Defiance (Jiskastya X DarknessDawning)

[Jiskastya]

The Aruspex stood quietly by the edge of one of the windows that were a part of the giant bank of windows that covered his wall, watching the crowds of people in the city below. The window was tinted black from the outside, so those below could not see him watching them. With the flick of a button it could come clear, however, and everyone below would instantly fall to their knees, eternally grateful that they were allowed to gaze upon the distant silhouette of their god-ruler. He did not press the button though. Despite the role he played he really did not feel like a god, and he only accepted being treated as so because it was necessary for the health of the galactic empire that he cared for more than life.

The power had gone to and from his head long ago, many forms before, when being worshiped had been enough justification to do anything. But a vast span had passed since that point, and many forms as well. Age had granted a measure of tolerance in him. He was old in the mind, having seen countless eras that were stored away in the machine heart of this massive island space city, and which was constantly feeding off of his memories and experiences as well, storing them for that point when this form would fail him, and he would need to find a new body.

He only knew who this body had once belonged to because he had pressured it out of one of his subordinates. They told him that the man had been overcome with joy at the honor of being the next body for his glorious Aruspex. It was probably even true. He knew the honor that was given to him by most every living being in his empire.

When the system had first begun it had seemed like a wild idea. Having a person as god on earth, and getting everyone to really believe it. It was the perfect way to rule an empire that was so vast that it would be impossible for a military force of any size to control it all. It it could not be ruled by force, they reasoned, it would have to be ruled by a “love”. If everyone believed they were working for a god, that a god approved of them and would watch over them, they would willingly follow any command given, fight to the death to protect his honor.

It had worked better than any of those long ago would have believed. He ruled completely, perfectly, and no one dared oppose his every command.

Well, that was almost true. No matter how perfect of a system is created, there will always be those who find a reason to oppose it. And, those forces would gather themselves together into one organization. They thought that they would be better “free”, free to fight among each other, to destroy and kill those that they didn’t believe matched up with their beliefs. It would destroy the empire, dividing it into countless nations of warring states. It had happened countless times in history, and would be destined to happen again unless the empire remained under the control of an absolute power.

And that was why they had set this system up in the first place, because the perfect system could only come by having everyone under its control. Then they would fulfill the position that they were given in society, which would benefit the empire the most, willingly and happily. Things ran perfectly smoothly, perfectly efficiently. Everyone was taken care of, to a reasonable extent. People were not left to starve, to freeze out on the streets or in cold space, so long as they continued to fulfill their role. There was enough food, enough space, enough energy, and the only reason everyone had enough was because they were guided by his hands and the laws he had set down. And because they did not feel that they had reason to rebel from the system, and followed it so perfectly willingly.

And if you asked them, they would say that they were happy, and they would mean it too. Sure, what they were doing was hard work, but every drop of sweat that they gave, every moment, every heartbeat, every drop of blood, every life, was for the glory of the Aruspex and His empire. And that was enough for them.

He turned away from the window, and walked fluidly out into the outer chamber of his rooms. Everyone who had been standing there, quietly talking, while they waited for him to emerge, promptly fell to their knees. He waved them up with a polite hand, and set off down the corridor, inquiring after their lives and joys, a benevolent god who cared for his subjects and always worked towards their best interests. That was the role he had to play, and, after so many thousands of years, he had learned it perfectly.

The rebels would fall eventually, finding out the hard way that butting their heads against an impenetrable wall built from the support of so many decillions of loyal subjects was only ever destined for failure. They would fall as so many had fallen before his grace, before the grace of his reign. And as so many were still yet to fall, in every reach of their galaxy, and, when that was finished, every galaxy in the universe.

The Aruspex had left a visitor behind in his rooms, an unseen, unknown visitor who had also wandered the universe for an undefined amount of time. This point of consciousness that had once been human still identified itself as Nicola Sovendel, despite the fact that he had been both more and less than Nicola for many thousands of years. He had spent the last five years of time within the Aruspex’s mind, the mind of the man, for he was just a man, who Nicola had once worshiped as a god just as fully as everyone else within the empire.

But he was ready to move on now. For the first time in so long, the desire for a true, physical body had built up within Nicola, and he was ready to obey that wish. In the blink of an eye, or what might have been the blink of an eye to some, on a planet far from the distant glowing light of the island city ship of the Aruspex. Its inhabitants called it Aom, and it was a distant planet, little cared about in the lives of those who ruled, but a planet, thriving with the lives of those who lived there. It was also the base of the "resistance", those who opposed the Aruspex and his rule. He had seen the world from one perspective, perhaps now it was time to find another.

