Chronocide: Mission Snowdrift

The two of them were locked in a secure iron cell, with only one bed... it'd only been an hour, before Viper started to stir.

Hazel had been meditating. It was difficult in the stifling... terrifying... enviornment, but it helped. But sensing Viper stir, she came out of her subtle trance. "V?" she said softly

Viper groaned and slowly sat up on the coat. Dried blood coated his face, under a few swaths of white bandage that hid the bloody socket of his destroyed eye from view. His hand raised, slowly, and pressed to the part of him that was now missing. His fingers trembled, just the slightest

"They didn't get you, did they Hazel?" was the first thing out of his mouth, his voice rasping.

"I'm okay," she answered. "They started fighting among themselves." She put her hand on his shoulder.

He chuckled a little bitterly "Thank the Goddess for incompetence, I suppose" he closed his good eye.

Her fingers tightened slightly around his shoulder. "I guess. Sorry...."

He blindly placed a hand on her, and nodded "thanks, Hazel. Just glad it stopped before they got you too." he smirked a little thinly, "can I count on you to cover my left flank, comrade? I think my blind spot just got a bit wider"

"You can count on me," she said, nodding.

"I've got your 9 and your 6. The whole evening, really."

Viper laughed, his shoulder jolting against her hand "good one, Hazel" he said with a wry smile "The whole evening, eh?"

He rubbed the bandages "this is going to effect my ability to wink, pretty damn badly"

"Hold it an extra half second to differentiate from blinking," she said sagely.

He held his eye closed for just that, 'winking' at her. "there we go. Good tip."

"Perfect." She gave him a thumbs up.

He returned it "Well. Good news..." he said with a slight wince 'we're in the main facility now"

"Goal accomplished," she said drolly. "With only a few minor details to take care of."

Viper's hand moved from her, to his chest, and he pat around a little bit. He winced as he touched a slightly healed wound on his shoulder....and then moved his hand to his chest. He frowned "there's something under my shirt"

She cocked her head. "Is it a tracking bug?" she asked

He pulled out the small bundle of what seemed to be lockpicking tools. His eye blinked quickly "....seems _someone_ is on our side..."

She raised her eyebrow. "Well, I'm not displeased," she murmered. The wound in her shoulder still stung. She looked the cell over. Thankfully there probably wouldn't be cameras....

Viper looked at her for a long moment. "You're wounded' he pointed out.

There were no cameras...and it seemed the cell itself was actually pretty sparse. A toilet, the cot, and a small, small small vent for air.

"We both are," she said, shurgging with only her unhurt shoulder.

He nodded "I should patch you up" he said "Can't do much for me, but you need that arm when we break out of here"

She opened her mouth to protest, but nodded instead, 'can;t argue with that."

He gestured "get on the cot, will you?" he moved over to give her room

She nodded, and moved to sit down on it.

He tore a piece f his uniform off, and looked over the wound. "there's a sink ,near the toilet." he murmured "i'll be right back" He got up, and walked to the small sink, soaking one strip of his torn uniform. He came back and began cleaning the wound the best he could "I'll try to grab a first aid kit again and steralize this later"

She tried to stay silent as she let him clean the wound. "Thanks...."

He nodded "You helped me earlier" he said "now I help you. We're a team, Heron"

"Damned right we are," she said. She licked the dry, inside of her mouth.

He nodded, and patched her up the best he could with strips of his own infiltration gear. "We're not going to fail here. That's for sure."

"We've come this far," she said.

"Now just to finish it" he said in a low voice.

He lightly pat her shoulder "there. It should keep you from getting infected" he said "at least until we can get some antiseptic"

"Should be good for a day or so," she said. "After we get back we can both take a course of antibiotics."

He smirked "I can picture it now. The plush, comfortable hospital beds. The conversations through dividing sheets. Fun fun"

"We can have jello on pastic trays together."

Viper chuckled softly "sounds like a date" he gave her a thumbs up "I claim the cherry jello."

"Great, I'll stick with the lime," she said, returning the gesture.

He smirked, and stood slowly "My eye hurts like hell, but I think we'd better get going anyway"

She nodded, and stood with him. "The sooner the better, Im thinking."

He held up the picks "i'd hate to ask this, But Can you handle the lock? The medical shock of losing an eye's making my hands shake"

She nodded and took the picks from him. "I can handle it."

He nodded, and leaned on the wall near the bars, listening closely "i'll listen for any guards" he promised "Good luck"

"Thanks," she nodded, and got to work. She checked the tools- she had worked with lockpick tools before. From ebay. They had been, well, kinda illegal

Viper stood tense, listening closely.

the lock was old, and not nearly as advanced as some she'd practiced on. She could feel the tumblers within....and with effort, could trip them.

She smiled. This wouldn't be easy- but it would be doable. She started to feel out the tumblers.

She managed to get one up with a gentle click. now for the rest.

Viper held out his hand, as if laying in wait.

She bit her lip, concentrating, her fingers working slowly and cleverly.

Another clicked into place...almost there.

Viper tensed, and held up his hand, signalling for her to stop.

She  grimaced, but hastily stopped and moved from the lock.

A guard walked by, with Spider following close behind. She was giving him a lecture about security protocol....

And as they passed, a small piece of paper fell off her clipboard, and shifted under the bars.

The two of them didn't spare a glance towards the prisoners as they walked back out of view.

She waited until they were gone- and then reached for the paper.

It was on flimsy, easilly soluable paper. And it read 'Supply room 3. Green bags. Behind ammunition.'

At the very bottom, was a small spider, drawn in pen

She passed it to viper. "Huh, looks like we're still caught in the web."

Viper nodded, raising his eyebrow "Might be our stuff" he commented, and put it all to memory. He dumped the paper in the toilet and let it dissolve away

"Thats what I was thinking," she nodded

He smirked , thinly "She may have gotten us captured, but I guess she's still on our side"

"I guess so," she said, making a face. "Lets try again, shall we?"

He nodded. He clearly didn't trust Spider, but..he positioned himself again, and gave Hazel the go ahead.

Hazel took it slow again, working from experience, carefully trying to hit all the tumblers.

Click...click...click...annnnd, the lock clanked open. The door felt looser as she held it. She'd opened it.

She smirked. "All set."

Viper blinked a little longer than usual "You're pretty good, Heron"

She winked back. "I;ve had some practice."

He chuckled "Legitimate practice, one would hope" he teased, and slipped out of the cell.

"as legitimate as it gets," she said, slipping out with him.

He dusted himself off, and gestured "Supply room three" he said "think we can get our bearings straight? after this, we take down the titan....and maybe find out where Adler's been stashed.

She nodded. "I think we can manage," she said. She tried to fix the layout in her mind.

they hadn't been there....all the intel showed it to be a large square complex of buildings and hangers....but nothing on the inside.

She made a face, and looked to see how many ways out of the room there were.

This was a hall...and it would probably be smart to go the _opposite_ way than where Spider had gone. Which was to the left.

"She gestured for Viper to follow her. "Lets try this way,.

Viper nodded, and began creeping after her "the sooner we get there, the better. I don't feel comfortable without my gun in my hand"

"Agreed," she nodded, making her way as quickly as she dared. "Feels empty."

He nodded "I don't like the feeling of being unarmed behind enemy lines" he murmured, and tested the door at the end of the hall. it waas locked "need your picks again"

SHe nodded. "I'll take care of it," she said, starting on the lock.

He covered her back, looking down the hall "Whoever gave us the lock picks...." he mused "did us a bit favor"

"You can say that again," she said, working tensely.

He nodded "good. you're good...." the lock clicked, and the door swung open slightly.

She opened it only a hairsbreadth, and peered out, lstening intently as well.

Footsteps rung down this subterrainian hallway....but they sounded distant .

She eased the door open, and motioned for Viper to follow.

Viper eased past the door with her, into a hallway of cells and doors. The cells, empty, still had traces of blood in them, on the old cots.

Hazel stalked through the hall, low and slow, keeping an eye out for any motion, or noise.

This hallway met another in the center, making a large cross shaped room. The footsteps came from the left path, echoing closer.

If they reached the center, they might get spotted.

She paused before the center of the room, looking for cover to wait for the person to pass.

There was a door....if it was unlocked, they could probably hide in it. It seemed to be a supply closet. Supply closet 1

She moved to open it, quietly.

It clicked, and only squeaked a little bit as she slid it open.

She made a face as it squeaked, but moved to press herself into it, beconing Viper to follow.

Viper slid into the room like his namesake. Smooth and easy.

She closed the door behind them.

They were in the semi-darkness. Surrounded by cleaning supplies and a few bags of misc prison supply and linens. A grate was above them, over one of the racks.

Hazel gauged how much space the two of them had in here, as she appraised the room. Did they have elbow room, or was this going to be more of a 'seven minutes in heaven' hiding spot.

If it was seven minutes in heaven, it was bound to be a pretty miserable one. They were both a bit worse for wear. Maybe after a dip in a river.

But i was cramped, and they were pressed pretty close together. though, if they wished, they could try to wriggle through the grate. or wait for the soldier to go back down his hall.

"Pardon my elbow," she muttered quietly. "Do you see the grate above us?"

