Silvias Private Quarters

Silvia let out a relieved sighed as she smiled up to him, following him over to the bed and curling up against him as he pulled her close. Resting against him she perked a brow when he told her that she had given him his first kiss. Looking up at him she had a look of surprise on her features. That was something she had not expected but then looking back at how he acted when she kissed him in the Mor and then his moronic tactics to get her attention down in the docks it began to make sense and she could only smile at him.

Seeing him lean closer, she felt her breath catch; eyes drifting close as she felt his lips touch hers. Trembling slightly from the sensation she pressed her lips together when he pulled away, savoring the taste and feeling he left on them. As her eyes opened to gaze up at him she a playful smirk came to her lips. “Don’t tempt me to do what I want right now,” she whispered and gasped slightly as he spun her around and pulled her to his chest. Pushing back on his chest slightly so that he was laying down on the bed she curled up a top of him, letting her body rest on his as she let out a content sigh, her fingers laced with his.

“No, we won’t have another night like this,” she whispered. “Hopefully there will be better nights to come,” she said in a soft voice as she nuzzled her face against him. “But for now what I want is not an option, what I need is,” she said as her voice grew fatigued. “Just hold me,” she whispered as she began to drift off into peaceful slumber there in his arms, her nightmares leaving her alone for the night.

Mor Of The Altenia Tower

Marx leaned back in his chair and stretched a bit as his arms rose above his head and he let out a rather loud yawn. He wasn’t tired, just bored at this point. He had managed to crash in the side room of the Mor on one of the beds most of the night while Craig worked. He had checked the logs and seen that Silvia was planning on taking a new transfer in Engineering over to the Crystal Mines today and wanted to go with her. He figured Ailen could relieve Craig and take the day shift for now. Ailen knew the Tower staff far better than he did and his only concern right then was that Silvia needed to be safe. After seeing the mess Ailens arm had been in when he arrived he feared, rightfully so, that the mines were in just as bad shape.

Rising from his chair before sliding it back under the desk he walked around the Mor a bit while he waited for Craig to come back from his rounds. When the elevator doors opened and he saw Craig he nodded to himself a bit before stepping over to the man. “I am going to go down and wake up Ailen and send him up here. He should be up to relive you shortly.”

“You sure that is a good idea? I saw him yesterday; he didn’t have his head in the game at all. He is well….” Craig began but cut himself off.

“Yeah, when he awoke from surgery he seemed fine. Perhaps a little distracted but I blame Silvia on that. I think he will be fine as long as he isn’t on shift with her,” he said as he ran his fingers through his hair and pushed a few strand out of his face.

“Hope you’re right. What are you planning on doing?” he asked as he set his reports down on the desk.

“I will be escorting Silvia and the new transfer to the Crystal mines. Think Silvia could use back up that isn’t all goo-goo eyed in her presence,” he said as he made his way towards the door of the elevators. “Nothing against the man, doubt he can help himself. She has that effect on some,” he said as he pushed the button and waited for the doors to open. Craig nodded in understanding and made himself comfortable in a seat as he waited for Ailens return to the tower. He was interested to see what all Silvia had done to his arm.

Marx made his way down in the elevator and went over to the door of Silvias quarters and put in the override to unlock it. The door slid open and he stepped inside before making his way into the living room; perking a brow as he looked around and didn’t see Ailen anywhere in sight. “Where the hell is he,” he muttered to himself as he looked over to Silvias door and saw it was open. “Aww hell no,” he grumbled as he walked over to the door and peeked in.

There in bed he saw Silvia curled up on top of Ailen, sleeping in his arms. Rubbing his face he blinked a few times before looking back over to them. “You have got to be shitting me,” he said before crossing his arms over his chest. “At least they’re still clothed,” he said before opening his hand and smacking the wall with ah open palm, sending a rather loud crashing sound through the room.

Silvia bolted straight up out of her sleep, wide eyed and startled; losing her balance and falling right out of the bed and onto the floor with a thud. “What the hell,” she screamed as she rubbed her back end and looked over towards where the sound came from. “For fuck sakes Marx, what was all that about?” she hissed.

“Just giving the wakeup call Ailen asked for. I wasn’t expecting to find him in here with you. Care to explain Angel?” he asked sternly. Silvia narrowed her eyes slightly as she got up and stormed over to him.

“Why the hell do I have to explain anything to you?” she snapped as she poked him the chest with her finger.

“You know why,” he said before she grabbed his hand and drug him out of her bed room and into the living room. Marx reached out and grabbed her arm and spun her around quickly. “What?” she yelled.

“Silvia, what happened last night? He didn’t, well..you know?” he asked concerned. Silvias eyes widened before she slapped him across the face.

“Perv! He did no such thing! I had the nightmare last night. He comforted me, that’s all!” she said defending Ailens actions last night, though she conveniently left out the kissing part.

Rubbing his cheek slightly he looked at her and let her arm go. “Oh Sil, I am so sorry, I.. just..well you know,” he said trying to apologize for him jumping to conclusions.

“Forget it, I slept better last night than I have in years,” she said before storming back off towards her room, reaching the door she glanced over her shoulder and smirked. “And for your information if I hadn’t been so tired last night I would have done every depraved thing I could think of and really given you something to bitch about,” she snapped before sticking her tongue out at him and walking to the bathroom, the door sliding shut and locking as she went to take a shower.

Marx stood there with his mouth agape at her words as a mental image was forced into his mind by Silvia and he screamed. “Oh my god! Silvia!!! I’m going to have to bleach my brain to get that image out of my head!!!” he said as he shook his head and let out a rather visible shiver. “Okay, lover boy, report up to the Mor and relieve Craig for a shift. I will be going with Silvia down to the mines to keep an eye on her,” he said as he slowly walked back over to the bedroom door and tossed in a clean uniform he had retrieved earlier in the night. “The Twins will be relieved from duty once Silvia returns,” he said before walking over to the couch and sitting down, gagging slightly as he tried to push the thought out of his mind of what Silvia wanted to do with Ailen. “I didn’t need to see that…”

Infirmary

“What the hell happened in here?” a middle aged woman asked as she looked around at the condition of O.R. 3. Rubbing her temples she went over to the O.R.s recording device and backed up the tape. Standing there she tilted her head to the side slightly. “Wow, Ailen went through a major reconstruct last night,” she said as she spoke to herself. “I guess that must be the new Lead I am hearing so much about. Not bad, I can see why she passed out right after. Oh well, I guess it’s up to the staff to get the place cleaned up,” she said before placing her fingers to the side of her mouth and letting out a piercing whistle. Suddenly three orderlies rushed in and froze as they looked at the mess.

“What’s up Crisna?” one of them asked as he looked around.

“Had an emergency surgery and reconstruct last night on Ailen. Surgeon and assist were too tired after nearly 10 hours in the O.R. to clean up it seems. Can you boys make sure to get this place sterile again before helping the others begin to unload our overnight deliveries? Seems our new Tower Lead had us fully restocked overnight. It’s going to be a long day,” she said as she turned to leave the room and address the rest of the day staff.

“We actually have supplies?” one of the nurse empaths asked over hearing what Crisna had told the orderlies.

“I know, it feels like Christmas,” she said as she knelt down next to a box and cut it open; perking a brow at the contents. “What in the world?” she whispered as she pulled out some toys and hair supplies. “This can’t be right,” she said as she looked to the side of the box and read the label.

Deliver to Empath Gaia for the Children’s Wing Of The Infirmary of Altenia Tower

“Well I’ll be damned,” Crisna said with a smile and placed the box up on the check in station for the staff. Pressing her com she opened a channel to Gaia’s quarters. “Gaia, time to get up. You have a package here in the infirmary from Tower Lead Silvia, you might want to come check it out,” she said before closing the communication.

Docks Of Altenia Tower

The docks of the Altenia Tower had never been busier than that morning. Supplies were coming in as fast as the Twins could catch them and they could be unloaded. Eleven docks were running at full speed, with the most precious of cargos going to the Rough Necks. Medical Supplies for the entire planet were being sent to the Rough Necks with explicit direction to make sure they were loaded up for delivery to the various cities, towns, villages and mines on the planet.

Replacement parts were sent to docks three and four, while new equipment was being sent to docks eight and nine. Food supplies were taking up docks one and two. Everything else from clothing to toothbrushes was taking up the rest. The only dock that was not in use was dock twelve where Srath was. Craig leaving specific instructions for him to hold in dock after the delivery the night before. Smuggling was not going to be an issue anymore but he had another job for Srath that couldn’t be handled through normal channels. He just hoped the man would want to take on the challenge.

The Dock Master was going through the paper work and was finding a lot of it rather odd. How did the new Tower Lead make it possible for so much to be delivered so quickly? All of this cost far more than the tower had for a budget. Taking a closer look he saw just how she managed to pull it off. Half the supplies were paid for out of the account of Silvia Adenias; either in direct payment or an open line of credit that she would have to work off for the next several years. Leaning back in his seat he rubbed his face. “Damn, seems our prayers have been answered after all,” he said before going back to work.

Silvias Quarters

Silvia waited until Ailen had left before she came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Drying her hair she got dressed in mining gear and laced up her boots before making her way into the living room. Marx still trying to push the image out of his head. She could only laugh. “Serves you right,” she barked before making her way out of her room, Marx running to catch up with her at the elevator after he locked down her private quarters.

