The base was never much ofa militarized outpost anyhow, aside from a few defensive emplacements which didn't matter much to them anyhow. It was really more of a housing compound than a military outpost anyhow. As well, the weapons, these Cursed Objects which possessed the Mercs themselves, rejected the changes, reverting back into their normal state. As well, the Mercs had not been influenced by the whispered words, but not for a love of warfare as one might think...No, they had become Mercenaries in order to see the universe, to behold its splendor and maybe make some money in odd jobs along the way, as long as it fit their moral compass. Mercenaries, not immoral, after all. And as well, once they'd settled Ash Island, they gained a new purpose-as guardians of the world they loved. They still left the island in order to do those odd jobs and contracts, a security detail her and supporting a defending fleet there, rejecting the various, mainly Narrikian contracts for the assassinations of several members of the Anrufe, but it wasn't just so they could keep the money, for they also left the island to get supplies. And not just for themselves, either. They used it in benefit for the people of this world, buying food offworld during a famine in order to drop it off from the Dark Heart for a relief effort, or if a epidemic began to spread they would rush out to obtain medical supplies in order to provide aid. They were a family of warriors, that did what they did for their community, which was the planet they'd always loved, the one that nurtured them back when they were children, had gathered them together as youths. They were Mercs, yes, because the word did fit them:They had no faction allegiance, and they gave their primarily combative services for pay. But who they hired themselves out to, how they spent the money they earned...These determined who they were as people. And thus far? Bad vibes from violence or not, the Mercenaries kept at their jobs, believing in their hearts that what they were doing was right.
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Hiro was walking along the shoreline of the island that he and his friends called home. It really was miraculous, this sudden onset of plantlife that had just appeared. Their home had been so barren just eight years before, and when it began the vegetation really doing wonders for morale. But best affected was Flora, the girl they'd rescued so long ago. A hybrid she was, a truly unique person, belonging to both Kingdoms Animal and Plant, the sudden vegetation suited her just fine. In fact, she'd taken it upon herself to tend these plants as best she could, keeping them alive and well. Others had joined in to help, but it really was her who'd taken it upon herself to take care of the life that sprouted from the ash that had overtaken their island since before they'd lived there. Hiro smiled, seeing her dash to and fro, probably talking with Alycia, the Archive VI she'd bonded with back when the Archive was still operational. He didn't know what the status of their ally was, but he did know Alycia was one of the very last of her kind-Archive personnel weren't just rare these days, and any of their tech? The Mercs held the last remnants of them, including, of course, Alycia. He wondered what the two were up to, seeing as they all had the day off for now. Hiro's given the group strict orders:Barring any emergency on Earth that required their aid, the Mercs were to enjoy themselves and relax. They had money, at the time, and the Dark Heart was ready to begin a journey to another planet for food, medical supplies, whatever necessary and get back as soon as possible, so they could afford to relax a bit before things went wrong.
