Okay it's been forever but hey i got a new chapter up. YAYS! Its going to feel a little rushed. Sorry.
Enough of my ranting. Read and review.
Chapter X: Survival Pt 2
Chapter X: Its Skye's turn
Mission Clock: (Cadet PFC Jenkins and Cadet CPL Raquel) 2059
Date: July 3, 3023
Location: Cornerian Training Area 49
Sub-Location: Unknown
"We'll search for food tomorrow Amy. It's too cold to go out." Gina stated.
Amy nodded and started a medium sized flame. The fire illuminated the pairs' small shelter.
"So what do you think Skye is doing right now?" Amy asked.
"My guess is she's somewhere cuddled up next to Axel." She replied with a laugh.
Amy smiled and her thoughts turned to Marcus. Gina noticed Amy in her state of thought as hers turned to AJ.
Time: 2103 hrs
AJ sat on top of a crate just wondering about the situation they were in among other things. AJ looked over his newly donned fatigues and he thought about Gina. They'd been secretly going out for at least a week now. Maybe it was time to let the others know.
Axel stood outside the temp base and monitored for any incoming drones.
"Axel...Axel come in. Over." Marcus' voice crackled in over his comm.-link.
Axel pulled down his face mask revealing it to the cold and put a hand to his CL (Comm.-Link).
"This is Axel Umos reporting in. What's the team's status? Over." Axel replied.
"Just wanted to let you know we found Amy and Gina. We'll search for them tomorrow. Over."
Axel thought about Marcus' decision and was against it.
"That's a negative Marcus. I'm going after them...NOW. Over." He replied sternly.
"What was that? I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you just say you were going after them?"
"Yeah I did."
"Are you insane? It's almost 0 degrees Fahrenheit. You be a lynx-sicle before you even find them. I'm not giving you permission to go Axel."
Axel didn't respond for a few seconds and finally said: "I didn't ask for it. Send me the coordinates. Out."
"No wait--"
Axel killed the channel before Marcus could reply and pulled his mask back up over his muzzle.
Back at temp base...
"Axel? Axel?! Damn it!" Marcus said slamming the headset on the table.
AJ walked over to Marcus and rested a hand on his shoulder. Marcus looked at him and AJ gave Marcus a silent, yet somehow loud assuring look. Marcus looked towards his younger sister who was sleeping serenely. Marcus sighed heavily turned on Axel's comm.-link HUD.
"Damn it Axel, you always gotta be the hero don't you?"
"Axel you're ready to go. You better come back though. You don't and your ass is mine."
"No I think it belongs to Skye good buddy. And I'll be back. Over and out."
In the woods...
A masked and heavily cloaked figure tracked Axel as he searched for Amy and Gina.
"Target is now inbound for capture area." The figure announced.
"Excellent Areos (A/N: It's pronounced Are-E-oes). Deploy the SCF (Sunshade Capture Forces). I want him alive."
"Affirmative Madame Wesker."
Areos turned off the comms and made hand signs and the women behind him disappeared into the darkness.
"Let's just see how good you are Axel Umos."
5 yards away from Amy and Gina's position...
Axel stopped short and looked at his HUD. The girls were only 5 yards ahead. Axel stepped forward and continued walking and stopped. Something was wrong. The ground was hard and frozen but...there were hard bumps in it. Axel holstered his magnum and rubbed his gloved hand in the snow and felt was seemed like some sort of chain link. Axel's eyes shot opened and he muttered something: "Trap Zone."
As soon as he uttered those words, the chain net caught Axel, but he quickly cut through them with his sword. He heard movement through the trees and looked around himself. Axel changed the vision on his comm.-link scouter but didn't see anything. Axel was getting frustrated but a familiar voice went through his mind. It was his father.
"Always remember Axel. Machines may break but your instincts don't. Don't look with your eyes. Just listen."
Axel drew his blade and closed his eyes and he listened. He heard the howls of the wind and the rattling of the trees. He listened deeper and heard a heartbeat. No, 2...3...4...5...6...7...8.
8 different heartbeats in 6 different locations: 2 somewhere up ahead; mostly likely those belonged to Amy and Gina. He pinpointed one location in a tree at his 12 'o clock; 2 at his 4:00, 2 more at his 7:00, and the last at his 10:00. Axel put away his sword and drew his magnum. He fired at his 12:00 and was rewarded with a dying scream. He heard the movement of the assailants jumping towards his position.
Axel put away his gun and assumed the Umos fighting stance. The 2nd assailant jumped towards the lynx-canine half breed and threw a flurry of punches and kicks. However Axel countered them all and grabbed her last punch and threw her to the ground. Her rolled towards her and snapped her neck with a sickening crunch. Two more dropped into his position and they were carrying arm blades. Axel pulled out his Raikuten 9 in Combat Knife. The SCF troops tried a lateral cut but Axel rolled out of the way stabbed her in the abdomen.
