A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, MODERATE LANGUAGE, SLIGHT GORE, MENTIONS OF CANNIBALISM.

Chapter 2: Estranged yet Familiar

Gale looked at the horizon through his binoculars. The Solids that had converted to the Brutes had been apprehended. Well, not entirely, but they were getting there. He had given strict orders; to convert or to be killed.

No prisoners were to be taken.

He was through being a diplomat. Now, it was all out war.

He suddenly froze as he heard the whipping sound faintly in the air. Without effort, he moved a strand of hair to the left and grabbed the projectile that had been seemingly aimed at the jugular of his neck.

He already knew who it was.

He wasn't all that surprised.

He didn't spare a glance at the poisoned dart that he held in his hand as he let it fall to the ground, his eyes still at the horizon.

"Hn, I suppose you were successful." he spoke calmly, his speech directed to the very same assassin that had only attempted to take his life a few seconds prior.

"Maybe." she coyly responded, still feeling that slight disappointment at her apparent failure. She had tried and tried again to catch her commanding officer at a moment of weakness and strike…but time and time again, she had failed.

She had noted with great disdain and even greater vexation that he had no moment of weakness. He was as steady as a rock and as alert a mother hawk; never having that moment of complacency.

"Your next mission is for Samsara Tunnels Vanessa." Gale told her coldly, his back still turned to the young woman.

Vanessa.

She wanted to laugh and at the same time, growl bitterly and stab the man in front of her. So he knew her name too. Sure , he would have ample resources in which her identity would be revealed…but then again, she had thought that with the war and all of the troubles that they had found themselves, that he wouldn't have enough time for that…much less the conviction for it.

But again, like always…like always when it came to her assumptions about him, she found herself mistaken.

"Samsara Tunnels." she repeated, "When." she stated, rather than asking.

Gale nodded; he had suspected foul play to begin with. How the Brutes and the Wolves had moved their forces so easily.

He had had a sneaking suspicion and it had been confirmed shortly after he had met Lupa and the Wolves. There had been an intricate sewer system that led to the cities within the Junkyard.

He crossed his arms, "Tonight."

"Objectives."

He nodded again.

"Infiltrate Ajna and give us a layout of their base."

She raised an eyebrow; she wanted to ask him so many things. But she wouldn't. It wasn't her job. She was to do as she was told…

She nodded, "Recon mission."

"Hn…" he responded as he nodded.

"The mission would commence at 2300 hours tonight." he stated and there continued, "The mission would last for a span of six hours. The time limit is strict would not be extended for any reason. You need to get in there, do what you have to do and get out."

She nodded at that.

"Any questions?" he asked blankly.

"Negative."

He nodded, "You are to report to me in 0900 hours tomorrow."

She nodded again, "Affirmative."

Sensing that she had been dismissed, she knelt and melted into the air, vanishing completely.

xxxxx

She sat at the top of Muladhara's tallest tower snugly. There she was, hugging her knees to her chest, her chin on her aforesaid knees.

Her mission was to begin in two more hours and there she thought that she needed this time for herself. A time for reflection…

Vanessa…

Vanessa…

Her target had called her that.

Her name.

What was a name anyway…?

'It's nothing; it's just a designation.' she thought with a straight face…but with a prick in the heart.

Vanessa…

It was a name…a designation that came not from her lips. It was name, a designation that was given to her by her father. She wanted to smile at that; but she had learnt a long time ago to hold her feelings within her heart…and her thoughts within the confines of her mind.

Memories were included as well. Whatever thoughts she may have about the issue would remain locked and safely guarded.

Regardless, though, it was a sensation that she knew she could not ignore. It was a precious name; her precious name.

He had given it to her…when he had recruited her.

She had been a broken semi-conscious individual when her father had laid eyes upon her. She had been half afraid at that time, not knowing what to do or where to go. But he had shown her the way.

He had given her more than a name…

He had given her life…safety…security…and a future.

At that point, as she realized that she was indeed alone, she let a phantom of a smile grace her full lips.

"Thank you father…"

And as she thought of that man…that man who had taken her father from her, the gentle smile that swam within the calm pool of burgundy within her eyes suddenly hardened.

There, her muscles tightened as she felt the flame of resolve flicker with life…only to burn wildly within her soul.

'I'll avenge you father…I have not forgotten.' she thought with conviction.

As she pictured the green-haired man in her mind, her soul hardened. She had watched him, yes and she could tell that he was the best tactician that Embryon had ever seen…But she would never forgive him for what he had done. She was blind to all that he had done for the tribe. And she was deaf to all of the voices of those whom he had saved.

And even within those moments when she watched him, she felt her heart feel different…

'I…' she mentally trailed off, not knowing herself where her self-speech was to go.

She felt strange about him…her target.

She then shook her head as she crushed whatever budding feelings of confusion within her.

'No. He killed Lupa. I'd never forgive him.' she thought, again having anger rule her system.

She then sneered as she thought of the green-haired man.

She cared not for him.

'I'll kill you one day…Watch your back.' she thought with malevolence, her calm eyes shining dangerously.

xxxxx

She landed on her feet as silently as she had been taught and straightened herself, "What are my orders?"

