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Tue 22nd Feb 2022 04:55

Who is Sharp(e)?

by Liliana, Spirit's Majesty

In a dream, Liliana hears a faint voice…the voice of Runeforce, "My child…please protect my child."
 
When she awakes, Liliana is standing next to Cypher outside the military base camp where the team defeated the military forces.
 
"What the bloody heck is going on here?" Liliana looks around, unsure of her bearings. She hears Dragon Lady and Sharp talking to her, but isn't sure if it's still a dream or if she's awoken yet. "I'm sorry. Were you speaking to me? The last thing I recall was sitting with Aaron in the medbay"
 
"Aaron? Aaron Sharpe?" Sharp snaps around to Liliana.
 
"Yes, that Aaron", Liliana replies before turning to see to whom she's replying.
 
"Why is he at medbay?" Sharp urgently moves towards Liliana, obviously worried.
 
Liliana turns to look at the girl before responding to her "I'm sorry, who are you?"
 
Cypher cuts into private channel with both Sharp and Liliana, "Careful ladies, that information is not public knowledge."
 
"Thank you, Cypher." Sharp adds
 
"Seemed like your friend landed a one-in-a-million guess based solely on a given name" Liliana quips. "To quote someone much wiser than I 'Strange things are afoot at the Circle K... '"
 
Liliana looks the stranger up and down, assessing the person in front of her "So, was that a lucky guess, or something more?"
 
"Aaron Sharpe.. I know him. Really well, actually. I haven't heard from him in awhile, but I didn't realize it was because he was hurt. I know you haven't met me before, but I'm not a stranger, I promise."
 
"How long has it been? If you're so close what's kept you apart?" Liliana eyes Sharp suspiciously and folds her arms across her chest
 
Sharp takes a deep breath, "All of my life.. Aaron Sharpe is my father." Sharp pauses before continuing, "I've been away at.. college.. and we haven't spoken much since."
 
Liliana softens recalling the voice in her head "oh. my. you're ... I think that's why I'm here right now ... having arrived in this strange fashion"
 
"Oh no.. I mean, I know you're Liliana because of Socrates, but please don't tell me you're here to arrest me.. I swear I only took the gun for protection!" Sharp backs away slowly, keeping an eye on Liliana. Sharp begins to spiral and overthink the situation, "Oh no.. oh no.. dad found out.. Is that why he's in medbay? Crap it's all my fault.. I need to leave.. but the soliders.."
 
Liliana reaches out and grabs Sharp by the shoulder "no!" and pulls her close - "no child, no, not at all" as she wraps her arms around her "Your father saved my life, much to his own detriment. It's hard to explain - Sometimes my dreams have weird relations to reality and in my dreams I heard him tell me "protect my child" - at least I think it was him..."
 
Sharp stands there in Liliana's arms, trying to process everything. "He saved you? Of course he did.. Is he okay?"
 
Liliana speaks softly over the private channel "If you are his family, you are as precious to me as my own, for without his help, I would have lost my parents"
 
"That's wonderful to hear. I'm so thankful he was able to help you.." Sharp looks at Liliana with relief. "He always told me how much he wanted to help others, and I always knew he would. But to that extent is amazing."
 
Liliana begins recounting recent events to Sharp, "He and Jamie were piloting the XPlore corp plane, taking a few of us to try and find my family. There was an accident with the plane, but he saved the rest of us as it was going down. Lil' Rocket got him back to the medbay. When I got back, I rushed to his side, but after everything I must have needed sleep, I think I fell asleep next to his bed. I heard his voice in my dream and then was here with the team"
 
"That sounds like him.. Risking everything for others. I envy that. Thank you so much for bringing him to safety. Afterall, he doesn't have the abilities you all do and would've died if it wasn't for you.." Sharp shudders just thinking about it. "Liliana, you did say he spoke to you through your dream before you came here, right? Does he know I'm here?"
 
"I can only speculate that he does - as I said, sometimes my dreams reflect reality, and surprise even me. I don't believe in coincidences"
 
"That's fascinating. Your abilities are truly incredible. And let's hope he doesn't, for if he did, I would be in A LOT of trouble.." Sharp lets out a nervous chuckle.
 
"I was asked to protect you..." Liliana takes a moment to truly look at Sharp, and notices the technology and weapon "if you are able to protect yourself, that makes my job easier."
 
"Protection.. In the past, that would've angered me" Sharp laughs.
 
