[L] (CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) [EVENT] ** Whatever strength 984 had left, has left. There's a 'thump' as the unit slouches over to the left, falling against the floor as 815 takes her attention off her for the moment to get more bandages. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 moves to right Callie's position. She doesn't even bother do check if Callie's alive. She keeps working.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** There was no saving her. Her arms splays out to the left, beside 684's feet. A finger twitches, perhaps a beckoning for David. **
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** No delay. David moves up and gets onto a knee. **
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** The Squad Leader doesn't seem to notice or care for the gesture. It's not until she beckons for 684 that she pauses, frozen in place. **
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Callie?
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454 glances up to 684, lips quivering. She goes to speak, a whimper escaping her bloodied lips. Once she realizes she really can't speak, she mouths. "Thank you."
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] No-no--
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 breaks out of her funk, immediately resuming her work.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** Tears. David's eyes begin to tear up and he immedietely reaches for her hand with his own. He gets down next to her, close, and his voice is that of a mutter. It's barely audible, the English is broken. **
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Callie- please- you're so close. Everything- the one thing you wanted. We're almost there.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Don't lea- leave us here. Don't leave me here. What can I do? What do you need? I will do anything.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: She needs a fucking transfusion! I don't have saline!
Ariana Tucker: S- aline?
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454 brows furrow together at his words. It brings out another wave of tears, the idea of never getting her wishes. Her crying cuts off, sending her into a coughing fit.
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 seems to speak of independent accord. It's entirely possible she wasn't even responding to David.
** Ariana Tucker simply pushes the bag forward, then. It's a bag filled to the brim with medical supplies- Tucker prompting for either of them to try and use the items to work with the fatally wounded unit.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** It seems the Squad Leader has her own medical equipment. A pair of EMT shears, a roll of bandaging, packing gauze containers all rest scattered about. **
** Ariana Tucker lets it sit forward regardless, respecting the scene.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** Blood splatters on her own cheeks from the fit. She looks deathly, even horrific to those who had known her in her prime. **
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 just keeps talking. This was too much for him. He repositions his arms to lift Callie from the back, only slightly. He looks her dead in the eye.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] C'mon- Callie. Please. If I could swap us right now, I would. There's got to be something. Anything--
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: Mh.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] I killed him Callie. I killed him. I shot him and ripped his mask off. Can you hear that? He's dead.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** The Squad Lead seems to grow agitated as David speaks. She tries to push him aside again, lighter this time. Her focus is almost entirely on saving the mortally wounded woman. **
CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454: [WHISPER] 608. I-... killed.
[L] ** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 slowly makes his way around the building, joining Tucker.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** He's not budging this time. The man continues watching her, speaking to her. He shakes his head in disbelief. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454 looks up to 684, a faint smile cracking on her lips as he speaks of 585's fate.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] It doesn't matter anymore. Everything's over, Callie. You hear that? Everything's over. Just hang on for a little longer.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] Callie--
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] Just-- hang on--
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] I can fix you.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 stops in his tracks as he realizes the situation. He simply kneels down, setting the AR2's stock against the ground.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** At 684's trail off, the woman goes completely limp. David sees the light fade from the woman's eyes. One last shaken breath escapes her broken, bloodied lips. That's it for Callie. **
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] No- no! I need you!
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529's work becomes even more frantic, even after the unit is dead. She tries to continue keeping the dead unit alive.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** He collapses. The tear and blood covered agent leans forward and pulls Callie's now deceased corpose close. There's nothing left to say as he cries; that's it. He cries. Nothing more, nothing less. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529's work is forced to end with David pulling the corpse towards him. The Squad Leader jerks to her feet, stumbling backwards as she drops her tools-- a pair of forceps and a bottle of packing gauze.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Callie. Callie. Callie. Please- no. I'm sorry. I failed you, I told you- you didn't make it out.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 shakes his head, standing back up.
[RADIO-DISPATCH] Vital signs for asset CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454 have ceased. Remaining units contain.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** The only response the man gets is Callie's ice blue eyes staring back up to 684, now forever frozen. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 reaches for her face. With her stands stopped by the mask, she holds onto that instead. The Squad Leader, with all her uniform's apparent glory, breaks down into sobs and slides down the four planks to the floor.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [YELL] Fuck him, David. Fuck the Commander.
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 doesn't let her go. He's cradling her body, keeping it close. He rocks back and forth, mumbling words of sorrow and regret; anything to bring her back. It was all for nothing.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** "WHAT?" he asks, finally breaking from his sorrow. "What?" he asks again in a hushed tone. He's still holding Callie's body. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529's head jerks to the origin of her name.
Nat Shapiro: What happened to her?
(Alaire Vidal) ** A familiar - perhaps - bandaged face peers down at her. The gnarled hands, burned by acid so long ago, are echoed by what patches of skin can be seen around his eyes. **
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: He killed her. 585- the Sector Commander.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: He shot her without warning.
Alaire Vidal: And he got blown to hell.
