TSW 27: John and Robin's Dreams

	IcePickLobotomy	Time: September 3rd, 1974, 2:32. Location: Seattle, Red-Zone Echo.
	IcePickLobotomy	The fire grows stronger, flames licking hungrily at the buildings. Bullets snap and hiss around you and Artyom as you hunker behind the burned out wreck of a car. The chattering fire of Artyom's LMG as he sends fire down range, coveirng the rest of the unit as the fall back, leaving the dead and wounded where they lay. Even if they would survive the wounds, a suit breach is as good as a...
	IcePickLobotomy	...death sentence here.
	JohnH	pops his head out to the side just enough to get a view
	JohnH	"Are we clear?"
	IcePickLobotomy	JohnH: A bullet pings off the car a few inches from your head.
	JohnH	pulls back "Nope." He points a finger at a nearby building "On my count, moving there."
	IcePickLobotomy	Artyom nods, "Their, MG should be reloading soon. Where do you Americans get these things?!"
	JohnH	"A little place I like to call the U S of A -" John pauses to stick his gun over the cover and fire a few wild shots
	JohnH	(without popping out of cover)
	IcePickLobotomy	The enemy fire slackens as the MG reloads, giving you and Artyom a chance to fall back into better cover.
	JohnH	ducks low and shuffles as fast as he can to the next covered spot
	IcePickLobotomy	Artyom kicks down the door to the building, a old three story tenement of some kind. A few moments later the car goes up in flames as a RPG slams into it.
	JohnH	"To the second floor, set up in one of the windows."
	JohnH	"Don't give away our position unless we need to."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Right, come on then," He motions for the others to follow as bullets sip and crackle across the face of the apartment.
	IcePickLobotomy	 As you mov- Reality flickers, a wash of static and white-noise sweeping across you, for a moment you see a jungle, buildings of worn concrete and stell beneath a pink-hued sky. -e up to the 2nd story, what remains of your squad following as Artyom knocks over a bookshelf as a impromptu barricade.
	JohnH	throws his hand to his head and shakes it for a moment to clear the sensation
	IcePickLobotomy	"This is Blackfoot-3, we are inbound on your LZ, red smoke to mark your location, over." The radio crackles. Relief, the evac helio is almost here.
	JohnH	"Roger" John pulls a smoke grenade out of his vest and offers it to the closest squadmate "Take this to the roof. If you think you can hold up up there, pop it. Otherwise, recon a safer LZ and radio back"
	IcePickLobotomy	The man nods, the fire-team downstars opens fire "We got contact in the streets! Platoon stren-" The voice is cut off by the distinctive booming rapport of a M2 .50cal "Fall back! They've got a technical!" Another voice cries from below.
	JohnH	"Block the stairs!"
	JohnH	starts pushing furniture towards the staircase
	JohnH	"Fall back, we're block the staircase"
	IcePickLobotomy	You fal- It flickers again, you can see someone in a clearing, approaching you. Female from the shape of the -l back to the 2nd story, gunfire pours in from the windows, wood tearing apart as rifle rounds and MG fire quite literally chew the windows up.
	JohnH	shakes his head "Be ready to fall back to the third floor! Be ready to set claymores on the stairs!"
	IcePickLobotomy	They fall back, setting mines along the way. Thankfully the roof gives you cover fro- She's closer now, she's nude, not that it matters. She's covered in flowing blood, almost as if she was made of it, a pair of red eyes glare out at you, her teeth gleaming a sharp white contrast against the dark crimson of her body. -m the Mg and rifles. You can hear the distinctive "Woop-woop-wopop" of the...
	IcePickLobotomy	...BlackHawk in the distance, not too far at least.
	IcePickLobotomy	Static hisses and whispers in your ears
	JohnH	places a hand on artyom's shoulder "I have a bad feeling about this. Be on guard."
	IcePickLobotomy	"No shit. . . Sir."
	JohnH	frowns for a moment, saying nothing
	IcePickLobotomy	The landmines go off, and the pair of men on rear-guard chuck their grenades downwards for good measure. You hear the ripping sound as the door gunner to the black-hawk opens up with the chain gun, a stream of tracer fire streaking into the street. The MG goes silent.
	JohnH	"To the roof!"
	IcePickLobotomy	A few sporadic rounds of rifle fire ping off the heliocopter as it sets down on t- She's close know, you can smell the sweet scent of rot now. It's intoxicating. -he The gunner waves you and what remains of your men into it.
	JohnH	waits for everyone to get in, then hops in last "We need to go. NOW!"
	IcePickLobotomy	It lif- |You are right, you do need to go.| - Static roars and hisses, your vision flickers and distorts with interference. She's standing in front of you |Isn't that right Murderer? You need to go, but only where *I* say yo will!|
	IcePickLobotomy	She smiles, a feral and malicies grin as she reaches out and grabs your throat |You will die Hunter, but only after you flee in terror until your feet can take you no further, just like so many you have killed did.| Static screams in your ear, your vision flickering between the helicopter and the jungle. With a contemptuous ease she tosses you from the helicopter, through the fire and...
