Ether

"Miz'Githon..." Roxanne repeated, barely audible. She wracked her brain but... the name did not recall any memories. Though from what little she could gather, if this Miz was trapped to the West, then it was likely far afield from Lufiria, so it made sense that she would have no knowledge of her. The secrets of anima magic... how peculiar. The voice seemed to be gone, but... 'The West? Where to the West? We're on the Eastern coast of the continent, I...' Roxanne questioned briefly, wondering if the voice would return. Should she be encouraging it to? Was this real or was she simply succumbing to the pressure of the situation?

Thing seemed to be going smoothly, with Alvira's flashy melee execution swiftly followed-upon by Syndra and Alriana, leaving the area clear for a moment. Surely it wouldn't be long until more of Kazran's forces came into range, and they would be just as swiftly cut down once they did. Before Roxanne could advance though, she heard a faint voice. She could barely make out what they were saying, why were they whispering in the middle of a battlefield? She couldn't even recognize who was speaking with how soft it was. "I can barely hear you. Speak u-" Roxanne began, until it dawned on her that no one in her vicinity appeared to actually be speaking. But that couldn't be right, could it? She was certainly having a foul day, but surely she wasn't actually going insane...? 'You aren't... here, are you? Who...?'

"So long as we're on the same page love, because Oi also know exactly what Oi'm getting moiself into later tonoight." Catrin snickered, pursuing Selu's retreating hand after her playful flick on the nose, until she came up to her girlfriend's face and gave her a quick peck as their hands clasped together. Letting Selu pull her along enthusiastically, Catrin nodded along with her, eventually stepping in closer as they continued to walk, nuzzling her face into the nape of Selumine's neck and purring into her with a soft, low hum. Careful not to get into a situation where they'd trip over one another's feet, Catrin continued along with Selu in lockstep as they kept moving towards the arcade. "Sounds like a plan, love. Bust the bloody joint roight up, aye? Oi'm glad yer 'aving a good time... Oi know Oi can be a bit over the top sometoimes, it's noice to see you enjoy keepin' up with me, aye?" Catrin admitted, pressing her cheek into Selu's and nuzzling her tighter. _____________ The arcade had always been one of the more bustling locations at the shopping centre, and current day was no exception with the flashing strobe light and various machines busting out music at differing rhythms and beats, the cacophony of myriad melodies and lightshows giving the high-energy arcade an almost rave-like ambiance. As they got in close enough to really drink in the atmosphere, Catrin finally detached herself from Selumine's neck, pulling at the smaller woman's hand as she swung her hips in an exaggerated manner, bobbing and bouncing about as though she was diving into the centre of a mosh-pit. "'Ere she is, Selu! Iffin' you can imagine it, they've got it 'ere, games of all sorts, pretty well every genre, biggest game centre on the moon. C'mon then, Oi'll grab us some cards for the machines, aye?" Catrin piped up, leading the pair inside and up to the counter, just behind another apparent couple who were in the middle of grabbing cards for themselves. "Anythin' in particular catch yer eye, love? We can start wherever y'want." Catrin asked, her faux-moshing having calmed a decent amount as they entered the arcade proper, swaying and dancing in place along with the music as she waited for their turn at the counter.

Roxanne had tethered her conduits to Alriana, but it seemed the gesture had been unneccesary. She could tell that the dagger had ended the armoured man's life in an instant before the followup of light showered his corpse.. what terrifying aim. If she was fine on her own, then... "Err... looks like you didn't need help, Alriana. I've got you, Alvira. Give them hell." Roxanne to 10,29, Recall funnels, Heal Alvira

They were getting closer to the enemy, but Roxanne was still just a bit too far out to really do anything about them. Alvira had managed to take out one of the armoured bowmen, but there was still the other, and more men coming up behind... way more of them than the Tigers currently on hand. If she could level the field some... Moving forward, Roxanne focused on Alriana. She didn't have much interaction with the odd lizard, but this should still work. After a few moments of concentration, the tether was established, Roxanne's conduits snapping into place above the creation. "Alriana, I have your back! Direct your intent, and my conduits will follow you!" Roxanne announced, hoping she wasn't startled by the sudden tethering. They didn't really have time for explanations of advanced theory... lifting her staff at the same time, Roxanne poured her magic into Syndra. The mage had taken a hit at some point that had been left alone for long enough... Roxanne to 8,26, Equip Shine, Deploy Funnels to Alriana, Physic Syndra