Nicola was currently in a deserted section of the city-planet, and certain that there was no one around, Nicola slowly rotated parts of his being into existence. A general body, average height, comfortably muscular, tanned Caucasian skin. Dark blonde hair, flat grey eyes. A tight grey t-shirt, black slacks, black shoes, and black duster coat.

He took a breath, air rushing into his lungs like a fresh drink of water on a hot day. For a moment he held it, then he let it out. Lightly he ran his fingers over the wall of a nearby building, reveling in the feel of the rough material under his fingers. He had forgotten some of the beauties of having a physical form. But it took him a moment to readjust to a physical form, as well. His first step was quavering, cautious, and it took several moments longer before the neural impulses connected with limbs once more, and he was able to walk away.

He had no plan right now. All he wanted was to live, live in the moment, in a linear, consistent time, for as long as he wished.

[DarknessDawning]

дом was a simple planet in the vast array of things.. with simple people made up of every type from across the universe. The majority of the population was human, but the planet had a home grown feel of acceptance.. like freed slave banding together as family. The planet was made up of massive urban areas, tight enclosed spaces with small apartments for the inhabitants, seperated by even more massive fields for agriculture. What the people could not create or grow to provide for themselves, they traded for. дом's trading and shipping ports were renowned for their accuracy and no-bullshit attitudes. Hire an дом shipper and you were certain your package would get there safe, sound, and on time. While the cities were never the newest, or the cleanest, and the people had enough to survive, but never enough to get lazy, they seemed to be happy with their lifestyle.

In the center of the cities most often was a school for the одаренный (Odareny) or "gifted ones". Staged as specialty schools with a focus on science and technology, these were the epicenter of дом life. If you did not qualify to attend a gifted school, you lived to provide for those inside. There, the most gifted scientists and teachers that could be found lived day in and day out with the brightest of children and the belief that their work would change the world to free the people from the tyranny of the Aruspex.

In this particular city, "начало" (the beginning), the centerplex housed also the General. In the history books they taught that during the time of the Aruspex, the General rose up to lead the одаренный (Odareny) into hiding, and eventually to дом to protect them. Amoungst the people it was commly accepted that the Aruspex was only every a mere man, but his greed for power and the niaevity of the people made him dangerous. They had to hide the одаренный (Odareny) lest the Aruspex become jealous and send a force to erradicate them before their time. So the General kept them hidden away, until a planet could be found where they might build and thrive out of the watchful eyes of the Aruspex and his people. This was дом and начало (the beginning) was the city that started it all. It had been ages since then, and now the Odareny were not simply confined to this world. It was taught that Odareny were sent out, like ghosts to infiltrate the worlds of the Aruspex. They were watching, waiting for their General to give them a signal that the time had come for them to push this man from his throne and show the universe the true power of natural selection fused with their technology.

Ana opened her eyes suddenly... always a moment before the lights actually turned on. How frustrating. She thought. Even if it were only a few seconds or a minute, could she not have all the sleep that was allowed her? The lights flicked on Right on time. She groaned and raised her left hand, laying her forearm across her face to block her eyes for a moment as they adjusted. The life of the gifted was not so... lavish as she remembered the tales being. After a moment she sighed and started to sit up, dropping her hand from her face. Her bright blue eyes met a stark white room... walls, floor, ceiling. She knew that they were panels that opened in the walls, but with them all shut it was a box. Covering most of the wall directly facing her bed was a large black looking one way mirror.. to her she saw herself, but she dare not kid herself that no one was on the other side watching her at any moment. Her bed was a surgical table in all reality; a polished stainless steel sheet held up by a center pedistal to the perfect surgical height. She groaned for a moment and rubbed at her face with her hands, her vibrant green hair pouring over her shoulders and down her torso. She had a simple, standard issue, white spaghetti strap shirt that covered her chest mostly but stopped short of her belly button, and black cotton briefs covering minimally on her lower half. Of course these allowed for her plugs to be exposed so that she could be plugged in while in stasis.

Ana was a young girl for her progression in the program, only 19yrs old, though she'd been in the centerplex since she was 5. She wasn't the largest of the gifted either, no where near really, standing about 5'8" and weighing under 150lbs. She was slender but well toned due to her military regimen. She was the first surviving cybernetic symbiote the gifted had. As she stopped rubbing her face her eyes fell on her legs, the cables hanging from a simple caddy above her were still plugged into her hips, knees, and ankles. She furrowed her brow and looked up at the small line in the wall where she knew the door was only moments before the seal made it's familiar hissing sound and the door popped, slidding into the wall to produce a black opening with an overly exuberant young man passing through in a lab coat. "Mornin' Ana!" He quickly moved to her side, looking a bit disheveled himself. His dark brown hair was a bit messy this morning, and her hands quick as they moved to unplug her various jacks. The glasses on his nose seemed to slide each time he leaned too far and he pushed them back with annoyance each time he stood back up.

