theresalwayshope | 015} now look up, well the skies are black {and they're getting darker all the time}

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[When the scream rings out, Allison drops like a lead weight.

It's a sound she knows well, the banshee's howl. It's painful, it's terrible, and it's terrifying because she's helpless. She would fear a dupe, if she hadn't smelled Lydia personally, if she hadn't known her for the short time they ran together...

As it is, she can't think of anything. The scream won't allow for it.

She regains awareness in the middle of the earthquake and the dark, confused and terrified and totally without direction.

Something breaks. The dark is endless.

Then...it's over.

Blinking against the sudden light, Allison flinches at the assault of new sights and sounds. She's in a room she doesn't know...a living room space, warm and neat yet lived in.

Her nostrils flare, sorting through the scents: human (Allison), rabbit, hay. There's gun oil, lead and gunpowder (bullets), the distant smells of cosmetics and breath mints and old traces of her father's aftershave. Turning in a slow circle, she spots pictures on one wall, photos of her...and on the coffee table, she takes note of a folding combat knife sitting next to some magazines.

Reaching out, she picks it up...flicks it open, then shut again.

All clues point to this space...belonging to her somehow, but there are weapons in it.

Tucking the knife into the back of her jeans, she fumbles in her pockets, looking for her comm. Finding it, her hands shake as she flicks it on, her face filling the feed a moment later. The fear is open on her features...and those that know Allison Argent well, as well as those who met her in the arena, may note enough differences in her demeanor to determine that something's very wrong.]

Everyone in the pack, please check in...I think there's something wrong.

[Allison kills the feed, then puts her comm back in her pocket, venturing cautiously out of her cabin. The doors in the corridor are familiar, but somehow wrong...

The number on the door matches. The infirmary is just down the hall. There is no question in her mind, this is her cabin. If not for the strange doors and the absence of her old room at home behind her door, she'd have sworn this was her Barge.

But, as she goes cautiously investigating the different levels of the ship (excluding warden areas at first, because she obviously doesn't have access), she slowly comes to realize that she's not where she belongs.

This ship is not the Barge she knows.]

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[She's seen her message a few hours ago, but she wanted to check in on a couple of people before reaching out to her. By the time she does, she's ready for her to not be her Allison.]

Allison? It's Lydia. Not-- Martin.

A bunch of people from your Barge are here. You need to be careful who you talk to.

[Hearing Lydia's voice...not the Lydia of her own Barge, but the Lydia she's already thinking of as hers, her friend, her pack...allows the last of her fear to bleed away, leaving only the restless apprehension of how wrong the world is, how it unsettles her beast.]

It's okay, Lydia. You don't have to be scared...I won't let anyone hurt you.

[She pauses, then extends her claws. In the feed, where Lydia can see, she uses her thumb claw to puncture her fingertip, a single drop of blood welling forth.

She wipes it away...and the tiny wound is already gone.

Giving Lydia's image her attention, Allison's smile is awestruck, barely restrained joy and gratitude combined.]

Because no one can hurt me.

[Her powers are back...but she's secretly afraid if she says the words out loud, the Admiral could hear and take them away from her again. She can heal, she can fight...

She needs those things if she's going to protect her pack in this strange new world.]

[Lydia watches as Allison punctures her finger. Her eyes tear up slightly as she watches it heal instantly. If her Allison was a werewolf, none of this would have happened. She would have gotten hurt, yes, but she would have been okay.

The hint of a smile appears on her lips as she focuses on her best friend's face again. She may not be her Allison, but she loves both versions of her. She loves all versions of her, including Alan.

But then her smile fades and she shakes her head.]

A lot of people here have Mountain Ash, Allison. You still need to be careful. [She can heal, but she's not immortal.]

I will. I promise. [And from this Allison, it's much different than it is from the version Lydia knows. This one sounds like an oath, one Allison will die before breaking. She understands what she's saying, what Lydia's telling her...the weight of it, it's more important than anything.

She gets that people care about her, they're her pack...but at the end of the day, she has to do the right thing.]

In the meantime...we should talk. There's...I think there's stuff about your Allison's life here that I need to know.

