Chronocide: Mission Snowdrift

They burst into the light and into a small clearing that stood at the edge of a cliff. The lake was far below....and it gave a view of the sky and the already-visable stars and moon in the sunset-tinted sky. What strategic value this place held was unclear, but it was beautiful. Especially with the snowfield that covered the slightly frozen lake's surface.

Even Hazel had to pause and just take in the beauty and stillness of the small spot.

It was gorgeous, and it caused Viper's gun to lower as he stared at the wonder of the nature before him "...I wonder if we're looking at the same view she comes here to see" He murmured 'or if it's for some other reason"

"I think... maybe its for the view," she murmered.

He nodded, his shoulders relaxing "heh...you know. This " he gestured before them "is what I've always pictured a world of peace to look like. That gentle quiet."

She nodded slowly. "I can see it."

He nodded, and sighed. "yeah..."

There was the sound of snow crunching, safeties flicking off...and the slow, sardonic clapping that was far too familiar to be comfortable

"Enjoying the view?" Purred the sly , sneering voice of Panther.

Hazel's shoulders slumped as she raised her gun, flicking around to aim at the encroching presense.

Panther and the Panther Brigade were there. All of them. Masked followers, Lynx with her too-large rifle, and Panther, clapping his gloved hands together "Shoot me, and my men will riddle you full of holes, Republican Dog"

Viper snarled, "great. The clowns are back in town. here I thought the circus moved on"

Hazel snorted. "Looks like they're back for another preformance."

Panther's bright eyes went hard, and he stepped forward with a wicked grin "I think you'll find my preformance to be more than adequate this time around, spy" he posed, arms outstretched, before grabbing his knives from his sheaths. There were only two this time, and he began spinning and juggling them in intricate patterns with what was clearly a lot of skill.

The Brigade kept ttheir rifles trained on Viper and Heron, just in case.

Panther  tossed the knives behind his back, caught them, and spun them in his fingers until they came up in a fighting position, held in his sure grip.

They were combat knives. Of the proper weight and shape and size....except they were engraved with the image of a pouncing Panther over a starfield.

He grinned "Fight me again , coward"

Viper rolled his eyes "i don't suppose you'll be wanting a rematch, young lady?" he asked Lynx

Lynx sneered at him, her hackles up.

Hazel paced forward. "I see you took my advice and got some decent- are those engraved?"

Viper aimed his gun at her "Bang" he said "Back off, kid. I don't want to shoot you again"

Panther looked as pleased as punch, licking the edge of his knife with a wicked grin "that's right. They're personalized"

"Wonder how much that'll throw off the balance," she mused. "It'll certainly make them harder to clean. And it doesn't add a damn thing to thier effectivness/"

Panther's expression soured "...what?" he spun the knife in his fingers again "They're perfectly balanced! And who cares how hard they are to clean!" He sounded a bit flustered. "i'm not going to be talked down to by some _child_ "

"Suit yourself," she said. "I know I wouldn't want to carry recognizable knves though."

Panther flushed, but  held his knives out with a growl "Fine. _fight me_ and we'll see who's blade's sharper, Republican Dog!"

She took her knives out of their holsters and grinned grimly. "Gring it on."

Panther rushed her, his knives far better weighted in his hands now, balanced evenly in his fingers as he attempted to slash across her cheek.

She dipped and dodged away from him, slashing back toward him.

He parried with the edge of his other knife, slashing a thin line across Hazel's wrist. His grin only grew "Now you feel the claws of the panther, spy!"

She hissed as he drew blood, but moved into him from the other side making a low jab at him.

He was fast, and he moved just enough to turn a stab into a blood-letting swipe. He hissed, feline-like, and lunged for her again, aiming just under her breast with one of the sharp blades.

She came up with one blade and parried his slash, catching it with the edge of her own knife.

He twisted, and used their close proximity to try and bring his other knife to her throat. They both were fast, keen  and clearly dangerous.

The two fo them battled fast and feirce, hazel dodging away just in time- but not quite fast enough to avoid just a scratch against her throat. She came back with a rushing attack to his stomach.

As she did, his elbow came up, and smashed into her face as a distraction.

She turned it into a grab, and grappled him with strength.

He grappled with her, and the two fell to the hard dirt of the field, rolling over one another in a test of strength. He rose his knife, and tried plunging it into her chest.

She gripped his wrist with her hand, squeezing hard on the pressure point there, holding it away and trying to force it out of his ahnd.

At the same time, he grabbed her other wrist, and attempted to do the same to her, both of them trying to keep hold of their weapon in this physical battle. His eyes flashed, his jaw set in angry determination.

Hazel glared at him, her eyes locked on his, both of them testing their strength against one another down in the dirt.

She kneed him as hard as she could in the balls.

His eyes went wide, as he made a sick gurgling sound in the back of his throat. His knife fell to the dirt, bouncing painfully but harmlessly off her chest on it's way

She grabbed his knife, and sank it back into his shoulder in return, heaving him off her at the same time.

He cried out, his uniform staining with spilt blood as he collapsed backwards into the snow. His brigade cried out in despair, and guns all trained on Hazel at once.

It was then that Panther called out, gripping the knife in his shoulder as he sat up with a look of anger and pain "NO! Stand down!" he hissed "She's my foe to fight!"

She held her knife toward him threateningly. "Viper, you have anything you wanna ask this guy?"

Viper nodded, his gun trained on Lynx "where's Lionheart? and who does she have stationed down in this valley?"

Panther looked at him with a rraise of his eyebrow, and actually laughed. "Is that what you're going to blow your question on, _viper_ ?"

Hazel glared at him. "Just answer the question, kitty."

Panther grinned at her "You're luck's run out, Heron" He staggered to his feet, and waved his remaining knife towards her "as for Lionheart. She's with the Comrade. They're cooking up something _real_ special for the Pax Republic"

Viper's eyes narrowed "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean , the Titan projectt is well on it's way. And _she's_ personally making sure security is air tight"

"Wonderful," Hazel grunted. "How long til its finished?"

"another six days....maybe less" He rolled his shoulders "that AI weapon of Dr. Kovalenko's is really something else." He said

"I;'m sure it is," she muttered. "Alright...." she looked at Viper. Time to send them back to their mommies?

Viper aimed his weapon higher, between Lynx's eyes in their standoff "little girl" He said "Take your kitten and go. Before he bleeds out in the snow."

Lynx made a face and moved to help Panther. She glared at Viper.

"Sir..." she said in a small voice to Panther

Panther looked over at her "Lynx, this is my fight" he murmured.

"Then live to fight another day, kid" Viper said with conviction "You'll never win if you burn yourself out like this . Go home. rest. Then we'll see if you can beat Heron at her own game."

Hazel nodded. "Yeah, try me again.  Youre not terrible, despite your earlier knife choices."

Panther paused, his eyes widening just the slightest. "not terrible." he murmured, and stood with the help of Lynx. He regained his footing, and his posturing enough to flash a cocky grin at her "then next time you face me, Heron....you'll be the one who's blood stains the snow"

Lynx helpd him stand, letting him boast, with a small smile.

Hazel nodded. "Good luck to you. Get that shoukdler looked at."

He nodded and waved his good hand "Panther Brigade! Retreatt!"

A chorus of 'yes sir's! echoed down the valley below, as the squad began to retreat. Panther and Lynx were the last to slink into the woods together.

Hazel stood watching, and shook her head. She wiped a drop of blood off her chin.

Viper lowered the gun, and commented wryly "I think he likes you"

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Interesting perspective."

"Joking aside, I think if he keeps trying to challenge you, and you keep impressing him, he may become a weak link that we can cut through later on"

She nodded. "That's true at least." As long as he didn't ask to marry here, like she'd seen in some of her spy novels.

He nodded, "come on, lets go" he gestured "we should take out those patrols.I think it's clear why they weren't there. Panther meant to trap us"

"yep. Lets get going."

Back they went along the pathway, down towards the outpostt and guard stations that made up the path tto the Supply Depot they would be raiding the next morning. It wasn't long after they hit the road that they saw problems.

Collectivist soldiers, looking alert and prepared, were milling around the guard post that was previously empty.

Hazel stopped, and made sure she wouldn;t be seen. "Well, that's not unexpected."

Viper nodded, and aimed his silenced pistol. "Three guards" he noted "Too many for us to each take one without risk of reinforcements."

She nodded, thinking about it. She watched what they were doing.

One was working a radio in the shack, while another stood guard over the south road, and the last walked a perimiter along the line of trees.

"If we take out the one with the radio, and the one at the road at the same time, one of us should be able to take out the last guy before anyone calls for reinforcements," she mused.

