The grinding mechanical sounds drew her back to her reality, up down…up down, the motions rolled. Firing on the incoming fighter jets. The shape of the mecha moving reminded her of a steampunk street art, she saw on the wall of building.

Spectra, showing its power to the galaxy through broadcasting the conquest of Earth. Even if they hadn't fully succeeded. They still didn't have the Federation government.

It's drop from the skies to its location had been kept secret, even her attempts to find out were thwarted by Zoltar insisting she be by his side the whole time.

Standing on the deck of the spider shaped mecha headed towards its mystery target with G-Force nowhere in sight, baffled her.

Standing to attention her head held high, all those around her respectfully addressed her, keeping her senses sharpened for the sounds the Eagle entering the bridge any moment.

Known for her agile abilities, to move faster and swifter than the other Sicarius. She had soon earned a ruthless reputation amongst the troops and officers of the Spectran army. If they fell out of line, she had no hesitation or mercy with disobedience-dutifully following her leaders, direct orders.

She felt like two people, one that Mark saw, the way he looked at her with caring eyes, and who she really was, a dark hearted assassin.

That's why she couldn't be the person he had claimed her to be.

She found old news articles about G-Force in an archive. The Swan was depicted as being smart, sweet- natured and a true darling on the team. The only photos were distant, one on a football field at a presentation- They looked robotic.

Nothing revealing to their identities. She could have been any petite girl standing next to the Eagle with her hand on his shoulder, she almost felt jealous of her. None of those sweet descriptions fitted her.

She hadn't seen him for a few months.

Mostly it was her doing the last time they met, she went cold. He was gone from her life and it was for the best.

She missed him terribly. It didn't dull her aching heart or sever her growing feelings for him. Instead she laid awake, in her down times thinking about him, and their days together. Longing to talk with him about what happened, and dreading it too.

Burying her face into her pillow, her warm breath didn't dry her tears, and his face looming before her left her wanting to be held by him, she imagined Mark's muscular arms around her, her whole body ached for it. She hated the neediness of it, the conflicting emotions- she was stronger than that, or so she thought.

Stinger never touched her like he did. Stingers touch was to fulfil his own needs and desires. It had suited them both for a while, but being with Mark highlighted the emptiness of it.

A few weeks after her second day out with Mark, Stinger knocked on her door. She opened it knowing it would be him, he entered her apartment baring wine and some expensive treats oozing charm and compliments.

At the time, she had been relaxing wearing loose silken pants, matching crop-top, bare feet and no bra enjoying herself thinking of Mark and their growing friendship.

A newly acquired guitar sat in her lap. She placed back into its case.

He indicated he didn't have much time, so they'd better get started, lust filled eyes he began to undress without an invitation as usual.

"Why don't we talk for a while." She indicated to the couch.

He frowned, tilting his head suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. "You want to have sex on the couch? Sounds like an idea, we can start there."

"No…not sex… talking."

"Why do we need to talk?"

She shrugged, trying to be casual. "Get to know each other more."

His frown turned into a playful roguish grin, strolling over to stand in front of her he started pulling the cord of her pants, without the tie they fell easily to the floor. Reaching under her loose crop top, she pulled away from him. Picking up her silk pants she tried again.

He smirked. "I'm not here for talking my love. I like the game you're playing… hard-to-get isn't normally your style."

"I'm not playing hard-to-get."

"We'll talk later after we have hot sex."

She told him no, as he shoved her gently towards the couch, at first with his finger, still grinning he pulled her into his arms.

"You are sweet…we can talk while you-" He tried to kiss her, she put her hand up to his lips and gently pushed him back.

"Put on the lingerie… I want to see you in it briefly."

"NO…"

Initially he was shocked by her cool response. "You're being serious?"

"I am, let's talk, enjoy some wine…spent time together learning about each other… nothing else."

She moved to put on some soft background music. Flicking the switch of amplifier, and picked a track.

"Nothing else? I bring you expensive wine, this time silk lingerie… and no sex?"