Ana smirked gently with the scene and shook her head, sliding her legs over the side of the table. "Collins.. what the hell happened to you?" He grunted at her and waved her off a bit as he finished unplugging the ports on her legs, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders, then moved behind her to more carefully begin the process on her spine. Where the ports embedded into her skin she had scarring, electrical burns that surrounded them. From there, raised lines ran along her skin that connected all of the ports and joined at her spine where several metal plates wrapped the ports and the wiring as they ascended into the base of her skull. As Collins slid the last from the cervical vertebrae just under her skull Ana shivered slightly, the feeling sending a sparkle of light trailing down the wires running through her body. "You know how it is with these days Ana.. I had to have everything ready before I even came to get you today.. It's already almost ten o'clock... If your father knew you were still in stasis.. he'd kill me!" She laughed some and turned, pushing Collin's shoulder playfully before sliding off the bed. Gifted were matched with keepers.. children and adults so that while they were young the keepers raised them, and when they got older they had a close friend that they could trust. Collins was Ana's keeper. "Well then you should get up earlier.. I mean sheesh! You're only a keeper! You're life couldn't possibly be that hard!" She laughed some as he moved to her side of the bed and opened a panel in the wall that housed the armor like casings that she wore over her circuitry. Collins had a smile on his face, but was working diligently... today was Ana's announcing of sorts.. She was going to be presented to the people as a massive success in their technological advancement with the Odareny. There would be a massive celebration in the centerplex square. He knew Ana was only joking anyways... anyone who actually worked with the Odareny knew that their keepers were responsible for every aspect of their lives... a trade for the pain and suffering that they were put through in the non-stop pursuit of technological enhancement. Once Collins got her suited in her breast plate, spine cover, boots, gloves, and gauntlets, he eyes her over for a moment before reaching up and brushing a hand across her hair... it was not uncommon for keepers and gifted to become attached to each other, but relations were strictly forbidden. Ana smiled and took his hand and kissed the back of it. "If I don't need the earpieces then come on... no reason to get you in any more trouble." She swatted at his shoulder before grabbing her BDU slacks and slipping them on, cinching them just under the edge of her breast plate so that they left the ports on her hips exposed, and tucking them into the tops of her boots around her knees so that they puffed out some.

Once she was finished she lead the two of them from the room. They had strict routines here, and whether it was presentation day or not, there was one thing that Ana was required to do first... the same thing she'd done every time they've woken her from stasis since they implanted the cybernetics. She turned the door to the chow hall with Collins in step behind her and proceeded to the counter where the server looked up at her brightly. "Why Ms. Sarvuski... aren't we running a bit late this morning?" The server shot an almost annoyed glance towards Collins but Ana's smile and words brought her back quickly. "As always... you know I'm a fighter. So eggs and bacon is it today?" She winked at the woman who laughed, handing Ana a bowl of what looked like murky crawling gruel... nanites and health sludge was the beast description Ana could think of. It hadn't grown not even slightly more appealing since the first day she laid eyes on it. She nodded her thanks and procceed directly to an empty table where Collins sat across from her babbling something about how magnifiscent the presentation was going to be. Ana couldn't focus on him without losing her focus on trying to not spit up the gruel... They insisted it was what made her heal quickly, and that the nanites were pertinent to maintaining her cybernetic systems, but she had yet to find one other person with the balls to swallow even one spoon of the crawling goop. In her mouth it felt almost as though it vibrated with the microscopic techno bugs crawling inside. The thought gave Ana goose bumps for a moment before her eyes returned to Collins who was bright and cheery and dreamy eyed as he talked about the crowds that would gather.

[Jiskastya]

The city that Nicola found himself in moved slowly at first. It was still early in the morning, and only those who had a great need to be awake before the rise of the sun stirred. But as the first rays of morning broke over the horizon, so too did the people of Aom begin to emerge from their houses. The morning would be devoted to the field and forest, ensuring that the day did not go completely to waste in terms of basic survival, but there was a buzz in the air that told there would be something more happening today. Something that would break through the tedium of everyday life, and give the people on this lonely planet some hope for the future.

The excited murmurings of people grew more excited as the sun approached its zenith. Long before the appointed hour people across the whole city lay down their tools and began to migrate to the center of the city. It was almost time for them to meet their hope.

Nicola rode on a wave of the people's emotions, carried along by their clear joy. A small smile flitted its way across his lips as he walked with the tide, became a part of the mob. None noticed the stranger in their midst, for he didn't feel like a stranger. he could easily be the neighbor, the field hand, someone that they passed by every day recognizing with a nod of the head, and not looking beyond the fact that they were here, and thus belonged here. The guards of the city weren't so incautious as to allow someone in who just might be a spy for the Aruspex, looking for any sign of heresy to their beloved god.