The other assassin attempted an attack on the half breed but he grabbed the wounded troop and the woman cut cleanly through the female feline. Axel tossed his knife at the woman's eye and dug itself in her skull. Axel went to grab his knife when another jumped him. She tagged Axel in his face but Axel shook it off. He jumped in the air, and did 3 aerial flips before coming back down and executing a Flipping Guillotine Kick. He heard her collarbone snap and she crumpled to the snowy forest floor. He walked over to the carcass of the knifed woman and ripped out his Raikuten which put flecks of blood and fur in the air.
He heard the pneumatic pumping of a mech suit coming towards him. The suit was at least 10 feet above Axel.
"So you've got a mech suit big deal." Axel scoffed.
The pilot responded by activating the Heat Tracking Assault System or HITAS for short.
"Oh shit." Axel breathed.
The suit fired on the canine lynx hybrid and it was barely missing him.
Puffs of snow exploded behind Axel as the HE rounds impacted on the ground. Axel saw a snow drift and jumped inside it in a desperate attempt to cool down. The mech walked over Axel's position and turned its back.
"Rule 1," He thought to himself. "Never underestimate your opponent."
Axel jumped out of the snow drift and put his unplanned action into play. He jumped on top of the mech suit. The heat radiating from him activated HITAS and the guns pointed at Axel and fired. Axel jumped at the last second and a stray round grazed him in his right cheek. Axel landed on 1 knee with one hand touching the ground. The mech fell into the snow and the headless pilot's body cried a river of red.
Axel whistled and Amy and Gina climbed out of the hole they were hiding out in.
"Axel?" Gina asked.
He nodded and said: "Follow me."
The girls nodded and looked at the field of red and they suddenly gained a little bit of fear of Axel. Zombies were one thing, but slaughtering a living thing was an entirely different matter.
Back the T-base...
AJ had waited long enough.
"I'm going to go find him." He announced.
"No you're not." Marcus retorted.
"Who died and made you leader? I said I'm going to find him."
AJ walked to the exit and Marcus slugged him with his fist. AJ responded with a hard blade kick to his stomach. Marcus knelt in pain to catch his breath. While those 2 were fighting amongst themselves Skye was worried sick over Axel. Just then a message came in on the CL.
"MARCUS YOU FRIGGIN MORON OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!!"
Marcus and AJ stopped fighting, and Marcus opened the door. Axel, Amy, and Gina walked in. The trio walked towards the other 3 and embraced each other. Afterwards Skye went upside Axel's head.
Axel held the side of his head in pain: "Owwwww...the hell was that for?"
"What is wrong with you Axel? You had me worried. And looked you got wounded. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Umm...I'm sorry?" He asked.
"(Sigh) I suppose if you hadn't gone out there we'd all still be separated."
"She's right Axel. Thank you." Amy replied.
Axel nodded and went to go put on a small bandage on his cheek. AJ and Marcus walked over to Axel asked him what happened out there.
"Look before I tell you promise me this: No matter what is said here you do not, I repeat, do not tell Amy, Gina, or Skye. Got it?"
They nodded and Axel told them what was up.
"Look remember when we took out Nemesis?"
"Yeah," Marcus answered. "What about it?"
"Well the symbol on its back was the same symbol as the ladies who attacked me in the forest. They tried a capture tactic, but it failed. They sent in some special agents to get me but they were killed by me. After, I got Amy and Gina and we made our way back. I don't know why but I get the feeling that someone or something is looking for me."
"Whoa man...we gotta tell the general when we get back." AJ said.
Axel nodded and looked towards the girls and he smiled at Skye. She blew a kiss towards him and he caught it. "I won't let anyone hurt you Skye."
2 days later...
Mission Clock: (Cadet Strike Force) 0909 hrs
Date: July 5, 3023
Location: Cornerian Training Area 49
Sub-Location: Unknown
"Everybody load up. This is our last survival day and the General is gonna throw everything he's go at us."
Axel grabbed a CR-61 Assault Rifle and adjusted it to his liking, along with his Dragon blade and 2 .50 magnums. Marcus seized a RRL-331 homing launcher and grabbed a V-22 PSMG. AJ chose a .70 caliber Plasma Minigun and a CR-62A, a cut down version of Axel's rifle. Skye's weapons were a High powered Hermes Assault Machine Pistol and a PSR-291 Plasma Sniper Rifle. Amy picked up a CAS-34 shotgun with a drum attachment and a standard blaster. Gina's weapons were: a handheld 12 shot grenade launcher and a Plasma Rifle.
"Is everyone ready?" Axel asked.
His strike team nodded and they went out the back way.
Axel told the team exactly where they were going after awhile.
