Chronocide: Mission Snowdrift

They walked together down the hall, bumping into the occassional researcher or guard in uniform. They had to find a trace of Adler, and that would probably be in the main research lab....or they could hunt down the director...

"Think we should see the director?" she murmered to Viper

Viper nodded "might be the best idea" he murmured "Worst that happens is we take him down if he causes a fuss"

She nodded. "Exactly."

HE gestured  "Herons first" he said politely, as they came to a T in the path. One way went up stairs...and towards the director, it would seem.

She smirked and headed up the stairs at a steady pace.

"Why thank you," she chuckled.

"I'm nothing if not a gentleman viper. " he said dryly. "I also cook a mean meatloaf. " He followed her, his hands in his pockets as he listened to the chatter of employees. It seemed this site was to be abandoned soon, so the tests could continue at the main facility.

She kept an ear out too, curious for the gossip. "I'm surprised you can cook, Dr. V," she teased

He smirked at her, listening carefully. The gossip continued to speak about how the Titan had destroyed the launch bay in this particular area, and Gagarin himself tore into the research staff for not preparing the area for an unexpected activation.

"You pick up a few things . Maybe someday I have to infiltrate an enemy as his housewife"

"I would pay good money to see that," she said, taking in the bits and pieces of gossip. So the launch bay was destoryed...

"I think I can pull it off. I have the face for it" he said dryly.

Not only that, but Dr. Adler..... Unfortunetly, the cconversation trailed off there, and Hazel missed the last of that sentence.

"Oh absolutely," she agreed. She frowned, annoyed that she hadn't caught the alst of the conversation.

They came to a long hallway, and one of the largest doors in the white wall was marked 'Director Andrei Tetravich'

Viper nodded seriously.

Well whatever the gossip had been, they'd get it straight from the director. She strode toward the door.

Viper followed, siding his knife down his sleeve, and hiding it between his fingers.

She nodded, and quieted her movement, hand near her gun ready to draw.

Viper opened the door, and pushed it open. Inebriated singing immedietly assaulted their ears, as the Director belted out the Collectivist Anthem without any trace of a tune.

This threw Hazel off for a moment0 but she still slipped in the door.

The Director sat behind his desk, waving a little tiny desk ornament vversion of the Uldovian flag, a half devoured bottle of a clear grain alcohol on his desk without any trace of a cup, and his feet up on the polished wood. He started when he saw them and grinned lopsidedly "AH! you must be the science....science....." he paused "People"

Hazel nodded slowly, waiting for Viper to slip in before she closed the door behind them.

Viper slipped into the room, and started towards the desk. But the man simply watched the door shut, with a lopsided, sloppy grin "You bring me good news, don't you?" He said, with a sardonic laugh.

"That depends on the news you;re looking for," she said, stepping forward as well.

The man raised the bottle in one hand "Well, If it is any better than....than Gagarin's last missive. Then It is good news, yes?"

Viper raised his eyebrow "we have a few questions for you....sir" he pushed up his lensless glasses

Hazel nodded. "Yes we do. About the status of things here, for example."

"I will tell you the status!" The man clapped his hands together "Over! This facility is going...how do the Republic say it....Tits up?"

She snorted a chuckle. "Well, that's... some status. The loading bay was destroyed?"

He grimaced "That damend machine. It worked fine when it was just big gun on a manual tank. It was perfect. Kill a man from a continent away. Marval of engineering between Dr. Adler and me. "

"what went wrong, then?"

He snorted "That woman. Lionheart brought this technology from the Republic. some...mind scanning device with rudamentary artificial intelligence. Gagarin becomes enamoured. Says he will not let the Titan launch with a manual pilot. Must be retrofitted to operate on it's own with no human intervention. Find someone by thought, kill someone without need of a pushed button. Boom. Goodbye political enemy"

"Sounds dangerous," she said, leading him along.

"It is when the technology is a pile of Republic garbage! This AI goes mad on it's first outing. Starts howling like an animal. Thrashing the Titan around it's launch bay while discharging it's anti-personell weapons. Killed good scientists. And  nearly filled my special assistant full of holes!" he growled.

Viper raised his eyebrow "what about Adler?"

She nodded. "Was he a victim of the experiment, or?"

"HAH! that good man was not harmed. Not seriously. Bullet to the leg, but it only broke the machinery there. He is smart man. He'll fix it up. But the whole time, he is yelling that Gagarin shouldn't tempt fate by putting Republican technology in his machine. Says it will ruin the very idea of deterrance and create a weapon that will obliverate the world. That was when he was struck by Gagarin himself."

"Gagarin lashed out at him?"

He nodded "Broke his eye socket, with the back of his hand. Poor man fainted onto the floor at Gagarin's secretary's feet." He said, snorting "But this AI. He is right. It was not meant for warfighting or machines of death. It is a policing tool. It scans the minds of those accused to determing if they were truely a culprit or no. But attaching it to a weapon and telling it to kill...."

"It becomes overstimulated, doesn't it?"

He nodded "Exactly. And it lashes out like a child having a tantrum. Just we have given this child a nuclear bomb and gatling guns" He snorted "madness."

She nodded. "I tend to agree," she said. "How'd you shut it down during the emergency?"

"Adler and Lionheart" He ran his fingers through his thinning hair. "he gave her instructions on the radio, and she broke into the ventillated core of the machine to enter the abort sequence into it's emergency control console. The woman may be a damned liability, but she scaled that beast like it was a molehill underfoot. "

She filed away the information in her head. Abort sequence. Emergency control consol in the ventillation core. "Amazing," she nodded. "Where are they now?"

"Do I look like I much care where anyone is at the moment, young lady?" He laughed, raising the bottle "i am going to be drinking my day away until I am disposed of for my failure to properly implement this terrible machine. MAN! my girl, Man is the one meant to be in control of the machinery. Not more machines! you need the beating rapum-pum-pum of your heart!"

?""I agree with you there," she said dryly. "So you don't know where Dr. Adler is

"If I tell a couple of spies where he is, I will be shot, will I not?" he laughed heartilly.

She raised her eyebrows, sharing a look with Viper.

Viper grimaced, and started to reach for his gun.

The man waved his hand "No need to start with the shooting and the murder" He said "Bah. Of course you are spies. I know the faces of my scientists. And I do not hire the young" he gestured to Hazel "And you look like you ate one of my scientists and wore his skin for some morbid ritual." he gestured to Viper

"It is obvious that you two are the intruders I heard about from the reports. To me. Not to my men." He sat up "Leave them alone, and I will not have problems with you. I am leaving here anyway"

Hazel couldn't keep her surprise from her face, but shrugged. "How civil."

He shrugged, and raised his glass "long live the Collectivists" He said dryly "Secret to share, I am a loyalist. But if they kill me, they lose a scientist they need. May our Glorious Leader burn in the nuclear flames of his own creation" he spat on the ground in emphasis

"adler was taken to a site...to the west of the main compound. Up on one of the smaller mountains. It is the site of Gagarin's personal quarters. Where he is held personal prisoner. "

She nodded. "Huh. Great, more Gagarin."

"you will be unable to find you can avoid Comrade Gagarin. he is like a roaches. " he snorted darkly "gets into everything"

"Maybe we'll find some pestacide somewhere," she murmered

"Good luck" The director said , laughing.

"What about Lionheart" Asked Viper, frowning.

"She is....well, boy, you are in trouble if you wish to stop the Titan project"

She sighed. "Of coruse."

She looked at Viper. "Was that everything?"

"Where is she" Viper asked with a serious frown

"She went off with Gagarin's secretary to prepare something for the final research push to complete the project. Providing security for a pivotal step, I believe. "

Hazel had expected as much. "A pivotal step?"

He nodded "There is some sort of...gambit. That I am not much in the know of" He said, narrowing his eyes "But this funding. It comes from somewhere. it has to. And Gagarin...he is a bit of a rebel to the Glorious Leaders. He is a fringe military leader. It is not from them....and there is some...communication...meant to go up. It is hush hush. ANd I am not made to know to whom or why. But I draw my own conclusions"

Hazel shared a glance with Viper. That was certainly interesting.

Viper returned it, and nodded inperceptively.

"now be going. Before Gagarin decides to Launch the Titan at me" he laughed, clapping his hands together "go in peace!"

Hazel nodded. "Same to you."

He held up his fingers in a peace sign, and smirked.

Viper turned and waved for Hazel to follow.

Hazel nodded, and turned to follow him.

He shut the door behind them as they left "well that was something" he murmured

"Not what I expected," she agreed

"So there's two important details going on at once. That's the main thing I picked up. On one hand, Gagarin as Adler and is doing hell knows what to him in his private compound. On the other, Lionheart and who we know to be Spider is making some mysterious transmission to some party."

She nodded. "Both of them seem very important."

"We should split up" he suggested, melding with her into the hallway.

"Luckily this isn't a horror movie," she agreed

He snorted "I think we have more to worry about than _one_ knife wielding psychopath. We have Panther, after all"

She chuckled slightly. "Touche. But we have some decent weapons too."

He chuckled with her, and leaned on the wall "So we'll split up. Sounds like a solid plan. Before that, though...did you hear what he said about the Titan?"

"That it went berserk?"

He nodded "and the AI controlling it is kind of a mess at the moment? Could be both good and bad for us"

"Good because it won't be any good at its job. Bad because it'll be well, berserk."

He nodded "Good because it means it has holes we can exploit to bring it down"

"What we need is the abort code Lionheart used."

"Perhaps I can get it on my side of our mission" he said with a slight , lopsided smile "or you can shake it out of Adler"

"I'll do my best."

He nodded, and gave her a lazy salute "Want to see the wrecked launch bay, or...?"

"Yeah, lets check it out."

He nodded, and turned to walk down the stairs. As they went, Hazel's earpiece beeped.

"yes?" she answered

"Dr. Kovalenko" her mother said "I heard your conversation with the director of this facility?"

"That must have been interesting to listen to."

