Going Camping, Part I

Posted on Tue Aug 29th, 2023 @ 12:42pm by Head Mistress Absynthe "Syn" Drake & First Lieutenant Bethany Harrison & Private Mattias Tonelly & General Dyami Bentley (Tribal : Bent Leaf)

Mission: HYDRA: Another Head Rises
Location: Drake Academy
Timeline: Present Day

After the meeting with the two girls, they had been informed that a memorial would be held the following week for those that had fallen due to the random attack that HYDRA had perpetrated. Bethany had been informed that her teammates, along with Jon, would be among those remembered, each name etched on a stone to be placed on the path that circled the base of the large tower in the center of the academy grounds.

Bethany had simply muttered a muted word of thanks, then turned and walked away.

As Syn watched the young woman, she sighed softly. “I haven’t seen her like that in a long time, Dyami. Two days isn’t exactly a lot of time to process that kind of grief. And she’s in a dangerous place mentally. Cold, dark, and while she is adeptly blocking her emotions, there is a rage smoldering underneath. I think this is dangerous. Especially without the one person that could hold her back.”

Seemingly intent on inspecting the dirt on his shoes, Dyami thought about Syn’s warning and spoke softly after a few moments, “We have both been in the same place she is, we both know that we have to be there for her when she finally decides to reach out for help.” The Indian shaman looked up at his draconic lover with a slight smile, before adding, “Until then we will watch and wait.”

“It’s not a matter of her reaching out, Dyami,” Syn said, meeting his gaze evenly. “That is something that may never come. Trusting others isn’t exactly her strongest point. But she’s not exactly shy about vaporizing cult compounds. Or HYDRA bases hidden in mountains,” she said, arching a slender brow above one draconic eye. She held up a hand to stop him from protesting. “You know I have my sources, don’t even try.”

“In my defense you never asked, so technically I was not hiding anything from you.” His blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He snickered and tried to hold a straight face. “Besides you know me, ‘have people do what they do best’ has always been a motto of mine.” Dyami shook his head and leaned down to brush the dirt off of his shoes. “She will reach out when she is ready, or she will not and we will have to deal with it.” He let out a heavy sigh, “Things will play out the way the Great Spirit wills.”

“Your Great Spirit seems to have a lot to learn about mercy,” Syn responded, looking after the spot that Bethany had become in the distance before she disappeared around a corner. “She’s had more than her fair share of grief and suffering. I don’t want to be the one that has to take her down if this goes bad, so that’s going to be on your head.”

Dyami’s expression turned darker, although only someone who truly knew him would have noticed. “I took her under my wing and taught her almost everything I know. I do not look forward to that day, if it ever comes.” He shook his head, his face returning to its normal cheery demeanor. “Mercy is not the way of nature Uktena, and we are not outside nature's laws. While I do not like to see anyone suffer, I know that suffering and pain can sometimes be a powerful teacher.”

“Sometimes. But there’s only so much pain and suffering that a being can take before it breaks them,” Syn said, giving a sad smile to the boy in the wheelchair beside them, before looking back at the shaman. “Bethany is as tough as nails, but she’s closing off, Dyami, avoiding connection. Oh, it will fuel her vengeance, but it may well get her killed. She may seek it, even if she doesn’t realize it. I’m not trying to dissuade you, it is simply a warning. As you’ve said earlier, we have been through it, and we’ve seen this before, as well.”

Dyami nodded and said, “I am not saying I will leave her to her own devices, I will watch her closely and try to help in any way I can, as I expect you will as well.” Smiling, he turned to Mattias. “So are you ready to go camping?”

Mattias listened quietly to everyone around him. His heart went out to Beth. In the short time he had actually known her, he was starting to look at her as if she were a big sister. And if there was one thing his parents had taught him as he grew up, it was that family always came first and looked out for each other.

He was startled from his thoughts when Dyami spoke to him. "Uh..oh, yeah! I mean, yes, Sir!"

