[ “italicized in quotes” = speaking in xeno ]

ASUNA POV

“There are going for the medical supplies!” I hear the green viper screech, barely dodging a bullet incoming. She ducks behind a cart filled with assorted boxes, peeking around the corner to shoot her rifle. I watch frozen for a moment, adrenaline coursing through my body as I try to find somewhere to hide. My sister pushes forward into the fire zone, coming up to aid the green viper who is being overwhelmed with gun power.

“Stay back!” The green viper yells to my sister and I. “...You both need to stay near the rear, guarding the important med supplies. Those have to make it into the city, regardless of what happens- do you understand me?” She hisses, staring my sister in the face.

“Affirmative,” My sister replies blankly, eyes narrowing in on the squad of three approaching the berserker. “... the troops are not much help, you will have to move up and assist the berserker in taking out those three XCOM soldiers,”

“I agree,” The green viper yells. My sister falls back to me, crouching behind a supply cache with shaky hands.

“Are you okay?” She yells over the gun power, peeking her head up above the cache and shooting at the squad pushing through.

“I am okay,” I say uneasy, peeking up to do the same. I spot an open shot towards the leader, aiming my scopes to his head. My finger pauses on the trigger, hesitating in taking the kill. Instead the berserker charges into my vision, using both hands to violently thrash downwards into the group. They scatter in response, finding new cover and exchanging firepower with our other ADVENT troopers.

Then I watch heads begin to pop, one by one. The bodies freezing before collapsing to the ground.

“Get down!” My sister shouts, pulling on my hood harshly as we duck behind our cover.

“What is going on?” I whisper in a heated fashion, eyes wide as I reload my gun.

“A sniper you idiot! You didn’t see the heads exploding??”

“Oh…” I hiss back. “...I did, I just wasn’t sure,”

“What about heads exploding are you unsure about??” She yells back at me, like a mother lecturing her child. “...stay here behind cover,”

“Where are you going??” I cry, hand grabbing at her arm. “...they told us to stay here in the back to be the last line of defense for these medical supplies,”

“I know what they said,'' She throws back at me, ripping her arm from my grip. “...but if I do not move forward and help, we will lose. Their sniper to taking out all the troopers too fast,”

“The sector requested back-up. We just have to wait it out-“ I try to argue back with her.

“They will not get here in time!” She hollers at me, rounding the corner of our supply shield. Panic courses through my veins. I peek up to try and pinpoint the sniper, but cannot see the shine of his scope. I focus on assisting the other squad members, following my sister as she moves forward next to the older green viper. They spit poison clouds onto the leader, but he hardly seems affected by it. He must have a resistance to poison, or prepared himself beforehand. My sister tries to swipe at him with her tail, pushing in for close combat. Her tongue shoots out to attack him, but he quickly pulls back. They exchange firepower, bullets thumping off her armor in loud dings. The battlefield is too loud in my ears. My brain is going haywire.

I watch more troopers go down, as enemy raiders start to steal from the furthest supply cargos. I aim my sights to shoot them down, but quickly have to duck down as assault rounds nearly take out my head. When I peek back up, the berserker has a XCOM ranger in his grips, slamming him on the ground repeatedly.

The XCOM leader spots this, his rifle shifting position from my sister to the berserker in an instant. I aim for him as he is distracted, trying to shoot him in the arms and disable his ability to fire. My hits miss, the shakiness in my hands forcing my shots to stutter. I curse at myself, reloading and breathing deeply. By the time I am composed and peeking my head back up, the XCOM ranger is dead and his teammates outraged. The ranger's body lays broken and disfigured on the ground, bones poking out from various points in his flesh. The image burns into my memory.

“Watch out!” I yell at my sister in xeno. I aim my assault rifle for the other ranger that is flanking her. My goal is to shoot his legs, but murky yellow blood enters my vision and makes my heart lurch into my throat. I quickly look back for my sister- only to see the body of the green viper laid out over a box of supplies on the ground. Her eyes are dulling already, fangs fully extended as the sniper bullet in her head leaks yellow profusely. The image imprints in my mind, shattering my resolve as I gasp for air.

My sister's cry brings me back to my senses. I am slithering forward before I can think about it clearly, ducking and covering after I watch the berserker fall to the ground- blood spraying and pooling around his body. The XCOM leader has finally taken the alien out, and the sectiod not far behind. They flank it, a knife to the back of the head and a bullet wound in its gut.