He shrugged "Don't mind it." he looked up "i see it, yeah"

"Think we should give it a try?"

He nodded "What'sthe worst that can happen?" He said "it's too small?"

She chuckled. "Point," she said. She started to shimmy up the shelves toward the grate. "Let me check."

He offered her a hand, to lift her up.

She took it gratefully. "Thanks, V."

He hefted her up with a grunt "Welcome, H"

She grabbed ahold of the grate, and tried to bring it free.

It ripped loose in her hands. WHoever installed these grates should be ashamed of themselves.

Communism- well, collectivism, in action. SHe moved to shimmy into the grate.

She fit into the wide grate, and found herself in one of the increasingly familiar air ducts.

Viper began climbing after her.

She eased her way into it, getting her barings.

It seemed these ducts connected every room on this floor that wasn't a cell...and even those had small tiny, mouse-sized vents going into them.

She kept moving forward, trying to find the room they were after. Looking for some hint.

She had told them in the note that the room stored ammo. The supply room they left...it stored linens and supplies. Perhaps if she found the room with ammo....it would be the right one.

She peeked into rooms as she crawled along.

She passed what looked to be a guard station, one bored looking soldier reading a copy of the same erotic magazine she had hidden in her pack.

She passed another supply room, this one full of mechanical equipment.....

She passed a torture chamber , this one smelling of cleaning chemicals and bleach.

She fought a wave of nausea at that one and shook her head, crawling further.

She saw another supply room...this one packed to the gills with racks of weapons and ammunition.

She smiled grimly and looked for anyone in the room, listening for anyone coming.

It was another cramped supply closet. There wasn't anyone in it at the moment.

She slipped down into it, beconing Viper with her.

Viper dropped into the room with a wince, and nodded "Behind the ammo in green bags" he murmured

She started looking for it, checking behhind the ammo.

She found two green canvas bags....they were heavy.

She passed one to Victor. "This is it."

Victor nodded, and rummaged through the pack. He paused "well. Good news. Weapons and clothes are both here"

"Excellent."

He nodded "we should change back . more armor than our underclothes"

"Definitely," she agreed. "Though we won;t be as good at distracting the enemy," she joked as she started to dress.

He pulled on his cloths, careful not to jostle her in the cramped supply closet "Heh, a shame, but I think at least in my current state, I already suffered a disadvantage."

"I donno, some people think eyepatches are sexy," she said, carefully finishing dressing.

He froze, and held up an eyepatch, letting it dangle from his fingers. He stared at it for a long moment "I guess Spider thought so" he said with a wry smirk.

She smriked back. "Guess so."

He slipped it on, and dusted his functional infiltration clothes off, he looked at Hazel "how do I look, Heron?" he chuckled.

She looked him over with a smirk. "You've definately added 'roguish' to your list of adjjectives before 'handsome'."

He smirked , and winked at her  "well. look out ladies." he chuckled "What a compliment. " He snapped on his holsters.

She winked back. "We;re definitely on for jello."

He dumped the empty bag behind the ammo, "oh good." he sad with a grin "that's something to make it out of this alive for, if I ever heard it"

She chuckled slightly. "Sure is. Now, lets see if there are any other goodies in this closet, before we skedaddle."

He smirked "Bad luck for Gagarin that he didn't lock down his weapons closet a little better" he grabbbed a heavy shotgun, and smirked "oh yes"

She looked oer the shelves as well, for anything she might want. "He should fire whoever screwed in the grates too."

"well, it won't be his problem much longer."

There were some silencers in the racks. For various different weapons. including her sniper rifle and machine gun.

Viper took one for his  shotgun. Not especially effective, but it would muffle some of the sound.

She grabbed silencers for her wepons. Any upgrade would be a good one.

Now they were loaded up and ready for some infiltration. The mission from here was clear. take out the Titan, rescue Adler (provided he was still alive) and kill Lionheart.

"Alright, lets do this."

He nodded, and pressed himself to the door, listening close "wait...." he paused, waited, waited...and slammed the door open. It collided with someone who made a low grunt, and toppled to the floor.

Viper slipped out, picked up the  unconscious guard, and threw him int eh supply closet.

She smirked and closed the door on their new friend. She gave Viper a thumbs up.

Viper returned it, and looked around "i say first thing we do is get out of the basement"

"Sounds perfect. Lets find some stairs."

He gestured  "you got the better eyesight. you lead"

She nodded, and took the lead, moving low, and quick, staying by the right wall.

He followed, as they passed down the cross-shaped basement. There were more cells and doors, but most importantly, there was a sign. In the north arm of the cross, was a stairwell.

She moved toward it slowly, listening for anyone coming.

She could hear two sets of feet coming down the stairs ahead. She'd have to take them out, or hide.

Was there anywhere to hide? she drew her tranq pistol in case the answer was no.

This was one of the stretches of hall where there was little room for hiding unless she wanted to dip into one of the nearby cells

Yeeeah, she'd just have to take them out. She crouched out of view and waited.

Viper took her cue, and got down to aim his tranq gun as well, his hand steady, even if he had to adjust how he aimed.

Hazel was ready to fire as soon as they came into view, glad to have the backup.

Two figures came down the stairs. A nurse and a guard, both walking with determined steps towardds where their old cell had been. they came into view.

Hazel fired the moment she had a good view of them- aiming at the gaurd's neck.

Viper shot for the Nurse as well going for her shoulder or neck. He managed to stick her between the collarbone. She swooned, and fell....followed by the Guard, both of them collapsed into forced sleep

"Lets put them in a cell," she mumrmered. "just to get them out of the way."

Viper nodded, already hefting the guard up onto his shoulder.

She grabbed the nurse in a fireman carry, and dragged her over, opening one of the cells.

Viper tossed the man gently to the ground, and dusted his hands off.

Hazel closed the cell, with the two unconcious peole inside it, and nodded to viper.

Viper smirked "that's two enemies we don't have to worry about again"

"Just a few more to go," she chuckled

He smirked "At least a hundred" He gestured "come on, Heron . Lets get out of this dingy rattrap"

"Lets," she nodded, and slunk toward the stairs again,

He followed her, his steps nimble and quick

They passed up the crude and concrete stairs, into an area a bit less sparse. The concrete turned to tiled floors, that lead down a forked hallway and into a large room. The main floor it would seem. They were in, according to a sign 'Command Center Alpha'

She looked at Viper, for direction.

Viper leaned over "think they'll have a map in the guard station here?'

"They might. Lets give it a look."

They crept down the brightly lit hallway, guns at the ready. Around a corner, and down the hall a little, they came to a wide open entrance hall....and at the back end of the room , the guard station

She got down low, and peered at the gaurd station. There were sure to be gaurds there. Was there any stealthy approach or would this have to be guns blazing?

There were. and there were a number of them in the post. They could try to sneak...but they had silenced weapons now.

It was true. She looked at Viper and murmered. "Think we can take a fair amount of them out from here."

He nodded and tapped his guns "Got a grenade launcher if we wanna be loud" he murmured "or we can go in with silenced weapons. I got the shotgun and SMG...

"

She stoked her chin. "Lets try the silenced weapons. But don't be afraid to reach for the launcher if things get messy."

He nodded, and took out his shotgun, starting to ease himself closer while the guards were distracted by the radio in the guard room.

Hazel got out her automatic- silencing it would only do so much, but it would do something. She eased herself into position.

Viper positioned himself close enough to actually hit the nearest guard. he gave her the signal to go.

She nodded, and opened fire, using the kick of the gun to send her fire in an arc at several of the gaurds.

Viper opened fire a split second later. The muffled roar of the shotgun echoed in the air, as the nearest guard went down in a spray of blood.

Two of the five guards Hazel went for went down with stifled screams, the others turning and reaching for guns.

Viper fired the roaring shotgun again, and one of the reacting guards went down.

Hazel's next hailstorm was directed at the ones reaching for their guns.

One was struck in the neck, and destabilized his friend on the way down, wounding him in the process

But the last guy managed to fire a volley at Hazel

Hazel tucked and rolled, hopefully fast enough to miss the bullets.

One grazed her shoulder, but she got out of the range of fire.....and her attacker went down in a spray of blood, as Viper fired again.

The command room was a mess of shattered glass and blood, now.

She hissed in pain at the tag on her shoulder- the one opposite the one with the knife wound at least. She took a breath and got up.

Viper leapt into the command center with deft swiftness, vaulting through the shattered glass with ease.

Hazel followed after him at a quick pace.

He stepped over one of the guard's corpses, and gestured to the far wall. There was a map beneith a medical cabinet.

She moved and grabbed the map.

It showed a U shape series of complexes all surrounding a massive hanger in the center.

They were in the command center, the second building on the east part of that 'u' shape.

She showed the map to Viper, looking it over carefully herself.

Viper nodded, looking closely. They'd have to pass the 'Fuel and Propulsion' labs, as well as the 'robotics' wing....but the hanger, where presumably the Titan was, was nearby.

They had no idea where Adler was.

"Should we look for adler first or go after the titan?" she asked. "I mean, he's probably either there, or in a cell, you think?"

