[spoiler]Okay... so this is the final memory I plan to post, at least for now. I wanted to post this [i]a lot[/i] sooner, reasons being some crazy things happening in real life, having to organize some future plans for these stories, and... a week long ban for accidentally saying the forbidden word you find in one’s armor. *embarrassed laugh* I still plan on hosting an RP, hopefully soon, and there will be more information on that when I post it. For now, I hope you enjoy this memory of Skye as it shows what happened before she and her brother ended up in Offtopic. As I am drawing near the last battle between Errol and Skye, I would be very grateful for any criticisms in my writing [i]as well as[/i] my roleplaying, simply because I want my RPs to be enjoyable! This story is a tad longer than I had anticipated, so there will be a second post below to finish it up. Much thanks![/spoiler] Skye’s leg armor clanked softly together as she walked briskly down the stone corridor, her helmet tucked under her arm and her hybrid weapon hooked over her shoulder as it always seemed to be. She looked down at her vambraces and grinned excitedly. Though they were, like the rest of her armor, of a simple design, they held technology that would give her the ability to cloak out of sight for a short period of time. She believed that all of her experiments had finally led to success, and she was on her way out of the laboratory to test her work in the daylight. Then she passed by an open doorway and paused her stride. The sliding doors weren’t normally left open, especially to that particular room, and when she glanced back she found her brother hunched over his usual desk. The brunette bit her lower lip as concern quickly replaced her curiosity. It had been nearly five years since the two siblings had last spoken in the same tight-knit way they used to. Once Errol started working on his project, a rift had grown between them, and despite Skye’s efforts conversation became very limited. He distanced himself more over time, and she eventually stopped trying. She believed for the longest time that her brother simply needed to organize his thoughts on his own, but it had gone on far too long. What would Lyle say if he saw his children ignoring one another as they were? With that question in her mind, Skye slipped into the room. It wasn’t as large as some of the other chambers of the laboratory, nor was it as full. The most interesting object within was a large, run-down machine on the far side which appeared to be connected to a pair of platforms of steel and glass tucked into alcoves on either side of it. She contemplated its unknown purpose a little longer, when Errol’s voice sounded from where he stood. “Sneaking up on me again?” Skye whipped around, mind racing as she suddenly doubted her decision. “I, uh, sorry! Now is probably not a good time. I can come back later.” “No, I’m glad you’re here.” He turned to face her, and her fears were unexpectedly met with his smile. However, dark circles sat beneath his eyes, contrasted by skin that was more pale than what was natural for him. It was a wonder that he had even taken the time to keep his jaw cleanly shaved. He looked at her up and down. “You’ve been busy.” “Oh, um… you mean the armor? I just wanted to try something new.” She sighed. “Errol, about why I came here. I’m worried about you. I—” He furrowed his brow and interrupted her with a scoff. “Worried? Why should you be worried?” “We’ve hardly spoken for a really long time, and I miss when we used to talk. Are you all right?” “Aye, of course I’m all right! They’re finally done!” He held out a pair of gloves. Skye stared at them blankly. “So you’ve… finished practicing your sewing technique?” He chuckled and shook his head. “No. Well, that too, just watch! You’ll love this!” Errol slipped the gloves on, revealing the silvery disks fastened to their backs in the bright lights overhead. He held up his hands waist-high, and the disks glowed crimson. A low humming soon followed, and Skye became aware of the deep leather pouches that hung from his belt. To her astonishment, from them burst thousands of tiny red beads. More of the beads than she thought could possibly fit in the pouches continued to pour down Errol’s legs. She took a step back as they gathered together and moved as one, mimicking the careful motions of their master’s hands. Even though they rolled slowly and almost idly around the room, something told her that their full potential had not yet been revealed. They looked heavy, with the power to crush and break. The amount of study and skill it must have taken to fabricate them took her breath away. “They’re—they’re amazing! What are they?” “I’ve decided to call them Atoms,” he replied quietly, admiring his own handiwork. “They do whatever I ask of them, move into whatever form I desire, and with nothing more than a wave of my hand.” Skye looked up at him questioningly. With every word his voice became deeper and his gaze upon the ‘Atoms’ darker, though his smile remained. Something about it sent a chill up her spine. “What are these… ‘Atoms’ for?” “To get rid of it all. I thought you knew.” “No, I didn’t. Get rid of what?” He gave her an odd look. “The corruption, Skye! Don’t you see it? Father always said that we lived in a good and just place, but over time after his death I realized it’s everywhere; in the city, the leadership, even hiding in the wilderness! I have to get rid of it because no one else will.” “W-what? No, you—” she stammered, taken aback. “Y-you can’t be serious.” “I’m perfectly serious! The Atoms just need to be adjusted and refined a wee bit more, and then we can clean our homeland of it and find the men who killed my father. Come with me! Together, we can avenge him and keep anything like that from happening again. Don’t you want that? Don’t you want those men to be caught?” “Aye, I do, but not like this! Father taught us to use weapons to defend ourselves; to defend each other! We shouldn’t abuse—” “Like you were so good at defending him when the time came,” Errol snapped, and the expression on his features hardened with growing impatience. “It took me more time to realize it, but you let him die. Why? Did you panic again, like you always do? Afraid to use what he taught you when he [i]needed[/i] you? Were you even trying?!” Skye briefly froze at the cruel blow he had made, unable to suppress the guilt that rose within her. “I tried! I promise you, I tried! I didn’t want for any of this to happen. If I could make up for it I would! I’m sorry!” “Andrew’s cross, I’m giving you an opportunity to make up for it! And I want to forgive you, but you have to chose a side. Help me.” She was indeed tempted to accept his offer. She desired nothing more than to be with her brother, and to atone for her mistakes, but everything within her warned against it. Having an angry heart for bloodshed would not honor Lyle and all that he strove to teach them. Her gaze met his sadly, and Skye shook her head. “I can’t.” The Atoms swirled behind Errol, and he took a step forward threateningly. “If you don’t come with me you’re going against me. Think about what you are saying!” “I [i]am[/i] with you! I [i]am[/i] on your side, and that’s why I’m telling you to please reconsider! This isn’t what father would have wanted!” “How can you be so certain? You aren’t even truly his daughter. I’ve come too far to turn back now, and I won’t let anyone get in my way, not even you!” Skye felt her eyes burning with hot tears at his words, and she let out a trembling breath in preparation for what she was to say. “It’s too late. I am already in your way. I can’t stand to watch you fall like this, and I won’t let you go so easily.”