Hello everyone.

Hopefully this will satisfy some of the Metal Slug fans out there, specifically Tarma and/or Eri fans. (This isn't really romantic, but if you want it to be, then it can be...I guess. Tarma and Eri are simply my two favorite characters.)

Takes place during Metal Slug 2/X, precisely Mission 2 (because I'm not imaginative enough to create my own setting).

Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding the Metal Slug franchise. Thank SNK Playmore for these awesome games and characters, not me.

It was moments like these when Tarma vehemently cursed the upper echelons for denying his discharge. He liked working with his partner Marco and all, but even he wasn't worth the mess they were currently in.

It was hot.

It was humid.

It was dark.

There was sand everywhere.

And they were stuck.

Their SV-001 metal slug stopped. Tarma said it was all the sand, but the others seemed to know it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. The second in command climbed out of the super vehicle and stepped down into the sand next to his close friend.

"Just lay it on me…" Marco sighed to his brown-haired counterpart. He was frustrated, to say the least.

"We're not going anywhere."

Fio seemed to flinch at his response. She was standing off to the side listening, not wanting to get in the way of the 'pros' as she put it. Marco pinched the bridge of his nose.

"But it's fixable," Tarma added, lifting his sunglasses over his forehead. "Gonna take some time though…"

"How are we on gas and ammo?"

"Fine. Kinda ironic, huh? We got ammo for an immobile tank, yet we have none for ourselves," Tarma dusted the sand off his pants.

Marco looked at the dirty, steaming vehicle behind him and groaned, "We need it, especially in a place like this. As much as I want to get out of here, I'm not going to risk anything."

Tarma nodded in agreement and glanced at Fio who was watching them with a worried look on her face. He studied the metal slug, noting its shabby condition, before his attention was drawn to a pair of combat boots swinging from the other tread. Feeling a hand rest on his shoulder, he turned back to his comrade.

"I guess I'm gonna need your expert skills again. We're not getting through this mission without that hunk of metal, so do whatever's necessary."

"Oh boy… I get to show off my skills, lucky me," Tarma scoffed sarcastically, earning a grin from Marco.

"Only thing we gotta worry about now is an ambush or starvation. Besides those, we ain't on a tight schedule."

"Or the possibility that I can't get it started…"

Marco looked at the brown-haired man with an apprehensive expression, inwardly hoping he was joking. The blonde fastened his near-empty canteen to his backpack, "Just light some torches and keep an eye out in case anything wanders up. Haven't met much resistance so far, but I doubt the guys up top warned us about these catacombs because they're a nice vacation spot…"

Tarma chuckled as Marco loaded his handgun with the few remaining bullets he had left. The Lieutenant looked at his Captain with raised eyebrows and spoke in a humorous manner, "Are you going somewhere?"

"As a matter of fact, I am," he spoke, only to receive an 'are you crazy' look from Tarma. "I need you to keep at the slug, but I'm gonna scout ahead and see if I can find…anything."

Tarma sighed and took his sunglasses off his head to clean them, "Sir, yes sir…"

"Um…Captain Marco?"

The two soldiers turned to see their comrade Fio standing beside them. Tarma noticed upon first meeting her that she had an upbeat personality, but it was currently masked by one of determination and uncertainty. This was their first mission together, and it had started rather quickly, so getting to know each other was not at the top of everyone's to-do list.

"Would you mind if I tagged along? For…back-up?"

Marco didn't seem in favor of the plan, but Tarma nudged him in the shoulder, "Just let the girl follow you. It'll ease my conscious a bit, knowing I didn't let you wander off to die."

"Oh please… I need you to stay safe while you work you know."

"I won't be alone," Tarma told him with a smile, remembering their last comrade who seemed fit to stay seated on the slug's tread.

Marco thought for a moment, then realized what he meant and mumbled something incoherent.

"Alright Fia, let's get going," he waved to the girl beside Tarma.

"Um…it's Fio, actually…sir…"

Marco stopped in his tracks and frowned. He hadn't even bothered to learn the girl's names since they had been thrown into this mission so swiftly. He looked at her apologetically, "Oh…well, just don't fall behind and get lost."

"Have fun, you two…" Tarma waved with a smile.

"Just get to work, Tarma. I need that tank."

"Sure you do."

Lieutenant Roving put his shades back on, despite the near pitch black atmosphere of the cave. Turning around, he found his way back to the slug thanks to a dim light glowing from the vehicle's backside. There sat Eri, the second SPARROWS soldier to accompany Marco and Tarma on their mission. A candle rested on the slug's body next to her as she sharpened her knife and organized her tools and ammo. Tarma climbed up the SV-001, intent on going back in to finish the interior repairs, before looking down at the girl.

"You all right?"

Eri seemed surprised and jumped a little. She looked above her at Tarma's dark face and nodded plainly. The second-in-command noticed her empty eyes, concluding that she was merely a loner type. She was put on this mission with them for a reason however, and Tarma felt he could trust her despite her lack of engagement.

Before heading inside the metal slug, Tarma lit several torches and stuck them in the sand around them, giving him adequate vision. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and dove into the much needed repairs.

MS 2

Eri's POV

We were stuck.

I didn't really know how or why I was put into this mess with the other girl, but I wasn't particularly enjoying it. I know I was supposed to be working with the heroes of the Morden war, but I really didn't understand what was going on. They seemed way too…carefree.

Who knows…? Maybe I was just too uptight.