"That's what I'm saying…we spent time together. "

She turned and started walking towards the dining room from some wine glasses.

He caught her from behind, more insistent this time, he undid the buttons on her silk cropped shirt slipping it off. Her skin crawled from his touch as he fondled her breasts kissing her throat.

"I asked you to stop… I said NO…" Her tone sharpened- he became hostile. He wanted her body, not her.

"Get out! It's over Stinger…I don't want you here ever again… take your things and go."

"We aren't over… You're mine…"

"I don't belong to you."

"You have another lover?"

"No…I don't."

"If you did I'd kill him or her."

"You know nothing about me."

"Get this straight my Noir-Swan… your mine."

"I'm not your slave."

Gripping her in a crushing embrace, he whispered dangerously in her ear.

His true nature revealed itself in those moments. "I'm getting what I came for… your, going to fuck me and like it… you can talk all you want with my dick in your mouth, give up this hard-to-get-game."

Clenching her teeth, she snarled back. "I'll bit it off, let-me-go."

"Do that and I'll kill you."

"I'm not scared of you."

His chiselled features twisted into ugly anger. The two assassins went into battle.

Dragging her by her hair into the bedroom and, throwing her onto the bed, using a knife to slice off her panties. He pinned her down, parting her thighs.

For a moment, he came close to winning, terror coursed through her. Straddling her, he tried to enter her she could feel him pushing against her, she desperately fought to get away.

His strength and size worked against her.

Gritting her teeth, she reached out for her dagger, gripping it her fingers closed around the hilt, pulling it out and pointed it at his chest, he knocked it out her hand, anticipating the move.

Slapping her hard across the cheek, he viciously insulted her. Calling her a whore, and a liar, she was his property as far as he was concerned, to do with as he pleased.

The force of the slap, and her struggles caused her to roll onto the floor- giving her back an advantage.

Her cheek throbbed, lifting herself onto her elbows she could handle pain.

Stinger thought he had her beaten, leaping off the bed landing, on top of her.

He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back, forcing her into positon.

She rolled over throwing up her leg and kicking him in the groin at the last second, he screamed out in agony clutching his privates. Toppling him over, and breaking a chair in his wake.

Eventually she turned him away at knife point. Slashing at him, they duelled, he was left with a few reminders on his flesh not to come back-Telling him if tried to come near her she'd drive a knife into his cold heart.

Eventually he leapt out the window as they fought. She threw his clothes out the window after him, along with his 'gifts', the wine bottle shattering on the pavement below, spattered a few troops who stopped to stare.

She threw out anything she could find that resembled him. Gathering his uniform his eyes shot poisonous darts at her- he left dejected.

He wouldn't be seeking her again she hoped, in the future her door would be locked.

Shaking uncontrollably, she sank onto the floor.

Wiping the blood from her torn lip with her hand- her trembling fingers pulled on her clothes.

Fighting back angry tears- Is this how men are? All charm and sweetness at first… then they morph into total bastards when they're not getting their way? She thought bitterly.

With those thoughts racing through her mind, and touching her tender cheek with her fingers, she worked to get a grip on her emotional state.

She remembered Marks tender touch, and imagining he was in front of her crouching down stroking her arm calmly listening.

She mentally whispered to his image in her mind. "They beat you when they're not getting what they want…and try and take it anyway by force..."

He shook his head and replied. "Not all men are like that…"

I want to believe you, she replied forlorn, burying her face into her hands sobbing.

Drawing in a sharp breath she wondered about Mark. She couldn't imagine him treating a lady like that, no matter how much it hurt him. But below the surface how could she truly know.

############

Zoltar gleefully danced on the deck, has his way this time, he was present at his victory over the Federation.

"I'm getting closer to their central government, I can smell it." He cheered.

Side glancing the door, she expected Mark to burst through it. Where is he?

"They're just like ants really." Zoltar sneered contempt, conversing with her closely. "See them run- we'll crush them, soon they'll all be under Spectran rule."

