General Herbison: Hello readers and welcome back. Now in case you did not know today is an important day for me. Today is the day that I first published my first piece on fanfiction several years ago. In addition to that this is also my birthday so double celebration!
Yes I am back CC fans with a new chapter for you. Last time we witnessed a reunion between Imperial Commander Su Ling and Allied Commander/Soviet General Maraxus in the timeline of Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge. I do not own Command and Conquer but I claim my OCs. Enjoy.
(MOSCOW)
The plane's arrival was met by a fully armed force of soldiers all lined up in rigid formation as Maraxus and Su disembarked and were escorted to an armoured convoy before setting off to the Kremlin.
"What do you intend to do if Yuri wishes me dead?" Su asked casually as she peered out the window at the endless patrols of soldiers.
Maraxus looked up from a report, "I'll convince him to leave you alone. After all you did for us."
"I killed you and led a untied force against Yuri."
"Fair point. Still, it'll be nice to have someone else from the alternate timeline."
Su fixed her interrogation glare on him, "Do you ever feel any regret about betraying the Allies?"
"Occasionally." He admitted, "But Yuri and I needed to bring peace at any cost."
"Now you intend to turn the world into brainwashed zombies? That is hardly a dream world."
The convoy drew up outside the towering building and a squad of elite troops escorted them inside.
"Try not to provoke Yuri." Maraxus warned, "He's not going to be thrilled to see you, but attempting to murder him will not break the ice."
Su looked at him in annoyance, "What sort of person do you think I am?"
"An intelligent, cautious, semi-honourable, Empire of the Rising Sun female commander."
With an eyebrow raised she asked "Semi-honourable?"
Maraxus frowned slightly as they entered the lift, "You and Vlad conspired against me."
"You were allied with a brain that intended to conquer the world."
"You took me hostage on my own aircraft carrier."
"You executed my Emperor."
"You almost shot me at Mount Fuji."
Su rolled her eyes as the lift doors opened, "Let's just get this over with."
Two guards opened the double doors to admit them to a large office. Sitting behind the desk was a complete stranger to Su but she could easily work out who he was.
"Yuri" she acknowledged.
"Ah," a smirk appeared on the face, "Miss Ling. I am surprised to see you here. The plan was for a sleeper agent to use the time machine." His eyes turned to Maraxus.
"Su used it instead." The Brit shrugged, "Ended up on Alcatraz when the Allies used their time machine."
Yuri examined a monitor on his desk, "So, America still has free will. Their troops have destroyed another Psychic Dominator and freed their land. We must destroy them before they can re-group."
"As you command." Maraxus saluted, "And what of Su?"
The bald man stared at her for a moment, "She will be allowed to live, for now. Her knowledge of the alternate timeline and of Imperial technology could be useful."
"I will never help you." She spat disgustedly, "You are a monster."
His eyes narrowed, "Resist and I will remove any last trace of your free will and you shall become my obedient slave."
Before the situation could escalate Maraxus stepped forward and gently, but firmly, guided Su out of the room, "Don't push him."
"Grow a set you coward." She wrenched her arm from his grip, "That madman wants to enslave the entire world and you are going to let him?"
"Why not?" he shrugged, "No more war, no more division."
Su glared at him, "He will eliminate you as well."
"I doubt it. I have served him faithfully and am within his trust. We are working on a new experimental device. It will…" he trailed off and firmly closed his mouth.
"Might as well tell me." Su batted her eyes, "I can't really do much to stop you."
Maraxus shook his head, "No way. Not saying a word."
"Are you sure?" she took a step closer, "I guess you don't know anything, do you?"
He was going red as her face moved closer to his, "Stop this. Guards."
In unison the escort converged on Su and grabbed her arms to pull her away from their general, who breathed a sigh of relief.
"Take her to a room. But do not hurt her." Maraxus mouthed an apology as the troops half dragged her away.
(LOWER LEVELS)
As the guards moved away Su dug into her Imperial uniform and grabbed a small device she had concealed in her bra. The device was a highly advanced infiltration piece of tech designed to open any electronic lock. Her room was rather small with a bed and an adjoining bathroom but the door was electromagnetically sealed.
"Activate." She placed the device against the door frame. It clicked and discharged a small electromagnetic pulse that disabled the locks.
Su put the device away and cautiously peered out into the hallway. There was a lone guard standing at the far end.
