Hello! Of course I'm already back with another story. I've been puttering with it for two months now, and I'm finally posting it.
Yes, it's a crossover with Edge of Tomorrow (See my Edge of Expendable series if you like this story). Rita is from Edge of Tomorrow. She was the Angel of Verdun (and Full Metal Bitch) who had the ability to reset the day 24 hours back, and she fought an extra 300 days to try to end the war. I always do character development and explain important things so that you don't necessarily have to have seen the film.
I really hope you enjoy this story. It is Barney centered and Lee/Rita centered. After this chapter, I fill in the blanks by incorporating past events.
Happy reading!
2020
Pain, blinding pain. Light shining through slit blinds. The sounds of laughter and goading. More pain.
She had detached herself in the way she had repeatedly done before in past events. She watched from across the room as her body was put through pain. There was one thought, though, that kept circling her mind.
If she had just kept her guard up, this never would have happened.
Somewhere in England
"We were unbelievably lucky to survive this," Barney Ross said, looking at his team. They were all bloody and worn out. They had spent the last month taking down the immobilized Mimics and Alphas and cleaning up the mess left behind. Before that, they'd been involved in the invasion in France. They were originally deemed "too old" to fight in the beginning, but when the UDF got desperate after many soldiers were killed, they started taking on anyone who wanted to fight. That was when Barney and the others headed over to help. The War had been the worst thing Barney had ever seen in his life. At his age, that was saying something.
"I feel lucky all right," Hale Caesar commented dryly. "When do we get to go home again?"
"After garbage clean up," Gunner Jensen answered.
"It's a lot of damn trash, man," Doctor Death, a.k.a. Doc, sighed.
"Is it just me, or do these things seem harder to get rid of dead than when they were alive?" Toll Road asked.
"Are you insane?" Yin Yang asked, incredulous. "Much, much easier dead."
"Once we clear this field, we can go home," Barney answered for Caesar. "Our duty is done."
"I can't wait," Lee Christmas said. He'd been quiet most of the day. He was thinking about how there was nothing waiting for him when he got home. Lacy had left him a long time ago, saying she couldn't handle what he did anymore, so he was alone and never bothered to be with anyone else because he didn't want the pain of being left again. Barney claimed it made him bitter, and maybe it did, but he didn't care.
"What are the Juniors doing?" Gunner asked, referring to Galgo, Mars, Thorn, John, and Luna.
"Finishing up their area and then going home. Just like us," Barney answered. He knew they hadn't seen a lot of action, but they had helped out in other ways for the War.
"They better not beat us home and call dibs on our stuff," Toll warned. He did not want any newbies taking over his stuff.
Barney said nothing as his phone rang with a video message. His face broke into a smile when he saw who it was.
"Hey, Tool, did you wanna see firsthand what we're doing out here?" he asked, joking. Then his face faltered at the sight of Tool's serious expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen.
"Barney," Tool said. "I need a favor."
"Anything, man," Barney promised. "What is it?"
"They...they have my niece," Tool answered shakily.
"You have a niece?" Lee asked, surprised.
"Who's 'they?'" Yang questioned.
"They're going to kill her, Barney," Tool went on, ignoring Lee and Yang. "They sent me a picture."
Barney saw the photo come in from Tool, and he flicked it open. His stomach clenched at the sight of a woman lying on the ground with obvious signs of a beating.
"Where is she?" he asked Tool, steadying his breathing as he recognized who it was. How was this woman Tool's niece? How had he not known this information?
"I found out they are moving her," Tool said. "My sources tell me she is somewhere in Germany, but she won't be there for long."
"Get me that information," Barney instructed. "I will get her back, Tool. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't necessarily keep, Barney," Tool warned.
"I didn't," Barney replied. They hung up, and he looked at his team. Gunner had taken down the last immobilized Mimic with gusto. Their duty was done.
"Well, that didn't take long," Caesar said. "Mission already?"
"I'm ready to face real people again," Toll commented. "Let's go."
"Who's his niece?" Lee asked, looking over Barney's shoulder as Tool's text came in with the rest of the information.
"Rita Vrataski."
Barney was still in shock. He still couldn't get over that Rita was Tool's niece. How had they gone this long in their relationship without Tool mentioning he had family?
