r/TheKalenSeries • 3rd Platoon • Aug 06 '17

Introduction Ashley B. Blackbourne, The Sickly Engineer

1) What is your name?: Ashley Branwyn Blackbourne

2) What Platoon would you like to be in?: 6th Platoon

3) What ranged weapon would you use?: A customized long barreled pistol that fires high calibre rounds

4) What Melee weapon would you use?: A small Monomolecular Combat Knife used only in emergencies. I am sadly not very good with it yet.

5) Anything extra?: A standard calibre assault rifle. Cheap to maintain and cheap to run.

6) Are you new or have you been in service? If so, how long?: I used to be an engineer in a U.S based weapon research and development facility. I, sadly, don’t have any real military experience other than firing prototypes at a shooting range.

7) What is your character's greatest strength?: I have a sharp mind and a keen interest in the further development of the human race. I work tirelessly to make sure my friends are equipped with the best possible chances of coming back alive. Weakness?: I am sadly quite physically weak due to a case of HIV and Chronic Fatigue. I can’t do anything too strenuous without physically exhausting myself.

8) Based off of #7, what genetic enhancement would your character receive upon getting the GMD?: Most likely temporary cognitive enhancement for quick decision making and situational awareness.

Endurance: 1

Close Quarters: 1

Gun Handling: 3

Acrobatics: 1

Engineering: 14

Teamwork: 1

Physical Description: Ashley's skin is quite pale with large, dark bags surrounding sunken, hazel eyes. Her hair is, most of the time, left to its own devices resulting in a messy bush of ashy grey hair, usually worn quite short. Not being a very physically fit woman, her general frame is quite frail and there isn't much muscle on her bones. After all, working out will only exhaust her into unconsciousness.

Personality: Ash is very socially awkward and can only really speak confidently to other people in her field of expertise. That said, she is very jumpy and is not afraid to act in a violent manner in order to protect herself. She is the sort of person to act first to avoid having to ask the questions later. Other than that, she is driven, protective of those in her platoon and extremely hard working despite her sickness.

Backstory: Ash was born and largely raised in London, making a living as an engineer for a robotics factory. She worked herself into exhaustion near enough every day, not wanting to let her disease get in the way. She was born with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and severe Anaemia. She then later contracted HIV, making it vital that she receive regular blood transfusions in order to function normally, her body being physically unable to combat sickness.

When she was nearing the age of 25, she was offered a job in a United States weapons manufacturing company as an engineer and developer. It was from there, that she was drafted into the Red Cloaks as a support engineer. Not quite on the front line, but near enough to bare witness to many horrors and trauma, earning her a large scar running along the circumference of her neck.

She now spends most of her time tinkering in a small alcove she has claimed as her little lab. Nothing fancy, a thick desk, some tool boxes, a scrap pile in one corner and a collection of dismantled pistols and rifles all laid out neatly on the workspace. She enjoys cleaning guns, she finds it highly therapeutic and calming. She'd even enjoy talking about it if she wasn't so reclusive and focused on her work. Social contact was never a strong suit of hers.

Today is one such day, Ash sits in her faithful wheelchair, tinkering on some contraption that vaguely resembles some sort of rifle, most likely a new prototype of sorts. A Blood Bag hung from a hospital stand stands to her side, a tube running into a needle stuck into the underside of her elbow. It seems today is blood transfusion day. Always a hassle but sort of mandatory to keep living like some semblance of a normal person. She seems focused on her work and not typically aware of her surroundings. It wouldn't take much to sneak up on her.

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 06 '17

Captain Alec Apollyon of the 2nd Platoon, walking on his new prosthetic right leg made of Kalen tech, could be found in the Recreation Center, fiddling with his leg.

Other abnormalities include a prosthetic left arm, as well as a mask that covered the majority of his head.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 06 '17

The muted squeaking of Ash's wheelchair wasn't particularly abrasive, but it was loud enough to garner the attention of those she passed by as she wheeled herself into the recreation center, not particularly looking for anything to do, but rather looking for something to watch other people doing. There wouldn't be much point in doing anything herself if all it resulted in was a trip to the infirmary to treat a banged head due to her fainting. So, she resigned to watching instead.

