the infiltration operation

[tactician]

The research outpost on one of Gladsheim's more distant moons was less a functioning facility than it was a glorified storage closet for all the projects the militaristic government abandoned in favor of stealing from other planets' research sectors. Now that they had acquired the Seventh, which meant that they were privy to a great deal of information from the Sixth, a large portion of Gladsheim's more legitimate research facilities had been shut down, according to what reconnaissance agents the Circle still had out on the field, many of its previous scientists placed under obligatory planetary residence as to avoid leaking anything.

But the research outpost on Gladsheim's distant moon contained one thing that was still highly relevant to modern day prosthetic sciences, even if the government itself didn't realize as much - a field of study regarding the signalling of brainwaves to operate machinery not only attached to the body, but perhaps even in an entirely separate form itself. If brought to fruition, it could limit the need for human casualties and greatly reduce the Circle's disadvantage of lesser numbers. It was something one of its previous researches had been looking into on the down-low.

Speaking of which.

"You're looking a little pale," Evan said, checking himself in the car's side mirror as he combed a hand through his newly dyed hair before donning a pair of red-rimmed, plastic-lens glasses. His eyes slid sideways in his reflection. "You remember where it is, doc?"

Comments

[aphelionix]

His smile this time around was a less wry, more genuine. "That's good to hear."

[tactician]

Seeing that, Evan grinned in return and clapped Bentley on the arm. "You shouldn't worry, anyhow. I wouldn't have let your brother get you."

[aphelionix]

Bentley looked unconvinced. "Liar. You were losing that fight."

[tactician]

Evan only laughed. "I was," he said, tilting his head in acknowledgement of the fact. "But you could've gotten away while I was fighting."

[aphelionix]

"I could've," he agreed, ruffling his curly mess of hair. "But I couldn't."

[tactician]

"You formulated the emergency area escape plan on your own."

[aphelionix]

"I wouldn't have used it by myself, unless they had caught you. Then I'd go back and figure out a rescue plan."

[tactician]

Evan smiled, looking satisfied. "And here I thought you said you were a coward."

[aphelionix]

Bentley went a little red in the face. "I-it was the medication making me act."

[tactician]

"And it's the medication making all those claims right now?" Evan pressed, slapping a hand to his heart. "I'm hurt. I thought you were saying those things because we're comrades."

[aphelionix]

"It wore off," he said with a nudge of his elbow. "Taking that medication wouldn't make me lie, anyway."

[tactician]

He didn't argue, but the smile on Evan's mouth turned small, knowing. Bentley hadn't run when he heard signs of a struggle, and what better test of cowardice was there than that? It didn't matter what the doctor said - it was what he did that ultimately mattered.

Drawing one foot up on to his seat, Evan crossed his fingers over the peak of it, humming. "You remind me of a character in a book I once read, doc."

[aphelionix]

Bentley had relaxed in his seat himself. His stomach still felt heavy, but given the events, he didn't expect that to go away that fast. There wasn't any need for the plastic bag anymore, though.

"Who's that?" he asked, gaze turned out the window again.

[tactician]

"An old, old book," Evan said, shaking his head to signal that he didn't remember the specifics of it. "Una abuela back in the neighborhood would lend her collection out to the kids if they promised to return them in good condition. But there were four people who were on a journey together, and there was one that was a lion."

What?

[aphelionix]

"Ah." He paused. "But you said 'people'?"

[tactician]

Narrowing his eyes, Evan tried to recall it, but it was a distant memory at best. "He looked more man than animal in the drawings. I don't exactly remember - it's just that you remind me of him, somehow."

later: IT'S THE COWARDLY LION EVAN!! NO WONDER HE REMINDS YOU OF ME!!! YOU'RE AWFUL

[aphelionix]

"Hmm." Bentley thought about it, but the story didn't ring any bells. "I'll have to look it up."

[tactician]

"Might be a bit hard to find nowadays, you might as well just focus on the plans we just lifted," Evan chuckled, loosening up in his seat. Considering the alarms hadn't sounded for the past five minutes, he figured it was safe to say that the cloaking device had steered them clear out of trouble and off of Gladsheim's radars. It was significantly more difficult to tail a ship if you lost them after they left Atmo.

[aphelionix]

"I meant if I get some free time," he added, but on that thought, pulling the flash drive from his coat pocket. Still there, still intact. That was good. The actual arm in their possession would've saved him a few weeks of work, but this was better than nothing. It put it back, sagging in his seat. They only had about an hour before they were back to the Circle, but he was worn out. "I think I'll try to sleep for a bit, if that's all right."

[tactician]

"Good idea," Evan said, glad for any option that might help calm Bentley's nerves a little more naturally, since he seemed to have hangups about the alternative. Before the doctor could all but give himself over to unconscious bliss, though, Evan made sure to tell him (as he had the feeling that not enough people did), "You did good today, doc. You deserve it."

[aphelionix]

With one more unsure smile, he nodded anyway and said, "Thanks."

It took him a while to fall asleep, but when he did, he was all but unconscious. His head lulled onto Evan's shoulder after a while, until the boniness deterred him and he ended up in an uncomfortable-looking slouch against Evan's arm instead.

Oddly enough, he slept soundly the whole way.