A hundred angry threats raged through Spencer's mind when Stewart revealed himself to be perfectly coherent. But he restrained himself at his promise to keep it sealed. Exactly how much that meant remained to be seen. Spencer got up and went to Mika, crouching beside her. "I'll help you through it." He said. "I can't say I understand. But, you've seen something in me that nobody else has seen. And that means something to me." He removed his sunglasses and met her eyes. "If there's anything I can do to make it easier...tell me."
Mika glared at Lewis. "Oh, I'm sorry, that's right.," She said acidly, "It's not like we didn't just get attacked by Reavers! It's not like I can't feel the..." Her gorge rose and she took a moment to compose herself, "It's not like I can't feel the hunger and the hatred. Even in you. So maybe while we're getting all sanctimonious about judging you could try to be happy I didn't just shoot her damned head off." She turned her attention to Spencer. "I appreciate that. Unfortunately, I don't think that the reaction of the team is something either of us can help. Just..." Mika made a helpless gesture with her hands. "The doc was supposed to be watching me for symptoms of a tumor, of anything that might necessitate ending the...the...experiment. Other than that," she shrugged, looking into his eyes and seeing the real Spencer for the first time, "I don't think there is anything anyone can do."
Sadie decided not to press Mika for answers as she checked over her cuts and then left the carriage. There was a haunted look on the other woman’s face that said she was as discomfited as any of them by the scene between herself and Eve, and although Sadie was curious she had the feeling Mika herself didn’t know the answers. If or when she did … well, she’d tell them when she was ready. With a quiet sigh she walked over to David, to see how he was doing and ask if he’d seen Gask – after the initial attack Sadie had lost track of him and he didn’t appear to be in this or the next carriage. As she got to him, however, Chris stormed from the room, after Eve she’d guess, with a dark growl of, “You people f*cking sicken me.” Sadie shook her head. Thing weren’t going to get better any time soon, then.
"You people f*cking sicken me." "I sicken myself, Chris." he said quietly with his head down. Arthur crouched down after Chris shoulder-checked him. He pulled his flask out and took a swig. After a quick thought, he puts it away and lights a cigarette. He needed to sort things out. He didn't have much. He had approximately until the end of that cigarette to decide who to go to first. Puff... inhale... contemplate... exhale. Chris was his friend, and he saw his point, but the whole scene with Eve was weird. Artie didn't know Eve or share any intimacy with her, he had no ties to her whatsoever. But it wasn't right how the group seemed to attack her. On the other end, he had a thing for Mika. Even with her leaving out on him like she did, he still had a strong feeling for her. Strong enough to keep her in his mind. He didn't hate her for leaving, she just reminded him of why he hated himself. Oddly enough, he was hoping she didn't hate him for the way he acted last night. When he gets full of alcohol, he sometimes lets out the things he suppresses when sober. He didn't know if he said something out of line to her. The main thing that made it difficult for him to choose was the fact he wanted everybody to like him. Always had. It was his gift and his curse. He's a naturally likable guy, and confrontations weren't his strong suit. He just didn't have it in him to knowingly let someone down. With the team splitting up before his very eyes, he would have to at least endure a scolding. He wasn't looking forward to it, but he prepared himself for reality.
"I don't think there is anything anyone can do." Spencer nodded at her solemnly as she looked into his eyes. He held her gaze in silence for a moment. "If that changes, I'll be there." He stood and replaced his shades, then held out a hand to help her up.
Mika scrambled up with the aid of his warm grasp and let go, sighing. "So...what do we do now?" She wasn't sure she wanted to go back with the others but where else was there?
Artie's cigarette was finished, and so was his hideout time. He couldn't stay by the truck forever. His brain was racked tremendously, which wasn't a surprise. Artie's nowhere near a genius, it's his sincerity that draws people to him. He flicked the cigarette out of the window and slowly walked into the main carriage. His head stayed down. He wasn't going to pick a side, he just hoped that everyone would accept he isn't that guy. He knew Chris knew him well, and probably would expect his reaction. Besides, he was consoling Eve, and that looked like a lover moment. He wouldn't interfere with that by any means. The first one he saw was Mika, who was talking with the other Ghost he heard referred to as Spencer. He decided to go over to them. Once he approached, he couldn't say anything. Everything racing through his head, nothing would race out of mouth. "Uhhh... I... uhhh..." was all he could manage.