"yes. It's always interesting to hear how people turn your life's work into an absolute bloody disaster" Her mother said dryly

"Sorry m-ma'am."

"You don't have to stutter when talking to me" the woman said in a more gentle tone "Its just disappointing to see a machine not meant for war be turned into a killing machine. My poor darling" She sighed "It's acting as any child does when you give it a gun and tell it to kill" She said darkly

"I suppose that is true...."

"I would tell you the code, but it's inevitable that they changed the one we had on the Wolf AI unit."

"I'm sure," she said. "We;ll get the code another way, anyway."

"of course . But you should know one thing , Heron."

"Yes?"

"The main purpose of the Wolf AI is not to control it's host...that's a...secondary function I developed in the hopes of making it mobile . it's to read the thoughts and emotions of others. Which means this beast will be able to read you once you give it cause to. there's no sneaking up on the Titan any longer'

"How far away can it sense those things?"

"That's a tricky question to ask" She admitted "I'm not sure how it interacts with the titan's systems. In it's current form, it had to be worn to be effective, but we had the pieces in place to allow it to scan in a radius."

;"Just tell me we're talking meters, not miles here.

"Not quite in the miles yet, more half a mile. ANd that's if they got it's systems working"

She made a face. "Wonderful. Alright, thanks. We'll be careful."

"Good. I want to see you live through this, Heron. I have something I wish to ask you"

"Oh?"

"About the future you have come from. And about your familial history" She said flatly

Viper didn't seem to hear this, it must have been a private line, as he kept sneaking down the hallway and trying to look as normal as possible.

"Of course," she said quietly. "When this is done, we'll talk about it."

"Thank you, Heron. Good luck. I'll give you more information as you get closer to the AI module . Go in Peace" the line went dead.

She muttered 'Thanks,' to the dead line, and continued to follow Viper.

Viper looked back "Got a call?" he murmured to her

She nodded. "Yeah."

He raised an eyebrow "Get any good info?" He asked, and took a left for the main launch bay, ducking under caution tape

"The AI can sense us from about half a mile away."

"wonderful" he muttered "that's just what we need. A psychic robot"

"That's just what I was thinking."

"Did Kovalenko have some kind of advice for avoiding it's scan?" He asked, and pushed open the door....only to be buffetted by a sudden breeze. He frowned, and stepped inside.

"Yeah, don't give it cause to lock on to us."

"Great" he said, as he stood just within the launch bay.....

It was a disaster area. One wall was completely splattered in splashes of blood and a trail mark of high calibre bullet holes. Another hole was blown in the front wall, exposing cement and rebar...and the ceiling was cracked, as if something smashed into it several times. Gouges, like the marks of massive claws, tore across the floor and walls, one of which ending in a smear of ground in blood. The whole place reeked of blood, smoke, and dust.

Even given what she had expected, it looked awful. She was aghast and it showed on her face.

Viper looked away, shuddering slightly before getting himself under control "And this is why we have to stop this thing" he said. "this isn't being a soldier. This is creating a monster"

"Completely," she agreed. "that thing is a blight."

He pat her shoulder "I...don't think we're getting much out of here..." he paused "Though...there's some..." he pointed "blueprints. On that table over there"

She walked over to the table, to the blueprints.

He followed, his steps careful to avoid fallen concrete or shattered glass. They came to the table, on which, a bullettorn pile of papers sat.Pinned up before them was the titan. It was shaped like a massive spider or similar insect, it's main body carrying several weapons on the top and bottom , optimally the nuclear launcher that crossed it's back. On it's 'head' there was a cylandrical space, labeled 'Wolf Core' in place of what was once a pilot's bay.

She took the plans, tapping that section. "That's where we need to get to."

He frowned "we might have to climb it's legs. Or jump down off something. "  He gestured "there's a ladder up the back left leg, that might be our way in.

She nodded, looking at it. "That might work."

"It'll be rough while it's in movement" he murmured "But if we get up there, we can take out the core, and shut it all down"

"Maybe we can get to it while its not moving-if we;'re lucky."

"Maybe we can attach some sort of explosives to it's legs and bring it to it's knees to make the trip easier"

"That would be perfect."

He smirked "then we'll just get more explosives for the job" he pat her back "good job, Heron"

She smiled. "Thanks, V. Oh, as for not tripping its sensors...."

He looked at her with curiosity "you have an idea for that too?"

She nodded. "obviously we can't control our thoughts completely, but if we focus on, for instance, that we're on a mission of peace, it may be enough to deflect it."

He raised his eyebrow "and it isn't a lie" he said "So we won't mix ourselves up. I like that"

"Thanks," she nodded

He nodded back "so we think peaceful thoughts, and the AI won't sense us. Not until someone tells it to change it's search parameters"

"Exactly. Hopefully we'll be able to get closer that way."

"Good" he held his communicator up to the documents to transmit them to the base team "Then I guess we should get out of here before we're ratted out by the old man"

She nodded. "Yeah, lets."

He gestured "there's a hole in that wall we can probably drop down from" he chuckled

"Oh wonderful," she smirked. "Well, lets get to that."

He climbed over more debris, and hefted himself up to the hole in the wall "it's only a few feet. If we land right, it won't be a problem" He did just that, landing in an easy crouch in the middle of a snowcovered road by a half frozen stream.

Hazel followed him up easily, and did the same. "We do a lot of jumping off things." she pointed out.

He dusted himself off, and made a 'huh' sound "i guess we do. We can quit and join the circus any time we want, I think"

"Maybe after this," she chuckled. "I can juggle pretty good."

He smirked "I'll work on my comedy routines" he gestured "So we should probably split up at the end of this pass , where the path forks" he looked at her "you gonna be ready for that?"

"Read as I'll ever be," she said, "Are you?"

He nodded "I'll miss your company" he said with a thin smile "And the backup. But it'll be easier for us both if we strike both heads at the same time"

"Agreed. We should have a comm line open though, if possible."

He nodded "sounds good. " he gave her his private comm channel.

"Good. Then I think we're all set."

He nodded, and offered her his hand "Heron" he said with a grim smile "I'll see you on the other side. "

She took his hand. "See you on the other side, Viper."

He gave it a firm shake "Go with Peace, Heron" He said with a nod "We'll meet up at the outpost by the main science lab for our final push. "

"Go in peace," she nodded. "I'll see you there."

He winked, and let go of her hand to pat her on the back "you're to the left" he pointed to the rising cliff in the distance "Good luck" He turned, and began walking into the snowy woods just over the frozen stream, leaping his way across.

"Good luck." Hazel turned to tghe left, and started down her path alone.

It was a quiet but tense trek through the jungle later when Hazel encountered her first opposition. There was another guard post, this one protecting a gate that lead up the uphill road to the private compound owned and operated by Gagarin himself. Where Adler was....

She lowed herself, looking for a good spot where she could observe the gaurd post.

She found one....a  ledge to the west that had a bush so covered in snow it could be used as cover.

She crouched on the ledge, peering through the bush to check out the layout and numbers.

The fence was linked to a control switch in the northmost guard shack, but there were two winter tents on either side of the post. She saw two men guarding the main road, one man in the shack, and heard the presence of at least one more.

She'd go for a stealthy approach.  Try to get to the switch in the shack without being seen. She took her silenced pistol in hand, fully loading it with tranq rounds, with her automatic at reach in case of. accidental loudness. She looked for entry points.

The nearest tent had one flap that had fallen free in the breeze. It obscured a section of the path that she could use to sneak just out of view of the tent's guards.

She headed for it, low and fast, watching the guards attention.

The flap whipped out, and hid her from the guard's vision. She slunk past the watchful eyes of the road guards, and found herself nearing the guard shack.

She looked for an open window- or any entry point that wasn't the front door.

To the side, there was a window, but she'd have to open it from the outside....lucky her, it was one of the slider windows that went horizontal, allowing for quick checks of ID badges in passing trucks.

She hastily snuck toward the window, to try to open it.

It was open a crack, enough for her to slip a knife into it to wiggle it open a little more.

She did exactly that, wiggling it to get it open.

The window began to slide open, and she saw the guard reach for his coffee cup on the inside table...too close to the window for comfort, as he might feel the chill.

She raised her pistol, aiming through the open window, and fired a tranq round at him.

The man had just enough time to gasp in surprise, before he wobbled, and fell in a heap.

She smirked and took the opportunity to open the window the rest of the way, and climb smoothly in.

In the relative shelter of the guard shack, she found the switch to open the gate. It was to her left.

She pushed the sleeping body of the guard somewhere out of sight, and then moved to open the gate.

the gate made a soft hissing sound as it rolled open through the small pile of snow behind it. She noticed one of the guards turned his head, prompting her to take an evasive action.

Time seemed to slow down as her adrenaline pumped and she assessed the situation in a split second. Was there somewhere she could quickly duck where he wouldn;t see her? Would anyone see him if he suddenly fell down?

She could duck under the table...and if she was lucky, nobody would see him if he fell, though the other road guard might hear him hit the snow.

In the fight or flight battle, fight won out. Though she was already ducking for the table, she pointed her gun at the man as he turned his head- firing a bolt at his face.

The man flailed back, and hit the ground with a thump. But he was passed the hell out. His friend the other road guard heard, and turned to look for his cohort.

Hazel fired another round at the other guard-- she was going all in on this it seemed.

The guard turned, aimed his gun, and didn't even get the chance to shout before he fell into the snow.

Lucky her, the guy in the tent was probably sleeping.

She breathed a sigh, and slipped out of the shack, staying low and moving for the gate.

It was getting dark out, enough to impare vision in the dark woodland road that lead up to the complex on the top of the hill . She had night vision goggles in her pack, though.

She slipped through the gate with ease, and made her way through the plowed road. Only the best for Gagarin, it seemed.

As she made her way through the road, she got out the nightvision goggles.

They activated with a soft electrical whine. For a moment, everything was a green-white glow...before it resolved itself into a landscape of that same green-white. Despite the strange tint, she could see everything as clear as day, though the lights glowed far brighter than they did without the goggles. So she'd have to be careful about sudden illumination.

She'd be careful about that. For now she stalked low, keeping cautious.

She kept low, and her caution was her greatest asset. By keeping close to the outcroppings of rock and piles of snow, she managed to avoid the road. Unluckilly, this area had more guards on patrol than anyother, with at least two patrols making their way down the hill since she started her way up. One group even had a truck with a machine gun on the back of it.

She would have to be very cautious here. Getting caught was not an option. She modulated her breathing, and kept to any cover she could find, watching the patrols carefully and timing her movements with them.

She was truely alone out here, and it made itself known in the opressive darkness around her. She moved like a wraith, though, and avoided the patrols with clever steps and timing that allowed her to let them pass unmolested.

She felt alone out here, and she felt the thrill and terror of the possibility of being caught any moment. But those feelings didn't reach her actions-- those were methodical. Practiced, and elegant.

She passed a small ditch, only a few feet wide and bisected by a river that cut under part of the road. She could leap it, and avoid another stretch of the road up.

She weighed her options, and decided to try leaping the ditch- she hoped it wouldn;t make too much noise.

She cleared most of the ditch, though it was a close thing. She'd have to maintain her balance on the snow-covered ledge.

Balance, thankfully was one thing Hazel hand in spadses, and she carefully held her body.

There was a tense moment, but her training won out. Hazel stood poised on the other side of the ditch, and she could see the tall fence of the complex before her.

And lucky lucky, the other part of that very same stream went under the fence to the right, compromising part of the fence's perimiter.

She smiled grimly. That was perfect. She edged carefully onward.

She would get wet, if she did this, but....it was a perfect oportunity. The fence had a gap where the water had eroded the mud and stone enough to create a furrow.

wet didn't matter. It was the perfect entrance. It'd suck, but, well, she had done a polar plunge the year before....

And it would be just like that, as she slipped into the flowing ice-cold water. It cut through her cloths, and chilled her flesh.

It cut through the protective warmth of her camo, and chilled her to the bone-- hopefully she'd have a chance to warm up soon and not get frostbite. She moved as fast as she dared.

No matter how fast she moved, it _felt_ too slow. But soon, she'd passed under the slightly rusted metal of the fence, and onto the other side, out of view of the nearest searchlight on the imposing concrete and glass building.

She didn't forget her training, despite her discomfort, soldiering on, avoiding serachlights, and gazes.

She had to get in now, which would be difficult given the windows seemed pretty sturdy and the front door, even from here, she could see was as guarded as a palace.

She looked it over again, frowning. Were there any higher windows open, or some back way in?

There was a higher window, a little around the back corner that looked partially open. Steam, like that from a shower, was pouring out of it.

She smiled slightly, and started to carefully move toward it, looking for an access point- even  just something to give her a handhold up.

THere was a barebranched tree...and she could probably use it to hoist herself in

It would due- as long as she could move fast enough not to be spotted. She took her time as she aproached the tree, watching for the perfect momemt.

A guard slipped around the corner, towards the front of the house on his back and forth control . With his back turned, he wouldn't see her climb.

She sievzed the moment and grabbed the tree, scrambling up and to the window.

A female figure was washing up in one of the showers inside, humming to herself. But Heron could probably slip in and take her out without much fuss, due to the waythe shower room before her was positioned.

The figure was in the second stall on the left. The door was dead ahead next to the towel rack.

Heron slipped in the room quietly. She haded to take out someone in the shower, but she had to. She had her tranq gun in hand.

The figure behind the curtain swayed and hummed while they washed. Blood and what looked to be ash and dust swirled around the drain in the center.

she grabbed the curtain, pulling it aside, and fired a tranq round into the back of the figure's neck.

She saw the Comm officer from earlier, bruised and bandaged  around the head... She turned enough to look at Hazel with wide eyes, and murmur "you...!" before passing out in a heap

Hazel stared at her in disbeleif for a mmoment. Then she turned the water off for her.

The woman snoozed for the third time in two days. This time at the bottom of a wet shower. The shower room was quiet now.

She sighed, hoping all this wasn't too bad for her.  She quickly assessed the room, looking at the woman and her size, and if her clothes were in the room- considering to what degree a disguise might be viable.

She had some clothing set up on a chair near the door...and.....

It was her lucky day. The woman wasn't large. She'd fit in her uniform.

Hazel smirked. The disguise wouldn't fool too many people for too long, but it might give her the edge she needed. She grabbed the clothes and quickly dressed.

She put on the crisp , olive green uniform and cap. Over her chest was a name tag and badge reading 'Private Tanya, Communications' . It would fool a passerby.

She straightened her cap with a smirk, and headed out the door.

She walked out into a shockingly ornate hallway. From the 'our wealth is shared and everyone is equal' Collectivists, the level of opulence was a bit jarring and hypocrytical.

The wood paneled hallway had dim, handsome lighting and plush red carpets. Paintings and mirrors hung tastefully on the walls, depicting Gagarin and his family, towards one end of the hall, and the Collectivist party's accomplishment along the other.

Signs pointed either way

To the left, 'Lobby' and to the right 'Main Office'

She turned toward the Main Office, which would naturally be further in the building.

Her feet were muffled against the carpeted floor. She walked near silently down the hallway, past a picture of Gagarin standing with an older man against a backdrop of a building labeled in Uldovian. They were both in military uniforms.

She raised an eyebrow at the picture. Gagarin's father, perhaps.

It seemed to be. And a few years old, at that. She heard footsteps from down the hall, and voices.

"...Sure. He's a genius, but those legs of his...he's such a pain in the ass to move. WHy Gagarin wanted him on the second floor is beyond me"

"Security" The other voice murmured 'isn't it obvious? He wants him close"

She paused, pretending to be looking at the painting as she listened for a moment. Adler?

"After the last 'session' even that mechanical leg of his stopped working. And who had to bring the body back to the cells? Me. That's who.  Good Old Reliable Gorchev. " The man griped

His friend answered "I just hope the good doctor stops resisting and gets back to work. The sooner this titan thing is done, the better. I told you about Research Center B, right? Where it went crazy. Gorchev. I heard it _scream_  "

She made a face. That was definitely Who she was looking for. She started looking for a second floor access.

She was in luck, as it seemed it was the way she'd been walking.

She made her way, neither hurrying nor slow, at a gait that said 'I know where Im going and I'm supposed to be here'.

She passed a pair of soldiers walking by , distracted by their conversation. They gave her a cursory nod, as she walked past them and to the fork in the road

To the left 'study/common room' and to the right  and up up the stairs 'main office.'

She nodded back to them as she passed, too fast for facial features. She headed up the stairs.

The stairs were laquored wood, and her steps echoed eerilly in the empty stairwell.

She frowned, but with the disguise it didn't matter all that much. She didn't attemp to disguise it.

She felt...strange, for a moment. LIke eyes  were watching her from the dark shadows that pooled in the corner of the landing above her. The light flickered slighty , emitting a low buzz.

She frowned deeper, but pressed on.

As she walked up to the next landing...the feeling of being watched intensified. There was a hall ahead of her. Plush red carpets. Pictures. Long hall....

Ahead, at the next fork, she saw the signs. Left for the Common room. Right for the main office. Pointing up , as if there were more stairs ahead.

She frowned.... he was on the second floor... somewhere?  She turned looking around again.

Surely that couldn't be right? She walked toward the main office again.

She passed the same picture of Gagarin and his father from earlier. And heard, once again, the footsteps of someone walking down the hall.

"I'm just not sure it's all worth it" The familiar voice of the officer from downstairs said "all that fighting and killing"

His friend answered him,  "it's not going to save anyone in the end" he agreed "Hell. I heard Rabbitfoot died in a puddle of her own blood after a run of bad luck send her own weapon blasting through her chest." He said "and Tigerfang.....well. We'll be lucky if we ever see her again"

She rubbed her face. This couldn't be right? Was it really the same picture? She felt a chill go through her.

The two men passed by the fork in the hallway, and gave her a curt and professional nod as they passed. Their uniforms seemed a bit more rumpled, but they looked the same.

They continued as they passed "Death claims us all in the end , doesn't it Gorchev?" The friend sighed

"Guess so, my friend. Guess so" They passed out of sight and out of earshot.

Had she skipped back into the past again somehow? She looked for the stairs.

They were just past the Main Office sign. Hardwood stairs leading up.

She frowned at them, and turned to look to see where she had come from.

She saw the hallway behind her. Same as it had been. Same as it just was.

She shook her head. She must have skipped in time some how- that was the only explaination. She started up the stairs again.

She walked up the stairs...her foots echoed eerilly on the steps. She felt like she was being watched from the shadows, eyes prickling on the back of the neck from the darkness of the landing above.....

The lights flickered.

She frowned and looked around, pausing. Hadn;'t this happened before?

If she wasn't mistaken....it had.

She cautiously pressed onward, going slower this time, and keeping her eye out.

She entered the plush carpeted hallway.

Ahead of her was a fork in the hall. To the left the common room. To the right the main office,the arrow pointing slightly upwards.

Now she knew for certain something was wrong. She turned around.

She saw a figure clad in skintight black vanish down the stairs, whispering something under his breath.

She imediately walked back down the stairs after him.

The stairs seemed to stretch and stretch between them. She heard a soft chuckle behind her.....and then the world dropped out from under her feet.

Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to catch herself.

There was no catching herself. pictures and lights faded into a blur as she fell....

And she suddenly felt her body jolt. Eyes opened, and blinding, all too real light dazed her vision.

She winced at the sudden shock of it, looking around.

She was in her bedroom. Back on Earth. She was tangled in her sheets, and blanced precariously at the edge of her bed.

To her left, in the sun, was her bonsai tree , Fred.

She pushed her hair up, frowning in confusion. Her room? That wasn't right....

The memories of her adventures in Uldovia swirled in her head with a strange sort of dreamlike fogginess. But this...this was solid. And it was her room. Down to every last detail. And the sun outside shone down on the same view she saw every morning.

She squirmed back fully onto her bed, and tried to take stock. The whole thing... had been a dream?

It certainly felt that way. Her phone had a few messages from Simon, still lighting up the display..

A knock on the door sounded "Hazel. I know it's the weekend, but you shouldn't sleep the day away" Her mother stated "We're going out today, remember?"

"uh... sure mom..." she said hesitantly, getting up. It had felt so real.... It made her look around the room again.

She saw her guns in their rack, her saved targets from the range....everything in it's place.

The phone vibrated again.

She checked the phone, unable to shake the feeling something was wrong.

Simon had texted her three times. The first two were 'hey, wondering if you wanted to go on a double date later today' and 'it's okay if you're busy. I know your moms wanted your attention this weekend :p. '

The newest one was 'if you do want to, I'm thinking we can go see that movie about all those outdated action stars fighting alien robots"

She typed back 'Sure... maybe... I had a weird dream'.

'Weird dream, huh?' He texted back a moment later.

The door opened, and her mother's white haired head poked through the door, her eyes shielded by reflective sunglasses "...Goodmorning again. Breakfast should be on the table by the time you get out of bed." She said in her usual dry manner.

She nodded. "Sure mom." She looked her over.

Her mother wore a suit vest over her usual formal attire of a white shirt and starched pants. She didn't have the badge that usually accompanied such an outfit, though. Which was the FBI badge. but that could be explained by the fact she was off work today. After all, it was a day for the family to spend time together.

her mother was a slight woman, thin, with white hair and rabbit-like red eyes under her thick sunglasses. Her slight figure and all too pale skin gave her an interesting and memorable appearance.

She nodded "good. Natalie should have things all set by then"

She nodded, still feeling unsure of herself. Everything seemed right though. Of course it had been a dream...

"I'll see you in just a minute," she said, She texted Simon back at the same time. 'a long dream. There was time travel. and spies....'

'I'm not surprised you dream about being a time traveling spy, with your taste in movies :p' Simon responded a moment later.

Her mother nodded, and walked down the stairs.

It was a dream. Of course all that excitement and danger and intrigue wasn't real. Real life never was that exciting. Even for _real_ agents.

It explained the weird time jumps too, of course. She sighed and slid out from under her covers, looking over her body in her mirror.

She was unbattered from any of her dream activities. Her skin was pristine save for a small cut she got the other day on a workout. And even that was well on it's way to healing.

In the mirror was her everyday, normal self.

She looked healthy.

She poked where she'd gotten skimmed by a bullet in the dream. "Guess you don't die in real life when you die in a dream, she chuckled.

Her skin depressed slightly, and didn't hurt a bit.

It seemed that was probably the case.

Downstairs, the rattle of plates and chairs told her there was some activity.

She sighed and threw on some clothes. Then grabbed her small watering can to give Fred a little water.

Fred seemed happy to have been watered.

She smiled at her plant, and headed downstairs to her mom.

As she ran out into the hall, she passed pictures of her family, that lined the way down the carpeted steps .

There were a few of trips she remembered...school photos. Her and her younger brother when he was still very young...

She actually had to watch her step. he left one of his toy robots on the steps again. The little scamp.

She stopped up short- and stared at the photo. Her... younger brother?

There she was a lot younger at that point...holding a white haired little boy who clearly took after her mother. Calvin. Of course. Her younger brother. She could remember all kinds of stories about her younger brother. His first words. The time he looked at Mom's top secret CIA documents and copied out all the weapon schematics in crayon. The times they watched his favorite cartoons on the couch with him babbling excitedly.

She remembered her mother when he was born, and the way she dryly, but playfully remarked that she thought she was crazy after having one kid. Now here she was with another. She must be a 'bloody lunatic' .

She fowned. Something seemed wrong. She remembered her brother but-- she didnt have a brother.... did she?

She started downstars again, a bemused look on her face.

She sure did. Despite his habit for leaving his models around occasionally in inconvinent places, he was only a couple years younger than her. He was a sweet boy. And he was already proving to be quite the genius.

Her mother called out from the kitchen "I'll have you know, Darling" Her mother called "You won't be able to sleep that late in training camp" She teased in her dry way.

She hurried into the kicthen in a daze. "What?"

Her mother was standing before the oven, gently flipping a pancake and prodding at some bacon on two seperate skillets "When you graduate. You're still planing on joining the Agency, aren't you? Less in my capacity, and more in Natalie's mind you" She mused.

Calvin, her brother, was sitting at the table already.

Calvin gave her a pleasant wave. Hazel couldn;t help staring. She actually missed everything her mother said.

"I.... what?" she felt like she was in a daze.

Her mother turned, and looked at her with a slight expression that meant she was concerned. She walked over, and held up her finger before Hazel's eyes, moving it back and forth "watch my finger" She said in  a low voice.

She locked eyes with her mother's finger, following it back and forth, out of sheer reflex.

"you appear to be alright" her mother checked her head "you look like you've been struck by a board, dear" her mother said "Is something the matter?"

"I... everything feels wrong this morning," she murmered.

Her mother looked at her with muted sympathy "i see... Well, perhaps some time out will help you ? Did you perhaps have an involved dream?"

She nodded slowly. "A very involved one I guess."

"sometimes it's hard to shake the feeling of a dream like that" her mother said, and stood "Here. Eat up and it should help you feel better" She gestured to the table "Sit with your brother and I'll serve you up" She chuckled "Natalie's out right now, so we have plenty of time. "

Her mother...she was cheerful. She didn't emote like most people she knew, and her sense of humor was a little on the mean side...but she was happy. But why would that be weird? She'd been happy for as long as Hazel could remember.  They'd lived a pretty good life as a family.

She sat down at the table, frowning. 'Are you okay, mom?"

Calvin looked at her strangely and pushed up his glasses. "Its more like are you okay, sis."

Harley gave her a look, raising one eyebrow "I'm fine. My project's on schedule and Uncle Sam is happy" She said dryly "and I'm about to spend a day out with my two favorite rugrats. Of course I'm fine. You're the one who looks like she's seen a ghost" She nodded at Calvin.

Calvin nodded. "Yeah. Was your dream about ghosts? Or giant monsters?" he chuckled

She shook her head. "Neither...." she couldn;'t shake the feeling that _he wasn't supposed to be there_. Not only that, something else her mother had said....

Her mother chuckled, and pushed up her glasses "Perhaps it was, Calvin. Or more likely, she was dreaming about being a special agent" She rustled her daughter's hair "eat. or you're not going to have the energy for tactical action later" her mother drawled.

She picked at her food, trying to place it.. suddenly it clicked. "Mom... what did you say about Natalie?"

Her mother looked at her with another raiseo f her eyebrow "that she was out on an assignment this morning and wouldn't be home for a while yet. So we don't have to rush breakfast. We're waiting until she gets home to go out to the laser arena" she smirked thinly "Or do you think you're too 'cool' to practice your cover shooting with your moms and brother now?"

That was what was wrong. Natalie... alive.... it just... as much as she wanted it. That was wrong.

"But... mom.... Natalie...."

Her mother sat down at the table, passing around plates "Is just as much your mother as I am" She said , with a raise of her eyebrow "what is going on in that head of yours today?"

She swallowed,  "Mom.... Natalie isn't.... she's not...." she bit her lip.

Calvin stared at her. "Is this some kind of existential crisis, Haze?"

Harley tented her fingers with a soft sigh "Let me guess, dear. In your dream, was Natalie...not around?" She asked in a quiet voice

"She... you built an AI of her..."

Harley stared for a moment, "So instead of building a weapons mainframe AI for the government, I used my programming skills to make a backup of Natalie? Honey... " she paused. " That doesn't sound very realistic, does it?"

"Well.... no....." she frowned

She chuckled "it was just a dream, Hazel. " she passed her a mug with a picture of a heron towards her. It was filled with coffee "And you're a little confused upon waking up. No. Natalie isn't some AI Copy of herself. and no she's not dead , or gone, or whatever she was in that nightmare of yours. She's fine. She's _just_ on assignment. Isn't that right, Calvin?"

Calvin nodded. "Absolutely!"

Hazel was distracted by the heron on the mug. She'd never seen her mother with that mug before....

Well that was because it was her mug, silly. Her mother's favorite mug was the simple black and gold CIA mug she recevied along with her promotion to the research team.

Her mother took a bite of her breakfast "Now. You know we're going out to the laser arena today for a little family bonding, right?" She chuckled "Figured it's something you and your brother can both agree is 'fun' without your poor mother and brother having to immoliate themselves in the bloody sun"

No, that wasnt right. It had been a picture of a heron just a minute ago.

She stood up. "This is wrong...."

Her mother sighed softly, and put her mug down "Fine, then what would _you_ like to do with the day?" her mother asked midly "keep in mind Calvin and I's physical limitations, please"

"Yeah, seriously, haze, what's up with you today?"

Hazel shook her head. "I'm sorry. You're both wonderful. But this is wrong. All of it, its not real. Its... an alternate dimension, or a dream, or... something."

Her mother sighed , and shook her head "do you really believe that, Hazel?" She asked in her quiet voice.

She took a deep breath. She wanted this world, whatever it was, to be true, she really did.  But... it wasn't.

She nodded. "I do."

The world stopped. The sound of nature out the window faded from her ears, and the world went dark save for the kitchen table. Calvin vanished, but her mother stayed. Her hands tented before her as she looked at Hazel with red eyes that seemed to cut through the dark. She sighed "A shame." she said sadly. "you could have died dreaming of a loving family. A mother who wasn't an obsessive wretch. A sibling for company." Her voice had a strange , rasping quality to it. "Do you prefer your grim reality, Heron, of Earth?"

Heron glared at whatever was perverting the face of her mother. "I prefer not to die."

