Aberrant: Stargate Universe - Smoke Break [Fin]

[Forge]

One night after training.

The still evening air of the Rockies found Lieutenant Wright sitting atop a moss-covered rock, just off the beaten path, taking in the first sunset since before the Ambush. He was nursing half a bottle of Jameson, the other half sitting in a thermos in the guard station at the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain.

The shrill notes of his harmonica cutting the crisp air with, "I am so lonesome I could cry." A lit Vegas Robaina hung from the corner of his mouth, its aroma settling about the rock, hugging its toker in a hazy embrace.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia was going to get better at hiking if it killed her. Right now, as she sagged against a rock in the early evening, she was convinced that it might. She'd been circling through the trails, trying to get herself used to moving for long periods of time. She wasn't sure it was helping, but she was sure it was making her sweat a lot and breath heavily. So why am I not just having sex instead? Jeez, this stinks.

A harmonica tune caught her ears. Still panting, she looked around, selected the direction that the song was coming from, and followed it. To her surprise, it was the right direction. Her new ears were fantastic, most of the time. Her first concert was going to be a make or break situation.

She was rather surprised to see one of the Specialists out here. Realizing that she was being unfair, judging them all to be warriors and lacking creativity, Olivia frowned. And you with your big brain. Seems you still conform it the us vs. them social structure.

He stopped playing and turned, and Olivia recognized that surly expression and those piercing eyes. "Hi, Lieutenant," she said, smiling and rubbing at the sweat gathering on her forehead. "I didn't mean to intrude, but I heard you playing. You're pretty good at that."

[Forge]

Vinny looked Olivia up and down, noting where sweat was making her outfit stick in certain places as her chest rose and fell to her rapid breathing.

Whathefuck's she doin' here. Caine's a lucky bastard, always gettin' the ethnic pussy.

After a moment, he rolled the cigar to the other side of his mouth, his eyes still focusing keenly below the neck.

"Yup."

Vinny made to turn back around and raised his harmonica back up to his lips, rolling the cigar back to its original position on the left side.

,,

Ah hell, make nice with the noobs fuck-face.

Hesitating he turned back slowly to Olivia, once again rolling the smoldering canon to the right side. This time, somehow making eye contact.

"Caine have you hunting snipe? Should be carryin' out here."

Great line, that'll make her tear yer fuckin' clothes right off!

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

My eyes are up here. Olivia thought as he stared at her chest. There was no way to stop the heaving motions that currently made her breasts a moving target. She clamped her jaw shut though, determined to ignore it. He was another Specialist and she wasn't going to make waves with another team, not this early. Not if all he was doing was looking.

"Major Caine... snipe? No, he doesn't have anything to do with why I'm out here. I'm..." not telling you that I'm struggling to keep up with the others. "... out running. Getting some fresh air." And, lucky me, meeting jerks with wandering eyes. "And I am carrying-" a tazer "-just not a big gun." Because I don't need to compensate for anything, bucko. "This close to the complex, I think I can get away with one weapon."

She took a deep breath as her panting slowed. She recovered faster than she ever had, no doubt about it. Forcing a smile, she said, "I'm Specialist Olivia Jenings-Izumi. You're Lt. Wright, correct? I remember your name from the briefing." When the General chewed you out.

[Forge]

Originally Posted By: Olivia Jenings-Izumi

"Major Caine... snipe? No, he doesn't have anything to do with why I'm out here. I'm out running. Getting some fresh air. And I am carrying--just not a big gun. This close to the complex, I think I can get away with one weapon."

Yeah, where would you put it?

Before he can stop himself, Vinny lets out a snort, nearly spitting out the cigar, before catching himself.

"Right, just be careful, the NID are fucking bastards, they would as soon ass-rape you as look at you."

As he talked, Vinny's blood pressure seemed to rise, the colors on his face mimicking the array of colors being displayed on the clouds behind him as the sun let go its hold and sank behind the mountains.

Calm down, don't need to fuckin' stroke out in front of the hot ass.

Originally Posted By: Olivia Jenings-Izumi

"She took a deep breath as her panting slowed. She recovered faster than she ever had, no doubt about it. Forcing a smile, she said, "I'm Specialist Olivia Jenings-Izumi. You're Lt. Wright, correct? I remember your name from the briefing."

Lt. Wright took a deep breath, surprised at himself more than anything.

A lot of fuckin' names for not being hitched. Why she tryin' so hard? Prolly one of those bimbos that has to get 'long with everyone.

