Zoldyck

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Hope In Hell #2.0054: Brutality

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_{Interaction(s): N/A}

Previously: The Path To Ruin

CONTENT WARNING: EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE

The air was filled with a cacophony of violence and terror. Bodies made sickening noises as they were snapped, broken or just outright squashed. Horrific screams were uttered at the sight of comrades being casually slaughtered. And gun muzzles barked angrily as they were unloaded in futility upon a woman possessed.

Katja had lost control of her body, she was overcome by violent fury. All she could see was a red mist in front of her eyes, only raised when her next victim appeared before her. All she could feel in her head was a pain that felt like nails were dug deep into her brain, a pain which only temporarily subsided after she had taken the life of another attacker. All reason had left her, now all she could think of were simple terms. Crush. Maim. Kill.

Eventually, after what could have been hours or seconds for all she knew, only one man was left standing.

She gazed down at the miserable excuse of a man. This was the man who had barged through their door. The man who had yelled out that damned phrase that would keep haunting her for the rest of her life. The man who had butchered her mother. He appeared small now, as all in the room had appeared before the towering mass of rippling muscle that was Katja in her true form.

Katja picked him up by his arms, one in each of her massive hands. He was a prized one, one she had purposefully left for last. To cherish this moment. He was kicking and screaming as the realization dawned upon him of what was about to happen, begging for mercy. A mercy he hadn’t offered her parents.

A mercy she would not offer him.

She began to pull at his arms, slowly so as not to rush the moment. She wanted to take in every second of his suffering. Every tiny detail had to be registered. Just like she had been exposed to every single detail of what had happened to those who she had loved.

He screamed out in pain, a terrible, horrifying noise that sounded like the sweetest melody Katja had ever heard. Here was the man who had tormented her in her nightmares for years. The man who had taken everything from her. And she was tearing him apart. She tightened her grip around his arms, feeling the bones crumble to dust with but the slightest amount of force. She could first hear his joints give way as she dislocated them, followed by a sickening tearing sound. The sound of his flesh and sinews being torn apart by her incredible strength. Until finally, with a ghastly snap, both limbs were pulled free.

He fell down with a wet thud, landing in a pool of his own blood whilst screaming in agony from the pain she had wrought upon him. A smile crept up her lips, vicious and cruel like that of the raven-haired one hours before. Her mind did not linger on it, if it even registered it at all. Instead, she put her boot on the back of the man’s head, before then slowly applying her tremendous weight on it. Katja could feel that his nose was the first to give way, quickly followed by his jaw, which fractured into tiny pieces. She then stopped, holding his face down in that pool of crimson as she heard a gurgling noise. Her smile grew wider as she held him like that, savoring the sound of this animal drowning in his own blood.

She enjoyed watching him squirm, like the insect he truly was when compared to her. His legs started kicking less violently, his writhing became calmer and the gurgled screams became softer until finally, he became completely still.

Finally, after all these years of hatred and fear, she had finally gotten her vengeance. Finally she had seen to it that justice had been brought to those animals that had butchered her family. Finally, she thought, the nightmares could end.

But that feeling of sweetness and bliss quickly felt ashen and hollow. For the realization finally dawned on her that none of this was real. It was merely a simulation. A brutal, painful and extremely realistic simulation, but a simulation nonetheless.

Katja slowly fell to her knees, a light tremor shaking the ground as they touched down on the floor. She turned the corpse of the tormentor of her dreams around, tracing his skull with a finger while gazing into his broken features. Even through all the damage, she could still see that it had been too perfect. Like a wax doll instead of an actual human being. She just hadn’t noticed that before, either in her state of panic as a young girl or in her state of rage as the adult woman that she was now.

It wasn’t real. None of it had been real.

She had known this, of course. It was always there in the back of her head. But it had been so convincing, it seemed so real on the surface.

And, of course, it had once been real for her.

Katja gazed over her shoulder, her eyes darting through the mangled corpses to find the two that mattered the most to her. The only ones that had truly fallen on these floors, many years ago. A sob escaped the large girl’s lips as her eyes looked upon the charred remains of her father before they met those lifeless blue orbs of her mother.

Yet even these were not real. She couldn’t even properly mourn them, even that had been denied to her. She tried thinking of some of the few happy memories she had left of them, but every time she attempted to, one of those damned TV screens depicting another gruesome angle of their murder replayed in her mind.

Looking up at the ceiling, a single tear ran down the cheek of the brutish woman. She sat like that for a moment as more tears started flowing. She turned her attention down at the corpse that lay in front of her, looking into the empty eyes of that doll which bore the face of her nightmares.

She continued crying as she slammed her fist into the skull, scattering gore and bone fragments in all directions. Then she slammed down again. And again. And again.

With each bash her tears flowed faster. With each blow her sobs grew louder too. Until finally it didn’t sound like crying at all, but the pained howls of a savage animal that just continued pounding the ground. Katja continued this for what felt like hours. Perhaps it had truly been that long. Nothing seemed to change. She was locked up in this room, surrounded by the blood and gore of the Mundane. Eventually even the corpse would be long gone, with only a pink-ish paste covering fist-sized craters being left as the only indication that something had once lain here.

It all served as a reminder to Katja.

A reminder that she wasn’t just a liar, but that she was wrong.

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Hope In Hell #2.0034: The Path To Ruin

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_{Interaction(s): N/A}

Previously: At Doom's Gate

CONTENT WARNING: EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE

A sound suddenly reached her ears. It was a dog, a big one at that, barking angrily.

Katja opened her eyes again and where she expected to see that raging inferno and a torrent of blood, she was actually met by pristine white walls filled with family pictures and paintings. A pleasant ray of African sun was shining through the windows, reflecting off of the neatly waxed hardwood floor. She looked around, perplexed at what she saw. This was her home. The home she’d grown up in with her family. And not only did her surroundings offer a sense of warmth and familiarity, it also all seemed so… big.

She looked over her shoulder to see a mirror in the hallway. What she saw reflected in it shocked her to her very core.

Where she had expected to see the big, strong and resilient Katja that she had built herself to be over the past decade, she was instead met by that small girl she had been 12 years before.

Casting a quick glance down, Katja saw that she wasn’t wearing her A.R. suit anymore, but instead wore regular clothes. Her arms seemed frail and weak. In fact, she felt weak everywhere. Trying to conjure up her HZEs, nothing seemed to come up. As if something was blocking her from accessing them.

She had no time to linger too long on what she saw, however, as the moment was interrupted by a brick flying through one of the living room windows.

“Verdomp, they’ve broken through the front gate!” A large man wearing briefs and a combat vest yelled out as he ran back from the front door, carrying his trusty service pistol in his right hand as he effortlessly scooped Katja up with his left. “We have to get to the safe room! Floor, is Johanna with you? And where is Faf?!”

“We’re here Paul! A woman who appeared huge to Katja said as she dragged another tall girl along with her. “Faf’s outside, I saw him maul a Poes who tried to break in through the back door. He’s buying us valuable time.”

Gunshots could be heard outside, followed by a dog’s whimper and cheers from an outraged crowd. A look of horror could be seen on the faces of the two adults as the realization set in of what had happened to Faf, the family dog.

But there was no time to mourn his loss, as the front door was kicked off its hinges mere seconds later by a massive brute of a man. He held a large pipe in his hand, while pointing up at the Kruger family with his free hand. “Kill the Hypies!” He bellowed out. Almost instantly a tidal wave of bloodcrazed protesters rushed inside the home from either side of him, echoing his warcry.

“Kill the Hypies! Kill the Hypies! Kill the Hypies!”

Paul Kruger, still carrying Katja in his left arm, turned around to unload several rounds into the oncoming rush of humanity. But while every carefully placed shot took one down, the flood would not stop as two more would take the place of the fallen.

They ran as fast as they could to the back of the house. That was where the safe room was located. It had been built with this eventuality in mind. The walls were made out of reinforced concrete, not even a bulldozer would be able to effortlessly flatten it. And the large automatically sealing steel door, which could be shut from both directions, could only be opened from the inside. Once it was set in motion to close, nothing would be able to stop it.

But then they were cut off, right as safety appeared to be in sight. Another large figure to Katja had crawled through the kitchen window and took aim at the family with a pump action firearm. Paul Kruger turned right in time to shield Katja from its fury, as the slug simply bounced off her father. He groaned slightly, as while his powers allowed him to harden his skin into a form of armor, that didn’t mean he didn’t feel the pain.

Still, it gave enough time for Floor Kruger to close the distance as she approached from the man’s blindspot. She effortlessly tore the weapon out of his hand, the metal bending under her incredible grip, before giving him a strong right hook that visibly caved in his skull. The family had no time to celebrate this small victory however, as the crowd was hot on their heels.

