→ [Fic] Black Ice 2.0
Black Ice
-2-
He had a job for her. Didn’t say what it was, which didn’t thrill her, but given the situation, she was going to have to play along until she figured it all out. If she got lucky, she could sneak away to go see Torn. He’d be able to help her out. That was how it always went.
This was definitely Haven. She’d almost forgotten its condition in comparison to the ship. What was it called again? Elly-something? It wasn’t all there and she had to admit that she probably had never said it right when she was explaining it to other people. Therefore it left her in a bit of a neutral state. She couldn’t really remember how the crew had said it.
Come to think of it…
“You’re still here.”
She turned and her stare hardened. Those were golden eyes she never wanted to see. Didn’t he have something better to do? No. No, he didn’t, she guessed. He lived to make her life Hell-if it wasn’t already. Fuck it all.
“I didn’t know that was an issue,” she replied coldly.
Erol regarded her coolly, “You were given something to take care of. Go get it done. I don’t need you here.”
He was just following orders. Erol was always that committed to her father. It was so disgusting. Really. It was worse because he was so damn genuine about it. The Baron wasn’t even his father.
And that was a horrifying thought. Erol as an older brother? Uh. No. It was best to stay away from that. She wanted to kick herself for even considering it.
She hissed at him, quickly remembering why she’d avoided him on Elly-whatever, “Don’t you have something better to do? Like Razer?”
When he said nothing, she realized that he had no idea what she was talking about, or so it seemed. “Whatever. I’m going. Tell the Baron I’ll report to him after investigation.”
“Good to know you’ll do what’s expected of you. Uncharacteristic of you to do what you’re told.”
He was asking for it. But if she killed him, she’d be-
Wait. No. That wasn’t true. The possibility almost prompted her to lash out. Instead she turned from him, didn’t give him another look, and left the Baron’s palace. She’d forgotten so much in her time away.
-☼-
No. Haven hadn’t changed much, or at all. It still looked like a pile of shit. Had… no time passed while she was on that ship? She just wanted to ask someone about it, but who? Erol might have known and her father too, but it was less than smart to ask either of them for the obvious reasons. Erol had probably not said anything because of the potential of Baron ears listening in. He wasn’t the only man who’d die for the tyrant.
This is all wrong. All of it.
Zoomer between her legs, it brought back a few things that she hadn’t readily recalled. The earrings. Three in one ear, four in the other? Maybe it was two and four. Dark hair and blue eyes. Such a weird combination. That Phoenix sure was one of a kind. But… Oh, right. Torn didn’t like him and she’d only just figured out why. Not even figured, actually. Torn had to tell her. Well, no. She’d been the one to ask.
Torn. She had to go see Torn. Or even Tess. Fuck, Keira would have been helpful and Ashelin wasn’t exactly willing to approach the mechanic for anything.
She hadn’t found a scrap outside of the city. She assumed the Baron was looking artifacts of Mar, given the situation and when she’d come from. If they all knew what was to come, wouldn’t that just twist things from how they were “supposed” to go? Listen to that. She was actually looking at that hated “fate”. Phoenix had been wrong. That idiot.
Phoenix again. Captain of the-
She forced her weight to her right and pulled back on the zoomer. Not paying attention was going to result in her dying. Not a surprise. Just about everything in Haven resulted in death. She growled as she pulled her zoomer off to the side for her own safety. She could go the rest of the way on foot.
“Damn Havenite drivers.”
With a proud gait that clearly spoke of the Krimzon Guard, Ashelin scouted each passing situation. There was a brief pause by one of the loudspeakers.
“To all who defy me: I am watching you. I am everywhere. I am this city!”
She listened to his voice feed her lies and sighed in disbelief.
What are you doing, Father? It’s not just from one of your soldiers. It’s from your daughter.
As much as she hated admitting that she was even related to him.
Still, if he knew the outcome of breaking that stone and he did it anyway, what did that make him? Idiotic or so loathing that he’d sacrifice everyone else along with him? How could she stop him? He’d accuse her of betrayal. Was that punishable by death? Was it worth the risk?
Ashelin grew up in Haven. It was her home, no matter how terrible the Baron made it. Putting her safety in the face of danger for her home wasn’t out of line. If not for her sake, then at least for Haven’s people. People like Torn and Tess who had nothing left.
She had to do something.
Her feet stopped at the door to the Underground. She’d been there more than enough, though most of the time it was only when Torn had been there. She’d never personally seen Jak there and maybe that was for the best. At least it had been before, back when she thought he was a traitor.
The whirring of a camera caught her attention and she lifted her chin and looked at it pointedly. No doubt Torn was being extra careful. Only someone who knew what to look for would have caught the small things that gave away the hiding place. It was just a little nook, completely lacking suspicion unless someone was specifically looking for it. The only people who looked for things like that were those like Erol and Ashelin, the average and not-so-average soldiers of Baron Praxis.
The door opened and she stopped. How would things go? What would he say? Would he look any different? It wasn’t like years had passed. Her series of inner questions made her scowl in aggravation. No sense in thinking about it.
She stepped in, the door closed behind her, and Ashelin moved down the incline. Nothing had changed here either. She supposed she was relieved. It meant no progress, but it also meant no surprises. She didn’t like surprises.
There he was, off to the side, arms crossed over his chest and just as unamused as she was. She rested a hand upon her hip and gestured once as she spoke. It was pointless, but more like a force of habit.
“Torn.”
He gave her a look over, “…`re late.”
“Excuse me?”
“Said you’re late,” though it wasn’t much louder.
Wait, what? She was late? For what, exactly? She must have been obvious because he gave her an expectant glare.
“You forgot. Great.”
Right, because he sounded so damn thrilled about it. She shook her head, “Not really.” Except she had no clue what he was talking about. She could at least pretend she knew. Glancing past him, she eyed the poster with Erol, “I was held back by our favorite person.”
“That’s how it is, huh?” Torn asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Gimme some credit. I know you better than that. Out with it.”
“Just trying to figure out what happened. Last night we were all on the MS Elly-whatever. Now we’re all back here. I don’t get it.”
“What?”
Ashelin paused and for just a moment she looked annoyed, “That’s not funny.”
“`m not kiddin’. What are you on?”
Great. Things just kept getting worse. Even though he was standing right in front of her, he grew out of focus and that splitting pain began to pound in her head once again.
“Ashelin.”
“…Hn.”
“You’re lookin’ green.”
“…I’m fine.”
With uncertain steps, she retracted in her footing and the last thing she felt was her hand against the cold table. Then it all went to black.
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-2-
He had a job for her. Didn’t say what it was, which didn’t thrill her, but given the situation, she was going to have to play along until she figured it all out. If she got lucky, she could sneak away to go see Torn. He’d be able to help her out. That was how it always went.
This was definitely Haven. She’d almost forgotten its condition in comparison to the ship. What was it called again? Elly-something? It wasn’t all there and she had to admit that she probably had never said it right when she was explaining it to other people. Therefore it left her in a bit of a neutral state. She couldn’t really remember how the crew had said it.
Come to think of it…
“You’re still here.”
She turned and her stare hardened. Those were golden eyes she never wanted to see. Didn’t he have something better to do? No. No, he didn’t, she guessed. He lived to make her life Hell-if it wasn’t already. Fuck it all.
“I didn’t know that was an issue,” she replied coldly.
Erol regarded her coolly, “You were given something to take care of. Go get it done. I don’t need you here.”
He was just following orders. Erol was always that committed to her father. It was so disgusting. Really. It was worse because he was so damn genuine about it. The Baron wasn’t even his father.
And that was a horrifying thought. Erol as an older brother? Uh. No. It was best to stay away from that. She wanted to kick herself for even considering it.
She hissed at him, quickly remembering why she’d avoided him on Elly-whatever, “Don’t you have something better to do? Like Razer?”
When he said nothing, she realized that he had no idea what she was talking about, or so it seemed. “Whatever. I’m going. Tell the Baron I’ll report to him after investigation.”
“Good to know you’ll do what’s expected of you. Uncharacteristic of you to do what you’re told.”
He was asking for it. But if she killed him, she’d be-
Wait. No. That wasn’t true. The possibility almost prompted her to lash out. Instead she turned from him, didn’t give him another look, and left the Baron’s palace. She’d forgotten so much in her time away.
-☼-
No. Haven hadn’t changed much, or at all. It still looked like a pile of shit. Had… no time passed while she was on that ship? She just wanted to ask someone about it, but who? Erol might have known and her father too, but it was less than smart to ask either of them for the obvious reasons. Erol had probably not said anything because of the potential of Baron ears listening in. He wasn’t the only man who’d die for the tyrant.