"Vinny's fine." Picking up the bottle of Jameson off the rock and taking a pull, "You wanna shot? Don't do much for me anymore."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

He laughed. He laughed at me. Olivia maintained her calm with effort. That effort was helped by talk of rape, and suddenly the quiet woods seemed omnious. Without much thought, Olivia extended her senses outward, listening to things no humans can hear. Vinnie's voice was a booming distraction, but she ignored him as she listened. It only took a moment of review to catch up with what he'd said.

"No thanks, it still affects me, and I have a long run back," Olivia said, waving away the offer. That was refreshingly nice, even if he was offering me backwash. At least he didn't try to pour it over my breasts.

She moved a bit closer and sat down, crossing her legs comfortably. "What do you do, if I can ask?"

[Forge]

Originally Posted By: Liv

"No thanks, it still affects me, and I have a long run back," Olivia said, waving away the offer.

Vinny started to turn away under the assumption that Olivia was leaving, He drained half the bottle before setting it back on the rock.

Originally Posted By: Liv

She moved a bit closer and sat down, crossing her legs comfortably. "What do you do, if I can ask?"

Oh, she's stayin', yipee! Vinny thought with dripping sarcasm.

Pull up a rock an' make yourself at home why don't ya? I didn't hike fuckteen miles away from base to be alone or anything...I love the company of women who obviously find me disgusting.

"I piss people off darlin'." At that, Vinny took a look at the dregs of whiskey and then threw the nearly empty bottle further into the woods.

Lookin' for the "what I do, is who I am" tard.

Vinny then pulled out a match from his pocket and flicked it lit with his thumb. He relit his cigar and took a few puffs, before continuing.

"The answer you want...I'm an Engineer."

Be niiiccee.

"How 'bout you? What floats yer boat?"

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia was honestly trying to get to know another Specialist, even if he was gross. And this exact reason was why. She'd taken one look at his gruff, surly and unfriendly exterior and she had immediately decided he was a grunt, just another soldier. There you go, judging people by their exteriors. And here I thought I was above that. It's no different than skin color. Or if they have strange eyes. With effort, she relaxed a little and even smiled. It was even a really nice smile.

"I'm a historian, librarian and journalist," Olivia replied. "Or at least, those are my three degrees. I'm here to try to help ascertain cultures, customs and so on, or at least, that's what I'm guessing my job is. It's what I do, anyway. I'm trying to be good at other stuff."

You're talking too much. Shut up.

It was getting darker. The thoughts of ninja NID were keeping her right where she was. She'd been fine until Vinnie had put such thoughts in her head. She tapped into the local radio waves and phone transmissions, hoping to hear her teammates on the horn. No luck, not yet anyway.

Why'd he have to mention NID?

[Forge]

Jackson if he was a hot piece of ass...and actually wanted to get along with me.

"So you're sayin', you're the hot version of Jackson?"

She seemed to be getting comfortable, even smiling. Evidently very determined to get on his good side. He had noticed her slight unrest at the encroaching darkness, and despite his desire to see her totally freak out while he laughed his ass off, Vinny actually felt himself giving her the benefit of the doubt. She was after all, "...trying to be good at other stuff."

Dammit! Going all soft for the pussy.

"You..." Vinny sighed and rubbed his hand down his face, his cigar deftly manuevering out of the way. "...We should be heading back, its too damn easy to get lost out here after dark."

Vinny stood up, putting his harmonica in a blue velvet drawstring pouch before stuffing it in his back pocket. He whispered under his breath, "Not that I wouldn't mind."

Keep the shit to yerself! She probably heard that!

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Vinnie's assessment of her caught her off guard and she actually laughed. Stop that. You'll encourage him to be a sexist pig.

,,

Oh, come on... it was funny. "Maybe," Olivia chuckled. "Though poor Daniel would be heart-broken to hear you say that, I'm sure." Her sardonic tone make her sarcasm clear.

,,

At his suggestion, Olivia got to her feet. She wasn't going to ask, but he if was going to offer to walk back with her, she'd take it. "Yeah, it is getting pretty late," she added, backing his statement with clear relief in her voice. "But I don't think-"

,,

"Not that I wouldn't mind."

,,

Olivia felt a flush climb her face as she managed to finish, "-that I'll get lost. I remember the path perfectly."

