her real hand lifted up, drew her thumb over his chin, cupped the side of his face. "Do you want to talk about your dream? You know it was just a dream, right? Nothing in it happened while you were sleeping." She tried to smile, ignoring that when she dreamed it was usually some long forgotten memory clawing it's way to the surface. "C'mon," She gave his shoulder a squeeze but made no attempt to remove herself from his lap, "Let's get food, a ship and we can get you to Edanith and as long as you're not a mage - you're not a mage, right? - we'll be fine. I think. I probably have a criminal record but last I heard Edanith used horses still."

Cordelia, of course, had heard incorrectly.
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