Chris was dumbfounded. What the hell is she talking about? he thought to himself. All he wanted was, what seemed to him, simple answers, then he could recreate the scene in his head so he could at least try and see things from her perspective. But she instead preferred to play mind games. She wasn't taking any of it seriously, he contemplated reaching for her weapon as she downed her beverage, but thought better of it, he wouldn't let her get to him. A single tear, a by-product of rage, not sadness, trailed down his cheek as he spoke. "You think this is a game? You think her life is a game? I'm not joking around with you woman, i want to know what happened back there." She didn't turn around. "Look at me!" he boomed, slamming his fist into the bar.
"Me talking to myself will NEVER beat shooting myself in the ass." he said to Lewis with a smirk of his own. "But I think it's so cute that you think so. How's the bum, mate?" He used a Cockney accent to ask that question. Lewis was alright, and they'll probably trade insults down the line. He was actually waiting for Lewis to respond, when he heard a ruckus from Chris. His quip match with Lewis took his attentions away from Mika, who left the two. Once Artie looked up, his worst nightmare was in the flesh. Chris and Mika arguing. "Oh sh*t..." he said with wide eyes and an open mouth. He eventually closed his mouth and turned to Lewis. "Hold that next insult, pal. I'll be back." He goes over to Mika and Chris and tries to stand in the middle of it.
"Oh yes," she said acidly, turning to face Chris, "I'm playing games. With all of our lives at stake I'm messing around." Artie came into the room and placed himself between Mika and Chris. He was obviously upset at their arguing and his eyes were pleading. "Artie, it's okay," Mika told him softly, the gravel edge of her voice making it sound like a rock 'n roll ballad, "Chris and I are just having a 'discussion'." She poured another shot of vodka and handed it to Chris, nudging Artie out of the way a little to do so. "You probably ought to be a little drunk before you hear this anyway." Mika scanned the room...all those eyes staring at them. Well, the secret was going to come out now. "In fact, it would help if we all were a little drunk but there probably isn't time." She sighed and addressed not only Chris but all the others in the car. David, Helena, Sadie, Artie, even Drake sitting where he had been silent this whole time. ((Sorry if I miss anyone who's supposed to be there)) "This was supposed to be a secret but after what happened with Eve I guess there are no secrets. Dr. Djalili is not only the doctor for this mission, he's also a geneticist." She paused stared at the floor, then went on. "Omar has been working on a way to use Drekk genes against them. Last night he came to me and asked me to become a human experiment. I agreed." Mika didn't go into the reasons. Unlike Spencer, who had seemed to care about her well-being, she felt she just might be addressing a lynch mob. "The aim was for a human to gain the same telepathic powers as some Drekk have, so that we might gain the edge - gather information." Nobody moved, the atmosphere was one of intense listening. "Of course, there is no way to know if it will work...or what other effects it may have. So as for what happened with Eve..." Mika returned her attention to Chris. "All I know is that one moment we were fighting the Reavers, I could feel them, knew where they were, they create a sort of...emotional signature. Then when I touched Eve, tried to help her," she glared at Chris, hoping he heard that part, "I saw...things...and felt that same emotional signature from her. The next thing I knew I had her at barrel's end and had identified her as a Reaver. I didn't plan any of it."
After hearing Mika's explanation, his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Oh my GOD. I'm falling for an alien? What kinda sick sh*t is this?" Artie said taking a step backwards. After really absorbing the whole story, he did a double take. "WAIT A MINUTE... WHAT THE F*CK?!?!? EVE'S A MOTHAF*CKIN' REAVER?!?!? OH SH*T!!! OH SH*T OH SH*T OH SH*T!!!" he said with a little tremble. "I think I need another drink..." he said with his hand at his forehead.
Chris downed the proffered beverage as he replayed her explanation over and over again in his head. He didn't know what to say, how to react. The whole thing sounded ridiculous, but looking into her eyes, he knew she was telling the truth. or at least she thought she was. He tried to imagine it as a possibility. She took an experimental cocktail and somehow became part Drekk. Now she had their mental abilities. Abilities she couldn't control. There was no telling how dangerous a liability she could become to the team. "Do you have any idea how crazy that is? If it is true, who know what it could do to you? What if the Drekk can use their telepathy to access your mind? What if they've already done it, and they know we're coming. You and the doc have just killed humanity's last chance at defeating them!" Chris stopped himself... the whole thing was getting ridiculous. He didn't know what he believed anymore, but he did know what needed to do to keep Eve safe. "Look, just stay away from her, stay away form me too. When the bomb inside you explodes i don't want to be anywhere near you." He eyed Arthur. "Same to you. " he added storming out of the cabin.