They were almost there, just a few more meters before they were safe.

A loud crack suddenly filled the air. It was the sound of a high caliber rifle being shot in an enclosed area. It hit her father in the thigh. While his hardening was effective against most ordinary weapons and many small arms, a rifle was just too much. Screaming out in pain, Paul dropped to the floor, shifting his weight around mid-fall to shield Katja from the solid hardwood surface.

Katja tumbled over the ground, coming to a stop right next to the steel sliding door of the safe room. Struggling to get to her feet, she was met by the big red emergency release button. When pressed the door would close and lock itself, only able to be unsealed from the inside.

More attackers flooded into the room at that moment and it became clear to the two Hypes that they would not be able to stop them, but only delay them for just long enough so as to keep their children safe.

“Press it!” Floor yelled out as she sent another assailant flying while trying to get closer to Paul. “Press it Katja!

But Katja couldn’t. She was completely paralyzed. Not by fear, but by a refusal to part with her family. She couldn’t abandon them, she wouldn’t abandon them. Not again.

The door’s safety locks suddenly unsealed themselves, and Katja looked up to see that Johanna had pressed the button in her stead. She then shoved Katja inside before the little girl could even react to what was happening. “Well done Johanna, make sure to take care of your little sister!” Floor said as she barreled through another pair of attackers.

With the locks disabled, the door started closing rapidly. The heavy steel object picking up momentum with every mini-second that passed. Johanna was about to run in when she tripped over one of the attackers their mother had incapacitated. The door came closer at an alarming rate. Reaching for her sister, Katja pulled as hard as she could, attempting to drag her inside the safe room with every iota of strength she possessed.

Just as they were almost safe Katja could hear a loud thunk, followed by a desperate cry from her father. She looked up just in time to see Floor Kruger, her mother, collapse on the floor, a large pipe buried in the back of her skull. The sight of that froze her for just a moment. Just a fraction of a second.

Then the door slammed shut, accompanied by the loud clang of heavy metal banging against heavy metal. And the crunch of bones accompanied by an anguished scream.

Katja looked on in horror as she saw how Johanna’s legs ended at her knees. Anything below that had been turned to a meaty red paste by the door that was meant to protect them.

The small girl stumbled backwards. It was her fault. If only she had been stronger. Then Johanna could still walk. If only her Hypegene had awakened earlier, then she could have saved her mother and her…

A scream emanated from behind Katja. She snapped around, startled eyes wide in as she looked over to the security panel. It had a single small screen in the center, displaying the video feed of the security camera that hung outside the door. And even in this grainy footage she could make out that there was one figure on the ground, writhing in pain as he was set alight by a jubilant crowd that surrounded him.

Katja couldn’t tear her eyes away. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and yet she absolutely could not look away. The lighting in the room seemed to dim as she kept looking at the footage. The horrible things they did to her loving father, the unspeakable things they did to the corpse of her mother. Eventually the only light left was that of the small screen, showing what was happening outside.

Suddenly a new screen flickered to life that hadn’t been there a second ago. Right next to the original one, this new screen seemed to have a far higher definition as it showed the gruesome acts happening outside, but from a different angle. Another screen appeared, much like the previous one, this one however showed a close up of her father’s writhing in pain. Another screen appeared, this time showing looping footage of the death of her mother. Again another flickered to life, displaying slow motion footage of Johanna’s legs being crushed.

More screens kept appearing, each adding another detail to the calamity that transpired around Katja. Wherever she looked she saw more TVs, all with their own unique angle.

It was too much for a little teenage girl to witness something like this. She could feel something snap, just like it had all those years ago. She was overcome by emotions. By the agony of what she was witnessing. The grief of whom she had lost. The anger at her weakness. The rage at those who were responsible. And countless more that would take ages to list.

She couldn’t take it anymore. The small girl began tearing her hair out before eventually clawing at herself. She wanted it to stop, digging her nails deep into her skin so as to feel something, anything else than that internal torment. She screamed in the hopes of drowning out all the noise of the butchery that was going on in the other room. She tried to close her eyes but she couldn’t. Something was forcing her to watch, as if invisible fingers held her eyes open.

Katja couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to take her own eyes out so she didn’t have to keep bearing witness to the horrors that transpired.

But as her nails were less than an inch away from her eyes, she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.

Instantly, all the screens went blank, all the noise was deafened. Even Johanna’s pained sobs were gone. It felt like Katja had entered a void that only consisted of her.

Her, and that hand which rested on her shoulder.

“Do you know why I called you in to see you, Katja?”

She snapped around instantly, but where she had expected to meet the man who uttered that phrase, she was met by a ray of light emanating from the open safe room doorway.

Katja was scared at first, thinking the door had failed and that she was about to be swarmed by the angry crowd outside. To be subjected to whatever cruelty they had inflicted upon her parents. Or worse.

But then Katja noticed something was different. The opening appeared to be smaller than it was before. In fact, she figured she’d have to bend through her knees in order to fit through it.

She took a step towards the doorway. She halted immediately when a slight quake was felt when her foot touched the floor again and looked down at herself. The distinct material of the A.R. Suit clad her powerful frame once again, and Katja could sense the HZEs coursing through her veins.

She raised her right hand, staring at it as she flexed her fingers. Katja enjoyed this brief moment where she had regained her strength, only for those thoughts to be drowned out by jubilant cries coming from the open door.

It instinctively forced her fingers to close into a tight fist. Her jaw was clenched shut by the fury that overcame her as she realized that they were still there. The corpses of her parents were still there.

That voice from earlier suddenly spoke again.

“Show them who you truly are.”

Katja didn’t look around this time to see where it came from. It didn’t matter to her.

At this point there was only one thing on her mind. She could feel it stir within her. That dark sensation that she'd kept hidden for so long. It crawled up her spine again. But this time she wouldn't stop it. This time she gave in to its desires.

Shaking the ground with each imposing step she took, Katja set foot out of the doorway and into that accursed room of her nightmares. She recognized the figures that stood before her, who had been hooting and cheering mere seconds ago before the first tremor could be felt. They were all just as she remembered them from her dreams. Except they were smaller.

No, not smaller. They were normal sized.

Which, to Katja, meant that they seemed puny.

The crowd of murderers seemed stunned at the sight of the colossal woman that had just appeared before them. Mouths agape and fear written on their faces. It was clear that their brains were in the process of choosing between fight or flight.

One man’s brain seemed to run a little faster than the others’, as he dashed forward towards the corpse of her mother. Reaching for the pipe that was still embedded in her skull. Raising his newfound weapon with glee, he swung straight for Katja’s jaw. It impacted with such a great force that the snapping of bones could be heard throughout the entire chamber.

Katja hadn’t budged though. She hadn’t even flinched.

Her attacker exclaimed a pained yell as his hand lost grip of the pipe. His wrist had been fractured by the great force that had been exerted on it. He had basically just hit a solid wall with all his strength, and he paid the price for it.

Katja looked down at the man. If he had been real, the sight he was met with would have frozen his blood. As before him stood a towering behemoth. Her eyes filled with hatred, her body twitching with barely contained rage.

But her lips, through which a low rumbling growl could be heard, were curled into a cruel smile.

“Show them our wrath.”

One backhand was all it took to send the man careening into a wall and remove whatever face he had. All that was left of it was a bloody mush of wet meat and broken bones. Katja tracked her victim with morbid curiosity. Pleased with the results, she exhaled with what almost sounded as a chuckle before she turned her gaze over to the rest of the group who seemed to be gearing up to fight her.

All Katja could do at the sight of them was grin while she almost gleefully whispered to herself.

“Rip. And. Tear.”

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Hope In Hell #2.030: At Doom's Gate

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_{Interaction(s): N/A}

Previously: Just A Rat In A Cage

Katja tried to pry her eyes away. She knew the fire was surrounding her, that it’d consume her if she didn’t act right then and there. But try as she might, she couldn’t move an inch. She was petrified by what she saw. The secret hidden behind the walls. That which almost made her think about tearing her eyes out so she’d never be able to witness its like ever again.

With the flames licking at the large girl’s back, she only vaguely registered that they hadn’t spread under her. The blood that had cascaded out of the hole she’d torn in the concrete seemed to ward off the encroaching inferno. A trick by the simulation, perhaps. Nevertheless, her mind wasn’t concerned with the ifs and hows. It was only focused on that which was right before her.