The elevator door opened and they stepped in, Marx pulling out his portable com and showing her where they were headed in the mines and where the reported issues where. “Right, I was going to have us stop by the Brax’Na Village first but it can wait until we are done with my review of the mines. That way I can show the Jun’Krama a schedule to get everything fixed and up to date.”

“You got all this stuff here pretty quick, how much in debt are you now because of this tower?” he asked as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Nothing I can’t work off if I can mine a black,” she retorted rather quickly.

“Silvia! You know you shouldn’t be digging down there, even if it is up to safety codes. It could drive you mad,” he said in shock.

“I don’t care, I have something I need to find,” she said as she pulled a small sample crystal out of her pocket and showed him.

“Whoa, seriously? Where did you get this?” he asked as he examined it.

“A friend sent it to me on Earth a while back. I think it would solve a big problem,” she said as she awaited the elevator to reach the designated floor.

“Then have a Singer mine it, they are nuts already,” he suggested in a stern voice.

“No, they couldn’t handle this,” she said matter-of-factly before taking the sample and putting it back in her pocket.

“And what makes you think you can? You know you aren’t indestructible Angel,” he said as he reached out and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“I have to try,” she said pushing his arm away before stepping out of the elevator and making her way down the various halls to the sleeping quarters. Finding the door she was looking for she knocked several times rather hard before speaking. “Jeremiah Strong, its Tower Lead Silvia Adenias. It’s time to head out to the mines,” she said loudly before knocking again and waiting for him to answer.

Ailen rose up from the bed seeing Silvia on the floor getting up. He rose a brow as they went all mumbling about something. He actually slept pretty good last night. No nightmares or interruptions. Well that's going to be missed. He got up tucking his locket within his shirt. One of these days he will have to get a picture of Silvia and put it on the opposite side of the locket. He sighed, well that aint going to happen anytime soon. He caught the new uniform and replaced his shirt and then put on the jacket and hat. Back to this again.... oh well, was good while it lasted. He proceeded out. Taking the elevator to his floor first. He entered his room and over to the food. He picked out a few good edibles he could have in the Mor. Then proceeded out. He felt his orange crystal and took it out and looked at it. Hmmm..... He placed it back in and went to the elevator. The artificial arm felt so natural that he forgot that it was until he saw it. He looked over at it one more time. He smiled, once my shift runs out I am testing you out some more. The elevator took the climb up to the Mor and he stepped out.

He entered the room and saw a few people look up and smile at him. He nodded to them tapping the brim of his hat with his new and improved hand that was poking out of the sleeve. It was something never seen yet. Silvia's own little recipe. He moved up to his desk and placed his pale down. "I can take over from here Craig,.... I guess you were right. I just needed a night to get myself back into action. What a night too..." He said. He flashed back to the kissing and sighed. Better nights huh?... looking forward to it Angel. He sat down in his chair. He took off his jacket revealing the new undershirt and the rest of Silvia's master piece. A lot of people gasped and some of the young bloods probably thought he looked pretty bad ass. He felt pretty bad ass too. He then looked to the twins. "Morning ladies,..." He said grabbing a apple from his pale and tossed one over to them. He did not want to show he was on to them or anything. He wasn't really actually. He did not have a single thread or lead that they were bad. Just a gut feeling. It was a shame too.

He had a question pop up in his head though as he thought of them." You know Gemini, Gemine,... I have been wondering. Why are you two still back ups?... you two are more then skilled enough to run your own tower." He asked. The question was genuine. He was actually curious. These two were far more skilled then Tristan, yet they were the backups. GTC sure have things mixed around.... "I am certain if you two really wanted to you could probably convince GTC to give you your own tower."

Jeremiah’s eyes were glued to the tv, his pupils dilated as it reflected the scenes from “M.A.S.H.”. A smile was on his face, either from his high or the antics of Hawkeye. Jeremiah laughed, “ha, swilling.”

He had been up for hours, and before that he had barely slept, and definitely not a deep sleep. It could have been the drug, it could have been jet lag, or he could have been nervous about the mines, either way he now felt a joyful butterfly in his stomach tickling his senses. He sat on the edge of his bed in full Engineer uniform, with the baggie of joy hidden in a suit pocket. He had his helmet retracted for the best viewing pleasure, besides he really didn’t need it on the inside.

There was only one worry buried in his mind, the worry that this mine trip would take too long, he needed to find a new supplier before he ran out, or his own sanity might just be pulled out from underneath him. This worry gave him anxiety, anxiety only the little blue pill could numb.

A sudden knock on the door broke him from his thoughts and he jumped to his feet, diving for the door. He swung it open, nearly sending himself flying with it. His wide green eyes quickly studied the two figures in front of him.

Silvia perked a brow as she looked over at him and then at Marx. “This is the new wizz kid?” she asked slightly confused. Marx shrugged slightly as he looked at his surrogate sister before looking back over at the odd engineer in front of them.

“I think it is, you were the one that assigned him to this, not me,” Marx chuckled somewhat as he covered his mouth.

“Oh right, didn’t really see his face yesterday,” she said clearing her throat before looking back over towards Jerimiah. “Sorry about that,” she said before looking past him to the screen with the ancient T.V. show playing. “As long as you don’t swill your martinis, I guess you’ll have to do,” she said before turning on her heels and motioning for him to follow her. Marx laughing as he walked in tow with her.

“Would you look at that,” Jeremiah muttered, “I open a door and I’m already being accused of swilling, I never swill. Gulp maybe, but never swill.”

He stepped lightly behind them, a little annoyed at the remarks he had recieved by simply answering the door, but overall still pretty giddy from the show, the references, and especially the Joy. He spoke up, “how long do these trips normally take?”

Silvia glanced over her shoulders as she pushed the door to the stairs opened, opting for the walk instead of the elevators. “In a well equipped mine that is up to date it would only take a couple of hours but this one has fallen into disrepair like everything else around here. If we are back before dusk I will be surprised,” she said as she took the stairs two at time. Marx nodding slightly as he kept close to Silvia, following her down the winding stair case.

“Yeah, the last guy to run this place let everything go to pot. Hell in a hand basket as it were. It is going to take a lot to get the place back up and running properly. This is just the first stage, we are not so much repairing today but need to review the machines and the structure of the mine shafts itself and make a list of everything that needs to be taken care of,” Marx said as he kept pace.

“Yeah, from what I am gathering the place probably looks like the 4077 after the nurses were shipped out. I don’t think it is going to be a pretty sight,” she quipped.

Jeremiah shuddered at the thought, “sound lovely.”

Silvia nodded as they reached the bottom of the stairwell and pushed the door open, making her way over to the transport vessel they were going to take out to the mines. It was a simple land traveler with opening seating for six, half of the space already taken up with supplies for the ride out there. Stopping and making sure Jeremiah and Marx had kept up she smiled slightly. “Yeah, well as long as it isn’t as bad as Klinger dressed as Cleopatra, I think I will make due,” she said as she slid into the driver's seat and motioned for the guys to join her. “Hop on in,” she added as Marx called shotgun and left the seat behind him as the only option left for Jeremiah.

“I think the statue of liberty was worse,” Jeremiah laughed warmly as he clumsily plopped himself into one of the seats.

Silvia laughed as she powered up the land traveler and slowly back it out of the docking bay. “Yeah, but that one had pyrotechnics! So points on Klinger for that one, hopefully we won’t run into him prancing around as Lady Godiva,” she said in a light hearted voice as they made it to the open ground around the base of the tower and sped off towards the mines.

Marx just sitting there laughing so hard, tears rolling down his cheeks at their banter. He was not so much a M.A.S.H. fan, something Silvia never let him live down, saying he was uncultured but their joking was making his sides hurt.

“So, knowing your maritinis are never swilled, I must ask. If you had to have a roommate in that swamp of yours, who would you prefer? Trapper, Bj or Winchester?”

“That’s tough, Trapper got his nickname in what I think is the funniest manner, so props to him. Although Winchester is too fitting for that swamp of mine, but I’d say Trapper,” Jeremiah shrugged, “what about you?”

“I think I will take the route of Hotlips and keep my quarters to myself,” she said with a laugh. “As long as I don’t find any stuffed helicopter pilots stuffed in my closet,” she said as they continued on their way. The mine was a good ways away but she didn’t mind. She was enjoying the open air and the conversation. It made the time go by faster.

“Other than M.A.S.H., which you obviously has a liking of, what else do you enjoy?” she asked as she kept the land traveling going at a good rate in hopes of getting there without incident but still making good time.

Jeremiah leaned back, folding his hands behind his head as he racked his brain, she was asking him to get off topic from MASH, never an easy task. He pursed his lips and shook his head, “you might find this silly but I also enjoy the antique’s musics. My likes are thousands of years outdated.”

“I don’t mind it silly,” she said as they continued on their way. “If we don’t keep track of what was lost before the war broke out it is lost forever. We wouldn’t have things like M.A.S.H. if someone didn’t dig them out. Or music like Nightwish.”

The engineer raised both brows, “Nightwish is amazing! What’s your favorite song by them?”

“Oh god, that’s a tough one, like asking my favorite episode of M.A.S.H.,” she said before going silent for a few as she pondered the question. “If I could only pick one I guess I would have to say I Wish I Had An Angel,” she said and Marx busted out laughing.

“Fitting considering your nick name,” he pipped in.

“Oh shut it Marx,” she quipped before going back to her conversation with Jeremiah. “What about you? If you had to pick one?”

“To be honest with you,” Jeremiah paused, “I asked hoping I wouldn’t have to answer, because damn me that’s a tough one.”

He scratched his chin, “Amaranth or Nemo, I can’t decide.”

“Good choices,” she said in agreement. It really wasn’t an easy question for anyone that enjoyed Nightwish to answer. They continued their banter through out the rest of the journey to the mines. Marx trying to pipe in from time to time but Silvia shutting him up most of the time. She was enjoying the talk and really didn’t want his smart ass remarks to taint it.

After a while they made their way to the entrance of the mine and pulled the land traveler to a stop before powering it down and stepping out. “Wow, this place looks like shit,” Marx said as he climbed out of his seat and looked around. It was in far worse shape than they had expected. Silvia wiped some of the dust from her face and grimaced. “I guess we found Lady Godiva after all,” she muttered before looking over towards Jeremiah. “Looks like you are going to have your work cut out for you,” she said as she pointed over to the lighting first, it was flickering and showing even that was not working properly.

The place was oddly silent as well. “I don’t hear any fans to pull fresh air into the mines going, that worries me,” she said as she began to walk towards the entrance of the mines.

Jeremiah chuckled as he thought of Klinger, ending the laugh in a whistle as he strolled over to an outcropping metal box with pipes jutting from it and into the rock faces. He swung the box open and glanced around, frowning. He reached in and pulled out a large clump of rust, supposedly something important at one point in time. The situation was so bad, it was almost funny.

He dropped a tool box onto the ground and began rummaging through it, “support systems are pretty bad, and only a chance loose wire is keeping the lights flickering.”

Silvia watched him work with marx at her side and nodded slightly. “Wonderful, okay we have supplies in the back of the Land Traveler, please unload them and do what you can out here. I will go inside with Marx and see if I can find anyone,” she said before they left and made their way into the mines.

Jeremiah shrugged and blinked his dilated eyes before ramming a loose bolt into the circuit, forcing a few lights on completely by the sudden introduction of a new conductor. He smiled, that’ll keep it while I unload.

Crystal Mines of Altenia

Silvia made her way with Marx through the dilapidated mines looking for signs of life, it seemed that everything was shut down and there wasn’t a person to be found. This did not sit well with her until she suddenly saw a young Singer running towards her. Marx held his hand out as it began to glow red, a warning to the man that he needed to stop in his tracks before he took another step. Coming to a rough stop he waved his hands in front of him as he coughed a few times, trying to catch his breath.

“Life is treacherous,” he said as he gasped for air. Silvia reached up and placed her hand on Marxs arm and pushed it down slowly.

“Only if life doesn’t matter,” she replied. The man nodded and slowly stepped over to her. Marx looked confused but Silvia seemed to have a look of understanding coming over her features.

“I hoped it would be you, I’m Trevor. Come this way, Gwen is waiting. We sent everyone else home, saying the mine was closed for repairs,” he said as he motioned for them to follow. Silvia nodded as she followed him. “Is he okay?” he said motioning to Marx.

“Yeah, I just haven’t filled him in,” she said as she continued to walk.

“Filled me in on what?” Marx said as he stepped in front of Silvia. “What is going on?” he asked but Silvia just pushed passed him.

“Welcome to the Resistance,” Trevor said as they went deeper and deeper into the mines, far past what the public maps showed. Marxs mouth fell open as he followed and kept up with Silvia, her steps were quick and soon they were all in a jog to keep up with Trevor. Finally they came up to a door that had been built into the mine itself. Entering a quick code it slid open and Trevor motioned for them to step in. Once they had it closed heavy behind them.

“Silvia, I see you got my message,” the older singer said with a smile as she saw them enter. Trevor keeping guard at the door while Silvia went over and hugged Gwen. “It’s been too long, my god you have gown,” she said pushing Silvias hair out of her face.

“What is going on, who’s this, what’s this? Sil?” Marx asked confused as he found a stool and sat down.

“This is Gwen, lead Singer for Altenia, T-1 unaided,” Silvia answered. This small bit of information let Marx knew that Gwen wasn’t a Singer that had been driven crazy by the training. She was fully capable of running a tower. So what was she doing in the mines?

“I take it you never filled Marx in,” Gwen remarked as she took a seat. Silvia shook her head slightly as she stood there. “Okay, I guess I will. As you know Marx, the GTC is corrupt but things have remained in check for the most part. That was until the last fifteen years when power starting going to their heads under the maddening dictator ship of Gringer. Well, some of us finally started to fight back. A few years ago, I was on a layover on Earth and met this one here that you call Angel,” Gwen said as she motioned over to Silvia.

“I have been working as a Singer for a long time, wanting to be close to the crystals so I can keep an eye out on what exactly GTC was mining for since shipments of contaminated ore were being sent off Earth and other worlds without their towers knowledge. I was once a Tower Lead, but found I didn’t have access to what I needed without eyes on me all the time. So I feigned crazed stressed and became a singer,” she said as she went over some papers and kept handing them over to Silvia.

“What does this have to do with Silvia? Or a Resistance?” he asked, a rather concerned look coming to his features.

“Ask her, it was her idea,” Gwen said pointing over to Silvia.

“Angel?” Marx asked as he got up from his seat and grabbed the papers out of her hands. Silvia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

“I sort of started a Resistance on Earth against the GTC,” she said sheepishly.

“You did what?” he gawked as his eyes widened. “Are you freaking nuts! You’re going to get yourself killed!” he snapped.

“Oh can it Marx, if something isn’t done more people than just me are going to die. Sorry, rather have my own blood on my hands than yours you over protective lummox,” she hissed and snatched the papers back. “Gwen and I started talking; I was in my last year of training then. We came up with a plan that she would find the easiest planet to take over with the best military position possible. This was it. Tristans reign here made it all too easy for me to be able to get him out of the Tower Lead Chair. Gwen has slowly been working the population. Did you really think I couldn’t handle the other towers? Or that they couldn’t handle me? I mean, seriously Marx. I may be a handful but I know how to do my damn job,” she said as she walked away from him and started going back over the papers.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, hurt in his voice.

“Because I knew you would react like this,” she said flatly and he sighed deeply. He knew she was right, he had always been protective over her. If he had known he would have never allowed the transfer to Altenia, he’d have broken her legs first. Now she was here and there was nothing he could but either leave or jump in feet first.

“So what’s the plan?” he grumbled as he sat back down.

“First thing is first, Silvia has already begun by rebuilding the Tower and the rest of the planet. It will take time but we cannot make a move until the planet is fully capable and well…Until they are willing to follow her,” Gwen said as Silvia sat down and started making notes on the various maps.

“I doubt it will take much to get them to fall in love with her, she has that effect on people,” Marx muttered.

“Yes she does, that’s why I agreed to help with this but only under the insistence that it not be my rebellion but hers,” Gwen said as she took some of the maps Silvia had made notes on and started going over them.

“That makes her a target, the primary one!” he spat.

“Yes it does, but from your reaction alone it lets me know we made the right choice in Silvia. If the people of this world end up believing in her and caring for her half as much as you do, we can do this and slowly get other planets in this. The Towers want to revolt. They just lack cohesion. They need a focal point, she’s it,” Gwen said as she looked back over to Marx.

“And if she dies?” Marx asked coldly.

“Get it on tape,” Silvia said without batting an eye lash. Gwen nodded slowly, understanding what Silvia was getting at. Marx just sat there and rubbed his face out of frustration. He understood what they were doing and he agreed it needed to be done but the thought of losing his little sister to this nearly broke him.

Mor Of Altenia Tower

Craig nodded as Ailen relieved him, taking a quick look at his arm before making his way out of the Mor to get some rest. He wanted to ask about it but he figured it would be better to do so once he got some rest and was able to think more clearly. The Twins watched Ailen, looking at his new arm and both perking a brow at the same time.

”I have to say I am impressed with the work she did,” Gemini said telepathically to Gemine.

”She did, but it won’t help,” Gemine replied with a smirk on her lips that soon grew on her sisters. As Ailen addressed them they both shrugged slightly.

“We like being relief, it gives us more free time and less responsibility,” they answered together.

”Is it time?” Gemini asked Gemine through their mental connection.

”Almost, we will know shortly.”

Crystal Mines of Altenia

For the next half an hour Silvia and Gwen went over the information that Gwen had gathered on Altenia and what Silvia had acquired on the various planets she had gone to under the guise of training. Once they were done Gwen led them to the door, Trevor opening it for them and they all began to make their way out of the mines. They had managed to make it where the public maps started again when Silvia stopped in her tracks. Something felt off and it showed in her face as she grabbed Marx and looked at him in horror.

“I’m sorry,” was all she was able to whisper before a soft blue telekinetic orb surrounded Marx, Gwen and Trevor and sent them flying through towards the exit of the mine. Silvia turned and began to run but it was too late, an explosion ripped through the mine shaft and sent her flying back towards the direction where they had come from. What Silvia had felt was the lower octaves of crimson crystal resonating through the mine. Crimson crystal was reserved for one thing and one thing alone, to power deep terrain explosions for blowing out chunks of rock for mining purposes or in war efforts by the make shift army of the GTC.

