thearena | Lightning Strikes Twice

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Lightning Strikes Twice

There were no sign ups involved this time, this was an off-worlder idea which means the off-worlders clearly have every desire to see this through; you signed up with your consent. The mission is to be held in the evening, so the morning is spent preparing, stocking up the hovercraft with medical supplies, arming everyone, donning the now familiar all black attire. When the alert is sent out, it's simply to gather in the hanger and begin loading.

As promised, there's no sign of a 13-issued leader involved, it's on the mission team and it's assigned tactical head to lead themselves; all Webb gives the group is a chipper smile and 'Good Luck.'

The sun is just beginning it's descent when the hovercraft leaves the hanger. The flight isn't nearly as long as the one to District 3, but it's long enough that the sun has dipped below the horizon when the hovercraft stops. Stopping doesn't mean landing, however. The team's resident off-worlder pilot comes on over the speaker with given instructions: time to strap up and get ready to do a little sky-diving.

The plan is simple really. Should the hackers do their job, the storms will do as they're told and strike the dome below the hovercraft all at the same time, breaking the barrier and making a hole big enough for the strike team to carry out the rescue. Hackers strapped in and strike team ready to zipline down, the hovercraft's door opens to the windy outside, allowing a wonderful view of the bright flash and deafening crash a minute later as the weather codes carry out their destruction.

Time to move.

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The Psiioniic wasn't wrong of course. Avoxes had been thrown in the arena plenty a time. With offworlders, it's only been a case of those truly crossing a line that they hadn't been, resigned for that reason to remain as they are. He's pretty certain there are only two offworld Avoxes now, counting himself.

He hasn't, however, quite clued to the idea of being used as a weapon like this just yet. It would be difficult to, considering. He's only barely physically imposing these days and all really just for his height. Or in the Psiioniic's case, his blood.

He's surprised to find the Psiioniic miming at him, but amused as well. It makes for quite the strange expression, especially when he's quick to try and flatten it out, not make it seem as though he's laughing at him when their relationship is tenuous at best.

He mirrors the Psiioniic with walking fingers, then scoops up them up with the other hand. Rescue. He points with his thumb back the ways he came.

He couldn't believe it. Had Thirteen finally decided to get their asses in gear and act? Where they all going to be rescued? What about Signless and the others still in the Capitol? What was the plan for them? Thirteen was just this nebulous entity to him, a group of people Psii worked with because he had no other options. His breath quickened as he scrawled into the ground:

♊ dont know where Terez♊ ♊2. 2orry.
Al2o ♊m not go♊ng anywhere unt♊l ♊ f♊nd my d♊2tr♊ct k♊d. They reaped them aga♊n l♊ke old t♊me2.

He figured Terezi would be the first on Initiate's mind, and he actually looked apologetic. He liked Terezi well enough. As for the district kids, it went without saying that Psii had a habit of trying to save others even at great personal cost. Panem was getting closer to Alternia standards. Or perhaps the arrival of the offworlders was just a temporary distraction from the old ways.

♊'ve got 2ometh♊ng two a2k you ♊f there2 t♊me. K♊nd of ♊mportant 2o you m♊ght want two grab a 2t♊ck.

He reads the Psiioniic first note and looks up, holding his hand high and shaking his head with it. He then taps his chest twice, to say she's with him. There's no need for worry about her no more, though he realises that must have been the case for the Psiioniic. He doesn't try to imagine what that was like. Better he doesn't.

The Psiioniic's not done though and this time he doesn't' try to explain himself, that the rescue is only for them missing kids. There's something what to ask and the gravity of the statement strikes him. He looks surprised, then worried, but nevertheless, he goes about to search for a stick of some kind.

He grasps it close, hands not all as steady as he'd like despite the breaths he takes. He's not quite ready for a lot of writing, has to save himself up sure and certain for it and even that is draining. But he waits after nodding to give the go ahead.

He gave Initiate a hard look, but there wasn't much time for a game of vague back-and-forth staring. He sighed.

Already told you ♊ d♊dnt l♊ke your Avox plan.
Found out you really 2cared Harley and Karkat and ♊t wa2nt ju2t pr♊2on l♊fe.
Theyre 2t♊ll fucked up now.
What the hell?
♊ thought ♊t wa2 clear my fr♊end2 are OFF L♊M♊T2.

He stopped aggressively carving his capslock into the ground to prod Initiate's chest with the butt of his spear (not quite having the guts to shove him directly). The chest-poking bit was unplanned bravado, though; he had a little bit of a crush on Harley, coupled with a protective streak that made him impulsive. Psii was worried the effects of Initiate's gambit would never be erased from his victims like he'd initially hoped. He had put faith in Initiate's explanation, even defended him. However, the scars left behind on what Psii considered sacred ground were big as ever and didn't show signs of diminishing.