** Miroslav Moroshkin wipes the invisible sweat from his brow.
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529's masked head jerks back to David.
Alaire Vidal: -- Better than he deserved.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: You killed him.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** "I-- I-- He--" he continues. "I shot him. I shot him-- I ripped his breathing-- I killed him." **
Nat Shapiro: Good.
** Alaire Vidal doesn't bother objecting. The malice in his eyes is enough.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: 509-- silence!
Alaire Vidal: He isn't wrong, 815. He used us. All of us.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** The Squad Leader's head snaps back to Vidal. She seems to slowly digress into instability. Only a moment ago she was denouncing the Commander's name. Among her pins, for those in the know, remains a Merit of Education. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 echoes the statement. Her vocoder crackles, "He's dead."
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 turns from the others, looking back onto the body of Callie. He was at a loss for words now. Nothing left to say.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: It was never about ascension--
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 cups her head in her hands again, shaking it.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** The warmth from Callie's body slowly dissipates, her body slowly growing cold in 684's arms. **
Marieta Johnson: Oh.
Morgan Linseed: Oh. God, I'm sorry.
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 flinches at the new voice. A hand instinctively reaches for her sidearm before she catches the impulse.
Marieta Johnson: Christ.
** Alaire Vidal looks over. There's a moment, after a while, of recognition.
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428's breathing is unsteady. He looks over 81529. "Wha- wh... what do we do now?" His English is still broken.
Alaire Vidal: Y'wanna know what I'd do?
Alaire Vidal: Burn the uniforms.
Alaire Vidal: Live lives.
Morgan Linseed: Probably a good idea. The uniforms send the wrong message.
Alaire Vidal: Cerberus aside.
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta looked off to the cops now, staring each one down with intent. **
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529 glances to David.
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 turns back to face the others now. His face is paralyzed, face contorted and mouth agape. He doesn't know what to say. Tears are still crawling down his face.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: We...
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: We have nothing now.
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta only returned a nod to the statement. It's all that she could put out, at this point. **
Alaire Vidal: We have one another.
** Alaire Vidal ventures slowly. He's almost offended at how cliche it is, but he continues.
Alaire Vidal: -- In a practical sense.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: Hnh.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** The woman was young, could not have been older than twenty-five. Aside from the blood speckles that covered her lips and cheeks, she had quite the amount of freckles covering her porcelain white face. **
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: All I needed was for her to live.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: That's all...
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta took a couple steps forward now, careful and completely wary of David. **
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: As much as we'd like to, you can't save everyone.
** CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529's hand falls to the ground in a feign. With the crowd's attention to David, a half moment later, the Squad Lead's shaking hand has reached for her sidearm.
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 turns, too. His gaze falls on 815.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 glances over to 815.
** Alaire Vidal turns, eyeing what 815 is doing. He shuffles over.
Alaire Vidal: 815-- don't.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** Has already made the attempt-- the Socom is pulled from its holster. Instead of following the pattern to be pointed outward, though, the Squad Leader makes an attempt to point the barrel towards herself. **
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta stood idle. Vidal had the closest chance to stopping the cop. **
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 just stands there, having already accepted what 815 was trying to do.
(Alaire Vidal) ** Vidal lunges for her hands, trying to grasp them before she can. "No-!" He chokes out, but its doubtful he can yank her arm away. **
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428's frozen. He's helpless to do anything but watch.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** Moments pass. Vidal's delay almost allows the Squad Lead to carry out her deed. The firearm goes off as she attempts to bring it around, striking her vest. She keels over, dropping the firearm. **
Alaire Vidal: [YELL] Fuck!
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta instinctively dropped backwards, putting her forearm over her eyes and letting out a yelp along with Vidal. **
Marieta Johnson: Ack!
** Alaire Vidal ignores the weapon except to swat it away. "Jesus-- Jesus /fuck/--"
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** The firearm slides across the wood flooring. The Squad Leader lets out an aggravated huff, crackling her vocodor. **
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 tenses up for a moment as the gunshot goes off, his eyes closed moments before.
Alaire Vidal: Please. Please-- /don't/.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Nothing.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] I have nothing.
Marieta Johnson: Ah, fuck, fuck.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] I. Have. Nothing.
Alaire Vidal: [WHISPER] You have us.
CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529: [WHISPER] Hnhh-
** Alaire Vidal repeats, his tone harsher than he expected. He flinches.
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta hurried her pace over to Vidal and 815 now, hands at her side but clenched. **
Alaire Vidal: [WHISPER] 94481. Do you remember me?
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 slowly opens his eyes back up, taking a deep breath as he gazes around. Looking at 684.
Marieta Johnson: Hey-hey, c'mon get tha', get tha' gun. Hon', it'll-it'll be okay.