“Silvia!” Marx screamed but it was not enough. The tunnels started to collapse and they had to make a break for it. Grabbing Gwen by the arm as the protective shield Silvia had encased them in faded away. Trevor had not been so lucky, he was crushed beneath the falling rock, unable to get to his feet before the shaft had collapsed. Gwen and Marx barely made it out of the edge of the mine shaft, a cloud of dust and rock shooting out of it as they lay on the ground and coughed dirt out of their lungs.

“Jeremiah! Com Tower, we need a rescue crew here now! Silvia is trapped inside!” Marx yelled as he rolled over onto his back and groaned.

"BEEP, BEEP, BE-BEEP, BEEP, BEEP..." Without opening her eyes Ashala turned of the alarm and sat on the edge of her bed. She scratched behind one of her ears and yawned. Getting to her feet she made her way to the bathroom and showered. The water helped to wake her up. She changed for work and grabbed her credentials, clip board, and comms on the way out the door. Ashala stopped by a fast food shop for the usual and some water on the way to the docks.

"They did what? It looks like we did nothing yesterday. They need to get us more people. I'm going to put the request in for 2 more dock hands during the lunch break." Thankfully most of this stuff was the Load masters problem. So their crew had to help. These were the rare times that protocol worked in her favor. Ashala looked around to see Brickhouse was gone. She made a note to find him later. "Its like we didn't do anything yesterday." Tank said, and gave the dock chief the run down of todays manifest and that a new ship came in the night.

The dock chief got on the comm and signaled Bombshell to visit the clinic and ask for @Salrynn Gaia. Ashala told her to be nice to her and make sure the good doc had whatever she needed. Ashala also wired Becky some funds for the week. This was also a good way to keep her face in the towers scanners and her name in the books. Jimmy stood next to the dock chief waiting to be noticed.

Being a dock chief gave the funds to purchase a translator. She thought if she couldn't understand what was being said then how did she know it worked. The counter sales rep tried ashala's language. It sounded like a malfunctioning comm unit. Ashala laughed all the way out of the store. "You go, see the doc, Gaia, during your lunch. Now, go get me some, water, and those crate manifest, for the files. Then, you go mark, the rest, of the crates, leaving, to the load master. Make sure, he signs this time. We're not going, to lose containers, because he is a, lazy ass." Jimmy rushed off until he turned a corner then walked the rest of the distance.

Kim was taking her time today which was still about everyone else's 90%. Ashala had to give her a bonus this year. The regular positive reports she gave Kim were nice but she had hinted about more pay. "I need more pay this year." Kim had told Ashala. Kim was a great worker because she was able to work with absolutely no guidance. If they ever made a machine that did what Kim could then that would be the end of everyone's job. Thankfully Kim had been at the top already and had no interest to return. When Kim first met her replacement she said, "Don't get in my way, tell me my job, or how to do it better, and we'll get along fine."

Ashala made work what others couldn't. This was her team and she truly appreciated every one of them. "Hiss. Brickhouse." She used the supporting frame work as a gymnast uses the double bar. A little effort on her part and a few flips through the air she was directly over him. Carrying a purr in her soft tone, her tail twitched with her true anger. "Honey, give me a kiss." His brow furrowed but his lips puckered up. She dropped on him using all her weight. He heaved under her boots. "Ugggh. I think you broke something." Ashala hissed, "Since your too sore to work the lift report to medical you baby."

"What about that kiss?" His smile turned into a pucker as he foolishly closed his eyes her ears went back and her eyes narrowed. She leapt into the air and spun in a half circle burying a boot in his muscled under belly. Putting him on his back Ashala asked in a firm tone,"Did it hurt so good baby?" She liked the combat, but playtime was over and she had work to do.

Jeremiah slammed the iron box’s door closed, in shock at the sudden explosion and even more in shock at Marx’s words. With little hesitation he rushed to the vehicle he had rode in on, and hurriedly searched for the linking device with sober eyes. Despite the adrenaline pumping through him, his selfish internal clock was beeping, telling him he had an hour before the withdrawals would kick in.

He scrambled a microphone to his mouth and with a loud vibrating sound the com fired up. He quickly filled in the other line of the com on what had happened, or at least what he knew. He dropped the com once all questions were exhausted with “no idea’s it just happened!” and rushed back to Marx. He scanned him once over, “how deep in is she, and are you okay?”

Outside the Crystal Mines of Altenia

Marx groaned again as he rolled over onto his side and began hacking up dust that had clouded around them from the explosion before crawling to his knees and taking a few long and deep breaths. “Back of the mine,” he grunted as he held his chest. “She shielded us, then flung us out of the way,” as he leaned over and coughed again. “I don’t even know if she is alive,” as he closed his eyes. “She could behind the collapse or…” he began to say but then cut himself off. He couldn’t bring himself to say that she could be dead buried beneath everything. Trying to clear his mind for a moment before looking over towards the entrance of the mine.

”Sil, Angel, can you hear me?” he asked telepathically but got no response. He tried again and again but still only heard silence. “She isn’t answering.”

“It could be the crystals, it makes it hard to speak telepathically,” Gwen said as she lay on her back just looking up at the sky. “We lost Trevor in there, thankfully everyone else had already been sent home,” she said as he brought her hands to her face and tried to shove any emotions she had down. She didn’t have time to morn her friend. If Silvia was still alive they needed to work fast. The air in the tunnels would only last twelve hours if they were lucky.

“Jeremiah,” Marx said as he stumbled to his feet. “Take the Land Traveler back to the Tower, then help coordinate getting workers out here with diggers,” he started before Gwen cut him off.

“No, the rock base is too unstable, we need talents to move the rock. It will go slower but it will lower the chance of a cave in,” she said as she stumbled to her feet and dusted herself off. “Go back, send talents and then get whatever you need to star fixing the ventilation. It is buried in the rock, with any luck if we can get that back up and working we can at least get air to her until we can dig her out,” she said as she pushed her grey hair out of her face. Marx nodded before looking back over to Jeremiah.

“She’s right, top speed man. Time is a luxury we don’t have,” he said before looking over at Gwen and they both stepped back over to the entrance of the mind shaft. Marxs hand glowing red as Gwens glowed green and rocks began to move from the entrance and back into the open field behind them. “And tell Craig not to let Ailen out of the Tower.”

Karras/JunKramma

Karras on top of his horse rode ever closer back to his village when suddenly the ground shook. His horse nearly bucking him off. She rubbed the side of her face. "Shhhhh calm yourself" He said and after comforting the horse with his words and touch he looked around. That was no earthquake,... felt like after someone had blown too much of a hole in the mines..... wait a minute,... there was no scheduled blasting today. He spat at the ground getting the dust out of his mouth that the horse kicked up. He then reeled back with the reins and took off. His horse changing course. He was shortly joined by a few of his kin. They must have felt it as well. The charged forward kicking the dry dirt up behind them. If one, just one of his people was caught in that he would skin the man alive who thought it would be funny to blast when there wasn't supposed to be.

He grumbled and spat once more. He kicked the sides of his horse with the heal of his fur boots to encourage her to speed up. He gave a nod to one of his brethren as they rode beside him. He took the lead as they headed for the mine entrance.

Ailen

Ailen sat at his desk chowing down on a banana and a coffee. In his ears were plugs to which filled his ears with a rythim of violins and cellos. There were many other instruments in it as well. It was Beethoven's Fur Elise. He liked the classical music to a strong degree. What he was working on was a small project while he watched the cameras. Every so often his hand trailing off from his old crystal to a button which changed the monitor to view a different camera. He was making a necklace and designing a S on one side of the crystal and a A on the other side. Silvia gave him his arm to forever remember him by, but she had nothing of his to remember him by. He wanted to fix that. He held it up for a second to look at it and then back at the screen. He smiled as he veiwed one of the docks. "Sorry Cat, looks like Silvia gave you a handful." He said looking to Ashala from the camera for only a second.

He had no clue what had happened to Silvia.........

The Mines

The Jun'Krama proved one thing, that technology doesn't always beat something more real and alive as his horse and five of his kinsmen began to reach the mines. He saw Marx and Gwen and hopped off his horse to run to them.
"What has happened?!.... has anyone been caught inside?" He said looking into the mine. One of his men checked inside and called out. "The damn ceiling has caved in."

"What where you people thinking blasting off of schedule!... this is why we wait for your talents to come so that THAT doesn't happen" He was a little angry.

Mining Operations Life Emergency Services Unit – Moles

In the main office of the Moles Unit a middle aged man sat with his feet up on the desk. He was broad of shoulder with rough features and short cropped blonde hair. Leaning back in his seat the chair squeaked slightly under his weight as he rolled a half smoked cigar in his fingers. Then the com came in and he leaned forward in his seat. “What? There was no blasting scheduled for today! Right, okay, we will be there soon,” he said as the com ended.

Rising from his chair he stepped into the door way to the next room and looked at the rest of his team; five women and seven men of various height, size and abilities. They all had their niche in the group and were brought together especially for when the shit hit the fan. “Alright Moles, we have a cave in in Sector 3-G. The Crystals Mines, unknown explosion, our new Tower Lead is trapped inside, status unknown. Prep your gear, we leave in Fifteen!” Lou ordered and the group that had been idling sitting twiddling their thumbs sprang into action. They were not needed often but today was one of those days they were.

