Author's Note: Second chapter is up, Sera manages to catch onto something. Bernie Mataki (from the books) makes a slight appearance. Sera's mind is muddled with many emotions and becomes overwhelmed by them.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Gears of War of Epic games.

Disturbing Revelations

By Ghedea

Chapter Two – Wading In Desperation

Sera didn't know how she had managed it, but somehow she found herself clinging onto one of the many towers in Jacinto. Not everything was swallowed up. A few buildings managed to cling on, rooted to the granite stone along the edges of the gaping hole. After being thrashed about quite violently, Aasera had managed to gain some sort of strength and wade to something, anything that could be her anchor. She clung onto one of the Troika's --her literal lifeline-- as the water violently spun around her, gathering anything and everything in its wake to suck it into oblivion by the large whirlpool in the center of where Jacinto's massive fortress had once been.

At one point she had seen a fellow Gear by the name of Bernie Mataki, a South Islander just like Tai Kaliso, trying to wade her way towards a nearby building that managed to cling onto its foundation. Not everyone had managed to make it out alive; the nearby bodies were testament to that. It was a horrifying display, one that Sera could never get used to as she peered at an armored body smacking against the side of the tower before being sucked away into the whirlpool. She snapped her head to the side, her eyes squinting shut as she tried to focus on a way to get out of this situation, if not for herself then for Bernie. The comms weren't working, much to her dismay, as she climbed up that Troika and with wobbling footing, went step by step until she could make it to the nearby roof.

The water had been freezing, but her body had gotten used to it and felt warm compared to when she stepped out of the water to be hit by a chilling breeze. She stood there silently, her back hunched, palms resting against wobbly knees as she attempted to catch her breath and ignore the sudden bitter cold breeze that swept past her. Everything had gone from bad to worse in an instant, and she felt so utterly alone. Canting her head, her eyes swept over the watery grave for hundreds of people, searching for the Boomer Lady in hopes that she had made it out alive. Sera didn't see her, but that didn't mean Bernie had gave in and died. That woman was the toughest bird you could go against, and she ceased to amaze the young female Gear.

Aasera trembled as she took a daring step, sucking in her breath as she wavered and damn near toppled backwards into the swirling water. She righted herself instantly and dropped down onto her hands and knees, her eyes squinting shut as she fought back the sudden tears of anguish and fear. Gloved fingertips clawed at the shingles in an attempt to, well…to do something. Nothing could distract her from the fact that this could be her last moments in life; freezing to death on top of a crumbling, barely standing tower looking out at the watery graves of civilians that hadn't made it. To think that she had been driven down onto her hands and knees, too afraid to even fucking crawl to find some sort of safety.

Tears welled within her eyes as she sobbed out loud, not afraid that anyone might here because there was no one to hear her any longer. Everything had changed so suddenly, so much torment and pain. She was confused and scared --something she had never been before, not even when she had been captured by the dwarfish Locust Commander. Torture she could live with, but dying knowing that there were so many other people that she could have saved before she bit the dust made the moment absolutely unbearable. Hands balled into tiny fists as she pounded ruthlessly against the roof, not caring that it may give out at any given moment.

You're a soldier, aren't you? Start acting like one, for god's sakes! What would your brother think if he saw you like this? Or for that matter, what would Seth think?! Disgusting! There is no excuse to act like a bawl-baby when you could be using this crying time to find a way to safety! You're not the only one fighting for your god damn life! Now get your ass up and MOVE IT SOLDIER!!!

The niggling voice had returned again, spouting out harsh but needed words in order to get that female into gear. It was her own voice, one that often sprouted when she had given up all hope in a situation. If it hadn't been for that voice then she would have been dead a million times over by now. Sucking in the bitterly cold air, Sera bobbed her head in a curt nod, as if agreeing with her own inner thoughts. Wiping away the tears that had nearly iced against her pale cheeks, she lifted her head and scanned the rooftop before deciding on a course of action. She would have to crawl. Right now she was shaking too much to even try walking; knowing that she might tumble back into what would end up being her own watery grave. Thus she began her journey of crawling, fingers gripping at certain parts of the crumbling building.

Aasera paused, using another Troika as leverage to pull herself so that she may view ahead. She wasn't that far from land as it was. All she had to do was hobble her way to the end of this building and try to swim the slim rapid water over to the other side. "Right…because it will be that easy…" she spat, rolling her eyes as she continued forward, having no choice but to do the sorry excuse for a plan. She walked along the edge with her fingers gripping the edges of the brick and cement of the building. While she made her way towards the land, she wondered idly how she was going to get across the gap filled with rapid running water.

A sudden rumbling from beneath caused the entire building to shake and start to buckle. She skidded a little upon the rooftop, her fingers still gripping the edges as the building slowly gave way. "Shit…" she hissed, her eyes closing over as she mustered the strength and the courage to continue on. She would do this, she had to do this!