A Memory Faded

[Spectre]

"What..?" von Goethe pulled himself out from under the piping for a moment, looking up at the operative. His face, clear with Rheinlandic features, was covered in grease and sweat.
"You've gotta who what..? Listen, kid.." He pulled himself back under the piping again. "I ain't leaving. Ship's falling apart too badly as is. Besides, Captain's orders."

"Can't you just.. bring the stuff aboard...? I-I'd.. really rather not leave.. he doesn't want me to..."

[DarkTails]

"Reyes.. Hemlock's already off the ship, I know he doesn't want anybody off the ship, but this is out of all of our hands now, when the word comes down, I have to follow it. Besides, all that equipment won't actually fit on a cruiser's medical bay." She continued towards the platform to help Reyes off the ship and towards the medical wing of the station.

"It wasn't a request. Direct orders from the Admiral. Besides, our teams are more fully staffed than just yourself, and we have the supplies to do more than.. this patchy job to the ship. Now please, come with me." While the operative wasn't much for kind words, atleast he was patient. Though he didn't care much for Hemlock ordering them to stay on the ship, only for the Admirals orders to get him off.

[Spectre]

Reyes followed her until they reached the loading ramp. There, she stopped, taking hold of a bar on the walkway, stubbornly refusing to leave the ship.
"I don't.. I don't wanna..."

"No. I already told you, I'm not leaving. This ship will literally fall apart without me here to keep her together. You don't like it? Shoot me for 'insubordination'."
He continued to work, reaching out for a small allen wrench and pulling it up towards him.

[DarkTails]

"Admiral Sader, the Chief Engineer won't cooperate. Send me two marines." The operative stared at the engineer.
"Our teams a more than qualified to fix a cruiser. Now move it."


"Damn it Reyes, this is the only way we can help you, please!" She tried tugging at the girl, but to no avail.

The operative waited patiently for the Marines to arrive.

[Spectre]

"Not if they have no idea what they're dealing with. The Shamrock Bay isn't what she used to be anymore. She's beyond modified, barely holding together and you want me to step away from keeping it all in one piece just because the Admiral wants me off the ship."
He scoffed, looking down out at the operative. "You must think this whole thing will play out to your beliefs, huh? Go ahead and tell Sader that he can try and get me to go. I'm staying here to keep the ship's systems in line, whether he likes it or not."

Reyes huffed somewhat, producing some tears as she eventually let go, letting Nova drag her along.
"I'm sorry, Matthew.. I really am.. I'm so sorry..."
She dug her head into Nova's chest as they walked off, clearly looking for some form of comfort.

[Morosz]

Sader left the conference room and was halfway to the airlock when he recieved the notice from the operative. "Marines are on the way. I'll be on the shipyard if you need me. You are also authorized to use force if the chief does not cooperate. Also tell him Hemlock has been relieved from command. Sader out"

[DarkTails]

Nova hugged Reyes as they closed in on the medical wing, doing her best to comfort her, understanding why she didn't want to go, but not fully. "Don't worry.. this'll be over quickly and you can return to the ship, I promise."

As the Marines arrived, the operative ordered their weapons to stun, behind the marines were some of Juneaus engineers, coming to replace the Chief in keeping the ship running. "Last chance to go quietly. Hemlock isn't in command here anymore, the Admiral is, and if you won't follow his orders, I'll take you by force." He motioned for the marines to take aim, ready to stun him if he didn't cooperate.

[Spectre]

"I'm beginning to understand why people leave this place. If this is what people respond to logic with, then this whole nation is doomed to fall."
He slides himself out from under the pipe, sitting up. "I admire the fact that you're doing you job, ma'am.. so.. I guess I'll go before one of your 'henchmen' pops a bolt into my ass... Just know that no matter how bright the minds you've got here, this ship won't stay together long."
He pushes himself up, picking up a nearby backpack and walking off.
"When the hull starts creaking, you know where I'll be.."


"Thank you.."
She sniffled, calming somewhat. It seems Nova's embrace eased her a bit, but she still seemed to be crying a bit.

[DarkTails]

"Don't worry, it'll be over in no time and whatever is doing this to you will be gone." As they entered the medical wing, Nova helped Reyes down onto one of the beds, where medical personnel took over. After ensuring Reyes was in good hands, she left the chat with Hemlock she didn't get to earlier.

The two marines escorted the Chief to his new quarters on the stations, Juneau's engineering teams taking over in his stead, doing their best to keep the ship running right.

Nova dismissed her watchman and knocked on the quarters door. "You awake in there? I'd like to talk to you."

[Spectre]

Calming down somewhat, Reyes merely turned on her side, curling up. She seemed to again be muttering to herself, but the words were fairly nonsensical.
"No.. no.. no light.. please, not the light.. My shadows are fine as is.. Please.. I don't want to embrace it.."

Hemlock's door, meanwhile, slid open the moment she finished speaking.
"What?"