Stepping back over to the com he raised Craig as HoS, on shift or not, when something happened concerning the Tower Lead, all coms went directly to him. “Craig, you get that com that came in?” he asked and Craig grunted slightly, having been woke up for it.

“Yeah, stumbling out the door now to the Mor, keep my posted of the situation once you get there and move fast man,” he said as he stepped into the elevator and took it up to the Mor. Stepping in he rubbed his eyes slightly then walked over to Ailen and pulled the plugs out of his ear before stepping directly in front of him. “I am issuing a direct order. Ailen you are not to leave the Tower. Direct order,” he said quickly before turning and accessing the Tower Com.

”Attention All Personnel, this is Head Of Security Craig. We have an emergency situation in the Crystal Mines. Moles have been dispatched. Infirmary prep for any incoming injuries and casualties. Engineering Department and Repairs Department prep for extractions. Incoming Land Traveler to get supplies. Tower is going on High Security Alert Procedures. You know the drill people, get it done,” he said before ending the Tower wide broadcast. Turning he looked back over at Ailen and took a deep breath.

“Silvia was inside when it happened. We don’t know her status, soon as I do, I will let you know but once again, you are under direct order not to leave the tower,” he said before looking over at the Twins. “Sorry girls, your shift just got extended but that shouldn’t be a problem. All T&C are cancelled until further notice,” he said quickly before sitting down at a console and began emergency procedures.

Outside The Crystal Mines of Altenia

Marx and Gwen worked as fast as they could but it was slow going with only the two of them and the rock base being so unstable. Hearing the Brax’Na approach she lowered her hand and turned to Marx. “You keep working, I got this,” she said as she turned and walked over to him.

“We didn’t blast, it was an explosion of unknown origin. Tower Lead Silvia was here to review the mines and begin repairs. We were on our way out when it happened,” she said as she motioned over towards the entrance. “We lost Trevor but Silvia managed to fling the rest of us out in time. She is trapped in there. I don’t know if she is under the rubble or behind it,” Gwen said as she rubbed her temples.

“We can’t risk trying to blast our way in, the whole thing could go if it hasn’t already,” Marx said as he continued to work. Gwen nodded and turned, returning to her position and getting back to moving rubble out of the way.

“Jun’Krama, I know it is a lot to ask but we could use some good old fashion muscle to help speed things up,” Gwen said as she glanced back over to him. “This is one time when brains and brawn have to work together. Otherwise Tristan might go back into that chair,” she said quickly before turning her attention back over to the task at hand.

Marx looked over to her slightly confused. ”Who is that guy?” Marx asked Gwen telepathically.

”Long story, just trust he is in charge of his men. They might be our only chance of making some headway before help arrives,” she responded.

In The Depths Of The Crystal Mines

A cloud of dust filled the cavern and on the ground lay the crumpled heap of Silvias body, laying there motionless under a small pile of debris. A single small hand sticking out from underneath it that slowly began to twitch. Suddenly the rocks erupted off her form and she began to cough; trying to clear her lungs but there was so much dust it wasn’t doing much good. Rolling over onto her back she groaned loudly but it wasn’t enough to be heard. From where she was in the back of the mines, in uncharted tunnels, she was cut off by nearly a half a mile of collapsed mine shaft.

“Ugh, what the hell happened,” she muttered as she slowly sat up. Her clothing was torn and she had bruised and lacerations covering most all her exposed skin. “Oh yeah,” she grumbled as she slowly began to remember the explosion and sending the rest of the group towards the exit of the mines right before it happened. “I hope they made it,” she said before looking around and sighing deeply. She began to feel like that little toddler once again, trapped inside rock and stone; shaking it away. “No, not this time,” she hissed as she rose from her spot and placed a hand against the wall; stumbling slowly back further into the mines. “Can’t go forward, might as well try back,” she said to herself as she continued to walk back to where they had had the meeting earlier.

Karras

Karras looked over at his men. He point to two of them. "You two go back to the village and get more muscle,... the rest of you start clearing this rubble. We surely can keep this deal with the GTC if the damn mines closed now can we?....and the first person who says... 'Why should we listen to a woman'... I will punch you in the face so hard you will be sucking your meals through a straw." He barked. It wasn't about the woman, it was about their pay check which just go caved in. He turned around and with the rest of his men moved into the mine he told them to stand in a line only five feet apart from each other. He then took the front grabbed a big rock and turned to face the man behind him. That man took the rock and then handed it to the man behind him, this continued until the stone was out of the cave. They kept this process going. "We have been working this mine ever sense GTC got here and made their deal with us.... sense then no unkown and unscheduled explosions ever occurring,... It don't take a tower lead to connect the dots here. It happened only once,... when your new tower lead entered and from what I heard and seen. She sure made a impact at the tower." He said. His intelligence always seemed to be a bit ahead of the curb so to speak. He has surprised many GTC officials with it. I guess you think people who lack technology are stupid. You would be very surprised.

He let what he said set in to their minds. He looked to his kinsmen. "You know its funny,... we are always treated like lesser beings then you GTS people. Yet you do not see my kin killing each other over a damn paycheck." He said.

Ailen

He did not have the reaction expected. Usually he would have ran out the door and into the elevator. I mean he was ordered by Silvia that he was to answer only to her from now on. He could flash that order in Craig's face and then run down there. He then blew air into his bangs. "What could I do anyways Craig. I am just one man, and I doubt even with this new arm I could be of any help....." He sat down and began tapping his chin and then looked to Craig.... "When was the last time that mine had a cave in?... even with the equipment that needed replaced we were always careful enough not to collapse it.... You know how it happened?" It was strange,... something was not right. The never had a problem at the mines. Maybe a singer breaking or two but nothing really big. It only occured when Silvia went to take a look at it. He spat..... "It should have been me going down there in that hole...." It would have been better if it was him lost in that mine. At least with him this operation of getting Tristan shot into a sun,... I mean prison planet. He smirked,... if he had anything to do with this... I swear I will have the shuttle taking him there unmanned and autopiloted directly into a sun. Have the shuttle send feed back of him frying just so he could listen to him suffer. He took a deep breathe and then let it out. He looked to Craig... "I wont leave the tower, but let me help some how, just tell me what to do."

Outside the Crystal Mines of Altenia

Gwen sighed deeply, she had worked with the Brax’Na ever since she started working on the planet but she never grew used to their ways. It was not that she thought they were less intelligent that any of the others that were around but she felt their testosterone clouded their judgement most of the time. “Listen to me or listen to your Jun'Krama, I don't care” Gwen said in an emotionless voice towards the Brax'na in general. “One woman in the course of a day was able to do more for your Village than your entire race has been able to in years. Might want to give at least that one female a bit more credit,” she added before lowering her hand and walking over to the entrance of the mines, taking a look around and sighing deeply as examined in the rock base.

“We need to get some beams to reinforce this before we remove anything else, this doesn’t look like it will hold much longer,” she said before looking over at Marx. Marx nodded and began lifting beams from the scrap piles and sending them over to Gwen telepathically.

“Listen, I don’t give a good damn what the issue is with anyone right now,” Marx said to both of them. “That is my sister in those mines. Talent, angel, woman, I really don’t care what you think of her or what you all think of anyone. And I could really care less about politics and shit. I want to get her out of there,” Marx added as he worked. “So shut the hell up, both of you and do your fucking jobs or you lose your symbol,” he said as he narrowed his eyes towards Gwen. “And you lose the one person fighting to give your Village equal footing on this planet as everyone else,” he growled towards the Jun’Krama.

Gwen sighed and nodded but half expected the Jun’Krama to try to put Marx through the wall for that outburst. “Okay, enough. Let’s just work on getting her out for whatever reasons we have to get her out. And no, I don’t think it was just a random occurrence. If we,” Gwen began before Marx cut her off.

“When we,” he corrected quickly.

“When,” she continued, “we find her we will ask her. Silvia felt something the rest of us didn’t. It was enough to give her enough time to save our lives and sacrifice herself. She might be able to shed some light on the situation,” Gwen said as she continued to take the beams from Marx as he sent them over before stepping back. “Okay Jun’Krama. I think we are good for a bit for your guys to continue.”

The Mor Of The Altenia Tower

Craig looked over to Ailen and sighed motioning for him to come closer to him. “Listen, this is why I wanted to keep you here. When it comes to her you either go all depressing or overbearing. Your mind gets clouded. If this was anyone else I would have sent you straight down to start investigating the cave in. We don’t have this happen when people are actually blasting, to have it happen after Gwen sent everyone home for the inspection is unheard of,” he sent telepathically.

Leaning back in his chair he rubbed his eyes and then looked back at the monitors and shot out of his chair. All the screens were blank. “What the hell,” he growled as his antenna twitched and then spun around; the twins were gone. “Find them!” Craig said to Ailen as he started to try to get the security cameras back up and running

The alarms were blaring, the dream she had was amazing on that night. She dreamt that all the kids were discharged from here and had happy and content lives… But she knew this wasn’t possible as she woke up from her sleep softly. Checking the time; she woke up way too early, but for Gaia she knew this was a excellent time to actually dilly-dally and not rush into work like usual. So she swung her tiny legs from the bed and flapped her wings, hoping they weren't damaged; besides… this was a good stretch for them!

Gaia finally took off her pajamas the moment she walked into the showers, placing her uniform onto a chair and had her shower which was essential; being an empath and all she didn’t want to stink while comforting others.

