Ones of the Last Selection

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Somewhere else in Germany." Bassarov grabs Mischa's arm and teleports him to Koln. He gets room there, since he needs to sleep. In fact, he can not remember the last decent rest that he had.
They enter the room. Bassarov feels like there is something he wants to tell Mischa, but can not make words for his thoughts and feelings.
"Everything will turn out fine." Bassarov says as he changes out of his dirty shirt. He shoulders are covered with welts and his ribs are purple with bruises.

We walks over to the sink and takes a look at himself. His face is a little black and blue from Samiko's beatings.

"I don't think I've looked this bad for a long time." He washes his face and hands in the sink.

"I am going to take a quick shower. But you know...you know that I love you and if there is something wrong I want to help you. I am sorry you have gone through all that you have."

Bassarov lingers by the bathroom door with a fresh white towel.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I let out an uncontrolled whimper seeing him covered with whelts. I can't stand to see him hurt so much...

"I'm sorry... I know, everything will be alright..."

I keep my shirt on since I still have that swastika scar on my chest. I cross my arms, and start to shake, like I'm cold.

"I love you too... Don't, don't ever think other wise..."

My body shudders uncontrollably, and tears start to stream down the sides of my face. I have no idea where they came from... The well has overflown. I turn away.

"I'm-m s-sorry... R-really, I'm s-sorry..."

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov walks over to Mischa slowly and his eyes water as well. He hates to get overly emotional. He puts his arms around Mischa and is glad they are alone.
"Wouldn't it be nice if the world went away, and all the mess I have made of this world, and of your life no longer mattered. If we could just be forever alone with each other....and everything else....just faded out of existance...."

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I smile, tears streaming down both sides of my face, and let out a strange laugh.

"Th-that would be n-nice..." I say, starting to become aware of my stutter.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov kisses him on the cheek and holds him tighter. It seems that life is just too hard at times to be lived. Both men have had their share of suffering, more than most people could withstand.
"I would kiss your lips but since your breath smells of vodka I would rather not." Bassarov states, trying to make light of things.
He moves from Mischa and sits on the bed, and is glad to be away from everyone and the horrible machine.
"Well for a short time, the world does not exist. And we have to take what we can. It is good to be with you and just you. Not all of the rebels or the next conflict...."

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I wrap my arms around him and kiss him on the cheek.

"Sorry, that's unavoidable... I am glad that it's just us, who needs the world anyways? Let's just get some rest..."

My arms squeeze him, and I kiss him on the lips.

"I know the vodka smell is unpleasant... But bear with me here. Just promise me you'll never leave me..."

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov tries to smile once again, and though it is forced, it makes him feel better.
"I would never leave you. We have been through too much together and you are the only person in this world who understands me. I could no more elect to leave you than I could elect....to tear out my own heart." Bassarov says, realizing that he sounds terribly sappy.
But people have these mements.

"Let's go to bed...let's sleep in deep sadness and wake in love's madness....a line from Anna Akhmatova....I love her...." Bassarov says.

He undresses and waits for Mischa to got o bed with him. He is in a good, bad mood. Good in that he is hopeful and has love in his heart, bad in that he is sad.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I slide under the covers, and toss my clothes onto the floor once I'm covered up by the blanket.

"You truly are my other half... My better half..."

I wrap my arms around him, not worrying about the marking on my chest, and cling tightly, as though if I let go, he will disappear.

"I l-love you..."

I kiss his cheek and start to doze off.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Mischa, you are a better person than me, you are many times my better. I love you and you have brought me to the point where I am today. I love you too, more than anyone else I have ever loved, and more than I could love anyone else."

Bassarov is sure that Mischa didn't hear that, but said it anyway.
He wraps his arms around his comrade, who is so kind and good. In the sterile coldness of trying to get things done, trying to impress people, trying to be some amazing revolutionary, Mischa is the warmth that he can return to and the person he can be weak with.

[Jassica]

Jassica finally opens her eyes, happy that Tsubaki hadn't called on her for awhile. She puts her ocarina in her pocket along with Tahti's address and walks from her room.

She is happy to hear that Valodya escaped, he seemed a nice man, or at least a good friend. Putting in words for Tahti and all. She walks outside and wanders done the street.

She still wasn't ready to go see Tahti, so she'd just go look for someone else to talk to. Through, no matter how bored Jassica was, she'd never hope for Tsubaki to call on her.

[Anutsaka]

Anutsaka slipped quietly out of meditation, after several days. Deciding to take a trip, he had always wanted to visit the the home country of the one known as Hitler, the leader of the German forces during WWII.

What could've been left after the war was finished, and what remained now, in this day and time?

Yakkul, noticing Anutsaka was awake, gathered his bearings and got to his feet, waiting patiently for Anutsaka to mount him. Petting him slightly, Anutsaka got on and they made there way to Germany.

[Steve Fox]

Steve opens the door to find Sparkles standing there. She looks quite beautiful. He as long since cleaned himself up as well, wiping away the tears, washing his face to make his eyes stop looking red. But the feeling of gloom still hung over him.

She's cute alright... but she's here because I'm paying her, not because she likes me. Get over it, she's not your friend, she's a prostitute.

"Hey," says Steve, stepping to the side, "Come on in. This place is just like you said: no one would look for me here. Thanks for advising it."

[Ruth]

I am relieved when Ezra gets back. Although he is a somber little fella, I feel more comfortable around him than I do with this "Raz" woman and with the strange little kid that wants me to "ride in his spaceship". Seriously, what are parents teaching their kids now-a-days?

"Well, things were uneventful during your absence, hopefully you found out some useful things? Shall we head off to find some coffee? I, for one, am sick of standing in the middle of the street with no purpose other than watching a terrible god-machine destroy everything."

[Virus Bassarov]

" Hello Mischa. Nice to see you. "

((Sorry for the late reply. The copmuter messed up, plus I needed to goto bed I was a bit sleepy.))

[Ezra Weil]

"Yes, we can go to a cafe, I did learn some interesting things." Ezra leads then away from the ruined city to a cafe in a nearby town. Once they are seated he begins to speak.
"I learned some information about the androids. Despair had feelings for Erika Faust, likes Anna Akhmatova's poems, and have a depressive mood. Chaos likes Yoohoo and Misery. We may use this information against the machine mass."