Trinity

Fear and Loathing

Something wasn't adding up.

The protocol didn't make any goddamn sense.

Well, that wasn't completely true. The protocol in itself made sense, but the fact that it was applied to this island made zero sense. Which led her to a couple possible conclusions, and she was great at making those. The first being that the old version of her was a fucking idiot, and considering how fucking stupid she was sometimes, it didn't seem that unlikely. However, the idea that she would mess up something like this didn't sit right with her, leading to the next option.

It was on purpose.

Now, why was it on purpose? She didn't have a clue.

Further digging into files associated with this island, which led to more files, finally yielded something. A folder named Z.O.A.R. When she opened it, she was confused to find blueprints of what appeared to be an RDA base of some type. But besides those blueprints, there was no record of an RDA base anywhere on any island. She also didn't know what Z.O.A.R. meant, but assumed it was most likely another tag grouping she made.

Maybe Prager might have an idea.

But when she tried to ask, Miles apparently decided she wasn't trustworthy enough to use the datapad. The cave was starting to feel restrictive. The earthen scent of the cave became stifling, dense, and choking as she tried to breathe. Comforting and now familiar walls covered in moss started closing in, and it wasn't anxiety causing any of this; she was pissed.

"What were you gonna ask?" Ten glanced up at Miles and then back down to the tablet before her frustration reached its peak.

It didn't work.

"Nothing. I'm gonna go cool off." Datapad now in Prager's hand, she rushed out of the cave and began weaving through the trees towards the banshees. Seeking Ryn, flight, space.

Mansk chased after her, which wasn't unexpected, but his fear was. As she neared the banshees, his desperation to catch up to her increased; he was afraid. She decided against going towards them and opted to venture further into the forest. But after slipping out of his grasp a few times, she couldn't deal with it anymore. Every time she managed to put distance between them, Mansk grew more desperate, and it was starting to hurt.

She didn't actually want to get away from him or any of them. She wanted to punch Miles in his fucking throat! Flying on Ryn was just the next best option.

"If I didn't come after you, were you going to leave?"

"Why did you think I'd leave?" She eventually asked after remaining in his arms and cooling off. Mansk didn't answer immediately, but it didn't feel like he was hiding anything, more like he was searching for an answer he didn't have. Mansk's fingers that were tracing the curve of her spine paused while he thought.

He eventually shook his head and splayed his hand over the small of her back protectively. "I don't know."

Mansk held her close, and despite his rigidity, she took solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was just as comforting as hearing the soft purrs he made in his sleep, allowing more of her agitation from earlier to fade.

"When you took off, that's all I could think. That if you made it to Ryn, I'd never be able to catch up with you." She wasn't prepared for his admission. What had she done that would make him think that?

"Is that... something you've thought of before? That you wouldn't be able to catch up to me? That I'm gonna leave?" He wasn't wrong. Mansk might have stood the best chance at keeping up with their speed over anyone else, but ultimately he would fall behind. However, throughout this entire disaster, she hadn't once considered leaving.