,,

That wasn't awkward, Olivia thought as they fell in step together on the path. Not in the slightest. Time to change the subject. "How come you let me call you Vinnie? You're one of the actual military types, and Major Caine makes me call him by rank when he's on-duty. Not, mind you, that I've seen him go off-duty much. Are you just more laid back?" she asked, true curiosity in her gaze when she glanced at him.

[Forge]

Originally Posted By: Olivia Jenings-Izumi

Vinnie's assessment of her caught her off guard and she actually laughed. "Maybe," Olivia chuckled. "Though poor Daniel would be heart-broken to hear you say that, I'm sure." Her sardonic tone make her sarcasm clear.

At his suggestion, Olivia got to her feet. She wasn't going to ask, but he if was going to offer to walk back with her, she'd take it. "Yeah, it is getting pretty late," she added, backing his statement with clear relief in her voice. "But I don't think--that I'll get lost. I remember the path perfectly."

Ah craptastic, heard me...she laughed...wants me to walk with her...hmm.

Vinny stole a side-long glance at Olivia as they walked.

Definitely hit that.

"You tryin' to show off, or that one of your new tricks?"

Originally Posted By: Liv

"How come you let me call you Vinny? You're one of the actual military types, and Major Caine makes me call him by rank when he's on-duty. Not, mind you, that I've seen him go off-duty much. Are you just more laid back?" she asked, true curiosity in her gaze when she glanced at him.

"Yeah, the pole in Caine's ass is an old-growth redwood. Me, I'm definitely more cool. We spend so much time off-world, last thing I need is the damn natives calling me Lieutenant like its my fuckin' name."

'More cool'? Did I say 'we'? Goddammit! She's a damn civvy.

"Should I call you Specialist all the time?

His tone obvious as to what he thought of the title.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Originally Posted By: Lt. Wright

"You tryin' to show off, or that one of your new tricks?"

"Oh, yeah," Olivia said, blinking. She'd gotten used to her team knowing his already. "My memory has gotten pretty good, well, pretty much perfect. It feels normal to me now, a part of me, like opposable thumbs. I don't think about it anymore."

Originally Posted By: Lt. Wright

"Yeah, the pole in Caine's ass is an old-growth redwood. Me, I'm definitely more cool. We spend so much time off-world, last thing I need is the damn natives calling me Lieutenant like its my fuckin' name."

"Should I call you Specialist all the time?

Olivia fought the discomfort of confrontation. "Major Caine's a good CO," she said simply, her voice a little tight. "And most people on the team call me Doc, or Doctor Jenings-Izumi. You can call me Olivia," she added, glancing at him. "I'd rather people call me that anyway. It's a lot-"

The sound of a zat gun discharging made her duck and spin, looking around wildly. It was Vinny who reacted more appropriately, grabbing her arm and jerking her behind a tree, next to him. "What!?" she shouted. Oh, no, it's the NID, you cursed me you gorilla! She pressed herself against the tree and pulled out her tazer. Remembering that yelling gives away positions, she lowered her voice and hissed, "Can you see them?"

[Forge]

These guys had balls. Going after Stargate personnel this close to Cheyenne Mountain was ridiculous, moreso given that it was obvious they were after the enhanced humans.

Holy, fuckin' shitballs. At least four, prolly five, more is stupid. They are so dead, the ass-tards.

"No, don't need to, zats are close-in, shit for range."

He kept his arm protectively around Olivia, as if his arm alone could stop a zat-blast, while he quickly darted his head around the tree, looking at the direction of fire.

Can't see shit, they can't either...no wait, they'd have NVGs.

Vinny whipped his head back around the tree as zat fire buzzed by them into the scrub brush. The shit-eating grin on his face was a mile wide, interrupted only by the ever-present cigar. He leaned in so close to Olivia, she could hear the popping and crackling of the burning cigar.

"Olivia...close your eyes and stay on my ass like your life depended on it."

At that, a clear pane of glass roughly seven feet by thirteen feet wide framed in riveted steel appeared, thudding to the ground as though it was just dropped before settling in a position six inches off the ground.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Oh no... not again, Olivia moaned to herself, even as Vinny seemed to be enjoying himself. It was the ambush with Declan all over again, though this one had the advantage of beginning with her on her feet instead of on her ass. And she had another Specialist with her. Things were actually looking up, though she'd like a few more people up here on her side-

,,

Remember what you've planned for the next time. Her panic retreated to a manageable level and Olivia reached out with her senses again, beyond human hearing until she heard the tinny pop and crackle of the radio frequencies. She juggled through to the one for the guards at the gate and quickly locked onto it. She'd been practicing this, so here went nothing. "Hey, Cheyanne Mountain, this is Specialist Jenings-Izumi and Lt. Wright. We've been ambushed and are under enemy fire by a small unit."