Viper nodded "good thinking, Heron" he gestured "you take the radio guard, I'll take the road guard."

She nodded, aiming her silenced pistol. "Got it."

Viper crept along the trees, making his way to the south. Hazel was alone. There was a window in the guard tower. But she'd have to get a good angle to actuall hit the man.

She crept along, looking for her angle, moving silently, and slowly.

If she used a lethal round, she could probably get him through the glass if she aimed from behind a tree about 45 degrees from the left wall...

She had lethal rounds loaded at the moment. Sometimes death wasn't something that could be avoided. She took careful aim.

The man had just put the radio down, and was reaching for a magazine with a lurid cover. His head was slightly turned.

it was the perfect shot.

She took it, squeezing the trigger, and releasing the speeding slug of deadly lead.

The window shattered, the loud but muffled sound of the gunshot echoing through the clearing. The man didn't even have time to turn as the bullet splattered blood and brain along the far wall.

The perimiter guard made a sound of alarm

The road guard only gurgled as Viper lunged from the shadows and plunged his knife into his throat.

Hazel immediately moved to aim at the perimiter gaurd. Could she hit him from where she was standing, or did she need to move?

It was a hard shot. But possible. He began running for the radio.

She aimed slightly ahead of him, and took it, carefully lining up where he would be and the bullet would be.

The gun went off, the bullet struck the man in the back, sending him tumbling to the ground. He squirmed, perhaps to grab his gun.

Viper finished him off cleanly as he walked by "Ready?" he asked

She nodded sharply. "All set."

He dragged the bodies into the woods, and covered thtem with a dusting of snow to hide them from view.

Hazel's comm beeped.

Hazel answered. "Come in."

"Dr. Kovalenko here" Came her mother's voice "Heron. I heard you talking to Panther and his Brigade about the Titan project"

Viper looted the small outpost for a few bullets and what seemed to be a field medical kit. He waved for Heron to follow along behind him as they started off to the north.

Heron nodded and followed carefully. 'That's right."

They moved with ease through the packed down pathway of the mountain pass. A wind had started up, bringing with it a chill as the light began to wane.

"I can tell you the possible dangers of them implimenting my technology with a machine of war. It isn't something I ever intended to be used in conjunction with a weapon"

"Wonderful," she sighed. "what are the dangers mo-ma'am?"

"The device , in addition to being a fairly advanced thinking machine capable of autonomous decision making, is capable of reading the mental scape of an individual. In the hands of an enemy, it can be used to locate , say, an embassy that disagrees with the Collectivist's beliefs....and launch a strike on them. Theoretically...it could be used to find _anyone_ in the world, pinpoint them, and make them the epicenter for a nuclear strike"

Viper examined the road as they crossed it, and waved his hand for Hazel to look at the tire tracks that started at an intersection.

hazel made a face. "That's... certainly dangerous."

She followed Viper closerly, moving slowly and carefully.

It looked like a truck had recenttly driven from the left path, down the hill to the right. Towards, perhaps, the outpost.

"It's a very dangerous situation" She said quietly "But it isn't flawless. Once you gett close enough, I can tell you how to confuse and break up the system."

"Good. Because we'll probably need to."

"Destroy it. For a machine of war without pity or remorse is a dreadful thing" the woman said seriously "And I would like a future for both myself  and my family"

Viper waved his hand, and lead them towards the  way the truck went. They melted into the trees. Security was minimal here, no wires, no fences. Just the forest and the road and the patrols....which they haven't hit yet.

She followed closely, slow and careful. "we'll destroy it."

"Thank you" Came the woman's reply, before the line cut out.

Viper pressed low among the twigs and snow, suddenly still as a board, his hand out to her and his finger over his lips.

Hazel froze as well, almost the second that he did, and followed his gaze.

There was a patrol, foot, currently stopped to examine something in the snow. A tire mark that they were talking amongst themselves about.

"Bike up here?" One was continuing "I thought the bike corps was disbanded for now? with the incliment weather."

"No, no. Most bike was shut down, yeah. But a few specialized folk are allowed to use the ones with snow tires, see the treads?"

Hazel watched and listened. She looked to Viper as she slowly moved her hand to her gun.

Viper was already aiming his pistol and hunkering into the snow.

The rumble of an engine distracted both them, and the team of two patrol guards.

A supply truck was coming up the path from the other way. It's back was full of boxes, and gaps

Hazel looked at Viper for just a moment, and then she aimed at the second soldier from the original patrol.  The truck would probably stop when they saw bodies, and then they could take out the drivers.

Viper nodded and trained his gun on the curious guard, who had started to step away from the track.

There was a moment, a whispered countdown. And then he fired. Two shots. One hit the man in the shoulder, reeling him, the other hit him in the throat. He collapsed gasping breathlessly on the snow. Dead.

Hazel took her own shot, aiming for the man's head, but ready to fire again if she didn't hit.

Her aim this time was as true as it was at the target range. The man yelped, and hit the ground next to his comrade.

The squeal of brakes sounded through the airr, as the truck stopped in shock.

Hazel smirked and aimed at the passenger door, watching, and waiting for someone to step out of it.

The door swunk open, and a female collectivist leapt out with her handgun at the ready. Her eyes were narrowed against the snow 's glare, her gun held in two hands, steadying heer grip "we know you're out there" she hissed.

Hazel lined up her shot as the woman popped out, and took it, aiming for the head again, and ready to fire again if necessary.

The woman twitched to the side, reacting to the sound...and her shoulder was struck. Her finger twitched on the trigger, and her bullet went wild, pinging into a tree near Hazel.

A man leaned out the driver's side, though, with an automatic rifle that he opened fire on the treeline with, blind.

Hazel cursed internally and  ducked low, firing back at the woman again.

Bullets tore through the trees, and several nearly hit her, throwing up snow and dirt near her knees and face.

The woman had seen her, and her gun was leveled at Hazel when the girl fired again. She was halfway through a shout of outrage, when the bullet hit her with deadly force. She fell to the ground , shaking.

THe man hissed, and aimed towards the source of the sound. He depressed his trigger...and it clicked. Empty. He hurried to reload, only for Viper's SMG to rattle off a volley of shots, that disabled his hand and tore intto his chest. The man fell from the truck, and into the snow path.

Hazel shifted her aim from the dead woman to the soon to be dead man. Viper would certainly take him out, but why force him to? She shot at him as he lay in the path.

The man cried out...and then died in the snow. The truck was idling. and the path was full of corpses.

Viper didn't say a word as he began grimly dragging soldiers into the woods, and hiding the traces of blood with fresh snow.

Hazel moved to help him. There were quite a few corpses this time after all. She looked to see if any of the uniforms were useable.

Two of them in fact were. There was a hole and bloodstain in the woman's uniform, but it could be cleverly hidden. And one of the road patrol had taken a shot to the head but his uniform stayed immaculately clean.

"Think these'll fit?" she offered to viper.

Viper raised his eyebrow and held it up. It would. It seemed. He'd just have to pin his ID badges over the blood stained breast and it'd fit just fine. She was a broad, strong figured lady, and the uniforms were the same for men or women. "yeah. Looks fine."

She nodded. "Lets take these, then."

Viper slipped into the woods to change.

SImon piped in over the radio "So you're going undercover, huh Heron?"

"Looks like," she said slipping into the uniform.

Viper settled the beret on his head, and squeezed into the uniform with only sight difficulty "So you're planning on driving right into the compound?"

Simon whistled shrilly "okay, well. If you're going to do that, It's best to have a solid plan in place"

Hazel nodded. "Yeah a plan sounds good," she said. She shrugged to Viper. "You think it'll work?"

Viper paused for a moment "yes. As for how, I can think of a few ways. Do we want to do this quiet, or loud?" He asked.

"ah, well. I guess thatt depends on if you want to risk an alarm" Simon stated "or if you think, altternatively, an alarm will make a good distraction?"

"I'd rather not risk an alarm if we don't have to," she said. "do you think we can use the truck to sneak in then ditch it?"

"Well I think so" Simon reported "i've been told a bit about the standard militarry base, and if you get it to a perimiter loading dock, you should be able to ditch it there..."

;'"Great," she nodded. "That way we can get in without having to find some fence to cral under.

"The fence should be more intact in an active outpost. Probably a good idea' Viper said with a nod. He gestured to the truck "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Lets go."

He hopped into the cab,  and started it up with the roar of the engine. "Did they leave a gun in the cab? Just in case"

She hopped in and looked around, checking carefully.

There was a shotgun under the seat. Just in case, they could snub out an emergency problem.