XCOM is truly ruthless.

I try my best to sneak towards my sister, mind racing with strategic plans of escape. Memories of the news playing videos of XCOM cruelty towards aliens flashes through my mind. I find my sister crouched behind a rock off to the side, her head secured behind the earth as she peeks with her rifle to defend her position. Bullets are grinding into the rock, but missing their target.

“Ssssister!” I cry, accent trembling as worry overrides my sense of self preservation. My sister catches my yell, eyes widening as she glances at me. In an instant she is uncoiling her tail, raising slightly to aim a rifle at me. My brain is slow moving, slow in comprehending as she fires several shots, numerous grunts echoing behind me. My head snaps to the sound, watching as another XCOM ranger falls to the ground, holding his abdomen.

“Get over here!” She commands, an edge in her voice. I try to do as I am told, slithering lowly towards the comfort of my sister. But just as I begin, her eyes widen dramatically, arms falling to her sides as her weapon drops to the ground.

“Sister?” I question in confusion, still moving towards hers. Yellow drips from her mouth as her eyes half lid. I watch her hands move in slow motion, rising to hover over the wound now present just below her breasts.

“...XENA!” I roar, my worst fears coming to life. I slither quickly, catching her body as it lands in my arms. Blood seeps from under her chest armor, an open bullet wound right in her upper abdomen. My vision reddens in heartbreak, tears streaming from my eyes as my hood spreads wide in anger. My eyes move towards the horizon, looking for a sniper. Instead I spot the XCOM squad leader, who grins wildly at me like he just won a prize.

My aim is near perfect when I shoot again, firing the whole clip at the XCOM squad leader in a furious rage. I notice a bullet stray and graze his arm as he ducks for cover; the sight of his red blood eases my pain while simultaneously amplifying it.

“I’ll kill you!” I scream at him, in near perfect human English. “...I’ll kill you for what you did to my sister!”

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“Fat chance snake bitch!” The rude squad leader replies, having the audacity to laugh at my misery. “...you’re outmatched and outgunned!”

XENA POV

“We shall see!” I hear my sisters normally quiet voice scream. My vision is blurry on the ground… all I can feel is pain coursing through my insides. Rippling through my intestines. I watch in fascination as my meek sister from earlier turns into a full raging Peacekeeper. She fires and reloads constantly, checking over on me with a scaled hand to my cheek.

“Hold on,” She whispers affectionately, determination in her eyes. “...I’ll figure this out,”

“You… can not,” I try to say, try to tell her to run. To get away while she had the chance. No amount of medical supplies is worth this, They can send more. I’d rather one of us make it out of here alive. Back to visit our den mother.

I watch her duck suddenly, a sniper bullet digging deeply into the rock we are hiding behind. The XCOM squad leader is closing in on her. I want to break his thin human neck, but my tail isn’t listening to my commands. My body feels like it weighs its weight in iron, my chest barely able to hold each breath that I take. I do not know how much longer I have left. How many more times my lungs can fill and bring oxygen into my veins.

“Get… out,” I whisper to my sister in xeno, trying to make it clear what I want. “...save yourself,”

“I’d rather die than leave you here,” My sister snaps at me unexpectedly. Her eyes dart around fast and unsure. In a moment of clarity I watch her turn into a younger version of herself in front of me. A small viper with a flower crown on her head, joyous laughter in her lungs. My sister has always been the kinder one between us. Born too late in the universe, where now there is only war and strife for our kind. If I could let myself, I would cry for her. Cry for this moment where she loses her gentle kindness, replaced with a hardened anger for revenge.

It is only a matter of time before the squad leader closes in on us. Only a matter of time before the sniper finds a good angle to take her out with. A stray bullet grazes her arm, causing her to drop her weapon in surprise. She hurriedly kneels beside me, clutching her bleeding arm. Her hands are shaky as she picks up the rifle again, trying to ignore the pain as her arm stretches back out to secure the weapon against her shoulder. I try to move my hand towards her, but only my fingers have the strength left to wiggle.

“It’s gonna be okay,” I hear her chant to herself like a prayer. “...I am gonna get us both out of here Xena,”

“We will be punished,” I respond to her quietly, my voice barely a whisper. She does not seem to have heard me as she continues on, reloading her gun.

“Look what we got here!” I hear the squad leader snarl, close to our location. I can not move my head to meet his gaze.