Clad in the dark color of blood that had been spilled long ago and surrounded by the rancid odor of death and decay, Katja beheld a pile of corpses hidden behind the thin veneer of what was supposed to be a wall. Most seemed indistinct, wearing the stained garments of what she could only assume to be the Foundation’s uniform. These corpses were in a late stage of decay, the rot clearly visible on their mangled corpses.

Yet there was one, completely exposed to Katja, that was different.

It was the corpse of a woman. Her skin was only partially consumed by the necrosis while other parts almost appeared unblemished, with only a sickly blue hue showing it to be dead skin. Her face was gaunt and had one part of her cheek completely rotted off or devoured by the maggots crawling over every inch of it, exposing neat rows of teeth which had yellowed with the passing of time. Her long strands of blonde hair were thin and dry, almost giving the impression of being strings of straw rather than hair. Yet, at the back of her head, there was a large gaping hole. Even though the corpse had obviously been here for a long time, the hole still seemed to be oozing brain matter, as if it had been bashed in only moments before.

But the most striking thing were the eyes.

All the other surrounding corpses had empty eye sockets, as the eyes had either shriveled up and rotten away, or been taken by whatever animal could take them. But not on this corpse. No, it still had a pair of radiant, ice-like blue eyes.

And those very eyes stared right into the similar eyes of Katja, before a soft whisper escaped the corpse’s mouth.

“You left us to die”

Katja knew it couldn’t be real. She knew she was in some sort of simulation. That all she witnessed was fake. But her reason was no match for the emotional overload her senses were providing her brain. She had been looking into those exact eyes for 12 years now. Every night when the nightmare returned she’d seen them. And while she might have thought herself to be over it after having found a new family in Blackjack, deep down she knew she had been lying.

That voice, those eyes, they brought back memories. Memories of pain, fear, sadness… And hate. So, so much hate. She was nailed to the floor, unable to move as all those emotions came flooding back, barely cognisant of what was happening above her on the walkway with Rory and Haven, long forgotten by the blonde girl now. She was so stunned in fact that she only realized the movement in front of her when it was too late.

The corpse moved. It shook into motion as if animated by some unseen force. Its jerky movements were unnatural, like a movie that was fast being fast forwarded in front of her. There was no time for Katja to respond by the time she registered what had happened. The corpse, her mother’s corpse, had suspended itself above Katja. Its mouth wide agape, the feeble strips of flesh snapping off as its jaw had unhinged itself.

Katja looked up, unable to think of what to do. She tried to raise her feet up, but the blackened blood offered too much resistance that even her increased strength couldn’t get her free. She tried to reach for the corpse, but it was just out of reach. Just like it had been all those years ago…

As that terrible realization set in Katja looked up and saw the corpse of her mother shudder once. It shuddered twice. And on the third shudder it ejected out a deluge of blood. It was unending and unyielding, the taste of it made Katja vomit on her own. But it mattered little, more poured out over her. Katja felt like she would drown in the seemingly endless outpouring of red ichor.

This was it, she thought as she closed her eyes.

This was the end of her tale.

This was how she would die.

She knew it for certain this time.

Just as she was certain of it back then.

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Hope In Hell #2.020: Just A Rat In A Cage

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_{Interaction(s): N/A}

Previously: Despite All My Rage

Katja kept her eyes on the airborne Rory only to see if he’d hit the place she had aimed at or whether she had to try and catch him and go for another round. Seeing him burst through the girders and hearing Haven take flight after him was enough for her to focus her attention to her own immediate concerns. The flames were approaching at a rapid pace and while she was sure she could withstand the damage for a while, she didn’t look forward to experiencing her skin burning for the second time within twenty four hours.

Running up to the wall closest to her, she formed a claw with her hand and dug it deep into the concrete. She had expected her fingers to be met with the rigid and cold, but in the end futile, resistance of the concrete wall. Instead, after she pierced a thin layer of the solid facade, her fingers felt something completely different.

Instead it was soft, squishy even. And it felt wet, very wet.

Despite the odd feeling of the wall Katja still tried to hoist herself up, but the brittle piece of concrete could not support her weight and was torn clean off the wall. Katja took a quick look at the small chunk of wall in her hand, turning it around to see a dark liquid cover the back of it, as well as the tips of her fingers. That very same liquid started oozing out of the newly created hole. She initially thought it was more oil, as the dim lighting mixed with the oncoming inferno didn’t provide a very clear illumination of it.

But then came the smell. It was a repugnant odor that overwhelmed the senses even more than the machine oil that had been omnipresent this entire time. A smell that humans were instinctually hard coded to associate with calamity and abhorrence. A sickening smell that almost made Katja retch.

She brought her fingers closer, trying to confirm what she had already begun to fear to be the case. Rubbing that fluid between her index and thumb, she saw that it wasn’t actually black, as she had initially suspected, but a very, very dark shade of red.

The color of old blood.

She looked up at the gap she’d torn in the wall. The liquid was still trickling out of it at a slow but steady pace.

A sense of dread slowly washed over her, but she couldn’t stop herself. Curiosity had gotten the better of her as she gripped the thin concrete at the lower end of the small hole. Sensing the heat of the flames approaching she had no time to delay. So she yanked at the concrete with great force, tearing a large slab off the wall with very little effort and allowing her to bear witness to whatever secret it had been hiding.

Katja beheld it.

She registered it.

And she let out a blood-curdling scream

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Hope In Hell #2.011: Despite All My Rage

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_{Interaction(s): Amma @Rockette(flashback), Haven @Skai, Rory @webboysurf}

Previously: vore

Katja had sat here alone for hours. It honestly felt like an eternity. The cold midnight rain had felt nice as it landed on her skin and rid her of the tears she’d shed and of that crimson reminder of pain and torment. The storm that had raged around her was a perfect echo of the one that raged within. Sometimes a crack of lightning would make her sharply inhale, reminding her of those wicked arcs of cruel energy that had injured her so.

Her feet were dangling off the cliff’s edge. Normally the thrill of it would excite her, but now she felt practically nothing. She looked like a wreck. She had managed to patch up her wounds over the course of the night, but that was only the surface damage. Mentally she was a shell of her former self, which translated on her physical appearance as well. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes had dark circles around them and she just expressed extreme despair in her body language. She just gazed off into the unending ocean as the sun slowly rose in the east. It cast her left side in its comfortingly warm rays of light, while her right side remained cold and dark.

Those were the only thoughts she really had. Cold and dark.

She kept replaying last night’s events in her mind, over and over again. Thinking if there was something she could’ve done differently. Yet there was one moment in particular that she kept coming back to. It circled around her, like a predator stalking its prey. One moment which inspired dread into her deepest core. She wished there could have been something that would’ve changed that fateful outcome. Something that could have spared her from the catastrophe that was currently unfolding within her.

The red arcs of energy, callous and unyielding, finally withdrew back to that soulless pit that had spawned them. Katja had beheld her tormentor with tears streaming down her cheeks. She had been overwhelmed with emotions she didn’t even know were there. The pain in her shoulders were like gnat bites compared to the devastation of the storm raging within her.

It felt like she was lost at sea, her ship wrecked in the open ocean during a hurricane of biblical proportions. She had no idea what to do, no idea where to go. And her pleas for help, those tears of heartbreak, remained unanswered. She was being sucked deeper and deeper into the maelstrom that were her dark emotions. And as she was overcome by them, she could only feel one sensation.

She was drowning.

A dark shadow appeared below her, a great beast that would consume her in all her grief. And it felt like there was nothing she could do to stop it.

But then, for the briefest of moments, there came a sliver of hope. Katja could’ve sworn that she saw something change in Amma’s eyes. Was it hesitation? Was it regret? Whatever it was, to Katja it seemed like hope. Like a helping hand reaching out into the water to save the drowning woman that was she.

But just as quickly as that arm was extended, just so fast would it be withdrawn. As cruel laughter filled the air in the tent. The storm took an even greater hold of her as she was weighed down more with each mocking cackle exclaimed by that ruthless mistress of destruction.

Katja’s head fell, her blood-drenched hands covering her eyes as the tears would continue to stream ceaselessly. The metallic scent of her own blood filled her nostrils. It served as the climax to her woes as she felt the shadow below lurch up to finally strike. Its great gaping maw enclosed around her as the creature that lurked in the dark devoured her whole.

Her ruin was complete. And in doing so, her mask slipped.

She remained quiet when Amma spoke next. Not even a sob escaped the blonde girl’s lips. She sat there motionless, as if not entirely there. And yet, she was. For she was waiting to make her move. One which would be sudden and unexpected. For when Amma tried to make her exit Katja reached out to the hem of her jacket, grasping it firmly with a hand soaked in her own blood.

