#nihila

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Hera's eyes open slowly, not quite wanting to give up on sleep yet. Her arms and hands reach out over her bed, finding only sheets. It has been like that for what feels like an eternity now, but in reality has only been a few weeks. The sigh of longing and wisps of loneliness from Hera's expression that have been gracing her each morning don't come today though. Rather a small smile graces her expression.

Nihila will be back from her assignment on this day cycle. 

With excitement unbecoming of someone of her standing Hera hops out of bed and almost skips out of the room to get the boys fed and situated. seeing herself in the reflection of her appliances Hera decides to put on an ice pack mask after seeing her face looks a little puffy. From there she continues her truncated routine before heading to her shower! Need to be in top condition for today!

After she removes the ice pack she uses a deep pore cleanser lotion, then a water activated gel cleanser followed by a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub.

Once out of the shower Hera applies an herb mint facial mask while she prepares the rest of her routine. Moisturizer, an anti aging eye balm, then at least a final moisturizing protective lotion.

Her preparations continue off of that. Makeup, taking care of her hair, ensuring every inch of her being is immaculate. The end result is not that much unlike her usual appearance yet she knows that Nihila will be able to see the differences, the details. The specialist is trained to pick up on the details after all.

One of her finest, and marginally provocative, dresses and cloaks is chosen. Her pose is checked and practiced. Deep breathes are had.

Then Hera finds herself having to wait. She worked extra hard to make sure all of her executive duties were taken care of before today. Though now it's becoming clear that perhaps a few could have been left so she would have things to do in the hours before Nihila's arrival.

She even did all the baking the night before.

After a short but still embarrassing amount of time standing around her Chambers awkwardly Hera decides to just walk the ship and make her presence known! That will kill time and give the impression she's not just beelining to see the ESS that lives on the ship with her. Admittedly most of the crew of the Samos know that their Madame and the specialist are involved at this point but the principal of the matter remains!

Eventually though the slow trudge of time gets Hera to her days destination. The shuttle carrying her Nihila arriving within the main intake bay of the Samos. The Madame stands regal, fighting the smile tugging at her lips, and losing a little bit of ground as she sees the armored figure step out. The helmeted head turns to look at her, regarding her for a moment, then the hands reach up and take the helmet off.

The lavender eyes of Nihila meet Hera's own crimson and the specialist grins. She marches right up, helmet under her arm now. "Madame, I have arrived right on time like I promised." She says.

Hera nods. "You did. You have done well 1172. Come." The Madame turns on her heel and marches into the Halls of the ship.

And a moment later, as soon as the chance is had, the two pull each other to the side and embrace. Arms wrap around one another and lips meet.

"You look beautiful Madame." The specialist whispers. 

"And you look as scruffy as ever." Hera can't help but tease.

"Hey I made it back didn't I! Sacrifices had to be made! Besides, I could never compare to you anyway." Nihila notes before giving the Madame another kiss.

"Nonsense. You always compare." Hera notes, holding her Nihila close. 

They stay like that for a time, pressed together and in love. Eventually they make it back to Hera's Chambers. Nihila gets herself cleaned up.

Hera lays in bed. Unable to sleep. Curled up on her side she watches her Nihila. The larger woman is laying on her stomach, steady breaths causing her well muscled back to rise and fall regularly. Even asleep the specialist somehow looks poised. As if her muscles are always ready to spring into action.

Always tensed in anticipation for pain.

Hera frowns. The images - the sounds - of Nihila's reinstatement coming back to her. The Madame hasn't been able to shake it. Like a mental infection. Whenever she looks upon her lover she feels forced to remember.

It's eating her.

The Madame curls up a little more. Taking shaky breathes. She feels sick suddenly. Upset. She wants to reach out, to hold Nihila and know they're both safe, but she doesn't want to wake the specialist up. The failure in her decisiveness isn't helping. Her eyes squeeze shut as she begins to slightly tremble. What's wrong with her? Why is she like this? This isn't her.

Then Hera feels the hand on her shoulder. The talons carefully squeezing. Her eyes open back up. Nihilas eyes are open, focused on her. The specialists hand extended out to touch the Madames shoulder. Hera opens her mouth to say something, to apologize or even just say her lovers name, only to find she doesn't have her words.

It doesn't matter though. She watches Nihila shift, turning onto her side and pulling Hera in close. The Madame finds herself being shifted and pressed into the specialists chest in a daze. There are still no words. Nihila says nothing, but she does embrace Hera. She holds the Madame close and comforting.

It feels so good. So nice and reassuring. It also feels silly. Madame Hera has everything. She is powerful, secure, dominating in all of her affairs. She has not been torn apart, stranded on a backwater, shot and abused. Yet here she is, being comforted by Nihila, by ESS-1172. Silent, wordless comfort.

Perhaps the worst part is that it works. 

In her lovers arms Hera feels the fear momentarily eb away. Like the warmth of Nihila's embrace evaporates it into nothingness. Even the lack of words is a strange comfort. The fact that with nothing said Nihila is there for her. To keep her safe. 

And isn't it terrible? That Nihila keeps her safe. Why can't she keep Nihila safe? Why can't she keep the things that hurt her beloved away from them both. She is a Madame of the Horde and for all her power she is so worthless, so useless so completely incapable of giving the woman she loves the safety and security tha-

"Hera." The voice is soft. It jolts Hera out of her own mind. The Madame realizes she had been trembling, nearly crying. Shock washes over her, surprise at her weakness. Then the talons stroke her head gently. "What is wrong?" The specialist asks. 