"didn't see him in the cell..." he murmured 'So maybe he's being forced to work on the Titan again"

She nodded. "Thats what I was thinking,"

"Then I guess we just go straight for the facility. GOt the C4?"

She nodded. "I picked some up while we were in the supply closet."

He gave her a thumbs up "then lets get to the bottom of this. Once the Titan's dead....." he grimaced slightly "we end this and get out"

She nodded and returned his thumbs up grimly. "Lets get it done."

He nodded, and gestured "I think we should skirt the back of the buildings."

She looked over the map again, "You're probably right."

It seemed that might be their best bet. The middle of the U was mostly a big concrete launching strip. they'd be terribly out in the open.

"Yeah, lets do it."

Viper gestured "there's a path from the front of this building around back" he murmured "we can avoid too many guards if we hurry"

Sbe nodded, and starte dto move. "Lets not waste time then."

The two agents slipped out the front door. Ahead, at the end of a short driveway, two guards were looking out at the giant runway that made up most of this facility. They didn't hear the door open

She reached for her silenced pistol and gestured to Viper. She aimed at one of them.

Viper pulled out his, and aimed for the other. he gave the signal, as one started to turn to look at the other.

As he gave the signal, she pulled the trigger, aiming for a headshot.

She struck the man in the neck, but it was enough to bring him down.

Viper managed to down the other guard, sending him collapsing into a hedge.

As she moved foreward, she doubletapped the gaurd with another silenced round, just in case.

The two guards were still.

The open air was hazy with fog, which worked in their favor. The sound of trucks on the runway echoed through the strange acoustics of the mountainside complex.

But they made their way quickly around the corner and towards the back of the building. They had a bit of a walk to go.

She moved quickly and effieciently, keeping low and keeping an eye out, making sure esspecially to watch Viper's blind spot,

It was good she was alert, because as they made their way around the perimiter of the stone buildings that made up this military complex, movement on Viper's blindspot went unnoticed by him. It was a truck. Not started just yet. It was being loaded with boxes, as a guard stepped up on the back, and mounted it's machine gun. They were far enough away that their voices were only a dull murmur.

"V," she murmered, pausing. "Truck."

Viper froze, and aimed his pistol. He flattened against the back of the building "wait till it's gone?" he murmured under his breath

"or....kill and use it as an excuse to drive up to the facility in disguise? cut out the walk"

She glanced at it again, thoughtfully. "lets cut out the walk."

He smirked thinly "you take the driver, I'll take the gunner. then we mop up the rest."

"Got it," she nodded, getting into position and aiming her pistol.

Viper fired, and his target reeled back . His head smashed against the back window of the truck with a spray of blood, and he went limp

She fired as well, hoping to take out the gunner and swiftly move to a new target.

The gunner reeled, and slammed into the truck, before tipping over the edge and falling on one of the two guards loading.

The guard who wasn't wrestling with a dead body ran over, and attempted to duck and roll enough to slam bodily into her.

She saw his movement, and grabbed him in a martial arts hold, swinging him around into the wall instead.

He slammed into the wall with a grunt. His body twisted, and he ineffectually grabbed her arm, trying to reverse the hold.

Meanwhile, viper rushed the struggling guard currently pushing the corpse off of him. He hefted him up, slammed him into the truck twice in succession, and dumped his body on the ground.

Hazel kneed the man where it really hurt, and used the moment to raise her gun and fire it at him.

HIs groan of pain turned into a gurgle, as he was shot fatally on the spot. He slowly tumbled to the ground. Viper dusted his hands off, and began dragging bodies towards the back of the complexes "well. That took care of that"

She let him drop and turned to Viper. "Nice job."

Viper grinned at her, causing his eyepatch to crinkle just the slightest "Could say the same to you" he tossed her a uniform shirt, as he buttoned one on over his infiltration gear.

"Thanks," she grinned back, grabbing the shirt out of the air and buttoning it on too,

He shimmed into some pants, and handed her a pair that might fit her as he passed "no problem. "

He chuckled "you know, we've dressed as collectivists so many times this week that I'm starting to almost feel comfortable in their drab old uniforms"

"That's a sure sign we've been here too long," she chuckled, squirming into the pants.

He tossed on the plain olive-colored cap and winked at her " then lets get the hell out of here and have that jello"

She pulled the cap on top of her pale hair and nodded, hopping into the truck.

He slipped into the truck, and started it up. It's engine roared "Hey , since we have a few minutes" he murmured a little awkwardly.

She cocked her head. "Yeah?"

"I couldn't help but notice something...." He began to pull away "its been nagging me since I last ..." he grimaced "Since we last saw Lionheart. "

She swallowed, and nodded. "I'm listening...." she said in a gentle voice. She wasn't sure what hed say but whatever it was was likely to be difficult.

"Didn't really have time to talk about it. More pressing things from then till now, you know? between losing the eye and the mission and....well. Having to come to terms with the woman who pretty much took me in and trained me to be all I could be stabbing my eye out and betraying her country." he kept his eyes on the road ahead, as they pulled directly into the streets around the launch strip. "But...well.."

She fussed with the edge of her cap. "Yeah? you're right we haven;t had a lot of time.... whats up?"

He took a deep breath, and asked "You said you think you're related to Lionheart, right?"

She nodded, solmenly frowning. "Yeah. I mean, I think I have to be."

He nodded "You look enough like her. Act a bit like her too. " he chuckled "Mostly..."

"Yeah?" she smirked a little

He rubbed his neck, smiling a little awkwardly "In your sense of humor and duty. Guess you're following in her footsteps...." he winced slightly at that.

"Didn't really think about that before...."

He nodded slightly "I bet not. You weren't raised by her, right?"

She shook her head. "No, sadly."

He pat her on the back , driving with his free hand "You had some other parent at least, right?"

She leaned into him slightly. "Yeah. She's a scientist."

He kept his hand where it lay, against the small of her back "huh. Like Dr. Renfield?" He asked "or more like Dr. Kovalenko and her swarm of engineers?"

"A _lot_ like Dr Kovalenko," she chuckled slightly.

He chuckled "hoo boy" he rested very slightly against her "Must have been an interesting childhood then, Heron" he smirked "The Doctor's a few lugnuts short of a full automoton. In the most flattering way possible, I mean"

She chuckled again. "Maybe, but, she has a kid too, doesn't she? My mother did alright, even if she was a little weird, and distant."

"Calvin" he said with a nod "Dressed up as his favorite comic book character once" he said "For his birthday." he watched the road ahead of them "Good kid. Smart. Smarter than me at this point, I imagine" He smirked thinly "Heh. Weird and Distant" he mused , shaking his head "Was she at least there for you?" he asked with an edge of seriousness "when it counted?"

Shd nodded, leaning into his hand again. "Yeah, she was."

"That's good. " he rubbed her back, careful of her wounds "More than some can say"

"Which sucks," she agreed

He nodded, taking a turn away from the robotics building, and towards the hulking hanger. "Sure does. " he smiled thinly "But I take it your scientist mother didn't teach you how to flip a grown man to the ground and unflinchingly pull the trigger"

"She shook her head. "She sure didn't.

"You said self taught. But if that's the case, you're one hell of a self teacher." he said with a smirk "I was trained by a master, and you're as good as me. Maybe better. It's...." he paused, choosing words carefully "really impressive. Admirable.  Means you must have a hell of a lot of determination and grit under raw skill"

She flushed. "Thank you. Im not trying to brag about learning from books and things. I wish I had someone to practice against."

Viper smirked slightly "don't worry about bragging if you deserve it" he said , nodding slightly "If we get out of this.....intact" he said, giving her a serious half smile "you can practice with me. I'd be honored to spar with you. And I think we can show eachother a thing or two on the field. "

"I'd like that," she said warmly, with a little sadness tinged in her voice. There was a deep part of her that just... didn't want to do this mission. How could she take Natalie from this other version of her mom?

He nodded "Yeah. Me too. Honestly" he said, his own gruff voice tinged with a trace of sadness "I think it'd be nice. Given...this mission, it'd be good to have someone who's got your back, right? To train. Or to just...remember. Soldiers with a common pain" His fingers tightened on the wheel, and tensed on her back.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Yeah. Someone who's been through the same kind of shit."

He nodded "I don't know what happened to Lionheart" he said softly "But she's wrong. Comrades won't become tomorrows enemies. You and I, Heron" he said "we're fighting side by side. There's a bond in battle. Soldiers to soldiers. And that isn't something that just goes away"

"I can't imagine turning my back on someone I've fought alongside," she said truthfully.

He pat her back again, "Neither can I. When you fight alongside someone, Hazel..." he was quiet for a moment "You're bound by your experiences. And the trust you share. You can't turn your back on your comrade. No matter what."

Sjhe reached over and put her hand on his shoulder in returm, nodding.

He gave her a thin smile, His blue eye briefly looking at her before returning to the road "anyway...." he shook his head "i'm looking forward to jello"

"Me too. Maybe we can even get some real food some time."

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Viper gave her a youthful grin, that was a good reminder that he was only a few years older than her. Early twenties. "I'll take you up on that. Got any favorites?" he asked.

"Southern barbeque," she said returning the grin. It was true, he wasn't _that_ much older...