“Do not move!” My sister yells, fiercely defending me as her tail fully stretches out. “...I can strangle you in a instant if you come any closer,”

“Maybe,” He says, a cruel grin spreading on his face. “...but your sister would die before you made it out of here,”

Realization dawns in my mind as I try to warn her.

“Do not listen to him,” I mumble in xeno, hoping she can hear me. She tilts her head to register that I've made a sound, but does not make any indication that she knows what I said.

“What do you mean?” She asks him. Her voice is much more aggressive than I’ve ever heard it before. I am not sure if I like it.

“We just want medicinal supplies right? What if we gave you some to help your sister?”

“You would not do that,” My sister snaps back, rifle raised and ready. “...Do you think I am stupid?”

“No no,” The human chastises, aiming his gun right back at her. “...I think you know I am right. Your sister is injured, yeah, but the second I come in close- you both would choke the life out of me. Wouldn’t you?”

I’ll hand it to him. I was planning on doing just that, if he charged her outright.

“...my sniper can not get a shot on you right now. So.. a deal is the best way out of this. Don't you agree?” He finishes, dark eyes measuring my sister up and down.

“No,” My sister growls, slithering forward as he steps back. My mind races, realizing he is purposefully baiting her so the sniper can aim up a shot. I use all my strength, wrapping my tail around my sister's foot; pressuring her to stay where she is.

I can not hold out for much longer after that, my vision fading to pitch black around the edges. I pray to whomever may be listening, have mercy on my sister and I.

Be safe Asuna.

ASUNA POV

My sister's tail curves around my ankle, stopping me from moving forward. My eyes briefly land on her face, watching as her lids cover her eyes. My heart clenches in my chest. A sadness overwhelming my senses.

“Looks like she doesn’t have much longer,” The squad leader reminds me, an edge in his voice.

“You can save her?” I hear my voice tremble, speaking my thoughts before I have a chance to filter them.

“Of course,” He says with confidence. I do not trust him though. My instincts are yelling at me through every fiber in my bones. His dark eyes hold no kindness.

“What…” I hear myself reply. Am I in control anymore? My rifle lowers slightly, the end of my tail flicking back and forth in frustration. “...What do I have to do?” I whisper near the end, tears coming to my eyes that spill in heated streams down my cheeks.

“I can not lose her…” I see the hesitation in his eyes, for just a moment. “...she’s my sister I-... she’s the only one left..”

“Your sister?” He questions taking a step forward, my body immediately tenses in recoil; bringing my weapon back up.

“Woah there,” He snaps back at me. I hear the click of his weapon lock. “...easy. I can not promise you medicine if you do not put some trust in me first,”

“Trust?” I spit, my orange irises narrowing in angry. “...rich coming from you,”

“I know trust is not something an alien would understand,” He throws back at me, with just as much venom as any viper that I’ve ever met. I hear a twig snap behind me, watch as his dark eyes dart- for just a fraction of a second. My instincts flair on my left flank. I immediately move to stand over my sister, body turning; as another soldier comes out from behind a supply pile. A notable sniper rests in his hands, scope aimed on my face.

“What is going on here?” The intruder questions loudly, eyes flickering between me and the XCOM squad leader. My tongue flickers out to gage his emotions, he holds a lot less contempt than the squad leader does.

“You killed my sister!!” I scream, tears erupting as I spit a poison cloud directly on his position. The squad leaders shot barely misses as I slither back, twirling and extending my tail to knock the gun from his hands. In the next second I have him ensnared, the muscles of my tail encircling around his abdomen; holding him close to the ground. I apply enough pressure to bruise, but not break, any of his bones. My sights turn to the poison cloud, assault rifle at the ready.

“You.. mother fucker!” The squad leader manages to weeze, his breathing heavy. I ignore the sounds of his outburst, revenge nearly in my grasps.

“...Deadeye!! Kill her!” I hear him yell to his squadmate. Deadeye appears unharmed from the poison, sniper at the ready as he inches to the side of my position. I follow him, the hood of my head flaring wide in anger. My tears will not stop pouring from my eyes, no matter how much I try. I keep wiping my cheek on my shoulder, quickly, so there isn’t a moment he can use to overtake me.

“...Drop your weapon,” He states calmly, eyes focused on mine.

“No! You killed my sister!!” I shout, emotions further clogging the battlefield that is my mind.

“She is not dead. We can still save her,” He replies quickly, stopping and standing steady in his position. “...just lower your weapon. You both can make it out of this, alive,”

“There is no ‘making it out’ of this!” I cry, fangs bared.