He had forgotten the incredible reality of being present in a world. He was bumped, nudged, jostled, pushed aside, and he allowed himself to relish every second of it, a broad grin spreading across his face. At this moment he was truly one of the many who longed to do whatever they could to help their General bring down the man, man, not god, who ruled the Empire with such an unyielding fist. Who crushed everything before him, and abused all within his grasp. For wasn't any man who seized power so completely nothing but a tyrant?

But as he slipped out of the back of this crowd the grin slipped away from Nicola's face. He had lived for five years, that arbitrary time frame so long ago decided upon and never relinquished, within the Aruspex's mind, and that God-ruler's perspective would not vanish so easily. He followed along with the tail ends of the crowd, still allowing himself to feel the joys of the crowd, but not allowing him to be swept away by the current.

He would watch, wait, and learn. He owed this to them, because the parts of the Aruspex that he had taken with him told him that he should crush this rebellion now, before it had a chance to destroy the glorious Empire that the Aruspex had spent so long in building.

But Nicola was not a being that lived to rush things. He would watch, and see the beauties and failures of both sides. And then choose, which side, if any, to support.

[DarknessDawning]

Ana would finish her "breakfast" quickly enough, humming only the simplest "mhm... mmm.. ah... 's" at Collins' delighted tales of grandeur and fame. Ana wasn't really all for this show crap anyhow. She'd rather work in a field, or a factory, or on a ship. For a moment she allowed her mind to wander, her spoon settling in the bottom of her bowl as her eyes thoughtfully lost focus on the far wall... To work on a ship. Something about the idea allowed her to imagine a freedom beyond anything the General could offer... beyond anything any nation would offer. Sleeping and rising to her own call, moving freely throughout the universe. I was a fantasy that no Odareny could hope to achieve for sure. Freedom always had a cost. For the people, their freedom cost them their lives of labor to support the cause.. for the Odareny it cost them their lives in a more literal sense. She had begun to frown which caught Collins' eye and ended his rant as he stared back at her and she suddenly realized that he had called her name.

"Hmmm?" Her eyes shot to refocus on him and she straightened in her seat and gathered her bowl and utensil, wiping her face quickly with a napkin before standing. "Oh Collins you've always been an attention whore. Should be you... not me ya know!" She raised her brows and nodded at him as she moved to the depository and slid in her bowl. "Nonsense Ana! I don't know what I'd do with myself... I'm not even gifted! To be gifted... like you..." Ana cut him off quickly with a hand over his mouth. They'd been good friends for years and Collins was mostly over this awe struck thing, but lately... with the cybernetics.. it seemed to be returning and it made her a little sick to hear. "Shhhh for the sake of all that is Holy Collins... spare me the finishing of that sentence will you?" She laughed and released his face, tossing her hair back over her shoulder as she headed out of the chow hall. "Now where's the powder room hmm? I'm sure their pacing the door for my arrival."

Collins seemed stunned for a moment but quickly regained himself, closing his gaping mouth as he trotted after her to keep up. He would lead her to a prep room that had been set aside just for her. There several attendants awaited her to powder and dress her up as the military and technological advancement that she was. Her armor was spit shined to its maximum, and her skin and face make-uped. They ran shading along the wires in her flesh to make them stand out slightly more. The attendants seemed just as star struck as Collins and they all bloomed with their admiration together, speaking of the magnificence that would be in the free world that Ana was the beginning to. She did her best to smile and nod and ignore them without them noticing too much, frowning and grunting only at the choice of clothing being entirely too minimal for her preference, but they wanted the cybernetics to be fully visible, leaving her in small brief like bottoms and straps for her weapons.

When it seemed like they could do little more to annoy and primp and pamper her, and the woman who'd been applying her make up was braiding her green hair around the back of her head and down one shoulder so that her ports on the back of her neck were readily visible, bubbling over the fact that every girl in дом would be wearing their hair in this style for a month after seeing Ana, her father walked into the room. It took only his entry for every body in the room to jump to a rigid stance of attention, waiting for his nod before they settled again and the woman continued Ana's hair in silence. Collins rushed to his side quickly with an outstretched hand... they were a military based society and all, but the "General" was more a title than an actual status at this point, and few outside the Odareny themselves were held to a military standard of greeting and behavior. "General Sir... We are right on schedule to have your daughter prepared in time for the presentation. From what I gather the stage is set, and the broadcast is on hold to all of дом as soon as you take your position." The General let his eyes fall to Collins, they were stern and cold looking, but he couldn't dispute that this man cared well for his daughter... and in дом a man who did his job well was a good man indeed. The General slid his hand into Collins' with a firm squeeze and a shake. "Thank you Collins.. you have been an excellent keeper to Agent Sarvuski." He brushed passed him and procceded directly to Ana, looking her over with a criticizing eye.