"There had been a change in plans."

She nodded; she gathered that. She had been about to leave for her mission when she had received a transmission telling her to meet their tactician at the Strategy Room.

"Hn."

Gale looked at the young woman in front of him steadily. There had been a change in her this night. She hadn't tried to kill him…

'Yet.' he thought sourly.

"Serph and the others had left for Ajna directly."

Her burgundy eyes flashed at that as she furrowed her eyebrows, "But sir…That's suicide."

He nodded, "We had offered Varin a truce."

She wanted to laugh at that but she didn't. She knew that it was a ruse. There was no such thing as a truce.

She knew what Gale was doing.

He was trying to get Varin out in the open.

Of course, they both knew that Varin wouldn't consider the truce. No; never. But just as Embryon was trying to get Varin in the open, so were the Brutes attempting to get at the Silver Fox.

It was a simple plan; to memorize Ajna's main stronghold while the "truce" was taking place. They already knew what to do.

"You and I are to depart."

She raised her eyebrow at that, "How's that sir?"

He nodded, his green eyes boring into hers, "I have decided to accompany you. Fiends had been swarming within the tunnels, according to reports. And I need to see the insides of Ajna myself."

She said nothing but was getting irritated as the moments passed. What was he saying? Was he saying that she was unreliable? That her skills were substandard? That she was mediocre…?

He touched his forehead as he continued to look at the shorter woman in front of him. He read her easily and could feel the vexation oozing from her otherwise cool façade.

He blinked, clearly uninterested about her female problems. But he knew exactly what to say; the truth.

"You are the best stealth assassin and spy in Embryon. It is only fitting that I have you as my guide." he told her with a nod.

She glared at him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, "With all due respect sir, I am perfectly capable of doing this myself."

He touched his forehead again, "I have no doubt about that." he told her, "It isn't your skills that I doubt." He was getting irritated as well. Why was she questioning his orders?

He saw her lips part but he beat her to the punch, "We are to depart ASAP."

She continued to glower at him but held her tongue. It was decided.

xxxxx

The two were both as silent as graves as they marched through the tunnels. This time, it wasn't her who tailed him; rather, it was he who was keenly watching her.

She could tell that even though his eyes weren't on her but were on what lay ahead, she could feel the weight of his stare; his sidelong glance.

He was looking at her from the corner of his eyes.

She forced her tensed muscles to relax as she felt anxious at his stare.

It wasn't a secret that she hated him. What she felt for him hadn't changed. She wanted to kill him and she would kill him…

One day.

She would.

But at the same time, she knew that her relationship with him was something that was strange. There she was, walking within the tunnels with her target.

They worked together and yet…felt nothing but hatred for one another.

Her mind froze at that suddenly, as a thought crossed her mind.

'Does he hate me too…?' she asked herself.

She then shook her head, 'Why am I bothered!? I don't give a damn…' she thought defiantly, ignoring the strange sensation that was growing within the pit of her stomach as she thought more of her target.

She had been watching him closely…

And although she could find no moment of weakness within him…she wasn't blind to his strange mannerisms…

She had noticed how he sneezed when he sniffed dust…

'Twice.' she thought, 'Two times; one after another.' she thought with a laugh. Yes; Gale would always sneeze twice when he sniffed dust…

And among other things, she would notice when he would blink his eyes rapidly when he didn't understand something…

When he was confused…

At that point, Vanessa felt herself be disoriented as she thought more of him…

Her heart stopped at that; why was that so…!?

She didn't have enough time to ponder as she found herself pushed out of the way, slamming into the wall beside her.

"Hey-!" she yelled as she hit herself non-too-gently.

She turned as she heard growls and snarls. She saw with gritted teeth that Gale had already transformed.

Vayu lunged forward and she followed him. She gritted her teeth; there had been fiends! He had pushed her away to…protect her?

She shook her head, 'Forget this crap!' she screamed at herself, 'Transform damn it!!' she screamed at herself.

She closed her eyes and let hunger overtake her…

She growled as she watched Vayu agilely dodged attacks, whilst using his powerful leg to cut through their enemies.

She looked to the right and saw a projectile heading towards her C.O's way. With a grunt, Kachiena's large halo on her back glowed and moved, spiraling endlessly as she willed her floating blade to hurl itself in order to intercept the projectile.

The moments went on and nothing but the splattering of blood and guts and the fracturing and snapping of bones and torn flesh echoed within the otherwise serene and calm tunnels.

A moment later, victory was claimed as the two ashura let their primordial screams reverberate through the lonely tunnels.

She let her mouth tremble with a feeling of shrill delight as the torn flesh of her victims passed through her teeth, to her tongue within her stomach.

A moment later, she found herself transforming back into her slim and petite self. No longer the armless and eyeless monster that she had just been, she was now just the little girl that she once was.

"If you're not going to do your job, then I suggest that you turn back now." came the calm yet deadly voice from behind her.

She whipped around and met the emerald eyes of their tactician.

She felt her worth plummet as he spoke his words…and as she interpreted their meaning. She could say nothing in her defense as his eyes bore into hers, melting her in her spot…

He had been right…in all accounts.