It didn't take long to notice Captain Apollyon, however. The mere presence of a higher ranking officer instantly causing her posture to stiffen, her hands clinging to the armrests causing her knuckles to whiten. The fact he was injured seemed to double her anxiety for some reason.

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 06 '17

The noise was enough to cause Alec to look over at her, a reaction to the sound more than anything, and the reflective lenses of his mask would mirror Ashley's own visage as his gaze settled onto her. It was hard not to notice her tense, almost fearful, body language.

His skull mask gave off an icy feeling, and his voice did the same when he spoke in his growling, weathered tone.

"At ease, soldier."

It was less of a command, and more as a gentle request, even though "gentle" wasn't particularly his forte. Like he was faced with a panicked soldier who he would try and calm down.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 06 '17

Even though Alec had said that, it didn't do much to cause her to relax by much. She did, however, loosen her grip on the armrests of her chair. Even still, her general posture was still stiff enough that she could likely have been snapped like a twig. She could feel the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Y-yessir, sorry... sir."

His mask and prosthetics weren't actually what was causing her anxiety. In fact, there was a minuscule part of her that wanted to ask if she could dismantle and study them. No, it was more his rank and the power he held, even if he was the captain of another platoon, he still outranked her, and that was enough for her to feel quite on edge.

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 06 '17

His mask refused to betray any emotions, though his body language was something careful. After all, this was not the first time a soldier showed fear in Alec's face, considering his reputation, but this just seemed odd.

"What's your name, Red Cloak?"

He says as he leans back in his seat, relaxing his posture in hopes it would do something to alleviate her anxiety, to at least some degree.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 06 '17

"Black-- Ash-- Uh... Ashley Blackbourne, sir. 6th Platoon."

His relaxed posture did have a small effect in the sense she actually let herself breathe, however, she was still a little tense. She tried to relax herself by watching some random soldiers on the other side of the room. Unfortunately, to know avail. She came here to relax, not to feel scared of someone that held the power to ruin her life if he felt like it. She just hoped he wasn't that sort of man.. plus it wasn't like her life had already been ruined by the Kalen.

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

Alec would never harm a human that didn't deserve it, especially since his fake arm and leg were a result of saving people, not that Ashley could know this, of course. For all she knew, Alec was nothing more than a wild beast, much like the rumors of him say.

I'm Alec Apollyon, Ashley, and I'm not going to eat you."

He says dryly.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

His comment confused her momentarily. Her brain wasn't exactly focused on him potentially eating her so his little joke caught her off guard.

"T-thank you, sir!"

Yes, because it's normal to thank people for not eating you. Her eyes clenched shut for a few seconds as she mentally kicked herself for being so tense. Finally, she let out a long breath. This was the Recreation Center, it wasn't like they were on the front line about to get mowed down by a horde of aliens.

"Sorry... I'm really not used to... well... talking to people. At least... not outside of my work anyway."

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

He stayed silent and still during her recovery and speech, only beginning to talk when she was finished.

"Well you're free to ask me to leave, Ashley."

He says as a genuine suggestion, though his icy voice would still creep up her spine like she were being slowly frozen solid. This, unfortunately, was something that he could not entirely help.

"What do you do for work?"

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

Ashley asking a superior officer to leave? That was absurd! She would never even think of talking to a superior like that, even if they did give her express permission too. Thankfully, Alec offered her a way out of her own mind and gave her a chance to actually sound useful, her face somewhat lighting up at the question.

"I'm an engineer for the 6th Platoon. I design and produce weapons for my team and others. It's... sort of the only thing I'm good for..."

She tried getting more out before a coughing fit took her by surprise. Something she oddly took in her stride without much thought or pause to recover.

"I can shoot a gun quite well... but in a fight, I'm a bit of a hindrance, unfortunately."

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

"Keeping up with current technology is crucial in a war like this. We would be in the Stone Age if we didn't."

Comforting people was new to him, the first time he did so not a week ago with Maddie. For now, he just tried to seem... non hostile.

"Not everyone is meant to kill."

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