Mika smiled in spite of her down mood when she saw Artie struggling. "Hey, Artie," she said quietly, "glad to see you made it through the attack okay."
Artie was glad Mika wasn't upset at him. He let out a sigh of relief, and smiled back. "Hey... yeah, I'm okay." he let his eyes run over her figure. "Are you?"
Some things didn't change no matter how much stress and chaos there had been. She even smiled a little. "I'm okay," she replied, "your friends don't like me much right now, though." She looked down at Lewis, who seemed content to recline on the floor for the moment, "I don't think he does, either." Spencer smiled at her and slipped out through one of the doors to an unknown destination, maybe to speak to Hawke or check on Helena.
"I'm okay," she replied, "your friends don't like me much right now, though." She looked down at Lewis, who seemed content to recline on the floor for the moment, "I don't think he does, either." "Well my friend, Chris is a good guy. I'm sure he'll come around." he said carefully trying to stay on the fence. Looking at the other gentleman and looking back at Mika, he says, "He shot himself in the ass, who cares how he feels?" He looked at Lewis and smiled, "Nothing personal, bro." Lewis served a purpose, yet. He helped ease the tension that Artie was ready to cut with a knife.
Mika couldn't help laughing. It was totally unexpected after all the seriousness. "How," she asked, "did he manage to do that?" she sobered again, "And as for Chris and Eve, I doubt it, but it's nice of you to say so."
"I don't think he does, either." Mika said look down at Steward "He shot himself in the ass, who cares how he feels?" He looked at Lewis and smiled, "Nothing personal, bro." He rolled his eyes at their remarks and smirked "Mika, please, I don't dislike you... quite the opposite, however i would like to know why you have come to this conclusion so suddenly??" he raised his eyebrow a grin spreading on his mouth "Ermmmmm..... See this is where prejudise kicks in because of my mother?... yes?" he shifted himself into a cross legged postion, wincing at the pain his leg gave "Now listen to my words, I'm half Reaver half English." he let out a long drawn out sigh "People do not seem to see past the end of their noses, one second they like you and then they find out your half Reaver and then suddenly......." he grew silence for a moment "They don't want to know you. To them i'm this big evil demon who is going to scalp them when they sleep and wear their flesh as a prize," he began to chuckle to himself "All my life i have had racism barking at my neck, i admit it's not a nice feeling to always be shunted to the gutter and to actually have people fear me, me of all people........ my question to yous is do you not trust me? and do you actually fear your lives by me being in this team?...... after everything i have done for yous, i have risked my own neck to save yours, hence the state i'm in now" he grew silent and played with his beard then he looked into each persons face "Did i not prove myself by killing my own race?" he banged his head against the wall of the train "I.... hate... them .... as ...much ...as .....you!" each word followed by his head slamming against the metal walls a tear welled up in Stewards eye
Mika looked at Steward, sitting playing with his beard and wasn't sure she could explain but he deserved that she try. "Look, it wasn't judgment the way you think." She sighed, trying to think of how to explain, "One minute we were fighting the Reavers and I was scared out of my mind, I could FEEL them, Lewis. Feel their desires and know where each of them were, like a beacon." She looked at her hands. "Then I'm patching someone up, I put my hands on them, and I...saw things. I felt the same exact thing I'd felt from the Reavers and I didn't take the time to judge Eve," She shrugged, shouldering the shotgun, "I didn't even know I had her at barrel's end or that I'd said anything until I'd already done it. I think the only reason I didn't pull the trigger was because she was part of the team." She threw her unoccupied hand up. "Doesn't matter. Everyone's going to think I'm judgmental, just as you do. I don't know how to explain this without explaining everything."