She grinned and pointed it out to him. "Looks like im riding shotgun."

He grinned back "I'm counting on you, cowboy" he said, before pulling down the street. The bodies of the patrol and drivers were left behind, and the threat of the compound loomed before them.

Hazel looked up at it in the rumbling old truck, looking out for problems.

It wasn't all that looming, as they approached the barbed wire fence. It was a guard outpost. A network of a barracks, mess hall, a small office, and a watchtower.

A place for the small number of soldiers to sleep and eat on their way to their posts each day.

Hazel thought it shouldn;'t be too tough to deal with-- but she didn't want to get too cocky. She remained relaxed, and ready to respond.

The truck lumbered forward, towards a gap in the back fence watched over by one bored looking guard with a clipboard and a rifle. He looked sleepy .

Hazel kept the smirk off of her face. Hopefully he'd just wave them through.

Diffusion of responsibility won out, and the man looked at them with a bored expression, sighed, made a mark on his chart, and waved them through.

Viper did his best to look impassive and bored as he was.

Hazel did too, her easy posture helpful in the charade.

The man paused, looked between them for a moment, checked is list again...and ultimately decided they mattched the indication of one female officer and one male.

The truck drove into a small loading dock bay, near the outpost's warehouse.

Hazel casually looked around taking stock of any gaurds or cameras around.

There were cameras on either side of the building...but they were dressed as the enemy. If they hid their faces enough, they could get out of range.

Milling inside the dock itself were two guards. But...they were busy moving boxes

Hazel took in the information, and looked for a route.

There was a path to the left and right, a loop around the building and into the outpost proper. The watchtower, dirrected at the road that bisected this area, was situated in the middle and she could see two figures atop it, looking in opposite directions with sniper rifles.

Hazel subtly directed Viper's attention to them. Perhaps they should be the first to go?

Viper nodded. He agreed. He lead her , casually for the cameras with his face turned toward her in a way that would hide both of them from view, around the corner, and against the wall "Okay" he murmured "we have to drop the snipers. But they're a good distance away"

She nodded. "They are. We'll probably have to get closer."

He nodded.

The buildings were all clumped together, with small alleys they could dodge down to avoid the view of tthe snipers, but it was a risk, as the buildings had windows and pathways between them where they could be spotted or heard by those within.

Everything was a risk. They'd have to just actually be  stealthy. She indicated as much to Viper.

He nodded and began walking with sure, quiet strides towards the buildings. "Heron" he whispered "we have to take out their comms once we drop the snipers . We can't risk them calling the security team "

She nodded. "Absolutely."

They entered the narrow alleys between the outpost's quarters and mess hall.Activity , of at least a few people, sounded from the eatery as Viper ducked under the window.

She ducked with him, moving quietly, and sure footedly. She kept an eye out for any one who migfht see them.

They crept below the window's field of view, passing the excited chatter of three or more voices. Ahead of them there was the  open space, a turn to creep between the barracks and command office, and the watchtower.

Heron considered to herself. The command office would be where they could take out the comms, wouldn't it?

It would be. It was , after all, meant to house the commander and all of the tools he would need to run the outpost...

Good. She save the location in her mind for after they took out the snipers.

It was a shame they didn't have rifles themselves., but it looked like if they got either to higher ground, or to the other side of the barracks,, at least she could get a bead one. Another angle could be used by Viper to down the other..

She looked to see if there was any convinient higher ground.

She could probably scale the barracks. There were cooling and heating structures that she could hide behind.

She nodded to herself, and indicated to Viper what she was going to do, before she slunk toward the bast location.

He nodded seriously, and cracked a little smile for her , before slinking off in the opposite direction.

The soldiers were focused in the mess hall, but as Heron approached the barracks, she could hear movement within it, and the command center.

Heron froze, flattening herself just out of sight for a moment, double checking that no one was about to come out.

One in fact did. The door opened, and a man with a cup of steaming coffee and a rifle slung over  his shoulder came waltzing out, whistling to himself "Smell that Uldovian air" he murmured to nobody.

Heron stayed frozen just out of sight. Which way was he going- towards her, or away from her?

He turned, and began walking towards the corner she was hiding against. He didn't spot her, but if he kept going..he might.

She tensed, drawing her knife, waiting for him to get jussssst close enough for her to snatch him  into her hiding spot.

He took a sip of his coffee, and stepped directly into range. His eyes opened, and he started to say "hey!"

She put her gloved hand over his mouth, smothering the noise, as the other hand ran the knife cleanly and deeply against his throat. She held him tightly.

The man's coffee fell to the snow, melting it and casing whisps of steam to dissolve into the air. He murmured incoherantly into her hand, but his struggling stopped when the knife did it's work.

She tensed as she held him, feeling him bleed out, the blood covering her cloves. It made her sick- it did. But not enough to stop her. She looked for somewhere to stash the body quickly.

The man went limp in her arms, and the full weight of him hit her at once. Blood speckled the snow in heavy drips. There was ...well, a snowdrift to her left, and a dumpster out by the mess hall alley.

She held the deadweight with a frown. The snowdrift would have to do. She went about the unpleasant work of burying him in it as quickly and quietly as she could.

Soon the man was gone, lost in the fluffy, windblown snow. By the time anyone found him, they'd be gone.

She nodded, and checked to make sure it was clear again, before she started up the barracks.

It was clear , a path past the barracks door and to the small ladder on it's side. One that would take her to the roof.

Perfect. She went for it, alert, careful, and fast.

She scrurried up the ladder like a spider. But there was a pulse pounding moment of vulnerability. If she didn't make for cover, she'd be a target for the snipers.

Her nerves sang as she moved as quick as she could, trusting her speed, and camoflage. As soon as her head was above the edge, she looked quickly for cover.

There were small blocky structures, bathed in white snow. Heating and cooling units , probably...but they would provide ample cover for a lone soldier

She got down on her knees, hiding behind one of the boxy units, glad to be not so visible for the moment.

She had a much better line of fire now. The one aiming to the north was especially vulnerable.

She grinned grimly, her bloodsoaked gloves drawing her gun, and aiming neatly.

Her sights centered on the woman's upper body. She had started to turn and scan the surrounding area.

She kept her gun trained, readying the shot. Was the woman wearing armor? a helmet?

She had a helmet with some kind of...scope or night vision attachments. But her body armor was more cold weather gear than something that would stop a bullet..

Body shots it woukd be then. She readied her aim. It'd take more than one, certainly, so she'd fire fast.

The woman lowered her rifle for a moment,and stretched. It was the perfect time to shoot.

She took the shot, firing twice in quick succession.

The woman was struck once, reeled, and took the second bullet to her chest as she reeled. She hit the other sniper on her way down, who turned his head to look. Two shots from a hidden place by the fence dropped him with her.

She watched grimly as they fell-- checking for movement.

There was sudden movement below her. A man ran from the barracks, towards the command center, his eyes llocked on the tower.

She cursed and aimed toward him, readying a shot. She'd have to take him out and go _immediately_ to the command center.

The man froze, spun and attempted to aim at the figure on the roof.

Far away, Hazel saw another man go down from her elevated position, as Viper grabbed him, threw him into the snow, and kicked him hard in the throat.

Hazel didn't have time to think about it, she just shot the man before he shot her.

He yelped, and hit the snow heavilly, squirming as he held his wound in shock.

She had her moment. She had to take out the command post. The man's shout might have been heared.

Hazel grabbed the ladder and lept down it in a controlled fireman fall. The second she hit the ground she made for the  wounded man, and the command post.

The man attempted to sit up, and aimed his shaky pistol at her, gasping for breath.

Sound was coming from the command post.

She cursed under her breath and aimed at the man's head, pulling the trigger quickly.

The man sat up just enough to hit her line of fire....and went limp in the snow. The command center's door, around the corner, swung open..

She moved fast, not even taking a second to register if  the man she had killed fell or not.  She slammed the door in to the man's face as he came out.

There was a sick scrack, and a muffled shout as someone staggered back into the command center.

Meanwhile, Viper pat her on the back as he hurried past, and into the Mess hall. Silenced shots began ringing out in sequence.

She pulled the door open again, quickly, and shot blindly inside, where the man should be, had he staggered backwards.

A man, dressed in a more ornate uniform of deep green and red, was bleeding heavilly from the nose. He shot at her, but one of her blind shots struck true. He collapsed against the table, in a shower of red. The comm  terminal's radio was stained red.

She finished him off with a shot to the head as he collapsed, ducking into the room and looking around quickly for any other people- or alternate entrances.

Another figure, angdrogynous was looking up at her in shock and horror, a communications headset on their face. Hands flew up in the air "I surrender!"  They yelped.