Her mother dissipated, as the table too melted into the darkness. In her place was a black clad man, wires protruding from his neck and face, all attached into a strange set of goggles on his face. He stared at her with red-pinpricked lenses, watching her carefully. He wore a skintight black leather outfit, outfitted with knifes and needles in sheaths.

"I regret to say that is not in the cards" he said softly "For the deaths of my comrades, and the success of our mission, you have to die. Isn't it better to die in a beautiful dream, than in a painful reality? if you had the chance to choose how you die"

"Maybe," she said, "But I'm not dieing here." She reached for her gun- well for where it would be.

She felt a twitch......was it her actual body moving?

But she felt her gun at her hip, and her fingers reached around it's familiar and deadly weight.

The man leaned forward, and she felt a sharp prick in her arm, as he appeared behind her. He injected whatever was in the needle, and she felt her heartbeat start to slow in her chest. The dreamworld began to pulse with color. The color turned slowly into whispers and garbled memories of her life on Earth with her mother and friends.

She hissed and focused on the weight of the gun in her hand, trying to shut out the whispers as she turned and raised it to aim at the man.

The same twitch rolled through her body, as she raised the gun in the dream.

The whispers grew louder and louder. Her mother saying she didn't have time for one of their outings, after being cornered by men in black and interrogated for hours about a project. Her and Simon making their 'agreement' about their relationship. School...training...the house being empty and quiet on some nights when she came home, filled only with the very quiet murmur of her mother talking to a machine in the secured basement.

Her friends at school talking loud and excitedly about some future plans of theirs. But none were so dedicated as her. Not even Simon.

The gun range, the feeling of the gun in her hands.

But she managed to get the black clad man in her sights. The gun was aimed.

She breathed deeply. Focus. Focus. THat was her strong point. She could center herself. Be in the moment. Aim the gun. And fire. She pulled the trigger.

The jolt that went through her rocked the world of the dream with a physical force. The man's mouth opened in surprise, blood starting to leak from a wound on his stomach. He staggered....

Hazel heard the very real sound of a body hitting the ground, and the report of a discharged firearm. She felt herself jolt awake.

She was slumped on the landing of the stairwell, up against the wood-paneled wall, under the flickering light. A needle was discarded beside her, and her arm was outstretched and stiff, aimed at the air above where a squirming body lay crumpled.

The world around her was utterly real. The stiffness in her arm from the recoil was enough to tell her that.

She grunted, trying to loosen her body as she woke, and quickly take stock of the situation. She kept the gun aimed at the target. Dead?

Her heart was still beating slowly...and she felt strange and dizzy.

And the target wasn't quite dead yet. He hefted himself, enough to sit on the stairwell, holding his bleeding gut with one hand. The wires sparked against where they entered the flesh of his temples, and caused him to wince once more as he looked at her with glowing red lenses "Very...." he rasped in his damaged , almost ethereal , voice "Very nice. I...urg...I respect one who can choose the harsher path and come out standing strong. To face the ugly truths of this world...and live" He breathed , shuddering.

She nodded, slowly, not taking away the gun yet. "Who are you? What did you dose me with?"

The man raised one arm, and Hazel saw the painful looking wires wound their way through the flesh under his bodysuit here as well. He held a needle between two fingers "A poison to stop your heart and let you ....pass...peacefully. this is the antidote." he whispered "I...Am Snakeyes" The lenses blinked strangely as he stared at her "Of The Republic's Body Unit.."

She reached out for the antidote. "Snakeeyes. Huh. Well, I hope you pass peacefully."

He laughed,  a bitter laugh. A laugh that ringed with pain both mental and physical "Oh. I do not believe I will have this luxury, woman of two worlds. " He let her take the antidote, and watched her, his wound staining his hand and his stomach .

"No more of your poison?"

She administered the antidote to herself with a frown.

He chuckled softly "The poison is designed to let you drift in a sea of good memories. Releases endorphins....But...." He gestured for her to come closer.

The antidote was warm as it pulsed through her veins....but with every beat of her heart, it beat faster. And the feeling and strange euphoria of it all began to fade away. It was doing it's work.

"please.." he drooped against the stairs "I...I will show you."

She came closer, nodding as she felt the antidote healing her.

He reached one mangled hand up, and pressed it to her cheek....and she felt herself lurch into memory once more.

But it wasn't hers.

She found herself in the darkness, adrift in a sea of it, with the black clad Snakeeyes standing beside her.

The world resolved into a shabby one bedroom tenament. An old fashioned radio sat in the corner, taking up the entire space, and was playing some radio show in what at first sounded like some foreign language to her ears, but later , as if for her convinience, converted to English.

"And So, The Gilded Empire marches on! In the name of the glorious Golden Gods, and their voice on great mother Terra, all who oppose them will fall to their knees and pray!"

In the corner, a worn looking woman in a threadbare dress and hat was sitting in one of the hand-me-down chairs, knitting as she looked disconcertedly towards the radio.

Outside the window, a flag depicting a golden laurel encircling a proud looking eagle was fluttering. And a working man sat at the table, his glasses halfway down his nose as he read the news, frowning deeply. He had scars up and down his arms, and his shirt was stained with grease. He looked...depressed.

And in the middle of it all was a young boy with dark black hair. He was sitting on the carpet, moving a toy military jeep around.

Hazel looked around in startlement and curiousity. This must be the man's memory. The boy- was that him?

The boy let go of the toy truck , and he concentrated.....the truck moved a few inches on it's own. He clapped with glee.

Snakeeyes stood beside her, sighing softly as he watched the boy. She could see, under the goggles, the whisps of black hair that survived whatever grafted those goggles to his head.

The father in the memory jolted up, and grabbed the boy "NO!" he howled, shaking the stunned child slightly "What have I _told_ you about using that...that curse of yours! _They_ could be watching us at any moment! Don't you understand what sort of situation we're in, you damned little fool?"

Mother stood, and weakly protested, her hands reaching for the now crying boy "Dear...dear....he's just a child" She begged in a voice far too soft and faltering to be of any use "he didn't know...."

Hazel frowned. "Ah..." It was an all too familiar story, even if it was only familiar from fiction.

The scene shifted, and she saw the black haired by, now 11 or so years old. He was in the street, and soldiers in red and gold uniforms emblazoned with the same golden eagle as the flag surrounded him. But they were all crumpled, asleep and dreaming. The boy backed away from them, his chest rising and falling before he ran away.

But someone, someone looking out their window had seen.

She winced. The poor kid. Something told her this wasn;t a great environment for a psychic. She felt a surge of empthy for him.

Another skip...and they were back in the apartment. The boy was hiding now, hiding in a space between the walls. Cowering. But she  could see the room clearly as a knock sounded at the door.

The Father looked up from his paper, pain and fear on his face. Mother shrank into her knitting.

Father opened the door, and it was shoved the rest of the way open rather roughly by a tall and statuesque man in a golden-armored uniform. He had a laurel of golden leaves around his head, and a number of glimmering metals on breast.He had hair the color of wheat under the sun, and chiseled ,youthful features.

He smiled at the Father with sugar coated malice "hello. If I can have a moment of your time, my dear citizens of the Gilded Empire..."

The boy cowered in the hidden wall...clutching hidden items of faith. A faith that Hazel got the sense was baned under the 'Golden Gods' rule.

Hazel started to feel ill. Another world war analogue...She wondered how brutal they would be, bracing herself.

The conversaion steered from a discussion of the Golden Gods and the 'good' the empire was doing in the world....to their son. And it only got worse from there. The General, as she found to be his rank, came out and demanded they hand over their son. He had displayed 'talents'. And any good citizen would have _gladly_ offered their talented children to join the youth pledged in service to the Golden Lord.

The man said his son wasn't home, and he didn't know where he was.

And that was when the General shot the Mother. It was a headshot, a quick but messy death as she collapsed in her chair. Blood soaked her unfinished knitwork.

It had the intended effect. The boy screamed, despite his pledges and promises to stay silent.

They found him. And they found the items of faith.

The Father was brought up right then and there under charges of 'Subversion and Blasphemy' . They executed him on the spot.

The scene shifted once more.

Snakeeyes looked at her , between these scenes, with his gleaming red eyes.

Hazels face was grim, and her heart was heavy. It had been exactly as she had suspected. "I wish I could say more than that I'm sorry."

Snakeeyes nodded "there is nothing more to be said" he said softly , his voice haltering and rough

The scenes shifted by in quick succession

The young boy growing up in a prison camp. The boy, now an early teenager, strapped into a medical bed , where they poked and prodded him for information on his gift.

The welding of the goggles and wires to 'augment and control' his abilities. The birth of the psychic soldier, a man able to send enemy combatants into a deadly dream.

The boy was mangled, and altered until he became a tool to the Gilded Empire. And once they thought they had broken him, they sent him out on a mission.

To infiltrate and destroy a stronghold held by a particularly effective Allied Unit.

Hazel felt like she was going to throw up. But still, she watched in stoic silence, in salute to the man who had lived it.

And it was on that mission that he was stopped.

Stopped by Lionheart and The Body, a unit comprised of unique soldiers. Soldiers with dark, storied pasts, who fought for a world without 'The Gilded Empire' and it's taint. He was spared from death, and Lionheart herself promised him that they would fix what had been done.

He was captured, and the controls on his mind were subverted by one of their  support staff. A young, up and coming scientific mind. He was free. And the first thing he did with his freedom, was join The Body to lash back on those who took everything from him.

Snakeeyes, the Psychic Soldier, served Lionheart faithfully. Dutifully. She was, for lack of a better word, a hero. A hero that spoke to the young boy that still lived inside that prison of wires and metal. His hero.

It was then that the memories began to fade away. She was awake again, looking down at the dying Snakeeyes

His fingers rested on her cheek, as sparks danced behind the red lenses of his goggles. He smiled at her, sadly. "Thank you. I....I fear for the future of this world, Woman of two worlds. It will be a world without heroes...."