,,

"Roger that. Where are you?" The calm voice that answered her was reassuring in its stolidness.

,,

Olivia gave their estimated locations, just as Vinny leaned in and spoke to her. She probably looked completely out of her depth as the cherry of the cigar gave her dark skin a rosy glow, but she was just a little distracted with her phone call. She was only barely aware of the arm around her, or the glass wall that had risen between them. "Specialist, SG-8 is on night-time maneuvers around your area - sending them to support."

,,

"Roger and thanks," Olivia sent before shaking her head. "That was weird," she mumbled as she grabbed Vinny's belt just to the left of his center. "SG-8 is nearby and on it's way," Olivia said to him, wiggling her fingers firmly into place and getting the best grip she could manage. "I'm ready for... whatever you're doing." She closed her eyes and hoped that she wouldn't become an Olivia-tail for a bolting Vinny.

[Forge]

Fuck me runnin', she's a mindreader? Well there go your chances buddy-boy.

Vinny slowly moved around the tree, careful to keep his shield in front of him. The familiar hum of zat blasts soon followed, but because of the need of proximity, none of the shots could get around the wide barrier and instead crackled along the surface of the glass.

He noted the origins of the fire, and smiled at their stupidity in giving up their positions before lobbing a mortar as close to center of their grouping as possible.

"Special Delivery assholes!"

Click to reveal.. (Damage)

Rolled to see how big a blast it was.

(16:45:34) ChatBot: (Forge) rolls 4d10 and gets 2,4,3,10.=1

5 Lethal explosion

Vinny shut his eyes as he turned away from the blast, hugging Oliva, keeping his shield between them and the explosion, but it could still be felt as the heat and force eddied its way around the shield.

"RUN!"

Vinny turned Olivia around, pulling her hand out of his belt as he nudged her forward.

Hope she was right about knowin' it perfect, that blast is only gonna blind 'em 20-30 if it didn't take 'em out.

[Mr Fox]

There was an "Oh Shit, cover!!!"

That was followed by an explosion that left ears ringing.

That was then followed in turn by, "Dude, what the FUCK!?! You use a live mortar on a training exercise!?! Whose you're fucking commander? Report!"

The zat blasts however had stopped and neither Lt. Wright nor Doctor Jennings-Izuma could see anyone standing.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia wasn't looking around; she was running. She heard shouts, but they didn't register. What did register was the sudden radio traffic. "Nghea," she grunted, wincing and grabbing her head as multiple voices began shouting. She stumbled to a stop as she realized what was being said.

"Vinny! That was SG8." Her dark skin was nearly gray as she gasped, "We tried to blow up SG8!" The only way this could have been worse was if they'd attacked SG1. That fact that she hadn't just been complicit in lobbing a grenade at Daniel was the only saving grace.

[Forge]

Vinny slowed to a stop to avoid bowling over Olivia, panting from the adrenaline rush. He slowly turned around and faced back down the trail. Three small fires were quickly burning themselves out, branches and other plant debris was scattered like...well...like a bomb went off.

"I am so fucked," then louder, "Lieutenant Wright."

You...have...got...to be...shittin' me.

Panic started to register somewhat in Vinny's voice. The fear of having hurt someone on his side was too much for even this cocky shit to handle. Though Vinny wasn't throwing caution completely to the wind, he kept up his barrier as he started jogging back the path. Wouldn't be the first time that an enemy had tried this trick.

"C'mon Olivia, let's see how deep my grave is."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Oh god they'll send me home and I won't get to go through the StarGate and back to the classroom but I'll be the idiot who believed Jackson's impossible utterly true and unbelievable theory and that's it life is over...

Fighting back panic, Olivia trotted after Vinny. Catching up with him in time to hear his last statement, she reached out and took his hand. "It'll be ok," she said, not believing herself. "It was an accident, and... a huge misunderstanding." She gave his hand one last squeeze and dropped it, then steeled herself for what was sure to be an unpleasant encounter.

[Forge]

Vinny looked down at her holding his hand, then looked up and made eye contact, holding it for a moment.

As Olivia dropped his hand, he took the cigar from his mouth and as he turned down the path once more, he crushed it on a tree trunk in passing, letting it fall to the ground.