"General" She nodded towards him without bothering to look up. Ana and her father had not spoken much since she was entered into the Odareny program. Being so close to the top and the program itself Ana had known the difficulties that went along with being labeled gifted. She hadn't wanted the honor... the title... but her father insisted that this was her place... her sacrifice for the people. "Agent Sarvuski... Am I correct in my memory that you are capable of illuminating your cybernetic enhancements at will?" Her eyes shot to him for a moment as it took only a thought and the glittering light spilt down starting at the base of her skull and pooring through her wires until it rounded in her boots and completed the full closed circuit. Her eyes stayed trained on him awaiting his approval. He nodded briefly before he turned and walked to the doors leading to the balcony that had been expanded into a stage... glancing out the glass panes he took a long slow breath. "Good... when you are announced.. Come out without that. I have a little.. surprise display planned.. When that happens... put on a good show for the people hmm?" He glanced to her with his jaw clenched a bit almost in warning as though he were used to Ana causing undue trouble when he needed her to be the obediant little gifted child he'd always wanted. Without further delay he gripped the door handle and tossed it open before the guards next to him were able to open it for him and he proceeded out onto the stage platform to the bursting cheers of the people awaiting him.

Behind him was a massive screen to project his speech to all who could not stand within visual range. Similar screens would be errect in every centerplex on дом so that they could view the grand event. This was to be the beginning of an era.. a time when the Odareny came to rise and take their place.. where the people who had been so loyal to the cause would reap the benefits of their labor. Ana was the face that they had chosen, a beacon for all to focus on during the turmoil that would surely follow in defiance of the Aruspex. The General walked out to begin his greeting. To Ana in the room it was a mumbled sound interjected with roaring cheers. She was slightly impatient and edgy.. fidgetting in her prep chair as Collins walked over and took her hand. "Be calm Ana.. You're the most important person to the world right now... nothing you say or do will be wrong alright?" He reached up and pushed a strand of hair too short to tie into the braid back from her face. His hands were gentle and his tone soft, and she could help but lift her eyes to meet his, an air of fear and nervousness filling her own. He leaned into her, wrapping his arms around her as she did him in an embrace, his hand petting gently down the back of her head. "Shh beautiful girl. They will love you... we all love you." his words were but a whisper gracing her ear before her calm was torn from her by the guard.

"Agent Sarvuski... it's time." They opened the doors and waited expectantly as Collins stood back from her, catching her hand and pulling her up from the seat as he guided her towards the platform. With a quick kiss on the back of her hand he pushed her out, being sure not to show himself as she passed through into the open air. At first the sight was overwhelming, her walk slow and cautious as her eyes scanned the crowd, the stage, the screen... her father waited for her in front of a microphone with his arm outstretched towards her as he had obviously just introduced her. Her hearing was a muffled roar like hearing through water, but she fixated on her father and with a clearing of her throat and a quick straightening of her stance, corrected her stunned affect and began to march towards him with passion and intent.

[Jiskastya]

She stepped out on stage after the introduction, full of grace and prowess, glowing in the midday light. Only Nicola caught that slight falter in her steps as she strode out on stage, a reveal that, no matter what others thought of her, she was still human, still full of fault. But no one was looking for flawed perfection. They only wanted to see perfect grace. And so they did. To those in the crowd she looked like an angel, descending from on high to bring salvation to their troubled plight.

Nicola watched her with sad eyes, for only he, among the crowds thronging to get a look at this beautiful, powerful creature knew that she wouldn't be enough.

But, right now, that didn't matter. She was to be beautiful, exciting, promising hope to the group that had fought for so long, sacrificed so much for the future they believed was best. And they loved her. They roared in one voice as she stepped onto stage, raising her to the top of the pedestal of perfection.

Hidden in the back of the crowd, and with all eyes turned to the glowing figure of Ana, Nicola rotated his body back out of existence, returning to the point of consciousness that he truly was. He knew that he was never going to be able to get close to Ana in his current form, but, of all the people he had encountered, she was the one who would likely be best able to help him figure out what he believed. Or, perhaps, he was there to help her figure out what she really believed.

He drifted through the crowd, slowly from his perspective, but having touched every mind in the throng in less than a second. They were alive with joy, glad to see that the future they had dreamed of was finally about to come to fruition. He took their joy, carried it in a warm spot in his soul, which countered the cool logic of the Aruspex that held him mostly in sway.