"How southern are we talking about?" he chuckled "Far South Pax? with the spicier fare? Or more...you know, around the southern penninsula, with all the old plantation houses?" He was a young soldier on his first major mission. He could be as young as 18 or 19. Despite the scruff and grit of his features.

"The heavy, sweet stuff," she said. "With thick sauce and cornbread."

He smoothed out his hair under his hat  , before returning his hand to the wheel, with a whistle "good taste. You got it, Heron. Southern bbq it is. There's a place near the training grounds that's got some pretty authentic stuff on the menu"

"We'll have to try it out," she said with a smile.

He gave her a little salute "You got it, Hazel. After we recover enough to keep food down, it's a plan"

They pulled up to the hanger, where Viper parked the car near the side.

"Its a plan." She pulled her cap down on her head.

He took a deep breath "okay. I'm going to leave the truck here" he said "as a backup in case we have to drive off _real_ fast"

She nodded. "Always good to have some backup."

He gave her a thumbs up, and slipped out of the car,. The fog had gotten thicker now. An ill omen.

The sound of whirring and clanking came from inside the Titan's hanger.

She slipped out, keeping low, frowning at the fog as she moved toward tyhe hanger, following Viper.

Viper walked as if he belonged there. They came to a door, where two guards stopped them.

"Identification?" One asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

Viper pulled off the ID badge attached to his uniform, and handed it to the man.

"hey, you're No...." Viper grabbed him, and slammed his head into the concrete, just as his friend noticed the sudden movement.

Hazel decked the other guard in the chin, and then sweapt his feet out under him.

The two went down in a stunned heap.

Viper hauled one to the side, and dropped him in a decorative bush.

Hazel hauled the other one off to the bush in the other side, keeping careful watch for anyone who might see.

There were other guards...and many mechanics and scientists...in this area. But nobody had seen their little 'id check'

Thankfully. She dusted off her hands, and moved to enter the building with Viper.

He walked into the hanger...and they were greated by a mechanical monster.

Most of the facility was taken up with a massive machine suspended on a number of wires and supports. It resembled a sort of spider....a massive central chassis, holding a surface-to air missle launcher, and a nuclear launch platform....machine guns bristling out of it's heavy mechanical legs and front. It's legs...thick, heavy, powerful things...there were 6 in number, and they could each crush a motorbike with a single step. Scientists milled around it, affixing metal plates.

On a platform, high up, there was a ramp onto a cylindrical chamber . The AI pod, where the kill switch within would be. They needed the codes. But up there....a familiar form. The beaten and cowed Dr. Adler was seated in a wheelchair, directing the 'assistants' in their programming and design.

Haze. couldn't help but stop and stare for a moment, taking in its impressive scale and techniligy.

The wolf pod was swivelling around, whirring and beeping as it seemed to search the surrounding area...for nothing, it would seem .

It was an impressive giant. A monster....a monster they had to disable.

She opened her com link to Simon and mumered, "Are you seeing this?" She couldn;t believe she'd forgotten to radio him before now.

"Nice to hear that you're alive, Heron" Griped Simon "I only passed out when you went missing. Don't worry about it"   He said dramatically. "Yeah, i'm seeing it. God dang. Look at it, it's like something out of an arcade game's final level"

"Sorry about that," she said sheepishly. "Its been a hell of a day. Looks like its in for a hell of a finale, too."

"it's okay " Simon said warmly "It sure has. I'm just glad you're safe" he hesitated "everyone's a little concerned. Renfield's been screaming about infected wounds and depth perception for hours. And your mo...ah, Dr. Kovalenko's been in one of _her moods_ since you two got captured by Lionheart and Gagarin"

He hesitated before continuing "It looks like this is going to be the big finale alright. I....would advise you to keep your thoughts clear of violence"

"Already on that," she said. "But thanks for the reminder. Let the others know we;re alright for the moment, yeah?"

"will do, Heron!" he chirped "I'll be happy to hear from you soon. And good luck!"

"Thanks, Simon," she said. She looked over to V, and said. "Remember, happy thoughts."

"Just like a childrens story" Viper said dryly, but nodded "happy thoughts. Got it, H."

She nodded, focusing her thoughts on helping people, and how relieved she would be to go back and eat jello.

"We need to get to the pod, and the doctor," rescue the doctor, save the world.

Viper was thinking happy thoughts as well, from the crease of his brow. He nodded "He's up there, though. We're blending in alright down here, but getting to his raised platform's going to be trouble. "

"Agreed," she mumrered. She looked around- was there anything they could use to their advantage, or should they just go in guns blazing?

There were....a good many people around. Going in guns blazing was likely to erupt in a fireshow....and possibly set the titan on a killing spree, if they hadn't worked out that kink yet.

Yeah that was definitely OFF the table. They didnt want anyone to get hurt... well, they were still dressed officially... maybe they could just walk up there?

Viper began walking like a guard on a mission. He bumped into one of the soldiers, and tapped him on the back "hey" he spoke in perfectly accented Uldovian "we have a shipment of extension wires for Dr. Adler's crew" he gestured with a vauge wave of his hand towards Adler's elevator platform "Can you call for him to lower it down?"

The other man raised his eyebrow at Viper, looked briefly at his badge, and shrugged "I will see what I can do, comrade"

She smiled. he had read his mind.  She did her best to look annoyed and official.

VIper nodded 'yeah. thanks. Heck of a day huh?" he shook his head.

"yeah. yeah" The other soldier muttered and called up to one of the engineers "hey. you. Lower the Doctor's platform. Got a delivery"

Out of the corner of their eyes, in the distance, Spider was jogging out of a door, and hurring towards one of the back entrances.

She caught sight of Spider and frowned- where was she going?

She darted out the back of the building, and a moment later, the sound of her bike started and faded.... Strange.

There was a loud and angry whirr, as the platform began to lower .

"so where are the wires, anyway?" The other soldier asked

"Just back" here," she jerked her thumb toward where the truck was. "You wouldn't believe how heavy a shipment of _wires_ is.

He straightened up "well, comrade"he walked towards the door "let me help you with that"

Viper gave Hazel a subtle nod, and gestured to the man.

Hazel nodded, and walked toward the door with him.

"Thanks, Comrade."

Viper waited inside, watching the elevator slowly lower.

The Soldier walked out the door with Heron "anything for a fellow guard" he chuckled "we don't get enough respect around here. The scientists think we're all just arms to lift, ya?"

"Its so true," she nodded, leading him up to the back of the truck. "Just becasue I don't have a degree doesn't mean I don't have a brain."

"Agreed, Comrade' He chuckled, and leaned over. He frowned "are these the wires?" he pointed to the few boxes in the back. "because they're labeled as couplings"

As he was leaned over, his back to her, she brought her gun down on the back of his head, knocking him out solidly. "Sorry, Comrade."

The man collapsed onto the tail of the truck with a low groan

She grabbed and hefted one of the boxes, and closed the door of the truck behind her as she lelf.

Viper was waiting for her inside "just in time, H. They got the platform down. Adler and his watchdogs are waiting for us"

She nocced. "Wonderful," she jogged up to him.

Viper nodded "lets 'deliver our package' , eh?"

"Feel like the postman," she murmered.

"Hey Ms. Postman, bring me a letter. My baby's off at war" he murmured. It was probably a lyric to a song.  

He walked towards the platform

She followed, the box still in hand.

They stepped onto the platform. It was a flat surface with two chairs, and a console. On the console was a screen that flashed with information and a graphic of the Titan .

There were three guards. Each of them serious faced. Each of them holding automatic rifles. And each of them watching Adler like a hawk.

Adler, for his part, looked over at Viper and Heron with widening eyes. He quickly attempted to stifle his look of surprise.

His metal leg was gone. He was now seated in a wheelchair. Bruises and cuts colored his face, and presumably more  under his baggy coat.

There was a clipboard resting on top of the box that Hazel carried. She shifted it into one hand. "This needs a siginiture."

Adler's hand was shaking. He reached forward, and took the clipboard "tha...thank you" he said with a timid smile. One of his teeth was ...just gone. ANd flecks of blood still graced those around the missing tooth.

She leaned in and made a note on the cliboard with the pencil. It said, in small letters: code. "Just sign right here. thanks."

He wrote the code down as if he was writing his signiture. He handed the clipboard back to her, and gestured to the box "My couplinks . thank you. We needed those to connect one of the posterior wires to the main body. "

She glanced at the clipboard as if she were just checking the signiture, but making sure to memorize the code. "Sure. I'll bring the box over for you, old man."

It was an alphanumeric code, 0B964N238HEEL.

"I'm not as old as you think, young lady" Adler said with a raise of his eyebrow. "just put it over there, at the corner of the platform."

Hazel was glad she was good at memorizing things, and glad she had the paper too. 'Got it," she nodded, moving toward the AI pod.

The pod whirred and jostled some of the wires around it as it leaned it's massive bulk down to look at her with glowing red lights situated in a circle around a central gleaming orb. It peered too-deep into her. She could almost feel it buzzing in her mind. "Ggggggggg" Ground it's gears "itttttttt"

The entirety of the Titan shifted as it's 'brain ' went down to look at Hazel.

Hazel swallowed. She thought about her mother, and jello at the hospital. She thought about just wanting to finish her task and go home, so everything could be nice and safe again.

