[hr][center][h1][color=#4dff4d]Benji Baker[/color] & [color=ffaa00]Echo Montegawitz[/color][/h1][/center][center]Collab between [@beyond visions] and [@Deserted] [hr][/center] [color=#4dff4d]"Wake up Echo, I need to give you a history lesson before your execution,"[/color] Echo felt nudged and a little shaken when waking up. Once, her eyelids slid over the pupils, she turned to notice him- Benji. That voice sounded familiar, but he didn't sound himself. The way the word [i]execution[/i] rolled off his tongue so causally was not the way the Benji they knew before the invasion would act. But there was no way he was still going to be so cheery and so peachy. He sighed, [color=#4dff4d]"I'm exaggerating, and being dramatic. You are not going to be executed... But possibly tortured to no ends."[/color] He slumped down, with chin shifting to the direction of the floor. They were situated in the back of some moving vehicle- a van of some sort? [color=#4dff4d]"I am talking to you now, hoping that there is some way I can stop that... And still, I care about you guys, even though I probably won't ever see them again. Because guess what? I'm an experiment... I'll explain what that means later. Right now..."[/color] Echo interrupted him, thrashing back to shake him off but the motion of the vehicle and the failure of her body made it nothing more than a week wave. Her voice was soft from the crap being beat out of her. She focused through watering eyes, [color=ffaa00]"No, you will tell me now. I don't have patience for these little drama games after being thrown down a flight of stairs."[/color] She composed herself a moment, turning her head to look at the ceiling of the vehicle. [color=ffaa00]"Sorry, Benji, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's a relief to see you are okay."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]" I'm worried about you... Well, can you tell me something first? I want to know how the crew is doing. I did not get to hear what was happening in there, but I was [i]suppose[/i] to be released today. I don't know if that's even happening anymore. They were going to release me if the Principality ruled the crew harmless and peaceful."[/color] Benji was irritated by what Echo did, he wanted to be pissed off with her. But he understood in the end, she didn't know what she was doing. He is assuming that the Darling of the Cryonautic Project knew nothing of these aliens and such. He thought it be better for his own mind's sake to trust her, even though he barely ever spoke to her. Randomly, he suddenly asked a question that had been on his mind since he was first arrested for vandalizing royal property, [color=#4dff4d]"Um, h-how's Yaz?"[/color] He leaned closer to Echo, eager to hear her reply. Echo scoffed at the idea. She struggled to see if she was bleeding on her most painful injuries. [color=ffaa00]"I don't think that peaceful and harmless mean the same thing to everyone using them here. Last time I checked, Yaz was probably faring the best. They patched Rend up so that they could make fools of Thalia, Owen, AND Rend himself. Our wonderful companions showed their ugly side with swearing, insults, bickering, and accusations. They even insulted the monarchs. It was like a big game to these aliens, oh look at the backward Humans. We were sunk. There was a defaced mural and abandoned throne. figured I could get their attention off of the others if I committed an abomination and took the blame for their crimes."[/color] It was relieving to know that Yaz was alright, Benji could not forget the promise he made with her. He said he would not let anyone or anything hurt her. He is aware that he should not get attached, not when the possiblity of him never seeing the crew again is likely. Well, unless he followed with that Echo proposed.... But even then he may not be able to do such a thing. [color=#4dff4d]"What? Um, that still doesn't clear anything. Don't be so vague. What about Rend? What do you mean they patched him up? He's still alive..."[/color] Benji paused, trying to take everything in. [color=#4dff4d]"Is Rend with them right now?"[/color] [color=ffaa00]"I was a little distracted screaming while they shot me. I didn't exactly get everybody's forwarding address."[/color] Echo laughed a little still lying on the floor of the cab, she didn't have the strength to stand. Nor the will, [color=ffaa00]"He's alive... so far as I could tell, and a great deal more civil than before. I would say he's a totally different person."[/color] Benji jumped from his seat, luckily the back that they were held was free from watchful guards. Which is understandable since there is no possible way they could actually find themselves busting through the barred doors. Besides, with the two alone, Benji could properly process her intent, that was why they put him in there in the first place. The Principality wished to know her motive. Benji clearly was aware of her reasoning- why she did what she did. And even though Benji now dealt with the urges to bash a fist through a wall, it was violent temptation he had never battled with. [color=#4dff4d]"Oh really?--Rend, a totally different person? What is that suppose to mean? Nothing, that's what... nothing!"[/color] Benji raised his voice, gradually adjusting to a louder volume, while he spoke so viciously with each word hissed in his own frustration. [color=ffaa00]"It means that he has changed or was changed, much like a bashful quiet doctor I met 100 years ago."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Don't compare me to Rend!"[/color] He furrowed his brow, frowning while shaking his head. [color=#4dff4d]"Let's just stop talking about him, okay?! At least for now.."[/color] Besides his unwinding fury, it still stood to his surprise that she offered and pushed on such choice. He gave his last irritable huff, before moving on. "[color=#4dff4d]Listen, messing with the Principality is one thing. But messing the Divine Regency is entering a game that you cannot possible win, even in the slightest. The Divine Regency is like God to them. It is what gives them first contact. Well, it's like this... The order is represented by one Vruari. Little is known about this species other than they were somehow, someway always [i]there[/i]. No one has ever truly understood the Vruari other than by rumors the entire race thinks as one. They are telepathic creature, ones that cannot even comprehend a language. But what makes the Vruari even more special is that they have a record of predicting real-life events. Their foresight has stopped genocides and saved home-worlds. The way they communicate these visions are through dreams themselves, possessing the pure brainwaves of each monarch, allowing them to see their perception- a destined future. The only way you could ever understand a Vruari is through these dreams. The way Vruari invade the mind and perceive the future make these creatures godlike, even worshiped in the past. Therefore this is why their race takes place of the Divine Regency- the most influential position on the face of the universe."