He nodded at her last sentance "I agree with you on this one, You didn't mean to do it but your natural response kicked in before you could control it.... right or wrong?" he gave her one of his famouse warm smiles that melts people into comfort. "Look don't be apologizing to me, I think it's Eve you must say sorry to...... you must keep in mind she doesn't even know most of the memories you possibly seen, she did have her memory modified.... the poor bugger probs doesn't even know who she is" he looked deep into Mika's eyes "Cant you just give her a break?" "And about you, I to will help you as best as i can," he looked at Artie then turned his head back to Mika "Through this situation same as Spencer" he gave her a wink and smiled at spencer..... together as a team!" He noticed Mika's hands, he threw his black leather gloves towards her "Here take these i think this.....errrrr.... Situation maybe could be resolved by covering your hands up?..... Your skin is an organ and so by placing in to another persons skin could because sparking this thing of kind of like ....... a radio, it takes 2 to communicate but if u place something inbetween them it can disrupte the signal" he scratch his beard again made funny face thinking what he had just said through.... "does that make sense"
Artie watched and smirked as Lewis made the situation easier and easier to handle. The guy was just about as light-hearted as he was. He said all the things Arthur didn't want to say to her. Couldn't say to her. His brain didn't process things so quickly, so he was at a loss for words and got bailed out. He made a funny face when Lewis handed Mika a pair of ugly black gloves. "Say, bro... are you trying to make her wash dishes with those things or what?"
Mika caught her lip between her teeth and turned the black gloves over in her hands. There was no way they would fit but he had a good point. Not touching others was a good way to keep this from happening. Of course, she had no idea if her abilities would continue to develop or if this was the apex of them. Mika handed the gloves back. "These won't fit me but thank you," she told him, "I have a thinner pair of my own that I can wear. I can't stitch anyone up but at least I can still shoot and help in other ways. As for apologizing to Eve...well...I'll consider it." That would be a hard thing to do with some of the things the Orlock had said to her. Mika had to wonder if they weren't just better off leaving it alone.
"Say, bro... are you trying to make her wash dishes with those things or what?" said Artie. Lewis smirked at his comment "Maybe, Maybe for your personal benefit" he grinned at artie, he looked up at Mika and winked. "Artie?...." said steward in a quizzical tone Artie hummed his yes to lewis "Last time i seen you, was at the beginning of this journey...... You was speaking to yourself... i do hope you got over this habite" He smirked Mika threw his gloves back explaining that she had a smaller pair "No problem" he said in a soft tone he made realistic bird noise as he considered what she had said about Eve "Well obviously it's all on your terms, however can we please just try and get on with each other, differences aside..... we are all risking are necks for one thing and one thing only to save this damn planet, what example are we if we survived, that it's ok to be prejudice and discrimate.... stand up for your beliefs by all means.... but my granddad told me things about when the world was green" he stood up, gesturing his hands as he spoke "We, as human beings... lost contact with other races we cared about are selfs, mean while poor people and countries was just shunted aside when we should of supported them, racism caused wars, money and greed caused wars...... Now look at what we live in SH*THOLE!" he said with passion behind his words, my grandfather gave me the best advice and it was "Live today like there is no tommorow, live not in anger, jealousy, ect.... forget your worries, because tommorow you may not be here" He looked deep into everyones face
Mika was beginning to get perturbed that Lewis couldn't leave the prejudice angle alone. How many times did she have to explain? "Lewis," she said very distinctly, "try to listen to me this time. I AM NOT BEING PREJUDICIAL!" She took a deep breath, "Do I like Reavers? No. Can I direct your attention to the fact that they rape people to death and eat them? Can I get you to understand that I was SURPRISED and SHOCKED and ACTED ON INSTINCT?" Mika threw up her hands and turned away. "Forget it you only hear what you want to hear." She turned to go back to the first car. They had made the doctor as comfortable as possible here and the first car couldn't be any worse than this.