The Titan made a whirring growl, and straightened up, looking around at the bustling room. It's leg twitched, but it didn't move away.

At least until a far door slammed open at the west end of the hanger. Gagarin , flanked by Panther and his Corps, marched into the room .

Gagarin looked up at the machine with a look of glee, clapping his hands together. "Beautiful!" he boomed "just about ready for it's test drive!"

There was suddenly no time to waste. Hazel stepped hurriedly to the pod- if she could manage it.

As Hazel made a move for the pod, she managed to get one hand on the ladder up into it's depths.....before Gagarin noticed her. His eyes widened, and his grin grew harder "and we have our subjects right here" He growled. "TITAN!" he shouted, in a clear voice "Uldovian threats. Identify.

There was a whirr....and Hazel felt the skull tingles again.

A moment later, a heavilly mechanical voice announced "Sabotage. Infiltrators"

One of the Titan's legs smashed down, and crushed a hapless scientist under it's metal foot, the others struggled to get themselves free, as machine guns waved wildly on it's surface, searching and spasming.

Viper tensed "....Heron"  he said tensely "I'll grab Adler. We have to go. now"

"YOu got it, V," Heron answered hoarsely.

Viper spun, grabbed Adler in a fireman's carry , and spun to fire his SMG into the shocked bodies of the two closest guards. He turned, and bolted for the door, as the Titan struggled to wrench itself free of it's bonds. A mechanical howl, like that of a beast in pain, erupted at ear-drum piercing volume.

Gagarin ran up, and grabbed one of the struts on the side of the Titan's leg, and hauled himself up and onto a secure spot on it's back, laughing like a madman.

Panther, and his squad, made a run for the vehicles.

Hazel cursed as she drew her automatic and fired it at any nearby gaurds as she dashed after Viper. She had been so close. Part of her wanted to just haul herself up into the thing instead of running- but that probably would have been suicide.

The two of them made for the exit, lucky that the titan was making enough of a bloody scene that the guards were too distracted to give chase. Some went down under their bullets, others looked up at the titan in awe and terror.

But it was easy to get out, and for Viper to shove Adler into the passenger seat, and start the car "Get on the machine gun, Heron!" he called over his shoulder. Around the corner, they could hear other vehicles starting, probably thanks to the Panther Brigade.

Heron was already going for the gun when he called to her. Looks like this next part was going to be an 'on rails shooter'. Hazel had never really had a chance to pratice for this, outside of video games. But, what the hell. her pulse pounded and she grinned grimly.

As soon as she got herslef buckled into the turret, he slammed his foot on the gas. The two of them sped off onto the runway, tires squealing. It was right on time too, because two jeeps and a motorcycle came screeching out from around the corner of the Hanger. And on the bike, Panther. He was aiming at them with a fancy looking pistol.

Heron took control of the gun, and aimed for the tires of the vehicles coming at them.

The machine gun roared, louder than even the shotgun. It'd rat-atat-tat bursts were almost deafening...but the stream of bullets popped the tires of one jeep, which spun out and slammed into a pole.

Panther fired, and a bullet winged it's way past her ears.

Meanwhile, in the hanger, the howling got louder. The whole building actually shook.

Hazel gritted her teeth, but didn't pay attention to the howling in the building. It wasn't relevant right now. Right now was about not getting shot, and secondarily, not going deaf. She aimed at Panther's bike.

THe other car spead up, to block her view of Viper. Protecting him. Machine gun fire erupted from it's back windows, and hammered into their truck.

And that was when the hanger collapsed. There was a horrible shake, and the crumble of stone and steel that caused the runway to crack in places.

From the falling debris, burst the Titan. It's legs hammered the ground, dragging it free of the collapsing building and into a six legged run.

Hazel concentrated her fire on the offending car, but seh couldn't help but have her attention dragged away, just a little, to the lurching titan.

"Oh fuck."

Viper loooked in the rearview, and immedietly looked like he wished he had not. "Oh fuck" he agreed.

Her bullets struck the driver, despite her distraction, and the car wound up tumbling down into a ditch....safe from the monster now running behind them, at least.

Hazel took another stock of the situation, checking how many were coming after them now- aside from the technological abomination of course.

Now there was only Panther on his bike. Lynx must have been in one of the cars that crashed to relative safety (except for the driver filled with holes).

Panther grimaced, and aimed at her again....only to have to swerve abruptly to the side as one of the metal legs of the Titan came smashing down near him. A machine gun on the Titan's front swiveled, and began opening fire upon Hazel's truck.

Adler stammered back "it's leg joints are weak" he whimpered "It wasn't ready but Gagarin wanted to rush it to it's test phase."

"Got it, go for the legs," she muttered. Despite the truck's jolting and juttering as it sped, she centered herself, and centered her aim, quickly on a leg joint, spraying a burst of fire.

There was a jolt, and the machine's leg went wobbly for a moment. It screamed, distressingly like a human , and faltered in it's run. They got a little furthur away.

Unfortunetly it was trying to aim i'ts missiles at them

"Shoot the warheads!" shouted Viper, "if you manage to hit them..."

Somewhere, deep underneath her panic and andrenaline, Hazel loved this. It was like a boss battle at the end of an old video game.

However, closer to the surface was the fact that she had to hit the goddamned missles Still, she had good aim. She sighted, and fired.

Her first few shots went wild, slamming into armor plating and whipping into the sky....but one of the stray bullets hit their mark and detonated the warhead on the missle cluster. A chain reaction went off, as the machine screamed again. The heat and fire rose into the air, and the Titan stumbled forward again. All it's machine guns opened fire at once, and Viper cursed as he ducked his and Alder's heads down.

Hazel ducked as well, cursing and aiming for another leg.

The Titan's wiring on it's core body was now exposed, along with moving gears and pieces of machinery. The explosion damaged it pretty heavilly.

But as Hazel hammered more bullets into it's other leg...it staggered again, and nearly toppled forward.

It howled, and directed it's fire. Viper lost the back left tire of the truck, and with a jolt, the rim began shooting sparks up from the asphalt.

"Fuck" growled Viper.

Hazel grimaced as the ride got even more wild. She wrenched her aim up to the exposed wiring and gears, directing  heavy burst of fire there.

The Titan twitched, but kept running towards her with it's remaining legs, chewing up ground....

It was a monster, but as Hazel fired into it's exposed weaknesses, it began to smoke as small fires erupted within it's systems. The Ai pod swiveled angrilly.

She concentrated her fire there, her teeth chattering and her body bounced with every motion of the truck, forcing her hands to steady, and keep her aim true.

Viper struggled to keep the now swerving car under control "we're kinda in a tight spot here" he called back Maybe if we can bring it down, I can stop and you can get up to the pod and enter that damned code to shut it all down"

"Its worth a shot!" she called back. Gritting her chattering teeth she wrenched her aim down again, trying to go for another leg, and bring the damned thing down.

It was running on only four legs now...one more should fatally destabilize it.

The bullets tore through armor....and cracked through the weak joints of the left formost leg. It bent back...and the titan suddenly lurched. It fell heavilly, nearly taking out the truck as Viper let the car swerve sharply to the left, avoiding the falling behemoth.

It was just in time too. They were getting too close to a cliff. at the edge of the compound.

Hazel felt herself jerked as the truck swerve but she let out a whoop as the titan went down, shaking the land around it.

Viper cheered with her, as the truck skidded to a stop. "now!" Viper called "lets s...."

"Nuclear lau-lau-lau-laun....launch." Called the Titan, as a panel opened in it's back, and a large missile began raising from it's central body "In t-minus 1 minute. Retaliatory strike. "

Hazel cut her restraints off with a flick of her combat knife at the sound of the alarm. She was groping and stumbling her way out of the truck and toward it only seconds after that.

Viper grabbed his grenade launcher, and aimed it at the beast's swiveling machine guns. With a shout, he launched a grenade at them, and it exploded, destroying two of the emplaced anti-personell weapons.

Hazel made straight for the pod, automatic in hand, repeating the code in her mind over and over.

She saw, on one of the collapsed legs, there were struts for climbing. She could scale the leg and make it to the massive, circular pod that housed the Wolf Unit.

She leapt onto it, literally flying to the struts and climbing hand over hand, scrambling fast like a skittering insect.

She moved quickly, with great speed. She could hear the countdown echoing through the area. 40....39....

Hand over hand she wrenched herseld up to the pod, and tried to get inside it.

35.....34....

THere was a wheel to spin , to open a port hole in the top of the swiveling pod.

She grabbed it and spun it, repeating the code in her head again and again, if nothing else than to drown out the falling countdown. She _had_ to do this.

The hole opened, and she found the path inside.

33....32....31.....30.....

There was a command console surrounded by superheated wires, and a few small fires around the pod's interior. It was too hot in there...but she had to hurry.

Hazel ignored the choking heat. She took a deep breath of clean air and forced herself into the pod, the numbers still pulsing away in her brain. She immediately looked to locate where to enter the code.

There was a keyboard attached to the console. In a small bar at the bottom, under a bunch of other options was 'force system shutdown' and a spot for the code.