"Your dad, he has great power..." Connecting the dots, Liliana realizes that Sharp does not know Aaron is, or was, Runeforce. Hoping Sharp will forgive her one day when she does figure it out, Liliana's words deviate from her thoughts ".. but it is exercised in a much different way - his research and discoveries are a boon to humankind"
 
"Dad always said I was strong, but I knew he still worried about me. I would love to fight beside you, though. Especially while I grow stronger. But yes, his intelligence and inventions are mind-blowing. I mean, my gun and suit are his!" She whispers, "Don't tell him that, though.."
 
"We all keep secrets, especially from those we love." Liliana tells her while making direct eye-to-helmet contact with Sharp, adding "I'm sure he would understand."
 
Oblivious to what Liliana is hinting at, Sharp smiles under her helmet, "I really appreciate you saying that. I could never stay away from the fight, and if my dad knew that I've gone all the way to running my own militia, he'd probably kill me before Dr. Destroyer could."
 
"I think many would do everything in their power to protect their loved ones. If my own experience is anything, I know your father would be proud ... even if he was yelling at you.... Wait... how old are you?"
 
"You're right.. And thank you. Oh, I just turned twenty a couple months ago."
 
"Ah, old enough to vote, still young enough to fear your parents - I do not envy you..."
 
Sharp laughs, "Especially if your parent is the resound Aaron Sharpe.. fun times."
 
"Oh trust me when I say I know exactly how that is. If you didn't know before, I am called Liliana. What's your name luv? "
 
"It's nice to finally meet you, Liliana. I'm Sarah, but I go by Sharp."
 
Liliana raises one eyebrow "Not high on the creativity list, but makes things less confusing I suppose"
 
"Heyy, the 'e' makes a difference!" Sharp laughs, thankful she finally made a friend.
 
Liliana shakes her head "Sharp" "Sharpe" - she pronounces them the exact same, and shrugs slightly.
 
"Okay, but no one really ties the two together until I add the 'e'. Anyone could be 'Sharp', but not everyone is 'Sharpe'." Sharp, a little flustered, tries to change the subject off of her poor name choice. "Anyway, while we're here, should we take these soldiers to my nearby resistance camp?"
 
Liliana chuckles aloud now "It alright, let your deeds tell your story. With or without an extra 'e'"
 
Sharp smiles and shakes her head, laughing at her own lack of creativity.
 
Liliana looks around, taking in where we are and what's happened. "I don't know what transpired here, but if you have facilities for this sort of thing, then that would probably be best." She leans in close "If you're leading this, then you probably have more experience with the resistance than I do. This life is 'new' to me, thanks to your father"
 
"Ah, I should've probably filled you in.. My bad. Dr. Destroyer sent some of his soldiers to manage new technology in this camp, and Socrates led us to take it down. We're now going to sort out a camp in Leonard, Michigan and help find the soldier's family. And I'm not completely leading this alone, but I have a lot of experience with the resistance. Nonetheless, I'm just thankful you're with us in your new life. My father saved you for a reason."
 
Liliana quickly and quietly adds "twice now.. and I won't forget." before taking her turn to change the subject "Leonard? Who name's these towns?"
 
"Your guess is better than mine!" Sharp shrugs.
 
"So, a man needs his family found - that must be the connection. That's why I'm here." Liliana asks "Do we think it's some sort of prisoner camp?"
 
Sharp Explains "I believe so. I think it's also allowing Dr. Destroyer to have a form of blackmail on his 'soldiers' so they won't go against him. Terrible."
 
Liliana bristles, purple energy swirls around her "That bastard is digging his own grave deeper by the act and one day, the Spirits will have their way with Destroyer"
 
Cypher chimes in again. "Perhaps we should open up to general Comms now? in case others want to participate?"
 
"Sounds good, Cypher. Thank you." Sharp confirms
 
Her inner monologue about Destroyer interrupted but not forgotten, Liliana agrees "Let's save his family"
 
"Gladly."
 
"By the way... where are we right now?" Liliana checks her outfit and pulls out her iPhone to check the GPS location
 
"We're outside Millennium City" Sharp responds as Liliana fiddles with her phone
 
"oh... " Liliana nods "I see that now - at least I'm not too far from where I started." Turning to Cypher, she asks "I need to know - were you messing with me when you said my phone preferred to be called 'Daphne'?"
 
Cypher looks at Liliana, "Machines have feelings too, Daphne agrees..."
 
Liliana gets a pained expression on her face as she rubs the cracks in the screen of her phone before putting it away. "Just don't believe everything she tells you, okay?"
 
"No promises," Cypher replies, unsuccessfully keeping the humor out of his voice.