The enemy reinforcements barely had time to enter the fray before they had been cut down like wheat to the harvest, quickly buckling underneath the immediate assault. So long as they didn't allow the vermin to regain a foothold in their own keep, they could stem the tide and keep it at a trickle. Still, even a trickle of water could make an impact, one of the men landing an unlikely blow on the mermaid Aegean before going down. There were no other enemies in sight, so the wound was easily dealt with... better for it to happen now than in a more heated engagement. "Yes, of course Gean. Hold still." Roxi replied, keeping back with the axewoman and closing her wound. Roxi to 5,24, heal Aegean

"Wearin' 'er out? Yer really gonna tempt me all bloody day, Selu? Oi hope you understand what yer gettin' yerself into." Catrin stuck out her tongue as Selumine got everything she intended to buy scanned by the teller, the feline fishing out her card and presenting it to the shopkeep before Selu herself had a chance to do so. "Moi treat, since you're treatin' me already love. As for what to do next... well, Oi'm not really 'ungry yet, since we ate not too long before we set out to town, but if yer feelin' peckish, we can eat first. Otherwoise... Oi don't know what movies are playin' roight now, but the arcade is always a good toime, if you ask me. 'Ow about we start there, and then after we wear ourselves out a bit, we can see 'bout chowin' down or figurin' out if you loike the movies they make out 'ere in the Jupiter sphere. Over on Mars you've probably got a lot more stuff from the mudball in circulation since yer so much closer, Oi'd reckon." Catrin gave her suggestion, but Selu was free to veto if she so chose. Catrin wasn't going to object to another movie date with Selu considering how well the first had gone.

"Sorry Renais... I'm going to have to disregard your advice. Showing them the floor isn't enough... these foul men need to be buried. So as long as I'm still breathing, I'll push as hard as it takes. I might need your assistance again, if they get anymore shots in with those pure weapons... nothing pure about any of this." Roxanne shook her head as a look of disgust flashed across her face, grimace evident for a moment before she bit it back. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Renais concern, she just... couldn't stop. Couldn't slow down. Not with confirmation that they really were gone... "I'll avenge you... all of you. I'm sorry that I didn't make it in time..." Roxanne continued, quieter yet still faintly audible. Slapping her palms against her cheeks, Renais had finished restoring her to health, and it seemed more men had arrived to flank them. Moving ahead of her fellow healer, Roxanne took aim at a burly axeman, loosing a barrage of light in his direction. "You first." Roxanne to 4,21, Bury Fighter 8's Light

"That's M... she is... was, our Captain. Hard to call four people a crew, huh Syndra?"" Roxanne replied to the Belrose with a solemn nod. What more was there to say, really? Roxanne could only hope M would stick still long enough to have her wounds mended, but it was hard to say what she would do now that she was free. Given the opportunity to attack her captors, M would likely take it regardless of her wounds. Roxanne flinched at the hand upon her shoulder, the tension breaking as a familiar voice followed it. "Kika... I don't blame you. None of us... none of us could have stopped her. I know that. I'm glad that you're alive. I don't... I don't know what I'll do, aside from drag her back in one piece, even if it kills me." The sheep shook her head, about to heal the agile lizard, but Kika had already dashed off before she had the chance. Didn't even give her the chance to ask who the third survivor was... But she couldn't dwell on it. The enemy was upon them, and with how effortlessly Versaris had dispatched the first challenger, they had opted to fall onto her instead. "If you think you're safer with me- GHRK?!" Roxanne had been about to voice her threat, but the monster blade cutting through her armour and tearing into her magic circuits had stolen the words from her. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it wasn't enough. None of these men's blades would be enough. The faces of the fallen flashed in Roxanne's mind... they were all gone. All but one more left unknown. Her vengeance would not be quelled by some wicked tool, not so quickly. Grabbing the armoured man before he could retreat his blade, Roxanne's conduits effortlessly disarmed him before the blade of light sprung forth from her wrist, skewering the knight clean through the chest as he dropped lifelessly before her. The other two, they came at her with gauntlets bared, swinging their fists at her, but she could hardly even feel the blows. Compared to the throbbing, awful pain pulsating through the core of her mana, these pathetic blows were nothing, and without even acknowledging the men, they too fell at her feet, scorched and returned to the earth. The sheep's eyes wildly darting from soldier to soldier... no one else was engaging. They had approached, but she had room to breathe for a moment. Versaris advised... it sounded more like a command to be honest, that she hold. He was right, she knew he was, even if she wanted nothing more than to dole out the pain wracking her frame into any beast of a man whose neck she could wrap her hands around. The Tigers were already surging forward to remove the approaching soldiers and cover her at the same time, giving Roxanne a moment to glance at M. Kika had given her a gun, which meant she would join the fray momentarily. Lifting her newest purchase from the bazaar towards M, the physic began to glow, mending M's wounds from afar. With that, she could only hope that M would be slightly less reckless than Roxanne herself had been. She wasn't anywhere near as sturdy, afterall. it was bad enough that Jane would never see so many of them again... she couldn't bear to bring the young girl a corpse in the place of her mother. "Renais... may I trouble you again? Pure weapons... rrgh... nothing pure about any of this." Roxanne muttered, leaning against the cold stone wall for a moment. Just until Renais returned her to strength. Roxanne hold, physic M