“Wait.”

---

Katja entered the Hedge with some form of renewed vigor. While not entirely the same, the support she received from Harper and Rory had given her mental state a small boost. Despite that, she still didn’t look quite like her usual self. She still had a disheveled and morose look to her. At least, she thought, her injuries weren’t at risk of being exposed anymore.

Getting into her AR suit had always been a great struggle for her. Somehow it always seemed too small to her, even if it fit like a glove when she finally got into the damned thing. Now though, without any help and with her wounds, it had been a painful ordeal. But at least the compression helped with her injuries.

She had been one of the first to enter. Even with all that had happened, this was one of the few habits that she’d never be able to let go. Katja couldn’t help but feel amped up as the rest of Blackjack filed in. There were doubts and questions floating in her mind, of course. But now that she was finally in the thick of it, she could feel that competitive spark finally come alive again within her. She even dared to put on a confident little smirk.

And then it all went to hell.

The red code, the sterile walls, the whispers... It made no sense at all. Some of her teammates seemed puzzled at the sudden change. Those who were responsible for the theming seemed horrified. The despondent expression on Harper’s face, Calliope on the brink of a panic attack. It made the color leave Katja’s face.

Suddenly darkness surrounded her again, like it did before. Was it despair that took a hold of her again? She could feel her right hand shaking involuntarily. The tempest inside her had started to pick up again. Had this brief moment of respite only been her traversing the eye of the storm? She could feel that odd presence claw its way up her back. Was she going to be lost again to her sorrow and pain?

Then the shaking stopped. Not by her own will, but by the grace of an angel.

Haven had grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. That small, comforting gesture calmed the troubled waters of Katja’s mind almost in an instant. She looked down, first at her hand and then at Haven. She smiled softly at the winged girl, returning a soft squeeze and giving a slight nod of appreciation to her. “Thanks Valkie, I really needed that.” Katja said softly before giving another gentle squeeze.

Her eyes then fell on a sight she wished she could have ignored.

Amma had isolated herself from their group, entering one of dozens of the side rooms. The voices chanting that name – Tiamat – had clearly affected her deeply. Hell, this entire area seemingly affected her to her very core.

It was only then that Katja realized what all of this was meant to be. She had heard the rumors of course, but never could she have imagined the dreariness of it all. Such a bleak place, devoid of all life and joy. The sterile innards of the Alexandria Foundation.

Slowly the cogs were turning in her head. If Amma had been part of an organization such as this, then it made sense that she would think of the world the way she does.

Katja observed the raven-haired girl as she spoke, more so to herself than to any one of them in particular. And for a moment she was dumbstruck by what she saw. It was so brief that you’d miss it if you blinked, but for that fleeting second that dreaded mistress of destruction was gone. Replaced by a seemingly fragile young girl.

Katja squeezed harder into Haven’s hand as she beheld Amma in that state. Ordinarily she’d rush to her, or any of her team who was in that state. To comfort them and shield them from prying eyes.

Katja was about to make her way over to Amma when she felt it lash up, like a coiled serpent striking with its venomous fangs.

Serves her right!

There it was again. Just like in the tent. Just like at breakfast. It lurched forward from the darkest pits of her soul, like a circling animal that finally struck out to hit its prey. Katja tensed in an instant, as if on command. Her jaw clenched shut, not allowing her to even speak. Her free hand balled up in a fist as her other hand squeezed even tighter around Haven’s hand, painfully so but she didn’t feel anything crumble in her hands. She realized just in time, letting go of the smaller hand in an instant.

She didn’t have time to process as to why she suddenly tensed, as while Amma rounded a corner a door opened on the other side. Two figures emerged from it, heralded by a frigid cold and ominous, thunderous footsteps.

Her footsteps.

The new pair looked eerily similar and yet noticeably different to Calliope and herself. Like cheap knock-offs. Or improvements if you were to ask the Foundation, Katja thought. The anti-Calliope jeered at her real world counterpart. It would usually raise her ire, but she wasn’t so much focused on that. No, her attention was aimed solely at her alternate self.

While the anti-Calliope seemed callous and cruel, she still seemed reserved. For the moment anyway. Her anti version on the other hand looked to be raring for a fight. One Katja would gladly give her as long as it served to protect her friends. She rolled her shoulders, the pain in them pretty much numbed by the sudden shot of adrenaline that was coursing through her veins, before mirroring the uncanny copy, cracking her knuckles in unison. But where the fake would issue forth taunts, Katja only gave a short reply.

“You talk too much.”

The two giants then charged at one another. The ground trembled at their earth shattering thread as dust shook from the ceiling and the windows of the surrounding class rooms rattled in their frames. Both raised their right fist, their dominant hand, at the same time, preparing to land a knock-out blow at the first strike.

A strike that never came.

Suddenly her path was blocked by a wall of translucent ice. Katja skidded across the floor as she tried to arrest her momentum, leaving a trail of broken white tiles in her wake. She only missed the wall by mere inches. And while she could probably get through it without too much effort, she didn’t know if it would inspire retaliation of the anti-Calliope.

Instead, she gazed through it at her initial target. It was like looking through a twisted mirror. It was her, Katja, but different. There was a cruel inflection within this version of her that seemed alien. And yet, familiar. She seemed more savage, more deranged rather than a hothead such as Katja considered herself. But while the uncanny sight of this warped image of herself was unsettling in many aspects, Katja couldn’t help but smile at one tiny detail. The scars, deep claw marks, would be proof that she’d had many close bouts in fights, were she real and not some simulation. It elicited a single word to escape from the real girl’s lips, one the fake probably couldn’t even hear.

“Amateur.”

All of the sudden she was cast in absolute darkness. The lights had gone out and Katja could feel the floor moving beneath her. Eventually her nose became overwhelmed by the smell of machine oil. Then shortly afterwards she could feel a liquid licking at her boots before the lights sprang back on.

They were dim, only providing the barest of illumination. But it was enough to get a bearing on her surroundings. It felt like an old industrial site, with machines suspended high above them and a grated overpass in between. The liquid was sticky and black, like tar or crude oil. Looking around, she saw that both Rory and Haven had also been transported into this pit with her.

Then there was a familiar voice, Lorcán’s, that called out to them. Was he with them too?

But as she looked up and saw a pair of boots on the overpass above, she felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. And sure enough, only a heartbeat later the anti-Lorcán released a spark that set the tar pit the trio stood in on fire. It would spread quickly their way, Katja knew that for certain. She could possibly weather it for a while, Rory too if he borrowed her powers. But Haven would be absolutely screwed.

Katja looked around her in desperation as to find a way out of this mess. She could probably scale the walls and take the girder down, but that’d take too long. No, she had to find another way of getting out of here.

There had to be another way she didn’t see to get up there!

And that was when it hit her. It was so obvious in hindsight.

She let out a cackle before she turned to look over at Rory, a wide grin on her face.

“Just like on the Field, bru!”

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.096: Doubts

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_{Interaction(s): N/A}

Previously: Daily Protein Intake

In hindsight she should have taken a bigger piece of cake. Katja had intended for it to last at least until she made her way towards the showers, but it was already gone before she arrived at her tent. She realized that she was one of the first people to leave the dining area, so that meant there wouldn’t be any lines at the showers! She quickly grabbed her shower supplies and some fresh clothes before making her way over to the shower unit.

As expected, the units were practically abandoned when she arrived. Katja put her fresh clothes down on a bench facing the shower cubicle she was planning to use. She figured that she didn’t have to store them in any secure locker, since no one was gonna be able to fit in her clothes anyway. At least, not without looking like they were wearing a tent.

Stepping into the cubicle anticipating a nice relaxing shower, Katja felt a sense of disappointment as she was met with the sight of a fixed shower head… At eye level. She made an involuntary groan at the sight of the offending object. Couldn’t one moment go off without a hitch today?

Pressing the button, the South African was greeted with an invigorating surge of cold water. There was no room to stand to the side and wait for the water to warm gradually, not for her at least. And besides, cold showers were better for you anyway. So she took the initial blast of frigid cold against her torso in stride.

As the water gradually warmed to a more inviting temperature, Katja finally began to clean herself in earnest. Stooping slightly to accommodate for the height of the shower head, she welcomed the comforting embrace of the warm water cascading over her face. Going through the motions, her mind began to wander. Several different thoughts crossed her mind, some were just mundane and fleeting. Others though, they managed to cling on tight.