"Eve, please!" Chris pleaded, again, she didn't answer. She'd locked herself in her truck, closed all the hatches, and blocked all the windows with blankets so he couldn't see inside. Chris had been trying, unsuccessfully, to gain access for over 20 minutes. "Eve don't shut me out, I just want to help. I want to be there for you Eve. Cmon open up!" His fists made a dull smacking noise as he beat them against the armored kevlar exterior. "...Eve!!!" She opened one of the hatches. "Go away Chris." her voice was solid, cold, not at all what he was expecting. "Eve!" Chris exclaimed, backing up a few paces so he could see her. Her damaged eye had stained through the patch, while the other looked straight through him. "I know it's f*cked up what happened back there but none of it is your fault, you shouldn't--" "I said go away, I want to be alone right now." "Eve i care about you. I'm worried about you, please just let me in, we can sit in silence if you want, i just--" "You're worried i'm going to hurt myself again." Chris nodded. She saw right through him. "I promised you i wouldn't Chris... I promised I'd hurt you instead, remember? I'll call for you soon enough Chris, it will be very unpleasant. But for now, I want to be left alone with my thoughts." Chris pondered awhile before finally conceding. "Fine." he said. "Just answer one question for me. Why did you tell her you were a Reaver?" "I didn't," She responded as she turned the lever to close tha hatch. "You're the only one I've told." Slam!
Mika opened the door to the first train car and suddenly hoped that Artie was following her. She needed some kind of backup. Everyone looked up and the room went quiet. She tried to ignore it and moved to what was left of the bar, intending to get a drink. As she did, she felt a tracery of an emotion coming from outside the door. confusion, fear, and a growing anger sizzling like molten steel. It was getting stronger, gaining speed. She stood with her back to the bar, bringing the shotgun up defensively. This anger felt personal.
Chris was lost. Nothing about this made sense. Nothing about his life in general made much sense anymore, he thought about his current situation and stifled a laugh. It was ridiculous. Humans sent on a mission to save humankind from the grip of alien tyranny, and so far the only thing in their way had been humankind and their own humanity. Maybe the Drekk deserved to win. Chris was disgusted to find out that part of him actually wished they would fail. He wondered about Eve, and her recent transformation. He wondered if she'd felt aleinated, isolated enough, by the people she thought to be allies, to totally revert to her old ways. He feared what would happen behind closed doors with her. He'd made her promise to do horrible things to him and he wasn't looking forward to any of it. He still loved her, but he didn't know if the feeling was mutual anymore... He wasn't even sure if she was the same person. As he passed through the cabin doors into the first passenger train he scanned the room, his face as cold and hard as stone, making sure to lock eyes with everyone in the room, so they knew exactly what he thought of them. At first, He didn't see her anywhere. Then he spotted her at the bar with Artie standing next to her. When Arthur saw him he began to walk over, but Chris held up a hand and made his glare even colder. First thing's first. he thought to himself. The glare stopped Arthur in his tracks. Chris walked up next to her, eyeing her shotgun, he pulled out his bone knives he'd stolen off the dead reaver, slamming them on the bar. "I'm unarmed." he growled. " I need to ask you a few questions."
Mika let the shotgun's muzzle sag but she didn't put it down. "Go ahead and ask," she said equally coldly in her rasping voice. She was tired of being scared, tired of the headache, tired of the attitudes, "I'm not stopping you."
Chris was surprised at her coldness. She truly felt no remorse for what she had done. He wanted to spit in her face. "Who do you think you are pointing a gun at her? You have no idea how far she's come, the horrors she's had to live through. You don't know how much damage you may have done. No one has control over what environment they're born into Mika." he said her name as if it was poisonous. " I want to know what happened back there. I want to know why you would treat her like a monster after she'd bled for you. For all of us. Then i want you to tell me how you found out about her past."
"You have your questions backwards," Mika said, "You need to know the answer to your second question before you understand that I actually showed her mercy. Eve is only alive right now because I already know what everyone keeps trying to bang into my head. I'm already aware that she's one of the team." Mika looked him up and down. He needed answers but was he even able to listen right now? "I'm not sure I can even tell you how I knew right now," she said, "You are in no condition to hear me." She turned away and poured a shot of vodka, downing it smoothly.