"Thank you, Renais. Much appreciated." Roxanne breathed a relieved sigh, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as the healing light washed over her, closing the gruesome wound across her chest. Stopping for just a moment to allow her armour to reform, the Iron Tigers had continued to move into position, with Jeremiah's protege leading the charge and Alvira not far behind him. Taking a small step forward, Roxanne pulsed Alvira with her healing staff for a second time. "Keep at top form, we'll crush them all-" Roxanne began, when a familiar... familiar and livid voice reached her ears, causing them to twitch as she snapped her head back down the hallway, eyes locking onto a familiar figure just rounding the corner of a door that had just been forced open. "M? M! You- You're alive!" ... No. M froze, her demands quieting in her throat, head slowly turning to... "... Roxanne." I can't. Not right now. Not with her... I need to focus. I need to fight. "We... We can talk later. I am alive... Breathing, thinking, fighting. There are... There, are th-three of us left." Clack clack. Her voice's trill grew tighter, grew thinner, clearly biting back feelings and emotions that she couldn't afford to have escape her. "I am alive. I will fight. I will fight until they kill me... They made the mistake of leaving me alone, and I intend to repay them for that. That mistake, error, choice... And when they are dead, if you wish me gone for what I have done, then I will face your wrath all the same." "Three..." Roxanne resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands... that three were alive was better than she had expected in the pit of her stomach, but the weight that any hope of the others... it was crushing, like the castle's ceiling falling and coming to a stop on her chest. Instead she balled her hand into a tight fist and grit her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, we will... we will talk later. Come over here and either Renais or I will see to you... you're injured. I don't know if Commander Natalya has a spare firearm... no one else here uses them to my knowledge." "... Hhssshhh..." M let out something like a hiss, something like a sigh, and quietly nodded. "We will talk... Until then, I require a gun. Or something that I can make into a gun..." "Commander Natalya is the imposing Tiger woman who took to the other corridor. You can't miss her. I... I'm glad you survived, M." Roxanne bit back her tears as she forced herself to turn back towards the upcoming combat, finally letting them fall as she turned away from M. "You had best hope she has a spare, or we find yours quickly. I have no intention of leaving any of them alive for you if you can't find a weapon." Roxanne to 6,18, equip light, heal Alvira

