A slightly different turn of events after the destruction of the Crimson Squad…
Nooj pointed his gun at the other members of his squad one by one, shooting them and leaving them for dead. As he turned to leave, Paine reached up and shot him in return. As his body dropped to the ground, Paine watched two glowing lights, like fireflies, appear from the body. One floated away toward the cave from which they’d come. The other settled against Baralai’s body, disappearing into his skin. After a moment, two more emerged. Both wafted toward where Gippal lay, disappearing into his body. Then three emerged.
All three floated over to Paine. She was too busy trying to staunch the bleeding wound in her side to worry about some pretty lights. When the three lights pressed into her skin, however, she couldn’t help but notice.
“Paine!”
“What the hell?” she asked out loud.
“Paine, it’s us,” the voice was coming out of her mouth, but she heard Gippal’s voice in her head thinking the words.
“It’s like we’re part of you now,” Nooj voice was added to her thoughts.
“Neat. I have breasts.” Paine realized that her arms were reaching for her chest after Gippal’s thought, and she forced them back down.
“Just think,” Baralai joined in, “we’re like a one-person squad!”
“All for one and one for all?” Gippal asked.
“More like all in one,” Nooj answered.
“And one in all?” Baralai countered.
“That sounds lewd.” Paine frowned.
“Nah, that’s mild. This is lewd.” Paine found herself with the mental image of Nooj and Baralai doing…
“Aa! I don’t need to see that. Stop thinking like that!”
“It’s not like I’m fantasizing about you,” Baralai said, making Paine’s lip pout.
“I didn’t realize you felt that way,” Nooj added, sounding distracted, as Paine protested.
“Yes, but your thoughts are still there and I have to see them and… is that even physically possible?”
“No, but that’s half the fun,” Baralai answered.
“I like the way you think,” the deathseeker was adding.
Paine rubbed her temples. “I think I’m just going crazy.”
“Nah. Just think of us as houseguests. Persistant, dirty-minded houseguests,” Gippal said to calm her. “And if you want, I’ll be more than happy to fantasize about you.”
“Gods, knock it off. You’re making going crazy sound like the better option.”
