Target: Cambridge

[caylith]

*This is a compilation written by Nightfall and myself. The quoted sections are Nightfall's additions to the story. The RP of Ember started with The Experiment. I hope you like. Enjoy*

She raised the pistol. Recalling her lessons she let her new body take over old instincts. Her aim had been accurate before. Now it was deadly, every time. Just another perk from the boys at SiN|Tech, she smiled to herself. She raised the pistol again.

Her pulse drumming. Then calming as she gave way to the machine controlling the muscles. Time slowed down. Perception amplified. She stopped her breath, her finger pulling the trigger BANG! heartbeat BANG! boom BANG! Three separate shots went out of the muzzle with deadly precision ending their trajectories inside the skull of the target dummy causing it to explode into a million tiny white shards.

Bernard was sincerely impressed. Sneaking through the radiation of Omega-41, flying so close to Cadiz and finally landing on Cambridge in a craft that was sporting LSF colors, going through the gigantic dark halls and hallways of Night Plateau seemed to be proving a fruitful endeavor.

She sensed she wasn't alone. Ahh, Dr. Grey, she thought. Smiling, Ember turned toward to him. She started. Dr. Grey wasn't alone. With him was a man, feet shoulder width apart, hands clasped behind his back. He surveyed her with steel blue eyes framed by silver white hair.

The blue eyed Outcast was conquered by the deadly precision he had just witnessed. 'What would this woman do in a Sabre?' he thought. He could not help noticing the perfection of the body under that suit she wore. Then he remembered the vision he had on the Sanctum. The ravaged flesh. The grin of death. 'She is amazingly beautiful!' he did not speak his thoughts.

She knew this man standing sanguinely in front of her. Was it arrogance he exuded? No, that wasn't it. He stood with an air of authority and quiet contentment.

Then it came to her. This was the infamous Outcast Fokke. Bernard Fokke. As a GC she remembered the talk concerning him and she'd seen him once when he'd visited Ainu. The question was, what the hell was he doing 'here'.

Dr. Grey stepped forward, Ember, this is Bernard Fokke. Mr. Fokke, Ember.

This Ember girl had a somewhat familiar air to her that was escaping him.

The Duke bowed to her.

"No, my Lord. I bow to you," Ember said as she did so.

Bernard took her hand, No need to! he said calmly but with an authoritative voice. I come here as a friend! He helped her up. You are free to choose, I can offer sanctuary! He looked to Dr. Grey.

Dr. Grey spoke up, "Ember, it's time for you to leave us. It's no longer safe here and the SF are beginning to get suspicious."

She glanced from Dr. Grey to the white haired Outcast.

"Why? How? Where am I going?" Confusion and, she hated to admit, panic started creeping up her spine. Her view screen showed no hostility in Bernard, only a deep curiosity. That calmed her oddly enough.

'To the Omicrons, to my domain, The Corsica Outer Sanctum.' Nightfall almost whispered as if he was afraid unwelcome ears might hear him.

"SiN|Tech Omega will see to it that you launch safely. He'll escort you as far as the Ampoliros. SiN|Tech trusts Bernard explicitly. Youll be safe with him, Dr. Grey said to Ember. He could see her unease.

Before Ember could ask anything Bernard spoke up, "The Ampoliros is my battleship. It's waiting in Omega 41. Will you come?" He asked this as he took a deep breath from the cardamine mask.

Ember wondered if anyone had ever refused this man. She wasn't about to find out.

She turned to Dr. Grey, "I trust your friend to see me safely to his domain. You've done so much for me. Not just now but long ago as well. I'm in your debt. Say the word and I'll do whatever you need of me."

"My dear Ember, you've become almost like a daughter to me. Go, you must leave soon." Dr. Grey stepped toward Ember. With that she hugged the man who'd saved her, in more ways than one.

-----

They'd made it to their final destination aboard the Ampoliros. Corsica was where they had come to and this, the system home to the Ghosts of Razgriz.

She was Meridith Harolds; a Kusari scientist, a GC, a Phantom. Never had any of those titles felt right. This, this base in an all but empty system felt so right. Bernard held out his hand to her, she took it and he helped her down the ramp.

The Outcast Duke took her to a place named 'The Corsica Outer Sanctum'. There could not be a better name for it. The Sanctum was well hidden and even better protected. There was an arch structure supporting the shielded dome on the bigger central asteroid. The rocks were obsidian black, as were the much smaller ones surrounding the structure, remains of a planet most probably.

The opaque force field became more and more transparent as the lights in the bar-like room dimmed, letting the sight above their heads take their breaths with it's cosmic beauty of destruction. Bernard offered her a glass of Porto from the bottle he just opened. Ember took the glass with a small bow of her head. She had to sit down. Nightfall helped her and remained standing with his hand resting on her shoulder.

'The Razgriz Black Hole, old Edmundo never left here, his Sabre is still on the other side, facing the Hole.' Bernard spoke, breaking the long silence 'They say that it's still shooting down trespassers careless enough to come within the range of his guns...'

The room fell into revered silence as both inhabitants were just there, gazing at the hypnotic spinning of the gravity well..

She found no words, only the sweet taste of wine in her mouth. She looked up at the dizzyingly beautiful sight above her. The swirling mass overhead was mesmerizing.

Ember was home.