But, as he compared that bright flame from the people of Aom to the other flames he had touched he was amazed at how similar this devotion to Ana was to the devotion that the people of the Empire paid to the Aruspex. Did they know? Did they know how similar they were?

Then, he was next to Ana, and he paused gently probing the tendrils of her thought. But he stopped as soon as he realized that she was a telepath. Such obvious probing would go unnoticed to those who were used to nothing but their own thoughts, but if he didn't want to be noticed yet, he would need to be a lot careful.

He settled inside of her mind, letting the waves of her thought wash over him, taking nothing but recognizing everything, an unnoticed visitor.

[DarknessDawning]

Ana was so overwhelmed in the moment that he was hardly noticable. As if the roar of the crowd were not enough, once he moved into her thoughts he would realize how difficult a gift her enhancement really was.. she wouldn't have been able to prevent the wires from glittering if she'd had wanted to as every face that her eyes fell upon in the crowd was another thought... most the same.. thoughts of beauty and magnificence, thoughts of the future, of glory, of envy... they poured on her like a raging river she couldn't control, stopping and having to steady herself a bit at her father's side, forcing her eyes to focus on a point of a building in the distance as she felt sick from the flood in her mind, trying to close out the thoughts and the sound. Her father continued speaking and she heard only the drone of his voice as he waved the crowd down into silence. He turned to her again and she realized that he was offering her the chance to speak. Ana loved her people... her father... her world deep down, but she was not this undevoted drone. She had doubts, questions... they had lived so long just fine how they were, why stir up anything? She doubted that she was powerful enough to do anything... she doubted whether some of the Odareny who had already gone out had already abandoned the cause to simply lead a normal life... all of these things flooded her mind and washed over him as she took that one step further to square before the mic and clear her throat for a moment, lifting her eyes with a heavy block to weed out the majority of the thoughts from the crowd.

"People of дом... I am... honored... to take my placed amoungst the Odareny. With the training, support, and technology that I have been given... I will do no less than dedicate my life... to the betterment of our world." It was a strange and vague statement, but it was enough to send the crowd into another roar that forced Ana to wince slightly trying to hold back their thoughts. Her father spoke again, droning in her ears before he took the mic and began walking off to the side. Ana looked up quickly, somewhat dazed and furrowed her brow at him in confusion. He waved strangely at her, pointing towards what looked to be an X taped on the stage a few steps over and forwards from her.

With a bit of uncertainty she made her way to the X and stood facing the crowd. He had said there was a show... she frowned at the thought of things that he had done to demonstrate her abilities before. Nicola would be washed over suddenly with a surge of memories... bullet wounds, scars... burns... for the sake of experimenting on Ana's limitations... showing her off to others who said she wasn't ready. Her eyes steadied on the horizon and the wires began to glitter with an increase in her senses, waiting for something to come her way to challenge her. The first test was rather easy.. somewhere in the distance a large crate was launched from one of the roof tops, hurtling above the crowd towards Ana were she stood. Her eyes caught it and even before her hand raised it was stopped in mid air. She closed her fist as though to grip it and brought it across, lowering it gently on the stage. Several more came this way, quickly and without warning, but Ana handled them easily as well. It was the first gun shot that rang out that surprised her. She jerked to the side quickly and a flash of blue electric light burst infront of her before her hand shot out, catching the crushed bullet as it ricocheted towards the audiance. After the first several shots rang out over and over, making the crowd duck and gasp quickly, some covering their heads. Ana clenched her eyes and would be surrounded in a bubble like dome of blue energy, both hands out infront of her with fists clenched to stop the bullets, some only a foot or so away from the crowd. When the shots silenced though she opened her eyes again, realizing she wasn't breathing she took several too quick breaths and opened her hands that had clenched so tightly they'd gone slightly numb. Her eyes shot to her father who was walking back out onto the stage clapping, and the crowd rose and began to follow suit quickly, cheering madly for their created heorin.

Ana's breath turned to a heavy sigh as her father reached her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and waving a triumphant fist towards the crowd. For the last bit, he handed her a piece of paper... a script that stated "Read aloud in your mind to them." She glanced at the crowd.... she'd never communicated with so many at one time before. She cleared her throat instinctively as though she were to actually read before glancing back down at the paper. "People of дом... " the sound rang in their minds so loud they'd be certain she was yelling though obviously her mouth had not moved. "The Era has come for us! The gifted will take their place as leaders in the universe, and you will reap the benefits of your labors!" Her eyes moved to the crowd again.. much like a person reading from a book. "Prepare yourselves... for in the months to come... we go to war!" The final statement excited more screams and thoughts from the crowd and Ana was forced to turn her face away and close her eyes again to concentrate. Her father took hold of the back of one of her arms and before she was able to focus and knew what was happening Collins had her wrapped tightly to his side. He waved wildly at the crowd as he led her back into the doors and they shut tightly behind them. Out in the streets the celebrating began with music and fireworks bursting forth from the stage.

