Liz furrowed her brow at his apparent disregard for… whatever was wrong with him. ”Fine. But I have half a mind to take you to sick bay right now before they get overwhelmed after the battle.” she told him firmly, despite his higher rank. She didn't care if magic was normal here, coughing up black anything was a cause for concern to her. When she heard the dome start to break, she turned sharply back to the field. I should be down there. I should be ready to fight with them.
"Well, you can't I'd rather die here then in the sick bay, alone." He turned and sighed, his body lowering down as he prepared to rush into the upcoming battle.
"I just hope that you'll be alright, I don't care about myself."
Soon, the dome shattered and out came the swarm of black invaders, they had mustered up the courage and in a myriads of grunts and roars, charged at the soldiers. Spells vs Technology.
”You’re not going to die. Especially not alone and not today.” she said decisively as she gripped his shoulder. ”You should care about yourself, there are people here who care about you. I can handle myself.” she told him just before the barrier broke.
Liz turned to watch as the first wave of both lines collided, a part of her still wishing she was with her brothers and sisters in arms but she couldn't, wouldn’t, abandon James.
"Like who?" He slipped away from her and jumped down into the pull of the enemy armada.
He grabbed a gun from a fallen soldier and began to tear down the invaders down.
She rolled her eyes at his question. ”Do you really have to ask?” she said before jumping after him. Honestly, Liz only had a list of three people that she knew who cared about him but the middle of a battlefield wasn't the best place to bring it up. Right now, her goal was to keep James safe.
I am going to be in so much trouble for bringing him out here. she sighed as she picked up a gun and started firing on the Empire’s army.
"I mean, there is not many, perhaps only Blake but still.." James said as he glanced at Liz before focusing on the enemies once again.
His gun continued to fire until he finished his magazine, which he then threw down the weapon and grabbed another one. While this happened, his pupils began to become midnight black as a strange black aura visible to all was appearing.
Liz wanted to tell him that there were a couple of others who cared about him, but a battle wasn't the best place for a heart-to-heart despite what Hollywood showed. She continued to focus on the fight occasionally glancing at James from time to time, wanting to make sure he was alright. Though once she noticed something happening, she stopped firing. ”James. Your magic.” she warned him just loud enough for him to hear her.
"What?" He viciously grinned as two sharp fangs grew from mouth. His eyes turned from black to blue, from blue to red, repeatedly.
Oh, Sh1+!!!! Liz stared in shock and a little bit of fear. ”James… Don't…” she gripped the gun out of reflex, but she kept it pointed at the ground. ”Just try to calm down. You can't lose control now.”
"But… There is a bloodshed i-" He froze and clenched his head, low growls coming from him before slowly, the black aura dissipated.
"Damn it….. This power…" He muttered, breathing heavily, he looked up and Liz could see his blood-shot eyes returning to normal.
"Sorry Liz.." He weakly smiled before coughing out some more black blood.
Liz held her breath for a moment while James seemed to return to normal. ”I-it’s ok.” she said in response to his apology. ”Chase mentioned trying to picture a vault and storing your power inside…” she offered, wanting to help him but she still had no idea what kind of power he really had. ”Well, that's what he told me to do to control my magic but it might work for you too.” She walked over to stand beside him. ”Do you need to… I feel like we should get back on the ship. I don't want you to get hurt right now.”
"Why do you care?" He sharply gazed into her eyes before looking away.
"It's fine." He sighed.
Liz returned the sharp look, her eyes flashing a dark blue. ”I have more than a few good reasons to care! First of all, you’re my XO. Secondly, neither of us know exactly what is going on on this weird planet with everybody gaining magic. Third, I know you're Captain Blake's old friend. Do you really think he would like to find out that you got hurt somehow because a stupid nobody of a Lieutenant batted her eyes at you and asked you to join her?” she ranted. ”I know I’m the biggest flirt on the ship but nothing has ever come of that except annoying the hell out of people.” she admitted, her voice softening as her eyes went back to normal. ”And the final reason is because I do care. You’re one of the only real friends I have. You deserve to have someone care about you.”
"Listen Liz…" James sighed and walked up to her.
"You aint a stupid nobody, you're a beautiful, pretty person who is kind. Annoying perhaps but not to me." He softly said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Friends are only temporary. The only ones who will stay with you till the end are loved ones, I dont have anyone to take that place…"
Liz chuckled a little, though not completely out of humor. ”Smooth talker.” she smirked at him, placing her hand on his. ”Thing is that only works on me when you mean it… Or if it's followed up with a kiss. I haven't flirted with you since we collapsed outside the med bay the day we got our magic.” she reminded him. ”And don't pretend that you didn't think I was annoying when we first met when we crashed here before we fought the Swarm.”
"Yes…" James chuckled for a bit.
"But that changed, I got to know you better, and thats what made me…" He stopped himself and sighed.
"I should head back…"He looked away.
Liz raised a questioning brow as he trailed off. She wanted to ask him to continue… Made him what? What did I make him do? She nodded with a small sigh. ”Yeah, that's probably a good idea for both of us. At the very least, we can still help coordinate a defensive strategy in case the Empire’s army gets too close to getting inside the ship.” she suggested, though she trusted the rest of the soldiers to keep that from happening.
"I suppose," He nodded and began to walk back, his mind thinking of many things and possibilities.
"If only… That could happen.." He mumbled as he stood on the elevator and waited for Liz.
Liz sighed, a little relieved but still worried about James, as she joined him in the elevator. She was glad he had agreed to leave the fight but when she caught what he had said under his breath. ”If only what could happen?” she asked gently. She hoped he wasn't talking about the Empire getting to the ship. We need to find out what kind of magic he has and get him to talk to someone who really knows about magic… Maybe Hewaz or someone.
"Nothing," He answered softly as he walked along the hall calmly.
She frowned a little, not buying that answer, but didn't push for the real one. "Yes, sir." she said as she followed him down the hall. The perfect picture of a soldier and her senior officer.
"So, Lieutenant. Any ideas on what your magic can do, and… Things you can feel due to it or something?" He asked as he looked back.
She looked at him, a little surprised by the formality but shrugged casually before answering. "Not really. I mean, I know I can mimic someone else's magic if I watch them use it for a long enough time." she told him. "But I don't think I feel any different… It would be interesting if I could detect what kind of magic but I don't know if that's something I can do. I might have to talk to Chase or Hewez to get more information." she smiled. "Would you be willing to accompany me when I ask them?"
"I… If I am required to then yes, I don't believe I'll be allowed to anyways. Anyways, lieutenant, it would be better if you went alone, in case you know, you met into harms way due to me." He tried to maintain being professional.
"I understand." she said calmly, but still trying to get him to come so he could talk to them about his own magic. "But I don't think it would be dangerous if you came with me. How much do you know about magic here? I mean in general, so far?" she asked.