"Who has her?" Gunner questioned before Yang could.
"An old enemy of Tool's," Barney answered. "Ivan Zolotov."
"Rita Vrataski as in Sergeant Major Rita Vrataski?" Lee asked, shocked. "Full Metal Bitch?"
"Angel of Verdun," Toll added, realizing.
"How the hell did anyone get the drop on her?" Caesar asked, genuinely confused. Everyone knew you did not mess with her.
"That's what we're gonna find out," Barney answered.
...
She lifted her head, enduring the pain that came with that small gesture. She was alone now. She had no idea where she was. She heard nothing. She briefly wondered if she was going to die there. She had no idea who these people were or why they were doing this to her. She did know, however, that if she could just die, she could go back and avoid this whole thing.
If only someone would just kill her already.
...
"This feels familiar," Toll commented as they geared up in the back of Barney's plane. It had somehow managed to survive the war.
"Yea. I don't miss putting on all that heavy armor," Doc agreed. He sheathed his knives and holstered his guns. He looked towards the front of the plane where Barney and Lee were sitting. He knew something was up with Lee, but he just didn't know what.
"I miss Omya Kaboom," Caesar lamented. This earned a chuckle from everyone. Indeed, it would be handy to have that gun back.
"What's with you?" Barney asked Lee as he vaguely listened to the laughter coming from the back.
"Nothing," Lee answered.
"No, I think it's something. Come on now. Ever since I said Rita's name, you've been like a stone wall."
"I met her," Lee said quietly.
"Oh? Where?" Barney asked, playing dumb. He damn well knew where.
"When we were at Heathrow base, waiting for battle on the beach the next day. I'm just having a hard time imagining someone getting her like that," Lee shook his head. From what he remembered, Rita was tough. He had left out the knife throwing contest he'd had with her as well as her almost kissing him before running off and laughing, leaving him standing and wondering what had just happened. Barney did not need to know that. Lee had thought about Rita ever since, and here she was in trouble. He kept the anger at bay for now. He'd use it when it was necessary.
"If Tool's source is good, we'll have her back before dinnertime," Barney promised. Or he'd die trying.
...
They were moving her. She barely registered anything as they half carried, half dragged her out. She wondered what they had done to the rest of her team, who had been helping her clean up the Mimics. She did, however, see the safety pin sticking out of the one man's collar. That was stupid, incredibly stupid, of him. She lunged, grabbing him. She had seconds before they were on her, but it was only seconds she needed. The pin was secure in her hand as they carried on. She was going to be free of this sooner than later.
...
"A train? Are you kidding?" Gunner asked. He remembered the last train rescue he'd done as he looked at Doc.
"I wonder if they have a gun at the front," Doc mused.
"No heli this time," Barney said. "Just trucks."
"So we gotta jump on?" Toll asked. "That's not a giveaway at all."
"I'll be the decoy," Barney answered. "Their attention will be on me. You guys take the other side, and while they're distracted, jump on."
"This sounds like a plan that's got lots of holes in it," Caesar commented.
"You gotta go fast," Barney said. "Because there is a train trestle. Once it goes over, I can't follow."
"Hole number one," Caesar gestured.
"Let me guess, there's a tunnel too?" Gunner asked.
"Yea," Barney answered.
"Hole number two," Caesar said. "Literally."
"Would you stop?" Toll asked, nudging him.
"If your legs were as fast as your mouth, you'd be just fine," Gunner told Caesar. He ducked the swing of the fist in return.
"Lee, Yin, and Toll on the train," Barney said, ignoring them all. "Caesar and Gunner in the second truck. Doc, you're with me."
"Excellent," Doc nodded.
"I miss Trench," Yang commented. "His jobs not so complicated."
"Well, you can go running back as soon as we're done here," Barney told him a little sarcastically.
"Deal," Yang agreed.
"Saddle up," Barney said, getting into his truck. It was time.
...
She was put into a small room on the train. She worked the safety pin in her hand to get it on the right angle. She briefly worried that it was too small for the lock on her cuffs. She was going to try anyway. She had not counted on the guard being left in the room with her. That was going to be an inconvenience.
...
Gunner took out the lingering men on the train who were looking their way as Lee, Yang, and Toll jumped onto the train. Lee had almost missed, but he caught the edge at the last second. Toll grabbed the back of his vest and lifted him up onto the top.