[Jiskastya]

By the end of the ceremony, Nicola's guesses were confirmed. This girl was no perfect monster to wreak destruction on the world. She was a child, who deserved to be learning the joys of life. But she had never been granted the chance, not even when she truly was a child. She had never been given true freedom. Every moment of her life was controlled, regulated.

As Ana moved back towards the building, Nicola silently riding along, he felt a wash of sympathy for this girl. This child who had never had a chance to learn a child's life, and was now forced into a war for the sake of others. He wished he could offer her some comfort, something to make the task before her seem a little easier, some breath of freedom, of choice. But under the watchful gaze of her father and Collins he could do nothing. He didn't want to risk them thinking that something was wrong with her, to put her through more tests.

So he allowed his thoughts to drift, and found himself comparing what he knew of the Aruspex to what he had seen of this resistance. And, again and again, he was struck only by similarities. Both survived by the complete passions of their followers, both had one person in control, one who guided the people with perfect control, while seeming benevolent or uncontrolling. Was it this way with everything? Was everything the same, only separated by small matters of principle, waiting to be noticed and accepted.

It was a glorious thought, in its own way. That, if everything was the same, there would be no need for control. Every person would be free to make their own choices, but the simple knowledge that everyone else was the same as them would prompt an unmatched benevolent sharing.

But, if his drifting sojourner through the universe had taught him anything, it was that people naturally sought out power, and if it wasn't prevented they would grab and grab until there was nothing left, no matter the cost, to others or to the worlds. Perhaps perfect control was the only way to offer everyone some sort of protection. But then who was there to check the power of the controller.

It was a never ending circle, and not one that Nicola could find a solution to. Perhaps there was no solution. perhaps it was waiting, somewhere out in the vast reaches of space, only needing to be discovered by someone who could see its potential. Some untainted mind that would not grab at it and twist it to ensure their own way to power. Someone who would leave it whole.

Perhaps.

[DarknessDawning]

Once back inside, Ana began to breath a bit easier, though her palms were sweaty in their metalic gloves and her heart was still racing. Collins was busy giving triumphant pats on the back and sharing calls of hard work well done with the other preppers in the room. Ana took that as a moment to break free and move silently to the wash room, closing the door and locking it tightly behind herself. She stood for several moments, staring down into the sink, feeling sick to her stomch before she raised her eyes to the mirror to stare into the darkness of her pupils.. She always felt comforted by her eyes... people told her it was because she had her mother's eyes and hair and face... and when she looked deep enough into them she should see her mother. Her mother had died when she was very young and she couldn't remember her really no matter how hard she tried... but something indeed was comforting about staring into her eyes in the mirror with a blankness that allowed her to imagine. She swallowed hard and broke her gaze, turning on the water and splashing it in her face some. This was it.. in a few hours they would take her to a transport... she would say farewell to Collins whom had been with her every day of her life since joining the gifted.. and she would be whisked away to the Aruspex's floating island city where she would be expected to blend in and wait for a signal.

She sighed heavily, grabbing a towel from the wall and wiping at her face before placing it on the edge of the sink and standing up straight.. She'd been gone too long already and Collins was there tapping at the door... "Ana?... Ana are you alright? Come on Ana... you're missin the party!" She rolled her eyes some before pressing into the door and popping the lock, letting it swing open under her weight. "I don't want to go to the party Collins... I really don't." He pulled her free from the doorway and closed it behind her, dragging her into the room where they were all celebrating and drinking now. "But Ana.. it's your party... you can't just ignore your own party.." She pulled her arm from him gently, giving him a bit of a stern glare. "I can Collins... I don't want a party.. stay here if you will.. but I'm leaving." With that she headed to the door in a bit of a huff.

Collins stared at her for a moment... almost sure that she'd turn around at the last minute and become as excited as everyone else was for her.. but as she passed the doorway and disappeared his smile dropped and he excused himself quickly before trotting after her and catching her in the hall. "Ana... wait... what's wrong with you?" He caught her arm as she continued away, turning into a waiting room that they used for pre-experiments and such.. a bare room mostly but away from everything and with a couch which she promptly sank into. "I don't want to celebrate Collins.. this isn't my war!" He jumped at the statement, wide eyed and shut the door quickly before sinking into the couch next to her. "What are you talking about Ana? This is everyone's war... freedom is everyone's responsibility."

[Jiskastya]

He found himself sympathizing more and more with Ana as time went on. She was forced to face a war that she didn't want to fight, but couldn't get out of. At least Nicola had gone to his death with a smile on his face, knowing that the ship they were on would transport its data on the black hole to the Aruspex before it was crushed. He had served his purpose, and could die with joy, knowing that he had served his God to the best of his ability.