The one that kept coming back was Rory. There was the look of disappointment on his face as she completely fumbled the situation, of course. But that memory was quickly replaced by the one where she held him tightly in her arms. She had been tempted to go in for a kiss at that moment. Perhaps she should have. But then she thought about how he had talked about Haven. She recalled how cute they looked on the beach the day before. Her lips curled up into a sad smirk at that recollection.

No, perhaps it was better this way.

After soaping up, Katja let the water cleanse her of the dirt of a hard day’s work. The rivulets traced the contours of her impressive musculature, the water leaving a sheen on her skin as it purified her. She felt a tingling sensation as the water pressure was massaging her tired, aching muscles.

She’d get her revenge on Banjo for today. One way or another.

Thinking about that made her think about the conversation she’d had with Banjo and how he had joked about her supposed feelings for a certain raven-haired teammate. Just recalling that reddened her cheeks. And while she might want to blame it on the steam surrounding her, Katja knew that she’d only be fooling herself if she did.

She wanted to chalk it up to Banjo being Banjo and looking for an excuse to get under her skin. But then she remembered that Rory had basically implied the same thing, right before his slip of the tongue.

Was it really that obvious to everyone else? Was she so oblivious to her own feelings that she didn’t see what others clearly saw? No, no that wasn’t it.

She knew what she felt. She felt many, many things when she was close to Amma. First and foremost was respect. Respect for her strength. In power, yes, but especially strength in character. There was a sense of a challenge too, to crack her shell, break through those walls she had raised around her person to isolate herself from the outside world. And if there was one thing Katja was good at, it was breaking through walls. If she couldn’t do it in one try, she’d wear them down, but through them she’d go!

Katja pressed her back against one of the cubicle walls, almost thoughtlessly sliding to the floor as she explored her feelings further.

There was more to it though. She knew that.

There was a deep sense of longing. She always felt it when she caught a glimpse of those locks of jet black hair, that intricate ink work on a delicate and pale canvas. Often accentuated by glimmers of red and silver, always playfully dancing around her. And then there was the look she had in those piercing blue eyes of hers. It was hard to look away from them, yet if she stared too long she felt like she was drowning. There was a feralness to those eyes that could make most feel like they were being sized up by a predatory animal. But not to her. No, she saw it as a challenge. One that she would gladly meet.

But there was one more feeling, one that overshadowed all others, and that was insecurity.

It felt like Amma was a sun, radiant and powerful, while Katja was a planet stuck in her orbit, unable to break free, yet also unable to get closer. Stuck forever in this endless loop. It was the closest analogy she could ever think of to describe the situation of the past year. Katja wanted to be her friend, she had wanted to be one from the moment she first spoke to her. No, not just a friend. She lied to herself if she thought that. She wanted to be more than that. But, as she had told Rory before, she really didn’t know where she stood with Amma. Did Amma even enjoy her presence? Or was she just an annoying, lumbering giant who she only rarely tossed a bone to get rid of her?

Katja looked up. The shower had ceased working God knows how long ago and she could hear voices coming from the other side of the cubicle door. More people had started flocking in to get a shower before heading to their tents. Getting up from the floor, she started drying herself off. The softness of the fluffy towels was a nice contrast to the hard surfaces she had been leaning against.

She opened the door after wrapping the towels around her. Just as she predicted, her clothes lay there untouched. Whether this was due to the innate trust people had at PRCU or because they were just too big for anyone but her didn’t matter. Katja took a little longer putting her clothes on than she usually would. The idea that Amma was in the tent, perhaps awaiting her arrival, stirred a feeling of trepidation within her.

Katja made her way back over to their tent with the same sense of both eagerness and anxiety. She walked around in an oversized shirt (yes, they make them in that size) and had one of her towels wrapped around her waist. She opened the front flap of the tent with some nervousness. She half expected her tattooed tentmate to sit inside, isolating herself from the rest of the group as she sometimes did. She was however met with an empty tent, completely untouched after she had left for the showers.

After putting her dirty clothes in a plastic bag, storing it in the corner, and hanging the towels outside to dry, Katja sat down on her sleeping cot with a sigh. Whether it was one of relief or disappointment, she did not know. Not wanting to dwell on it for too long, she decided that the best way to distract herself would be to listen to some of her music. Putting her earphones in and turning the volume up, her mind became too overwhelmed by the loud noise to concern itself with other matters. Katja smiled to herself, satisfied with this internal peace of mind as she pulled her legs up on the sleeping cot, closing her eyes and resting her head on her knees as it slowly bopped in tune with the beat.

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau, Dundas Island - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.088: Daily Protein Intake

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_{Interaction(s): Banjo @Hound55, Rory @webboysurf}

Previously: Zug Zug

It had gotten really close at the end, but the two Blackjack members sent to aid in the construction of the Trial foundations had successfully delivered a job well done. It had taken a lot of effort, sweat - mostly Katja’s - and tears - all of which were from Banjo’s laughing bursts - to complete their assigned tasks. But, in the end, the results spoke for themselves. Robert could be proud!

As they were making their way back, it became obvious that one of the pair looked a lot more worn out than the other. Much to the annoyance of the bigger one of the two.

“So, bru. Mind explaining to me why, when we have to work on something together, I always end up looking like this.” Katja gestured annoyed to herself, covered in filth from a day’s worth of hard labor. “And you look like you’ve barely broken a sweat?” She did an annoyed handwave towards a disheveled, yet conspicuously fresh Banjo to emphasize her point.

“Well, y' see Bokkie," Banjo started, with an authoritative tone, "there's a few things you haven't considered. First of all, there's powerset. Every time I juice I'm not only takin' a bump to my strength, but also my endurance and stamina. Whilst in your case, you're actually doin' your heavy liftin' with no aid beyond what you've previously worked towards in buildin' your own strength. And even though you're f'r sure strong, it's still gonna take it out of ya. Second, you've got to consider the way you're liftin', you keep liftin' for strength and aesthetic, don't lie, I can tell you're a proud sheila. Should be too. Whilst I'm just tryin' to move the thing, I'm not buildin' much muscle or doin' anythin' real impressive as I go. And finally there's the etiquette of the whole thing."

Katja raised an eyebrow. “Etiquette? Really?” She asked with an amused smirk.

"Yeah, you got there late, so I didn't want you feelin' guilty so I let you do the hard yakka..." He said, sticking out his tongue. "I'm a nice bloke like that.”

A grin appeared on Katja’s face as the Aussie was giving his explanation, rolling her eyes at him before swinging at his smug face with her right hand. Banjo narrowly dodged it, of course, and it only elicited more cackles from the insolent little bastard.

Katja laughed as she saw him scamper away in his exaggerated fashion, shaking her head as she continued her way over to the dinner area Tad and Jessica had arranged for them. It seemed they had waited for Banjo and Katja, as after the pair arrived the freshly engaged couple gave their greetings to the group and went into great detail describing the meal they had prepared for the two teams. Katja took that time to clean her hands and arms, so there would at least be a semblance of cleanliness to her.

This slight detour meant that she had to join at the back of the food line. She got anxious that the best scraps of food would be taken by the time she got there and she’d only be left with salads. That wouldn’t do of course, as a girl like her needed her daily proteins!

Luckily, her fears proved to be unwarranted as she discovered that most of the containers were still more than half full with all of their delicious goodness. Well, there’s one advantage to being last. Don’t have to worry about others not getting their fill! She thought as she helped herself to what she considered to be very humble servings. A humble Katja serving of course still meant that her tray was practically overflowing with food.

A SUV drove up to the dinning area while Katja was busy serving herself at the taco buffet. It turned out to be none other than the newly appointed Chancellor, Jim O’Neil. Katja’s heart sank at the initial sight of him. After that shocking news from earlier in the day, his spontaneous unannounced visit could possibly mean that even worse was on the way. Luckily, it turned out that her fears were completely unfounded. In fact, Jim brought the wonderful news that all the students whose credentials were at risk had now been safely secured! She noticed however that he didn’t mention how he managed to secure those credentials, while his vague mention of other changes made her think that he had to give concessions over to the Foundation. That thought alone made her skin crawl.

However, all in all it was a moment for celebration. As the future of her peers was no longer in immediate jeopardy.

With her abundantly filled tray in one hand and two bottles of water in the other, Katja was about to go look for a seat at the tables when she noticed two of her teammates having a conversation. The first of the pair, Lorcán, was often considered the more striking of the two, thanks in no small part to his orange eyes, it was his conversation partner that drew Katja’s attention.

No, her eyes were drawn to Rory, and Rory only. Sure, he didn’t have the exotic Hype factor that Lorcán had. A trait that Katja usually found very attractive in people. But Rory had something different to him. From the first day they had met she had liked his personality. Now, that isn’t to say she didn’t find him physically attractive either! Far from it! She always found those blue eyes of his adorable, and of all the people in Blackjack he probably came the closest to her in terms of physical fitness. And who better to appreciate a body like that than a fellow gymrat? His body not folding in half at all the tackles she gave him on the field was a nice bonus too, of course.

