Lor

I pulled on my pants. They'd given me a small locker room to change in, along with some goodies they thought I would find useful. Hunnigan had been brief and to the point, there were zombies in a major U.S. city now. She wanted me to go in and find out what I could. In smart person talk, she wanted to see exactly what my abilities were in extreme conditions. She wanted particulars on the training I had undergone and what it would take exactly, to shut me down if I went off the reservation. Well, that and she wanted the outbreak to be contained. She was a clever woman, but even I could see through this.

The pants were army camo pants, or whatever uniform the military used. The black Kevlar shirt-still in development according to Hunnigan-was skin tight. It was tough material though. I hadn't been able to rip it when I tried. Maybe I had hit a cord somewhere with those war staff goons. I'm surprised they were able to find a pair in my size. Ignoring the fact that I woke up snuggled against Vergil, I think today might be looking up. Fucking Vergil. God that Half demon prick needs a reality check. I wake up like that again and I'll see to it his eyes close, permanently. I cracked my neck as I slung on the Rudra and Agni.

"Hey boys, miss me?" I asked them, buckling the leather holster strap at my shoulder. My swords had been 'confiscated' when they found me outside of Hope. They'd probably run tests on the two swords.

"Mistress," Agni and Rudra greeted me. I tightened the secondary sword strap, just below my bust. The primary strap was already tightened, running across my chest from my right side to my left shoulder. It was hard to tighten that strap without killing my boobs. Stupid male strap design.

"Mistress, do we go to play?" Agni asked, his voice all smiles.

"Of course we do, fool," Rudra snapped. He was huffy when he spoke next. "Mistress, the humans were studying us in your absence." I'm not sure I liked the direction that kind of 'scientific investigation' was heading, but it confirmed what I already suspected. Angi shuddered, the length of his body vibrating slightly at my back.

"They stuck things were no sword should have to-" Oh god, spare me.

"Did you talk?" I asked Agni absent-mindedly, interrupting him. I pulled on black boots and began to lace them. They weren't the knee high bad boys I was used to wearing, but they would work. They were solid ankle biters with reinforcement at the arches and extra cushion for the soles.

"We are no traitor to you mistress," Rudra replied stoutly. "We followed your order of silence to the letter."

"It was so uncomfortable," Agni shook again, his voice weepy. "They put a long thing in my mouth and-" Eh? How exactly does something like that work?

"Are you damaged?" I asked Agni. He was quiet for a moment, considering.

"No mistress."

"Are you still reliable?"

"Of course! I remained silent Mistress! I live to serve you," Agni said proudly. Then his voice turned weepy again. "Mistress I missed you!" If he wasn't like a little kitty some one abandon I think I might have chucked Agni into a swamp after encasing him in concrete. Still, they were pretty good company once they got over the 'I'm no longer in Dante's basement collecting mold' phase.

"I missed you too," I sighed. "Here, I got you guys a present." I reached into the pocket of my discarded clothes. "There was only strawberry and grape."

"Bubblegum!" A small gust of wind trickled across my neck and shoulders, sending my hair skyward for a moment. Gooseflesh broke out across my skin.

"Knock it off," I said roughly, as I put a pinch of the gum in his mouth. Agni quieted his aura. Who would have known demon swords were so fond of bubble gum? "And no bubbles. I don't want gum in my hair, got it?" Chewing his cud, Angi winked.

"Grape, Rudra?" I asked.

"Yes Mistress," Rudra said. He gave an appreciative grin as I popped some in his mouth.

"Okay, no bubbles and no talking. I don't want to any one to get suspicious, kay?" Rudra and Agni's auras flared for a moment. Silent speak for 'yes'. That or a warning of something sneaking up at my back. For whatever reason, this little zombie killing foray was going to be filmed. I didn't want Agni and Rudra confiscated because some government lackwit found something on film they shouldn't have. Rudra and Agni belong to me dammit, I'm not letting them go again. "Alright boys, let's rock."

