Alexa will never admit to this, but there's a part of her that even now--even after the gods have spoken, have rendered judgement, have censured and destroyed--even now, still agrees with Molech. Battles, in a perfect world, should be orderly things. Consider how much simpler things would be if formations moved as directed, if every contingency could be planned for and counteracted, if everything could be paid attention to and noticed and figured out and wasn't being blasted at her from all directions.

It never gets easier. There's never enough time to pay attention to everything, to figure out why or how the ship is here or what's going on and why the Armada's hellbent on turning them to powder because right now, Bella's claws are still tracing an arc of blood through the air and Alexa has to figure out exactly everything she remembers about the cat. Did their paths cross? Did she ever happen to be present when Bella was training? What does she know, how does she move, how does she keep this from turning further into a bloodbath?

The claws are the key, she realizes, halfway through the first step. It's the same principle that was drilled into her over and over again. It doesn't matter what weapon you're using, what matters is keeping out of their weapon's range and keeping them in yours. If she can just get close enough--dodge enough swipes, keep Bella from thinking of her as a threat, [i]don't[/i] get any closer to Redana if she values her life, she's not here, Vasilia forgive her but keep attacking her, that's right, she's the one you need to worry abo--[i]Now![/i]

She is painfully aware that, were this not a fight, this might look sweet. Just gals being pals, one big spoon with her arms squeezed as tight as possible around the small spoon. She's even known some people where the white-hot grip around the wrists, the heaving breaths, and the frothing, rabid flecks might not be unusual.

(She misses those days, sometimes.)

Alexa swallows. This is important. Ignore the squirming, ignore the lashing tail, tune out the bombardment of SP on shell. Right now, there's nothing but her and Bella. And so is this conversation. Soft. Quiet. Among... Friends is probably strong. Acquaintances? Closer than complete strangers, anyway.

"I am," she hesitates, "not good at speaking. Not when it's just me, on my own. With my own thoughts. Forgive me."

And don't eviscerate me. That's important too.

"Bella. We are not close. Not close enough for me to give you straight advice, as a friend. I know you have your own reasons for choosing as you did. And I wish I had that. 

"I do not have that choice. When"--and the word "Redana" again sticks in her throat, chokes her until she revises--"I am given an order by someone carrying my seal, I cannot disobey. Cannot tell them that forcing me to join them in a suicidal charge against the greatest seat of power in recent memory would be most unkind.

"I cannot even fault you, on being asked to be the second in command of this death march, for refusing. I certainly cannot fault you for being angry that, on refusal to join, you were robbed of that choice. You were betrayed even more thoroughly than I, for while I have never been able to refuse an order, your choice was ignored in favor of abandonment.

"At the same time, there is one of us"--oh thank goodness, that works--"who cannot stop talking of you. Who misses you dearly. Who tells story after story of her best friend. And although you will never hear the words out of her mouth, she misses you. Wishes that you were there with us. She is hurt that you are not there."

Alexa sighs. "I cannot be the one to tell you what is right. I do not know it, and cannot be trusted to tell it. But..." And for once, she smiles. It's a good look. "I have made more friends in that ship in a few months than in all my years with Nero. Who can tell but what you may find there?

"I am going to let go. Please do not hurt us. I would not have you as an enemy."

[Bookkeeping:
7 on Keep Them Busy. Bella will retaliate once time is up.
9 on Speak Softly.
-What can they tell us about how they feel about Redana's betrayal?
-What do they want, and how could we help them get it?
-What were they doing, and what are they going to do next?]