The Orchard

Summary: Walking After Midnight is the first XCOM story I ever posted. I've edited it a little since I first put it up, but I mostly consider it 'non-canon'. At best, it's Weir lying in his journal.

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Being mind controlled felt like having dozens of cockroaches run down your spine and dig into your brain. The things the bugs whispered become your thoughts. Become your wants.

Mind controlling another was like reaching out with a limb you hadn’t known existed before having your psionic potential woken up and smothering every thought you found. Then you make their arms your arms, their legs yours, their eyes a new set just for you. Underneath it all you might hear them scream if they’re strong willed enough to still be aware of their true selves.

Jay almost threw up the first time he did it. The Commander sat with him after the mission and let him cry on his shoulder.

“Why did I have to do that? Why did you teach me how to do that?”

“It’s your life or theirs, Winters. My goal is to give every soldier under my command the tools they need to survive.”

To the Commander, that was all it was. Survival. Any sense of honor or code of conduct had gone out the window long ago. If it was a matter of life or death you do everything you can to live.

The sick thing was, it got a little easier every time. He couldn’t tell if he was just getting stronger or if he was becoming numb to the screams.

Both possibilities filled him with a nameless dread.