"Same to you. " Artie poured himself another drink and took it down quickly. A third followed with the same speed as the second. "Wait... Chris..." he said trying to stop his friend, or possibly ex-friend. What was the hold Eve had on Chris? He was a ladies man, a womanizer. Now he's all but proposed marriage to her. That wasn't like him at all. Artie was especially baffled at Chris telling him to keep his distance. His shoulders dropped, as did his head. He shook his head. Mika was so passionate in her speech, it would be very hard to accuse her of lying. And Chris actually had a good point about the mission possibly being jeopardized by that silly experiment. He needed another moment to get his thoughts in check, because all these events really did a number on poor Artie.
Mika watched Chris go. "Just stay away from me." Yeah. That's what she figured. Somehow she didn't think she'd be very welcome anymore. She didn't drink. Didn't speak. Just stared into space as Artie knocked back a few shots and wondered how she'd get through all of this. Now she wished she had stayed behind, warm and safe with the English. Who was she to be out doing things like this?
Artie put the glass down, remembering what happened last time he got drunk. As high as his tolerance is, once he's over, IT'S over. Maybe the doctor was right. Maybe he is a depressive. Oh hell, who are we kidding? We knew this for quite some time now. He hated that helpless feeling, and he didn't feel that the way Mika was being treated was right. She must be hurting inside, at least a little. He was wondering if she could read his mind as he was thinking these things. He looked at her, gently grabbing her arm as she stared off. "Uhhh..." he said. Nothing else would come out to play. "Uhhh... I... uhhh..." he said, putting his head down. Damn. Why can't Artie say anything? He needs to let her know she isn't alone, but at this point, damn near anything would do. He reaches deep and finally pulls out something. "I know you didn't mean any harm." he said in the lowest voice above a whisper. "I just want you to know everybody doesn't hate you." He turned her face to him so he could look her in her eyes and dropped a slightly bolder statement. "I definitely don't hate you."
Mika was lost in her thoughts, feeling very much on the outside when Artie's hand clasped onto her arm. She felt his deep confusion and unhappiness as he groped for words but there was something else that battered its way through that. A warmer emotion, determined and loyal. "I know you didn't mean any harm." he said in the lowest voice above a whisper. "I just want you to know everybody doesn't hate you." He turned her face to him so he could look her in her eyes and dropped a slightly bolder statement. "I definitely don't hate you." It was like stepping into sunshine after spending too long in darkness. Mika smiled a shaky smile and touched his cheek gently. "I don't hate you either. For that matter, even though Chris and Eve think I do I don't hate them." she sighed, her hand dropping away. "I guess between you and Spencer and the doctor, if he ever comes around, I have two and a half friends on this train. She looked at him playfully, "I can only count the doctor as a half." Then she got thoughtful again. "I never got to tell them that this was a government project. Hawke knew about the research but he didn't know that one of us might try the experiment. As far as the Drekk hearing my thoughts goes, I don't think they're close. I can't guarantee it but if they have a signature like the Reavers do I should be able to know when they're coming."
Sadie let out a long breath after Mika’s explanation. That definitely was not what she’d expected. She’d wondered how Mika had known about Eve so instinctively, and had even considered taking the rap – saying she’d mentioned what Lewis had told her the previous evening and hoping it wouldn’t land Lewis in it too – but obviously there was no need to do that now. She tried to wrap her head around the idea of this experiment the Doc and Mika were conducting. She had to agree it seemed particularly risky to try it in the middle of an expedition when they had no way of knowing what the side effects would be, but she also had to admit she was interested in the outcome. However, she was probably one of the few who was think that way. Chris’ reaction had disappointed her. He, and probably Eve as well, needed to grow up. Maybe Eve couldn’t help being what she was, just as Gask and Lewis couldn’t, but they needed to expect that the general reaction to the word Reaver would not be a good one. Sadie understood that Chris wanted to think the best of Eve, just as Sadie had given Gask and Lewis the benefit of the doubt, but Mika’s reaction was equally natural – particularly considering what she’d just explained about feeling the Reavers’ savage nature. Eve was half Reaver. That was a fact. She couldn’t help it, no one doubted that, but it also meant she might not be able to help that side of her nature emerging. Sadie shook her head. Who knew how things would work out? Thoughtfully, she pushed herself away from the wall she was leaning against and walked over to where Mika and Artie were talking, leaning on the bar next to Mika. “You,” she said with a smile, “Have a great sense of timing, you know that? So, how does this … experiment … work?”
