Author's note: it's been awhile since I've done anything on this site, partially due to the fact my computer has been crashing routienly and school has been quite business; either way here is a Gears of War 2 story I have been meaning to put up for a little while.
Rate M: For strong language, blood and gore and possible sexual content
Enjoy!
The streets of Jacinto were bustling with armed soldiers; the atmosphere was tense and the air echoed with the sound of Derricks, Centaurs and King Ravens that flew through the sky with an ominous yet protective presence. Today was the day the new Gears arrived; the rookies or rooks and dozens of armored figures moved throughout the streets, both trainees and weathered soldiers.
A particularly well known COG stood near the center of the square accompanied by his colleague and closest friend. Sergeant Marcus Fenix scanned the roaring skies and frowned; his companion took notice of his friend's sour expression and gazed up to the sky in curiosity. After a few moments Dominique Santiago turned back to the armored soldier and opened his mouth, but before any words could be said the sound of blades cutting through air deafened any other attempt at sound. The men turned their heads to look behind them and saw the dark, battle scarred form of a massive King Raven. At the sight the two COGs turned around completely to face the helicopter fully; two familiar faces emerged from the belly of the steel beast and stepped off the whirling craft and began to walk over to their comrades.
"Yeah the Cole-trains back baby!" the unmistakable voice of Augustus Cole called over the roar of the chopper blades.
"Good to see ya again Cole…Baird." Marcus replied as Cole and Damon Baird joined them, and Cole gave both him and Dom a solid slap on the back.
"How've you two been doin'?" Dom asked with a friendly grin.
"Doin' great! Ready to kick some Locust ass!" the dark skinned soldier hollered over the sound of the King Raven which was now taking off.
"Heard you guys are getting a new recruit." Baird commented with a smug look spreading across his features.
Marcus and Dom looked at each other momentarily and then looked back over to the two other men.
"Well isn't that just fuckin' fantastic." Marcus said annoyance evident in his voice.
"Also heard Anya was getting a rook…or a transfer…or whatever." the blonde COG added and waited in quiet eagerness to see the look on the Sergeant's face at the news.
"What…who the hell is it?" Marcus asked remaining calm.
"I don' know, some guy called Artemis or something shitty like that…" came the reply.
The taller soldier was about to open his mouth again when the sound of another King Raven landing cut him off.
Once again another great steel beast landed not far in front of them but this time a petite figure stepped down off the bird.
Anya Stroud stood tall and brushed a stray piece of hair from her face and began to walk forward.
Much to the Gears surprise another woman stepped down off the helicopter and followed in suit behind the other female.
Once she stood before the four men Anya placed a hand on her hip and looked at them with a smug expression on her face. The other woman lingered a little behind the smug looking blonde with a very formal expression upon her features.
"I see you guys are having a little reunion." Anya stated with a smile.
"You could call it that…" Marcus replied and glanced at Anya and then to the woman behind her nodded his head in her direction. "Who's your friend?"
Anya turned to look at her companion and motioned for her to come forward.
"This is Artemis Hodgins, my new recruit or transfer if you will." The blonde explained.
"Pleasure to meet you all." she said.
The men smirked at each other then looked back to the two women.
"Little formal for us…" Marcus said still smirking.
"Don't worry I can take care of myself." she replied curtly.
Baird scoffed and the rest of the men continued to smirk.
"Uh…Sergeant Fenix?" a voice came from behind the group.
The men turned around to see an armed soldier stumbling towards them, a rookie; Marcus groaned softly at the sight.
"Sergeant Fenix, Benjamin Carmine at your service." The soldier said and attempted to salute but ended up dropping his duffle bag instead.
Anya walked up beside Marcus and smiled coyly.
"Time to train the rook?" she asked.
"Yeah, lucky me…" he replied in annoyance and motioned for Dom to follow; his companion groaned and followed after him on their way to train the Carmine.
Anya turned to see Artemis, Baird and Cole standing in silence and the blonde smiled.
"Scared of each other?" she teased and she heard Baird scoff.
"Yeah fuckin' right." He retorted and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Baird's just nervous 'cause he doesn't know how to handle a woman!" Cole exclaimed and laughed heartedly.
"Shut the hell up." the blonde soldier grunted in annoyance.
Anya chuckled and looked to Artemis.
"Why don't you get to know these two characters a little, you've got some time before Control expects us to be back."
The other female looked at her and then over to the two soldiers and shrugged.
"Why not…?" she replied.
"I'll radio you when it's time." Anya said and turned on her heel and began to walk off in the opposite direction.
There was a silent pause between the trio before Cole finally spoke up, unable to stand the awkward quietness.
"Augustus Cole, baby!" he exclaimed with a toothy grin and held out his hand which Artimus took and shook firmly.
"Artemis Hodgins." she replied.
"Damn! Girl's got grip!" Cole said and released her hand.
The woman then looked to the blonde who continued to say nothing until Cole nudged him sharply in the ribs with his elbow.
"Shit! That hurt! What was that for?" Baird hissed and glared at his companion.
"Aw, quit your whinen' and introduce yourself to the lady." came the reply and a chuckle.
He glared at Cole again who grinned back.
"Damon Baird…" he grumbled and looked over to Artimus.
"Pleasure." She replied and held out her hand though Baird didn't take it. "…Alright." she said and retracted her hand.
"Bairds just gotta stick up his ass today, don't mind him." Cole said to the woman and then gazed over to the blonde. "Come on Baird she ain't got cooties!"
"Fine!" the shorted soldier exclaimed and thrust out his hand which Artemis took hesitantly and shook firmly just as she did before with Cole.
"Hey you got the tour yet?" the large black man questioned as she released Baird's hand.
"Tour?" she asked.
"Yeah Cole, what tour?" Baird hissed.
"Hey don' want her gettin' lost now would ya?" came the reply.
"I really won't be out and about the city much, mostly just working at Control…" Artemis replied feeling slightly out of place with the two men.
Cole shrugged his massive shoulders and then slapped Baird on the back forcefully, but friendly.
"Well the Cole-trains' going to check out the Rig's and get ready to kick some ass, see you two later." the large dark skinned soldier then said and began to walk away.
Silence once again set in now that it was just the two of them.
Artemis cleared her throat.
"You're not to keen on me, are you?" she asked.
"I'm not to 'keen' on anybody, 'sides you're a rook don't expect to earn fuckin' respect as soon as you get here." he replied roughly.
"I'm not a rook, I transferred form an outpost stationed near Mount Kadar for your information." She retorted.
"Well sorry!" he hissed.
"Just because I haven't earned your respect doesn't mean you have to be rude." She hissed back.
Baird was about to open his mouth again when Artemis' comm. link crackled and she turned around, putting her back to him.
"Affirmative…" she said into the link and turned her head and glanced at the blonde. "Well it's been a ball, but I need to get back to control."
"Whatever…" he replied and turned on his heel and began to walk away.
She was about to do the same when a loud boom was heard not far in the distance and then gun fire rang out. She looked around wildly in confusion when another boom sounded off this time the ground shook violently and she fell to the ground from its force.
"Shit!" she heard Baird exclaim and then the sound of hurriedly moving footsteps reached her ears. Somebody grabbed her arm forcefully and hauled her up from the ground.
"Get, up we gotta move! Locusts are attacking!" he said roughly.
"W-what? I thought-" but he cut her off.
"I said move!"
She obeyed and allowed the blonde soldier to pull her along behind him, perhaps to their doom.