After getting out the showers she felt more awake and relaxed then usual. Gaia put on her uniform, making sure the slits fit through her delicate wings before making sure her dust was in her pockets; finally leaving her dormitory to shuffle along to her favourite time of any day… Working in the children's infirmary that she so loved and adored.

Upon entering the room the usual cries of ‘HELLO EMPATH GAIA!’ were called out and she was about to shout ‘Good morning children!!!’ Until one of the kids stood up and handed her something… ‘What’s this…?’ she asked kindly to the girl who was holding it; Olivia.

‘It was from a really nice lady named Silvia!!’ Olivia answered in return ‘she thought it would be useful for us and said it was a gift to you! hehehehe!!!’

Gaia was a bit confused at first but then she opened the box; revealing all it’s glory that was contained inside, it contained toys, teddy bears, hair products; you name anything that was kid friendly and it was contained inside the box. The kids cheering as Gaia sprouted out what the box contained.

Gaia started to enjoy her day even more as she sat on a child's bed, watching him play with some action-toy figurines and having fun with them. This was then when Gaia decided that this was her home after all; that she belonged here and that she will be always helping the kids as much as she possibly can within her powers.

It wasn’t long until she got a patient in from Ashala, and wondered what this patient technically needed, looking at the description of what the patient needed she decided to get to work; taking the patient named ‘Bombshell’ into her clinic. Using her empathic powers and various other things to get Bombshell comfortable immediately so she could give worker their treatment.

As soon as she finished Bombshells treatment she heard the comms and sighed, maybe she wouldn’t be able to spend time with the kids a lot today either after all…

Poor Gaia.

Ailen

Ailen rose up and looked to where the twins should have been and then looked around..... His eyes widened and he looked to Craig. "I am an idiot,..... The damn mine is a distraction!..." He ran to the door. "Send a security detachment to Tristan's floor." He yelled grabbing his side arm as he made it out. He pressed the button down to take the elevator down. He didn't think he could stand up to Tristan or the twins but he only needed to keep them busy until backup arrived. Please don't let me be right....

....the elevator door opened and he rushed to the security outside. "No one came down here sense Craig left the other day right?" He said. The guard in the left nodded.
"Yes sir,... No one has come in or out." Ailen nodded and sighed with relief. Using the guards right shoulder as support."Sir?... You alright..." He asked.

Ailen rose up and patted the guy on the shoulder. "No, i thought I would have a heart attack...." They both turned to each other and then back to him. "The twins have gone missing at just the worse of moments." Hd brought his com up. "Nevermind Craig. He is still secured....damn it, where the fuck are those asshole twins." He knew they were not ballzy enough to try what Silvia did in the hangar.... Where were they?... If I was them where the fuck would I be?...."

"Those cameras still out of service?" He asked into the comlink as he stood in the elevator. He tried to think now. Where were they?..."Okay,... Lets hust let our minds go to the idea that they are with Tristan some how. Side from helping him escape..... What could you do that would benefit Tristan?... Send a message out maybe?"

Karras

He looked to the beams and paused while they fitted the beams. Once Gwen gave the heads up they continued. The village wasn't too far from the mines. It didn't take long before more of the Braxnian people joined them. They had brought water as well. Just incase Silvia needed it and anyone else within. As far as they know She was alone in there.

Karras began giving orders to his people pointing them in every direction. "This would be better if we could use tools."....

One of the Brax'Na people went right up to Karras. "Is it true that we are trying to save some woman?" Karras turned to face the man. He raised a hand towards Marx and Gwen. Signaling he could handle the little outburst.
"That same woman is the new tower lead,... That same woman is going to keep our people feed with so many supplies we wont have enough room to store it all.... Besides would you rather have Tristan and have to wait once a month for a shipment from Srath?" He barked. With each word he stepped closer and closer to the man who kept walking backwards. "If your not going to help me, then go back to sitting on your ass in the village."

"You get in our way and I will put you down." He said. He then turned his back on the man. He continued to clear out as much rubble as they could without needing machinery.

Commissary of the Altenia Tower

Over on the 25th floor people that had done what they could and were awaiting for news of what was going on with the Mines and Silvia were sitting down and eating; many of them starving from not having food supplies for so long. Most of them going back for seconds and thirds. Though some could not bring themselves to eat just yet, especially the group that had been Silvia down in the repair docks the night before. They were worried to the point that their appetite was gone.

“You think she is okay?” one of the men asked another he was sitting next to, just pushing his food around on his plate before dropping it into the food and shoving it away from himself. The other shrugged lightly, not sure how to answer the question. He had no idea if she was alright or not but he couldn’t bring himself to think she was gone.

“She fine, you see she move help Master Ailen. Blink!” an old woman said as she snapped her fingers. “She gone and then blink,” another snap of the fingers. “She back. She fine, she move before rock hit. She fine,” she woman kept repeating. The others around her nodded and tried to force a smile.

“Old lady might be bat crazy but she has a point. A little mine collapse couldn’t take her out…. Could it?” another said and they just shrugged again before going silent and trying to force themselves to eat.

Over in a corner with a couple of bowls of soup on the table in front of them were the Twins, just sitting there and eating casually as if they had not a care in the world. They had other things on their minds but their task was complete. Now they just had to wait again.

”Now?”

”Now.”

Mor Of The Altenia Tower

A few flickers happened and then the monitors of the security cameras came back to life. Craig spun around and slid his chair over quickly. “How the hell,” he muttered as he started to search for the Twins. It took a few minutes of checking floors but he finally located them. “Ailen, they’re in the commissary…eating…” he said in a confused voice as he leaned back in his chair for a minute and rubbed his chin before sitting back up and trying to access anything that may have been caught when the monitors were down.

It was useless though, it hadn’t been the monitors that had been cut but the entire security loop. Sighing deeply he brought up the footage of the Mor right before the monitors went out and zoomed in on the Twins. He couldn’t find anything that proved that they had been the reason the loop went out but he did see them look at each other and smile right before it happened. It wasn’t anything that would hold up but it was enough to let his gut know they were up to something. Just what that was he had no idea but it needed to be figured out before anything else went wrong.

Tristans Quarters

Tristan stood at the window of his private quarters with a cold smirk on his lips as he heard the alarm go off and the announcement. Looking in the direction of the mines the expression on his face was one of pride and revenge. “That’s step one bitch, let’s see you get out of this one,” he said as he turned away from the window and paced around his quarters lost in thought of what his next move would be. He may be locked up he thought to himself but he had his ways.

His reach was far more than just his mind or physical body and as far as he was concerned it would take a lot more than some mere Earth Talent to keep him where he was for long. He knew if Silvia was not found they would have to let him out eventually to run the Tower, even if that was under guard. He didn’t care, his first move was to get out of his quarters and he was well on his way there.

Deep In The Crystal Mines of Altenia

Silvia was stumbling around in the dark; what power there had been was now gone. The air was quickly growing stale and the estimations they have made outside of the mines was completely miscalculated. The mine shaft had lost much more space and since the ventilation fans had already been out, there was little to no fresh air left even before the collapse. This combined with the fact that she was in a part of the mine now that was not even on the charts, she doubted they would find her even if they did dig everything out of the way.

Gwen and Silvia had agreed a long time ago that no matter what happened, that Gwen would never reveal what the Resistance was up to no give any clues to anyone where they were or what they were up to. She just hoped that Marx would keep his mouth shut but she knew how he felt about her and knew that he would let those feelings get in the way. For Marx there wasn’t a greater good anymore. He just protected her, that was his only focus.

Trying to take a breath she slowly slid down the wall of the mine shaft and stared off into the darkness; feeling as if she was at the end of herself. She was trying to hold onto to the good, the good she couldn’t see right then. With everything that was happening she was losing hope. Closing her eyes she wondered if Ailen was okay, after what he had said the night before, if he was able to keep a clear head through all this. If Marx lost it she couldn’t afford Ailen to and vice versa. One of them needed to keep their head in the game. They were the only two she trusted.

The lights were out all around her but she knew she had to move. Slowly she concentrated weak from the throw of the earlier to save the group as best she could. A soft glow started to emanate from her hand and cut through the darkness. Her other hand balled up in the ground below, sand running through the fist that she made. She was growing colder and feeling like she was slipping away. Taking a few long deep breaths she forced herself to her feet and pushed deeper into the mine shaft. She was determined to get out of there one way or another.

“Like hell I went through all this just to die in some fucking mine shaft,” she muttered to herself. “I just have to get through the day,” she said trying to cheer herself up as she kept stumbling through the mines; finally making her way back to the room where she had meet with Gwen, the door was closed tight though and with the power out she couldn’t enter a code to get it open. Sliding down onto her knees she rested one hand on the cold door. “I should have stayed in bed today.”

Outside The Crystal Mines Of Altenia

Gwen smirked as the Jun’Krama put the man in his place. “Perhaps if he keeps it up I could put him in his place and really give him some permanent shame,” she said as she eyed the one that kept giving the Jun’Krama problems before turning her attention back to the mines. Gwen and Marx continuing to add reinforcing beams to the mine shaft as the Brax’Na worked.

Marx remained quiet, just concentrating on doing what he could to help. Then he saw it in the dirt under some rocks that had been removed. “Everyone step back,” he said as he ran to where they had cleared. Reaching down he touched a dark substance that was pooling from under a large boulder. Reaching down he touched it, it was warm still. Sighing as he lifted his fingers up and it showed red against his skin. “I think we found Trevor,” he said with a sigh and lowered his head before stepping back and letting the Brax’Na get back to work. His crushed body would be revealed soon enough.