She isn't sure how to answer. How does she explain this? That she feels worse about the things that have happened to Nihila than Nihila does? A part of Hera wants to say nothing, wants to brush this off. That would be lying though, to Nihila and herself in a way. She promised herself she would cease that, that she would own this aspect of her life as she does all others. So the Madame takes a deep breath.

"I… do not feel well… about the things I have seen happen to you." She is quiet, slow, careful in her words. Before Nihila can respond to that she adds on. "And that… I cannot do anything about those things."

The silence is long, painfully long. If it wasn't for the fact Nihila continues to stroke the Madame's hair it might be unbearable. That small assurance just enough to cling to, to know she didn't somehow just lose it all.

Finally when Nihila speaks the words are simple. Straightforward. Tinted somehow in the way an ESS analyzes their situation. "You do do things, About those things, though." 

Hera blinks, and finally looks up. Her specialist is looking down at her, eyes open and quizzical. Ears quirked. There's something else behind that otherwise innocent expression though. A level of apprehensive. "No I don't I just stand by and let it happen and you get hurt and-"

"You fix me up." Again it's straightforward, just a fact. "You make me better again, and you let me sleep here with you." Nihila nods a like "The others wouldn't understand but that's the best thing anyone has ever done for me."

That is somehow both so sad and so sweet simultaneously to Madame Hera. She can only stare up at those eyes and that small genuine smile that has formed. Overcome with the resilience of the woman she's laying with. Hera finds herself laughing, much to her own surprise. She buries her face back against Nihila's chest. Letting the level relief flow back over her. This time it stays for more than just a moment. 

"Thank you." The Madame speaks quietly. "I love you, Nihila."

"I love you too, Hera." The reply is soft, almost exploratory. Then it's followed up. "I was worried, that you would only think of the bad things when you saw me."

Hera lets out a small gasp. The admission hits her hard. "Oh. Oh no. I don't!" She looks up again! Then wiggles up to be face to face properly! "I love you." Hera finds herself repeating, scrambling for words. "I think of good things. I feel good things because of you." She sounds stupid. She knows she does. She needs to get this out though. She needs to make sure Nihila knows. So she punctuates her poorly worded feelings with a poorly aimed kiss. Missing Nihila's lips slightly and have to readjust embarrassingly.

The specialist doesn't seem to mind though, she just wraps her arms tight around Hera, pressing their bodies and their warmth together. After a moment the kiss breaks and they shift again. Wordlessly pressing forehead to forehead. 

"You make me think of good things too." Nihila finally says. "And I love you too." The tone is less exploratory this time. More sure. 

"I'm sorry I woke you up." Hera replies. Smiling yet again.

"It's okay. This was important. So it's good I wake up easy."

Iris actually let out a happy sigh as she slipped back into her quarters. Being the lead physician on this planetary fire base gave her some good perks. A room, above average food, time with her friend Axel. This bogged down campaign on a backwater planet in the middle of nowhere has turned into a rather nice deployment for the physician.

She smiles just a little bit as she spins around to flip on the lights.

"Finally! I have been waiting here for ages." The feminine voice calls out from behind her. Iris freezes in fear. Her good mood entirely shattered. The voice continues. "You can turn around I'm not going to shoot you for that."

Iris slowly turns herself. Before her is a member of her own species. Lavender eyes aglow, a smile displaying sharp teeth. A helmet is tossed haphazardly on one of the chairs in Iris' room. Armor plating too. The woman is sitting back in another chair, wearing nothing but a bloody bodyglove and holding a gun of some kind in one hand.

It's pointing at Iris.

"Hi! I'm an assassin! And you're the doctor here!" The intruder states happily.

"I- Yes. Are you here to kill me?" She has to keep the panic out of her voice. She fails utterly but manages to mask it with an electronic warble. "We were only recording a few things that we thought sounded good it's nothing serio-"

"I don't care about whatever you're talking about! Though your voice is very cool..." The assassin declares with a hmm before continuing. "I'm not here to kill you! I just need you to patch me up!"

Iris fear turns to confusion. "You're pointing a gun at me?" She points at it.

"Force of habit." The specialist doesn't lower it.

"You could have simply gone to the triage center..."

"Oh I'm not supposed to be here."

Iris confusion turns to absolute tiredness. One of these. This isn't unheard of and she's done this a couple of times. An assassin shows up, wounded from some encounter, wants to be patched up discretely.

This is the first time Iris has had her room broken in to by one though. "I am off duty."

"Me too." The gun shifts. "I also have a needlegun though! Do you know what that means?"

Iris frowns. She does indeed. She went to evil med school after all. "It means if you so much as graze me I will likely die without immediate medical attention..."

"You got it! So do you have stuff in here or do you need to go get your gear?"

Iris slumps. The emotional high she had been riding is lost for the night. "I have things here."

"Wonderful! Madame will be furious if I come back with this parasite still attached to my stomach!"

Iris' eye twitches. "Excuse me?"

The specialist just grins and wiggles the gun as if to say 'better get moving.'

...

Axel opens the door to Iris' room as casually as ever. Sometimes it's locked and axel has to fish around for the key but not tonight! That's good. Unlocked means Iris is awake. "Hey Iris I had this great idea for a new song and..." she's stopped mid sentence.

Laid out on a table is some woman, naked, with her stomach sliced open. She's biting down on a piece of wood. Iris is standing over the woman with her mask on, tools in hand, and hands in the unknown woman's torso.

Iris eyes shoot up. "Axel! Not right no-AAHHH" suddenly some sort of horrible lamprey serpent thing leaps out from the unknown woman's torso and at Iris! Luckily the doctor grabs it, or tries to. It appears to be slippery and she's having trouble keeping a grip!

Axel is full on panicking now. Hyperventilation has started.