But while she had obvious feelings for him, Katja also knew she wasn’t the only one. She’d seen how Haven acted around Rory, how Mei looked at him. She knew that whatever attraction she felt for him, it wasn’t worth the pain she’d cause her other teammates if she inserted herself into their romantic overtures.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t be friends with him though!

She waited for a while before she approached them, as even Katja could see in their faces that the conversation they were having was quite a serious one. She was curious, of course, but kept a respectable enough distance that she couldn’t pick up what they were talking about. Seeing them amicably part ways gave Katja a small sense of relief. She would’ve hated for there to be discord in her team, especially between these two friends.

Seeing Lorcán walk off, Katja used this as her opportunity to close in on Rory. Noticing that his gaze pointed in the vague direction of a pair of wings, a mischievous smirk curled up Katja’s lips.

With her prey distracted, Katja quietly snuck up on Rory. Or well, as much as the giant South African girl could sneak up on anyone. While carefully balancing her tray in her right hand, she swung her left arm around him before gently leaning on his shoulder, pressing some of her weight down on him. “That would’ve been a sack, bru! Can’t get too distracted by your surroundings. No matter how alluring they might be.” Katja gave a playful wink to Rory before nodding over to Haven.

Letting out a boisterous laugh, Katja let go of Rory before gesturing over to some free seats at one of the tables. “There’s still some spots left over there. Care to join?”

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Southern Plateau - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.071: Zug Zug

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_{Interaction(s): Amma @Rockette}

Previously: Reality Check

The Manticores’ engines roared as they were making their slow way towards the plateau. Katja sat in the flatbed of one of the massive vehicles. In the past five years she always preferred to sit there instead of inside the motorized beasts. She always felt a bit too cramped when she took a seat in the cabin. So the truck bed, exposed to the open air, was a much better alternative for her.

Being rocked back and forth in the uneven road was almost calming to the big South African. Her mind began to drift back to the Lair and what had actually transpired there, the howling of the cliffs a background melody to her thoughts.

First and foremost, she lamented all those whose futures were now at risk. Their plans dashed by whatever cruel twist of faith -or worse, plan- that had voided PRCU’s credentials. Katja was one of the lucky ones who’s studies hadn’t been affected. But this had the effect of making her actually feel guilty, as she could go on like nothing happened while her friends just had their potential careers ripped away from them. Or at least, they would if the Foundation didn’t keep their word.

She didn’t quite know what to think of the Foundation. Katja had heard the stories of course. She’d seen Amma’s reaction to the prospect of the Foundation possibly absorbing PRCU. And their Foundation Force was used rather liberally in cracking down on Hype dissent. But on the other hand, the results spoke for themselves. The Foundation Force was celebrated even by Mundanes. Their institution wasn’t under constant pressure from the outside, perhaps due to the secrecy of their leadership which they held so dear.

Perhaps…

The sudden halt of the Manticore jerked Katja back to reality. Standing on the flatbed, she observed the familiar plateau which, even after all this time, could still give her shivers as she remembered that fatal night.

The night she fell short.

She leapt off the back of the Manticore after helping unload the supplies before then gazing over the campsite.

What she saw lightened her mood.

Despite the obvious setback from earlier in the day, it seemed like Blackjack was pulling up their bootstraps and soldiered through the negativity. Katja had been afraid that some of her teammates would grow disillusioned with their situation. And perhaps they were! But if that was the case, they certainly didn’t show it. Not now at least.

An involuntary giggle escaped her mouth as she observed Rory tripping due to Mei’s shenanigans and then going after her in his briefs. She couldn’t quite catch what they were talking about, but given how both of them seemed satisfied with the outcome of their conversation, it could only mean a handful of things. A sad smile formed on Katja’s lips as she saw the two of them part, as the realization dawned on her that whatever she felt for Rory probably wasn’t meant to be. But she was still happy for him, and whoever he would go with.

Turning her gaze away, she thought about picking a tent to house her stuff in before seeing what else she could do. But that had to wait, as she saw a pair of individuals on the edge of the campsite.

And one of them seemed to be waving at her.

“Ah, Katja!” Tad called out to her, seemingly glad to interact with anyone else beside Banjo. “Please, we have some things to discuss with you. You’re familiar with Robert, yes?”

Katja let out a short, exaggerated laugh as she got closer to the pair. “Oh, I’m familiar with him alright! Would take quite the concussion to forget the sight of this big green bastard!” She grinned as she extended her arm upwards to Robert. He laughed as he clasped it by the forearm, a gesture Katja returned in kind.

“The winds are blowing!” Robert said in greeting to her, his wide grin making it obvious that he wasn’t even trying to hide his excitement at seeing her again.

“But the surface is still, bru!” She replied with a matching excitement in her voice. Katja had to crane her neck to look up at the big man, a strange feeling for someone who was used to always towering above everyone else.

Katja noticed that Tad raised an eyebrow at the peculiar greeting of the two. She turned her gaze towards him for a moment, chuckling to herself while still clasping Robert’s arm tightly. “Don’t worry, we haven’t gone mad.”

Robert joined in with a chuckle of his own. “Just some old Hyperball rivals reminiscing of the past”

“Speaking of Hyperball.” Katja looked back up at the green giant. It took some getting used to, to look up at someone and the thought of having to do this daily gave her some sympathy for the rest of Team Blackjack when having to deal with her. “Playing against Ursus just isn’t the same without you, big man!”

Robert’s eyes widened slightly as his lips formed into a wry smile “I didn’t expect that the shieldmaiden of Alces to have fond memories of me. Afterall, I used to have you in my pocket!”

A short, yet incredulous laugh burst forth from Katja. “Hah! Did I really give you such a bad concussion that you forgot what happened in our last encounter?”

“Perhaps you should give me a reminder.” Robert said as he flashed a grin.

“Perhaps I should.” Katja replied, before pulling the big man closer, a similar grin plastered on the blonde girl’s face.

“Nope! No, no, no, I don’t think you will!” Tad cried out as he tried to step in and put some space between the two giants. Robert held eye contact with Katja for one more second before turning his head to Tad, giving an apologetic nod to him before taking a step back.

Katja meanwhile didn’t take that step back. In fact, she took one forward towards Tad, resulting in her towering over the smaller man. “You really think it’s a good idea to get between an African lioness and her prize?” She said in a playful voice while an amused smirk formed at the corner of her lips.

Tad stood his ground, raising an eyebrow while eyes sized up Katja.he wasn't sure what her game was but as she towered over him, he suddenly found himself back on the Plateau five years ago, a sinister voice crawling through his skull.

And then suddenly it was gone again as Katja's composure broke and a wide toothy grin appeared on her face. Raising her hands in an apologetic fashion, she spoke with some joviality in her voice. “I’m just messing with ya, bru!”

Stepping back to a more respectable distance, Katja folded her arms before addressing the pair in front of her. “So, what did the two of you want to talk about?”

“Well…” Tad cleared his throat before speaking. “We actually wanted to tell you what your task is going to be concerning the construction of the Trials course.”

“You will be working with 'Banjo' on the construction of the foundation per the approved plans.” Robert supplemented. "I believe the task best suits one of your talents and gifts.”

“Aight, gotcha. Well, best get going then.” Katja made her way back to the tents to deposit her gear before going over to the construction site. She quickly turned around, continuing to walk backwards towards the tents while flashing a smirk. “So am I there to do most of the heavy lifting, or am I going to be tasked with keeping Banjo in check?”

“Honestly, probably both.” Tad replied with an apologetic shrug.

The pair of them looked on as the tall blonde made her way over to the tent camp. Tad turned to Robert when he judged her to be outside of earshot. “Sometimes I forget how terrifying that girl can be.”

Robert chuckled, keeping his gaze on Katja a little while longer before turning to Tad, a wide grin on his face. “Exciting, is it not?”

Hearing the reply from his massive friend, the only thing Tad could do was sigh.

Making her way back to the campsite, Katja’s mind was first and foremost preoccupied with how she was going to get Banjo to cooperate with her. Or at least not mess around too much to the point where their work was going to suffer. She remembered her first week where she had to clean up a burned trash bin. One she was certain Banjo had lit on fire! But as of yet she still lacked the evidence for it. Either way, this turned out to only be a mere preview of the sort of tomfoolery Banjo was up to. And it had often been up to her to bring some order to that Aussie bastard.

