Chapter 6- Lost and Found (Shep/Snowball/ Mariana)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana rises* "God your pissy."

*She pulls her duffle over her shoulder*

"So, what, you going to blame that one me too? It's not my fault you decided to fall behind. And now Snowball's on the business end of that."

*The sneer in her voice is evident through her helmet.* "You certainly fulfilled your responsibility."

(One of these days, my Tag-to-edit ratio will improve. Tag-Daks)

[dakota]

" Did I try to blame you? No." Slinging his rifle, he pulls our his revolver, and opens the chamber to check it for debris. " And we didn't fall behind , you took off. Just like a woman to blame someone else." He snaps the chamber shut and reholsters the Python. " And just where were you when the crud hit the fan, back here painting your nails?"

(tags back again, and look, no editing to do it ;D )

[Renekin Skywalker]

"I was doing my job. And that job entails a lot more than satisfying your ego." *she eyes the revolver, and refrains from the obvious path.* "Not that I'm any use to you anyways. You figure you can do everything on your own. That's how Vasquez caught you in the first place-" *She stops short, her body frozen, with her finger about to poke at Shep's armour. Then she takes a breath* "If you'ld for once think about the people around you... and what they're capable of."

*She steps back, knowing that little bit of tact won't do much good.*

(And Tag-Daks (look ma! no edits!))

[dakota]

" My ego's got nothing to do with anything." He glared at her dropping the name. " And what happened to me in the Pecos is none of your goddamned business! If you knew what really happened down there, you'd know to shut your mouth right now!" He throws his rifle and pack down, causing it's contents to spill out. With a curse, he quickly starts tucking the medical supplies back in his pack.

(tag - Mariana. Once is a fluke)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana looks at the supplies, guessing what they're for, like, say, if it's all one kind of prescription, than for Shep, but a variety of meds would indicate some contact is getting a present.*

"What? You think that was a secret? They talked about it for a year afterwards... the guy responsible laughed about it even as his throat bled out... And I don't know why I'm telling you this. Like you care, all tragic hero like you are."

(Tag, Dakota. And twice?)

[dakota]

" Which one, that scumbag Macklin, or the that double crossing Colonel, what's his name? I know it wasn't Vasquez." He grins evilly," There wasn't enough left of him to recognize the body."

His grin fades, replaced with glare. " And you better start talkin', lady. You know way too much about me, stuff that's not in the history books. Someone had to brief you on all that, or you've got inside info." His hand floats dangerously close to his sidearm." So that either makes you a traitor or your in someone's pocket. Either way, you've got alot of explaining to do, and a reason not to leave you here."

(tag- Mariana. Two is dumb luck)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana pulls off her helmet, in a bold move, and the still-greasy hair falls around her young face. She then pulls out a survival knife, and hands it to Shep* "It was Macklin. The Colonel never made it out of his hotel room." *she says with a sneer.* "And Major Haldin says you're even."

"Now, if you don't trust me enough to leave me here, maybe we should go look for Snowball? Maybe radio in for evac?"

(Tag-Dakota. Almost missed this one)

[dakota]

" Just who the hell are you, lady?" He stares at her for a moment, trying to figure her out as he relaxed his arm away from his pistol. " We need to regroup with the others. If Snowball's alive, he'll find us. And if he's not,..." He paused, letting his sentence sink in as he picked his gear back up.

" And an evac is out of the question. If your half as good as you think you are, you already know there's too many people listening to call in a pickup when your on a lurp."

(Tag- Mariana)

(Note: lurp = LRRP, Long Range Recon Patrol)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana Nods, and replaces her helmet.* "You can keep the knife. I have an extra. Guys in supply don't ask many questions when you have the right signature on your order." *She hefts the duffle again, and reshoulders her rifle, which, at a second glance doesn't seem to have been used before today.*

"And you know who I am. You saw the transfer order." *she turns for Westvale* "You ready? or are your friends gonna have to wait for those meds?"

*When Shep is ready, she restarts for Westvale, resuming the path-adjacent route she had previously taken*

(Tag-Dakota)

[dakota]

" I don't need it." He hands the knife back to her, still not sure what to make of her. He scowls at her for mentioning the supplies in his pack as he shifts it on his shoulder, but doesn't bite on her baiting him. He stared back into the forest for a moment, before following her. " Hey, if Haldin say we're even, does that mean he gave you the 300 credits he still owes me?" Though it sounds like an attempt at humor, his tone is anything but cheerfu.

(tags- Mariana)l

[Renekin Skywalker]

"He mentioned something about the mail." *she says, he tone about as mirthless, and drained. She doesn't take the knife back* "it's a souvenir. Maklin was rather shocked when it happened. His face was priceless."

(Tag, Daks... 4 in a row is still good)

[dakota]

" That sounds like Cammie...uh, I mean Haldin." He forced a chuckle. " Can't believe he's a major now. I have been out of touch."

He tucked the knife into an empty sheath built into his boot. " You realize that killing King Macklin's cousin probably earned you a death mark and a price on your head if you ever go back. At least we have something in ... Something's not right."

He stops midstride, listening to the stillness of the night.

(tag- Mariana)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana stops listens for a moment* "All your shouting back there startled the animals." *She crouches, and unshoulders her rifle* "You should get down." *she whispers* "And, as for Macklin, my transfer makes more sense now, doesn't it?"

(Tag-Dakota)

[dakota]

"It does. Wait, my shouting?" He whispered loudly as he crouched down. He was about to say something else when he turned an ear, listening to something behind them. After a moment , he held up one finger, quickly followed by two more, then indicated behind them, off towards the creek. With his rifle at the ready, he looked around for something to use as cover without success.

He turned to Mariana, and motioned in the direction he'd been listening, the sounds of movement becoming louder as it approached.

(tag - Mariana)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana slowly lays down, as flat to the ground as she can manage* "Possum." *she whispers, her rifle also ready.*

(Tag-Dakota)