Sooo... I feel really bad for not posting and commenting that you guys should post. For one thing, Rex and Saana are both unconscious. For another, I'm torn between wanting to do romance and nervousness about having no idea how that should work.

Also, what will happen to Rex in the end? I'll play along with anything you decide. 

He was completely out, but I guess he isn't anymore... xD. I wanna write. Romance will be limited for now, because Saana's unconscious, I think.

Rex/Andy

~

I groan and sit up. My vision is warbled around the edges, like I'm looking through a fishbowl. I hope I don't have a concussion. I don't seem to be bleeding anymore, so I mop up remaining blood as best I can and shakily stand.

So. Apparently Shaia's alive. I smile grimly, seeing her clutching a knife wound. That'll be a serious disadvantage. Maybe she'll bleed out... Which, I guess, would be condemning myself and Saana to death or some such fate, under the agreement we'd made with the vigilantes... Huh. This logic is screwed up.

The kid, Gem, seems to be cornered by Shaia's snakes. She's on my side now; I should help her. It wasn't that long ago that I kidnapped her. Wow. Really, it's my life that's screwed up. 

I can't kill Shaia. That's my disadvantage. To kill Shaia would be to hurt Saana, so it's completely off limits.

I pick up my knife off the floor where it had fallen. The blade is dark now, stained. I won't hurt Shaia. I vow that. To hurt her now is running a risk of killing her; in situations like these, any risk is too great. I have to kill the snakes before they get to Gem.

I turn for a moment, looking at Saana. She'll be okay. Both of us, we always somehow turn out okay. Together.

Is this the last battle? I wonder. Criminals and vigilantes, good guys and scientists... is this the end? Because, really, who determines the sides of the battles?

For me, there's never been some sort of clear dividing line between good and bad. Always a spectrum. Am I a good guy? Probably not. In the stories, love always seems to redeem. Am I redeemed, after so many kills, so much crime? Is anyone truly redeemed? Is anyone ever truly good or bad? 

Too deep, I scold myself. I have to kill the snakes before I think about philosophy. I throw myself past Shaia, slashing the air recklessly with my knife. Remarkably, my slashes are well timed. The snakes die.

"Is that it?" I taunt. "Are you out of weapons, Shaia? Do you mourn the loss of your precious snakes?"

I let her back me up into a corner, refusing to strike back, only guarding, endlessly guarding. It's a classic rope-a-dope. Let the enemy tire herself out, never wasting any energy yourself.

The battle rages around us, but Shaia is out of the way of the others. I wait, defend, watch the scene play out. 

Top! I posted!

Topppppp