Fifteen minutes later…

"You'll be dropped near the Mall of America," Hunnigan spoke as we made our way to the transport. "Its your job to secure any uninfected citizens and direct them to the nearest medical center." Hunnigan handed me a small cell phone, with a huge screen. "Use the GPS function to help you. There are over ten different hospitals-both major and minor-within the cities. There are hundreds more minor medical facilities. Most remaining military and police forces have locked down any larger medical center. Its not your responsibility to ensure the arrival of citizens to the facilities, you merely need to report their location. Extraction teams will take care of them. I would suggest that any survivors you meet remain were they are, provided their location is secure. The last thing we need is for Joe America to wander the streets and become another infectee. Search and rescue teams will be mobilizing once you've swept an area. We'll be monitoring civilian progress through satellite and assist them in any way possible. Move as effectively and quickly as you can. You'll be working with a team of six other elite operatives. You'll have four hours to scout out and take care of any remaining citizens before meeting up at the nearest medical facility for extraction." Hunnigan handed me a watch. "It'll sound when the time limit has been reached."

"Lemme guess, you guys are going to burn that place," I say, wrapping the watch around my wrist.

"Sanitization will begin once extraction has been completed," Hunnigan agreed in a neutral voice.

"Right." And I thought Vergil was cold.

"Vergil will be your team partner," Hunnigan said as we stalked down the hallway. Ahead of us the hanger to the transport bay loomed. "I don't want to hinder you, but keep yourselves in check. We don't need potential survivors dying due to a lack of control on your behalf."

"Lack of control?" I asked, glancing over to Hunnigan.

"Are you always this articulate when making unjustified implications?" Vergil's voice broke into the conversation. I jumped, turning to see Vergil at my side, silent as a shadow. I gave him a dirty look for good measure. Bastard.

"Only when innocent people pay the ultimate price for being in the wrong place at the wrong time," Hunnigan retorted, not pausing.

" 'Innocent'?" Vergil began, his voice thick with disdain. "You consider-"

"And thank you for your help," I cut Vergil off, throwing him a darker murderous look. The first glare wasn't hint enough? "Lancelot and I don't make any promises but I'll keep what you said in mind."

"Understood," Hunnigan said, both of us silently agreeing to gloss over Vergil's ego moment. We came to a halt. The doors before us led to the transport bay. "Remember your only have a four hour window. You'll be briefed further during the transport. I'll be serving here as your support, should you need it." I nodded, finally finishing with the watchstrap. "Take care, good luck."

"Yup," I said pushing my way through the door. Vergil shot Hunnigan a sharp look, a smirk on his mouth. He followed me with easy stride as we made our way through the transport bay. "You're a real prick," I hissed, turning to him once we were out of earshot, "Quit mind fucking Hunnigan. She's a good person."

" A good person," Vergil repeated, tasting the unfamiliar concept of words. He fell into pace next to me, his hands jammed into his pockets. He was lucky enough to still be wearing his own clothing. Though he had no weapons to speak of. "She'll use you as she sees fit before she discards you like a used toy."

"Guess you and her have something in common then." I snapped back.

"Lauren when I use a toy, it becomes mine."

"Is that so?" I growled. "And what happens when you're done with the toy?"

"What's mine is mine." Vergil gave me a maneating smirk. "Even in its broken."

"Possessive much?" Fuckin' greedy bastard. I tried not to think too much of how that conversation applied to me as one of his 'used toys'. "You know, some day a woman is going to eat you alive Vergil." At that a low rumbled of laughter came from his throat.

"Are you vying for that position Lauren?"

"In your fucking dreams." Vergil only continued to laugh. "Yuk it up Lancelot," I growled. "It may not be me, but someone will drag you to your knees." God I hope that's me. "One way or another I look forward to the day you grovel on the ground eating your pride." Vergil's hand flicked out, yanking me off my feet. He held the front of my shirt. His ice eyes were genuinely entertained when he spoke next.

"Likewise, little Lauren. I'll look forward to that day when your strength surpasses mine. Should my favorite toy win her freedom, I would kneel before you on my knees willingly."

"I am not your toy," I said quietly.

"Continue to hold to your delusions," Vergil released me, returning to his ice cold self. "They're entertaining. You will never be free from yourself any more than you will of your fate Lauren." Spoken like one who's tried and failed. I held my silence, glowering at Vergil. "Whatever did you do with that gem?" Vergil asked after a moment, as if it were a stray thought that had just crossed his mind. I blinked. Gem? "The Amerhurst," Vergil prodded me after I didn't reply. I remembered, the yellow gem set in a celtic knot, strung on a fine silver chain.

"I threw it away," I said flatly. Vergil shrugged, turning away. He continued towards our transport, unperturbed.

"Whatever you say Lauren."