There were windows...but other than that...the one door.

She kept the gun trained on them, eyes narrowed. "Put any weapons down."

She kept the gun trained on them, eyes narrowed. "Put any weapons down."

The figure dropped a small handgun to the floor, and swallowed. They nodded "i'm unarmed, ma'am." they said, though one hand was inching for the radio's transeiver.

"Hands up, now," she spat. "Touch that radio and you're dead."

Their hands shot up, and their pale face somehow turned even paler "Sorry!"

"Mmhmm," she kept the gun on them. "How many people are stationed at this base?"

They swallowed again, and stammered out "Ah, th-thirteen" their legs rubbed together nervously "And we have a ...ah a resupply every other morning at ah, 10." They whispered shakily.

"Is that resupply coming tomorrow?"

She shook her head, her voice still shaking "ah, ah...no ma'am. No ma'am."

"If you don't man the radio, when will your superiors know something's wrong?"

"...ah, well" She bit her lip. "I...I can't tell you that...." she stammered.

"How about you do anyway."

She sagged "Probably not till morning. This outpost is supposed to be getting ready to go dark for the night"

She held up her hand "unlless they try to reach me. If they don't get an answer...." She frowned sharply "they'll know something is wrong."

"Good to know," she said. She paced further into the command post, keeping the gun trained on her, letting the door close fully.

She winced at the sound "So what now? are you going to kill me?"

she grit her teeth "You're from the republic , aren't you? You can't beat the Comrade....He's going to forge a new world! One that'll protect _the people_ "

She let a breath out through her nose. "Keep your mouth shut or I might have to kill you. Turn around."

The girl slowly turned around, sweat beading on her face and trickling in rivelets along with the beginnings of tears.

Hazel switched her gun for the one loaded with tranquilizer rounds. And then she shot the girl in the back of the neck.

The girl yelped, and scrabbled to grab  the dart...only to collapse onto the ground with a thud.

She shook her head, and went over to tie her up and look for a place to stash her.

There was a locker....

She sighed and shoved her in the locker, trying to make her as.... comfortable as possible given the circumstances. Afterward she went over to the comms to look them over.

She wondered when Viper would show up, and if he was in trouble.

The door opened with a thud, and Viper called "clear"

Well, that answered that.

"Good. Clear in here too." The body could have told him that.

He had a bullet wound in his shoulder, and was holding his hand to it as he entered the room. He gave the corpse a grim smile "I see the commander didn't put up much of a fight."

"I told them a knock knock joke," she said with a straight face. "Got some intel out of the comm officer."

He made a huff of a chuckle "Do tell" He walked over to her, and began reloading the SMG. "I have some intel too"

"They have a resupply 10 am every other day, but its not coming tomorrow. They shouldn't know anything's wrong til tomorrow morning either, they sent thier last transmission for the evening."

He smirked , and nodded his head "good. Good. We have time to rest then, if we find a good place to make camp. I got word that this outpost only had one patrol, and that was the one we dropped in the forest. Beyond that, the snipers were equipped with high powered rifles and night vision goggles we can make use of." he winced as he overextended his arm

"ah..." he held his hand to the wound

""Good. The comm officer said there were 13 here, total. Looks like you could use some first aid.

He nodded "Two in the tower" he murmured, "two in the courtyard and alleys.  4 in the mess hall. Two in here. Three in the barracks. " He looked up "does that sound right?"

He rolled his shoulders "The fourth guy was in the bathroom and as quiet as a mouse" he murmured. "He jumped me when I finished off his friends"

She snorted. "What a way to go."

Viper smirked, and nodded sharply "he got a round in me before I took him down"

"Damn. yeah, I think we got everyone, so lets take care of that."

He nodded, and flashed her a thumbs up "We cleaned house . No we don't have to worry about patrols, hopefully, till morning"

"Good." she nodded

He took a deep breath "we should get those rifles and fresh food and make a camp further in the woods for tonight"

"She nodded. "yeah. And we should see if they have any first aid too.

He chuckled "And here I was just going to use a knife and my bandanna" he said, in what may have been a joke. Or maybe not.

"Yeah, lets avoid that as long as possible."

He nodded, "alright. if you get those rifles, I'll loot for food and medical supplies" he smirked "Climbing isn't easy for me until I get this patched up and sprayed down with antiseptic"

She nodded. "Got it. We'll meet back up here."

He gave her a quick salute, and headed off to gather supplies. He grabbed a cloth duffel bag on the way out from a hook by the door.

She headed off as well, to get the rifles.

THe tower loomed over them...empty and quiet in the moonlight. THe two bodies sat up there....and the lights from it's lamps blazed down to illuminate patches of snow.

she shook her head. IT was a grisly sight, one she had participated in making. She was both disgusted, an dproud.

It was what had to be done. The ladder up wasn't too long, but she'd have to watch her grip with the ice.

She was careful, keeping her grip and taking it slow. No reason to take any cahnces.

She crested the top of the tower, and saw the two soldiers in their crumpled heap. Their guns sat in their hands, half dropped to the side.

She grabbed each one carefully, taking her time.

They were heavy. But if she strapped them securely and used her strength and balance, she could get them both. Did she want to grab the second pair of night vision goggles for Viper?

She absolutely did want to drab them. She put them in her pack, and started to strap the guns to herself.

The guns were heavy on her back, ten pounds of weight at least. But it was a short trip.

She didn't mind the extra weight, but she was extra careful climbing down.

Her hands and feet clinked against the cold  steel, and she saw a little over the trees in the distance.

it was a beaitufiul view. Save for the ugly, lurking buildings in the distance.

She enjoyed the view, for a moment, but mostly was thinking of the mission. It was hard to think of anything else.

As he feet touched the snow, she had a moment to think through everything that had happened during the walk back to the command center.

It was a lot. There was no one who couldn't say that she hadn't had a long day, and a long week, and a long... however it had been sicne she'd arrive in this world, let alone this time.

Between her mom somehow appearing in the past, being dropped headlong into international intrigue and the life of a spy alongside a decorated, if young, soldier, it was....really a long day indeed.

He came out of the barracks with two of those cloth bags. He offered one to her in exchange for a gun.

She nodded and unstrapped a gun from herself, handing it over.

He took it and turned it over in his hands with a wide grin "oh ,now this is a fine weapon. Uldovian make, altered  and updated Great War design. This baby helped push back the Gilded Empire from the border. See, it has a smooth bolt system that makes for an easy reload, and carries a sizable magazine with minimal kickback"

Hazel looked it over with appreciation and nodded. "What kind of range has it got?"

"875 yards or more with optics" He said , brushing his finger over the bolt mechanism.

"Not bad," she nodded, impressed.

He nodded, and shouldered it "It'll help us out, for sure. Loud, but by the time anyone hears it, they're dead."

"Could definitely be an asset," she agreed.

He nodded at her "good job getting them, Heron. Come on, lets go make camp"

She nodded. "Lets go," she agreed, letting him lead the way.

They started off, packs in hand and guns on their shoulders. Off past the open fence, and into the woods between here and the supply depot. Viper was quiet during the trip, eyes distant, yet alert.

Hazel was alert too. There'd be plenty of time to talk once they had made their camp.

They'd worked their way uneventfully through the forest until they came to a clearing a good distance off the road. Viper had produced a folding shovel, and was clearing a space for them to sleep under the stars and start a fire.

"How can I help?" she offered.

He chuckled, and gestured to the center and his bag "I have some campfire supplies. If you could build one up in the center of our camp, using materials that won't smoke much, you'd be my damned hero"

She nodded. "Got it." she said. She started to pull the stuff out of his bag. She was good at making fires.

He had a lighter, some fuel, some sort of fire starting brick, and a hatchet to collect kindling with. There was also a pan for cooking on.

He was busy clearing land for their bedrolls and rudamentary shelter.

Hazel could have made a fire with just sticks if she needed to. She assembled the items, and gathered some kindling  ahead of time, just so they had a nice amount.

The work took her a little bit, but soon she had her pile of kindling, and her fire pit ready for starting. Viper had gotten some ground clear, and was setting up some bedrolls under the shade of an evergreen tree, to provide some protection from the elements.

Hazel started to make the fire, assembling the elements, and starting it easily with the lighter and fuel. It almost felt like cheating.

It was cheating, but something told her that this was the _only_ Night they'd get off so easy.

Perhaps it was something to be savored before the cold, hard nights ahead.

She didn;t mind cheating anyway. It was nice to easily have a warm, smokeless fire going.

It warmed the small clearing and bathed it in flickering orange light. Viper came over, and sat close to it, holding his gloved hands closere to the flames "good job with the fire, Heron" he said with a nod.