Mika shied back from Sadie at first but the girl didn't seem to bear her ill will. "I can't give you a very scientific explanation," Mika replied, "I just know that it will affect my brain and work or it will creat a...a...tumor or other problem. I've had an almost constant headache today that got much worse earlier." Right before she passed out. She wasn't sure if Sadie knew about that and it seemed melodramatic to mention it. Plus, then she might ask about Spencer and Mika didn't want to have to explain Spencer's secrets to someone else.
One of the Orlock’s Deacon stood feeding coal to the fire keeping the engine going as the train raced down the track it’s plough kicking up snow spitting it either side of the great steam engine. Smoke vomited from the chimney. Behind Deacon stood Sam the female Roughneck her face covered in sut from the fumes of the engine she watched the motor’s with a large Shotgun strapped to her back and her brown hair waving with the wind. Occasionally she’d look over the side to watch the snow move as though it were water. Jonny stood behind the two keeping the engine revved up as they moved. The three looked up as a piece of coal dropped from the main coal chamber into their compartment. “That should be secure. Deacon go check.” Said Jonny the chief Orlock and train pilot. “Aye.” Deacon replied taking his shotgun him hand he used the steps to climb up and out of the compartment. Deacon pulled himself onto the side ledge and eased across to the coal compartment using the steps up he climbed in. Deacon looked about and felt something sharp through his neck. Sam looked across the side as she head a thud in the snow she saw what looked like a severed head then realised it was. “Jonny.” That’s Deacons head. Sam said in a grip of shock. Jonny looked but the train had already passed. However he did see the spattered blood across the side of the coal carriage. “Seal that door.” He said.
Sadie frowned, wondering if the serum had had anything to do with Mika’s fainting fit earlier. The possible side-effects were certainly pretty gruesome. “It seems like it’s already affecting you … somehow,” she said slowly. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking against you or anything. But if you can’t control these … abilities, like what happened with Eve it could get problematic.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “With those side-effects … do you mind me asking why you agreed to it?”
Mika shrugged one shoulder. "No family left and I'm more expendable than the rest of you. I mean, I can help with all sorts of things but I'm not essential in any one area. And I hate the Drekk. I want to stop them."
Sadie shook her head, smiling. “Uh-uh. That’s why the Doc asked you to do it,” she countered, hoping she wasn’t pushing her luck by pressing the issue. “But why did you agreed to take part when you could end up dead? Or worse, by the sounds of things?”
Suddenly Sadie stopped talking as she heard what sounded like footsetps on the roof. Mika hear's the same.
Hawke stood at the rear of the train watching the snow outside slowly the sky turned a darker grey as the beginning of gentle snow fall began again. His concentration was broken as he heard a noise from above. He looked but could see nothing.
Steward followed behind Artie, Chris and Mika were argueing when finally Mika explained to everyone in the carriage about the experiment. Steward heared feint noises coming from the roof of the train, it seemed Mika and Sadie heared it aswell "Did anyone here that?"
Hawke climbed up to peer his head over the roof to see if he could see where the noises had come from. He saw nothing.
Eve still wouldn't let Chris inside the truck. Desperately trying to hold onto his sanity, he wandered back into the passenger cabin, discretely taking a seat in the back. Why did everything always have to happen so fast. Faster than he had a chance to properly react to it? Why was everyone so indifferent to the events taking place? He watched as Sadie and Arthur consoled her. As if she was the one who needed consoling. Eve was in the truck doing god knows what to herself, but somehow, Mika was the victim in all this. Not one person cared enough about Eve to go check on her, to see her things from her side. From where Chris sat, Mika deserved no sympathy, he didn't care how hard her current situation was, it was one she had chosen for herself. Chris had grown up alone, his parents had given him up to an orphanage not too long after birth. He grew up in multiple volunteer families, families who scarcely had resources for their own children, but decided to get a volunteer child solely for the associated government stipend. Growing up in the poorest areas of the poorest towns had taught Chris to act on instincts. To trust no one but himself, because he was the only one he could depend on. It was a horrible existence, one he was glad to be free of upon his 16th birthday. As he matured into adulthood his poor upbringing gave him the drive to be successful. Having been in the system for 16 years he had travelled all over the human territories, and had always been awestruck by the mammoth structures and the technologies that controlled them. He began studying Physics, Engineering and Technologies, hoping to one day be a famous Engineer. Unfortunately his upbringing also left him jaded, and cynical, his fear and mistrust of humanity translated into womanizing, and a self serving attitude that didn't get him very far. During the course of his studies he'd met Arthur, who ended up changing his life forever. The young flame-headed, ever-smiling son of an Orlock was both kind and wildly optimistic, traits Chris found terribly annoying at first, but as time progressed, ones he found to be quite contagious. The two of them worked together to become two of the most innovative and well-respected Roughnecks in their district, which ended up getting them selected for this mission. Artie was more than his friend, he was his savior, hed saved him from himself. More than anything, Chris wanted to be Eve's saviour. When he looked at her he saw his old self staring back at him, which was one of the reasons he felt so strongly connected to her. He knew what it was like to be alone, to live in a self-imposed prison. And thanks to Arthur, he knew what it was like to be free. He wanted that for Eve, and had thought he was making some significant progress, but it had all been washed away in one fell swoop by her and Doc's foolhardy experiment. Eve had fallen even deeper into her hole and Chris no longer knew if he could dig her out. What made matters worse is that he was totally alone in all this, the burden fell on his shoulders, and his shoulders alone. No one cared if he succeeded in saving her, not even Eve. What sounded like footsteps on the roof of the cabin snapped Chris out of his thoughts. Great he thought to himself. This can only be bad news.