Then the the pop of a silenced gun is heard and the little serpent things head explodes. The table woman is holding a gun, she managed to hit it clean while it was squirming in Iris grip.

With her stomach cut open.

The wood falls out of the womans mouth. "Good catch doc! Stitch me up and I'll be gone!"

The world goes black as Axel faints.

Than with a jolt Axel awakens, sitting up quickly on the simple couch Iris has set up in her quarters. They stole it from some locals. Breathing hard and fast she looks around the room but suddenly she feels someone at her side.

"Axel you're awake good!" It's Iris, already the physician is checking Axel over. "Passing out is not a good habit you know." Her voice warbles as she says that sing songily.

Axel is about to reply when she spots table lady behind Iris. Table lady gives a sharp toothy grin and waves. Axel's breath begins to pick up again as panic seeps in.

Iris glances back and sighs. "Do not worry Axel. She's just a patient."

"Hello!" Table lady speaks. "I'm an assassin!"

As Axel begins to hyperventilate again Iris turns around. "You can't just say that! You're scaring Axel!"

"I don't know how to not scare people!"

"Learn!"

Axel finally finds her voice to yell out "What is going on?!

...

Iris gives a small relieved sigh as Axel sits up. The mechanics breathing seems regularized, there don't seem to be any lingering negative effects of her passing out, she's calmer in general. Good. This is very good.

Medically of course. This is medically good which is what Iris is telling herself this is about.

Axel speaks. "So... You had to perform... Room surgery on the assassin."

"Yes. She had a weaponized parasite inside of her. Actually it was one of the more fascinating surgeries I've had to perform because the target for removal could move and the patient was awake for the duration. Very challenging to balance the need for minimized invasiveness and-" Iris stops rambling as she realizes Axel's expression shows mostly horror.

Iris suddenly feels very sheepish. "Sorry" she says with a warble. "Anyway!" She claps her hands together. "ESS-1172 stayed to make sure you're okay!"

"Aren't I great?" The ESS chimes in as she walks around aimlessly.

"You are not." Iris deadpans. Then stands. "I am going to see ESS-1172 out now." Iris adds. Beginning the process of funneling the assassin out of her quarters.

Outside the specialist stops to grin.

"Well doc! We had some good times!" The assassin speaks.

"We did not." Iris replies as she nods. "Though your case was fascinating..."

"Good times." The assassin repeats with a sage nod before putting her helmet on. "Cute girlfriend by the way!" She adds

Iris' brain stalls immediately. "What? Girlfriend? Haha. That's. No. What? No." She waves a hand to brush that off. The assassin is already walking away, waving as she goes.

"Girlfriend!" She calls back.

"No! That's not! Shut up go away!" Iris immediately realizes how dumb that was after she says it.

"Intelligence shows this vessel holds the rebel forces bio labs."

That was how Archae was roped into this. Yes she specializes in biological weapons, yes she is great at what she does, yes she was the only one of her caliber in the region of space this operation is taking place in.

But that did not mean she was happy at all about being pressured into cramming herself into a boarding pod with the common soldiers and being catapulted across space to some enemy vessel so she could ascertain the threat level of any biological agents aboard the ship and if needed neutralize them. In fact she is quite unhappy about this. Also a bit scared but that is not to be admitted to the world.

Yet despite all her displeasure here she is. Sitting in this pod and taking deep breaths. On top of all of that the armor she has been put in is rather unflattering. Not a problem you would think someone would give much thought to but Archae was already grumpy enough that this was just a huge insult on top of the rest of this.

This is basically a public outing and it frankly sucked to be in unflattering attire during public outings. Especially when you already are slightly uncomfortable with public outings. 

As Archae puts on her helmet one of the soldiers in the pod with her leans down. "First time doing one of these?*

Feminine voice. Tall. In specialized armor unlike the others here. There is no rank or division insignia, just the emblem of the Horde. An ESS most likely, or some other form of special forces. Though the top of her helmet is blank and featureless while the lower half seems to be some sort of breathing mask. They are connected completely, likely the seals are quite high quality. Classy. Archae can appreciate the find craftsmanship of protecting isolation gear.

Regardless of any appreciation however Archae frowns while she checks the straps on her seat. "Shouldn't you be sitting?"

"No I'm good. It is your first time though I can tell." The soldier laughs lightly. "Don't worry just stay in the shock seat and you'll be fiiiiine."

"I am not concerned about the ride." Archae huffs.

"Oh you should be that's when most deaths occur. Once we're in the ship it'll be easy, just stick with me!"

Archae feels herself blanch under her armor. That is not reassuring.

Suddenly the lights in the pod go green and she feels acceleration. "Really though shouldn't you be sitting?" She finds herself asking.

"As long as I'm in before impact it's fiiiine!"

Archae finds herself clenching the straps of her shock seat tight. Not only is she on a dangerous mission but the one person here who's talking to her is clearly insane. Wonderful.

"We call these boarding pods in kind of a generic way but actually this kind is called an assault ram." The ESS continued talking to Archae. Even as the engine thrummed heavily, as the sound of rock and debris clinking against the hull of their metal coffin rang out. She was still talking. "I normally get sent over in an individual scale torpedo and those use a gel solution for helping you survive deceleration. it's very gooey."

"Please." Archae speaks, she feels sick to her stomach. Anxiety, acceleration sickness, both? Likely both. Archae isn't made for this sort of thing she's a good woman who does good work. Good work that is definitely not this sort of work. "Why are you talking to me?" It comes out exactly as rude and harsh as she wants it.

"Oh! The Marines won't talk to me and I'm supposed to protect you anyway. So I thought we could get to know each other before we never see each other again."