	IcePickLobotomy	...flames. You black out when you hit the ground. . . .
	IcePickLobotomy	Time: ??? Location: ???
	IcePickLobotomy	And find yourself laying in the jungle clearing, The burning wreckage of the helicopter a few hundred feet from you, your rifle clutched in your arms still.
	JohnH	lays for a moment, taking in the surroundings before realizing what happened. He jumps to his feet and immediately runs to the wreckage
	IcePickLobotomy	Nothing. No bodies even. Just twisted metal and plastic amidst burning jet fuel.
	[QUIT]	Disconnected from irc://irc.systemnet.info/ (irc://irc.systemnet.info/). [Reconnect]
	JohnH	grips his rifle tighter and eyes his surroundings
	IcePickLobotomy	You see the woman made of blood step out from the bushes, she saunters closer to you in a sultry fashion |Oh /Hunter/ | SHe sighs |I suggest you run.|
	JohnH	fires a few shots at her, backing away
	IcePickLobotomy	The first few rounds hit, splashes of blood streaking away. . . only to slow and pause, before pulling themselves back into her form. She laughs, it tinkles like bells across your ears, sending the hairs of your neck up and a shiver down your spin. That wasn't a human laugh. |Oh /Hunter/ you will not find me so easily killed like the others.|
	JohnH	frowns, but doesn't lower his gun "What do you want" He is still backing up
	IcePickLobotomy	|Oh that's simple. . | She draws closer, almost in arms reach |I want you to *SUFFER* | She lashes out, tearing the gun from your arms and leaving a shallow set of scratches across your chest. |I Want you to run in terror like the ones you killed. I want you to die.|
	JohnH	staggers back, well out of arms reach, then pulls out his knife "There's no point in running."
	IcePickLobotomy	|If you don't run. . .| Her face morphs, Arina's face now facign you, a ugly snarly marring her good looks |I'll move onto her next. . . So run Hunter, run so that I may spare her your fate.|
	JohnH	takes a few steps back "You wouldn't."
	IcePickLobotomy	|Why wouldn't I? You killed them all, and if you don't sate me I shall make you weep as I did. Run.|
	IcePickLobotomy	She steps closer, smiling, leering. |Our time is almost up, think well, for I shall see you again tomorrow night.|
	IcePickLobotomy	And then you dream.
	IcePickLobotomy	You dream of Starless Skies and Strange Vistas
	IcePickLobotomy	----
	IcePickLobotomy	JohnH: When you awaken you notice. . what looks like mostly healed scratches on your chest. Right where she clawed you
	JohnH	grabs at his chest, almost clawing, as if something is stuck to him
	IcePickLobotomy	It stings where you touch the wounds, faintly. there's no blood though, it doesn't appear to have broken the skin.
	JohnH	gasps for air, as if he had been holding his breath
	JohnH	Fear fades and turns to anger, realizing that this wasn't just a dream

	IcePickLobotomy	Location: ??? Time: ???
	IcePickLobotomy	The last thing you recall was the whispering of the wind through you window as you lay in bed.
	IcePickLobotomy	And now. . .
	IcePickLobotomy	[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy4nKwWd6cI ] You find yourself standing atop a plateau. Reddish rocks and soil lay at your feet, cracked and dry. The moon hangs overhead, full and bright as it's silvery light shines down. You can see a endless expanse of flat and cracked earth leading off into the horizon, the only landmark being the 50 foot tall or so cliff-face you are standing upon....
	IcePickLobotomy	...The wind stirs, cold and empty as it whispers past your ear mournfully.
	RobinE	looks around for something, anything, to guide her.
	IcePickLobotomy	She's standing behind you, the woman with blue hair and red eyes. She's wearing akong black dress, her face somewhat obscured by the black veil over her eyes. "Hello again Robin." There's something deeply familar about her, you can feel your blood stir within your veins.
	RobinE	"Again? I don't remember..." she gazes down, trying to thing of who this is.
	IcePickLobotomy	"You can call me Lily," She smiles, soft and empty "I was a friend of Kasra's. He spoke well of you when we talked."
	RobinE	"Lily? hmm. Kasra's not gonna be seeing you anymore, I'm sorry." her head droops.
	IcePickLobotomy	"I know, I just. . . is it wrong that I wanted to speak to one of his closest friends?"
	RobinE	"I guess no- closest?" she looks back to Lily, "What about John?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I'm afraid I cannot find him at the moment."
	RobinE	"Oh..." she stands there silent for a moment, "So you want to talk to me?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"If you'd like to, I thought it might help both of us, I cannot attend the funeral afterall."
	RobinE	"Huh? Why not?"
	IcePickLobotomy	She sits down, legs dangling off the edge. "I met Kasra. . . almost 8 years ago? Just after his parents died."
	RobinE	goes to sit next to her, "Oh, wow."
	IcePickLobotomy	"It's. . . a tad complicated I suppose, but I hope you do not think poorly of him never saying anything, I asked him to not seak of me you understand. I'm . . . worried about what METI might have done to him had they known I was speaking with him."