He chuckled bitterly "that is why I cannot die in peace. Because....I know there will _be_ no peace, soon enough. "

"There will be peace," Hazel said. "and there will be heroes."

He looked into her eyes for a long moment. He seemed to be looking furthur...into her mind. She didn't know what he saw, but whatever it was...it softened the bitterness of his smile. The electric lights of his goggles winked on and then off in a sharp blink, wavering slightly.

But the smile that now crossed his face told her that...perhaps....in her mind, he found something. Something that put him at east "....You might be right about that, Hazel Davidson." he rasped "Perhaps....perhaps you will be" he said, and raised his hand to his head in a shaking military salute "May the Celestial Queens bless you,soldier."

She returned his salute sharply. "And you."

He reached onto his belt, where his syringes lay. With deft fingers, even in his dying state, he took one and injected himself in the neck. "I hope..." he rasped as he passed slowly into that final, peaceful death "that you become the hero of your dreams, Heron of Earth."

The red lights and sparking electricity behind his goggles dimmed...and then extinguished.

Snakeeyes , slumped on the lushly carpeted stairs of the Comrade's personal encampment, rested in a peace he never knew he could feel.

Hazel stood still, locked in salute for a long moment, the ugliness of war and dictorship heavy in her mind.

But every moment had to come to an end. Her uniform was pristine, and it would hold up at least until someone found the body. If she was going to do this, she would have to hurry.

She sighed-- it was time to move on before someone caught her. She needed to get adler.

He was in some private cell on this floor, near the main office. She remembered that much....

She reoriented herself, looking for the main office again.

It was down this hall , it seemed. Strangely, this floor only had the one hall. A third floor was above them, and another after that, if the outside was to be trusted.  Four floors in total.

She frowned slightly as she moved down the hall, feeling a little boxed in.

Perhaps that was the intention of putting the main office between three other floors of militant personell. To make any intruder feel as if they were trapped in a nest of wasps.

It was certainly having that effect, but she remained outwardly calm and efficient as she walked.

She passed a door, supplies.....another door...Documents....and at the end of the hall 'Main Office'

it was a double door, which in and of itself distingusihed it from the rest of the hallway. And it's position indicated that it was a large room...or more likely, a larger complex of rooms. In which might very well be Adler's private cell.

She sighed. There was nothing for it. She would have to go through

That being said, there was a vent at tip-toe height near that door...one that might provide a stealthy entrence to the office and private quarters.

Her spirits lifted when she saw the vent. That seemed like the much safeer option. She tiptoed, and, quickly checking to make sure no one was observing, pulled the vent open.

The hall was empty and quiet. She had her chance.

She pulled it open, and hoisted herself up into it in a smooth motion.

The vent smelled of dust, and it was cramped. But her slight body was a perfect fit to traverse it.

She ignored the smell, and crawled through it, slow and gentle, not making a sound.

She heard talking below on of the grates as she continued down what was, at the moment, a straightaway in the vent.

"Comrade, sir. Shall I transcribe the results of the latest talk with Mr. Adler?" a woman asked.

Gagarin answered in a growl "I would very much appreciate that. Where is my secretary? The fool woman went haring off with Lionheart again, didn't she?"

"yes sir. She sent the requst this morning" The woman answered "And you approved it. She's using her communications knowledge to repair the broken comm uplink in the northern sector. "

"ah. Yes" he murmured "Then you'll do. Put what he said into a report and have it on my desk tonight. I have to present it to the director of research at dawn."

She paused a moment, listening to them. It sounded like Doctor Adler had been recently tortured.... also, they were possibly talking about the woman she had tranqed

Gagarin dismissed the woman, and the sound of him clapping his hands together "now" he said in his booming voice "I'll be preparing my nightly bath."

The smell of blood drifted down the vent...coming from the fork in the vents ahead.

Se started moving again, crawling slowly and quietly toward the smell of blood.

It got stronger as she crawled through the metal vent, keeping her sound down......it was coming from the right. towards the center of the office rather than towards the leftmost wall of it.

She kept moving toward it. Deeper in, of course. How would she get him oiut was a question. Couldn't use the vent....

That was the concern....deeper she went, past the office she heard the voices in, and to a small fork once more. But this one went in three directions. Straight it continued to another fork, right, it ended quickly in a grate she could exit from, and to the left was the same. A short path to another grate.

And the blood was coming from the left.

She frowned. She didn't like the choice. She moved toward the smell of blood.

Down the left path, she came to the downward facing grate . Through it she saw from the top down, a spartan room covered in splashes of fresh blood.

Adler was in a chair, his face bruised, blood leaking from his lips and nose. HIs mechanical leg was a mangled mess. She could see that even from up there. And the rest of him looked like Gagarin went a little overboard.  Strangely, the mechanical leg was corroded and rusted nearly to pieces.

She made a face. Disgusting... well, at least she had made it. Now all she had to do was get him out. That was easier said than done. he couldn't crawl through grates...

That was a problem. He whimpered below her.

Hopefully she could carry him. Sneak him out...

First she had to get into the room through the grate.

Yes, she had to start with that. Could she push the grate open?

She could certainly try. it looked like it might work

She gave it a shove, holding on to it with one hand so it wouldn;t fall.

There was a wrenching of metal...and it came loose in her hand

She held it tight, making sure it didn't fall, and then, jumped down.

She landed with a muffled thud, and that was enough to jarr Adler. He gasped, and jolted back, causing the chair he was chained to to balance dangerously on it's back legs.

She grimaced and reached out to grab and steady him.

He steadied with a groan. His dark eyes opened a crack "....Heron. it is you?"

She brought a finger to her lips and nodded. "Its me."

He smiled weakly "I can't walk" he said softly.

"I'll carry you," she said. She lookd for restraints.

He was bound by the leg, and by the arms to the back of the chair

She quickly went about freeing him, assuming they weren't chanins....

They were firm rope bindings...but not chains. He was lucky. She was able to cut him free.

she cut each binding and then stood, gently picking him up in a fireman's carry.

He groaned, and the metal leg fell free from the stump of his leg. He closed his eyes "I...I had to tell him everything I knew...about the Titan's reactions to the AI. He was displeased. Thought it was my doing...."

"Thought what was your doing?" she murmered

"The Titan going berserk and killing his men" he groaned

She snorted. "Of course."

"I convinced him...but he thinks I'm delaying the program....to buy time..." He wheezed "for you to rescue me"

"Well, Im rescuing you now, anyway."

He laughed , then winced "If we can get out of this building alive..."

"We're going to try," she said. "have any good intel for me?"

"Snakeeyes....he was sent to this facility to guard against your intrusion...." he said in a low voice

"Already taken care of."

"And ....The ....The Panther Squad...."

"great, I haven't run into them yet."

"Be...careful..." his weight went heavy on her back. He had passed out.

She sighed. Great. She moved to the door, and listened carefully.

There was the woman's voice...the secretary, from the sound of it. She murmured under her breath...clearly frustrated. But she sounded like she was rambling to herself.

She sighed, annoyed, and waited for her to pass.

Footsteps signaled that she was heading out of the room for the moment, murmuring about 'stupid typewriter'

She took the opportunity, once she no longer heard footsteps, to slip into the hallway.

She slipped out into a narrow hall . She could see, down the left, that the hall passed into the main lobby she'd snuck past earlier and peeked in.

To the right...more doors, and another large room....and windows.

Windows- maybe she could seen out one and climb down with him, if she was licky. She moved toward them.

Her footsteps were silent against the carpet, and her movements were stealthy....

door....past door....past door...She saw the window ahead, it was large and it looked like it had a tree she could probably manuver onto just outside of it. She was getting closer now.

She kept silent, hoping to get out the windo unnoticed. She moved as fast as she dared.

Her progress was dashed by one of the doors opening nearly in her face.

A hushed conversation suddenly stopped short as Panther walked out and into Hazel with a grunt of surprise.

He froze, stared at her for a split second before a knife-like grin took up most of his face. "Well, well, well" he sneered.

Lynx was behind him, and the secretary was nearby, her eyes wide and the report dangling from her shaking fingers.

She winced, and froze, caught like a deer in the headlights. She evaluated her options, looking around. "Coffee break?"

Panther grinned wider, like a cat who caught the canary "Sorry" he purred, "you look like you really need some sleep" He moved fast, and frozen as she was, she was helpless to stop as he grabbed her head...and slammed it into the wall.

The world reeled, spun...and then went dark.

Hazel had just enough time to feel annoyed, before she felt nothing.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Viper could see the communications tower cresting the hill before him. A steel and concrete hub , bristling with radar dishes and a tall iron tower. The operation had gone well. He'd avoided most patrols and haden't set up any alerts along his way to this out of the way area.

And it was right dead ahead. He crept slowly towards it, and took out one of the perimiter guards. There weren't going to be many. Their intel suggested that Lionheart and Spider were sending a covert missive. Hush hush....

He decided to enter through the rear door. and hide in the main communications room. He opened the back door, and slipped into the dimly lit interior, gun ready.

The room inside was large, and functional. A cement floor, and metal walls. It was little more than a big,box,  but it was one someone had decided to use as a warehouse. Big boxes, some metal, some wood or cardboard were stacked around haphazardly. Here and there swinwing chains hung from the flickering old lights. Across the room, past stacks of boxes, was the door up to the tower.

Viper grimaced, and began easing his way through the large, too open room. He took advantage of the boxes and wood as cover, as he made his way towards the door.

As he walked, he head footsteps nearby- it was difficult to tell if it was an echo, or another person, they matched his so neatly.

Viper was an agent of Soteria, though. Highly trained by Lionheart and her unit themselves. He left nothing to chance as he ducked suddenly behind the nearest pile of old boxes.

As he did, he saw a tall figure step out from behind a row of boxes. Her footsteps were even, each black heeled boot clicking on the floor like the knock at deaths door.  She was slim, and clad all in a black, skintight leather bodysuit, with long, long golden hair spilling out from a black  military cap on her head. Her face was pale, and gaunt, and a black eyepatch covered one eye. There twin curved swords hanging at each of her hips.