[Mr Fox]

As Lt. Wright and Doctor Jennings-Izuma jogged back into the clearing four men were standing or crouching behind cover aiming zats at them. "Son of a bitch Leutenant! That was close. Able here nearly lost an eye." He pointed to the guy on his right who had quite a bit of blood on his face and uniform. There was a gash in his forehead just above his right eye. Being a head wound it was bleeding way worse than it actually was.

The bleeding man named Able looked at his commander, "Cap'n, you think I can get a purple heart outta this?"

His Captain whom you recognize from seeing him in the base, was torn between being pissed and laughing, "Sgt, you put in for a purple heart every time you ut yourself shaving. No, I don't think this counts even though it wasn't self inflicted."

"Looking back at the two specialists, "Jeez this is a cluterfuck. Major Caine asked me to ambush you guys out here if we saw an opportunity to keep you on your toes, but I didn't realize you weren't out here training. But shit Lt. what were you doing with live ammo on a walk in the woods? They shouldn't have let you out of the base with that."

He shook his head in frustration, "Damn, we were all over the radio about it too, the MPs will be sticking their noses into this any minute."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Caine! You... gah! Olivia fumed, holding her head for a moment so that she didn't run off, find Caine and scream at him. "Vinny isn't in SG-21," she said. She saw the thoughts pass over their faces: Not on the same team? What were they doing out here together then? Oooohhhhh... right. It was infuriating to her that they immediately thought she and Vinny were a couple, just because they were a man and woman somewhere alone.

"I could tell the MPs it's ok," Olivia offered, knowing that the situation was already messed up, probably beyond all hope of repair. "At least we'll come in without getting them involved."

The Captain looked at her and blinked. "Where's your radio?"

Olivia blinked and flushed. Sheepishly, she tapped her head. "I don't need a radio, Captain."

[Forge]

Recognizing that it was actually SG-8, Vinny dropped the shield, letting it disperse into the nethers. The panic that had tensed Vinny's body vanished. The once stricken Vinny had now gathered back his usual bravado and anger had quickly taken its place.

"Don't have a fuckin' choice. Wouldn't worry about the MPs, Caine's gonna need a damn medic though."

I wish.

"We're not fucking. Get some pressure on that wound Seargant before you look like fuckin' Carrie."

Takin' care of this now dammit.

Sure that all the immediate danger was over, Vinny started jogging back towards the base, using what little was left of dusk's grey light to make his way back on the path.

Civvy can sort the fuck-all out.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia glowered after Vinny as he took off down the path. You... jerk! You mess up by actually validating their thoughts by saying so out loud - haven't you ever heard of 'The lady doth protest too much' - then you run off and leave me to handle this alone. Jerk-jerk-jerky-jerk!

Quietly fuming, Olivia turned back to the commander of SG8. "So, what do we need to do to make this right?" she asked simply. She was clearly angry, but she was also restraining herself for now.

[Mr Fox]

"Make this right? I don't think this can be made right. We've got a stack of paperwork to fill out over this since a man got injured." He considered for a moment then said, "Yeah, calling off the MPs would be a good start. Better we come in on our own than in cuffs." He chuckled, but there was a hint of real worry to his voice.

Without looking at the men he called, "Ok, team lets get a move on the faster we get Able back and stitched up the better. Jenkins, clean that wound and get a bandage on his head asap then we'll get going. And don't let your guards down just because of this. I don't want to be surprised by Anyone on the way back."

It took only a minute or two to get Able ready to travel, but Olivia did catch several of the men giving her sidelong glances as they prepared. There was perhaps just a bit of speculation in them.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia called back to Cheyenne Mountain and explained that the MPs would not be necessary, and that SG8 was fine. In fact, she tried to say cheerfully, everything was fine, just fine. She wasn't sure that they believed her, and it was a boring conversation anyway.

At least she'd have company on the way back, even if she could hear their soft, speculative whispers about her. Her face burning, she joined SG8 for the walk home.

[Mr Fox]

Back at the base no one said anything about the 'incident'. Very pointedly no one said anything. SG8 went off to the locker room, the Captain just giving Olivia a nod of appreciation for not making an issue. As they walked away she could hear the Captain, "Able, tell the good folks in the infirmary you tripped and cut your head on a rock."

"But Cap'n, that makes me sound like a clumsy idiot." Able returned in almost a whine.

She could barely hear the final reply, "Would you rather fill out all the paperwork they'll makes us all do if we report it?"