Who Are You 3D Render, Digital Artwork by RedSpartan

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Who Are You

3D Render by RedSpartan

Mya looked to the entrance to the control room where the creature had so inelegantly disappeared, could hear it still shuffling around somewhere at the base of the steps and wondered how injured it actually was after the barrage of rounds that the mysterious girl had fired into it. How it could survive that kind of punishment she had no idea, but to hang around this charnel house to find out what its next move might be was definitely a bad plan. Her shoulder still ached from where she’d crashed into the units, but she pushed herself quickly to her feet and followed her saviour out through the rooms other exit.

The girl was moving quickly down yet another corridor, past more detritus and ancient garbage that littered the floor. Mya fought to catch up to her her, debating whether to call after her lest the sound of her voice bring down some other monstrosity from the shadows.. Eventually they came to a T-junction, the path ahead illuminated by intense blue lights, the corridor branching off to the right blocked by an imposing looking door. It was here the girl suddenly stopped and whirled about in a fluid motion that brought the assault rifle to bear menacingly in Mya’s direction. Mya pulled up and raised her arms in surprised supplication.

‘Whoa there sweetheart,’ she said in alarm, ‘No need for that.’

The girl stared at her with a disturbing menace in the eyes.

‘Who are you?’ she snarled, driving Mya involuntarily backwards with a single step.

Mya eyed her carefully, trying to take a measure of her hostility. Surrendering her name to a potential enemy went against her training, and she was in a Confederation facility, albeit apparently abandoned, and they were definitely the enemy. This was merely a girl, at least in appearance, perhaps no more than late teens, but implanted with cybernetic components that screamed Confederation technology. Yet, in the intense stare of those eyes she saw a curious mixture of hate and fear, and something else that made her decide to drop her defences…loneliness.

‘Mya’ She whispered, then more clearly ‘my name is Mya Caine’

‘And why shouldn’t I kill you Mya Caine?’ she replied, her voice sounding more aggressive.

‘Well, you just put yourself in danger to save my ass back there, which would seem to be a huge waste of effort for someone intent on putting a bullet in my head.’

Mya tried to conjure a smile in an effort to defuse the situation, but the girls intense stare worried her. Behind those eye was a very troubled mind.

‘You’re one of the bastards that did this to me,’ she spat venomously, ‘perhaps I want to make you suffer a little before I finish you off.’

Mya swallowed, wondering if she was fast enough to snatch the rifle from her hands. The girl obligingly edged closer, but Mya hesitated. Confederation citizens offered themselves up with blind zeal to modification and augmentation. They welcomed it with relish if it gave them the extra strength to crush their enemies. It was indoctrinated into their very being from the moment they were born. They didn’t complain about it afterwards.

‘No, no…I’m a Commonwealth operative…’ she stuttered, a realization suddenly flashing in her minds eye. ‘I was a prisoner here, tortured and dumped in a regen tank and then forgotten about.’

The girl hesitated, the barrel of the rifle dipped slightly as she pondered Mya’s reply.

‘Commonwealth?’ she whispered, as if a painful memory had suddenly resurfaced.

‘Yes, Commonwealth. I was born on Elanzia.’ Mya took a breath and decided to take a risk and share her story. ‘I was sent here to find out what they were doing, but I was betrayed and captured the moment I arrived.’

‘Commonwealth?’ The girl said again, the word barely a breath.

‘Yes’ She replied, a tear unexpectedly appearing at the corner of her eye. She took a careful step forward and gently moved the rifle barrel to one side…’and I’m guessing so are you.’ she said.

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Decided to move the story along with another panel set. Putting these together is quite enjoyable so an idea for a complete graphic novel or comic approach in the future may not be as daunting as I first thought. I'll finish this story up first as quite a few pictures have already been completed, then may give it a go if time will allow me.

Thanks for looking as always, much appreciated.