Chapter 6: The Fire Kindled

GDI Forward Base

Kharkhov, Ukraine

The V-35 Ox banked in a wide circle, swinging in as it landed smoothly onto the tarmac. Wing Commander Gerhardt Weber nodded at Captain Marc Henderson as the convoy escorts of Orcas and Firehawks docked at Airfields for resupplying.

"There. You should be safe here. No one at Nod should know of your departure," he reassured, as Marc stepped off the Ox transport.

"I hope you're right..." Marc really was unsure whether all this was necessary for him. He was the Metalfist, wasn't he? He was practically invincible, or so he thought. The Poisoned Rose had really given him a wake up call.

And yet...why was he fighting her? He certainly didn't want to kill her. She...seemed so beautiful, even if she was a Nod Commando. This was so weird. And yet...so right...

He shook his head. She was all over his mind. He couldn't go a few minutes without thinking about her. He secretly wished she had followed him here.

He snapped a salute as a general and a fellow GDI Commando stepped forward.

"Lieutenant-General Wesley Collins and Lieutenant Allen Johnson. It's a pleasure to meet you."

General Collins and Lieutenant Johnson returned the salute. "At ease, Henderson." General Collins nodded at him. "We've just got word of your arrival. Some problem back in Baku, isn't it?"

"You don't know the half of it..." Marc groaned inwardly. Why was everyone all over this? It was crazy. Just too crazy. Why wouldn't anyone just leave him alone?

"Still, we understand. It's been quite a long trip for you, and after all the fiascos, you really need a rest. Your quarters are third down the second corridor."

"Thanks." Marc strode down the empty corridors, his footsteps echoing crisply behind him. He entered his room, and as the door slid shut behind him, he opened the cupboard and undressed.

As the empty night fell over the GDI base, embracing the world in darkness, Marc lay down on the bed, savoring the silence the night had brought with it. The serenity of it nearly overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, a sound. Marc started up, turning to the window, sensing something was amiss.

He had barely turned before the window exploded and the Nod Commando leapt through and rolled to her feet.

Natalya blinked momentarily as the Metalfist whirled round, surprised, only wearing a pair of jeans and a singlet. For a few moments she stared at his torso before she reached for the knife tucked in her belt. The Metalfist smiled, nodding at her.

"Is this the rematch?" His lips parted over his teeth. Natalya gripped the knife tightly, sweat matting her palms. Now she would not fail.

"Yes..." She sprang up at him, the knife arcing towards him. To her surprise, he did not resist, even as she forced him to the ground, raising the knife up high above him. He reached out, gently stroking her knife hand and guiding it to his throat.

"If you want to kill me so much, go ahead," he murmured. "Put me out of my misery..."

His smile grew wider. "If you can, that is..."

Natalya gritted her teeth, preparing to drive the blade against his throat. Yet to do so, she had to stare him in the face, see the life drain out of the eyes of his, see his features contort as death claimed him.

Could she do that?

She slumped back against the bed and waited for death to claim her. He wouldn't need her knife or even his claws. A single direct punch would do it.

Metal fingers reached out and caressed her face. She looked up, surprised, as the Metalfist smiled at her, much more kindly this time.

"You're a really good fighter..." he murmured. "And you're really beautiful..."

"Thanks..." she replied hesitantly. She looked up into his face as he brushed her long auburn hair, of someone whom she had tried to kill moments before, failed to do so, and didn't take revenge. There, she decided. He was the way out of her miserable life.

"What's your real name?" he asked again.

"Natalya Krupskaya..."

"Natalya..." He nodded approvingly. "Suits you..." He extended his hand. "The name's Marc Henderson..."

"Marc..." She tested the name as she shook his hand. A smile came to her face. "Okay, Marc. Why don't you repay the favor. Same time tomorrow. The Nod base on the other side of the valley..."

"You're on." The words were out of his mouth before Marc realized it. Natalya smiled, her green eyes glittering. She kissed him lightly on his cheek.

"Excellent..." she breathed. She tossed a small piece of paper at him. Marc caught it between his fingers. As he studied it, he realized it was a blueprint of the Nod base, indicating her own quarters.

"Be punctual." She leapt out of the room, landing with barely a sound. Marc shook his head in amazement. She hadn't even raised the alarm at the base. She really was a skilled fighter. Then, he replayed her parting words in his head.

Holy crap. Had he just agreed to a date?

And millions of light-years away, the Scrin planetary assault craft reached the outer fringes of the Milky Way.

"Overlord, everything is proceeding according to plan. We are now entering the outskirts of their galaxy," the Mothership AI reported.

"Very well." The Overlord watched as the Drone Ships and planetary assault craft streaked into the Orion Arm in perfect synchronization.

"Soon..." he muttered, an evil grin spreading across his face. "Soon..."