Archae looks up with an expression that screams 'are you fucking kidding me?' unfortunately it's under her helmet. She likes to think the specialist feels it though.

"Oh!" The ESS suddenly says! "Impact soon!"

"Impact??" Archae doesn't like the sound of 'impact'

"Oh did you not read up on how these work? We only decelerate at the laaast moment, and use the forward laser to cut into the targets hull! So we go deep!" The insane woman laughs a bit as she hops into a shock seat. Archae gapes. She knew that was done sometimes, she did not think they'd put her in such a craft.

Someone must want her dead.

Before she can really think about that it happens. Impact. The crashing sound of metal on metal. The whine and screech of the stress of impact.

All coupled with the massive g force pressing Archae into the shock chair. Triggering her panic response, making her mind fuzzy. She can do this. She went through training. She can resist this.

Blackness creeps at the edge of her vision. Then they're stopped. She doesn't black out.

"Hey you did it!" Her mad compatriot calls out. "You're still awake! Now's the part where you stay with me and I take you to the target!"

Archae's head shoots up. The madwoman is already standing and readying one of her many weapons. "How are you already up?!" She hisses out

Then she hears some of the Marines with them laugh and feels the vague combination of embarrassed and murderous that leads one to consider placing a mostly non lethal bacterial agent in people's foods. Not that Archae would ever do such a thing herself. 

"Oh don't mind them! You're a science type!" The ESS readies her weapon, pointing it at the front of their boarding pod, assault ram, whatever it is. Then. "Contact."

The front explodes off and all of the soldiers inside begin firing out through the smoke, the rams sensors painting targets for them through their helmets. Archae can see the display in her own but would barely know where to begin with parsing all of that information.

Archae takes a deep breath, and once the initial sweep is done gets herself up. The sooner this is done the better. Then she can go home, see her cat, read, and poison some marines. Archae nods to herelf, sure of that plan, and steps forward to follow the ESS that is apparently escorting her. 

Of course the specialist continues to try to make small talk with her. Archae can only half listen, only able to partially focus on the incessant banter. She does get confirmation that this is in fact an Executive Solutions Specialist. Number 1172 apparently. 

"So that is how I taught Madame's Hounds to wield knives!" The Specialist shouts over weapons fire as she strides through the corridors of the ship. Her aim is eerily good, sort of horrifying. Her weapon of choice seems to be some sort of customized high powered energy sidearm. It's putting holes in people that's really all Archae knows about it.

She knows much more about this monsters love life though and that's somehow making this entire adventure go from harrowing to frustrating. Apparently this Executive Solutions Specialist is in a romantic relationship with a woman of high standing, lives with her, and they have dogs? How is that even fair?

She's a murder machine!

There is also another issue to address. "Why exactly did you teach the Hounds how to use knives?" Archae's frustration cannot overcome her curiosity about this.

"So they could stab people." The specialist says without missing a beat as she shoots a door panel to trigger the emergency release and expertly murders the crew members hiding inside.

Archae frowns slightly. "Must we stop at every door?"

"I don't want anyone coming in behind us!"

That... Makes some sort of sense. Archae relents on that subject. Then she sighs as they continue their forward March. She has to ask. She needs to know this monsters secrets.

"So how did you and 'Madame' meet exactly?"

"Oh! That's a fun story!"

It also turns out that it is a rather long and detailed story, one that the specialist remembers with almost enviable clarity. Who remembers things this well? All the while they make their way toward their objective, the ships bio-lab. 

"So I killed the terrorists and saved Madame and afterwards she took me into her employ more properly. Which of course I was excited about because she's very attractive." The specialist finished her story as she fired into the lab. That actually made Archae wince, firing into a lab with a high powered energy weapon, but by the screams and sounds of meat hitting metal floor it seems the specialist was hitting her marks just fine every time she popped out from cover to fire.

Archae could appreciate that at least. The lab was going to be intact if a tad messier than she prefers. What she doesn't appreciate is how useless that story of terrorist plots and mass murder is. If anything it just sounds like this Madame is equally as insane as the specialist for falling for this madwoman.

Actually that could be it. Unless things somehow got more romantic between them later, which seems unlikely. Archae doesn't care to ask at this point. It’s starting to make her feel sad and self conscious about her own spinster lifestyle. 

Archae files that whole story away right as the specialist impales one of this ships crew members coming around the corner that they're using for cover with her talons. A knife drops to the ground. "Did they just try to enter melee with you?..." The bio warfare expert asks. She admits that seems wildly stupid even for a rebel species.

"Yep! There's always at least one!" The ESS says as she curls her talons and ruins the stupid aliens internal organs. Then drops the gasping sputtering thing on the ground.

Archae finds herself watching it twitch and die with impassive interest. She doesn't know this species. Maybe she should request specimens to be taken back to her ship... Who knows what they could yield. Sometimes even the dumbest and weakest creatures have biology that can be learned from, and weaponized. 

Her thoughts are interrupted by the specialist. "Labs clear. Let's go."

The two enter the biolab and Archae is less than impressed. A crude workshop with improper safety mechanisms. Sure enough bodies litter the floors. People in hazmat suits and some guards in armor. All with limbs blown away or holes in there torso. "You do not aim for the head." Archae notes.

"Oh not with something with this much stopping power." The ESS replies as she scopes the room and sets herself up into overwatch at the door. "Center mass will be a kill and is a bigger target. Always aim for the largest thing that will ensure the kill."

That is again a potential nugget of actually sage advice taken from the insane ramblings of a killer, and in many ways can apply to much of the weapons Archae produces. Perhaps warfare at any scale has similarities.

With a breath the scientist nods and moves to the lab computers to try and discern what is going on here.