(Marieta Johnson) ** Marieta moved to stamp her right foot onto the discharged weapon, sliding it off. **
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 watches the suicide attempt play out. He looks down at himself, placing a hand over his chest. The agent had been ignoring something vital for too long now.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.SqL.81529) ** The Squad Leader curls up on the ground, letting out pained huffs. No blood seems to have pooled, but the force of impact probably cracked some ribs. The woman sobs. **
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 turns back to Callie now. He picks her up again, stumbling are barely capable. His uniform's red stain continued growing larger. Her corpse is held in an embrace.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] I'm sorry Callie. I tried.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 nods over to 684. "I think you've got another problem."
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428 cradles her, rocking back and forth. Each movement, each word; they grow into further disarray with each movement. Painful tears coat Callie's uniform.
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: He's bleeding...
** Nat Shapiro grabs Dunholm's shoulder again, "We need to patch you up."
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: No- you can't.
Nat Shapiro: [YELL] Hey. You bleeding out isn't going to do any favours for the dead.
Nat Shapiro: [YELL] Now come on.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** Callie's cradled, her stiffening body barely moving in 684's body. **
** CCA.C17-GIS.68428's not budging. He only rocks in motion with Callie, eventually easing up. "I made a vow, you don't understand. I'm staying with her, just like I planned to."
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 shakes his head, speaking up. "Do you think she'll be okay with that?"
** Nat Shapiro sits down next to Dunholm and Adileen with his legs crossed.
Nat Shapiro: You can't.
Nat Shapiro: Not anymore.
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: Getting this far, and then bleeding out. Sobbing over her lifeless corpse?
Nat Shapiro: Life doesn't work out how we plan it, but you're not going to be able to plan it at all much longer unless you let me help you.
Nat Shapiro: It's cliche'd to all Hell, but you have to honor her memory by living.
Alaire Vidal: He's right.
** Nat Shapiro takes a glance at 984 with a somber mix of pity and regret.
Alaire Vidal: Both fo them are.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** "I was protecting her," he says while shaking his head. "I've broken so many promises. I've told so many lies. I can't go on knowing... knowing..." David starts to learn over her, words eventually turning from slurs to fully unintelligible statements. **
Alaire Vidal: We all did. All of us.
Nat Shapiro: It's too late to keep them now.
Nat Shapiro: All you get to do is honor the ones you had to break.
Nat Shapiro: Time to repent, man.
Nat Shapiro: Death is too easy an out.
CCA.C17-GIS.68428: [WHISPER] Not- for Callie- her or- Michael.
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** He had repented. That was his repent. 68428 went silently, still crying with Callie in his arms as he slowly slouched over her body. He's silent now, immobile. **
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 continues watching 684 as he goes. Quietly shaking his head.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 sighs.
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: Probably should've just let her shoot herself.
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: Then they could've just all passed away at their own pace.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 slings the rifle over their shoulder, moving over to the pair.
(CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132) ** The unit kneels down next to the pair, looking for any armbands still on their person. **
(CCA.C17-GIS.68428) ** There was one: 68428 was identified proper as a GIS unit. There were more, if his pack was searched; the agent kept a collection of his old identification bands. MACE, VICE, SWORD, and KING. All of varying ranks. **
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** In Callie's pack there were a few bands. CIND, UNION, HAMMER, JURY, all the lot. Wrapped in the bands was a small polaroid of Callie and a man in the White Forest Bunker- Michael Foster. **
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 quietly mutters something under his breath. The sound barely making it out of his mask.
CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132: [WHISPER] Bloody hell... talk about keeping score.
** Nat Shapiro nods
Nat Shapiro: [WHISPER] They were in it for life.
Nat Shapiro: [WHISPER] Especially Dunholm.
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 sighs, removing all of their identification from their uniforms. Stuffing it in a pouch off to the side. "Best we just leave them here, together."
** Nat Shapiro looks at Cerb then to Caitlyn. His face is a mix of pity and regret.
Nat Shapiro: You're right.
Nat Shapiro: Can you... give me a second?
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 shoots a glance towards Nat before quietly rising to his feet. Stepping off.
** Nat Shapiro watches as Cerb steps off before turning his attention to 984.
(CCA.C17-JUDGE.02.98454) ** Shapiro is met with the white noise of the surrounding forest. **
Nat Shapiro: I wish I knew why you went back to them.
Nat Shapiro: I wish I took you when I left at Terminal Six, then maybe you wouldn't have.
Nat Shapiro: Doubt you would've come though.
** Nat Shapiro puts on a grief-faced smile, "Never liked me much, especially after 133 died. I feel like Intelligence broke you."
Nat Shapiro: Or maybe shame.
Nat Shapiro: I don't pretend to know, and it's not like I'll get any answers now...
** Nat Shapiro shakes his head, "Rest well, Caitlyn. If you see the rest of UNION wherever you're going, give them my regards."
(Nat Shapiro) ** He rises and departs. **
Nat Shapiro: You ready, Cerb?
** CCA.C17-CERBERUS.56132 turns, looking over his shoulder. "Done?"
** Nat Shapiro nods, "Yeah. Let's leave them be."