With a swift volley of light, the swordman in front of Roxanne ceased to be, wicked blade clattering to the ground. Hopefully never to be used again. Unfortunately, just around the corner was yet another swordsman with a similarly foul weapon. Just how many of them were there? She had hoped to cut this one down too, but unfortunately as she caught sight of him, the medic had closed his wounds and the guardsman charged in. A few glancing blows on his approach had slowed him, but he managed to close the distance, wicked blade smashing into her armour, the crystal shell automatically hardening in response, only to give way to the blade. As the jagged steel ripped into her flesh, it was accentuated by the feedback of her armour being crushed ravaging her circuits. Blasting light at her assailant to force him off, Roxanne stumbled back with her hand over her wound, getting a good look at him. He was singed and seared by her light, surely the next exchange would be the end of one of them but Roxanne had made enough space, she would- -not need to finish him, an ally zooming in like lightning and putting the swordsman down. As much as it pained her to not finish the man off herself, Amera's intervention has given her a second to check her own state. To be frank, it was bad. That was... a lot of blood, dripping out from the heavy gash across her stomach and chest. A painful cough wracked her body, more blood leaving out her mouth. Scanning the area, as another group of Tigers closed in from the South and crashed into the enemy, most of them were wiped out. Just one man stood nearby, in his hand another one of those damned axes. They made her blood boil even as it was leaving her body. She couldn't let him get a chance to use it, it was too dangerous. Ignoring the screaming pain, Roxanne dashed forward, funnels ahead of her as they took aim at the axeman and began to disassemble him much like the others who had faced them shortly before. Just hold out a little longer, body... "I won't-- let you!" She managed, if barely, another cough and mouthful of blood escaping her midway through. That man had to die, before he could bring that axe down on anyone... Roxanne to 7,18, Light up Fighter 1!

"Oi'll be good... reluctantly." Catrin teased, pulling away from Selumine far enough that her date could breathe and extract herself from the wall. It seemed that Selu had been wholly unprepared for what her outfit had stirred... perhaps she had been banking on Tokiwa's protection to save her from the consequences of her actions, but the fox had departed too soon to shield her. "Anythin' that shows off that gorgeous figure a yers is a good button to me, Selu. Did you want to try on a few more things 'ere then, or pack up what ya got and ask about that dress before movin' on?" Catrin asked, reaching towards Selu and holding her hand tenderly as she prepared to follow her in whatever direction she decided to choose.

Getting a parting wave from miss security, it didn't take long for Selu to finish changing, Catrin's eyes snapping over to her as she announced her presence. She had been expecting something cute, light flowy... those sorts of things just seemed to fit Selumine's vibe, but what she saw couldn't have been more different from her expectations. Catrin's face flushed red as she looked over her date, tail starting to flutter back and forth behind her as she slowly approached Selu. Looking around quickly... the store was still practically deserted, especially with Tokiwa having departed, and the few staff weren't paying them much attention, Catrin took her chance. Practically pouncing on Selu, Catrin forced the smaller woman's back to the wall, letting her finger run across the little bell on her choker and giving it a ring before stroking across her lips, wrapping her arm around Selu's slim waist and playing with the hem of that incredibly enticing skirt. "She paid for 'er stuff and left, said she didn't want to interrupt our date. Bloody good timing looks like... enough about 'er though." Catrin purred into Selumine's ear, before darting in and stealing a kiss. She didn't linger too long, as much as Selu was practically egging her on with her choice of attire, it wasn't the time or the place for an especially sloppy makeout session. Pulling away from Selu's lips after a few moments and giving her rear end a playful squeeze through her skirt, Catrin didn't give Selu much breathing room despite calling off her attack. "It fits on you perfect, so it looks to me. Perfect in more ways than that, though... you 'ave no idea 'ow much I want to drag you off somewhere and risk gettin' us kicked out roight now... but Oi'll be a good girl. You're dangerous, Selu." Another kiss, slightly longer than the first but still not left to linger, and no groping accompaniment the second time as Catrin continued to look Selu over, red in the face as she licked her lips. "Bloody wonderful... and 'ere I thought Oi'd be the one to 'ave to put you in somethin' sexy."

"Did Oi stutter? Supermodel." Catrin pressed, unable to help but let out a small chuckle at Selu's flustering, especially when Tokiwa eased the tension some. Head of security at AHI headquarters... quite the big wig, and she even knew about the thruster testing. Things seemed to be lining up too well for the woman to be lying about her position, so as long as she didn't tip any cards that Tokiwa didn't already clearly know, things should be fine. Allowing herself to relax, conversation flowed a bit more naturally. "'Ead of security, ya said? Bloody 'ell Oi left my fancy threads on base. Well, you certainly seem a lot less stuffy than the folk Oi usually report to, so it should be foine. No offense intended a'course, as a security bigshot Oi'm sure you can get 'ow that stuff bein' brought up outta the blue would be just a lil' bit jarrin'." Catrin added, giving Selu a nod as the woman stated her intention to go and try on some more items. "Oi'll be expectin' ya to knock moi socks off, Selu! Show me what you've got brewin' in that 'ead a'yours." She called out after the Martian with a wave, turning her attention back to Tokiwa, who seemed about poised to continue along with her own outing, leaving the couple to their date. "Oi really am, she's a swell lass, just needs to get that fact into 'er own 'ead too. Noice to meet you as well, Oi'm sure that the 'ead a security is a lil' more famous than us, really. And sorry again for the rough start, aye? Just caught me a wee bit off guard. Bloody good day to you as well, y'hear?"