Fingers shaking, the back of her neck sweating from the heat, breath held, she selected the option, and started to type in the code.  0B964N238-

"HEEL!" she declared

The machine shuddered. 10......9......

And then the countdown stopped. She felt a lurch as the Titan slid into a prone position, collapsing with the screech of metal. It's systems flickered off... and Hazel could see the Wolf core, attached in the center of this pod. WIthout it, the Titan would just be another weapon.

One that was mangled beyond repair.

Hazel raised her automatic and fired into the core.

The core hissed and sparked....and the entire beast shut down from there. With the Wolf Core destroyed, the Titan was useless. and Gagarin couldn't make another one if he tried. Not with how much money had been used on this scheme.

But the pod was hot. And the wolf core's sparking only made it hotter.

Hazel started to choke and cough. She raised her arm to shield her face as she squirmed to get the hell out of the pod.

She managed to get out and into the open air. She could breath ...semi-fresh air. There was still a lot of smoke.

But her excitement was short lived. A howl of rage was all the warning she got, before a fist slammed into the metal near her, and instantly began corroding the steel into rusty , crumbling nothingness

"You dare!" Howled Gagarin "Destroy my Titan, will you?" He lifted his fist, and grabbed Hazel's automatic. It began rusting in her hand .

As he grabbed her automatic, Hazel went for the first other weapon she could reach- her pistol. She swore from now on she was always bringing with her at least one ceramic knife.

Gagarin crunched the automatic in his hand, and jagged pits of rusted metal formed hellish brass knuckles from the pieces that remained. He gripped them, and swung the jagged rust at Hazel's eyes. "This is my legacy!" he growled "this is my new world order! with the Fortune of Nations, I will create an army of titans!" he ranted "my brithright to topple the worlds powers and bring them under the banner of the NEW Collectivist Army!"

Hazel ducked the punch just barely, his rusty knuckles scractching her forehead and drawing blood as she bobbed and weaved away. "You're insane, Gagarin, and your birthright ends here."

She brought her pistol up and fired half-blindly at him.

The bullet corroded and rusted even as it hurtled towards him...but the rusty shards peppered his face like shrapnel, drawing blood and staggering him.

"I'll show you insane!" he babbled, and turned his stumble into a run.

A run for the nuclear missle still jutting from the Titan's back.

She goggled at him even as she realized what he was doing. She fired at him again, three more times, and started after him.

"V! take him out, he;s going for the bomb!"

The bullets hit him in the back...two of them eroded away and drew blood through his uniform...the other hit him full force, driving him forward with a shout.

Viper , on the ground, looked horrified, but nodded. He pulled out his pistol, and aimed carefully. Three shots. The first two took Gagarin by surprise, and didn't corrode. He was shot, and it sent him falling to the side, away from the bomb. The third bullet dissolved entirely, midair.

Hazel's shaking hands brought her aim on target again as she forced them into alingment, firing several more times at the comrade as he fell.

They dissolved, though he was peppered in the eye with rusted shrapnel, blinding him, at least in one eye, for the moment. Gagarin screamed, and swung blindly at Hazel, his fist nearly connecting with her arm. He was open for a grappel.

Hazel grabbed him in a hold as he swung at her, bringing him in to the motion of her other fist as she punched for his face, pistol still in hand.

There was a crack, and part of his jaw must have broken. He reeled, and grabbed her shoulder. The jagged remains of what had been her machine gun dug into her flesh as he tried to reverse her hold.

She grappled with him, as he grabbed her bad shoulder. She let a shrieking curse slip out of her lips with the pain, but didn't let her hold slip, draing on all her strength and balance. She slammed her gun-hand down across his nose.

There was a crack, and he reeled back. Perhaps, if the gun was right up against him...the bullets wouldn't have time to erode. The corrosion field seemed to need a moment , even a split second of a moment, to have any effect.

Blood spurted from his broken nose, onto her fist and his face.

She slammed the gun down again, and while he reeled, lined the barrel up with his skull. The world's shortest prayer escaped a mere breath on her lips, as she pulled the trigger.

The bullet hit it's mark. His field had no chance to erode the bullet into fragments....and Gagarin went down in a spray of blood and bone. The hulking man went limp, the militant Collectivist Army's greatest general gone forever.

Hazel felt herself go limp as well, staggering back and half-falling against the pod, gulping air.

The smoke from the destroyed Titan rose into the air, curling and twisting around her as she lay against warm Ai pod. The air, at least, was breathable. And...despite the crackle of fire and groan of metal. It was quiet. And above, the fog had started to clear....just a little.

After she had caught her berath, and the world stopped spinning around, she hefted herself back up. She'd better get down from there.

Viper was standing at the bottom of the ladder, looking up at her "are you okay?" He asked "that was some of the best combat i'd seen in a while. I'm impressed. "

The screech of bike tires suddenly rang out, as Panther's bike skidded into view. Panther, looking up at Heron with a death glare....looked then at the Titan and Gagarin's corpse. He blanched slightly, and nodded "Thanks for taking down that nuclear strike" he said, in a gruff growl. "you're pretty good"

He kicked the ground to give himself a rolling start before revving the bike and speeding off in to the kicked up dust beyond the runway.

Hazel blinked in surprise at the speeding panther for a long moment and then looked back down at Viper.

"Thanks," she said with a wan grin, starting to cimb down, with some minor difficulty.

Viper offered her a hand down when she got close enough, to ease the pain of climbing with her wounded shoulder. "No problem" he said, sparing Panther only a passing glance. "You just keep doing that. It's uncanny"

She took his help gratefully and eased her way down. "Uncanny, huh?"

He chuckled, and helped support her 'how you keep managing to impress. I thought you fighting Tigerfang was impressive, but...now you did this" He gestured

She grinned embaressedly. "It was that or let everybody get nuked. And well, that would have sucked. Nice driving, by the way."

He lightly punched her unwounded shoulder "Can't have that, Heron" he chuckled. "Thanks. I used to do off-road driving as part of my training. Glad it stuck, or we woulda been in hot water"

"Sure would have. I could hardly aim that gun as it was." She punched him lightly back.

He laughed , slightly strained "blame the collectivist road crews for that one. " he joked

"They'll get a crossly worded note, for sure," she nodded. She looked around at the scene.

The runway was in shambles from the Titan's pursuit, and the ha her behind them was kicking up smoke and dust as it sat in a mangled heap.

Which also described the Titan, a shattered and still pile of metal and licking flames . Gagarin burned atop it like it was his personal funeral pyre .

In the car, Alder looked terrified and alarmed, and Viper had a slightly strained jovial expression, and a worry in his eye .

"I'm sure that'll hurt them far worse that blowing up their research station, Heron"

"I know. You have to get them right in the pride," she nodded. She put an arm on him. "I don't think we'll be able to take the truck out of here, sadly."

He leaned a bit heavilly on her for a moment "Well shit." he said "Not with the busted back tire"

She supported him as he leaned on her. "There's got to be some in tact transport around here. Maybe Spider knows where- if she didn't get squashed...."

As if on some kind of cliche cue, a rumbling came from one of the side streets. The one that seemed to lead to Gagarin's private compound. A few seconds later, a truck turned from one of the side roads and sped towards them. it was a big, chunky thing. A troop transport probably.

Viper tensed, and raised his pistol in defence, before it stopped in front of them

Spider hopped out, grinning from ear to ear. She sauntered over to them, and drew a finger down  Viper's chest. "well well.....you two certainly did good" she purred.

Viper looked kind of annoyed at her violations of his personal space.

Hazel who had also drawn her pistol, and was still quite close to Viper, fought not to roll her eyes. "I see you managed to not die."

Viper stepped back, and towards Hazel, looking Spider over with a vauge suspicion.

"Of course" She purred "I wasn't near the Titan when that idiot activated it. I had other duties to fufil. But..." She waved her hand "don't worry about that. I heard from Lionheart...." She pouted for a moment "she...she's waiting for you Viper. To finish this"

Hazel's heart sank into her stomach. She had been hoping against hope that they wouldn't see Lionheart again, that she had just disappeared.

"What? why?"

Viper froze. His body had gone absolutely rigid. And hazel was close enough to see how his face tensed, and his good eye widened. His pupils were pinpricks as he took a long, shuddering breath ".....finish this?" He asked in a harsh whisper.

Spider bit her lip "On the hill overlooking the lake. The spot she goes to think. She told me to tell you that you have to do your duty, Victor. "

Viper winced at the sound of his own name, closing his eye for a long moment "Dammit...."

"The Uldovian government is going to raze this facility, Viper." Spider continued "It's home to too many embarassments and too many failures. And it wants to wipe any trace of Gagarin's trechery from Terra. They're on their way and you have to finish this and get out. Now. "

Hazel closed her eyes. "Wonderful....we have to get out of here."

Viper's hand clenched at his side, hard enough for the nails to start splitting the skin. His eye opened, and narrowed "Alright. Drive us...there."

Hazel put a hand gently on Viper's clenching fist, but nodded.

He took her hand for a moment, squeezing it as if to say 'thanks' .