"Guard." She waved an arm, "I need you."
He strode forward quickly and she ducked into the room. As he made to enter she slammed the door into him before grabbing his head and snapping the neck.
Pausing only to lift his AK-47 she crept away from the room and into the main building.
(MAIN BUILDING/YURI'S OFFICE)
"The Allies are moving against us comrade General." Yuri examined his monitors, "France and Germany are already free of my control, and a naval force is landing in Japan. This is not going to plan."
Maraxus paced in front of the desk, "We must send reinforcements to protect the remaining Psychic Dominators while work on the device proceeds."
"How long until it is completed?"
"I would say within the week. But we could test it now if you want."
Yuri's face twitched into a smile, "I believe we could attempt to bring a friend of ours."
Maraxus saluted stiffly, I will oversee the test myself. Personally."
(COMMUNICATION ROOM)
Internal security was seriously lacking Su thought as she silently snapped the necks of the guards and hid the bodies in a large cupboard before sitting at a console. But then again this entire continent was under Yuri's brainwashing control so who could be breaking into the heart of his domain?
"Insert access code" the computer asked.
Su growled beneath her breath, doubtless an incorrect code would sound the alarm. Glancing around the room yielded nothing so she decided to take a chance. There was a code requirement which gave her a very low chance of success. Just as she was reaching for a notepad she heard footsteps approaching and darted away from the console.
The door opened and Maraxus strode inside. He frowned to himself and muttered, "Where are the guards?"
Su shrank back as he looked around cautiously. Her hiding spot was behind a large processor and several monitors which were all switched on so hopefully the flashing lights and sounds would mask her presence.
After a moment Maraxus shook his head and went over to the console she had just vacated and sat down, "Access code verbal, Maraxus Sierra Charlie, two, nine, seven, one."
"Access granted"
This would be a key moment to make her move and kill him, but Su hesitated. Whether it was that she started to grow fond of the man or that she didn't want to kill an unwary opponent she wasn't sure.
Two program windows opened. One showed an empty room and the other had a man in a white chemical suit.
"General." He asked bluntly, "What do you want?"
Maraxus smiled politely, "How are we proceeding?"
The man sighed impatiently, "Better if you didn't pester me. The test will begin in one hour."
"Then prepare for my arrival." Maraxus stood up, "I will be arriving to witness this myself. Personally."
As he stood up Su darted from her hiding spot and wrapped one hand around his mouth and another held a knife to his throat, "Make a sound and you die."
His eyes rolled and he nodded slowly.
"Good boy, now, you are going to take me to a place where we can talk in private. If anyone asks you are taking me for a personal interrogation."
Another slow nod.
"Lead on." She moved the knife from his throat and held it instead at his side just beside the kidney, "Try anything and… well you get the idea."
"Indeed." He scowled and started walking along the corridor with her beside him, "You know this is not called for. I have no ill wishes towards you. I actually like you a lot."
"Really?" she asked, "Even after all of this? Or because of it?"
"I don't know." He scratched his chin, "You are very attractive, highly intelligent, courageous, and, forgive my bluntness; you are one fine looking female. So yes I am interested in you."
While she was flattered for the compliments she didn't move her knife an inch, "Tell me about your project."
"Basically we are hoping to combine temporal and spacial energy to create a rift in the dimensional fabric and open a vortex-"
She drove an elbow into his gut, "In short."
He closed his eyes briefly and tried not to let it show how much that hurt, "Creating a gateway to the other timelines."
"Why?"
Maraxus shook his head, "No way. Not going to talk. You'll never break me."
"I'll kiss you if you don't."
His eyebrows shot up, "How is that a punishment?"
Su moved closer to him and slid the knife back into her sleeve, "Because I know how much you want to resist me. You've already admitted that you like me… now how much do you like me?"
"I will not yield to your charms." He insisted, "I will not reveal any secrets."
They had arrived at his personal quarters and once inside she quickly locked the door and turned to her prisoner, "Let's talk shall we?"
Maraxus sat down in a chair and folded his arms, "Give it up Su. You'll never get out of here without my help so I suggest you release me at once."
"I'll think about it. Now explain this gateway test."
With an impatient sigh Maraxus relented as she moved to stand behind him, "We are trying to establish a connection to the timeline we were in. If you want it could send you back home."