“Camping. So that’s what you’re calling it now?” Syn asked, a dark chuckle escaping her. She gave Mattias a red-reptilian wink and continued, “Everything he does will be for your own good, even if you can’t see it right away.”

Mattias nodded and gave the older woman a boyish grin. "I know Ma'am. I want to be able to control my ability. That way, I can change from being a block of C4 and become a .50 caliber sniper round."

Syn was always bombarded by random surface thoughts from those around her, so it wasn’t abnormal for her to know strange things about people. This particular moment was a bit different, in that Mattias seemed to have no desire to control what went on in his thoughts, and his parents were ever-present there, no matter how hard he tried to press beyond it.

As Mattias spoke, Syn’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she studied the young man’s face. After a moment she nodded and glanced back up at Dyami, saying, “I can see why you opted to involve Bethany in his training.” She then looked to Mattias and asked, “Would you like for your parents to be remembered on The Path? They would not be the only family, or ally, to be honored there.”

At the mention of his parents, Mattias's eyes watered noticeably, though he didn't cry this time. "Th-thank you, Ma'am," he replied, choking down some of his emotions. "I would appreciate that very much!"

“Then I shall see to it that the stones are etched immediately,” Syn said, reaching over to rustle the boy’s hair a bit as she gently patted his head. She then looked back to Dyami and said, “As soon as you are able, make sure to allow this young man to honor his family properly. And, for the sake of all that is holy and just, allow some time for grief, or they will never truly escape it.”

Dyami nodded solemnly saying, “I will, that is part, if not most, of the reason we are taking this trip. The boy and Beth will both spend much time fighting against the demons that assault them.”

Looking at the wheelchair bound boy he continued, “This will be a trip that you will never forget, but for you to grow you must accept my training.” He smiled and said quietly, “One of my main goals is going to be to get you up and out of this thing.” The Indian man tapped the armrest of the chair. “If you work hard you may even be able to walk to the car, before we leave, on your own power.”

Mattias smiled as he looked up at Dyami. "I'm getting stronger all the time, Sir. I can feel it!" He then locked the wheels and, using his hands, lifted one foot out of the stirrup, then the other. After clearing those away next, he gripped the arms of his wheelchair and slowly stood up. "See?" He asked, clearly struggling, though not stopping.

Lifting one hand off the chair, then the other, he stood there for a few beats, swaying slightly. Sweat was starting to bead up on his forehead. "No swea…'' before he finished, he started to fall forward, his legs giving up for now.

Syn took a quick step forward and put a hand on his chest, catching Mattias with a surprising ease, her tiny body far more powerful than its appearance would have suggested. She directed the young man back into the wheelchair with a practiced grace that spoke to her many years of martial training. “Well, maybe a little sweat, right?” the diminutive administrator teased as she stepped away.

Dyami chuckled at Syn’s quip. “Great job Mattias, you truly are recovering quickly. Remember that there is nothing beyond your reach, there is nothing that can stop you from achieving your goals. You will stumble and fall many times, but as long as you rise and continue down your path you are winning.”

Dyami ruffled the young man's hair playfully. “I know this will come as a surprise to everyone but I am starving. I know a great hamburger and shake place here on campus. What do you think, want to join me?” The long haired Indian man looked between Matty and Syn waiting for a response.

“What? No great hunt for dinner tonight?” Syn quipped, an eyebrow raising slightly in disbelief. “Though, with your appetite, I imagine this is just a light snack before dinner?”

At the mention of food, Mattias's stomach made its presence known to all. "I could go for a burger or two!" He smiled at both adults in turn.

TBC
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Absynthe "Syn" Drake
Wyrmwood
Headmistress, Drake Academy

Bethany Harrison
Fractal
Mutant Underground

Mattias Tonelly
(Recruit)
Mutant Underground

General Dyami Bentley
Talon
Mutant Underground