But Ana had no reason for that blind devotion. The time leading up to this day had brought her nothing but pain; why would she want to continue fighting for it?

Once more he was struck by the similarities between these two opposing leaderships. Collins couldn't know it, he had likely never left Aom, but the expressions on his face, both the joy for the future, and the complete surprise at Ana's statement, were the same expressions that the people of the Empire made, when they heard similar things about the Aruspex.

He found himself wondering, for a moment, what exactly the general planned for the Empire when he had won his war. Did he intend the let the empire crumble, become a series of states ruled by those who could, or did he secretly long, not to remove the Aruspex, but to become him?

[DarknessDawning]

Ana sighed heavily and slumepd into the couch, letting her eyes wander on the far wall for several moments. The silence made Collins drop his eyes as well, catching them on a trail of blood cut across Ana's shoulder. He sighed and laid his hand under it, wiping the blood with his thumb gently.. "Ricochet?" She glanced towards the cut and shrugged slightly before pushing his hand away. "I don't know why they do that to me... they know I didn't really pass that trial... not unless you count catching a bullet inside the shield and shooting myself repeatedly." She growled the words almost and Nicola would catch a memory of her standing in a room, plugged in on all of her ports withe Collins and other young people.. probably Odareny, trying not to flinch as shots rang out all around the room and Ana attempted to prevent them from hitting herself while also catching them so they wouldn't ricochet into the bystanders. A catch seems to go bad, pulling rather than stopping the bullet, resulting in it repeatedly ricocheting within the shield and striking Ana over and over until she slumped to the ground and the memory goes black.

Her eyes focused on Collins' face again, he obviously remembered the incident too. He sighed and wrapped an arm behind her shoulders and pulled her into his chest, he head falling across his shoulder as he gently stroked her hair. "You doubt yourself too often Ana. You're better than you give yourself credit for... everyone else sees it." He stared down at her brilliant green hair, his fingers running over each tie in the braid that wrapped around the back of her head. She simply continued staring at the walls, studying them almost as she rested into his shoulder. "I don't want to leave Collins.. this is my home.. I've never been away from начало... never been away from you." He sighed again and kissed the back of her head and squeezed her gently. "You'll be fine Ana... you've studied for years.. for your whole life. You know how they act... how they look... and it'll only be a little while... then you'll come back, or I'll come to you and I promise we'll stay together for the rest of our lives alright? I'll make your breakfast every morning before I wake you up... and you can save my life or try to kill me each day.. whichever you see fit!" Her laughed slightly and it did at least get a smiled out of Ana before she pulled away from him and punched him firmly in the shoulder.

The two chatted and sat for a few more minutes, Collins pleased with himself for brightening her outlook again before he pulled her up to her feet, cleaned off her shoulder which had already started to seal due to the continual supply of healing aides and nanites running through her blood stream, and shuffle her out the door like a good keeper. Rather than force her back into the party, Collins led her back to her stasis chamber so that she could change into civilian clothing... things brought back from shipment and trading groups that were supposed to be the norm out in the rest of the universe. He had most of her things packed, but as she removed the armor he wrapped and packed it carefully as well, next to a portable timed stasis device they had created for her to allow her to charge up when she deemed it safe and possible in case she couldn't find an energy source to plug into. She dressed simply, cargo beige pants that tucked into scuffed rugged leather work boots and a white muscle shirt that left her shoulders and arms exposed. She left her hair in the braid and slipped on a long over shirt which she left unbuttoned down the front. "They're sure that my cybernetics aren't going to be questioned?" Collins rolled his eyes a bit as though they'd gone over this a hundred times before... "Yes Ana... cybernetics like yours are unknown... but cyborg and android technology is out there.. they'll brush it right off. The general populace doesn't know any better and yours are less noticable then... giant metal arms or something!" He laughed some and stood back, looking her over a bit. "You look perfect.... a little grease and no one will question at all you working on the ships." He lingered on her face a little longer than he should have before shaking it off and grabbing her bags and pushing her back out of the room. "I''ll have your things taken to the ships... Go get lunch. I'll meet you in the chow hall."

They had only a couple of hours before the next shipping vessel left for the floating city.. that was to be Ana's ride into the world of the Aruspex... there was an Odareny there that would be waiting for her arrival to set her up with an apartment... a job... a life as far as the world around her would see it. Her life would include working her way slowly closer and closer to the Aruspex. Ana, with her particular gifts and extensive enhancements, was to be the one to actually bring the downfall of the Aruspex while Odareny throughout the city and the universe simply ensured that no large upheaval would take place in response.