Viper recognized the bodysuit and hat. The old uniform of the Gilded Empire's Elite Duelist Division. However, all of the crests and marks of rank and identifying features had been picked off of it. However, on her chest were sewn a number of military medals.

Viper recognized it for more than just it's historical nature. He had seen this woman in the field during his training. Wolfclaw, the swordswoman.

He gripped his pistol, and leaned just the slightest to take aim at her. HIs heart pounded in his chest, but with will, he steeled his tense hands, and fired.

With almost blinding speed, and equally incredible nonchalance, she pulled one of the black blades from its holster and raised it- Viper's bullet pinged off the blade, and burried itself in a box.

"You'll have to do better than that, little serpent."

Viper grimaced, ducking back behind the wooden boxes. That speed. That skill to deflect bullets. It was hellish

But then again, a lot of what the Body could do could be called hellish. It wasn't just a unit. It was a unit of _special_ soldiers. Soldiers he hoped to be a part of one day. He breathed softly, exhaling before dodging into the shadows to the left of the box.

He wasn't a little serpent any longer. He wasnt a trainee.

He knew very little of Wolfclaw- though more than most others had known. She had been a soldier for the Gilded Empire during the war. A hero, a champion even. BUt midway through she had defected to their side, and joined the Body.

The woman strode behind a stack of boxes and he lost sight of her.

He narrowed his eyes, and backed slowly towards another pile of metal debris , eager to get back behind another bit of cover. As long as he stayed far from the woman, he'd be...relatively safe.

He never had known what her reasons were. But the hero of the gilded empire was a formitable foe. One he wasn't too happy to be facing alone. He made sure to have his knife readied in his other hand as he crept through the dim light.

he heard a footstep- just one- behind him.

Viper whipped around, his knife flashing through the air into a devensive position.

He was just barely in time to parry a slash form one of Wolfclaw's two black blades. The stern, older blond woman stared harshly at him from behind it, as she rasised the other.

Viper's eyes narrowed, and as his knife parried the blow, he threw himself bodilly into her in an attempt to destabilize.

She  held strong, almsot as if just to prove she could. Because the next moment she danced backward- letting his momentum stumble him.

He whipped his gun around, and fired three rounds at the woman , before directing his gun up, and shooting out the light. As he turned and bolted for the shadows, he slipped his night vision goggles on.

All three bullsets were deflected, but the light going out seemed to annoy the woman.

"Run to find a hole?" she asked. "I don't approve of cowardly tactics." She started walking up the rows of boxes, looking for him.

Viper watched the world light up in shades of pale green, and aimed to shoot out another light. As he did, he moved to another set of boxes to hide, leaving the sound of his weapon behind him. Leaning over the edge of a cardboard box, he aimed his weapon at her, and fired.

She was slower this time- but she deflected it. The bullet actually nearly hit Viper himself as it came back. Still, she looked shaken.

"In the gilded empire, we were told cowards would be flogged."

Viper dodged the bullet, and spoke up "The Gilded Empire also said that all who didn't bow to the temple of gold were fair game for torture and execution" He said in a growl. "But this isn't the Gilded Empire, Wolfclaw" The instant her name left his mouth, he dodged for another rack, hiding from where she might intuit his presence.

"Thank the goddess it is not," she said. "I left behind their corruption and evil long ego, when I saw its face." He saw her vanish behind some boxes again.

Viper shot out another light with a carefully aimed shot "Gagarin's Collectivists aren't much better than the Gilded, Wolfclaw. Drop your swords and we can end this"

The place was nearly dark now. "I am a soldier, and I have a duty. I will carry that to the end."

There was a rush of footsteps.

Viper used his low visibility to duck low, nearly prone. He made himself into a tripping hazard.

The war hero pitched over him, tumbling- though she managed to fall gracefully.

He took the opportunity while she fell to fire his pistol at her arm.

"So am I" he said in a low voice "And I'm carrying out my grim duty to whatever end it leads. Even if it as good as kills me"

The bullet grazed her, and she made a noise as she got up and faced him, advancing on him. "It will kill you, one day. The great machine of war spares no one."

Viper readied his gun and blade. HIs body was tensed with the moves taught to him by his mentor. His friend. The traitor. "Not even you, Wolfclaw?"

wolfclaw was silent. She came at him with both blades drawn- a whirlwind figure of death in the near darkness.

Viper was fast, and he struck as his namesake suggested. He went for a parry with the blade, while also attempting to grab her arm to manuver her own momentum to flip her to the ground.

He caught her, parrying her blade and flipping her to the ground in a sudden motion, her golden hair flying up like shafts of wheat in the breeze.

Viper wasted no time in bringing his gun into a firing position, and laying two shots towards her midsection. "I don't care that I'm going to die, Wolfclaw. But I'm not dying until the world is safe from Gagarin's madness. There'll be time for death later"

She slashed up to parry- but only managed to slice a gougein Viper's arm. Both shots hit her and her mouth flew open, her body falling to the floor.

"Do you think you'll be a hero, when you die?" she asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I have been a hero many times in my life.... That is why I left the Gilded Empire, when I learned they were not so heroic." She laughed bitterly, and winced in pain.

Viper's blood dripped in down his arm as he placed a foot on Wolfclaw's wrist, pinning it down. He leveled the pistol at her with a sharp frown, blood dripping to mingle with hers on her wounded chest. "I don't think I'm going to be a hero, Wolfclaw" he said somberly "None of us are."

He looked down at her "It must have been a shock to learn what you were really fighting for"

"A terrible one," she hiss, swallowing. And now, I find myself here. Funny isn't it?  If I had died in the Gilded Empire, I would have been rememebred a hero."

Viper shook his head "it's not funny." he said in a low voice "If you died in the Gilded Empire, you would have been labeled a villain. For the darkness under the gold leaf would have been revealed, and all your achivements and heroism would have been tainted by what _they_ did"

He looked down at her "But that's the machinations of those that give us orders. They change their minds about us constantly" he hesitated. "I think you're a hero, Wolfclaw. You helped so many people since you defected. You helped win the war. I was looking forward to fighting alongside you once I proved myself. But that's just a soldiers opinion, I guess."

She smiled, her face looking hollow, and old. "Who's to say what the world will think of you and I tomorrow? We thought the Empire was good once. But thank you, Viper." She coughed again. Blood was seeping over her black uniform, it had dripped up the crease of her stomach, and was staining her medals.

Viper nodded , grimly "All we can do is keep fighting for today. you're welcome Wolfclaw. I'm sorry it had to end this way" he said , and gave her a sharp salute

Wolfclaw took a shaking breath- and saluted back sharply, just as the light faded from her eyes.

Viper felt a sting of emotion, and bent down to close her eyes with gentle hands. "Rest in Peace, hero" he murmured to himself.

The room was dark, and quiet now.

He closed his own eyes for a moment, before lifting off his goggles, and walking towards the far door. His footsteps echoed in the lonely emptiness of the room

It seemed like a long trek to the door, but when he finally reached it, there was a small staircase.

He slowly crept up the staircase. Ever on edge, ever viggilent. His ears were pricked for the slightest sound as he ascended the radio tower.

He heard a low, familiar voice as he crept his way up.

He frowned, walking slower and closer to the wall as he listened in.

It was Lionheart. He couldn;t hear who she was talking to. He could hardly hear her. Only a few words stood out from the murmer.  He heard his own code name, Viper,  something about Gagarin.... something about something called the Fotune of Nations.... more about Uldovia....

He frowned, and crept closer, past a dimly lit doorway, and towards Lionheart's voice

But he was too transfixed. A gun jammed to his spine, and Spider's voice purred in his ear "be a good boy, Viper, and trust me"

He growled "Spider, dammit. this isn't the time"

He was pushed forward and into the light of the Comm room. Spider called out "ma'am! I found a snake lurking in the hallway!"

Lionheart stepped forward. "I see."

Spider pressed her hand to the wound in Viper's arm, and with a sharp pain, forced something inside it, and shoved him forward towards Lionheart "Seems I caught a spy!" She said "gosh"

VIper stumbled forward, and made a move for his gun "Lionheart!" he narrowed his eyes "why are you doing this?"

She sighed, looking him over. "I hoped I wouldn;t see you here again, Viper."

Viper went for his gun, only for Spider to grab his arm and pin it. He frowned, and made a move to fight when she squeezed him in a significant manner. He frowned, and looked at Lionheart "I have to complete the mission" he said "You know what he's going to do if you help him. Think of the people back home! Think of our leader" He frowned "think of all those who care what you do!"

Lionheart moved to disarm Viper, taking the gun from his pinend hand. "I wish I could explain it in a way you'd understand."

"This is simply the way things are, Viper."

WIth his wound already weakening his grip, the gun was torn from his hands. He frowed at her "Do we mean so little to you?" he asked, desperately "Does your nation mean _nothing_ ?"

"Nations are made up of people, Viper," she said.  "A nation is just a group of people, bound by an ideal"

"And what _about_ those people and ideals, Lionheart? Are you saying that Gagarin's ideas are anything to fight for??"

"Ideals change from day to day, more often than the men who hold them."

"That..." he frowned, and wrenched his hand out of Spider's grip "I have to stop you. Ideas may change, but duty doesn't" he took a step forward "Lionheart. They ordered me to eliminate you"

"I know," she said. "We both have our duties."  She brought her free hand down on the bakc of his neck, and sent him unconscious.

Viper made one last grab for her, before he fell into the grip of unconsciousness

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

It was inumerable hours later that Hazel felt herself wake up. Her head rung, dizzying and disoirenting , and the world was too bright once her eyes had opened.

She felt her arms stretched up above her, and something binding her feet. But she seemed to be...hanging.

Hazel made a small groan as she woke up, at first disoriented.

She heard Viper murmur beside her, making a low grunt of pain and discomfort.