Archae is in her element now. Her bodyguard manages to get the lab door sealed and she has gained access to the lab systems. Data poured out, translated into Horde Standard via the access virus implanted into the ships computers

The specialist is now sitting on the floor near the door. Relaxing and bobbing her head to some beat that Archae cannot discern. Music in the helmet maybe? Oddly enough the so far incessant talker had fallen quiet the moment Archae got to work. Training to allow ‘science types’ to do field work unperturbed perhaps?

"What even..." Archae caught herself expressing her thoughts out loud after the fact. She hears the specialist shift at the words. Briefly Archae ponders if it's even worth it to elaborate to a blunt instrument like an ESS.

Then she decides she wants to speak regardless. It should be her turn to get to talk about something.

"They're not... Making a disease." Archae notes. "These genome maps are for a multi-cellular construct, and they've taken from all over."

"They're making super dogs aren't they?" The ESS replies.

Archae turns around to stare for a moment. "No. No they are not making super dogs."

"Oh. That's what I would make."

There is a long silence as the two stare at one another. Finally Archae takes a deep breath and replies. "Yes. I am sure you would." She then turns back to the computers. "No it's some sort of... Maybe a terror weapon? It is an... idiotically complicated genome map. It is not a pathogen I can tell us that much."

"Why is it idiotic?"

"It's too complex. I can see some of what they're doing and there are such simpler sequence combinations to get the results. This entire map is a mess and they've barely left any notes to work from." Archae actually groans. "There is nothing here for the Horde. This was pointless. I wasn't needed for any of this."

"Well yeah duh." The specialist stands now. Archae looks back again. Surprised at that comment.

"Excuse me?"

"You're a lab scientist. There are field technicians for this stuff. You were sent here to die." The specialist shrugs. Incredibly nonchalant.

Archae sputters. She suspected but to just have it said. So plainly. By this woman nonetheless. "And you know this how?"

"I kill people like you for sport it's really obvious. Also I did tell you I was assigned here to make sure you don't die."

"Wait wait... So I am-"

"Caught in the middle of a power struggle you have no part in! Isn't that fun?"

Archae takes a few deep breaths. Anger starting to well in her chest. She had managed to keep out of these petty power politics for so long and now suddenly this.

Then something impacts the door. Archae actually lets out a yelp of surprise. A scythelike talon suddenly punctures through the door to the lab. ESS-1172 is on her feet and raising her hand cannon immediately.

"That's generally not a good sign!" The specialist declares.

"You think?!" Archae snaps as suddenly the door is forced open and a horrible creature made of scything limbs and large mandibles launches itself at the ESS. A shot is loosed, taking one of the creatures arms clean off.

Unfortunately that doesn't stop it. Archae can barely track what's happening. Horror filling her as the thing apparently knocks 1172s weapon aside and the two enter melee.

A super predator and a macro scale bioweapon clawing and tearing at once another..

Briefly her brain sarcastically notes she can't be sure which is which.

It becomes apparent the creature is going to win this melee if nothing is done. The specialist is a honed killing machine but in this proximity most of her advantages are lost.

She'll die, and then Archae will die soon after.

Just like whoever got her sent here wanted.

The rage boils again. She won't die here. She refuses.

Archaes eyes search for a weapon, something, anything that she can use to turn this fight around. The gun? No it’s on the other side of the fight. Some of the tools in here? Can she grab them fast enough. Her mind spins, undecided on her course of action. Until she catches the specialists claws slashing through the creature.

Archae is the weapon.

In her anger and desperation Archae launches herself at the creatures, onto it's back. Her claws digging into it neck.

It howls and Archae realizes she may have made a mistake as it bucks her off of it. Roaring as it's attention is turned to her.

Fear again, dread. This is how Archae dies. In some terrible lab in an alien spaceship at the talons of some stupid monster. She is sure this is how it all ends. 

Until the grey-purple talons of the ESS suddenly wrap around the things skull and one of its arms. Roaring and throwing it into the computer nearby.

The sidearm maglocked to 1172s hip comes off and she fires at the thing. A quiet pop of a 'silent' weapon. Her thumb playing with some sort of interface on the back of the weapon as she fires again and again.

The creature howls, stumbling. Welts forming. Flesh starting to visibly necrotize. It falls. Whimpering in pain as it dies.

"Well! That was a thing that happened!" 1172 says loudly. "Good thing the needlegun toxins worked huh? Some of them anyway." The specialist notes as she holsters said weapon and retrieves her hand cannon.

"I jumped on it..." Archae says as she stares at her own blood coated trembling hands. "I jumped on that thing."

"You sure did! You saved me!"

Archae pauses in her existential crisis. "... I did... Didn't I?"

"Yep! Which makes all of this pretty awkward actually!"

She saved this specialist. Archae, a lab junky, saved this trained soldier from some monster. She did that all on her own and- wait. Awkward?

"Excuse me?" Archae glances up, then her eyes widen as the specialist levels the hand cannon at her

"Surprise! I'm actually supposed to help make sure you die! Isn't that fun?" She remains so cheerful. Like the entire nature of their situation didn't just drastically change. Like they didn't just spend this whole mission talking.

Archae finds herself... Just about done with this. "NO!" She suddenly yells. "it's not fun! That doesn't even make sense! Why did you protect me this whole way then?!"

"Well you were already here so I thought it would be best if you did actually check this lab." The ESS states matter-of-factly.

"I hate you." Archae suddenly says. Almost hissing it out. "I hate you, this ship, everything going on here."

"But I haven't even reached the best part yet!"

Archae just growls, trying to think of what she can do to escape.

Then the specialist tells her the best part. "I'm not gonna kill you." And lowers her weapon with a laugh.

Archae stares, somewhere between dumbfounded and even more pissed off.

"I like you! Plus you saved me so that makes it awkward. Plus! Madame doesn't even want you dead herself!"

Archae takes a deep breath. "THEN WHY DID YOU EVEN TELL ME?!" She shouts, as loud as she can. She’s angry, and the fact ESS-1172 just laughs at her outburst just makes it worse.

“Just because! I thought you’d like to know!” The Specialist shrugs, and Archae almost loses it. Unfortunately instead she suddenly jolts in surprise, and then winces, as the specialist suddenly turns her hand cannon to annihilate the computers in this room.

"We should be going though! Before the Marines find us and try to kill you!" Ever cheerful the ESS starts to walk out.

Archae has to take a moment to compose herself and follow. "If your Madame does not want me dead then why would you be here to ensure I die?" that wasn't adding up.

"Oh! Well see someone asked her for my services as a favor! The person who actually wants you dead!"

Archae frowns. "And would you happen to know who that is?"

"I do! What was his name...." The specialist hrmms as they walk along now. Wracking her brain for the knowledge she needs. Archae waits, patiently considering if she could maybe take the specialist by surprise and kill her. Probably not. Assuming the Specialist is telling the truth that would be a pointless endeavor anyway, and assuming she's lying Archae might just be dead either way. This sucks, for lack of a better way to put it.

Finally the ESS speaks again. "Oh right! Jimmothy Jimjamin Jimchael Jimfrey Jimpulk Al Kordajim Jimberly Jimbecka Jimantha Jimima Jimmanuel jimessica Jimthina Jimbert Jimila Jimmarie Jimimah!"

Archae stops mid step.

ESS-1172 was about to set off in the small ship to ship transport shuttle when Madame stepped inside. The specialist was initially rather confused by that, had Madame forgotten something in the shuttle? When Madame Hera explained she was coming along ESS-1172 immediately tried to protest. Of course she was overruled. Madame Hera was coming along for this and there would be no saying otherwise.

It is not often those from outside the Executive Solutions Department enter one of its Blackships. It worried the specialist for some reason she couldn't quite place. 

Madame seeing the sort of place 1172 grew up in felt somehow, very personal. It made her feel very vulnerable.

They took off, and the Madame simply sits quietly in the back while the specialist watches the shuttles instruments. There is not much to say. Usually Madame starts their conversations.

So as the shuttle approaches the Blackship the feeling of unease in 1172s core only grows. Madame does not know what these places are like. Madame has never needed to know. It has been better that way. ESS-1172 understands that those of Madame's station have a very different idea of breeding and the environment that the young should be brought up in.

Their ideas have led many to consider the ESS a lesser breed, despite their physical prowess.

Nihila does not want Madame to think of her as lesser.

The shuttle docks and ESS-1172 moves to the back of the shuttle, offering a hand to help Madame Hera up. "You do not have to come." She tries one last time.

"I am aware, but I wish to." Madame replies as she takes the specialists hand and rises.

There is a moment of pause, only a moment, before ESS-1172 nods and replies, "Of Course, Madame." Then she heads to the rest hatch of the shuttle, opening it and stepping through into the Blackships airlock. 

On the other side the gravity increases, Hera actually lets out a small sound of surprise. ESS-1172s own modified musculature compensates without issue. She glances back "Do you require aid Madame?"

"No." Hera replies quickly, almost harshly, standing back up tall and proud. "I am perfectly alright."

"Very well." As the hatch to the shuttle closes behind them the cameras in the airlock focus on them. An electronic voice speaks out.

"Remove your helmet."

The specialist complies, pulling off the entire two part unit at once. She looks directly into the camera now. "ESS-1172 Formerly MIA reporting for reinstatement."

There is a moment of pause. The camera turns to Hera. "State the reason for your presence, Madame Hera."

Madame stares back for a moment before replying cooly. "ESS-1172 was in my employ before her disappearance and has returned to my employ. I wish to observe her reinstatement on those grounds."

Another pause. Then the door across from them opens. "ESS-1172 report to maintenance and processing. Madame Hera is to remain with ESS-1172 at all times."

Without a word the Specialist begins to walk. 

The corridors of the vessel are low lit, though the guiding lights leading them to their destination adds to the dark ambiance of the whole place rather well. ESS-1172 can feel the Madame staying close, her eyes looking over everything. 

"You were raised in a ship like this?" Madame Hera asks plainly as they walk. The question almost hurts for some reason.

"Yes. Though the trainees are kept in separate wings from this area."

"And the crew?"

"These ships are largely automated. Command and instructors are aboard. Maintenance. These areas are kept barren however."

"Interesting…"

"It is so the ship can be decompressed as needed. Those that do not wear void gear, such as yourself, will be easily removed that way." She keeps her voice matter of fact, and almost cold because of it. Aboard the Blackship there are ears, and Madame must be nothing more than the noble she is employed under. 

They turn into a large round chamber. The voice speaks again. "ESS-1172, step onto the platform. Madame Hera, remain behind the yellow lines at all times."

Madame seems to momentarily tense, but remains stoic and complies.

ESS-1172 steps forward, and from the ceiling a large machine descends. A thick mechanical arm, with a robotic apparatus that seems to be a hive of smaller manipulators and sensors. Optics shift and examine her. Another arm moves to take the helmet she's still holding from her.

The machine begins to list information on her. Information long expunged from records beyond these Blackships. Speaking to her as it rotates around and examines her. ESS-1172 has been through this before. Though only a handful of times. It's taking the measure of her, ensuring she is her, and ensuring she can remain composed before her masters.

