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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 0:45:44 GMT -5
In his dream, the worst one of all, he relived every moment he ever spent with Aya at a break-neck speed. Their meeting at the academy, his constant getting out of class to find her in the hall or wave to her through a classroom window, finding any excuse to take her on many of his flights, disappointing her father by not being a Saturn-native, breaking another guy's nose over her, showing her the crystal forests of Titan where they first made love. Then came the bad memories, just as vivid as the good ones; the bombing of the Titan capital New Arcadia by Saturn orbital dropships in which is parents were killed the first invasion of Saturn in which he personally destroyed many places he once called home from his corvette, hundreds of memories of war flashed before him, but the final one was his request to be in the platoon that eliminated the last string of resistance. He knew Aya was there, he had to stop her; that was how he ended up charging the last stand. He did see Aya, but it was the last thing he ever naturally saw. He saw it coming but he had to reach her, a Saturn rebel fired a grenade at him, the explosion threw him back and destroyed his eyes. It took him months to recover, all the while never knowing what had happened to her. He opened his eyes, finally awake from the nightmare. His eyes were just slits as he turned to his bedside and saw her. "No.. not again.." He shut his eyes and turned away.
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 0:52:19 GMT -5
It took her a few moments to phase out of the daydream. No this was not that hospital... the before hospital, this was the medical wing of the Godspeed. She smiled softly. Now she was calm and collected. Here, he was alive. She watched his face dreaming, and frowned lightly when it looked to be a nightmare. He was sure to have had many nightmares. Had she heard things? She edged towards the edge of the seat and found herself standing. Had Liam spoke just now? She stepped slowly towards the bed, her feet making little sound, as if it would cover a whisper. "Liam?"
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 0:58:48 GMT -5
His eyes remain closed, "No, don't say it." He didn't know why he still bothered trying to fight it, it happened every time whether he played along or destroyed his room.
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 1:01:15 GMT -5
Aya was confused, but she supposed he was confused too, body pumped full of drugs and a headache the size of Jupiter. "Say what? Liam... it's me, it's Aya."
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 1:09:40 GMT -5
"Yes it's you.. it's always you." His open hand lay just next to her, "Though I'll admit the scenery is different.." Tears seemed to be welling in his eyes.
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 1:12:05 GMT -5
Aya got to her knees beside the bed and put his hand to her cheek. "Liam, you silly ass... why won't you look at me?"
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 1:21:04 GMT -5
This was different, she was warm, the same warmth he had felt those many times years ago, the warmth he had been without for so long. He opened his eyes and looked to her, she looked different, not the perfect image that filled his dreams, a memory of the past; the uniform, the ship insignia, the way she looked now wasn't a figment. "Aya.." He was at a loss for words, no question seemed to be appropriate. "How..?" Was all he managed.
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 1:24:56 GMT -5
She chuckled a little at his surprise. "I was surprised too, when I saw you. After I was shot somehow I magaged to hang on. I was taken to a POW camp..." She paused, choosing not to say any more of it. The subject was difficult.
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 1:30:07 GMT -5
If he could move he'd-- well he wasn't sure what he'd do really, he wanted the grab her, to hold her, but anger also filled him. He gave a small laugh, "I should've known you'd find a way.. do you know how long I've tried to forget you..?"