But truth be told, she couldn’t last a week here without him. He was like a little brother to her. Incredibly annoying, sure. But always there to have your back. And she’d have his, no matter what.

Still, as Katja walked at the edge of the campsite she felt her backpack weigh more heavier with each step she took. The others had probably already formed pairs to share their tents with. She realized that her conversation with Tad and Robert had taken a bit longer than most others’ and this probably meant that she was going to be relegated to sleeping alone.

But right as Katja was about to accept she was going to have to make due with the extra space, she spotted a raven haired girl in the corner of her eye.

“Hey Am, wait up!” She called out to Amma.

It took Katja a couple seconds to jog her way over to Amma, stopping a respectable distance in front of the other girl, giving a short wave before speaking. “I was wondering if you had already found someone to share a tent withya for the night.”

Katja fixed a stray strand of blonde hair that dangled in front of her eyes, after which she continued with an enthused voice. “And if you didn’t, would you be down to euhm, share one with me?”

The tall blonde then smiled her beaming smile as her eyes looked expectantly at Amma, waiting for an answer.

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

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_{Location: Chimera’s Lair - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.062: Tears Before The Sun

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_{Interaction(s): Harper @Qia}

Harper suddenly found herself enveloped in an overwhelming sense of warmth, a sensation akin to the first rays of dawn piercing through the early morning mist. The softness of a familiar voice, gentle and reassuring, acted like a soothing balm applied tenderly to her emotional wounds. It was a slow process, but with each word spoken, the healing began, mending the frayed edges of her spirit.

Tears, once relentless in their descent, continued to carve wet trails down Harper’s cheeks. Yet, as she gradually lifted her head from the cradle of her hands, she found solace in Katja’s embrace. Despite the tears that blurred her vision, rendering the world around her an impressionist’s canvas, she leaned into the comfort offered.

Her body, which had been a wall of tension—fortified by the weight of doubts and fears—began to unfurl and relax. Katja’s presence, steady and unwavering, seemed to provide a haven, a sanctuary for Harper’s current vulnerable state. One she was more than willing to hide herself in, even if it was only for a short time.
With a quivering voice, the brunette whispered a quiet“Thank you” into the other girl’s shoulder. The words were barely audible, yet they were imbued with the most sincere appreciation she could muster at that moment.

Hearing Harper's soft expression of gratitude made Katja’s lips form a soft, genuine smile. She kept the smaller brunette wrapped in her arms for a couple seconds longer, gently swaying her from left to right. “No need to thank me, sweetie.” Finally, after a couple more seconds of silence, she gave a gentle squeeze before relaxing her embrace and leaning back slightly.

Using her index finger, Katja tilted Harper’s chin slightly upwards to get a better look at the smaller girl’s face. A soft tut was uttered by the taller blonde as she brushed some stray strands of brown hair out of the brunette’s face. She then did her best to clean Harper’s face from her tears, clearing the trails with the same finger she used to lift her head.

“There, that looks more like the Harper I know.” She said after she had wiped the tears off of Harper’s cheeks. Katja then fixed her bright blue eyes with the marvelously powerful hazel eyes of her teammate, making sure that she would understand the sincerity of the blonde girl.

“Know that I’ll always have your back, Harps.” She leaned in close again for another quick squeeze before leaning further back. “Doesn’t matter when or where, I’m there for you.”

As Katja’s assurances washed over her, Harper felt a lightness in her chest, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. The gentle sway of their embrace, the tender touch upon her chin, and the soft clearing of her tears—all these gestures from Katja stirred a deep-seated comfort within Harper. One that she had not felt in a long time. Not since-
We’ll always have each other. No matter what else happens.

Harper’s reaction was instinctive as she pulled back to add even more distance, a reflex born of a heart that had long before embraced solitude. Yet, an apology was quick on her lips to make up for any perceived rudeness.

“Sorry I-” her voice broke, and she averted her eyes to the ground, blue reverting to familiar brown, what was familiar to her. All that she could allow herself to accept. “Today has just been a lot.”

“Hey…” Katja tilted her head, trying to meet Harper’s gaze as the smaller girl looked away. “It’s fine, silly. You have nothing to apologize for.” She spoke softly, attempting to calm the young brunette before she spiraled back into the darkness of before.

Katja waited for a moment before she spoke again, hoping the silence would have a soothing effect on the younger girl. When she finally broke the quiet, she did so with the same soft voice. “Come on, let’s make our way over to the dorms and get into our PT gear.” She said before getting back up, casting a shadow over the smaller brunette.

Extending her hand to help Harper get back to her feet, a chuckle emanated from the blonde giant. “Or do you want to be carried?” Katja said to her as she flashed a grin.

But I will have something to apologize for if things go badly later. Harper kept this trepidation locked away, however, hidden beneath a veneer of momentary calm, for fear of what Katja might think. To her, Katja was more than just a friend; she was her sun, a source of light and life in a world that could often be cold and unforgiving, especially now that she no longer had the protection provided by her long-held desires.

Despite the storm of anxious thoughts, Harper accepted Katja’s help, standing tall once more. She snorted and rolled her eyes in response to the other’s lighthearted proposition.

“As appealing as that sounds, I think that’s a hard pass. Besides, I’d rather spare you the back pain,” she replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Katja let out a boisterous laugh at that statement. “Good one! But I’m willing to bet I’ve had meals that weigh more than you do!” A hearty chuckle escaped her grin as she gave a pat on the smaller girl’s shoulder. Not hard enough to hurt though, she wouldn’t dare.

Her chuckle slowly died out, ending in a soft sigh. The corners of Katja’s lips slowly fell as her wide grin turned into a more serious line. “In all seriousness though, how are you holding up Harps?” She spoke in an earnest tone while making sure to lock her blue eyes with Harper’s, so as to communicate her sincerity. “Promise me you’ll come to me when you need anything. And I do mean anything!”

Katja wrapped one arm around the shorter girl’s shoulder before leaning in closer with her head. A soft smile tugged on her lips again. “All you need to do is ask and I’ll come running. Through walls if need be!” Again, a hearty chuckle would emanate from the tall blonde. But despite the levity in her voice, her eyes showed that she meant every word.

Harper felt the weight of Katja’s words settle in her heart, a comforting pressure that both soothed and overwhelmed. She did feel touched by the genuine concern, the unconditional offer of support that was so characteristic of Katja. But there was a ‘but’ that lingered on the tip of her tongue, a shadow that crept into the edges of her gratitude that she could not ignore.

“Thanks, Kat,” she replied, her voice tinged with as much warmth as she could summon. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt the sunny girl’s feelings with any perceived rejection of her offer. “I’m doing okay for right now. Just gotta take things one day at a time, you know?” Her words were accompanied by a nod and a smile, a silent language of appreciation that she hoped would convey more than words ever could.

Internally was a different story entirely. She was struggling to suppress the urge to just come clean because logically Katja would be an invaluable asset when she gave the idea some thought. She’d always been the glue of the team and always looked out for everyone. A safety net. But Harper would not dare to further consider placing yet another friend in danger. She could not, would not, let her own selfish needs endanger another person. Especially this one.

So Harper stood there, a smile on her lips but a tempest in her soul, grateful for the sanctuary Katja offered but fiercely determined to protect her from the storm that had always rained over her life.

“Race ya to the Minotaur after? I promise I’ll go easy on you,” the brunette challenged instead, her eyes now gleaming with a competitive spark she hoped, based on past observation, would be hard to resist.

Katja’s eyes lingered on Harper for just a moment. Something about her didn’t quite seem right to the blonde girl, like she was holding something back. But that was just a feeling. Harper said she was doing better, so that was enough for Katja to drop the matter.

Her face visibly lit up at the suggestion of a friendly competition. “You’re on, Harps!” Katja practically yelled to the smaller girl, grinning from ear to ear.

“Just don’t pull a sour face when you lose!”

Commencement: A Farewell to P.R.C.U. [COMPLETE]

^{________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

_{Location: PRCU Gym, Chimera’s Lair - Pacific Royal Campus}

Welcome Home #1.055: Reality Check

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_{Interaction(s): Everyone, but in particular Banjo @Hound55 and Harper @Qia}

Previously: Unsure Future

PRCU’s gym was remarkably quiet for this time of the day. Only the most dedicated of gymrats were present to get their daily workouts in. It made sense, most of the student body was probably getting ready for the opening ceremony. It was all anyone could talk about today. Most of the freshmen were excited, as they saw this as the beginning of their academic journey. The older students meanwhile were looking forward to what would inevitably follow: The Homecoming Trials.