Jeremiah slammed his face into the wheel of the landskimmer. He let out a hot sigh, and huffed a deep breath before swinging himself out of the vehicle. He had managed to speed all the way to the tower, pick up equipment, load it almost by himself, pick up the moles, and launch himself at record speeds all the way back. Meanwhile the drug had started to leave his system and he was definitely feeling the fatigued bite of the withdrawal. His fingers felt a little numb, and he was starting to feel like slinking away from the others and just sitting alone somewhere. Dark circles colored around his eyes and he forced himself to speed to a metal panel jutting from the cold stone wall of the mine entrance, toolbox in hand.

No matter what he felt in his sore head, he knew there was a life, and possibly more at stake in the mines, and that was motivation enough for him. He ignored the others and went straight to work. He popped the panel open and slid gloved hands in.

Immediately it sparked violently and Jeremiah swore. The frustration from the lack of drug as well as the fatigue caused the outburst to really irk his ire. He grabbed the coil in question and without thinking he tore it from the panel and tossed it over his shoulder with a loud swear. Sparks showered his chest harmlessly bouncing off his suit.

He continued to mouth off to the circuit, quieting to a mumble. He shoved a new coil into the circuit and aggrsively striped and spliced it into a nest of old wires. He cut another wire and it protested with an airy hiss and buzz of electricity. He took the two ends and wrapped them around a thimble of metal and nailed it into the circuit, creating a new pathway.

The circuit started to buzz loudly and a small whirr of fans and electricity vibrated from the walls.

“It’s far from being up to code,” Jeremiah grumbled, “but it’ll get her plenty of air.”

The Mines

Karras had his men moving faster and faster. Then Marx seemed to find a blood pool belonging to Trevor. He sighed,... "Well at least he can get a proper burial." He said. Lets just hope he is the only one we will be digging a grave for. Damn that woman,... He thought in his head. "Damn that woman,.... she better not fucking die. I don't care if she is a woman, how dare she give my people hope for a better life. Then go and get herself stuck in a mine shaft. That's why you always send someone else to view the mines not the person who runs the whole show...." He said. He could not understand his own words or the meaning behind it. Did he seriously get worried over a damn woman? Perhaps he was more worried for his people. If Tristan got back into power his people would go back to starving and living of supply drops every month. He looked to his people and he was wondering if maybe they needed a change in how they saw the world. Right now this woman was their life line.

He decided to voice it to his people. "I am sorry, I know from the way I just sounded that it sounds like I am worried about a woman,..." He paused. His people looking up at him with raised brows. " This woman, isn't just some ordinary woman living in our village. She is the new tower lead replacing Tristan. With what I saw being sent our way afterwards our people would never have to starve again because of that woman.... I don't know about you ,but one woman might have lead to the near destruction of our people. It is also one woman that is saving us from fading out into nothing." He said. His people looking to each other and back to him. "This woman is our life line,.... and you might not like it, I have mixed feelings about it as well. BUT, if we don't get her out of here its back to Tristan, don't know about what you guys think but this woman is a upgrade from Tristan. A huge upgrade from that,... so you and the rest of our people can decide to continue hating woman and not help her and let our people die because of something as foolish as pride, or you can accept the fact that this Silvia isn't no chaos goddess and save her. There is more at stake here then you know. Our very survival is dependent on it. Ailen and Srath won't always be able to sneak supplies to us...." He reminded. They all looked to each other and sighed. They hated to admit it but their leader was right. Anything was better then Tristan at this point. He then looked up at the ceiling. He saw the fans not moving. "If we don't get those back online she will suffocate in there, before we reach her."

No sooner then did he say that, that some man rejoined them and with a few tweaks and work the power was turned on. Several lights in the cave going back on and he looked to the puddle. "Yup that is most certainly your friend Trevor,..." He said and then looked up to the ceiling the fans going around. He nodded. "Alright lets get his shit done!... " He said as he continued pulling rock from the cave. That was until he saw the moles.... "Those might be faster,... you think we can use those without the.... cave collapsing even more?" He asked Gwen and Marx.

The Tower

"They are in the mess hall?......eating..... I mean it's not like they are not allowed to, but it is still their shift. If they wanted some damn soup I would have gone down and grabbed some of my instant crap and brought it up for them...... wait they are there,.... Tristan is in here. Nothing bad has exactly happened except for the mines." He said. He clicked the button to take the elevator back up to the mor and once he got back into the room he looked about. His eyes narrowing as he tried to focus. "The T&C's have been cancelled right?.... " He said to Craig. He then walked over and sat in the main chair. He tried seeing it from the twins point of veiw. He moved to sit in the extra chair and gestured for Craig to sit next to him. "Lets just go there my friend,... We are the Twins, and we are in league with Tristan. With a good distraction like the mines happening and the computers taking a short shit. What would you gain by going to the mess hall to eat?." He said. "Or perhaps they did something in between their journey from here to the mess hall, and made us think they were just hungry. They are bringing our attention onto them for a reason......" He continued.

He slammed his fist down and got up throwing his hands in the air. "Damn it!,... liked it better when I was just stopping riots. This mind fuckery that they are doing to us is pissing me off. They are probably laughing at us right now. We are missing the big picture here and it could be right in front of us and...... wait with them in the comissary and Silvia in the mines.... it's as if they are telling us, by GTC regulations someone has to sit in the seat no matter what. It is as if they are telling us to slam Tristan back into the seat...." He kicked a chair in frustration. "If only I could use a damn large black crystal I would say fuck you to them and try it....." He then thought of what was at stake here and then looked to the seat. He had the skill, he was a teir 1 after all. The only thing that stopped him from the large crystals was his sensitivity. He did not feel anything from the shard in his arm, but it was probably because of the arm's modifications. There was a lot at stake right now and he did not want to release Tristan from holding.

He did not want them to win,.... Silvia is risking everything for this. Her pocket book for one and the risks she took saving him and will likely take for everyone else. She was willing to do so much for everyone not caring about her own state. He felt he needed to step up and risk something too. For the whole day he had thought selfishly. Could he use the giant black crystal just for a short time until Silvia got back or the twins?..... "T&C has been cancelled right?... so no catching or sending transports....... so using the black crystal has just been lowered to a minimum right?" He asked Craig.

"I am a teir 1 talent, logically I am able to control a black crystal....so it wont be against regulations." He moved and sat in the main seat again. "I ain't letting Tristan out of that damn floor,... no fucking way am I letting them win like this. I don't care if my brain dies in the process. Once Silvia returns this tower will be back online...." He said. He wasn't going to take any lip from Craig. "Also Craig, before you give me an order to not do what I am about to do. Back in the hangars. Silvia gave me a direct order that I follow her orders from now on and only hers. So don't you even think about it. OR would you rather let TRistan out and let him win? There is more at stake right now then me...... everyone in this tower is at stake. The smiles she gave them, the lives she has improved in a day no less..... to let that all go to ruin now.....No Fuck it, if it means I spend the rest of my days in a god damn asylum I will if it means I did my part."

Outside The Crystal Mines Of Altenia

Lou hopped into the Land Traveler with Jeremiah but the rest of the Moles took their rescue vehicles and followed; keeping pace with Jeremiah and their team leader. Once they arrived, they wasted no time with the others there; getting a quick assessment from Gwen before walking to the mouth of the mine and taking a look around. After a few minutes Lou looked back over at Gwen. “Keep doing what you’re doing here, we are taking another route,” he said before walking over to their main vehicle.

“Clive, Jewell, Antoni; I want you to climb and scan. Sephro, I want a resonance check. If that mine is humming I want to be prepared. The rest of you split up and check the ventilation outtake shafts on top of the plateau. Make sure they are clear of debris so those fans aren’t creating a buildup of pressure,” Lou ordered quickly and the crew got to work, securing their equipment and making their way up the side of the cliff that the mine was dug into.

Lou walked over to Jeremiah and nodded. “Okay, goof work, see what you can do about making sure all power into the mines other than the fans for ventilation is cut, we don’t need a spark being set off for another explosion.”

An hour passed as the Moles worked on their plan and did their scans; the rest of those keeping to what they were doing to try to clear out the mouth of the mine shaft. Trevors body was found crushed between the fallen debris and the ground below; Lou had it moved out and taken care of before being put in the back of one of the rescue vehicles to be taken to the morgue later on. Wiping the sweat from his brow he was about to go check on his crew when he heard Sephro yell from near one of the outtake vents.

“Boss, we got a problem. This baby is humming like a bee hive,” he said as he yelled up high up on the cliff face.

“Can we go in?” Lou asked.

“Oh we can get in but not a Talent around can without risking a level 1 mental melt down,” Sephro responded quickly before lowering himself down to the ground and taking a few steps over to his boss who was there waiting now.

“Think she could survive it?” Lou asked.

“From the scans it is sporadic throughout and being a T-1 she might be able to shield herself but the rest of us are screwed. We need a Basic,” Sephro said. “What about him?” he said pointing over to Jeremiah. Lou shook his head no.

“No, we need him out here if the fans die again but,” Lou said as he perked a brow and looked over to the Brax’na. “They aren’t affected by the crystals.”