"When we were flying to our DZ (Drop Zone) points, I saw an abandoned fortress about 1 or 2 kliks SE of our position. I'm betting that's our extraction point. We need to get there by noon so we can set up fortifications and defenses. Okay let's move out. It should take us maybe an hour to get there."
After about 20 minutes the team took a small break and Axel sat on a ledge over looking the area where they were resting while he was in deep thought.
"Who the hell is tracking me? I know I can take care of myself but still these people that are tracking me seem to want me for extremely malevolent purposes. Not only that but my presence around I'm endangering my friends not to mention Skye. (Sighs) I really hate this. I fought zombies, took down some monstrous beast, nearly died, and on top of that I still can't tell Skye how I feel. Great, just... fricking...great."
Skye was listening in on Axel's thoughts and walked towards him and put a consoling hand on his shoulder and he looked up into Skye's face.
"You all right?" She asked concerned.
"It's nothing you need to worry yourself with." He said nonchalantly. "Just a feeling..."
She sat down next to the canine-lynx hybrid and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.
"(Sighs) I wouldn't know where to start. There's just so much happening right now."
"Well if you ever figure it out you know you can talk to me right?"
Axel smiled and looked at her and replied with: "Yeah...I know."
Axel was quiet for a little while longer and asked Skye a personal question. He wasn't really sure if it made sense but he'd asked anyway.
"Skye?"
She turned towards him and said: "Yes Axel?"
"You ever felt like you were being watched?"
"What by like a deity or something?"
"No...Well not exactly. I mean more like a malicious individual."
"You mean other than the Aeronautics teacher, 1st Lt. Stromwell (A/N: Can anyone say reference to Footsteps in the Darkness; a fanfic by a Skull Fox. Check it out.)" She said laughing.
Axel couldn't help but laugh. Lieutenant Stromwell was an asshole but Axel was sure the man had his reasons.
"No I don't mean Lt. Stromwell. I got a feeling that someone or something is tracking me and they want me for something. I don't know. If they are looking for me, I don't want to be the one that ends up hurting everyone, especially you. Maybe I should leave..."
Skye could tell Axel was feeling bad about this whole thing, like the whole thing was his fault. She really didn't know what to say, so she planted a kiss on his cheek and gave him a tight hug.
Axel felt Skye's lips on his cheek and her slender arms wrap around him.
"Does that answer your questions?"
"Oh yeah." He said with a dazed look.
She smiled and was about to get up, but was pulled back down and she suddenly felt a pair of lips on her own. She closed her eyes and fully enjoyed Axel's kiss.
Axel finally pulled away and the vixen opened her eyes.
"Thanks I needed that. Come on let's get ready to move."
"Okay."
She scratched Axel's ear and he let out a small purr. She giggled flirtatiously and Axel simply smiled.
"You're fully aware that I will get you later right?" Axel said playfully.
"Rawr." She said imitating a feline.
Axel laughed and he ordered them to move. It was time to get back to work.
Mission Clock: (Cadet Strike Force) 1030 hrs
Date: July 5, 3023
Location: Cornerian Training Area 49
Sub-Location: Abandoned Fortress
Axel looked on in the general area of the fortress and saw some drones hanging around the area.
"Looks like we got opposition in our way, Sarge," Skye said over comms.
"Roger that Skye." Axel replied. "Fallback to our position. Out."
Skye got up and picked up her PSR and slung it on her back and re-armed her HAMP. She made her back towards her team and as she did she thought about the up and coming fight.
"Well this is our final assault before we get out of here. Axel was always there to save me. I don't know what I can do to repay him."
She returned to the rest of the group and saw Axel pulling out a schematic of the area.
"Thanks for the recon info Skye. Okay long before this became a training ground for Cornerian troops this was ancient battlefield in which the Umos clan conquered and defeated the Yumarian clan and we captured their fortress. This is it. I've been through here many times as a young pup and I pretty much know every part in this place. SO here's the plan."
OPERATION: WOLF TRAP IS IN EFFECT
A sentry drone was standing watch went it suddenly went down. "Drone 1 down." Echo-3 said.
"Affirmative Echo-3. Move to infiltration point for further orders." Echo-1 replied.
Echo-3 moved out as if nothing ever happened.
A little ways from Echo-3's position, Echo-4 was ready.
"Echo-4 waiting in position."
"Acknowledged Echo-4. Put the plan into action."
"Affirmative." Echo-4 replied.
Echo-4 jumped onto the ledge and ran across it dropping EMP det-packs. He made his way back into the flora and detonated the packs and simultaneously killed 7 drones.
"Echo-4 reporting in. Objective complete." He replied.
"Confirmed. Fallback to our position and prepare to cover Echo-5."
"Roger."
Echo-4 dashed towards Echo-2, Echo-1, and Echo-Leader's position.