All in all, there was a notable excitement that hung in the air across the campus. After all, this was always a joyous occasion. Even if, to the most veteran of students, something didn’t seem quite right. They just couldn’t put their finger on what it was.

Katja had been at work all morning, fulfilling her community contribution in keeping the gym clean, restocking the snacks and drinks, checking the equipment for faults and being there to provide help to those students who asked for it. But given the low attendance of the day, she figured she’d take the opportunity to get an extra workout in before the opening ceremony began.

The tall girl sat in the far corner of the gym, at the ultra-dense weight section. This area was specifically built for those students gifted with far greater strength than most. As the name implies, the weights were made of an extremely dense material. So while they looked like regular plates and dumbbells, in actuality they were far heavier than their plain look would suggest. The floor, benches and chairs were reinforced, to make sure that they wouldn’t get damaged by the increased strain of additional mass.

She had been pumping the weights for more than an hour now. It was very relaxing for her, almost like a meditation of sorts. Only here did she gain true serenity. Which had the effect of her mind sometimes wandering off. And today, as she was about to finish her last set of the day, was no different.

“Eighteen.” She almost growled to herself as she curled the weight of a large motorcycle in her right hand. A terse breath escaping through her clenched teeth.

Her thoughts weren’t focussed on the weight though. Her mind was actually recalling the events of the day before. The ferry, the meeting at the beach, the campfire… Her conversation with Amma. Her strained lip twitched slightly into a smirk as she thought back of the short raven haired girl and her reaction to receiving genuine appreciation. Recalling it now, Katja thought it was cute but also sad at the same time.

“Nineteen.” She focused on her bicep, watching it expand and contrast with every motion as she held onto the weighty dumbbell.

Yet, despite her fond memory of her talk with Amma, she couldn’t shake her feelings of disappointment at a conversation she felt had been cut short. She had more to say to Amma, much more. But unfortunately she didn’t get the chance to say it. But honestly, it might’ve been for the best that it ended when it did, as that text message would’ve arrived a few seconds later either way.

And when it called, she had to answer.

“Twenty!” She exclaimed through gritted teeth with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Her form had notably dipped during the summer break, which was expected. She didn’t have the tools at her disposal like she did at PRCU. But all in all, it wasn’t as bad as last year, so she took the small win.

While reracking the heavy dumbbell Katja looked around the gym and noticed that it had run completely empty. Looking at the big clock hanging over the main entrance, she instantly saw why.

“Kak! Stomme poes wat jy is!”

---

Katja quickly rushed back to the Alces dorms, nearly bumping into a group of terrified collegiate pupils on her way over. There she had taken a quick shower and with her hair only half dried she put on her uniform.

In her rush she scrambled to find pieces of her uniform, she eventually landed on the school provided skirt. She tended to avoid wearing it, as she felt it wasn’t quite made for someone of her stature. However, she needed something to wear right then and there if she wanted to make it to the ceremony in time. So, remembering Haven talking about this, she put on her track shorts below her skirt to avoid any possibly awkward moments and she rushed her way over to her window.

Looking down first to see if the coast was clear, she leapt out of her window and tumbled from the top level of the dorms down. Bracing herself for impact, she triggered her HZEs in order to survive the fall unscathed. A loud thud could be heard as she hit the gravel surface, little pebbles scattering around in all directions. None of the few Alces students still here paid her any heed, they were used to Katja’s theatrical departure from the dorms when she was in a hurry by now. It’s why the House leadership had moved her to a dorm room that wasn’t next to concrete.

Katja joined up with the rest of Blackjack at the agreed upon assembly area, only barely too late. She could feel Tad’s disapproving eyes on her as she sheepishly approached, an apologetic smile on her lips. The walk over to the Chimera’s Lair wasn’t that eventful for Blackjack's tallest member. There was some smalltalk here and there, but nothing too memorable.

Her mind came into focus once they made their way through the gates of the Lair though. It was always an exciting feeling for Katja. If the gym was her second home, then the Lair was her third. She was always impressed by the imposing building. She remembered the first time she entered it and being intimidated by the way it was constructed. She imagined this was by design, so as to put the away teams on edge whenever they came to play an Extramural Hyperball game against the Chimeras.

Being one of the last people to reach the seats, there weren’t many places left to pick. So with a grin on her face, she sat down to one of the less popular seating neighbors: Banjo. Just like at the beach, she gave the Aussie a quick ruffle through his hair as a way to greet him before giving an excited wave to Calliope. She made a mental note to catch up with the two of them soon. It had been way too long!

Then the usual pomp and circumstance began. All were asked to rise for the national anthem, something a hardfaced Katja always refused. These countries were run by people who hated her, why should she offer even the slightest bit of respect towards them? She chuckled at Banjo’s belting out the wrong lyrics again, her expression mellowing slightly.

With the formalities behind them all those in attendance could finally focus on the real reason they were there: The Chancellor’s welcome speech. And this year it became apparent that the new Chancellor would be none other than Jim O’Neil, the old student rep of Team Blackjack. Katja loudly cheered for the man, not giving a damn about the less than enthused reception he got from the rest of the stadium. She liked O’Neil, and she liked to think that he liked her too. Especially when she’d deal with Banjo after one of his many antics meant to torment the poor man.

However, Katja’s mood noticeably changed when O’Neil introduced the two strangers on the stage. She hunched forward, sitting on the tip of her chair as she narrowed her eyes. Focussing particularly on the woman who was introduced as Torres, staring at her as if in a trance. So much so in fact, that she completely missed the Chimera’s yell that O’Neil uttered. Instead, Katja’s focus only broke when she heard the entire stadium utter a shocked gasp.

Blinking twice, Katja’s trance-like state seemed to be broken, after which it took her a moment for the words uttered earlier to register. The nullification of the credentials of so many of PRCU’s students would normally reek of Mundane cruelty to the tall blonde, but it was clear the Foundation had something to do with it. This Torres woman made it pretty clear to all in attendance with her offer of Foundation credentials to the PRCU student body. It was a naked attempt at bribery. And looking at the crowd’s mixed reaction, it seemed to hit a chord with some.

And to make matters even worse, Torres decided to make light of Hyperion’s campaign five years ago. To have this woman talk about those events in this way… Katja had to take a deep breath before she realized that she had balled her fists, her nails buried deep into her own hands. With this moment of clarity, she looked to her sides to see what the rest of her friends thought of this situation.

Blackjack’s responses ranged between outraged and fuming. None were happy with this new arrangement and they were practically insulted by the attempt to sway them by basically holding their credentials hostage. Several of her peers stormed off, enraged by what had just transpired before them. Others just sat there, either in disbelief of trying to process what had just transpired.

Katja looked over to Banjo sitting next to her. She knew he was going to focus his attention on Calliope, and knowing him he’d give in to that supporting role with 110%. But he had just lost his credentials as well and his world must’ve taken a pretty hefty hit here too. Katja put her hand on the Aussie’s shoulder, giving him a pair of gentle rubs and a reassuring smile. “You know I’m there for you guys, rite?”

Suddenly a black silhouette in the corner of Katja’s eye caught her attention. She didn’t have to guess twice who this could possibly be. After all, she was reaching a point where she could recognize that person in the dark. Katja kept looking as Amma approached Torres. They obviously knew each other, but from the looks of things they were not on friendly terms. The woman gave something to the girl covered in tattoos, before the latter walked away, crimson cracks of energy surrounding her lithe frame.

Katja’s first instinct was to run after her, try to calm her down and assure her that she wouldn’t have to face Torres alone. That Blackjack, and she in particular, would have her back. But by the time Katja could get down to the main exit, she was gone.

Katja solemnly stood in the opening, the stream of students slowly passing her by, each face more distraught than the other. Their futures, which seemed bright only an hour ago, had gone up in smoke right before their eyes. She cast a look over her shoulder, her gaze falling on Torres and her assistant as they left the Lair through a different exit. Determination radiated from the tall girl’s eyes as she spoke, barely audible to all but her.

“We’ll come for you, Ms Torres. Very, very soon.”

As Katja turned around to make her exit she noticed a familiar shape leaning against the Lair’s walls. Katja’s temper instantly cooled at the sight of one of her friends being so distraught. She softly approached Harper, the girl whose eyes would usually observe even the tiniest details, but which were now buried in her hands, covered in tears. She didn’t know the exact reason why Harper would cry, but given all that had transpired just now, Katja figured there were enough reasons to burst out in tears.

Katja knelt in front of Harper before slowly leaning closer. “It’s okay.” She whispered softly as she gingerly put the smaller brunette in an embrace. “Shhh, Harps, it’s okay.”