Gale looked at her seemingly frail and vulnerable form in front of him with indifference. She had been too wrapped in her thoughts that she hadn't heard the fiends or see them when they had appeared.

And what those thoughts were, he would never know. But he did know one thing. He did know that if this woman didn't get her act together, that this mission would fail.

And failure wasn't in Gale's vocabulary.

That was why he had half the mind to leave her behind.

He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them once more. "Tell me now. Do you wish to continue, or would I leave without you?" he asked calmly while his eyes burned with serious intensity.

Vanessa's head snapped at that, letting her hair jerk to the right, "I'll continue." she responded almost mechanically, just like his tone, without hesitation.

Gale nodded and this time, walked passed her, now taking point.

She looked on after him, staring at him with still curious eyes. He…

'He saved my life…' she thought with a feeling of slight anger…and gratitude. Why did he save her life if he already had half the mind of judging her to be a liability? But all that aside, she felt grateful that he did spare her life…

She felt grateful…and confused.

'You are…confusing.'

"It won't happen again sir."

Gale stopped his walk as he heard her. Without turning to look at her, he spoke, "No. It won't." he responded with a dead tone.

With that, he resumed his walk, knowing that the young woman behind him had regained some of her confidence.

xxxxx

The two had been walking for the past two hours and no end had been in sight. They had been happy though that the gods had blessed their strenuous trek with useful items within the maze-like sewers and had sent fiends in order to sustain their bodies.

Vanessa looked in front of herself and smiled as she saw a karma terminal a few feet away. They had found a room within the sewers and she had volunteered to investigate. Pleased at what she had found, she turned back and walked out of the room, meeting her tactician.

"I've found a karma terminal." she stated blankly, her excitement clearly not being reflected by her words or her facial expression.

Gale nodded and walked passed her and within the room.

She knew what that meant.

'A break.' she thought with relief.

Well, it was a welcomed break. She followed him.

She blinked as she saw him accessing the terminal, 'Downloading more mantras…' she thought, bored.

Feeling her sore muscles, she felt the onset of an urge to stretch. But still knowing that she was within the confines of the small room and moreover, within the vicinity of her target, she restrained herself.

She walked simply at the corner of the room and leaned on the wall lazily, "What's the plan now?"

Gale furrowed his eyebrows as he selected the mantras that he was to download and at the same time listened to her query, "For now, we rest for a moment and then, continue on."

She nodded and looked away, but still having her sights on him…from the corner of her eyes.

She couldn't really look away anyway. She had to know…She had to know why he would save the life of someone who wished to kill him. It had been ironic in her opinion.

'Is he freakin' crazy?' she thought to herself as she continued to stealthily watch him, 'Why did he save me…?'

"Something on your mind?" asked a solemn male voice, bringing her momentary daze that she didn't even realize she was having, to an end.

She turned sharply to him and straightened herself, her tiny feet slightly losing their balance before regaining them just as quickly, "No." she immediately responded.

He nodded although he didn't believe her. How could he when he could clearly see it in her eyes?

Or moreover, it was the way he couldn't see her burgundy eyes. Her eyes were always so elusive; looking everywhere yet nowhere. He would never catch her eyes looking straight into his. Never.

Save for briefings that is.

Well; it was her problem and he really didn't want to bother with that. They had rested enough.

Having enough of his share of her female conundrum, he turned and started to walk for the door when a loud explosion had been heard.

The two froze.

"Damn…!" Vanessa hissed as she held onto the wall.

The earth beneath their feet shook and the walls trembled, making her heart race. Her eyes were glued onto the door and there found themselves on the green-haired man that she loathed.

A moment later, a louder rumble had been heard and an explosion seemingly near to their premises had erupted.

"Look out!" she yelled, catching Gale's attention.

The two dove for the floor as the explosions continued and as the ground shook.

Vanessa covered her head with her arms and palms as she felt debris fall from the ceiling.

'Fuck…! What the hell is going on!?' she asked herself as she continued to assume the defensive protective position.

A few moments later, the ground had settled…and the debris stopped falling. She cautiously moved and slowly removed her hands from her head. She looked from left to right and noticed that the dust had begun to settle.

It was over.

From there, she began to stand and there dusted herself, "Sir?"

She really didn't want to call him that. But she felt that it was appropriate all the same.

"It seems that the explosion had sealed this door." came the calm response.

She rolled her eyes as she realized that he didn't even flinch. She suddenly froze as she understood what it was he said.

"What?"

He turned to her with a bored expression on his face.

"It would appear that we cannot vacate this room for the time being."

Her heart froze.

They were…

They were…stuck?

'Oh shit…'

xxxxx

A/N:

Kachiena: According to KuDu, kachiena means "sacred dancer".

Kachiena Trivia: Kachiena sounds a lot like Kachina and is similar in meaning. Kachinas are believed to be spirits or supernatural entities that influence the world in Pueblo culture. Men are traditionally known to represent the kachina/katsina in a dance as masked men. When the dance is occurring it is believed that the men actually become or are inhabited by the kachina that they supposedly represented.