This is all wrong. All of it.
Zoomer between her legs, it brought back a few things that she hadn’t readily recalled. The earrings. Three in one ear, four in the other? Maybe it was two and four. Dark hair and blue eyes. Such a weird combination. That Phoenix sure was one of a kind. But… Oh, right. Torn didn’t like him and she’d only just figured out why. Not even figured, actually. Torn had to tell her. Well, no. She’d been the one to ask.
Torn. She had to go see Torn. Or even Tess. Fuck, Keira would have been helpful and Ashelin wasn’t exactly willing to approach the mechanic for anything.
She hadn’t found a scrap outside of the city. She assumed the Baron was looking artifacts of Mar, given the situation and when she’d come from. If they all knew what was to come, wouldn’t that just twist things from how they were “supposed” to go? Listen to that. She was actually looking at that hated “fate”. Phoenix had been wrong. That idiot.
Phoenix again. Captain of the-
She forced her weight to her right and pulled back on the zoomer. Not paying attention was going to result in her dying. Not a surprise. Just about everything in Haven resulted in death. She growled as she pulled her zoomer off to the side for her own safety. She could go the rest of the way on foot.
“Damn Havenite drivers.”
With a proud gait that clearly spoke of the Krimzon Guard, Ashelin scouted each passing situation. There was a brief pause by one of the loudspeakers.
“To all who defy me: I am watching you. I am everywhere. I am this city!”
She listened to his voice feed her lies and sighed in disbelief.
What are you doing, Father? It’s not just from one of your soldiers. It’s from your daughter.
As much as she hated admitting that she was even related to him.
Still, if he knew the outcome of breaking that stone and he did it anyway, what did that make him? Idiotic or so loathing that he’d sacrifice everyone else along with him? How could she stop him? He’d accuse her of betrayal. Was that punishable by death? Was it worth the risk?
Ashelin grew up in Haven. It was her home, no matter how terrible the Baron made it. Putting her safety in the face of danger for her home wasn’t out of line. If not for her sake, then at least for Haven’s people. People like Torn and Tess who had nothing left.
She had to do something.
Her feet stopped at the door to the Underground. She’d been there more than enough, though most of the time it was only when Torn had been there. She’d never personally seen Jak there and maybe that was for the best. At least it had been before, back when she thought he was a traitor.
The whirring of a camera caught her attention and she lifted her chin and looked at it pointedly. No doubt Torn was being extra careful. Only someone who knew what to look for would have caught the small things that gave away the hiding place. It was just a little nook, completely lacking suspicion unless someone was specifically looking for it. The only people who looked for things like that were those like Erol and Ashelin, the average and not-so-average soldiers of Baron Praxis.
The door opened and she stopped. How would things go? What would he say? Would he look any different? It wasn’t like years had passed. Her series of inner questions made her scowl in aggravation. No sense in thinking about it.
She stepped in, the door closed behind her, and Ashelin moved down the incline. Nothing had changed here either. She supposed she was relieved. It meant no progress, but it also meant no surprises. She didn’t like surprises.
There he was, off to the side, arms crossed over his chest and just as unamused as she was. She rested a hand upon her hip and gestured once as she spoke. It was pointless, but more like a force of habit.
“Torn.”
He gave her a look over, “…`re late.”
“Excuse me?”
“Said you’re late,” though it wasn’t much louder.
Wait, what? She was late? For what, exactly? She must have been obvious because he gave her an expectant glare.
“You forgot. Great.”
Right, because he sounded so damn thrilled about it. She shook her head, “Not really.” Except she had no clue what he was talking about. She could at least pretend she knew. Glancing past him, she eyed the poster with Erol, “I was held back by our favorite person.”
“That’s how it is, huh?” Torn asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Gimme some credit. I know you better than that. Out with it.”
“Just trying to figure out what happened. Last night we were all on the MS Elly-whatever. Now we’re all back here. I don’t get it.”
“What?”
Ashelin paused and for just a moment she looked annoyed, “That’s not funny.”
“`m not kiddin’. What are you on?”
Great. Things just kept getting worse. Even though he was standing right in front of her, he grew out of focus and that splitting pain began to pound in her head once again.
“Ashelin.”
“…Hn.”
“You’re lookin’ green.”
“…I’m fine.”
With uncertain steps, she retracted in her footing and the last thing she felt was her hand against the cold table. Then it all went to black.
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