Everything was so hectic, Kazran's forces beginning to stir and move in as it became clear that they were under attack again. From the screaming of the dragon nearby, it was clear she wasn't the only one with livid desires on Kazran's head. Hopefully she could channel that rage, because Roxanne herself fully intended to continue doing so. Her funnels, already twitchy as they were, darted around the corner as soon as a swordman with another of those accursed blades came close. Following her conduits out from cover, she took aim at the guard with the intent to erase him. "Get out of my sight." Roxanne to 11,17, Light up Myrm 4

Two swift blows into the brigand left the man stunned, and with Jilyn taking care of the other, that just left Willow to circle around behind the man and launch a fist at the back of his head, hoping to finish him. With that taken care of, the centre would be clear for now, though it seemed a good amount of men were amassing on the other side of Rivane... 'What's the plan, Rivane? Got a lot of 'em bunched up!" Willow to 10,14 punch Bandit 1

"Well Oi appreciate it, wouldn't exactly say Oi'm normal by most folks standards, but Oi'm not quite that far gone." Catrin replied, tensing a bit as Tokiwa continued, her tail ceasing it'd idle swishing for just a moment before resuming. If she was AHI and actually had access to dossiers containing what they were testing, she had to be incredibly high up the chain of command. In theory, the beam tech specifically was entirely top secret, but CEN didn't have enough authority on Callisto to truly work independently of AHI if they forced the issue. But did she? It wouldn't have been... too difficult to get Catrin's affiliation, and she had offered her name freely, so that wasn't out of the question. When Selumine came back wearing the dress, Catrin didn't really have much recourse for telling the Martian to be careful without tipping her hand, although the fact that Tokiwa knew Selu's name, which explicitly hadn't been mentioned, did lead some sort of credence to what she was saying. Someone with an old dossier trying to stir shit wouldn't have had that information at hand. "Good stuff is certainly a good way to descroibe it. As Oi'm sure you know, Oi'm not really at liberty to discuss it." Catrin began, taking a step towards Selu and giving the smaller woman's hand a squeeze once she finished her twirl and flourish, hoping she would take the hint before the conversation continued. "Look at what we 'ave 'ere, miss supermodel Selu. She does look quite good on you, aye? Oi knew it would... if it's a lil big Oi'm sure the shop can adjust it, or maybe they 'ave one in a different soize. This is Tokiwa, works for AHI... said she recognoized us from the foiles and wanted to see 'ow we were doin'. Just foine, by the way, just hopin' to enjoy a day out on the town, see the soights and all the good stuff you can only really foind 'ere in the commercial district."

As the last swordfighter met her gaze, the fear in his eyes was evident. Good, feel what they must have felt when the tides turned, as your end now comes for you. he gripped his blade, resolve seeming to return to him, and charged. Roxanne readied herself to meet his blade, but he swung at Alvira instead. "Coward." She muttered under her breath as the man was swiftly chopped down from a combination of Alvira and another of their allies. The Belrose taking out the man that had accosted her on the flank left... no one else within striking distance. Roxanne's anger simmered, but short of trying to blast through the walls, there was little she could do with no target. Alvira's request snapped her out of her thoughts momentarily, the swordsman's blade having bit into her somewhat severely. Shaking her head and pulling out her staff, the sheep pressing it against her fire dragon ally. "Yes, yes... of course, Alvira. Hold still." Roxanne replied as she stitched Alvira's wounds closed, her conduits darting about the air around her, twitching and erratically shuffling about as they tried to find a hostile target, their turbulent and unstable motions reflecting the psyche of their holder as they stood primed to fire at the first sign of enemy movement. Roxanne to 15,15 heal Alvira