She acknowledged his comments with a polite nod. "Of course, Lord Zoltar, who wouldn't cower under our mighty army."

"Indeed." He agreed enjoying the conversation." G-Force is failing, soon their own people will tire of their weakness, the Eagle will beg for my mercy…he will suffer defeat."

She cringed at those words, her chest tightening, drawing in a painful breath she blotted the images it conjured up out of her mind.

Again, she offered some comment on the nobility of Spectra, and its right to rule Earth.

Watching the huge screens as the mecha approached its target she drew in a breath, hiding her shock with a question about the target.

G-Forces main base stood in her sights, she felt sure it had to be. Zoltar had kept this one fully under wraps, nothing had leaked out.

The man continued to surprise her. She had once thought of him a fool but could see in some ways he could be as cunning as Mala.

Who supplied them with the information of its location? She wondered.

Could it be the one called Luminous?

The people below were personnel, working outside of the base, fleeing for cover.

"Is this a Galaxy security base Lord Zoltar?" She casually moved to his side, as if she would get a better view of the action taking place below- approaching the mountain side base.

"My dear…it's the home of G-Force." Zoltar laughed. "We have taken them completely by surprise again. Our Luminous One is resourceful."

His pink lips curled into a warm smile. Her skin crawled, she had fended off his advances for months. Finding ways to escape from him wasn't always easy.

"You will be my escort darling- as soon as the entrance is secure." Zoltar confident of his victory turned to leave the bridge, to prepare for his victory stroll onto the Galaxy security base. Of course, after the hard work was done by the lower ranks.

Following him, she purposely growled at the Mecha Captain. His over the top taste, strange mask design and rainbow colours left her to wonder. A little extra fear of her wouldn't hurt him.

Spectra had been recruiting from its Earths own people for some time she discovered. Gangs, cartels, and other shady organisations, with promises of their own kingdoms in return.

They were deceived, Zoltar would give domains to his Clans. Not Earthen overlords.

Spectra felt if it could secure Earth the rest of the planets would fall faster under their rule and the Federation would fall apart within weeks.

Their next target she was sure would be high command.

The capture of the Chief would be a prize for Spectra, to learn his secrets would mean conquest in days over months.

Black-Swan boarded the transport to the surface.

Leaving the enormous spider mecha they joined the forces that had gone ahead into the base, she could hear the gunfire and sounds of explosions.

As usual Zoltar stayed away from the main force of destruction.

Entering the base, she noted the absence of the Phoenix, mixed emotions swamped her. If they were here they could stop the bloodshed taking place before her.

If they were here…. Mark would be. They'd capture him and torture him. The image of it tormented her, she'd had dreams of it. It would start as a stranger, she held the rod and beat him with it, asking questions.

The victim cried out in agony...

She'd hear him cry, 'Princess.' over and over.

Turning around and seeing, her victims face for the first time, it was Mark strung up, bloody, bruised, begging her to stop...their eyes met, the pain made them more intense like a stormy blue sky.

His handsome features would soften almost tender... "This isn't you... I know you...I forgive you..." she'd wake up in a cold sweat crying.

Walking in with Zoltar her heart dropped to the floor. The sight of Chief Anderson being flung to the ground, his glasses fell off. One of the troops picked him up and punched him in the guts. She picked up his glasses.

Sucking in her breath she turned to Zoltar.

Chief fought back, it only earned him a hard kick to the stomach, a few more punches. She had to act fast.

"Zoltar," Chief growled, his iron clad stance unshakable.

"Let me take him to back for interrogation-what a glorious day it is for you my lord... The capture of the Chief of security." She offered, patronising Zoltar and weaving in a lie.

"Why of course my dear…. he's all yours… a gift from me…" Zoltar swept his hand in arch. "Destroy it all… bring me the computer files, I want everything."

This struck her as urgent, she had to get to the computers and destroy them before they could download anything. If it meant he was in danger she had to help him. He had talked about the Chief, he was like a father to him. She had to help him, for Mark.