Spider opened the back of the truck "Get in. But Viper...you have to face her alone. It's not our fight. Heron, i need you" She said seriously "To help me commendeer a helicopter to take us out of this hellhole and into neutral airspace"

Hazel squeezed his hand back. You're kidding me, she thought. She looked at Viper. "V...."

Viper was silent, staring off into the middle distance as he listened. "Alone, huh?" he said, his voice tight. "Did she request that?"

Spider nodded, as she closed the back of the truck, and got in the front. She started the truck and began driving.

Adler, viper and Hazel were in the back of the truck, feeling every rattle and rumble of the behemoth  under them.

"She did. And I respect that woman far too much to disobey her wishes"

"Will you be okay, V?" Hazel asked, feeling the truck rumble beneath them.

Viper looked down at his hands for a moment, silent.

The truck rattled over what sounded like a bridge "As okay as I can be" He said in a low voice. "I....I have to do my duty. "

She squeezed his hand. "i trust you to do what you think is right."

"none of this is right" he said under his breath, holding tightly to her hand "But it's what has to be done....I'll do it H" he switched off the comm link, and gestured for her to do the same

She switched hers off, and nodded at him.

"I don't want you to have to kill your own mother" he said in a quiet voice. "so I'll do it"

She swallowed thickly. "Victor, I wish it hadn't turned out this way. But...."

He looked at her, his crystal blue eye heavy with tense sadness. He didn't interupt.

"Thanks," she breathed. "and I'm sorry."

He placed his hand on her good shoulder, and gave it a squeeze "You're welcome" he said "I'm sorry too..." he took a deep breath "we'll just do what we have to do. And then , after it's all said and done, we can try to heal."

"Yeah," she nodded. "That's all we can do."

He pat her shoulder again "the sooner we finish this..." he said "the sooner it'll be over. We'll have done our duty. And the world won't fall into nuclear war. Not today at least."

She leaned into him, thinking of her mother, of doctor kovolenko... she sighed and nodded. It was what had to be done. "You're right. Its what has to be done. And it'll be over soon."

He leaned back, sharing comfort in the closeness of another person who understood. The truck rumbled down the road, as he sighed with her "Yeah. Very soon..." His eye closed "This isn't how I pictured my first mission, Heron. But I.." he hesitated a moment "i'm glad you're here. I couldn't have asked to fight alongside anyone better"

"Same," she said. "I can't imagine a better partner in all of this."

He nodded, and held out his hand to her "Neither can I. Glad they partnered us. Couldn't do this alone..."

The truck stopped, and Spider leaned out "hey, Hate to break up the heartfelt moment" She said, with a thin smile "but this is Viper's stop"

Heron swallowed, and allowed herself a moment of tension as she took Vipe's hand. Then she centered herself, as best she could.

He clasped her hand, and gave her a stiff nod "good luck, Heron. I'll see you when it's over." he said, and stood . He took a deep, grounding breath, and looked at Spider "Have that helicopter at the cliff for me, Spider. You're not leaving me behind"

Spider shrugged "of course, handsome" he purred.

"I'll make sure we don't leave with out you," she said. "Good luck."

Viper gave her a thin smile "gonna need it." he saluted her, then, before turning and leaping out the back of the truck.

Spider revved the truck "well. Lets get us a helicopter."

She saluted him back and nodded at Spider. "Lets go."

Spider drove off down a fork in the road "So...." She looked over her shoulder 'there's a helipad up ahead, cutie. I think there should be one of the helicopters left"

"Hopefully," she said. "Do you fly?"

She laughed, her voice light and cheerful "Oh honey, are you saying you _don't_ ??"

Hazel stared at her. If she had been her mother, her glasses would have been slipping down her nose _that_ way.

Spider shrank just a little at the look "no sense of humor I see" she sighed, and took a sharp turn, nearly running off the road "of course I can fly a chopper. I learned in...school"

"Good," she nodded. She hoped it was better than she could drive a car. "Where did you run off to, while we were facing Gagarin, by the way?"

She smiled easilly, cutting through some foliage with a jarring sensation that made Adler look sick. "Oh, this and that" she said

"Uhuh," she held on tight in the back, and looked at Adler. "You're gonna make the doc puke, if you keep driving like that."

"Hmph" Spider griped "some people are impossible to please" She teased, before steadying her driving.

Adler looked at Hazel with a longsuffering thank you in his eyes.

She nodded at Adler. "Do you meet a lot of impossible to please people?" she joked

"I'm afraid not" Spider purred "most come away from meeting me _very_ pleased" She pulled into a lower area....near the bottom of the mountain range that made up the facility.

"Why am I not surprised?" she smirked a little, trying to focus on something else besides worrying about Viper and Lionheart.

"It's what they teach you in espionage schools you know." Spider said with a raise of her eyebrow "didn't you learn how to seduce your way into the enemy's heart?"

She snorted. "I'm not that kind of spy, spider." she said, flushing slightly.

"A shame." She purred, looking her over "you'd be pretty good at it."

SHe stopped at the edge of the airfield and helipad. "and here _we_ are"

"what would my mother say?" she muttered, to herself, grateful to have arrived.

"Same thing my mother says" The sultry woman purred "Nothing. because one doesn't go telling their mother everything" She opened the door for them

She shook her head, and carefully moved into the doorway, looking for trouble.

The airway was mostly deserted. People had come and gone....but there was  in fact a helicpoter nearby.

Sadly, it was guarded by a contingent of guards and scientists, who were in the middle of evacuation.

A pilot was about to engage takeoff. He'd have to be neutrilized first. And fast.

Hazel sized up the situation, and pulled the sniper rifle she'd been lugging around off her back. She double checked that it was loaded, and lined up a shot, taking aim at the pilot with the big gun,

The pilot's head came into her crosshairs. He was getting ready to flip a switch, talking into a mic.

The guards and scientists were loading into the open bay doors of the heicopter. It was now or never.

She pulled the trigger, the shot all nicely lined up.

The gun went off, muffled by it's silencer, and the pilot went down with a spray of blood. The rotors began to slow.

"Well, now we've bought ourselves a few minutes," she sadi.

But Spider was already drawing her own weapon. A pair of small handheld machine guns. She dove forward, and took cover behind a metal crate that served as a temporary storage for materials being dropped by Helicopters. She opened fire at the now reacting guards, both guns rattling off. She distracted them from Hazel and her sniper rifle.

Hazel shrugged smoothly, and followed suit, rolling behind another metal crate and aiming the sniper again, picking targets, and popping them off.

Her shots landed heavy, and soon the helicopter became a frenzy of milling bodies, and firing guns. Spider had to dodge a spray f machine gun fire.

hazel kept herself down, and hidden, and her next target was the attacker who was aiming at Spider. She covered her, taking action with her sniper.

The attacker went down...and the helicopter was stilled. The guards were dead, and the scientists had scattered like terrified mice.

It would have all been okay, if not for the soft clap that came from around the back of the helicoptor's bay doors.

Hazle's shoulders sunk. "_again?_"

Out stepped Lynx and Panther. Panther grinned at her "You finally made it, Heron" he purred.

Spider aimed at him, with a grin "hey panther."

"Oh Hi _Lin_ " he sneered. "Lynx , take care of the little spy for me?"

Lynx sneered back, and aimed her big gun right at Spider, "You got it, boss."

Hazel stood and aimined at Panther. "I don't think so."

Panther gestured "Everyone hold your fire" He walked towards Hazel with a grin, drawing his knives "It's time we have a one on one duel, Heron. You and me. One last test to see who's the better fighter"

"You're not tired of getting beaten up yet?" she asked, drawing her knife with her free hand.

Panther readied his knives "I want to see what you can do, Heron" he purred. Though the way he looked at her...His eyes were more determined.  Fiercer.

She matched his steady gaze, and put down her sniper rifle, drawing her second knife. 'Be careful what you ask for."

He lashed forward, his movements quick and catlike as he struck for her knife arm "I want to see if you can really best me, _Heron_ " he purred.

She moved just as quick, lashing to meet him with her blade in graceful fluid motions like a bird in flight. Steel clanged on steel. "I wanna see that too," she said, bringing her other knife around to slash at his exposed spot.

Their blades clashed together, and his second knife blocked her slash. He pushed, shoving her forward "I learn from my mistakes, Heron"

"You'll learn a lot then," she said, matching him slash for slash. She stepped backward, forcing him to close the distance.

He closed the distance, but he did so with more grace than last time. His slashes matched hers, and he blocked with less effort than before. He glared at her, snorting "we'll see. " he ducked,a nd made a stab for her bad shoulder, noting the slight lag in speed on that side.

She made up for her shoulder with her footwork, stepping aside, and moving to use his momentum to unsteady him as she slashed out in return.

He twisted, blocking the slash in the nick of time. His grin was manic, and he suddenly slammed his shoulder into her rather heavily.

She made a noise of pain, but used the sudden contact to grab ahold of one of his arms,, and slam him into a nearby wall. Her shoulder raidiating pain.

He grimaced, and whipped his knife out, going for her midsection even as pinned his other arm "You're not bad" he hissed

She kept him pinned ith one hand, her other meeting the knife with knife in a parry. "Youve gotten better."

He smirked 'I have to . I have to be as good as you, Heron" He narrowed his eyes "I respect you" He wrenched his arm suddenly, and with a serpentine grace, pulled it free enough to make a stab for her.

