XCOM Chimerian Squadron - Episode 36
0==== Began uploading on 2023, December, 3rd, 1:57 ====
Hello again.
In this episode of Chimquadron, Chimerians shoot living objects that shoot back while simultaneously being as calm as death itself.
Thankfully, however, on a map that I didn't see before this playthrough.
...human-style alien families in XCOM, ewww...
Jared's story:
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(Takes place during 7th February, 2039)
Jared stands with two people in tundra plains. Snow covers most land spotches from their boots right to horizon, with sparse windows of brown moss. Icy water reflects sun's light directly into their faces.
A dreamy landscape - perfect for quiet discussions. Something fitting for...
A shot. Younger of two unknown people, a young man with a stylish goatee, hit the rock with assault rifle's training ammo. The result is far from decent, but it shows a noticeable progress since Jared found him.
Another person, a twenty-four-something girl with long wavy hair, chuckled with seeing that accuracy. A spin with colourful expanses flying through the air - and another shot. With revolver still emitting smoke from its barrel, girl looked at the stone.
Man smirked back - her result wasn't that great either. Poking each other with playful kicks, they didn't notice Jared standing right behind them, with a face that knows about a grim future.
The Dimensional Viewer did attack, right after the respects for Tiberian Sun Soldier. This ambush was completely unexpected, out of nowhere. Hiding in snowfalls and using the shadows to their full extent, the Dimensional Viewer didn't even break a sweat beating the entire group to near-death condition.
A glimpse of the Viewer's expression was caught. A glowing, smiling grimace of both boredom, mock and sincere dissatisfaction.
"YOU KNEW ABOUT MY WARNING... ONE MORE YEAR. BETTER PREPARE YOURSELF". A somewhat inspiring taunt, said with rather kind, breathly voice. A massive anticlimax.
"...PRESERVATION. THEY WON'T..."
Defeat's a disaster. Revelations striking as razor-sharp alien alloy sword right to the brain.
Those who could still be conscious - they understood the mocking. And they got the idea that Jared knew more than he told.
Three weeks in a local hospital. Ferguson in a coma, Salmon and Nicoletta crippled. The rest heavily wounded, with Jared being the least injured one.
His cowardice played against him again, spiking at what he valued. Relations soured. Mood being the same as it was before Liberation War.
He couldn't forget the look; all the people he was at memorial, they wished for another life with opened opportunities. Even if someone didn't get their exact wish, the ability to choose, not to fight, was charming.
Not anymore. They have to live through hell once more.
To prevent that from happening, Jared, after getting out of the hospital, searched high and low for any potential adventurers who would know the truth right from the start.
A story of a relentless, behind-the-realm hitman scared some, but caused laughs of most. Only two people agreed to join Jared - not for their valor, but for the thrill.
"...POISONED BY A SPAWN OF KREI'PURR..."
Both girl and man didn't have high hopes for their life. It was a massive guilt, but Jared searched for those with nihilistic thoughts.
As they wouldn't treasure their own safety, but could use their presence to challenge the Dimensional Viewer. A twisted tomorrow, used to shield friends of Jared.
"I'm sorry, you two",- Jared thought, looking at these two people. Despite the nihilism, they got along pretty well.
But this duo knows already they can die, anywhere, anytime. They accepted it in their childhoods.
Jared couldn't let go of his life, bound too deep by his connections to this world.
The matchmaker he is, Jared immediately shipped the girl and the man. Remembering the fiasco of Tina and Ferguson, though, he decided to not take any action. To make it natural.
This expectation didn't lift off at all - no romantic charisma, just a similar mindset on a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience.
They sucked at combat, so Jared had to teach them, for his own gain.
Was it right to decide their destiny like that, using his status as ex-XCOM? Jared just clenched his teeth, hoping to not let it all burn in nothing, watching the cheerful banter between two acquanties.
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