He's reading the Psiioniic's writ and already the sinking feel gets its return up and on. His face just up and falls, until the Psiioniic is poking him with the spear and he falls on his ass. Trying to make himself smaller just ain't working right now. He swallows, goes back to his knees, breathing deep and steadying so he can write with a shaking hand.

was ordered
sorry

That's really the simplest way to put it. Voodooing them all wasn't part of the plan. It just worked for being a thing what meant they didn't get on executed.

He doesn't add anything more than what he has.

He crouched down, ostensibly to put himself at eye level with him, though Initiate's height made the effort backfire. Oh well. He pointed the butt of the spear at him again, then adjusted it to write again, gripping a bit too tightly.

Th♊2 ♊2 not okay. You know that, r♊ght?
Lett♊ng people force you, forc♊ng other2, none of ♊t ♊2 okay. Youre free now, or youre 2uppo2ed two be.
That l♊fe ♊2 done.

He paused to remember just what it was that enabled him to ditch his life of slavery. He always had it in him, but it took a push, a catalyst, a spark....

The l♊fe youll have with my be2t fr♊end ♊2 the one you want and the one you 2hould have.

Psii knew Initiate could possibly flip out and fuck things up, but he trusted that he wanted to do good by Signless. It was a dangerous tight rope balancing act. Psii's next question took effort, not because he was afraid to ask it, but because he was afraid of the repercussions. He felt the hot ice of murderous intent wrap around his heart. These moments, he felt farthest from Signless. It was a bitter taste, but not enough to discount the possibility of having to off someone. His killing could be done in a desperate split second, but always in defense of another.

Who ordered you?

The duck of his head is telling for his first answer. Yes, he's aware it ain't right. He fucked up and there ain't no way what's being around it. He could map the marks he left like a star map. But what more can he do now?

He can't help but shudder when the Psiioniic says that life is done. It brings the whole scope of it all into focus and he doens't want to see it. At the same time, it shrinks everything down and it makes feeling for like he should've done more, he should've suffered more, he's got no right to shit.

He doesn't expect that next line. It widens his eyes and lifts his head. It sounded almost being like... like an approval. Maybe not a happy one but still being one more all than resignation. The Psiioniic words like he's earned it somehow. The life he should have. It takes his breath. He doesn't what to say.

He supposes that's for the best because the next question is the thing that most requires response. With shaking hands, he writes; the capitol.

Initiate didn't need to respond to most of what Psii was saying. Psii was going to say it (rather, write it) regardless, and Initiate would just have to chew on that. Psii's face twisted in anger at the last. His answer wasn't good enough. He couldn't just blow up the entire city, he had to find the individual people responsible, or at least do his best to keep them from his friends.

WHO from the Cap♊tol?

And why? To cover up Tribute involvement and consolidate punishment? To protect them even? Psii had seen slavers protect their property before, but this would have to be elaborate and involved.

His hands open and close, not for want of clubs for once in his life, but for want of making leave, doing something more, bowing his head. Either way, it's a gesture of anxiousness and he's aware of it, but not caring enough for hiding to bother.

He doesn't have an answer. He doesn't know. He didn't recognize the person, barely saw them really. They hadn't needed to be in the same room for them to speak and be heard and so reach him. His will was no stronger than stardust windblown at the time. He would have done anything. He did.

He shakes his head. They'd want to bring distrust in their number. Distrust in him, in their cause, in everything. He supposes he should be angry for that but he can't be. They'd want it all covered up. They hadn't wanted their people to know there was ever any dissent. Just like he had wanted of Signless and his following, once.

He's surprised, I truth. He's surprised that less people doubt in him.

Initiate's face carried that blank that came from calling up a memory that wasn't enough. Psii had no experience with lost memories other than concussions or a couple especially wild days, but his visions offered a similar frustration when they were especially cryptic and incomplete.

Th♊rteen2 lucky you and human 2teve caught the flack. ♊f they had come out and hacked the broadca2t2 earl♊er, maybe you wouldnt have rece♊ved that order.

He thought Thirteen had been fighting for the offworlders in the arenas on principle. Wasn't their whole thing to abolish the arenas and free all slaves?

Ha2 Th♊rteen alway2 been a b♊g fan of lett♊ng u2 take the heat?

Even so, Thirteen at least deigned to try rescuing the kids in this arena. A fair point in their favor.

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Lightning Strikes Twice

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can we stop to appreciate how unscary psii can be

always

god i hope mobile doesn't mess up the quirk

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oh my god i thought i responded to this already

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