We're all in this virtual space together.
Cynosura

You sprint towards the light even though the calm waves are stillbrushing the edges of your mind with tantalizing foam. Just as you were soclose you thought the brightness of it all would make you spontaneouslycombust, a fearsome sword burst into existence. You recognized it immediatelyas the swordswoman’s weapon.

You took the blade, furnished with its own scabbard and belt, andattached it to your waist. A flash of a face appeared in your mind but it wasgone as soon as it came. You looked back towards the way you came, knowingthere was only path left.

What do you do?

Achernar screamed inpain, as though memories had been ripped straight from her brain and staggered,not letting herself fall to her knees though. Zeke stepped away from her; nowback in his normal attire, still sans jacket though. The bluenette gave him asmall nod of acknowledgement, which he returned after a moment. “I didn’t needyour help,” she said softly, “but, thank you.”

Zeke shrugged it off,and knelt down to pick up the weapon the woman had dropped, handing it back toher. Achernar took it without a word, letting it dematerialize to be calledupon when she next needed it. “I see Amaya is back?” Achernar commented,looking at the blonde and trying to direct conversation away from herself.

“I was trapped in aprison, like you were. It hurts, doesn’t it?” Amaya asked, stepping close andtaking the other girl’s hand without a second thought. “It doesn’t hurt as muchafter you talk about it.”

“I don’t hurt, memoriescan’t fucking hurt you,” Achernar replied smoothly, her bravado firmly in placeas she stepped away from her previous shackles and shook out of Amaya’s hand.

“Some can,” Myos said,rubbing his neck.

“Please, Achernar,”Amaya gently coaxed, and something about the girl’s innocence and willingnessto help anyone moved her into speaking.

“Well, it’s kind ofstupid. So maybe I had a mom who had a ton of money but was a total bitch. Iused to cry every night to see her and all she did was told me to grow up,” hervoice turned into a growl. “I was just a kid. I wished every night on the starslike my father told me too, but he never came back. He had already married someother cunt and left me with my mom to rot, to probably turn into a rich snoblike her and have rich snob children or something.” Achernar clenched herteeth, fists balled as she recalled the memories. “I left when I was twelve andI never went back. Grew up in the city slums and was taught important things,like how to fight and not need anyone. I decided I was happier like that. Idon’t really regret that choice, ever.” She shrugged, looking at the three ofthem. “But, it’s not bad having you guys around. Even you, I guess,” shesnorted, eyeing Zeke and then Amaya. “Is there something I should know about?”Achernar asked with a raised brow, gesturing to the girl in the other man’scoat.

“Oh, no, I just didn’thave any clothes because, well the last thing I remember is blacking out andbeing in this big tall chamber thing,” Amaya explained quickly, all in one gushof a sentence.

“Well, enough aboutfucking weird shit that happened while I was in memory coma land, where’sRazzy?” Achernar asked, a sudden intensity at the end of her question.

“She’s the next one toreplace,” Myos replied, leaving the bluenette to nod in response, and the quartetto walk back to where they started to retrieve their last party member.