"It looks about your soize, I'm sure if it's a little bit off they can 'ave someone adjust it, aye." Catrin nodded in agreement, giving Selumine a wave as her date darted off to the change rooms with a wink. She seemed rather excited about the dress at least, so that was an excellent start. Catrin had been about to start looking for more pieces when her ears twitched in the direction of a woman approaching her, the fox from across the store. The woman seemed friendly enough, commenting how cute it was to see young love bloom on a date, that sort of romantic stuff... but something about her felt the slightest bit odd to Catrin. 'We aren't in uniform... how does she know we're CEN?' Catrin pondered, though she accepted the handshake without hesitation regardless. This Tokiwa apparently worked for AHI... given how many fingers the organization had within the testing base's pie, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that she recognized Catrin herself at least from some sort of personnel file. Selumine was such a new arrival that her side was more dubious, but if she knew Catrin herself was CEN, then the association wasn't entirely out of the question. Odd though, to be certain. "Catrin. Pleasure meetin' ya, Tokiwa. Bloody right 'bout the weekend, no better chance to come into town and 'ang round the place. Oi'll 'ave to tell 'er you knew straight off we were on a date, she thought folk would pin us for sisters or somethin'. Right cute she is, but a little lackin' for confidence sometoimes... just means Oi need to 'elp 'er out of 'er shell." Catrin replied, unable to help the smile adorning her face thinking of Selu.

"Course Oi would. You can lack proide all you want, but Oi'm proud to 'ave ya. C'mon now, not just miniskirts, Selu. Leggins, yoga pants, Oi've got some range y'know? But you got me, Oi do hope you'll grab a few things t'show off for me." Catrin teased further as they went along their merry way, reaching down and, while not brusquely grabbing her as threatened, the taller women did give her date a light pat on the back end, sticking her tongue out at her. As they finally reached the dizzying array of stores in the shopping district, Selumine seemed a little overwhelmed. Catrin had been ready to point out a few places if nothing caught Selu's eye, but within a few moments of steadying herself, she had started towards a nearby store. Comet Coveralls... Catrin hadn't patronized this particular venue before, but it wasn't a lack of endorsement so much as just the sheer volume of other options. She hadn't even stepped foot inside before. Selu was ready to try elsewhere if it didn't fit her needs, but despite the lack of customers inside, the selection seemed to be fine at first glance. Speaking of the customers, one immediately caught Catrin's eye across the way. It was rare to see someone with as many augments as she had, that was to be certain. Her gaze didn't linger on the fox woman for more than a moment or two, her ears giving a twitch as she turned towards the clothing racks, squeezing Selu's hand. "Lets see, lets see... did you want to split up and meet at the change rooms lookin', or go 'round together and pick things out, Selu?" Catrin asked, although she didn't wait to start looking through the selections, pulling out a shimmering blue dress and holding it up to Selu's figure for sizing. The pattern on it was pretty but not especially elaborate, the deep blue fabric covered in a motif of shooting stars twinkling on a night sky. "What do you think, Selu? Personally, Oi like the colour on ya."

"Nyahaha... Selu, love, iffin' you wanna be with lil' ol' me, you're going to 'ave to learn to accept these things. Next time ya doubt yerself Oi'm grabbin' yer arse." Catrin teased further, sticking her tongue out at Selumine and swaying her hips, daring the smaller woman to retaliate as they began to walk in the direction of the mall with Catrin quickly taking the lead. Selu really was adorable when she got riled up and flustered, it made it difficult to avoid trying to tease her relentlessly. Not that it wasn't worth it, the reaction she had gotten from Selu leaving Catrin's ears twitching and tail swaying as they walked, smile beaming. "Dresses catch yer fancy, aye? Oi can't say Oi know too much about what's in fashion for dresses, but Oi'm sure we can foind somethin' that looks good on ya, Selu. But loike Oi said, don't just rely on me, aye? Even iffin ya don't know roight now what would look good, sometoimes you just see it on the rack and it clicks. Don't be afraid to grab stuff that catches your oi while Oi'm browsin, aye?"

