[b][center][h2][color=magenta]Reya Wyatt[/color][/h2][/center][/b]

Even strapped in securely, the last explosion had nearly lifted her out of her seat and she was sure the large wheels of the APC had momentarily left the ground from the blast force. Barely after she could even begin to reconcile this new horror, there was a new sound: [i]rain[/i]. Pounding and torrential rain that washed over the lightly armored hull with such volume that all chatter within the small vehicle was ceased as the chassis lumbered and maneuvered towards the rally point as speedily as its driver dared. It was like a great curtain being pulled by some invisible hand over a small scene in her life that had brought her closer to death than she had ever been. The dim lights in the small space flickered over the rougher terrain and Reya, all adrenaline within herself completely spent, felt like she was being rocked to sleep in stark exhaustion. Within a few kilometers she was out and her head fell over like a ragdoll on Corporal Tucker’s shoulder. 

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A gentle shrug woke her and she could see the other ‘Boys calmly preparing to disembark as her eyes slowly blinked open. Other voices could be heard outside amid the echoing rumble of a closed atmosphere.They were back at the cave and the stiffness in her neck ached badly. She massaged one hand over it beneath her hair and tried rotating her head around slowly. So tired she had been, that she hadn’t even loosened the belts and her shoulders and waist likewise ached from being held firmly in place. As she drowsily moved to unbuckle herself, Corporal Tucker stood up to fall in line with the rest of the company under Sgt Dalton’s command. She could hear the big Sergeant’s booming voice outside without even a hint of fatigue. He sounded the same as when they had departed. Tucker gave a small nod as they filed out and she was left alone.

Her hands moved slowly. Even though she had apparently slept for the vast majority of the return, she didn’t feel refreshed at all. The loose belts thunked against the hard seat and she let out a long sigh that dropped her shoulders.

Never in her life had she been so terrifyingly afraid. When they had fled the capital, she could at least [i]see[/i] the threat and there was an idea of safety with the others and a tangible goal of escape. Even then, somewhere deep down, as arrogant as it felt to think, she didn’t believe they’d get her- and she was right, but the raid was completely different. Trapped inside a thin hull of metal, completely blind to the outside where a ferociously determined enemy had sought her violent death, her entire life had come down to random chance. Reya Wyatt, citizen of the Draconis Combine, heir daughter of Wyatt Interstellar, graduate of the Imperial Institute, [i]dead[/i] on the backwater world of Espia where she had given up a bright future, [i]voluntarily[/i], to play war with a bunch of mercenaries.
 
She caught herself staring blankly.

Glancing outside, no one had yet noticed her with the lumbering arrival of the mechs. Reality was setting back within her mind and she immediately felt darkly regretful of the selfish thoughts. Still, as she looked at the ramp some part of her knew that she was now different from when she had stepped onboard. 

“[color=DeepSkyBlue]REYA![/color]” Sunny shouted gleefully, running with arms wide. [color=deepskyblue]Reya Reya Reya, REYAREYAREYA REEEEEEE-YAAAAAAA![/color] The young girl nearly took Reya off her feet and she dropped the case containing her drone on the cave floor. For a few seconds she didn’t speak and just held the embrace a little longer and a little closer. It was the same way Sunny often greeted Lena upon her return from the field and in some way, Reya felt like it restored her some measure of humanity. 

“[color=DeepSkyBlue]Did you get to do anything cool?![/color] Sunny asked excitedly looking up.

Reya looked around briefly, still holding her arms around the girl. They were two supply trucks short. One of the missing told her exactly what the violent explosion had been before the rain and she shook her head slowly. Four people lost that could have just as well been her. At least the portable fusion reactor that she and Dalton had liquidated survived and there was already a crowd gathering around the unexpected prize. “[color=magenta]Not really this time[/color]” She said, immediately seeing it wasn’t the recounting that Sunny was hoping for. “[color=magenta]It was just-[/color]” Her voice trailed off when she spotted Pops’ ragged guitar. “[color=magenta]Was he playing that depressing music again?[/color]"
 
“[color=DeepSkyBlue]Oh my God, YES. He wouldn’t stop![/color]" Sunny proclaimed with a dramatic measure of depleted ten-year-old patience. “[color=DeepSkyBlue]I told him, I knew you’d be back, but he said it would be a jinx![/color]”

Reya shrugged wearily. “[color=magenta]Maybe he was right…[/color]” The exchange was cut short as she watched Dr. Yuri and one of her assistants hurriedly making their way to Ziska’s stricken Raven.  

“[color=DeepSkyBlue]Is miss Ziska gonna be alright?[/color]” Sunny asked, genuinely concerned. Even her young and inexperienced eyes could tell the Raven in particular had taken a colossal pounding.

“[color=magenta]I think so…[/color]" But she wasn’t sure. Even injured, Ziska had managed to pilot the small mech all the way back, through a storm, with no problem. Reya wanted to go over, but knew better. Like herself, Dr. Yuri was a professional and she would only be in the way, especially with an energetic and inquisitive child in tow. She grabbed Sunny’s hand and picked up the drone case once more, “[color=magenta]C’mon, I need to turn over all the footage my drone captured, after it’s copied, you can fly it around the cave all you want.[/color]”