[/color] Benji was talking fast, because he had a lot to say with limited time. He wanted to tell her everything, it was to her benefit to know. [color=#4dff4d]"Within ties among the Principality there came debate of whether or not Humanity would be contacted. The Divine Regency always gets final say in whether or not global contact shall be made to one's race. This is really with anything because if the monarchs ever agreed on one thing unanimously, and the Divine Regency disagrees, then it ultimately goes the Vruari way. But with the matter of contacting Humanity and bringing us into this 'Inter-Galatic Renascence', the Vruari remained silent. The Principality had to wait, but some couldn't. In secret, the Velbenan race conspired to save Humanity from a rotting earth while attempting to be as vigilant and tactful as possible. The Velbenan queen operated Cryonautics, she created it. With the hiring of a few shape-shifting agents, she was able to seal a deal on earth as a legitimate doomsday project. The real rebel is the Velbenan queen and she disappeared right before they discovered a bunch of Humans drifting in deep space. But since we got caught up in the mix and used as a bunch of pawns in her scheme, they are hostile. And with you sitting on her throne, you just sent a message-- you signed yourself over to the Velbenan. Or so that is what they believe. Now, they are going to torture you until you confess the location of [i]your[/i] queen."[/color] The intricacies and complexities unraveled in front of her like an old christmas sweater stuck on a strip of new velcro. [color=ffaa00]"Look who seems to have become an overnight expert on alien languages and culture. Care to tell me what's going on here?"[/color] Benji rolled his eyes, she was suggesting it [i]again[/i]. [color=#4dff4d]"I'll talk about that LATER. And for your information, I didn't become an [i]expert[/i] overnight!-"[/color] Her voice changed from annoyance to full on concern. [color=ffaa00]"Benji, it sounds like you have a line of communication with our captors. You HAVE to convince them that I am the one to blame for the charges of treason. Tell them that I was sent to force the principality into contact with Humans, and that I had tricked the rest of you into being brought along."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"I mean, since they separated me from the rest of you, I have been learning Discovering Tongue- the language they speak. The language you have to speak in order for them not to think your a complete savage barbarian! But I don't have a prefect grasp on---"[/color] He stopped himself as she grabbed... something. This was all just words, but there was no hard evidense to support her claim. Well... maybe. She took a total gamble on the content, but it was the one chance she had. She pulled out her graphene-silica filament and handed it to him, coiling his fingers around the message. [color=ffaa00]"There is a message on this. A lot of it is going to be in metaphore, but it should still contain plenty of information on the true intent of Renessanse. The decoder can be construced with my contact generator, the multitool in the bottom drawer of my nightstand, and the locket of a black haired girl."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"W-Wait, what is this suppose to do?--"[/color] Benji grunted as he quickly jumped to his next question. [color=ffaa00]"It's a message from Renessanse command, I haven't had a chance to see its contents. I was entrusted with it because they thought I was diehard for their cause. I thought it would contain leverage on the crew or a failsafe, but now it makes sense. It is in metaphore and personal references so only one of the crew can make sense of the information. That is why we need Rend alive, we have no idea if he knows something that this information is dependent upon. The same stands for the entire crew. I thought it a weird way to safeguard information, but now with aliens in the picture it is the perfect precaution. There might be a way out, but I know I will be the last person that they would ever alllow on the ship again. It is our way out one way or another, but for the time being you have to go along with my plan."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Look, Echo, do you expect me to just screw you over? Just like that? I don't blame people! And now you can't even convince me that you actually did know about all of this, because I'm just going to think that you want to die, or suffer the rest of your life being tortured. Yeah... there is no way I am going to do that."[/color] [color=ffaa00]"It's either me or everybody, Benji. It's about time we call this whole mess quits."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Look, that's very heroic of you but... I still--"[/color] Echo tried to drive her point home but could not grasp the words for it. Finally it conglomerated into a waving hand. Then it all abruptly stopped, and a flood of indifference deluged over her, washing away any care as a stain in the flow that rapidly vanished into the magnitude. Fear and frustration dwindled, and all that was left was the care free woman who had been run through the program. [color=ffaa00]"I suppose you loose some or you loose some. I guess I die a fool rather than a hero. I'm not really planning on caring what you do once I'm gone. The way I see it, you can stick to your scruples and make Yaz burn with you, or you can take my sacrifice and live in peace with Rend as well. It will only work if all of you comply and fighting against Rend will seal Yaz's fate."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Wait, why are you still talking about Rend?[/color] [color=ffaa00]"Come on Benji"[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Fine, so, this thing would make me able to frame you? Like, is it that important? What [i]if[/i] I supposedly were to lose it somewhere?"[/color] Benji began backing as far away from Echo as possible, even though she looks weak enough to consider getting up a diificult feat. No matter, he had make sure that she couldn't stop him... [color=ffaa00]"If you were to lose it, then you would wouldn't surprise me at all."[/color] [color=#4dff4d]"Good, at least this won't come unexpected to you,"[/color] Benji pinched the message between two fingers, edging it closer to his lips before swallowing the thing in its entirety. He barely did such without choking, but no matter- what happened, happened. [color=#4dff4d]"Now--"[/color] he coughed a couple times before properly speaking again. But while he battled with the coughing fit, he knelt down to Echo, [color=#4dff4d]"We stick together."[/color] Benji grabbed Echo by her right arm, hoisting her up and over to a seat, to which he sat next to her with his cuffed hands still gripping her arm. [color=#4dff4d]"I'm not letting go of you."[/color] He had his reason for the clinginess, he couldn't let her be alone. Not while she was marked a [i]Strierot[/i].