Looking Down

[smelltheashes]

The door opens from Milliways onto a chill evening somewhere in a vast and open space. "All right," says Shephard. "We're a good few miles outside'a what used t'be Fort Collins here. Doin' our best to build up our lines 'fore the big throw-down. Iffen it turns out you can't git yourself hidden, that's all right by me, I'll just take you back to Milliways. How's the place feel?"

Comments

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu spits out the chunk of helicopter and gives a victorious roar as the chopper begins its death spiral.

Just to make sure of the kill, her razor sharp tail cracks around like a whip, knocking the dying machine even further off kilter.

Keeping up her bestial act, she moves to flee with her "prey", a predator that's decided that the vultures and jackals are annoying enough that it would be better to go eat elsewhere.

[smelltheashes]

"[.... sounds like it's over,]" says Manny. "[Can I open my eyes now? Are we done?]"

[brave_kreyu]

"[It should be safe now,]" she replies as they flee into the night. (Not on a direct route to where the Resistance is based, of course.)

She spits, the taste of Combine technology lingering in her mouth. "[Bleck! Those things taste terrible!]" she grumbles.

[smelltheashes]

"[I'll take your word for it,]" says Manny. "[Never tried to lick one myself.]"

[brave_kreyu]

"[Licking wouldn't have been so bad, it's whatever is on the inside that tastes so vile,]" she clarifies.

Plastics, possibly, or something weirder. "[You didn't get hurt, did you?"] she inquires. "[I've never tried to fight while carrying a human before.]"

Humans are so terribly fragile in comparison to her or her brood-mates that she can't help but worry.

[smelltheashes]

"[I'm all right. Nothing bad enough to need a medkit,]" says Manny. "[But I'm gonna need a lie-down once we've given all the data to Sergeant Shephard.]"

Who will be waiting for them, not pacing but giving the impression that he would very much like to, when the dragon and her human companion finally return.

[brave_kreyu]

"[Understandable,]" Kreyu replies. "[You've been through quite a bit tonight.]"

Kreyu makes a graceful landing, and carefully sets Manny back on the ground. She turns to Shephard, "We acquired the information successfully, although there was a complication."

[smelltheashes]

Manny murmurs his thanks to Kreyu and strips the vid rig off his head, handing it and the camera to Shephard. "Here," he says in English. "Best I could do. It was the building, it should be enough. You owe me a hat."

"Will do," says Shephard, and turns to Kreyu. "Shit. What kind of complication? You need a medic or anything?"

[brave_kreyu]

"I am uninjured," she replies with a shake of her head. "One of the flying machines spotted us, the ones that make a whirring sound."

"It was too fast for us to flee safely, so I was forced to deal with the thing in melee." Carrying Manny, poor fellow.

[smelltheashes]

"... you beat the shit out of a helicopter?" says Shephard. "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Nice work. I owe you a... shit. Do dragons drink beer?"

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu chuckles. "Its armor was no match for my teeth," she explains. "It did not do well once I took a large chunk out of its tail."

"I do drink beer," she replies with a smile. "And it's been a while since I've had some that was worth the name."

Atlantis tends to produce far more wine than beer, considering the climate.

[smelltheashes]

"In that case, soon as you'n me're both back at Milliways, I'mma git you a shitload of Millennium," says Shephard. "Strongest beer in the world. Sam Adams' coup de grace. Y'all earned it."