We had blown through that Abul Abbas' revolutionary army swiftly, just the four of us, and now we were told to venture into some ancient mines or something. I wasn't too caught up on the details. The Captain and the girl Fio, who came with me from SPARROWS, disappeared deeper into the cave for whatever reason. They're more than capable of taking care of themselves, so I didn't intervene.

And now I was left with this guy…the Lieutenant. I think his name was Tarmicle or something…

And he was wearing sunglasses…in the dark…

I sat still on the slug's tread and organized my belongings, keeping my inner thoughts to myself. Not like they mattered anyway. After this mission, I'd be sent back to SPARROWS, my next mission would begin, and I'd never see these 'heroes' again.

I felt the slug shift under added weight, and I knew it was the Lieutenant climbing aboard. Apparently he had been left behind with me to fix the vehicle. I thought of offering my help, but figured he knew what he was doing and I'd just get in the way. So I just sat quietly like I had so many other times.

Then I heard him say, "You all right?" It surprised me. No one had really spoken to me much since we left, but then again, I had made no effort to start conversation. I tilted my head up behind me to find him looking down from atop the slug's turret. His sunglasses shielded his eyes, which I could barely see to begin with, and his lips were pulled up in a slight smile. I nodded and returned his small smile, once again deciding not to say anything, and he nodded back. Before heading into the tank, he seemed to remember something and climbed back down. I silently watched him light and place several torches around our area, much to my inner delight. I continued sharpening my knife and he climbed up the vehicle once again and dove inside to work. I honestly wondered what he was doing. I was never the mechanical type, and I even had trouble driving vehicles, let alone repairing them. I really ought to learn sometime, because relying on others was something that I didn't like to do…

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my thumb, and noticed I cut myself on my knife's blade. It wasn't too deep, but deep enough to bleed and possibly get infected. Stupid. Just plain stupid.

I searched around for some type of cloth but found nothing. I finally resorted to ripping a strip off the hem of my white shirt and using it as a bandage. I put my knife in its scabbard and fastened it to my hip with a sigh. Then I heard the Lieutenant lift himself out of the slug before going back in moments after.

And five minutes later, he did the same thing…over and over…and over again.

About the sixth time he peeked out of the top of the SV-001, I looked up at him and saw his handgun ready and his jaw clenched. I sighed to myself, but couldn't help smiling. I guess these guys weren't as reckless and clumsy as they acted. But it also bothered me slightly. He seemed tired and on edge. Not to mention he wasn't smiling anymore…

Was I really not dependable enough to keep watch? Did he not trust me?

"Hey, Lieutenant," I spoke, clearing my throat beforehand to avoid any rusty vocals. He looked down at me with surprise, as if he didn't think I could speak English. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to warn you if anything shows up." It was true. I needed him to focus on the repairs if we wanted to get out. It wasn't like I could do it. All I could do was keep watch and protect him if needed…

And then I saw it again. The same smile he wore on his face as before, only a tad bigger and brighter with some white teeth thrown in the mix.

MS 2

Tarma's POV

Something was up.

I don't know what it was, but whatever it was, it was up. And whatever up meant, I knew it wasn't good.

I think…

Other than that, the repairs were going nicely. Practically every part needed a little tweaking, from the main computer to the artillery and polish. The interior was almost finished, then all that was left was the exterior's conditioning.

I peeked my head outside the slug with my pistol ready and surveyed the area. I realized Eri was literally feet away from me, but I wanted to get my own view of our surroundings.

Eri… That was her name. Come to think of it, I had almost forgotten. I think Marco's obliviousness was beginning to rub off on me…

She seemed okay though. I don't think I needed to worry.

I returned to finish up the computer repairs and reappeared atop the slug five minutes later. Nothing. All that was there were the torches, Eri, and lots and lots of sand. I frowned and wiped the sweat from my brow. I had the feeling that something was watching us, yet there was never anything there. Then I heard the most pleasant noise I had heard all day.

"Hey, Lieutenant," I looked down at the woman who still sat on the slug's cold tread, "Don't worry, I'll be sure to warn you if anything shows up."

I smiled. For multiple reasons actually. One, I was uneasy. Two, she had noticed. And three, she had decided to talk.

I looked down at her and saw the corners of her lips tug upwards, like she knew I was looking and tried to suppress her smile. I zipped back down into the slug to grab my tools and rags before climbing out and jumping onto the sandy turf below. I put my metal box down and wiped off my greasy face with an oily rag, which obviously didn't help at all. Not sure why I thought it would…

I frowned and tossed it into the sand. I heard a chuckle and turned to see Eri looking at me.

"You all right?" I heard her say, remembering my words to her not too long ago. I grinned and pushed my sunglasses atop my head.

"Yeah, thanks. Just a bit of work to do on the exterior and computer and we should be good. It should be able start up soon, but we're gonna need it in top form if we wanna ride it through this entire place."

She hummed and nodded her head before turning back to pack her weapons and ammo up.

MS 2

Tarma kicked the SV-001's hull, not necessarily excited to begin the second half of his job. He flicked his sunglasses over his eyes and went to town with his trusty wrench, all the while Eri watched from her seat on the tank's side skirt.

A/N: I read a good quote somewhere (can't remember where) saying that "Metal Slug is like fungus. It's everywhere and everyone knows about it, but no one talks about it."

If you read and enjoyed this first chapter, then PLEASE leave a review. I'm not hungry for recognition or anything stupid like that, but knowing that at least SOMEONE out there read and enjoyed my Metal Slug story would bring great joy to me :D

Thanks as always.