"Interesting." She bent down and kissed his cheek, "Thanks for letting me know. Now if you give me your access card I'll give you another kiss."
"My patience is greatly depleted with your skills of persuasion." He muttered, "And there is no way I'm handing you my card."
Su pulled out her knife, "Then I'll start taking your clothes off piece by piece till I find it."
Maraxus dived from the chair and backed away, "You wouldn't dare… actually you probably would."
"Then hand it over or I'll take it my way." Her eyes gleamed, "Either works for me."
"General?" someone knocked at the door, "Your transport is vaiting."
With astonishing speed Su had crossed the room and wrapped a hand around his mouth and brought the knife to his throat, "Tell them you will be along shortly and to leave."
"I will be along shortly. Leave me."
"General, your presence is needed for testing to begin. Do you vish to attend?"
Su nodded slowly.
"Yes, I will attend it. I will oversee this myself."
Footsteps indicated the speaker was moving away.
"You will escort me to the test." Su hissed, "You will cover all questions for me but if you even think of having me detained I will slit your throat before the guards can save you."
Maraxus smiled in an annoying manner, "I don't think that will be necessary."
"Why is that?"
He winked, "They already know."
Su's mind raced over all information until she arrived at the conclusion of what he had said.
"Yes, I will attend it. I will oversee this myself."
And how many times had she heard him finish his sentences with the phrase…
'…myself. Personally.'
"You didn't give your usual answer." She snarled, "That alerted the guard."
Maraxus grinned and knocked her arm aside before jabbing forward with his fist.
Su dropped under his fist and swept with her leg, aiming to trip him. He jumped into the air to avoid it and landed on his desk where he seized a large metal ornament and threw it at her. Su rolled out of the way as it thudded into the ground and sprang to her feet as he dived from the table at her. She punched out with her free hand and his face collided squarely with it. As he howled in pain and sank to the floor holding his bloody nose she gripped the knife tightly and advanced on him. With him at her feet she was reminded of when she had planned to execute him on the space station. Now she fully intended to finish him off and take her chances without his constant smug and confident air of superiority.
But as the tip of the blade descended to his raven black hair her hand slowed until it froze with the blade well away from the target.
Maraxus twisted from his knees to look up at her and past his blood stained face his eyes held confusion and something that could be…
"I love you." Su gasped, more to herself than him, "I don't believe it. I love you."
If the eyes had been confused before then it was well past astonishment now as he slowly rose to his feet with blood trickled over his lips.
"You love me?" he asked through the mess of his face.
Tears started appearing in her eyes though she had no idea why as she dropped the knife, "Yes." She mumbled and lifted a hand to wipe away the growing stream of tears, "I don't know why but yes I do. I love you, you stuck-up, arrogant, murderous bastard."
Now he looked like someone had clubbed him over the head with a rifle butt, "I love you too."
Her tears seemed to catch as did her breath, "What?"
"I love you." He whispered, "I love you, you intelligent, beautiful, and incredibly dangerous woman."
For a moment the world was forgotten. He was no longer a warlord attempting to conquer the world. She was no longer a commander seeking revenge for her empire. Now they were simply a man and woman who had found their feelings for the other.
Time slowed to a crawl as Maraxus lifted her chin to look deep into her eyes and draw closer. Su found herself trembling in anticipation as she half closed her eyes and leaned closer to him.
"I must confess this is my first time kissing anyone." Maraxus admitted as he swallowed nervously, "My skills in this department may be lacking."
A small laugh escaped from Su as her hands held his face, "My first as well. Guess we're going to learn together."
"I'd like that." His face was less than an inch from hers, "A first step, together."
BOOM!
The door exploded open and gas filled the room. The initial explosion had knocked the two apart and Su scrambled for her knife as Maraxus crashed into his wardrobe and sank to the ground with his arms raised to protect himself.
But the gas had already taken effect and the lights were fading for them both. Su found the strength to fix a hostile glare at the masked soldiers as they swarmed into the room. Two of them rushed to Maraxus while three of them crowded around Su.
"Take her." One of them ordered, "Test subjects are needed."
As the darkness enveloped her Su caught one last look at the bloody love of her life and thought to herself.
"I never noticed it before… but he has really shiny hair."
Then her eyes rolled and everything went blank.
We will end there for now. Hope you enjoyed, please review etc. Till next time fellow CC fans.