Gwen and Marx looked at Lou and then at each other before both sets of eyes found and fell on the Jun’Krama. “You’re the only I trust not to try to kill her inside,” Marx admitted after listening to what the Jun’Krama had said earlier.

“Boss, we have movement. Sector 10-80-D, off the maps but whatever is down there is alive and small,” Jewell said through the com from on top of the plateau.

“Closest access point?” Lou responded.

“It would be a trek but 6-34-A outtake vent. It’s the only one large enough to fit someone through without having to blast or dig. Have someone cut the power to outtake vent 52 and get someone up here,” Jewell answered.

Lou cut the com and walked over to the Jun’Krama and looked him over. “Well, up to you man. You aren’t GTC so I can’t exactly order you in but she has already been in there over 2 hours. Even with the fans going we still risk another cave in. So, what’s it going to be?”

Mor Of The Altenia Tower

Craig rose from his place as he saw Ailen and perked a brow when he noticed he didn’t have the Twins in tow, sighing deeply he placed his hand over his face and listened to Ailens little rant; letting him finish before he said or did anything. Turning without a word he accessed the crystal generators and locked down the black crystal access ports with his emergency override code. Once he had locked it down to where only he or Silvia could override it he slowly turned to look over to Ailen. He was about to speak when he got a com in from the Mine.

"Craig, Lou here. We have one dead so far but we have completed our scans and have at least one alive deep in the mines. Small, very small but alive. From what I have heard, it has to be Silvia, so we are holding on to that," Lou sent through the com. "Plans are in the work for extraction. Moles out," he added before cutting the com.

"Good work, keep us posted," Craig was able to respond before the com cut out and then turned his attention back over to Ailen. "Well, that is good news but right now I have something else I need to deal with," he said as he looked at Ailen once again.

“Yes, T&C are canceled, the Tower is on lock down, a Lead isn’t required right now. Now, go ahead, enjoy your time in the chair. I am fully aware of what Silvia told you, she told me the same. I think you may be following the letter of what she said but I do not believe you are following the purpose of what she said. She told you that to ensure the Twins or Tristan couldn’t force you do something you didn’t want to. Not to totally disregard your job, which you have done by not bringing the Twins back to the Mor or staying with them, like you were assigned under her order!” he hissed as his antenna twitched.

“You may be a T-1 but you are not trained for that seat and even if you tried to use one of the crystals we have, which are all already bonded to another T-1, the crystal would melt you, sensitivity or not,” he said as he walked passed Ailen and towards the elevator. “I am recommending to Silvia a transfer of you off world, you are no good to me or her if you aren’t going to do your damn job. Which is security, not operations,” he said as the doors of the elevator opened and he stepped inside.

“Now, if you will excuse me Tristan 2.0 I have to go do your job and retrieve the Twins,” he finished as the doors closed and he made his way down to the commissary. Stepping off the elevator he made his way through the corridors and into the meal room proper, seeing the Twins sitting there and eating quietly. Stepping over to them he sat down. “Afternoon Ladies,” he began. “I will be escorting you back once you finish. Dangerous times with a Tower Lead in a cave in, we will need your skills if anything goes wrong.”

“Of course, we are just finishing,” the answered together.

Near the Entrance to the Resistance in the Crystal Mines

Silvia coughed a few times and was becoming light headed due to the lack of air circulation until she heard the fans power up. “I don’t know who fix that but they are going to get a big kiss when I get the hell out of here,” she mumbled slightly as she crawled over to the closest vent and began to take some long deep breaths. Once she had cleared the light headedness from her brain she pushed herself up and raised her hand once again, letting a soft glow flow from it to cut through the darkness.

“Time to find a way out of this hell hole,” she muttered to herself as she began wandering the mine tunnels. She eventually found another cave in but this one was different than the one at the mouth of the mine. This seemed to be caused by the hum of crystals she was feeling throughout the mine. It wasn’t horrid to her yet, only coming in waves but it was enough to keep her from using her abilities fully and just forcing her way through the debris; tilting her head to the side as she looked at the base of the cave in. She saw two more bodies but they were not dressed in singer gear but Tower Security Uniforms.

“So you two are the cause of this, serves you right,” she said as she spat on their corpses before turning and leaving them there to rot. Right now her concern was getting out of there and she had no idea just how to do that yet. She had checked the outtake vents as she went by them but the fans were spinning and the outtake shafts were too small for even her to fit through. “Great… just great.”

The Tower

Ailen smiled as his commander and chief left the room. Okay now that he is gone. He rose up and began looking around the room. "Now as you all know when those cameras went out that was it.... I did not hear no elevator opening or closing. Those Twins got out some how... lets find out how they did it."

He reached up the comlink and spoke into it. "Sorry Craig,... um..." He looked to the camera seeing that he had sat next to the twins. "Could you move out of ear shot from them...." He said "Just trust me, this is part of my plan." He added. He wanted him with the twins... he couldn't stand them nor could he do this. Once he saw Craig had moved he continued. "Keep those two distracted, I want to find out how they left the Mor without us knowing or hearing it." He said. His job was protecting the twins, but right now he had bigger concerns. He looked to a Basic. "Okay with that black crystal shut down I don't expect anymore tricks up there sleeves,... show a maping of every air duct and passageway in this room and plop it on the main screen here." He said. Sorry Craig ,but I need to do this. Go ahead and transfer me, your going to thank me by the time this is all over.

The Mines

The Jun'Krama did not even wait for them to finish. He knew what was at stake. He moved to one of his horses and hopped on. "Take me to it I will do what is needed for my people to survive." He said. He then gestured for them to lead the way. "We aint got no time to waste... no telling when those vents will quit on us again."

Commissary of The Altenia Tower

Craig rose from his place and excused himself from the Twins as he went and got himself something to eat while they were finishing their lunch. “You could have just asked instead of the charade when they were not around. It was foolish and you will still be transferred,” he said in a stern voice. He was actually finding himself angry at Ailens actions. They were completely uncalled for and if he is going to manipulate his own commanding officer that has had his back all these years he could not trust him to guard Silvia or the Tower.

“I know how they go out,” he added as he spooned some food onto his tray. “Simple T&C, they are linked, so they can easily pull off one just to the next floor with one tossing and catching for the other. They did it once before you were transferred her. Common skill between twins of such high ranking,” he added as he finished getting his food. “Again, if you had just asked you would have been informed,” he said before cutting the com and heading back over to the Twins and sitting down before he began to eat; making small talk with them as he did to keep them there since they were finished. He needed to eat as it was and did not want them to try to leave either. Thankfully they were easy enough to distract. They did enjoy talking about themselves.

Outside The Crystal Mines Of Altenia

Lou perked a brow and shook his head slightly as he pointed straight up along the side of the cliff to where Sempro had been. “Sorry man, no horse is going to get you up that flat face,” he said as he motioned over towards Sempro. “You’re going to have to travel the way the rest of the Tower folk do. Don’t worry, Sempro knows what he is doing. I promise you won’t feel a thing,” he added as Sempro came over to them and nodded slightly.

“Just relax, I will lift you up to the Vent itself and set you on its edge before I release you. Then you just have to work your way down into the mine shaft itself,” he said as he handed over some rope and an anchoring system. “Just push this into the stone on the outside of the vent to secure yourself once I release you. Simple climb down, about 100 feet and you will come out right behind the rock slide that is closing off the entrance to the mine.”

Lou nodded and then looked up. “Just wait for Jeremiah to cut the fan for that unit and then we can begin,” Lou added. “Wouldn’t want you to end up as Salsa.”

Being transfered didnt sound half as bad really. Then again he didn't want to be transferred. Craig was most likely serious, he always was. The transfer was coming. He figured he should look at it in a positive way. Even though there was nothing positive about it. He then felt his mind begin to think. "Why did they do it then,.... What did they want to prove or do..... Further more the explosion in the mine is too conveniant.... What bothers me is they chose the time when she would be there. Meaning the person involved had to know...." He said. The people involved had to know exactly when she would be there. "Silvia told Craig here that she would visit the mines right instead of me right?" He asked and people nodded. So the only people who knew where people in this room. They knew she would go and they knew the time as well.

Someone in the Mor tried to kill Silvia in that mines or keep her there for a reason. He began looking around letting the paranoia set in. He pulled up the comm again. "How many people knew Silvia was going to the mines..." He asked Craig. He then looked to a basic. "Pull up all the names of people who where here at the time." He wanted to investigate. Craig needed help doing so..."see i was supposed to go down there instead... I got this feeling if I had no explosion would have occured." He said again into the com. With the Twins distracted with small talk. He could figure out something and investigate. He was wasted watching over the twins.... So was Craig but.... I just dont like twins.

He was handed the crew manifest and looked at it. He he went through the camera footage making a mental check on all present at the tims Silvia made it known that she would go to the mines instead of Ailen. Everyone on the manfiset seemed present at the time. Those whose shift it was at the time of course. He then began to look around the room...... Trying to figure out something clever. If someone set off that explosion they might still be there and wint be present here..... So who was it. He began to look at who signed in with the elevator codes today... Trying to see if there were anything irregular. He checked everything not just those in the mor but those in the tower. Either someone here was missing someone told a person in the outside that she was going to be there. He would then begin looking at movement of the crew here on the camera as they moved about the tower when off duty or on their way to their shift.

Someone knew she was going. It was too perfect.