She nodded back. "Thanks. You too."

He chuckled, and took his gloves off to warm his hands more directly "I just shoved some snow around. Not much skill in that"

"You did it with a bullet in your shoulder, unless you already took care of that."

He winced "not yet" he said, and began to unbutton his shirt "Wanted to wait till we had the light of the fire to work"

She nodded. "lets take care of it then. Did you find a first aid kit?"

"It's in your pack, Heron" he gestured to the bag "thanks." He dropped his jacket, with it's holsters and straps, into the cleared space behind him. He wore, under that, a backup holster with a pp9 and a knife, a thermal shirt for cold-weather operations, currently stained with blood, and a necklace. No identifying markings on it, it was a single piece of metal that looked like a squashed bullet.

she nodded, and pulled it out of her pack. She looked him over curiously as he droppsed his jacket.

He was a broad shouldered man, with a physique that matched his strong jawline. He had runners muscle. A body built for endurance and long operations in the wilderness. He had begun pulling the shirt from his body, wincing as the wound was irritated.

He had dark brown hair on his chest, which had more scars than a man his age should have had. A long trailing cut over his breast. A puckered bullet wound too close to one artery. It was a network of scars, like constillations on his slightly tanned skin.

Hazel's gaze lingered. For a man, he was pretty good looking. Certainly very masculine, in the right ways. Like a statue, almost. One that had been a bit beaten up.

"Looks like that one hit too close for comfort,."

He certainly was. But beyond his scruffy beard and strong frame, there were his eyes. A deep, clear blue that hinted at a lot of emotion, while never revealing it.

He chuckled, brushing his fingers over the old wound "that was my first mission with Lionheart. When I finally convinced her and Soteria to let me step off the training field and into the real fight" He tapped it "I was a runner for the Body. Not one of them, but a recon messenger. Shot down by a Shenzhou sniper. " he winced "i crawled my way out of his line of fire, before getting my intel back to camp. Lotta running. But the job was done"

She nodded. "Damn. Survived a sniper hit on your first mission. Impressive."

He grinned a bit grimly at her "Surviving's what I do, Heron" he chuckled, and tapped the old wound "It missed my artery by ...hell...two millimeters, Doc Renfield said. But I crawled across the sand to the command tent to hand them my missive _personally_ before passing out. "

"That's a day to remember," she said with a smirk. "And you've certainly got a memory of it."

He chuckled softly "heh yeah. Etched right onto my skin. This mission...will likely leave a few of it's own" he gestured "Speaking of which.."

"Yeah, lets get that sucker out," she nodded. She looked in the kit for impliments.

There were your standard fare, but also more intensive items, like a few needles, thread, heavy bandages..tweezers....a small scapal.

She took the tweezers and the scaple. "Lets see if the doc has any tips for this," she said, as she called him up on her comm.

There was a  quick answer "hey there, Heron" The doctor said, relaxed and carefree. "I see you're attempting some battlefield surgery"

"Yep. Gotta get a bullet out, doc."

"I can see that" He said with a chuckle 'I see Viper gets another souvenier, eh, buddy?"

Viper grunted "Get on with it, Doc. It isn't exactly a picnic"

Hazel chuckled a little "I'm pretty" confident I know how to get it out, but I thought I'd double check since this is the first time Ive had to actually do it.

"well, you're going to want to stearalize your tools best you can. And try to pry the bullet from the wound with minimal movement. It'll hurt . You'll want him to bite down on his shirt or something"

She nodded, holding the metal tools in the fire for a moment. "Got it."

Viper already had his shirt between his teeth. His blue eyes were set in a grimace of determination.

"After that, steralize the wound, and sew it shut if it's large enough. But it seems this wound just needs some good bandaging."

She nodded. "So no stitches this time. You won't get to see my needlepoint skills, Viper."

Viper smirked around the cloth "Plenty of opprotunities, Heron" he said with a nod "lets do this"

"the wound is too small and round to really be fixed with sutures" The doctor commented

"Yeah I figured," she said. She let the instruments cool a moment.

"Oh ahd, ah, if you find any evergreen bushes with green berries arranged in a cluster of four to five? Grab them and feed them to him. THey're natural antibacterials."

"Really. Huh," she nodded. "Will do. I think we have some antibacterial creme here though, so that's good."

"Not the same as oral antibacterials. Both will help if infection starts, but they work in different ways"

VIper nodded "I'm ready" he murmured before biting the shirt again

She nodded. "Alright." She brought the tweezers to the wound, and tried to get a good grip on the bullet.

Viper's jaw clenched around the shirt. His eyes narrowed as he made a sharp hissing sound around the shirt's cloth. Hazel managed to get a grip on the bullet, thugh it was a little slippery

She pinched down hard on the bullet, and moved with strength and skill to pull it out, like a very big splinter.

It wasn't a pleasant noise, and neither was she strangled sound the cloth muffled, but the bulet came free with a small outporing of crimson blood. Viper looked lightheaded for a moment, tryin to shake it off.

She grimaced, and immediately applied pressure to the wound with a clean cloth.

Viper groaned, and gave her a look of thanks mingled with pain as the blood flow was restricted.

She held it firmly with one hand, while grabbing the antibiotic with another, rubbing it on the bandage she was prepping for him.

He took a deep breath, and lowered the cloth "Thanks Heron" he murmured "Easier when you have another set of hands" he held the bandage with his own hand, freeing her up to work on the bandage

"Yeah," she nodded. "Too bad we don't all have four, huh?" she smirked, taking her time. She held up the bandage. "Alright lets get this on."

He nodded, and moved his hand just enough for her to get in there and apply the bandages "Too bad. But then we'd all be thinking 'if only we had six arms'.  I read a story like that in a Sci-fi publication once" he chuckled

Hazel chuckled, and quickly pressed the bandage to the wound. "Yeah, Ive read a few of those too."

He hisssed again, but nodded, welcoming the distraction of conversation "yeah? Might have been in the same publication."

She fastened the bandage, and laid her hand over it for a moment, applying warmth and preassure. "Might have been. But I get a feeling those kinds of things are a dime a dozen."

He nodded "Literally, in some cases" he grit his teeth, but forced out a warm smile for her "heh. You just can't go wrong with a good sci fi story"

She nodded. "Too true. A good one takes you to another place."

He nodded, his eyes lidded in pain and woozy concentration "Which people like us need more than anything sometimes"

"damn straight," she agreed. "I used to read a lot."

Viper raised his eyebrow "Got a favorite story, Heron?" he asked as she finished patching him up.

"You might not believe me, but I really liked spy novels."

Viper laughed, not maliciously "You too huh?" he smirked thinly "Did you want to be a glamorous international agent like Jack Snipe? Wooing ladies, drinking in the finest Uldovian bars and defeating the international conglomerates bent on corrupting the world?"

"Oh absolutely," she said. "and of course, there were the ones with the heavy poltical intrigue. "

"ahhh yes" He leaned back, and began pulling his shirt on again "I read those types of stories growing up too"

"Full of double crosses, and secret secret agecies, and shadow governments," she chuckled

He laughed "if only it was really that simple , huh?" he joked, winking at her before pulling his jacket back on. "hell"

"if only," she nodded, with a smile.

He rustled in his pack "So. you like bacon?" he asked "and what's your opinion on fried eggs?"

"They both sound delicious. Im no vegetarian."

He chuckled "good. I got some veggies to fry up too. This outpost was well stocked and poorly defended. Figured we could use a night of good food before things start getting tigher. Gonna be hard to , for example, find snakes to eat out here this time of year"

She nodded. "yeah, a full belly is definitely something to be greatful for."

He nodded "It'll be one less thing on our minds, at least" He grimaced sllightly, looking into the flames, as he arranged the items on the cloth of his pack.

She nodded. "Definitely. Its easy to stay distratced when you're busy, but once you're sitting down?"

He hesitated,,and rigged a quick system to put the pan over the fire's warmth. "once you're sitting down, it all comes for you. No adrenoline to stave it off. No distractions. Just you and your thoughts."

"Glad I''ve got company tonight," she said. "I wouldn't want to be alone."

Viper watched the pan heat in the light of the fire. His eyes were lidded , distracted by a thousand little thoughts. He gave her another thin smile "neither would I, Heron. heh, this is one mission where I think I'd lose my damned mind if I was all alone."

She nodded. "Seriously. Oh, let me know if you want help cooking by the way"

He nodded "can you slap that bacon on the pan for me? it's grease should help keep the eggs from sticking"

"Gotcha," she nodded, and took care of it. She was used to doing the cooking when her mother was distracted.

