Uplift.



They watch in silence from behind the wall of glass that separates them from her, each of them struggling silently with their own thoughts, each fighting the same battle over and over again in their minds wondering, what could I have done differently to spare her from this?. Why did I come through it in one piece while she lays there clinging to life. Her face has color but there are I V tubes sticking out of her body seemingly going in every conceivable direction, as the woman they know as a friend, a teammate, the one that has always jumped into the fire with them time after time, their sister Roxx fights for her life. Twitch, Thump and Cowboy have barely left her since they returned to Threshold, Klinger’s thoughts soon return to Priss, he wonders how she is holding up to the scrutiny of the Threshold board of reviews.

Reaching..



Saturday, December 7th, 2069. 1600 hrs, Threshold headquarters, Langley Virginia, debrief room #3.
She sits in front of the board patiently fielding their questions, making her own observations of the events that led up to the reds attack on team Alpha outside of the Storm drain just one mile from Mordes Keep, but it is only when she speaks of the attack inside of Krotas’s palace that she has the undivided attention of the chief of reviews.
“ The way you describe your personal attack on general Krotas, it sounds rather venomous on your part Miss Priss, we are really trying to understand here-”
She folds her arms in front of her chest, and considers the question carefully before answering. She rises from her chair slowly and addresses them directly.
“May I ask this panel a question of my own?”
A long uncomfortable silence follows. The chief of reviews finally nods his approval in her direction.
“ My species not withstanding, does any member of this panel know what it is to be a female, human or otherwise?”
“With all due respect Miss Priss, this panel is comprised of men. There is no way that any of us could answer that question.”
“ So.. Master chief.. Do any of you know what it feels like to have been beaten and raped repeatedly?”
The room falls silent. They do not answer.
“This panel wonders.. About my loyalties? About my venom towards the males of my species? I was brought here specifically for the purpose of sexually servicing the male reds, the women of my species are beaten, kicked, and raped on a daily basis master chief. It is true that while Threshold can use my services to help them against the red army, Threshold has given me my freedom in return, for this I give you my loyalty. It is my hopes that in my service that I may help to free other females who have suffered at the hands of these curs.”
She explains the events up to the time that Roxx is shot, with great detail, Klinger and Milo protecting the rear, to the time when they rendezvous with the pick up vessel. When it is concluded that no member of team Alpha was at fault in the shooting of Roxx, Priss is dismissed to rejoin Samantha Bliss and the others.

Roxx..



She is sitting in the hallway on the floor outside of Roxx’s room, when Klinger and Samantha Bliss find her there half asleep. Samantha bends down to see if Priss is awake. When she raises her head she sees Klinger and becomes more alert.
“Samantha? How is Roxx holding up?”
Samantha Bliss’s smile slowly fades, and her look becomes one of concern.
“She made it through surgery, but its touch and go right now, they say she’s got a fifty, fifty chance of pulling through, we're staying put for now until we know more, they’re giving us a couple of days to recuperate.”
“And what have they done with our newest guest Sil?”
Samantha Smiles.
“We were just on our way to go and check on her, she’s sleeping in the one of the dorms, of course she is being guarded. Although I suspect that she doesn’t need a lot of protection.”
Priss nods.
“Samantha.. I feel very bad about.. Well.. You know.. Roxx getting shot and all.”
“Well.. You shouldn’t, you carried her to the boat Priss. Like you said you were going to. Every step of the way, she’s alive because you kept up the pace, you didn’t let anybody or anything stop you why don’t you go get some sleep.”
She stands and turns toward the dorm, she walks down the corridor stopping momentarily by the door of Roxx’s room. She pause’s and rests her palm on the flat of the door as if trying to reach into her.
“I’m sorry Roxx.”

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