"Ooh if you're lettin' me pick stuff out for you to model, they won't think you're my little sister for very long, love. Although iffin' you're lookin' for stuff on the fancier end, perhaps not... well, if there's ever any doubt..." Catrin teased, pulling Selu in close and stealing a kiss from the smaller woman, holding her in for a few moments before releasing. Within moments of finishing her impromptu PDA, Catrin gave Selumine's hand a squeeze, beginning to lead her in the direction of the nearby mall. Clothes shopping could be a good time to be certain, and while Selu seemed to want to model Catrin's selections, Catrin was curious was Selu herself would choose. "A' course, Oi don't really know too much about your style just from the issued stuff. Oi'll grab things Oi think would look good on you, obviously... but Oi'm more interested in seein' what sorta threads you see yourself in, aye?"

Roxanne shook underneath Cassandra's hand, her figure violently seizing with every sob that escaped her. She heard Cass, she knew she was right. This was the fault of Kazran. Kazran for being in power, Kazran for being a racist bastard, Kazran for taking Jane, Kazran for existing as a useless heap of flesh, belching the toxic miasma of his rhetoric into the air, turning the very oxygen he wasted foul and unfit to give life with it's vile stench. Roxanne had been willing to accept a suicide charge... if she died alongside them so be it, they would have gone together. But to be the one of few... perhaps the sole survivor if things had gone to the worst? It was a weight too heavy to bear. And yet, the Tigers were right, as another, Syndra this time, tried to encourage her. Perhaps some still lived. Kazran was a beast, more a monster than any who bore the name. If he had captured any alive, they might... just might, still breathe, if only to be sold or dissected later. Did she have the right to hold onto that hope? If she did, and it was false, could she handle being forced to face their deaths a second time in one day? "If I can't save you... then I'll avenge you..." Roxanne managed, somewhat soft, through her sobs. Forcing her body to move, she slowly stood, her movements almost mechanical as she began to step forward. The tears still strewn down her face as the violent crying ceased. She couldn't... couldn't change the past. M had warned her that she might not have a week, but all Roxanne had been capable of doing was trusting that she would. That hadn't happened. They were gone. That was set in stone. But the future... the future was different. Roxanne hadn't arrived at Beacon Keep alone, aiming to kill as many as she could before she was cut down. She had brought an army. "Die. They all die. Every single one." The sheep managed, as the pace of her strides increased. Cass, as well as a few of the Tigers made boastful war cries. Roxanne didn't have it in her to scream, to yell, not yet. She simply walked forward with fury smoldering behind her eyes, those eyes locking on to the first man she saw standing. Holding a wicked lance, designed to tear monsters apart flesh from bone. A lance still coated in blood. Roxanne grit her teeth as the anger welled up in her, magic flaring like a beacon as her whole body began to glow. Without even a command, her conduits loosed themselves from her. Disarm the foul weapon. The first burst of light searing into the joint of his armour, breaking through with ease and separating the arm from his body at the elbow. Next the shield. Through the wrist, one smooth motion, as the second arm lost it's hand. Third, make the martyr kneel. Kneel? No. Both knees, guarded only by pathetic steel, severed from the leg. It might have been one second now. The man finally let out the first of many agonized screams as the pain began to register only after he had been relieved of all four limbs. How did they scream, when you plunged your abomination of a weapon into their flesh, fried their magic circuits? Mercy? No. The funnels swarmed. Shot after shot, violently rending and searing flesh with blast after blast of light, the man's body riddled with holes before it had even thudded into the ground. As it finally touched the Earth beneath, stone itself scorched from the beams that had effortlessly torn through flesh and metal. Kidney. Liver. Shoulder. Groin. Tricep. Groin. Several ribs from the right cage. Groin. Groin. Groin. The man's screams had ceased by this point, lungs too exhausted to expel air. Yet he still breathed. Barely. Only for another moment. Grabbing him by the head, Roxanne stared directly into one eye, as the other came flush with the gem on her bangle. Looking over to the pike on the floor, she quietly uttered her farewell. "That. You die for that." Light gathered in her bangle as she pressed the gem directly onto the soldier's undefended eye. The glow was intense, immaculate. The eye was immediately blinded. Screams rang out anew as Roxanne's light began to bore, slowly, meticulously, calculated. Uselessly writhing under her hand as she boiled the eye from it's socket. Screams lasted only a few moments. This one was finished then. Bringing the blade of light to completion, it concluded it's boring, spearing through the man's skull and leaving a smoldering hole in the floor beneath. One killed. One avenged. The first of many. Standing upright, Roxanne stared at the remaining swordsman. Hate. Unbridled fury. "You're next. Strike me down if you can... if you can't. All of you die." Roxanne to 15,11, viciously murder Lance Armour 1 with Shine

