You Can Never Leave

Xanthiana was driving down what at one point had probably been a highway, it was mostly ruined there were large sections missing and broken down pieces of equipment everywhere, but it was nice to have the freedom back. For the first time since she'd signed up for the EGO device and the Von Bach experience she actually felt back to who she was originally, a soldier trying to find her way in the world. Well until Elly talked in her head reminding her that she was now forever brain tagged with a companion and a corporate obligation to pay off the surgery. Which she thought was completely they required the surgery and stuck her with a bill for it, all at the same time!

"Xan I've got some farmers in trouble on the radar."

"Someone else can till the fields Elly we've got to get out paradise this place sucks." It did suck, she was tired of the military, the hell bugs, and most certainly tired of Von Bach even if she hadn't really interacted with him at all.

"They are apparently being assaulted by Hellbugs Xan, if we don't help them they'll die." Xanthiana really wanted to tell Elly that was someone else's problem, someone else's concern, but that's not who she was, no matter how much she wanted to ignore something, she couldn't even when it came at personal detriment.

"How much ammo do we have?"

"A little over five magazines of rifle ammo, 4 magazines of pistol, and 3 grenades."

"Fantastic, pull the farmers up on the map." In her head Xanthiana could see the farm show up with a bright red dot highlighting it.

"Should I call the military Xan?"

"No Elly, I think we got this." Xanthiana gunned the engine and sadly thought she'll never leave Paradise, not while she was breathing it seemed.

Never Say Good Bye

"You're still here?" Cobb had come by as Xanthiana was attempting to get the engine running, she had actually found some parts after trading bullets to a passing trader, and with Elly's help was almost ready to try and start it up.

"Well the car isn't fixed yet Cobb, its not like you guys can throw me out of your camp, I'm still useful." She didn't turn around, she could tell from his tone he was in a pissy mood and she wasn't going to humor him.

"We very much can throw your votan ass out of this camp, and your usefullness is something you haven't really demonstrated Roeyka, you're like the rest of your race, claiming you can do something, but haven't show an ability at all." Xanthiana flipped him off and kept working. Cobb fed up with her walked off mumbling to himself.

"Why do people hate Votans Xan?" Elly's computer diagnostics were instrumental in fixing the Challenger, in what would have previously taken Xanthiana hours to even find what was wrong she was able to see in real time what it should look like, and what it did look like. It was one of several really nice things about the EGO unit in general.

"I thought we went over this, we are blamed for the every problem wrong with earth. And in a way we did cause the current problems, but its not like the planet was perfectly fine prior to our arrival." Xanthiana didn't know a ton of earth history, but seeing how humans had basically been perfectly fine killing their own to kill votans, it at least showed they could be merciless.

"I just don't understand why there is a conflict between your races, we both are stuck on earth, we should make the most of it."

"You think that Elly, and I think think that, but both the Votanis Collective, and the Earth Government do not think that." Xanthiana checked everything over and it seemed to be in order, she was terrified though, because she really wanted to leave the military base, and if the car didn't start this time she would probably have to leave it behind.

"Why do they not think that?"

"Because if there is one thing I've known in my limited time in dealing with either group, its that assholes always rise to power and do not share it at all." Xanthiana got in the drivers seat and waited for a moment before turning the key.

"You should be in charge."

"I've been saying that my whole life Elly." She turned the key and the engine roared to life, she smiled and pounded the dashboard.

"Where do we go now Xan?"

"Somewhere that isn't here Elly, somewhere that isn't here."

Everyone Needs Some DownTime

"So you're fired." Xanthiana had just come out of the command tent. Sagaran was waiting for her with his companion Tex.

"Well I wasn't exactly Earth republic to begin with, technically I'm working for VBI." As the AI in her head kept insisting Xanthiana thought to no one in particular.

"Well you could always work with us running messages, Tex is great and all, but you're a trained killer cutter, Tex is just a farm boy with a very large pistol."

"I keep telling you whitey I'm from Arkansas, if anything you should call me Ark." Sagaran smiled and kept rolling a cigarette. He was sitting on a beat up runner, Xanthiana was surprised he drove it very far, let alone made long trips in it.

"Sorry I'll pass, I'm not much for delivering anything."

"Suit yourself Cutter, me and Tex have to split if that's ok with the brass, we got a message for Defiance."

"I don't think they care too much about what you do Sagaran, tell me how Defiance looks, I might end up there soon if things keep going to shit here."

"They just survived an attack by the Volge last I heard."

"So better than here Sagaran?" Sagaran finished his cigarette, struck it up, and got in his runner; Tex followed shortly thereafter.

"Whatever you decide to do, stay Alive Cutter, I always liked you." He drove off leaving Xanthiana in the dust, it was getting late she figured she'd have to find someplace to bed down soon, and with the military yelling her into at least being on leave for now she knew she couldn't hang around with them.

"Would you really go to Defiance?" Elly piped up as Xanthiana walked back to her non function Challenger.

"Nah that place is a warzone, which I realize is silly saying since we are currently sitting in an active one, but they have a worse situation, politics, city life, lack of freedom, the war they are fighting is one society always fights, and I'd rather fight with rifles and bullets, than policies and taxes."

"Good because I don't want to go back east either."

"Oh you think you have a say in where we go elly?"

"I could always try to exert influence over your motor controls."

"That's not funny Elly."

"That's not what my humor matrix's claimed." Xanthiana didn't sleep very well that night.

Hostage Negotiation

"Its ok we can talk this out." The large sensoth was practically crushing the neck of the hostage he had snatched up. Xanthiana could see the fear in the smaller man's eyes.

"Gun down now I will not repeat myself."

"I believe he is serious Xan." Xanthiana liked the little moments when she was reminded that Elly was very much a child in regards to dealing with any situation.

"Do you have a suggestion?"

"Well he's only got the one hostage currently, so even assuming we lose that one the rest will be ok." Xanthiana had to appreciate the other analytical side of the computer, it decided that one hostage was an acceptable loss based entirely on numbers. Xanthiana would normally think the same, but operating under the EREP authority meant they would hold her accountable if she just shot first and asked questions later, even if since landfall that's been the general strategy of the EREP's themselves.

"So shoot the hostage?"

"Its a sound strategy and would surprise the Sensoth I bet."

"I'm not shooting the hostage Elly!" Xanthiana could have almost laughed at the argument if the Sensoth hadn't screamed in frustration at her not dropping her rifle.

"PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" It was a strange thing for a hostage taker to shout to be heard like a small child. Xanthiana shot him through the forehead and the creature slumped to the ground his terrified hostage huddled next to the creatures body too terrified to move.

"Well that also works." Xanthiana smiled that the little AI didn't want to admit there was more than one solution to a problem. The hostages were very thankful for the rescue, one in particular a Castithan with a scar around his neck and clothing that made him not look like any miner she'd ever seen caused Xanthiana to pause.

"Sagaran?" The little Casti smiled and hugged her.

"Nice to see you cutter, how are you doing?" Sagaran had an associate with him a big human with dread locks.

"Working for the Ereps, killing bandits."

"Nice of them to let bygones be bygones like that after how many of them you killed in the war." The hostages made their way out of the mine, waiting for them was a division of Ereps lead by Cobb. Elly had apparently gotten through to Cobb and he had come running. Xanthiana laughed at the situation, like most things in her life Earth was a little bit behind when it came to getting things done.