"Verifying Mental Space." It speaks as suddenly another limb descends down and slams interface jacks into the ports behind her ears. ESS-1172 screams at the sudden jolt. At the test of her endurance and resolve. She feels it's manipulators grab her, lifting her up and beginning to remove her armor from her. This is in part what ESS-1172 was afraid of. Madame seeing this, Madame seeing her in this state. Madame looking at her in the future and just seeing this moment.

She can hear Madame shouting. The sound of the machines moving down to stop Hera from approaching, the impassive voice stating flatly that Madame Hera lacks authority here.

"Unauthorized physical modifications to ESS Designation 1172 detected. Proceeding with analysis." The large machine declares, it's many manipulators shifting.

ESS-1172 manages to makes out Madame's shout of "Do NOT hurt her!" Before the tools are plunged into her chest and her world goes white. She's only half aware but half is more than enough. It digs inside of her, through her. Everything the Madame has given her examined and scrutinized. Noted and catalogued.

The pain is excruciating. It is endless. She screams in agony despite herself. The machine could render her unconscious, it could spare her this. It does not wish to. 

Testing. Always testing. Since birth always testing.

She does not know how long it is before she's dropped back to the floor. No wounds are left to betray the examination done to her. All flesh is sealed perfect and pretty once again. "Physical modifications catalogued. Mental state catalogued. Deviation from last logging… acceptable."

As ESS-1172 begins to sit up she sees metal arms release Madame Hera. The Madame runs over to the specialist, kneeling down to help her up.

"Request for reinstatement accepted. Glory to The Horde." As the machines retract Madame speaks in a panic.

"Are you alright? Did it do any lasting harm?" ESS-1172, Nihila, can feel Madame trying to examine her. 

"I am fine." She almost hisses out. Too harsh, but Madame cannot show such emotion. Not here. She cannot show emotion here either. Always testing. She must be Mirak here, she must be something detached from this world. "It's done. We should return." 

Madame seems momentarily taken aback, but nods. Mirak silently pulls on her body glove and her armor plate. As if nothing happened. She is operating on automatic. The pain still lingers, the gasping horrible pain and fear. 

The trip back to the Samos is not as quiet. Madame insists on examining Nihila. She insists on sitting in the cockpit this time. When they board the Madame's flagship she insists Nihila return to her Chambers with her. 

And when they arrive Madame pulls Nihila's clothing back off. Though unlike so many other times this is not a carnal act. It is worried, deliberate. The Madame wants to make sure Nihila is okay. She wants to hold her close.

When the blanket is wrapped around Nihila, Madame's favorite blanket, she suddenly feels so heavy. Her body sinks, slumping down. She's exhausted. She feels Madames arms around her, holding her tight. 

"It's okay Nihila. You're safe here. You're safe with me." 

Nihila isn't sure how to respond. So instead she leans over to rest against Madame. Then after a moment speaks simply. "Hera."

Hera jolts at the sound of her name from Nihila's lips. "Yes?" 

"I am sorry you had to see that." Nihila finally says.

Hera only squeezes tighter now, beginning to let out soft "No."s, assuring Nihila that nothing is her fault.

Hera does not let her go.

"Madame?" The voice actually surprises Hera for a moment. She glances over at the underling speaking to her, retaining an impassive expression. They're staring expectantly and semi worried by the looks of things. Good, let them worry.

"Repeat what you were saying." No apology. No scrambling to save face. Admit you were not paying attention and retain control. This is how Hera deals with a situation like this. As expected her underling begins to speak again. It is about the ships next resupply and what they are in need of. Really Hera is just being kept in the loop of her vessels day to day operations.

She is barely paying attention, more so now them than during the first pass at this information at least. The Madame's eyes are focused instead on the ESS on the sparring mat nearby. Hera came to watch the Marines aboard her ship undergoing their training drills and she just happened to arrive as ESS-1172 was beginning to spar with them. 

Quite the coincidence, of course.

The ESS is wearing little more than shorts and a sports bra, foregoing a body glove for a change. It is of course not exactly rare for Hera to see the ESS outside of a bodyglove but it is rare to see her in alternative clothing. In a way that made this sight rather tantalizing. Seeing the well trained and firm body covered just so, moving fluidly against an opponent in hand to hand combat...

"This all sounds standard." Hera suddenly speaks to the underling, cutting the poor officer off mid sentence. "Thank you for keeping me informed, you may return to your duties." She keeps her voice curt and controlled.

"A-ah yes. Of course. Thank you Madame." They bow before marching off. Hera turns back to the sparring going on before her. Her ESS is doing well. Taking her opponent with ease it seems. That is good. The Madame had a modicum of concern for ESS-1172 after her return to the Samos. The injuries and degradation were worrying. However though some quirks do seem to remain 1172 has so far been functional and much her old self.

It has been wonderful.

"ESS-1172" Hera calls out once the match is over. "Come here." She adds.

The specialist glances over, a smirk forming on her lips. She exits the sparring ring and approaches Hera. "Yes, Madame?" 

"Are you quite done humiliating my Marines?" Madame Hera asks in a deadpan.

"If you have a new assignment for me, yes."

There's a twinge of something in Hera at that. Guilt perhaps, or worry? It has not been long since 1172s return and already the specialist wishes to return to the field. Hera has been delaying such action so far. Just for a short time longer at least. After all 1172 still needs to be properly reinstated with the Department. 

So perhaps it is both. Guilt over holding the specialist back, and worry of losing her again when she begins taking assignments once more. Hera takes a breath. "of a sort. Walk with me."

ESS-1172 nods and follows behind the Madame when Hera turns to march out of the training room and into her vessels corridors once more. Hera feels herself smile just a little as she fails to hear the ESS walking behind her. "The new legs are treating you well?" She asks.