He helped, fairly competent as he added some onion and greens to the other side of the pan. He watched her work "you do a lot of field cooking, heron?"

She nodded. "Yeah, actually," she said. "My mom was always too busy to cook, so I learned."

He nodded slightly "your mom, huh? Makes sense. I learned how in the academy mostly."

"You enjoy it?" she asked

"cooking or the academy?" he chuckled "Cooking is relaxing. I've always liked making something out of raw materials. The Academy? that was good too. Gave me my focus.. Taught me how to fight. How to serve my nation and protect those who need protection"

"cooking or the academy?" he chuckled "Cooking is relaxing. I've always liked making something out of raw materials. The Academy? that was good too. Gave me my focus.. Taught me how to fight. How to serve my nation and protect those who need protection"

"Kind of sad I didn't get any of that kind of official training," she said. "What was it like?"

"rigid." he said "I didn't have a typical upbringing" he mused "And when I got swept into the academy it was all I really had." he ran his hand through his hair, before stopping to push some veggies around with his knife. "It was strict, rigid. Difficult. But I took it all as a challenge and made it something I enjoyed"

He looked at her "you haven't had official training?" his eyebrow raised "no wonder I didn't see you in the Academy"

She shook her head. "Nah. Ive had a few classes here and there, but mostly I'm self taught. manuels. videos. Practical experience."

"Impressive. Encouraged by your family?" he asked, and scooped some of the veggies to the side, to crack out an egg.

"Yeah, my mom was pretty pleased with it."

"good to have a parent's  support" he said , watching the food cook.

She watched it too. "I think she tried to encourage whatever I wanted to do, in her way."

"What was that like?" he asked, with a raised eyebrow

"A little distant, honestly."

He nodded "Ah" he responded, before pulling out a tin plate from the bag, and dishing Hazel some of the veggies and eggs. "I can sympathize"

"This looks good," she said. "and thanks. It can't have been easy growing up the way you did."

He chuckled "thanks. Bacon's shaping up pretty good too" he  handed the plate to her, and got one for himself. "A bit rough yeah. Dad died in the Great War. and Mom had trouble raising a son who wanted to follow in his footsteps. So off to the Academy for Peace I went" He ran his hand throuh his hair "Wasn't easy. But it lead me to meeting  my hero, Lionheart. Lead me to training under her. Stern. Strict.....a little distant. But more a mentor figure than Ma had ever been"

Hazel turned the bacon, so that it would cook evenly- it was almost done. "I can get that. She seems like an astounding woman."

He hesitated "She's more than just an astounding person. She...was...the truest hero the world had ever known. She won wars. Protected Pax from the worst the world had to offer. She was brave...intelligent...strong."

Hazel nodded. There was a sinking feeling in her too, and had been since she had spoken with this alternate version of her mother.

He gripped his pant leg, his eyes set on a place in the middle of the plate...or through it. Into his own thoughts. "She practically raised me. And I was going to get to fight alongside her. But now, now she's a traitor" he clenched his jaw "and I have to use what she taught me to stop her. No matter how much it hurts"

She nodded, taking the bacon out of the pan, and putting some on each of their plates.

"you aren't from here, are you?" He asked a bit suddenly, poking the bacon with the end of his knife.

"No," she said. "I'm really not."

He took a bite of the bacon "you came out of literally nowhere..." he looked at her for a long moment "you know...the funny thing is, Heron..." he swallowed the thick slice of salted pork, and let his eyes scan her "you look so much like her. It's uncanny"

She rubbed the side of her neck. "yeah.... I... have my suspicions about that," she murrmered.

He looked at her with a raise of his eyebrow, using his knife to cut another piece of bacon "Huh....what sort of 'suspicions?"

She sighed, picking at the food, which was really quite good.  She turned her comm link off, and motioned for him to do the same, waiting to answer, until he did so. "I think there's a strong chance she's my biological mother."

Viper looked at her with an expression of surprise. He bit into his egg, swallowed and asked "...you think...that Lionheart is your mother?"

She nodded seriously. "Yes. I have good reason to believe it. The resembalence just adds to it."

He grimaced "It does..." he looked at his plate. "you really look almost just like her. A little softer in face. Paler. Not quite so angled. But you could be her daughter...but..."

She waited for him to answer, taking a bite of her food. "But?"

"I didn't think she'd had a daughter" He said, rubbing his neck "and I trained under her for years..."

"I'm not sure even she knows," she said. "I wouldn't put it past my other mother to have... created a child of science."

"your other mother?" He asked "the one who encouraged your combat training?"he frowned very slightly in thought "A scientist, is she? "

She nodded. "I mentioned her, before, I think/"

"A litte bit, yeah." he said "You think she.... created a child via science utilizing Lionheart's genes?" He asked for confirmation.

She nodded again. "Yes, I think that's very possible."

"huh" he said, and bit into his bacon "So you might very well be her daughter...." he grimaced "i'm...sorry, Heron"

She nodded. "This mission is a cross for both of us to bear."

He nodded with her "It's for the good of world peace... We do what we have to , Heron....even if we have to carry that weight for the rest of our lives." he looked at her "it...Will be a pleasure to fight alongside you" he saluted her.

She saluted him back. "Same, Viper."

He hesitated a moment, before saying "Victor. The name's Victor. "

"Hazel." she offered him her hand.

He shook it, with a thin little smile "Nice name, Hazel. It suits you"

"Thanks, you too," she smiled back.

He nodded, with a chuckle "Good to be on a name to name basis with your comrade"

He polished off his eggs and bacon, and started on his veggies "did a great job on the bacon too" he added "I might have to name you camp cook"

She smiled. "Sure, sounds good to me. Heh, we should probably turn our comms back on before they decide we died."

He nodded, his hand paused above the communication device "First, thanks for sharing that. Means a lot to know we've both got stakes in this"

"She nodded. "It feels better to tel someone too.

He gave her a thumbs up, before turning his comm on again.

She returned it, turning on hers as well, and resuming eating.

He finished off his plate with a chuckle "anyway. I got something else for us in the pack for tomorrow."

"Oh? Now Im curious."

He smirked thinly "gasmasks. They had them in their emergency supplies. found 'em when I was looking for the first aid"

"Oh good," she nodded. "I was going to ask about that."

He pat the pack "we'll be able to make it through the poison gas tomorrow, no problem. Provided that Spider actually does what she promised"

"Guess we'll find out," she said. "That should be... interesting."

He nodded "It's a risky plan, but if we get up that mountain, it's just a trek across to the security tower, and we can take out their air and ground support. No worries about mortars from the mountains"

"yeah, that's something I'd rather not have to worry about, if we have the choice."

"same. After that, there's the rope bridge network that connects the sharper peaks.. I think there's a road down once they even out. "

She nodded. "Lets try to be careful on those rope bridges."

He nodded "they'll be rough. We'll be open to enemy eyes and limited in our options"

"Wonderful," she chuckled

He chuckled with her "might be a good time to break out the automatic rifle" he joked

She patted the recently aquired rifle. "I'll certainly keep it in mind."

He nodded, and sat back to bask in the glow of the fire. "It'll be a long day tomorrow. We should probably sleep." he murmured

She nodded back. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"The bedrolls should be warm enough. Not perfect. But we won't freeze to death"

She smirked. "That's a plus. Ive done some winter camping, so, I know the drill."

He nodded "Same" he smirked back "we should be fine. Come on, help me with the fire."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000

Sleep didn't come easy in the cold nip of the air, but soon it had overtaken them. Night passed, as well as early dawn , before a series of beeps in their comms woke them from their slumber.

A mechanically altered voice read out "Pest control is a go" three times, before the line had gone dead.

The two packed up what they thought they needed, before suiting up and ditching the rest in a frozen river.

Hazel checked herself over one last time, making sure she was ready to go. She was. Last night;s sleep hadn't been the best she'd ever had, but it hadn't beeb the worst, either.

The two had their guns strapped on, their winter camo prepared, and their gasmasks clipped to their shoulders , ready to be pulled on.

They didn't speak much as they started out. The supply depot was nearby, in a small vallley that wouldn't be too well guarded while the gas was being used.

After last night, there wasn't much to say for now. Just the mission. Success, and esspecially simply avoiding death, took a lot of one's attention, it seemed.

It was that concentration and drive that ate up the space between them and the winding, downward road into the supply depot. The guard tower was shut tight, possibly against any draft that would bring the poison towards it. The guards weren't especially effective at the moment. If they were stealthy, they could avoid a confrontation entirely

As they approached, Hazel kept her posture low, her steps slow and careful, her attention on every noise and movement.