She danced with him- but it was a near hit. She only managed to catch it with her own knife at the last moment. "Huh. You've been practicing. Good."

The faint praise seemed to revitalize him. and he swung his knife in a flurry of blows at her chest.

She caught several of the blows and then puilled away, dancing out of reach again, and forcing him to turn and follow her as she looked for open spots.

HIs left was open. He had a habit of lifting his arm too much on a swing .It left his side vulnerable for a half second.

She caught a blow from him with one knife, bringing her other up toward his exposed left side.

The blade slashed through uniform and flesh, and staggered him.

She used the opportunity to force him up against the wall, a blade at his throat. She grinned. "You put up a good fight."

He pressed to the wall, breathing heavy. His eyes were alight with energy and...respect "Heh. Next time will be even better, Heron."

She nodded with a sense of approval. "I'm sure. Tell your secretary to stop pointing guns at people for now, will you?"

"For now." He agreed, and lowered his hands "We give up. For now. Right Lynx?"

She made a sour face but lowered her gun. "Right boss."

Hazel slowly removed her knife. "Good."

Panther backed away from her. He raised his hands, and with both of them, made them into duel finger guns. He gestured towards her, as if shooting them "We'll meet again, Heron. On the battlefield, or in life" He looked at Lynx, and gave her a significant nod "Lets get out of here, Lynx. Before our comrades blow it to hell"

Lynx nodded. "right away."

Hazel shook her head, and gave panther a lazy, parting salute. "See you around, Panther."

He saluted her in return  and pat Lynx on the back. They vanished into the woods beside the helipads.

Spider raised her eyebrow "well. that was special" she purred "are you done yet?"

"Yeah, we're done," she nodded, putting her knives awat.

Spider gestured to the chopper "then lets go catch us a viper"

She nodded. "I'll get Adler."

"Thank you" She laughed "I wouldn't want him fainting the moment a beautiful woman touched him. That, dear Heron ,would be inconvinient. I'll go start the chopper, instead"

She nodded, and gave a thumbs up, going to help Adler into the chopper.

Adler was thankful, as she helped him into the wheelchair and across the asphalt. Soon, he was loaded into the helicopter, and they were lifting off.

As the chopper rose, Hazel could see the mountain range beyond. SMoke billowed from the fallen hanger, and defeated Titan, casting black shadows in a clear blue sky. Beyond that, were the sites of her different battles. Each one the resting place of a former hero. Gagarin's private compound, where the war-ravaged psychic earned a final peace....the rope bridges, where an orphaned girl disallusioned with humanity ran to find new life among the beasts....and the supply depot, where a gambler got to make her final bet. Heaven or hell.

She was a little breathless, seeing it all laid out beneath her, their whole journey, good and terrible alike. She closed her eyes and said a quiet prayer for those they had sent to their fates.

The helicoptor pitched , and gave her a breathtaking view of the Uldovian landscape....and...

There was a valley below. A sprawling, crystal lake that glimmered like a jewel. It was rimmed with gorgeous flowers, even in winter. And overlooking that valley was a cliff.

It was one of the most beautiful views she had ever seem, and it caught her breath. "You seeing this, Fox?" she asked Simon over the comm.

Simon responded a moment later, his voice cracking slightly "It's beautiful, Heron" He said, clearly entranced "Even through the camera, it's breathtaking"

She smiled slightly,  breauty breaking through the haze of memories and worry.

The helicopter gave the two of them a panorama of the still lake. The beauty of it all making the mere seconds feel like minutes.

But all things come to an end....and Hazel's view was quickly taken up by the cliff as Spider expertly manuvered the bay doors of the helicopter directly next to the edge. The chopping blades rustled the long grass that grew in patches out of the snow here....

And standing in the middle of it all, was Viper. HIs gun was aimed down into the grass, at a prone body. In one hand, the gun...the other held a strip of cloth. Lionheart's bandana. It fluttered in the heavy wind of the rotors, as the chop-chop-chop drowned out the words that he was speaking.

Hazel could see the pain in his face from here. The tears leaking down his cheek, as he spoke the final words of some unheared conversation.

A pale hand lifted from the grass, and handed something small to him, pressing it into the hand that held the bandana.....

And then Viper fired. The gun went off, and the form on the ground twitched it's last. Viper visibly winced, and began to turn away.....

Hazel jolted physically as the gun went off, feeling something small break inside her, her heart in her stomach. For Viper. For the strong, strange woman she had never really known. For her mother. For herself. Her eyes stayed on the scene, transfixed in pain.

The gun dangled from Viper's fingers...and fell to the ground as his grip slackened. Behind him, there was a sudden colemn of swirling snowflakes and petals from the winter-blooming flowers that littered this area. Viper's eyes traced them as they rose, sorrow in his expression. .

And when it was all said and done, the spot Lionheart had lay somehow seemed a little emptier....or perhaps it was a trick of the light.

Lionheart was dead. And a little piece of everyone who cared for her died alongside her.

Hazel ached, and that ache seemed to go on fixing the whole scene in her mind foreger like a photograph, viper, and flower petals, emptiness and all.

Over her comm, there was a commotion

Her mother's voice, full of more emotion than she'd heard in a long...long time, cried out in an inarticulate sob of loss and desperation. "Natalie...No...no no..." She cried, her voice cracking as tears threatened to drown her words "This...this wasn't supposed to happen this way. This isn't happening"

Knight called from out of the Mic's immediete range, "Someone get her out of here and calm her down. Before she does something drastic"

There was a scuffle, and Simon was heard protesting , and eventually hurrying out of the room along with the distraught doctor.

Hazel felt herself shaking. She heard herself say. "Get us down there, Spider, I'll get Viper."

The helicopter got close enough for her to dismount, with careful skill.

Viper was just standing there, looking at the sky where the vortex of snow and petals had vanished. His crystal blue eye was haunted, and his lips were tight.

Hazel fumbled with her restraints and carefully got down from the helicopter, stumbling toward Viper.

Viper turned to look at her with an expression so forcefully serene it only furthur hinted at the pain behind his eyes. He just looked...numb. "It's over" he said, simply.

She bowed her head, and reached out to him. "Its time to go."

He took her hand, and sighed softly "Yeah. it is." He looked back at the snow and flowers behind him, before turning and giving the spot Lionheart had been...was... a military salute.

She squeezed his hand, and joined him in salute for the fallen.

Tears carved trails down his cheek, as he held the salute for a long moment. "I hope you find that world of peace once again, Lionheart" He said  , his voice thick with emotion "Goodbye"

He turned to the chopper, and gave Hazel's hand another squeeze "we should hurry. Uldovia's on it's way to bomb this place"

She squeezed back. "Lets not get caught in that," she said, starting for it slowly.

Together, they boarded the helicopter, and sat. Below them, the lake sparkled like a sapphire, and it's light danced over the interior of the helicopter in pale purple streaks. Snow and petals got caught in the whirring rotors, and turned into miniature vortexes before their eyes.

Viper didn't let go of her hand, not as the helicopter rose into the sky. And not for the flight out of Uldovian airspace.

She didn't let go either, their gloved hands holding tight to one another, though they were both quiet.

Behind them, the Uldovian military finally caught up with Gagarin's mistakes. The perfect blue sky was complimented by licking red flames as they sped away from the bombing run that would reduce all of Gagarin's ambitions to carbon.

Viper's hand was warm in hers, but his fingers were tight and tense. She could feel the occasional tremor as it shook his hand, and his resolve.

But the mission was over.  

Now was time to heal.

And healing came soon after. The long helicopter ride took them to an airfield, which took them to a plane which took them home to Pax, where they were immedietly hailed as heroes by Soteria's primary staff. But congratulations were short lived, as the two battered combatents were shunted off to the hospital for intensive treatment.

It was just as well. Even with  both their accomplishments, Hazel couldn;t shake the feeling that they weren't exactly heroes for all of this.

Viper didn't smile at all at the compliments and cheers. His face was grim every time they called them heroes. And he seemed only to relax the slightest when they were seated in their hospital beds and given their runs of antibiotics. These were, of course, followed by the angry lectures on their health by Dr. Renfield, who came storming in a day after their return.

Hazel was comfortably numb enough from the constant low dose of painkillers to almost find it funny when he stormed in.

Viper only managed a weak half smile as he explained calmly to Renfield that antibiotics and proper bandages weren't exactly common in the field.

"And that's why you damned fools should have better _field gear_ " he growled "Damn it, I'm a doctor. Listen to me. It's what I'm _here_ for"

"Sorry sir, we're not exactly in charge of field gear," Hazel said. "We tried not to get stabbed, though."

"good. You had better" he'd said, before going into another ramble about their medical charts.

it all ended when he gave them the news that they'd be stuck in the hospital for a few days _at least_ . So he'd send up some jello at the soonest opportunity.

She nodded. " guess we got off easy for all the shit we got into."

Viper gave her a weak smile from his hospital bed. "I wouldn't say easy, Heron"

She smiled back just as weakly. "Point."

He nodded "But..." He waved his hand "physically we're alive. And that's a miracle in and of itself"

"A miracle and a half," she agreed