While the man's... Kieran, she thought she recalled, encouragement was well intentioned, it ultimately didn't last. Entering the sea cave, things were immediately obvious. The Black Swarm was docked, which meant M had already launched her attack. And there were certainly no sounds of fighting echoing through the cavern and castle, which meant... Roxanne bit her lip as the Maelstrom drew closer, drawing blood from the force. As their ship drew to the dock, agonizingly slowly, the picture was painted clear. Or rather red. Blood splattered on the floors, obvious signs of damage to the infrastructure, discarded and broken weapons. There was no way to try and sugarcoat anything any longer. "That's the Black Swarm... no, M, no no no no..." Roxanne choked out, tears starting to stream down her face as she hung over the railing, every detail becoming more vivid as they approached land. She needed to get closer, see what had been left behind, for any hope that maybe it wasn't as bad as things looked, but... "M... why didn't you wait... why, why, why..." The sheep barely managed to croak out, as the faces of her companions flashed before her eyes. This whole thing had been a suicide charge from the outset... they all knew it to some degree. That was why M had bothered to send her out, to try to find something, anything. A deep part of Roxanne wanted to believe they had won, but it seemed impossible. As soon as the Maelstrom came close enough to land, Roxanne took a few steps back before breaking into a sprint, vaulting over the side of the ship into the dock. She stumbled upon landing, but was back up and sprinting within moments, dashing to the nearest signs of battle. As she had made out from the boat... blood, obvious fighting. But no bodies. The victor had taken the time to clean up the corpses, and the Black Swarm had not departed after the battle. Roxanne lowered herself to the floor, hugging her arms around her knees as she buried her face in them. There wasn't any more denying it... M had beaten them here. she hadn't given Roxanne her week, she had attacked beforehand. And the pirates wouldn't have cleaned the corpses of Kazran's men from the docks and occupied the Keep, which meant the current state of things... The dam broke. Roxanne began to sob into her knees, violent and ugly, chest heaving as she couldn't control the wailing from escaping her. The ball she had curled up into shaking as she sobbed. The message had been a long shot but Roxanne couldn't have done anything but trust M would wait for her. Trust that hadn't played out. Had anyone survived? Kazran had taken a prisoner in Jane before, but that had been a small skirmish, nothing... nothing like this. "Everyone... everyone is... no..." Roxanne whimpered through her tears, barely audible over the heavy sobbing, each breath racking her frame as they violently left her.

"And 'ere we are, Selu. Remansburg, th'biggest city on Callisto. Can't really say Oi know too much about what they've got goin' on the other rocks, but asoide from the 'abitat colonies, this is as 'igh loife 'round these parts. Nothin' loike the mega metropolis stuff they've got in the flicks from the mudball, but 'ey, good food and booze, good shoppin', and plenty a' entertainment no matter what'cher poison is. None too shabby, if Oi do say so." Catrin announced with a flourish, spreading her arms out wide and giving a spin in place as she hopped off the shuttle, extending her arm out to Selumine to help her down as the augmented soldier came to a stop from her spin, ears giving a twitch as her tail wagged absentmindedly. There was more of a story to tell in regards to this city, but Selu had no need to see the parts of it that she had been more accustomed to in her youth... no place for a lady, that was for certain. What kind of date would it be to drag her to the slums rather than soak in the glitz and glamour? "Now Oi said Oi'd show you 'round love, but give me a little direction, ya? What sorta 'ijinks are y'lookin ta get into with little ol' me, nya?" Catrin followed up, teasing the Martian with an overly exaggerated feline paw gesture, barely able to finish the ridiculous pose without breaking into a giggle. "Seriously though, iffin you've got anythin' that catches your Oi, tell me. Oi can give you a tour, but a more personaloized one is more fun, aye? The bigwigs from AHI wanted to bring over all a' them creature comforts when they built up this place, so we ain't really lackin' for anythin'. Desoigned from the ground up to be a lavish playground for them to Lord over the lot of us from." Catrin concluded, looking to Selumine expectantly. What she said would determine which direction the pair would dash off to first of as many as they could fit into the day trip.