	RobinE	"I... yeah, that makes sense," she rubs the back of her neck, "I wanted to hide Lana too."
	IcePickLobotomy	She nods. "I. . wanted to be there for him," She speaks stiffly "To try and protect him, at least for a bit longer." She sniffles, tears flowing freely across her face.
	RobinE	, not being great at compassion, tries to put a hand on Lily's back, "hey, it's alright."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Death finds you all in time, but the pain never lessens, yet I cannot help but be drawn closer." She smiles to the moon humorlessly "We never could escape the Hedgehog's Dilemma could we?" She says to someone no longer present.
	RobinE	"I, uh, sure."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Sorry, I am babbling."
	RobinE	"Everyone copes differently." she shrugs it off.
	RobinE	"I don't think I'll get used to losing people either."
	IcePickLobotomy	"It gets. . . you learn how to deal with the pain in time, but it never really stops, not unless you decide to cease partaking in that joy of companionship,:
	RobinE	"It might be worth not having that pain."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I've lived for years longer than any human has, and I can say that it is worth it."
	RobinE	"It better be, for what it costs," she sounds a bit angry.
	IcePickLobotomy	"In fairness you're not in a sitation that most would be." She sighs "I am sorry Robin, but it is not the fate of a pilot to lead a happy life."
	RobinE	"I noticed," she says coldly.
	IcePickLobotomy	"I apologize."
	RobinE	"You didn't sign me up."
	IcePickLobotomy	"True enogh. . . I suppose, what would you like to speak of or ask of me?"
	RobinE	"I don't really know you, I wouldn't know what to talk about."
	RobinE	"Well, lets start with who. I know your name, but not much else."
	IcePickLobotomy	"In the interest in honesty, I can tell you I'm not human, though I am still a person, nor do I intend you, your friends, or humanity harm."
	RobinE	shivers, "I trust you, Kasra wouldn't have been your friend if you meant harm."
	IcePickLobotomy	She nods, "Mary and Arina also know me, though I know that Arina thinks unfairly of me, I cannot blame her for such."
	RobinE	"oh," she sounds a little suprised.
	RobinE	"I, uh, so," she shuffles a bit, "are you doing to find someone else to be your friend?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I"d like to, but not at the moment I;m afraid, I'm rather busy, perhaps if things settle down.:
	RobinE	"busy? Do you have a part in this war?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I do yes, I have my own stakes and reasons to see humanity survive this trial."
	RobinE	"Good to know we aren't alone I guess."
	IcePickLobotomy	She nods.
	RobinE	"I feel like I'm here because you had something you wanted to talk about, is there something?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"No, I won't ask anything of you, you've already been asked to give so much."
	RobinE	"I uh," she looks like she wants to ask something, "you said you weren't human."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I'm not,"
	RobinE	"I had a dream one night, there was a statue with 7 eyes," she looks uncomfortable, "do you know who that is?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I do."
	IcePickLobotomy	She sighs, closing her eyes.
	IcePickLobotomy	"It's . . . like this, I come from another world, so much like yours and not. A man sought to bring his wife back, so he harnessed the power of a God. TO do so he created a girl to control it, crafting her flesh like clay. And then the Angels came, and she and two others did battle with them.
	IcePickLobotomy	They won, their enemies defeated, but they were broken by it, and in the end it was a group of humans who also sought the power of the God in order to deny death, they came and fought. The girl, my mother, denied the Man his request, for she had fallen in love with his son, her comrade in arms. And he asked for it to end. So she ended it."
	IcePickLobotomy	"But as she claimed Godhood, a part of her spun off. Part divine, part human, that part slowly grew, using her memories as a basis for her being. And so I came to be. The child of a human and the 7-eyed Goddess called Lilith by the humans of my birth-place."
	RobinE	"Lilith"
	IcePickLobotomy	:Yes, such is her name."
	RobinE	"well, now I know what to call it-her."
	IcePickLobotomy	"A Progenitor, a sentient engine of creation created by The First ones to seed life across the stars."
	RobinE	"So it wasn't bad to see her in my dream?"
	IcePickLobotomy	"I cannot say, I know that there /was/ a Lilith upon this earth once, but where she has gone I do not know, or even if she remains. I dare not open myself to her least I lose myself."
	RobinE	"oh, ok," she is now lost in thought a bit.
	IcePickLobotomy	"It may perhaps be a blessing, or a curse, but is certainly something of note."
	RobinE	"Would you mind not telling the others about my dream? If you see them again."
	IcePickLobotomy	"I shall, unless I find reason to think they have placed you in danger in which case I may tell them so that theynmay aid you, is that agreeable?"
	RobinE	takes a second to think about it.
	RobinE	"yeah, I think so."
	IcePickLobotomy	She offers you her hand, dainty and pale, it almost glows silver in the moonlight her skin is so fair.
	RobinE	hesitantly puts her hand out to take Lily's.
	IcePickLobotomy	"If you need or want to talk, I'll see you again."
	RobinE	"oh alright."
	RobinE	"although, you might catch Lana sometimes."
	IcePickLobotomy	"Oh that's fine, I'd be happy to speak with both of you."