"Thanks," Lee nodded. Yang had the hatch open, and they dropped down inside. At first, Lee couldn't see anything, but his eyes eventually adjusted. They checked all rooms, nooks, and crannies while taking out guards.
"That looks a lot like a holding room to me," Toll commented as they came across one with a big bolt on the front.
"Yea," Lee nodded.
"We'll guard," Yang said, gesturing. Lee set to work on the door, sliding the bolt back easily. He opened it and stepped inside.
...
She was waiting for someone to check in on her. As soon as the door opened, she pounced. She hit his chest with the heel of her hand and kicked his left leg while smashing her elbow into his face. Her attacker was taken by surprise, and he didn't even fight back, which surprised her. She eventually got behind him, tightening her elbow around his neck.
He shouted and flipped them both over, knocking the wind out of her for a moment and causing savage pain to shoot through her from her injuries. She made to jump to her feet when he got a hold of her arms and pinned her down to prevent her from hitting him again.
"Stand down, damn it," he ordered. "I'm on your side. I'm getting you out of here."
She finally looked at him, and she felt surprised.
"Lee?" she asked.
"Yea, Rita," he answered. "It's me. You good?"
"I'm good," she said, and he released her and helped her to her feet. Lee was visibly angered by the condition of her. She stood there with a defiant look on her face. No one was going to knock her down and not get her wrath in return.
"What are you-?" he asked as she reached and boldly took one of his guns and knives from his belt and holster.
"Bare fists can only do so much, you know," she commented, moving to exit. It was slow due to her limp. She had hurt that even more when she had kicked Lee. She wished she hadn't acted to hastily now.
"Hang on," Lee said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You stay behind me."
"I'm not incapable..."
"I never said you were, but you are injured, and I'm not going to let anyone injure you further."
Rita was feeling frustrated, but she knew he was just looking out for her. She knew that about him, that he cared for people.
"Fine," she huffed.
"We good?" Toll asked when they emerged.
"Yea, let's go," Lee answered.
...
"Hurry the hell up," Barney called into the comms. "We're running out of road here." The trestle was coming up.
"They're not gonna make it," Doc noted.
"Don't count them out just yet," Barney instructed. He really hoped they were close to getting off.
...
"This is your plan?" Rita asked once they were on top of the train. "Jumping off a moving train onto a moving truck bed?"
"You got a better idea?" Lee challenged.
"I guess not," she answered. She knew she wouldn't die anyway. She had found that out the hard way. Once the Omega had been killed, she had been sure the power was gone forever. Then, she had died from a freak accident two weeks later, and she woke up 24 hours earlier. Knowing she still had the power was a little unsettling at times.
"All right then," she sighed. Toll jumped first, hitting the truck bed hard. He recovered and grabbed Yang before he fell off after his land.
"Come on, man! We're running out of time!" Toll shouted. A bullet whizzed over Rita's head then, and she ducked. She shot at the three men who were firing their guns at them.
"Damn it," Lee growled. They did not have time for this. A man popped up behind Rita, and she swiftly and expertly took him out and sent him flying off the train. Lee turned to see Caesar hitting the brakes and stopping. Barney did as well. Lee caught Rita's arm as she lost her balance suddenly, holding her upright. He felt a little nauseous as he looked down and saw the vast gorge under the trestle glaring up at him.
"What now?" Rita asked over the wind.
"We very carefully get off," he answered.
"How?!"
Lee didn't answer because he didn't really know how. He just knew they had to get off before it reached the other side and before more guards came looking for them. He was running out of ammo and knives. He made his way to the last train car, Rita following. He climbed down the ladder and held onto it while standing on the edge of the car. If he didn't do this right, he was a dead man.
"Don't worry," Rita said. "If we die, we'll come back. The day will reset."
"What?" he asked, confused. "Did they hit your head too many times? Have you lost your mind?"
Rita opened and closed her mouth, realizing. Of course he didn't know. He wouldn't remember because everything had reset when the Omega was killed. How could she have forgotten that?
"I'm just messing with you," she said in the end. "So what is the plan here? We jump?"
"Yea," he answered, giving her a strange look but letting it go. "On three."
She grabbed his hand just as they jumped. