quitehomoerotic | RP for quietbutbrainy

Entry tags:

RP for quietbutbrainy

Jack had told himself to stay out of trouble, to stick to the sidelines and not get involved. But that could only last so long. He couldn't sit back and let the world pass by, especially when the world could be so dark. He couldn't just let that happen and not try to do something about it. If he did that, perhaps then he truly would have failed.

So when he began to hear whispers about some goings on on a planet not too far from where he had stationed himself he found that he had to react. Especially when he learned (albeit from a non too reputable source) exactly what was happening.

The planet was a small one and the race a little dull and obscure. Human looking apart from the tendrils that branched out from their faces. Unassuming, and that's how and why they got away with it.

'They were replenishing', the old man in the bar had told Jack. Mining the planet for the ore deep inside. But to do so, of course, they needed a workforce. Something the inhabitants of the planet sadly lacked. So it wasn't just their planet they mined but the dead of another. Earth, to be precise.

'Use these people', he'd said, 'echoes, they call 'em'. Of course it was simple for them. It was technology they'd had for centuries, illegal, of course, but it seemed that didn't stop them. Steal the consciousness of the dead and transport it into a clone body. Use a planet like Earth so it's far enough away not to be noticed and keep it quiet enough to stay out of the radar of the Shadow Proclamation.

So Jack found himself there. Back almost into an old routine, rushing around a planet, exerting an authority that in truth he doesn't have. Just to set people free.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Toshiko had always had this feeling in the back of her mind that something was wrong. From the moment she'd regained consciousness she knew something wasn't right. And she had always thought that, even through the months of labor and an unsatisfying existence. That feeling persisted, but she ignored it, not sure what to do about it.

Not until she was making her way down from the control tower where she monitored all the mining equipment. Not until she saw his face, and then all of a sudden, she knew. She knew why, because she knew him. And it all came rushing back with the strength of his memory.

"...Jack?" she said, and all of a sudden she was both more terrified and excited than she had ever been.

Jack was frantic as he ran around unlocking gates here and releasing captives there. He didn't once use his gun, though he threatened with it more than once. Despite their underhand nature they were meek, this race. None of them wanted to die and none of them wanted the blame. So they ran and Jack succeeded.

He stalked along a corridor as people ran in the other direction. So many faces, people who once on Earth had families and loved once. But not once did he expect to recognise a face, for a voice to be familiar as it rang amongst the crowd.

He turned immediately to seek out the sound, desperate to prove himself right. "Toshiko?!"

"Jack!"

And she remembers now, remembers everything. Remembers dying in his arms, remembers the last words he said to her. It all comes flooding back, all of it. She can't deal with it now, can't process a lifetime in seconds, and later she'll struggle with it. But right now something is happening and right now she knows she can trust him.

She rushes to his side, knowing now is not the time for hugs or tearful reunions or anything of the sort. Instead she swallows, knowing she can help. Knowing he can save her.

"Tell me what I can do."

It takes Jack a moment or two longer to recover. To come to terms with a dead woman living and breathing and standing in front of him. He'll deal with it later though because there's too much going on now to stop and reminisce.

"Get everybody out. Down the corridor and out the main door. I've got a ship waiting about half a mile away. Get people out and get them there. Now, Tosh, go!"

He doesn't have to tell her twice. Tosh is good at taking orders, and maybe it's because she's realizing just what's happened to her, but she's a little pissed and that makes her extra motivated. She does exactly as she's told, disappearing in the other direction, and he won't see her again until she's trying to carefully organize people in some sort of spaceship boarding procedure not unlike she used to handle math problems.

"Just like old times, yeah?" she tries to joke, a little breathless as she has them in some sort of slightly panicked, oddly misshapen queue.

It's not too long before Jack is back at the ship, rallying the last few people in to the back of the expansive cargo hold. He glances toward Tosh, like watching a memory.

"Something like that," he nodded and pushed a button to seal the hold. There was no mirth in his voice, no real warmth. This was a different Jack to the one she left, a damaged Jack.

"That everyone?"

"Yeah, that's everyone."

She nodded, making sure she had a grip on something steady so as not to go tumbling when the ship started moving. She ran a hand through her hair, pushing past the pain of old memories so she can do her job, be what he needs her to be. She really needs a moment to cope, a hug, but she won't ask for either.

"Let's go."

Jack nodded, short and turned to activate a comm, alerting the pilot that they were good to go. The craft shook a little as it took off and ascended into orbit.

He took a moment, leaned himself forward against the hull. This was a lot to take in. He took a deep breath and turned, looking toward her. "Toshiko," he spoke her name on a breath.

"It's good to see you."

"Likewise, Jack. I've missed you." She smiled slightly, tentatively reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only