“Just kill it!” The man coiled in my tail shouts, I squeeze him tightly in response; barely holding back the urge to just snap him in too.

“Do not kill him,” Deadeye quickly informs me, like giving a soldier an order. “...do not kill him. If you spare him and put down your weapons, I promise you I will make sure your sister gets the care that she needs,”

“She needs medicine!” I yell, gun lowering slightly as I glance down at her. “...She needs medicine a-and you're stealing it all! Leaving none for the rest of us! For those hurting in the city!”

“We do not care about your medicine,” He quickly counters, exchanging eye contact with his squad leader. “...at least, not really,”

“What do you mean?” I retort bitterly. “...You’ve murdered everyone just to steal our medicine for your own selfish needs! It is not just aliens.. Humans in the city are going to die without this medicine, you know that?” I hiss back, gripping the ranger in my tail harshly. I hear a quiet crack and know I’ve broken a bone somewhere.

“Hey- hey!” Deadeye hollers at me, watching his comrade cough uneasy. “...easy! Listen, I just need you to trust me,”

“Trust you??” I interrupted what I am sure was a well thought out and rehearsed speech. “...Ha! That's what this one tried to pull on me! You expect me to trust you? After everything your organization has done? After all the aliens your kind has murdered for simply being alive??”

“Hey. That's a little bit of pot, calling the kettle, black...” He mumbles, raising his eyebrows at me.

“What sort of human phrase are you sprouting right now??” I hiss, raising my rifle again.

“Don’t do it. I could still live after the shot from this range, granted I try to doge. But this,” He moves this weapon up and down. “...This will probably kill you no matter where I shoot,”

“I do not have a choice,” I reply, voice cracking from the stress. “..I can die here or die as one of your science experiments. Which would you rather do?…”

“We do not experiment on you. That’s ADVENT who does that shit,” He echoes back at me, inching forward with an angry expression. “...Look, I am putting down my weapon,”

“Are you stupid??” The squad leader screams. I watch the sharpshooter slowly bend at the knees, placing his long sniper rifle on the ground gently. He holds his hands up, palms facing me as he rises again. I hear loud electrical interference from Deadeye's earpiece.

“Why are you doing this?” I mumble angrily, staring down the scope.

“Because… it's the right thing to do,” He replies back earnestly, a small uneasy grin on his face. “...Give us a chance. We can save your sister,”

“And what? Just toss us back to ADVENT? do not be ridiculous,”

“Yeah? Or maybe you’ll wanna stay,” He responds in kind. “...after you walk in a mile in someone else's shoes,”

“Am I supposed to know what that means? I do not wear shoes,” I counter, lowering my gun with furrowed brows.

“Come on now, I know you aint dumb,” He chuckles, slowly stepping forward. “...I’ll save your sister, if you let go of my squad mate. Deal?”

The air in tense as the pause lengthens. I analyze my surroundings. No one from ADVENT is left, XCOM agents trudging through the supplies behind us. There is nowhere for me to turn if I want to leave with my life- with my sister's life- intact. I begrudgingly toss the squad leader by Deadeye with a harsh thump.

“You bitch!” He groans, holding his rib. “...I’ll fucking-”

“Promise me,” I crouch low to my sister, depositing my rifle on the ground beside her as I cradle her limp body in my hands. My tears drop onto her cheeks, a harsh expression on my face.

“...Promise me if they turn us into...if we become another of your science projects- you’ll just kill us,” My eyes lift to match his, my jaw hurts from clenching against my emotions- from exhaustion.

“...I promise,” He whispers, crouching down next to me. I watch his finger lift to his earpiece, words I no longer care to listen to rushing from his lips. I cradle my dear sister in my arms, close to my chest; my tail wrapping around us. I am not sure what the future brings… but I have no one to guide me. I hear a slosh of liquid, looking up to spot the sharpshooter, Deadeye, holding a long syringe. My browbones furrow in anger, my fangs extending.

He looks at me past the needle as it fills, a soft expression on his face. At this point there is no use in fighting, I have already shown my weakness.

I lock eyes with him as he sticks a needle in my neck, just under my jaw where it is soft. His eyes are not as cold as I assumed they would be, but warm and filled with regret. My eyelids are heavy as my vision blurs, I catch a glimpse of the squad leader behind him- grinning like a beast.

Forgive me Xena