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Post by KD on May 19, 2011 1:33:21 GMT -5
((Since everyone is dreaming of the past XD)) She hated being sedated because the drugs crept past her defenses, bringing memories she worked hard to keep in the back of her mind forward. It wasn't as devastating as it had been back when she'd been younger and had locked EVERYTHING away behind a tight wall of "I don't want to think about it ever". THAT little episode when she'd been in college had the unexpectedly good effect of getting her to go to a shrink, which in turn led her to not completely suppressing everything, just learning to cope with it. Price of rootlessness, motion sickness. Only cure, keep moving.Her mother had quoted that all the time. From some play. She'd joked about it but Celeste had often wondered if she didn't see a hint of pain in her eyes. Mother had grown up on Earth, after all, with all the awe and blessings that came with it, especially if you were well to do on Earth. But she'd fallen in love with a military man, a man born to lead ships, her only option was to follow him or never see him. Celeste had never known a home. Oh, life was comfortable, her father's status guaranteed that, but never permanent. Father himself was more of an awe inspiring figure but distant. Life was drifting but okay. Until her mother had died. Commander Hayward was everything an EarthGov soldier should be. Anyone who looked at him saw neatness, discipline, pride and duty. Who would have thought such a man could have so much passion, so much love, for one woman? Watching her parents when she was younger was like watching a fairytale couple. She'd been seven when her mother had died, but she already passingly resembled her. And by ten she was already getting compliments on how she was as beautiful as her mother... In the dream she was still in those years...somewhere between ten and eighteen... A girl so young wasn't supposed to feel that icy fear that paralyzed you from head to toe. Wasn't supposed to hate so much... She hated his scent. Hated the weight of him. Hated the heavy sound of his footfalls, even. Hated the way he would creep through the dark of the night. Even to this day a person's shadow falling across her made her jumpy. And she hated, most of all, that when he told her no one would believe her, he was right. He was absolutely right. A man so looked up to. Admired. Respected. Of course she was the one who had to be sick, not him. Never him. Celeste sat up with a gasp, her gaze flying to the doorway automatically. Her mind realized she wasn't in any danger but it took her a few moments to convince her body. She relaxed slightly and leaned back into the pillows. There was more than a decade between then and now. Since she'd taken her mother's name- which had shocked the people of Earth who knew her, how could she not want such a prestigious name? -no one made a connection between the glorious Commander Hayward and her out here in space, that was how she liked it. She considered rejecting everything about him in her professional and personal life a way to balance out the fact him sending her to a good school on Earth had, essentially, been a bribe. She'd thought she didn't have a choice at the time, now, and for the rest of her life, she wondered if it wouldn't have been better if she'd just cut all ties with him right off the bat. Found some way to pay for schooling herself, even if it would have taken her years. Maybe she would have felt cleaner, the break sooner. You'll never know. No use dwelling on it. She sighed and closed her eyes. Damn sedatives. And even though they knocked you out, you still woke feeling tired. ((The play that quote came from is Angels in America by Tony Kushner))
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 1:36:35 GMT -5
She lowerered their hands, linking her fingers with his, and setting them down on the bedside. She sensed his anger, "Liam," She began softly, "if I would have known you were alive I would have searched for you. I've never forgotten you, though I admit those memories were also painful. I saw you fall on the field... that day."
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 1:50:18 GMT -5
(Ooo, creepy KD.) "I did search for you, I searched every ship and prison colony, everything I could find.. but.." He lowered his eyes, "I don't know where they took you.. it must've been something damn well hidden. I didn't see you die.. so I couldn't believe you really did.. but so much time passed." He looked back to her, "I even took a turn on a moon-base to try to be alone with my thoughts. I was never really alone though.. you never left my dreams.. my nightmares. " He looked into her eyes, his green synthetic iris focused on her. "I can't tell you how much I loved you.. every day was hell for me when you were gone.."
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 1:58:21 GMT -5
She blinked as he spoke, tears coming to her eyes. If she had only known... then she would have gone down a very different path. Though if she did, she wouldn't have found herself here on the Godspeed, an assignment she called a blessing. She bit back her terror at relaying the past and began hesitantly. "After about a year in the POW camp, some of us were taken to a research facility rather than being transported to Mimas. They told me I would gain my freedom if I was to cooperate. So I did what I was told. When I was released, I went back to school to try to make a future for myself. All of my hard work took me to the Godspeed. "Liam, I'm sorry our worlds forced us apart. I loved you more than anything, I was crushed when we were separated. Most of the time when I was in that prison, I wanted nothing but to be dead. You're my light, Liam. You always were."
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Post by Joe on May 19, 2011 2:07:10 GMT -5
"What.. what did they do to you?" He started to try to sit up, his thoughts for a moment flashing to Celeste. "I.. I don't know how I should feel right now.. I need to get up.. I need.." He started to struggle with the equipment.
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Post by Jenny on May 19, 2011 2:09:29 GMT -5
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She wasn't sure if she could deal with that yet. Aya let go of his hand and stood up, putting a hand to his chest. "Liam, please. You'll pass out again."
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