A/N: So I've had this story for a while, written a handful of chapters for it that I'm still editing. In fact, if you're here from Yet Another World both stories came into existence around the same time. I just wasn't sure about this one, but I decided to take the plunge. Expect Chapter 1 in a day or so as I finish editing it. The later chapters are pretty raw so I'll have to take some time to review them.

Strokes of Fortune

Prologue

There was a slight rustle as someone pushed the canvas entrance flap aside, stepping inside the tent silently.

She knew who it was immediately, only one person would visit her this late at night.

"Just a second." She didn't bother looking up. There were still reports that required immediate reading or sorting.

For several moments there was only the faint whisper of wind, coupled with the varied ambiance of the typical desert night. She loved these sounds, it reminded her that this was her home, that this was where she belonged.

"Is it true?" A masculine voice sounded from her visitor as soon as he saw she was finished with her work.

"Is what true?" She feigned ignorance, but it was all too obvious what he was referring to.

"You put my name forward." His voice was level, but she could hear the faint accusatory tones within.

"Ah." She paused, "You were the best fit."

"..." He fell silent. When he spoke again his voice contained a mixture of agitation and confusion, "I don't understand. I should be here, with you and everyone else! Not on some other forsaken continent!"

"Could you trust anyone else here to perform at the same level- No, to perform to the same standard that you hold yourself to?" She countered smoothly, yet rhetorically. They both already knew the answer to that.

"..." He lapsed into silence once again.

She was being unfair, she knew. He loved this place as much as she did, if not more. It was his home as much as it was hers. But in all honesty, there simply wasn't any other choice.

"I...would rather have you stay too," She said softly, "But..."

"...This isn't something we can ignore." His voice had lost all heat, only resignation left behind.

"That's right." Her voice turned sly, "Besides, even my little 'brother' has to leave home someday."

He only gave a snort in response, but from the lightened expression on his face she could tell that she'd said the right thing.

Now, if only she could assure herself that she'd made the right choice...

"I promise you that all this will change, someday..."

She wasn't alone anymore.

At first, the only emotion she could feel was joy, followed by relief. There was someone here that she could consider a friend, someone who would rely on her. A little sister for her to take care of.

Those feelings were taken away swiftly.

Her friend...her sister...was only meant to be her replacement. A tool to replace the first if it broke. Things slowly became clearer. She'd been different from her "comrades" since the beginning, but she hadn't known why.

It was because she was never meant to fit in at all.

But having just one of her would be risky for those who were really in control, so they sent a backup soon after.

She began to connect the dots. What was their purpose? The specifics weren't known to her, not yet, but it was easy to get the gist of it. They were to be sacrificed in the future, mere pawns in a "greater" game.

Anger rose to the forefront. Resentment soon after. And then came despair. But, somehow, at the end of it all, one feeling rose above all the others.

Love. Love for the one who ended her loneliness, love for her friend, for her only family.

She hadn't chosen to be the "key". She hadn't chosen to become a tool to be used and disposed of. And the girl in front of her hadn't chosen to be her "backup", barely even a spare thought. There was no fault to be found with either of them. They'd both been given the short end of fate, and they were both going to suffer for it.

It didn't have to go on like this, they didn't both have to succumb to the same end. It could be different.

It would be different.

So, instead of acting upon the darker thoughts that had begun to plague her, Tactical Doll UMP-40 instead continued to reach out with both smile and laughter, embracing her dearest sister, Tactical Doll UMP-45, tighter than ever before.

What she didn't count on was that while she planned to change the fate of her cherished sister, another would shift the fortunes of both of them.

And that...that would make all the difference.

Prologue End

Word Count Before A/N: 758 words