But it was the next voice that really made the room feel unwelcoming.

Gagarin boomed "So. The two rats skulking around my facility finally fell into their respective traps"

She felt an emptiness in the pit of her stomach. Gagarin. Wonderful.

The world swam into focus for her. She was hanging in a brightly lit room, chained by the arms and legs. Viper was in a similar state behind her, blood caking one arm.

Panther and Lynx were in one corner of the room, Panther lounged on a chair with an all too eager grin on his face.

Lionheart was nearby , waiting cooly for them to awaken....

And Gagarin. Gagarin was pacing before them with a look of malace in his eyes. "you thought you could sneak in here and steal the Fortune of Nations, didn't you?"

Hazel raised her eyebrows. The what? She didn't say. She looked over at Panther, and Lynx who was standing beside him with a notebook.

Panther grinned all the wider at Hazel, and gave her a little wink.

Viper spat "The Fortune of Nations?" he growled " we don't know what the 'fortune of nations' is . you keep mentioning it, but it's not..."

"SILENCE" Boomed Gagarin "I know the Republic has been planning to steel _my birthright_ ! That's why they sent you here. to take what's rightfully mine! But you...you fools have no idea what the Fortune is _capable_ of. WIth it, I will finance the NEW Collectivist army! A true army of the Uldovian people! Powered" he looked at Hazel with a malicious grin "by my Titan"

Hazel glared back at him. "YOu're delusional."

He stepped forward, and roughly grabbed her chin "I'm ambitious" he snarled "Not delusional. My father gave me the Fortune with his passing. I _know_ Soteria's people are here for it. WHy else would she send you, her loyal little _rats_ , scurrying into my compound?"

"Not for some fortune that probably doesn't even exist, that's for sure." she sneered.

"we'll change your tune soon enough" he made as if to turn, before spinning around and delivering a sharp punch to her gut.

Viper cursed "Dammit, Gagarin, she doesn't know what you're talking about! neither of us do!"

Hazel had the wind knocked out of her and more, shaking as she hung, the punch nauseating her.

He spun and delivered a similar hit to Viper, making him gag. He gasped for breath, and shot a look at the room , glaring with his crystal-blue eyes.

Gagarin spoke again "Why does your master want the legacy?" he asked calmly.

Lionheart was watching, coolly. She strode forward a few paces.

Hazel took easy breaths, trying to get her composure back. She didn't have the information this guy wanted. That wasn't much of a problem since it took away any option she had to break and give it away. But....

He cracked his knuckles "I could melt your flesh" he snarled, leaning close to Hazel "my skin corrodes metal. Just think what it could do to human flesh" He held out his hand, and placed a metal plate between his fingers. The metal beganto rust and corrode away...until it left a rusty, jagged edge. He lifted it slowly, and traced it over her chin. Not enouogh to cut, but enough to menace.

"Answer me"

Panther spoke up "Can I have a go? I could get these _Rats_ to speak"

"You must be a hit at parties," Hazel said dryly.  "what did you say you were looking for? A fortune cookie?"

He suddenly punched her in the shoulder. The rusty blade stabbed through her flesh. He dragged it down, carving a rather unpleasant wound in her skin "Don't you make any jokes, girl" he snarled. "The Fortune of Nations is no mere _joke_ "

Viper spoke up, a bit hurriedly "I'm sorry. We aren't soldiers of fortune" he said dryly "We're not sure what you mean"

Gagarin's eyes blazed "Oh. you both think this is a game?" he ripped the blade from Hazel's body, and gestured with a sneer "Pan...." he froze, malice in his eyes as he shook his head "no....Lionheart" he walked over to her and pat her shoulder "How about you take care of this little rat for me. He's yours, after all"

Hazel clenched her teeth, bleeding heavily from her shoulder, taking small gulps of air.

Lionheart walked forward stoiclly. "Of course."

She could feel the gritty residue of the rusty blade inside her wound. it burned like no other wound she'd received.

Viper tensed in his bonds "i'm not going to talk" he told her.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked him calmly

Hazel hissed in pain. It hurt. It hurt a lot. There was no shutting it out. She was very glad she'd had her tetanus shot.

Viper gave his mentor a hard look "I am. You trained me" he growled "I won't talk."

Gagarin leaned over to Hazel "Watch" He snarled "watch as your comrade has his eyes torn from his skull. And his  body mangled."

Hazel scowled, leaning back from him insio far as she could.  She said nothing.

"I did train you," she said. "I suppose in a way, that makes this a test."

He chuckled darkly, and watched with interest .

Viper snorted softly "then test away, teacher" He narrowed his eyes "I'm not going to talk."

"Not easily, anyway." She put a hand to his chest He felt something prick through his clothing and settle against his chest. But he didn't have time to think about it, before she had her knife out.

He tensed , and started to lean back.

"Well?" Barked Gagarin "Pleasantries over. Get to it, Lionheart"

"What does Soteria know about the Fortune?" she asked in a dry voice.

Hazel watched, unable to do anything else.

Viper's face went impassive. "Not my place to say" he said with a low hiss.

She closed her eyes for a moment-- then she jammed the knife into one of his eyes.

Viper screamed harshly, as one of his crystal blue eyes winked out for all eternity.

Blood poured down his face from the now devestated socket. He twitched, and went limp in shock.

Gagarin grinned widely "GOOD!" he boomed "Now, while he's busy....get to work on the other one."

She took her knife back, leaning close to him. Did she whisper 'i'm sorry, victor?' or did he hallucinate.

Hazel could only stare on in horror.

He shook, dizzy with the shock of it all. He wasn't sure. He wasn't thinking clearly....it may have been....But he squeezed his eyes shut, his breath heavy and shuddering. The pain must have been excruciating.

Lionheart turned toward Hazel, the bloody knife still in her hand.

Gagarin grinned "go. Ask her, now"

"Tell me what you know about the Fotune of Nations."

Hazel's heart pounded, and she swallowed, trying to make it slow. So long depth perception. Her voice came out hoarsely. "Gagarin wants it. That's all I know."

Gagarin watched as the blade was raised....

And Spider called out "no!" she blushed, and stumbled back, looking nervous at her outburst.

Panther's eyes were locked on her, and scanned her with a critical eye.

"what _is_ it, Lin?" Asked Gagarin with a sneer

Lynx, in thr corner, looked heavily skeptical of the woman, hands on her hips.

Lionheart paused at all the comotion, looking at Spider.

Hazel was glad for any reprieve.

Spider's breath hitched, and she shook her head "Isn't this a bit much?" she asked, shaking

"I would think my secretary would have a bit more spine" Gagarin spat.

Panther walked close to Spider, and leered, leaning over her shoulder "yes, _Lin_ . You would think. What has you so wound up? they're the _enemy_ "

Hazel watched the scene. She looked at Victor. Was he concious?

"Maybe the secretary hasn't seen much bloodshed," Lionheart mused quietly

Victor's head was bobbing. Blood mingled with other fluids on his face, and he seemed....awake, but none too coherant.

"Maybe" he said with a leer "or maybe ...." he began spinning his knife.  his eyes drifted over her, and a bright grin crossed his face "Lin...maybe you'd like some fresh air. I hear the supply depot, now that all that _poison gas_ is gone, is pretty pleasant this time of day"

Hazel made certain nothing crossed her face. So, Gagarin knew, or suspected....

Lynx giggled at the display.

Maybe not Gagarin , ,who just looked annoyed with this nonsense.

But definetly Panther knew _something_ and he looked ready to confront. "I think it's _my_ turn to take a shot at the subject now"

"Lin" Gagarin said in annoyance "go take a walk."

Lin, or Spider , nodded, and gave Hazel a sidelong glance before hurrying out.

Hazel locked eyes with her for a moment, before she left.

"Watch your tone, boy," Lionheart said to Panther.

Panther huffed, spinning his knife in agitation "There's nothing wrong with my tone" he said, and stepped forwared, "I have a bone to pick with her. I'm experienced enough, damn it."

"You'll just end up killing her, and then where will we be?"

He growled, rather like a huffy cat "I won't kill her!" he snapped at Lionheart "Now you...You'd better......" he began to demand.

She strode toward him. "Better, what?"

"Respect me" he stuck his chin up "i'm the leader of my unit you know" He said "and I'm the most skilled fighter in Gagarin's branch of the Collectivist Army"

"That doesn't mean you're not still a pup." she said,

He bristled "A pup??" he grabbed his knife, and made a lunge for Hazel "I'll show you what a _Pup_ ccan do!"

She grabbed his wrist, and redirected his body against a wall. "Cool it."

Lynx aimed a gun at her. "Hey!"

He kept his grip on the knife, hissing softly "what? you're protecting the enemy now, Lionheart?" he growled.

"Protecting our interests," she said. "and the chain of command."

"I could have handled it" he said, bitterly, though he almost looked a little sheepish as she reprimanded him.

Gagarin boomed "that's it. Take the prisoners to the cells" he growled "if we're fighting amongst ourselves any further interrogation is useless. " he glared at the two of them.

Lionheart crossed her arms stoiclly. Lynx on the other hand looked quite put out.

Panther yanked himself out of her grip, and stormed towards Lynx. His eyes were narrowed, and fierce. WIth the flick of his wrist, he threw one of his throwing daggers so it thudded into the wall just shy of Hazel's neck. He smirked over his shoulder "I'm not finished with you yet, Heron" He said, dangerously, before gesturing to Lynx. "Lets go, Lynx"

Heron stared after him, as Lynx trotted at his heels.

Gagarin yanked the knife free of the wall with a snarl,a nd its blade turned to jagged rust in his fingertips. he threw it to the ground, and snapped his fingers "Transport them. Someone make sure the snake doesn't bleed out all over my damned prison cells."

And with that, they were transported. Bags over their heads, and hauled bodilly down a winding set of directions. Viper was passed out. He'd faded just before the chains came off.

And that was how they got where they were currently trapped.