Hi to everyone who's reading this. Thank you for checking it out. It is an AU, but I use some of the characters. Warning to those out there concerned, this is not an insta-romance, I repeat not an insta-romance. There is going to be some, but I wanted to focus more on the plot then emotional dysfunctions and soap operas. I love reviews criticism included hint hint. So happy reading: )

Disclaimer: If only this was an alternate universe then I could own it, but reality bites, it all belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.

If you looked out the globe window you couldn't quite see anything for a fraction of a minute then the neon lights came into focus and blurs of light flashed by. No light. No natural light anyway. The sky was always dark except for the occasional cosmic star flare. Serena sighed and turned her back onto the city and started taking her clothes out of the closet. She chose her black thermal which resembled a wet suit and regulated her body temperature. It had a turtle neck and came down in a v with a loop that hooked around her middle finger. She zipped up the side and then pulled on her vest with the reinforced bullet proof feature which was cream colored and had a loose hood. (looks like the elf's ones from lord of the rings). The last thing left was her belt. It was the most important part of her wears because it had many adjoining pockets that had her ID, free all you can eat pass to Jerry's, and a charger for her taser gun. All three made up her life. Her gun was an extension of her limb and when she wasn't at the office or on duty she was stuffing her face at Jerry's. Her thoughts tripped up when her hologram watch buzzed. A projection of a small stout man with spectacles that resembled tiny binoculars huffed and said in a very irritating tone, "You're late. Again. Do you know what this is doing to my poor nerves? If he finds out we'll both be shoved out on our behinds and I can tell you that will not be a--"

"Chill Dolf, I know I'm late and I'm hurrying as fast as I can, so cover for me" she added as an afterthought, "oh and sorry about your nerves." The little man huffed again and grumbled, "I'm sure you are."

In an instant the hologram blurred and dissipated. Serena grabbed her boots, jumped into the chute, and landed atop her hover bike. The shield closed while she started the ignition. After changing the gear to auto pilot, she laced up her boots and called Jerry.

"You've reached Jerry's glorbulous cuisine and fine dining establishment, if you have any special requests, other than what we provide, like a sealed oxygen tank or indigenous utensils from your home planet we will be glad to supply them with proper noti—''

"Cut it out Jerry you know it's me and I'm really late so I'm not in the mood to play games."

"One cheese yrtsap one coffee"

"Aww you remembered"

"Hard not to since we cater your breakfast every morning, which I might add is taking advantage of my hospitality"

"Jerry you owe me big time, the least you can do is supply me with sustenance so I can continue to risk my life for the good of mankind."

"How noble of you" Jerry chuckled "alright you know where to go"

"Right captain" She slid her hover bike around to the back where Jerry sat holding a brown bag in the air. She grabbed it and said a quick thanks I owe you one and jetted away. Jerry smiled, "and here I was thinking it was the other way around." He walked back into the restaurant amid the cacophony coming from the kitchen and customers.

She arrived at the office in a huff with coffee in hand yrtsap in her mouth and her bag swinging behind her. She sped past the automated lifts, past the robotic secretary who said snidely, "Your late again Serena that is approximately 15.2453 times so far by my calc---" Serena shushed her and continued at full speed towards her desk where she landed in a heap. She was able to gasp a few breaths before, "Seereeeeeeenaaaaaaa!" Ugh and her head promptly fell to the desk.

"NOW!"

"Alright, alright" she mumbled half to her self, half to the owner of the bodiless voice. She trudged up to the door that read Mr. Phyllius Bode, chief of command. It opened with a creak and she disappeared behind it. The man Phyllius was large and could only manage a squatting position in the huge leather chair. The leather itself squelched as he moved, which drove Serena insane. His large bushy eyebrows knitted together in thought like he was preparing to tell her something she might find hard to take.

"Take a seat Serena" squelch. She plopped down into the chair across from his desk. "You've been" squelch "one of our best…agents" squelch uh oh "You've proven yourself capable time and again—" whew "But you are also repeatedly late for work, don't think I don't know, disorganized and you lack respect for the lives of those around you." She scoffed. "That is why we are assigning you a partner." She sucked in her breath. "Don't start; think of this as a challenge, you need to figure out how to coordinate fighting with someone else."

"That's all well and good, but what if I feel I have all the abilities I need to whip butt?"

"Then you'll have a lot more to learn than previously anticipated." "At any rate, you don't have a choice in the matter."

"I could quit" She said it as a threat.

"You care too much about your job to go through with it, now we're done." She hunched into her chair and glared at him until he spoke, "Ah he's here." A little louder, "Come in" The door creaked and with a kchack it closed behind a shadowed figure. "This," he directed Serena's attention to "is your new partner—Darien Shields"

Introductions were short with some misgivings on both sides. Once they were over Phyllius dismissed them with an order to report back tomorrow. They both walked out and headed towards the lift.

"Why are you following me?" Serena said a little annoyed.

"I have to use the lift." He replied curtly.

"Hah, right, you just want to get some."

"Hardly, and if I did it would be with one of the more…mature agents." He smirked.

"Oh really."

They climbed into the elevator simultaneously. As the doors shut, Serena turned away from Darien while he stood looking coolly ahead. The elevator jerked suddenly, then screeched to a halt as the lights flickered off. A woman's voice echoed, "Grade A Simulation activated—loading data" The elevator walls slowly transformed into a rocky outcropping. When it was finished, they were surrounded by a quarry made up of molten red boulders. The sand under their feet shifted as they turned around.

"What happened? This wasn't scheduled," Serena stated.

"Give me you gun" Serena looked at him incredulously.

"No"

"It's not like I'm asking you for you right arm"

"What would you know and why don't you have a weapon?"

"What does it matter, just give me the gun"

"You gave it to the guy at the desk didn't you?"

"No"

"You're really gullible you know that"

"I didn't give it to him"

"What the hell are you doing here without a weapon then?"

Darien looked uncomfortable for a minute then said slowly, "I was in a hurry and so I left it on my dresser by accident."

Serena looked vandalized. "You realize that is your only line of defense." "Well if you think I'm going to protect your sorry butt when I don't even want a partner, then you're sadly mistaken."

"I understand you want to show off, but I really need to get out of here and I can speed this up so we can both leave." "Now give me your gun." She grudgingly handed it to him. He carefully examined it from all sides then gave it back.

"What was that for?" she asked dubiously.

"I was gauging the capabilities of your gun. From where we stand our opponents should use a frontal attack and a very close one so a short range weapon is best suited for this controlled atmosphere." She looked at him a little surprised then twitched and a pulse mark appeared on her forehead.

"…and how exactly do you figure tha—" She was interrupted as a shadow was cast from behind her.

"Turn and shoot-quick!" he added for emphasis. She gritted her teeth and pivoted with practiced speed and shot the tazer at the simulation. It emitted an Arghh and dissipated into computerized particles. As soon as she zapped it though, they began popping up like daisies. Darien kept telling her to turn right, then left, then right again until she was out of breath.

"I believe that is all of them." She slowly turned around to see him looking serious except for a small smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry, I forgive you for being an ass before" She stood there a minute silently fuming and then she exploded.

"HOW DARE YOU, YOU SMUG ARROGANT JERK! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! I'M AB-SO-LUT-LY CAPABLE BY MYSELF SO YOU CAN SHOVE OFF AND GO BACK TO WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM!"

With that the simulation faded into the elevator and she stormed out once the doors opened. Errrgh what an impossible self-conceited jerk! They both walked off in separate direction in a brooding cloud of thought, unaware that they were being kept under surveillance. "And so it begins," someone chuckled.

Wahoo! My very first chapter done I'm sooooo happyXD Till next time