"Yes." 1172 replies simply "I had the technicians replace the feet with something quieter, so there is shock and sound padding on the underside of them now. Much more useful for barefoot sneaking. Though I think putting boots on is a little more difficult." She hmms.

Hera smirks slightly. "I am glad to hear that. I want you at peak performance."

"Of Course, Madame. That is why I spar with your Marines." 

Hera nods slightly, turning into a side room she knows should be empty right now. A maintenance alcove for this section of the ship. The moment she's in Hera turns around and pulls ESS-1172 close. Letting her hands feel the specialists exposed sides. "You look great in this." She notes with a slightly husky tone.

Nihila is grinning now. "Madame you've seen me in less."

"Sometimes the imagination makes things more tantalizing. Sometimes." Hera responds as she trails her claws over her lovers toned core. Tracing the visible muscle of specialists trained and engineered body. Then the Madame feels Nihila take her arms and pull her forward. The two pressed there for a moment.

"You came just to see me?" Nihila asks. Almost quizzically. As if she is unsure of what to make of her Madame's behavior.

Hera looks up now, staring up into those lavender orbs. The tells of prosthesis barely visible behind the glow. "Mmm. Yes. Yes I did." She admits. The Madame often did, long ago, but she would never admit it then. Now she can, now she feels she should. "I do not like not having you near me." 

Nihila's ears quirk, then she wraps her arms around Hera's back. "Is that why you have not allowed me to be reinstated yet?" 

Hera winces.

Then Hera nods. "It has been nice for me. Having you simply here." She sighs as she rests her head against Nihila's chest.

"I will still be." Nihila responds. "But I do need to be reinstated to do my work effectively."

Silence fills the small maintenance room. The Madame feeling the emotions churn in her heart. All so new and difficult. The vulnerability of it all. She wants to keep Nihila tucked away safe in the Samos with her. Secure and guaranteed to never be lost again. She wants Nihila, her Nihila, to be happy too though.

Before Hera can respond Nihila speaks again. "I'll stay by your side. I will avoid far away missions if I can." 

Hera blinks. She looks up again. Nihila is still staring down at her, her expression nearly unreadable. The specialist enjoys her work. She enjoys it a lot. Hera has always known this. Working purely as a guard is not as thrilling as Nihila is used to. The specialist used to love the thrill of leaving the Samos for an assignment. She would talk with a grin at the nature of her work.

"Would that be okay? For just a while longer? Not forever." Hera asks with more vulnerability in the question than she expected or wanted.

Nihila looks surprised by the question and the tone. Then nods. "Yes. I need to train your Hounds how to use knives anyway."

Hera's emotional vulnerability, her moment of weakness, is lost in a wave of sheer bamboozlement at that statement. 

So the Madame giggles.

Nihila looks surprised! Her ears perk up! Her eyes widen! Then she smiles a bit! Suddenly Hera feels talons on her chin, tilting her up, and lips pressed against her own. The Madame murmurs into her lovers mouth. Once they break Nihila kisses the top of Hera's head.

Hera sighs happily now. "Contact the nearest Blackship. I'll divert the Samos and get you reinstated."

"Thank you, Madame." Nihila nods. 

They remain intertwined for a moment more. Embraced in one another. Then Nihila peaks out from the maintenance room and slips outside. 

A Different Sort of Rebel.  First Mirak Fic.

The Game.  First Hera Fic. Set Before Mirak goes to Etheria.

Awakening.  Prior to Rebel, when Mirak woke up on Etheria.

A Night In.  Pre-Etheria, Before Hera and Mirak’s Relationship really set off.

Rescue Mission.  Gotta save Tim

The Conference - Hera.  Pre-Etheria Part 1 of 2

The Conference - ESS-1172  Pre-Etheria Part 2 of 2

Flagrant Breaches of Conduct. Not Safe For Work/Horde. Glimpses of their relationship. Pre-Etheria

Infant Redistribution Initiative. Mirak’s starting to break down.

Wrong Bed. Retread of one of the Flagrant Breaches of Conduct Stories.

Hurt/Comfort First Prompt! More glimpses at their relationships and personalities together. Crimson has me introduce a tragedy that they’re continuing to taunt you all with in art as of posting this. Pre-Etheria

Of Tanks and Names We learn Mirak’s name is fake.

I Bet You Didn’t Know That I Was Dangerous. Ultraviolence. Mirak is losing her grip.

Vulnerable. Pre-Etheria. Hera definitely is only here for science.

Hera’s Alone. Hera learns Mirak is gone. Now technically post-Etheria on Hera’s stories.

Appetites. Part 1 of 2. Introduction of Mistress Hedone.

Desires. Part 2 of 2. Set up for Doggos. Hera discovers Ice Cream. Chubby Hera AU is created at this point.

Sweets. Mirak hates sweets.

Romantic Gifts. Pre-Etheria Another Prompt! They’re messed up!

Morning Preparations. Originally before Herak was a thing Cass and Mirak were going to have a super unhealthy relationship I was going to explore. This is a vestige of that.

The Plan. Filler.

Doggos in Space Very important Doggo story because going forward the boys are major characters.

Impromptu Departure. Mirak Season 1 Finale.  The plot of this one makes less sense post S3 but it works.

Reunion - Part 1 Season 2 premier. Finally the timelines converge. It’s been decades for Hera.

Reunion - Part 2 Together again.

Gentle Pre-Etheria, was backlogged. NSFW.

Time Together Gay Girls who are bad with having feelings.

Reinstatement ESS-1172 gets her license to kill back.

Comfort Important talks in bed

Archae’s Bad Day ESS-1172 goes on an adventure with a scientist. In space.