The guard, visible in the window, was fussing with the radio...and was very distracted. They managed to stick to the trees and avoid him altogether. Their footsteps made hardly a sound in the cushion of the snow

Hazel breathed long and slow, almost meditatively, appreciative of every gaurd they snuck past

They passed the tower...and crested the ridge of the valley. Below, lost in a fog of toxic smoke, was the Supply depot. At the far end, was a large elevator going up, up, up the steep and rocky mountain.

She looked at Viper, her fingers touching the gas mask.

He was fastening his over his head. He looked at her through thick lenses "Ready?" he murmured

SHe fastened hers on quickly as well, checking it carefully for problems.

It fit snugly over her face. Her breathing seemed properly filtered, and her lenses didn't fog.

It was as good as it would get. It'd keep her from getting poisoned.

She nodded. "All set."

He nodded at her,  and answered, their voices muffled and stranged through the filters "Then lets get through the depot and up the mountain"

She nodded, and started moving again, heading carefully toward their destination.

He followed her down the empty path and into the pale, toxic smoke of the valley. Whatever it was, the smell of it's acrid toxicity somehow still reached their noses. But they seemed fine, even as they opened the gate and slipped inside.

Despite seeming fine, Hazel was careful to monitor her alertness, and the edges of her vision. She knew about how you could feel like you were breathing, without actually getting any oxygen.

They passed into the toxic cloud, and down among the boxes and the abandoned vehicles.

It was a quiet...until the sharp sound of a rifle's report cut the air, twice in rapid succession.

A strange buzzing sound cut through the air with it, like crackling electricity, as both Viper and Hazel were _struck_ by something small and sharp that dug it's way into Hazel's shoulder, and Viper's thigh. A click and a stab of pain later, and the objects seemed to deploy microscopic hooks or barbs, rooting them in their flesh.

A low chuckle rang through the air, through a megaphone "Two of a kind" Purred a throaty , but feminine voice.

Their comms immedietly went crazy with beeping.

Hazel hissed and immediately went for cover, answering her comm link at the same time.

Simon's voice crackled in, concerned "Dammit, Heron!" his voice was full of anxiety "i have a dossier open. that's _Rabbitfoot_ , the Body's sniper. If these files are anything to go by, you're in a LOT of danger"

Another voice interuppted "Out of the vay, boy" Stilletto said "Listen. Hazel. Zhis Rabbitfoot. She is no ordinary sniper. She utilizes a special sort of railgun rigged to the chance game on her vrist. The railgun first shoots tracking bolts into victims vhich then can alter the trajectory of the electromagnetically charged bullets she fires. It is, and vas , the highlight of modern military technology. She is a crack shot. and even vithout the assistance of the tracking bolts, they say she can never miss."

Simon stumbled back into the conversation "She was brought into the Body shortly before the Great War. She was a sniper for an international crime syndicate that had turned into a resistance movement when their country was invaded by the Gilded Empire. She saw active combat since she was a child, as this area was hounded by both the proto-gilded empire, and internal strife. She has, from her psyche profile, a bit of a risk-taking problem. Which lead to her addiction to gambling both in matters of combat and in games of chance. "

Viper was hidden behind a truck, taking deep breaths through his mask, as he held his thigh tightly .

"Great," she hissed. "She shot me with something. Some kind of barb. I think its stuck. You know anything about that?"

Dr. Renfied piped in now "Yeah, you're going to want to get that out as soon as you can, kiddo." He said easilly. "see, that's the tracking bolt. She'll be able to hit you even behind cover as long as you have that piece of metal in your skin."

There was another electricity-sounding shot , and a huff of disappointment "Snake eyes" called the voice, mockingly.

A bullet, infused with crackling electricity flew through the air, curved, and skimmed past Heron's shoulder, taking a line of flesh with it.

She cursed and moved, looking for a different spot. "Wondeerful. Thank you. Honestly."

"no problem. It'll hurt to dig it out, but it's your only option."

There was a squat building a little bit away. Maybe she should hide in there?

A shadowed form leapt from on top of the elevaftor, to the roof of one of the other supply buildings. Their shadow hardly visible past the pale toxic smoke. "You can hide" called Rabbitfoot in a cheerful voice "but my shots always find  their mark. You aren't getting any furthur than right here, Heron. Viper."

Viper darted out of his cover, and fired his pistol three times at the woman's shadow...but she had already disappeared. Another electrical shot, and Viper found himself struck in the stomach. He gasped, half collapsed against the truck "dammit" he hissed. The bullet had curved over the truck somehow, to arc down and hit him.

Hazel winced, and moved to cut the barb out of her with her knife, as she hissed to viper, "The first shot was a tracking shot. get it out."

Viper began digging into his thigh, attepting to pry it out with his knife . He gave her a nod.

Another shot rang out, and a cackle hit the air "looks like we have a four of a kind, gentlemen!"

The shot went up in the air, before splitting into four arching bullets that arched  and spun towards them both. two towards Viper, the other two towards Hazel.

Hazel's knife managed to pry the bullet out of her flesh. It was, pretty much, the same size as the bullets that went in _her_ sniper rifle. And as it extracted, it's barbs retracted into it's perfect conical shape once more.

Bleeding, and pained, she tossed the barb away, and rolled as fast as she could out of the line of the shot- away from the barb.

The bullets hammered into the ground around the barb, and missed her and Viper entirely, as he did the same with his.

What was curious about the barb, was that it didn't seem to be like a regular bullet. It seemed like, possibly, it could be reused.

"Clever, clever" whispered a voice above her.

Standing on top of the building she was behind, was a tall, lanky woman with dark skin and sparkling green eyes. She was dressed in a pinstriped shirt, and some black pants. She tipped her hat to Hazel, spinning a knife in her hand.

Hazel grabbed her gun, and immedaitely returned fire at the woman with the knife.

The woman laughed, as she hit a switch on her gun. A thrumm went through the air, and the bullet went wild. She tossed the knife at Hazel, and jumped back into the fog. The ker-chack of a rifle told Hazel that she was reloading.

She made a thick, annoyed noise, and went for cover as she did- trying to be as stealthy as possible. She called her comm link. "hey-- is there any way I can use one of her tracking bolts against her? It looks like I could use it with the rifles we grabbed."

Stilletto was the one to answer "Hold ze bullet to the lens, girl. I vill tell you if it can be fired from the Uldovian rifle." There as a brief moment 'the veapon is designed to track the bullet. I vould say yes, you vould be able to use it against her, if you did not miss. But be varned, she knows how to deactivate the device, so you may need more than one if you are unlucky. and try to hit her vith the bullet _after_ she fires her own in her showy display, this vay she cannot hold her fire until she removes the tracker"

"So let her fire, then fire back, got it."

"exactly" Stilletto instructed.

There was a sharp whisper "you don't have to hide, young lady" Cooed the sniper "We can end this right now if you surrender"

Viper was slowly crawling towards his discarded trace bullet.

Hazel stayed hidden, and took out the gun, loading the strange bullet into it.

The bullet fit perfectly into the rifle, and she found it slide easilly into the bolt with a satisfying click.

A shape leapt out, on top of  a far roof, and a whirring spin sounded, as Rabbitfoot prepped her weapon.

She smirked, getting ready. Rabbitfoot would probably shoot another tracking bolt first.

She fired, and Hazel felt the bolt hit her in the fatty part of her thigh, Viper grunted as she turned and fired upon him as well, striking him.

it hurt...but she'd be able to get another shot if she ripped it out.

She hissed and dug it out immediately with her knife, wincing with every step afterword as she moved to another piece of cover.

She found cover behind a lifttruck, with enough room to aim her rifle through the seat and windows to get a good shot.

Bleeding, and in pain, she loaded the bloody bullet into her rifle, getting ready. As soon as the woman fired....

THe woman spun her rifle's attachment and her grin was almost visible through the fog. She aimed at the sky, and fired. "Three of a kind" She hissed, as the bullet crested through the air and began to split into three shots. She was open.

Hazel's eyes flashed and she took aim quickly, firing fast, as fast as she could.

There was a moment. The woman tried to activate her shielding...but it only made the bullet wobble as it's conflicting fields interacted. Ultimately, it struck her in the chest, and sent her staggering back, gripping the wound.

the bolts in the sky suddenly turned and looped back like the petals of an electric flower towards her.

Horror crossed the snipers face as she struggled to rip the bullet from her chest with her bare fingers....but it was no use.

Three shots hammered into her at slightly different angles, and her cry of pain echoed around the supply depot. Crimson blood splashed over the roof of the building, and into the fog below. "Guhhh!!"

