Wilted Flower

Posted on Fri Sep 8th, 2023 @ 8:37am by Commander Raiden Kosugi & 1st Lieutenant Kyle Walken

Mission: Just Another Day on Gladiator
Location: Gladiator Brig
Timeline: After Assault
1535 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kyle Walken was never one to lay around even when he should be off his leg cleaned himself up, dressing in his marine uniform he once again left the Marine Headquarters. The journey was short as he made his way to the brig. The marine gave a nod to the Navy Security, "Wait outside." He walks up to the cell containing Tiger Lily, he is quiet as he watches her for a moment. She knew he was a traitor but he was curious about her reaction when he was in his uniform and her thoughts now that this part of the cult was done.

Locked there without her chair, Tiger Lily was seated upon the bed, leaning up against the wall, her eyes narrowed when she saw his form on the other side of the force field. "What do you want." she asked. "And you... you are a Marine." She spat out.

Walken places his arms behind his back as he keeps eye contact with her. "I came for a few reasons, one was to make sure you were okay and yes I am a Marine. First Lieutenant Kyle Walken."

"And you played me for a fool." she snarled out. "I am okay, and I do not know where they are going to be sending me. I should have been left for dead. I thought I was dead, to be united with my Goddess." Tiger Lily folding her arms over her chest.

"I did, but that cult needed to be stopped. How many people did they murder for all of this?" Walken's normal anger was gone, as he watched this woman he could only feel bad for you he didn't know much of her story. "Tell me, how long have you been part of all of this."

"What concern of this is it to you? What right do you have in judging me for the religion I had found and it helped me? I have been with it for two years or more." Tiger Lily exclaimed.

"It becomes my duty when that religion drives people to murder innocents. Why seek out monsters, you seemed like a nice person, so explain to me what drove you to join people who put their own greed over the lives of innocent folks?"

"Greed? They were kind considerate, and wanted things to be purified and peace to come about. And they said it would happen. It was going to happen except for your interference." she was angry, very angry indeed. "Now the Goddess will have to come about in another form. Mark my words she will come and bring about peace, and purity."

"I'm sure to all the people they murdered that means a lot, peace...the peace of your Goddess is a lie if the path to it is covered in blood and bodies." Walken maintains his composure his eyes never leaving her's. "Your cult made a mistake, they pissed me off. I don't let things go so now the remains will have Lieutenant Walken watching and you can be damn sure I will never let them succeed. I hope the doctors can help free you from this brainwashing at least I hope it was that. You seemed like a good person, I want to help you but that isn't my strong suit. I'm a marine you point me at a problem and I fix it."

A bit of a sad laugh from Tiger Lily, "They helped to heal what had been broken, Walken. That is why I went with them. And all you are is a weapon? I thought you a lovely man, I fell for you. I had the fairytale thought of you, me and going someplace else. You destroyed that." she taking hold of the pillow and threw it at the forcefield. It bouncing off and landing on the floor.

"I hope you can find some help from people who don't murder people in the name of religion Lily. I'm sorry Lily, but I put the lives of the innocent over my personal feelings and always will." Walken taps the control panel to drop the shield. He sets down a stuffed bear before exiting and turning on the shield once more. "I will be there in the background."

"Just, just get out of here!" she screamed out, and turned to lay on her stomach covering her face, not wanting to look at him anymore.

Kyle doesn't leave, he quietly sits down and leans against the wall. He has some small hope if she sees he isn't just going to abandon her it might help.

Fifteen minutes later, the security personnel came in to check on things. "Sir, do you want a chair?"

Tiger Lily raised her head up sleepily for she had fallen asleep. She scowled towards where Walken was at. "Why are you still here?"

"I'm alright." Walken answers as he looks towards Lily. "You shouldn't be alone right now, you may hate me. But I still care."

"Why do you care? What's in it for you? What do you want?" Tiger Lily asked, moving to get herself to an upright position. "Do you think I need saving?"

"There is nothing in for me regardless of what choices you make you will still hate me. I will still support and hope you can find a path away from the murderers." Walken stares forward at the blank wall.

"I do not understand this, why you are doing this. Are you seeking my forgiveness? Why should you want it? I hate the fact that I let you get close to me, I hate the fact that I was weak where you were concerned. You hurt me gravely. I do not know why I opened my heart to you. Why do you wish to save me when I stabbed you. " Tiger Lily was just rather confused.

"Because it's who I am, I don't expect forgiveness. I just want to help you. Simple as that." The Marine closes his eyes and grips his leg as the phantom pain of the stab returns.

"Look I am sorry I stabbed you, however as you said, I've got blood upon my hands for who I associated with. I am not stupid in thinking I will be forgiven. I still believe in the Goddess, and that will not change my mind." she winced seeing him grab his leg. "Just forget about me, Kyle. I think it would be best for you to step away from me. I felt love and kindness and acceptance from them, and I felt that purity of blood was important. I still think that those who mix their genetics is to be frowned upon. Too many times have races dwindled down to there was nothing left of themselves."

"Redemption is a long road we walk sometimes in our life, it's never easy and it's never fast. I don't care that you stabbed me, that is just par for the course. I just hope you can find peace and work past those extremist views."

"Are you on the path of redemption, is that why you are wishing me to do so? And how you are acting it seems that you may have feelings for me. Is that right Kyle Walken? Do you have feelings for me?" Lily's tone slightly mocking.

"I am, I will walk that path for the rest of my life. I don't know how I feel." Kyle pauses as he stares at the wall searching his thoughts. "I do care I don't know why I want to reach my hand out and help you. But I do. Regardless of what that feeling is I just want to help out some...save someone...make up for the lives lost."

"Well on that account, Kyle, you saved my life for what its worth. I should thank you. Go about you own path as I am going to have to travel one of my own, whether it be for a road of redemption or something else. It will also probably be one of incarceration. Either way, our paths will now separate from here." Lily remarked, quietly.

Walken nods his head, "I hope you follow the right path." He gets up and walks towards the door of the brig.

"One thing more before you go, tell me about that animal you put down in my cell, what is it for?" Lily having not had something like that before.

"It's meant to bring you comfort, something to hold when you need someone to calm your nerves. A teddy bear, a friend you can keep by your side." He answers.

"Oh, okay thank you." Was Lily's reply, maneuvering herself down to where she could get the bear and her pillow, then made it back to her cot. "Be well, Kyle and may you find peace." Lily then looked at the bear to play with its paw. "How strange, how very strange indeed."

Walken silently nods his head as he leaves the brig. "Return to your post." He spoke to the guard before walking away.

Lily took a moment to watch as Kyle disappeared from view as the security personnel came back inside, then became lost in her wonderment about the teddy bear.