Artie was watching Mika and the woman he believed to be Sadie talking and getting along. He loved to see the ladies getting along. He was a guy, HE LOVED TO SEE THE LADIES GETTING ALONG. He looked both women up and down a while as they talked about Mika's newly acquired ability. He hoped Chris was wrong about the Drekk being able to access her private thoughts, but feared he was right. Chris was his brother at arms, so to speak. Artie's daddy was an Orlock, but the only thing he really taught Artie was driving. Other than that, they didn't get along too much, his father always put hands on his mother. His mother was the one who gave him his positive outlook on life. She also taught him to suppress things, which is why he's reluctant to confront people. A gift and a curse. His father died when he was 16, so he drove his mother and sister off to Roughneck territory and began his studies. Anyway, he met Chris while they studied to become top ranked mechanics. Artie was a loner at first, just like Chris, so it only made sense they clicked. Chris' loner status was more by choice, he was always liked by everyone. Artie was ridiculed constantly, leaving him with no option but to be the best he can be with machines, his only friend besides Chris. After a brief flashback, he was snapped out of it by the sound of hanky panky on the roof of the train. He looked up, then looked back down to see Lewis had followed behind him. "You hear that?"
Eve heard a noise from outside the truck, her heart pounded in her chest was it Chris again. She couldn’t bare it anymore, she’d been so strong. She wanted to throw herself at him, wanted to cry. She ached from holding in her hurt. She ached from struggling with herself not to go inside and beat Mika senseless. If she did she’d be giving Mika what she wanted a reason to shoot her down. The scraping noise sounded again, low and dragging. Eve got out of truck if it was Chris he would’ve come already. There was a louder noise coming from the other side of the carriage, something heavy being dragged. Eve turned there was another noise. Her heart pulsed faster she couldn’t see anything. She pulled her shotgun from its place strapped on her thigh. Were they back?
Hawke looked across the last carriage roof keeping his grip firm he knew he’d heard something but he wasn’t sure what. Slowly he climbed up fighting gravity as the train raced across the track. Slowly one hand eased over his Desert Eagle’s handle as he un-holstered the gun. He slipped on his footing slightly as the train moved with speed. He pointed across the roof. He heard a noise below. Keeping on hand firm on his Desert Eagle Hawke began to climb back down into the carriage landing on both feet and glad to be off the roof Hawke cautiously walked back into the last carriage gun pointing forwards now in a two handed grip. Nothing, he couldn’t see a damn thing. Yet he knew he heard movement. Slowly he made his way through the compartment keeping his aim steady and his eye trained.
“Chris,” Eve called out. There wasn’t a reply, Eve’s heart felt like it had caught in her throat with a sudden realisation what if Mika had come to finish her off. She didn’t know Mika, perhaps her reaction was a little brash but it was her life story. Someone found out what she was part of and tried to finish her off. Eve constantly got the label Reaver, however most people were rash. They forgot she had a human mother. She had been deemed safe, but she had also lied her way into the title. She had only hurt a human being once. A reaver was an irrational primitive thing. It didn’t talk well if at all. It didn’t understand logic and had no use for technology unless it could get it to food. Eve had been around all those things. She liked two way radios and elevators. As far as food went yes she craved flesh uncooked and raw. She also liked trying new foods and ate things like stews and enjoyed Orlock delicacies. She enjoyed pretty things and would have liked to own a gold necklace or a military medal. She was human surely. She heard the scraping noise again and began to tremble where the hell was it coming from?