[Lydia takes a deep breath and nods, then she shifts on the bed and sits up.]

Yes, there is. There's a lot about your version of Lydia I wanna know, too. I'm planning on pretending to be her for as long as I can. I think it'll be safer until we figure out who we can trust.

My Allison is a hunter. She's human. She's part of the pack and-- she's fiercely protective of us.

[Allison nods, chewing on her lower lip thoughtfully for a moment. It all fits...except the part about being human. She pauses...then regards Lydia with intense curiosity.]

Do you know...about the bunny? [Because while it's cute and adorable, and Allison understands the notion of a pet...the wolf in her can't really wrap her head around the idea of keeping rabbit around unless it's for food.

But nobody panic! Allison understands that this bunny has a name and a dog friend and is not to be eaten.]

Duchess! [Lydia's eyes widen. She completely forgot about her for a moment.]

Yes, Allison just got her from Zane. She's really sweet. [And this version of her best friend might not really be interested in taking care of her?]

I can keep her with me, if you want. [Probably a good thing she doesn't have Prada.] Or show you how to take care of her. She must be starving.

No, it's okay--she's okay. [She hesitates, then picks up the comm with a smile and wanders further into her cabin. In the interim before Lydia contacted her, Allison has moved herself back into her own cabin, leaving Duke to sleep in his. The pen is set up, and as Allison turns the camera onto it to show Lydia Duchess at play, there's also a tiny brown bunny ensconced in a litter box full of hay. Beside the pen, the dog, whose name Allison still does not know, is sprawled out with her head on her paws, watching both rabbits with all the intensity of a very focused babysitter.]

I ran into the Reaper in the corridor...Mason, he was terrorizing the brown one--Johnny. I also ran into Zane, he gave me a few pointers. The dog belongs to Duke Crocker...I guess your Allison was taking care of her while he's in a coma.

[She shifts the camera back to her, features again tucked into a puzzled frown. She opens her mouth...then closes it in exasperation.]

Having this conversation is silly on comms. Why don't you come to my cabin? You can visit all of us.

She was. She was actually staying in his cabin for a while to take care of the pets.

[As much as she wants to take Allison up on her offer, Lydia hesitates. The animals are clearly okay. And so is Allison. In fact, if the flash of red she saw in her eyes at the arena is anything to go by, she's probably the strongest werewolf on board.]

I want to. I don't know if that's the best idea. I'm in Stiles' room and I don't think he'll be long. [Lydia hesitates.]

I think I'm making some real progress with him, Allison. He's listening to me. He trusts me. And through him, maybe we can help Scott, too. Help all of you become the pack you're supposed to be.

[Rather than react badly to the mention of his name, Allison perks up] Lydia, I ran into him earlier! I don't know if I did any good, but...we talked. I think he actually listened to me, a little.

Stay with him. I won't come there, it'll bother him if he finds my scent in his cabin. If you think I can help, howl--call. [She falters over that, because she's...not used to this anymore: arranging conversations, meeting with people, interacting outside of a survival situation.]

Lydia...I want to save you, save her. My Lydia Martin. [She pauses, and her eyes get a little bright as she smiles.] I want to have a best friend like your Allison has you, but I don't think I can reach her without Stiles being on my side. You can do this, you can save him...and the three of us, together...we'll save Scott. No matter what it takes.

[It breaks her heart to see how much Allison wants this. How much she needs it. How much she believes she can have it. But it's not different than the way Lydia herself was looking at Stiles earlier. She wants it too. She wants it for all of them. For Allison, for Stiles, for Scott and even for her other self.]

I'll help you. I swear to you I will do everything I can to help you. I want you guys to have that, Allison. I know you will be so much stronger if you do. [She pauses then nods.]

But I agree that Stiles will be the easiest way to get to the other Lydia. They have a connection already. She would protect him in a way she wouldn't protect anyone else with the exception of maybe Jackson.

Stiles doesn't think we can get through to Scott, but I think he's wrong. And I think aside from him, you will be the one who will be able to get through to him. You two dated, didn't you? Were you his first love where you're from, too?

015} now look up, well the skies are black {and they're getting darker all the time}

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