Hazel didn't wait, she switched guns, grabbing her pistil and firing another handful of shots after her half-blindly.

The woman was struck in the arm, leg and across her face before she activated her shields and scattered the bullets into the air around her. Still, she didn't drop, even if her shirt was soaking in her own blood.

Viper had found a place to rest, his rifle aimed and ready for the next opening.

Hazel got ready for the next volley. "You alright V?" she hissed over their comm link.

Viper groaned through the comm "got a gut shot. But I think she missed my vitals. Hurts like a bitch. Got a bead on her next time she fires one of her volleys"

Rabbitfoot leapt to another building, but her leg crumpled under the pain of her wounds. She hit the cement roof hard, and had to struggle to her feet.

Hazel waited. If she shot Rabbitfoot now, the woman would only shoot another tracker at her. She had to wait for her to fire. She followed her with the sight of her rifle.

The woman spun the mechanism, and laughed like a madwoman "Full house" her voice drifted through the empty Depot. "full house. I have a full house!" She aimed up into the sky "idiots. Still holding my bullets. Still targets" There was a tremendous burst of electricity as she fired a spiralling shot up into the air. It split into 6 shots, which began to spiral and rain down like the leaves of a willow tree towards Viper and Hazel.

Viper took the moment to fire, yelling "now" through the headset.

Viper didnd;t have to tell her, not even once. Her finger was on the trigger as soon as she shot- her aim true, having followed the woman's every motion.

"Should have folded," she muttered into the comm link.

Viper let out a soft, 'hah' , as both their bullets jammed into the woman's flesh.

Her eyes went wide, panic and fear filling her expression as the bullets overhead all formed into a spiral, and focused inwards at her. She turned on her shield, desperate, but her luck had run out. The bullets wavered, but opened like a flower at done...and slammed into her chest all  at once. Blood splattered down her lips, and dripped in rivelets onto the roof of the building as she twitched with the loose electromagnetic energy from the bullets.

"End....end of my winning streak, I guess." Her voice rasped, as she collapsed in a heap on the roof. Her gun clattered behind her.

Hazel stepped out of her cover toward the woman. There was something brutally beautiful in the ending.

The woman was on top of the squat building in a puddle of her own blood. The trajectories of the shots left her in a curious state. The blood splatter around her formed a pattern not unlike the petals of a flower surrounding her battered body. She was shaking slightly....electricity? or was she still alive? Hazel could check the body...

She decided she would-- to be sure, if nothing else. She climbed up the building.

Rabbitfoot had rolled onto her back, bullet wounds soaking through her pin striped shirt as she looked blearilly up at Hazel "....hey there, High Roller" She said, with  difficulty.

Hazel grimaced beneath the mask, a little sorry the woman was still alive. She hoped she was in shock.

"Hey," she said back.

The woman seemed to be in tremendous shock. Her hands were shaking at her sides "I figured ...." she coughed blood onto her chin "it was about time that someone rolled higher than me. Punched my ticket" her breath fluttered painfully in her chest "been gambling with my life since the Gilded Bastards took my land. Maybe part of me was hopin' for this day" Her eyes half closed, tears leaking down the side of her face "Hopin' to make that last, final gamble." her eyes shut, tears carving streams through the blood "Now I get to spin the wheel and find out if there's a place for sinners like us in the Goddess' arms. Next to those who shoulda survived instead of me.."

Hazel snapped out a salute for the woman. "Good luck...."

There was a part of her in just as much shock. There was a woman dying in front of her, and she had killed her. BUt it was necessary, it had to be done. And... the woman had been trying to kill her. But still.... it hurt.

The woman's hand rose to return the salute. Her emerald eyes glistened as a shaky smile crossed her lips. The salute was perfect. A soldier's salute as she lowered her arm...hitting the spinning wheel of her rifle on the way down. Numbers and colors spun into a blurr , as the war-torn gambler made her last, final bet.

She went still, then, her body collapsed in her pooling blood. The wheel ticked...ticked...ticked....

And  landed on the image of a full house. A winning hand.

Hazel stood there, a long moment. She leaned down and respectfully closed the woman's eyes.

The woman's eyes were closed...and she lay there, still and somehow serene in death.

Viper's hand pat Hazel's shoulder. He was shaking slightly...both witht he strain of climbing up with a gut wound, and moment before him. He didn't have words. But he held her shoulder for a long moment.

She stood, the weight of his hand comforting her for that long moment. She took a breath.

"We need to take care of your wound," she said quietly, her voice only shaking a little. "you're really collecting them this trip."

Viper chuckled without humor "you too, Heron" he took a deep breath as well "Lets take care of it in one of the buildings. Gas masks on.  I still got the first aid kit. Then we can move on and up the elevator"

"Good plan," she agreed. "Lets go."

They spent some time patching one another up in silence, surrounsded by the scent of death and toxic fog. It wasn't pleasant, but they'd managed to remove bullets and seal wounds. It was time, once again, to push on. The elevator was at the end of the empty camp.... There was no resistance as they approached.

Hazel didn't take it for granted, keeping an eye out as they headed along toward the elevator.

Viper engaged the mechanism, and the pair began their ascent to the top of the mountain. Viper sighed, looking out at the landscape as they traveled above it.

Hazel peered out as well, relaxing for just a moment as they ascended.

It was a beautiful view, wasted as the site of a war machine's creation. Flowing valleys and pine forests...a river that lead into a massive lake just beyond the second set of valleys....and the snow-crested mountaintops. The air was so crisp and clear...

a section of the forest and land was blackened and destroyed. The site of the Titan's initial attack...

Hazel frowned, seeing it, and shook her head/

If they failed....more of the world could look like that blackened piece of earth.

The elevator rose, and Viper spoke up "Are you alright, Heron?"

"As alright as I can be," she said, eyes fixed on that spot.

He nodded "every step of the way is one less we have to take, Heron. It'll be over, soon"

She nodded back. "That's true."

The elevator hit the top of the cliff...and they were in unfamiliar territory.

Hazel looked around, taking stock of the new location.

It was another supply depot....this one smaller and clearly only meant to unload items into trucks going elsewhere on the mountain top. In the distance was the watchtower bristling with cannons that served as the anti-air and anti-personell security system.

Hazel got ready to be on high alert again, her posture changing.

Viper slinked into the shadows behind a box, and drew his pistol.

Spider's promise had not extended up here. In the distance, by the outer loading area, there were soldiers milling around the boxes and a truck.

At least they could breath freely up here, without the claustrophobic gas masks.  hazel ducked behind cover as well.

One of the soldiers on guard shouted to the others "hey, the elevator came up on it's own"

"Probably Rabbitfoot. She set up a trap for those enemy spies, remember? She probably didn't want them using it to escape"

hazel breathed a sigh of relief, as she drew her own pistol, This one loaded with tranquilizer rounds- for the moment. Hopefully they could sneak their way through.

Viper had his tranq pistol out as well, and waited until the rest of the men were busy with the truck, leaving the one man wandering near their hiding place.

Hazel took a quick stock of the situation, looking for their exit, and who was between them and it.

They would have to go east. East up the pathway to the imposing security tower.

The truck would be tricky to get past, and there was a small cluster of guards to the west who  , if they weren't careful, could look over and see them on their path. But....there seemed to be a narrow ledge along the cliff that dipped down,and rose back up furthur up the pass.

She looked toward the narrow legde, keeping her eyes on the gaurds who might see them. If they timed it right, could they sneak past?

They were preparing to move a rather large box....if she timed it for when they got distracted by moving it, they'd have the time to sneak past.

She motioned to viper- and waited, tense and ready, for the right moment.

Viper tensed with her, waiting.

The men all grabbed the box, and began to lift. Their eyes were averted away from their position.

Hazel moved, quick, and as silent as she could be, keeping low, and inconspicuous as possible.

Viper followed her, his tranq gun drawn..just in case. He let Heron take the lead, as she was the smaller and faster of them. She would be able to hide more easilly should they look over.

She had her own gun drawn, just in case, but she was quick, and sure footed.

They flew across the small depot, towards the outskirts of the cliff, and towards the small path down that would take them out of sight for the next dozen or so feet.

Hazel felt her heartbeat slow again, once they were out of sight for the moment.

Viper pressed against the ledge wall, and took a deep breath "okay" he murmured "lets follow this ledge up there" he pointed 'And get back on the path proper"

She nodded. "Lets..." she said, moving up the ledge.

He crept along with her, pressing to the wall as the ledge narrowed under their feet. HIs jaw was set in concentration.

he froze when a trickle of snow came down from the main road above them, off the ledge. Footsteps and voices.