MHA #6, The Wee Hours of Tuesday Morning

[firstofitskind]

Liam slept. And as he slept, he dreamt. For Liam to have dreams based on memories was nothing new, but usually when that was the case, they were far more troubling. Dreams of being locked up and cast adrift until he sank to the bottom of an alien ocean. Dreams of being trapped in the magma center of a volcano as lava began to burst forth...

These were- well. They were not happy dreams, exactly, but they lacked violence. They were more... melancholy, if anything.

Sitting in the shuttle with Beckett, discussing family, and wishing that somehow, he could make her see the truth.

"If you could talk to your mother now, what would you tell her?"

"I love you."

"Even after she left you?"

"I know it doesn't make any sense, but there's a bond between us. It cuts across everything else."

The cave floor, holding her body as the last of her life slipped away, and finally, finally able to show her the truth...

"We didn't have our time together here on Earth, but if you ever lose your way, my son, look to the heavens, and I'll be shining a star for you."



Liam's eyes snapped open as the dream faded away and consciousness returned. He didn't know what the dream meant, if anything, but the feeling that lingered behind was strangely peaceful. Which seemed odd, considering he'd just been dreaming of his dead mother. He didn't know what that meant either.

He slipped out of the bed, doing his best not to disturb the other occupant. Thankfully, Verity was used to his sleep habits, so even if he did wake her, he doubted she'd be overly concerned.

Rummaging around in the kitchen until he found what he needed- a candle and a lighter, he headed to the living room. He sat, cross-legged, and then placed the candle on the floor and lit it before he spoke:

"Saqruvi, grant me weak eyes, for things that are of no account, and strong eyes, for all thy truth."

He didn't know if it would actually help him figure out what was going on, but it felt right.

[ooc: establishy, but could be open for the girlfriend!]

Comments

[arboreal_priestess]

"Sorry," Verity said, ducking her head. "I always go to the worst-case scenarios."

It was a matter of training.

[firstofitskind]

"You?" Liam said dryly. "Truly, I am shocked by this brand new and surprising information that I have just learned about you."

"Maybe it is coincidence," he mused. "Like you said, this wasn't the first time you've dreamt about Piyusha." He pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of Verity's head; that one still stung for him, too.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity laughed and poked him in the side. "Brat," she said, stealing a kiss as she let her head fall back onto his chest. "But no," she said, sobering up. "Not the first time. I failed her, Liam. I promised and I failed her. I almost feel like I owe it to her to dream about her."

[firstofitskind]

“The only people to blame for her death were the ones from the snake cult,” Liam said firmly. “Remember that.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"She trusted me to keep her safe," Verity said quietly. "She put her faith in the Price name and I let her down. That's at least a little bit on me."

[firstofitskind]

“And she was on their radar before we even knew her name,” Liam pointed out. “The best way to honor her death is to keep doing what you’ve been doing- protecting those who need it, and punishing those who prey on people like her.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Zero tolerance for snake cults," Verity murmured, putting his hand in her hair.

Look, she could use some petting right now.

"Tell me about your mom?

[firstofitskind]

Liam could take a hint, and began carding his fingers through her hair as he gathered his thoughts.

"She was... strong," he said, finally. "Would give everything for a cause she believed in. It's why she became a Companion Agent, she thought- she thought the Taelons could make our world a better place." She'd been wrong, in the end, but then... so had everyone else.

[arboreal_priestess]

"It must have been hard for her when she discovered they weren't who they thought," she said softly. "To believe that strongly and then to find out you're wrong? That can break people."

[firstofitskind]

Liam nodded. "The Motivational Imperative in her CVI began to break down, and she could think for herself again. Until," he broke off.

Until she'd gone climbing to try and make sense of everything, and the damage done by the failing CVI had caused her to fall.

"Well. It was too late." He managed finally.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity heard that break, and leaned in to give him a hug. "CVI?" she asked. "Unless you'd rather not talk about it."

But she kinda thought that talking about it might help.

[firstofitskind]

“Cyber-Viral Implant,” Liam clarified. “Most Protectors were outfitted with them when they joined Companion Services. Gave the user enhanced senses, recall, and came hand-in-hand with that Motivational Imperative.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"That doesn't sound creepy or invasive at all," Verity snorted. "Definitely not mind control or anything."

[firstofitskind]

“Oh no, definitely not,” Liam said dryly. “Which is why it definitely wasn’t a cause for concern that I was allowed to serve without being an Implant.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"I remember you mentioning that," Verity said. "One of the special benefits that Da'an got you, right?"

[firstofitskind]

Liam nodded. “Though it was Zo’or’s idea initially,” he said. “I think he was hoping that ‘disadvantage’ would get me- and by extension, Da’an, killed.” Weren’t politics fun?

[arboreal_priestess]

"What a dick," was Verity's insightful commentary. "So, like, if you paused or something because you weren't entirely committed to him and got him killed, then you could be removed because of your failure?"

[firstofitskind]

“Or if I got myself killed, then Da’an would have been defenseless and easily dispatched.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"But unfortunately for him, you're sexy and competent," Verity said, smug. "Sucks to be that guy."

How dare this guy who she had never met plan against her boyfriend before she had ever met him?

[firstofitskind]

“Says you, in your completely unbiased opinion,” Liam said, tucking a loose lock of hair behind Verity’s ear. “Anyway,” he continued, “by the time anyone knew Beckett’s- my mother’s CVI was killing her, it was too late to do anything about it. She was on borrowed time.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"How?" Verity asked, frowning. She'd always been under the impression it had been an accident. "Was it, like, poisoning her or something?"

[firstofitskind]

“Something like that,” Liam said, his voice flat, emotionless. “By the time it began to break down, it had infiltrated her entire brain. She went climbing, and I don’t know if she slipped, or if the CVI caused some sort of... aneurysm. But she fell, and then I found her.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Oh," Verity said, and wrapped her arms around him more tightly. "With the CVI broken, then, you were able to tell her the truth, right? About who you were?"

[firstofitskind]

“It would’ve killed her if I’d said anything earlier, the one time we worked together, but she was dying anyway,” Liam confirmed. “There was nothing left to lose.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"She died knowing you," Verity murmured. "And promising to always watch over you. I don't know if someone can love in a heartbeat, but if anyone did, I think it was her."