Echo-5 and Echo-4 went to the drain pipe and Echo-5 placed the charges on the grate and told Echo-4 told withdraw. Echo-4 nodded and waited for Echo-5. He saw Echo-5 come towards him and she smiled.
"Fire in the hole." And she hit the button. The drain exploded and rained debris on them.
Echo-4 reported in and said the deed was done.
"Good. Move in the base and do recon then rendezvous with Echo-3."
"Acknowledged. Now dropping Stealth status."
Echo-4, known as Axel, followed Echo-5, Gina, inside the newly opened pathway. Axel busted the grate leading inside and saw Echo-3, AJ, waiting for the others.
"Hey guys," AJ said pulling Axel and Gina up. He and Gina briefly kissed and stopped quickly when Axel spoke up.
"There something I should know about AJ?"
"Uh...ummm...nooo," He replied.
"Oh stop it and tell him sweetie." Gina replied.
"Okay sweetheart." He replied and they rubbed noses.
Axel pretended to be gagging.
"Oh shut up we're no where near as bad as you and Skye. Anyway well there's no other way to say this, Gina and I are dating."
Axel remained silent.
"Well," The pair asked together.
"All I can say is 'Bout time.' Dang AJ could you have taken any longer?"
AJ and Gina exhaled and made Axel promise that he wouldn't tell anyone except Skye.
He nodded and they went to go open the main doors and let in Amy, Marcus and Skye.
"Okay guys let's get this done."
2 hours later...
Axel sat on top of a fortress turret holding his rifle and just looking off into the distance. AJ came towards him and Axel said: "Yeah?"
"How'd you-- Never mind. Amy says she's got something coming up on radar. Should we get ready?"
"Affirmative. Let's finish this."
AJ nodded and jumped down the hole. Axel turned back to the horizon and was reflecting on the battle to come.
"Here we go the final strike. SO why does something feel wrong?"
Time Clock: 1300 hrs
A fine mixture of gunfire and lasers filled the air in area 49. A missile streaked through the air and crashed into a drone. As soon as the fight had started it stopped.
"So far so good," Axel thought.
2 Kilometers away from the stronghold...
Areos heard saw Axel standing triumphantly on the castle turret. "I want him alive." He ordered to his troops. "Kill the others."
The Cerberus Team went to the job. Areos smiled and said to himself: "Sic Vis Pacem Para Bellum. The Umos clan motto. Let's just see how far that goes Axel."
Axel saw something in the distance. "Sic Vis Pacem Para Bellum." Axel's father said in his mind.
"Right. Got more contacts. Looks organic."
Axel looked on in horror and saw the dreaded symbol that encountered him many times before. There was no doubt about it. They wanted him for something, and if they wanted him they were going to kill him before he was going to be used.
The Strike force, minus Amy, got on the wall turrets and waited for Axel's command.
"OPEN FIRE!!"
Gina opened up 1st sending a deadly hail of pyro-grenades on the Sunshade troops. Then the others started to clean up."
"Got more drones coming!" Amy said over comms.
Axel only heard a lance of energy, a shriek, and AJ's cry.
"GINA!!" This made him snap. He jumped from the top and let loose a hell storm on everything. Sadly it didn't last long. A sentry tagged him from behind. Axel kept firing. Skye, Marcus, and himself where laying waste to sentries and Cerberus troops.
Marcus wasn't paying attention and was hit with more lasers.
"Shit!" Axel spat. He picked up the RRL and opened up on the drones. The ground troops seemed to have fled. Axel dropped the launcher and grabbed Gina's grenade launcher. He switched to chain grenades and fired. The Chain grenades exploded and caused other explosions like a chain of kills. He finally stopped firing long string of rounds and fell towards the ground.
Skye ran over to him and saw that he was just tired. Axel saw something behind her and saw a small battalion of drones. The laser batteries charged and Axel moved Skye out of their line of fire at the last second. He danced to the lasers' "deadly" beat and fell to the grounds, smoke pouring out of him. Skye looked on in disbelief and saw that one more time; Axel risked his own life to save her. She'd finally had enough.
"All the time you saved me Axel, now it's my turn!!" Her eyes snapped to blue and her hands started to glow blue. She unleashed her wrath on the drone and psi-waves blew them away.
Axel's eyes hadn't fully closed yet and he saw Skye avenging her fallen comrades.
"This is my final good bye. Good to see you got some fight in you Skye." He closed his eyes.
Mission Clock: (Cadet Strike Force) 0824 hrs
Date: July 10, 3023
Location: Cornerian Armed Forces Hospital
Sub-Location: James McCloud Memorial Wing
Axel woke up to see that he was back in the hospital. Great. He felt fine. But it was weird. He was hit with at least 6 plasma lances. He saw Skye waiting for him. She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "You did good Skye. Damn good."
Again im sorry it took forever. OKAY until next time. -SF0324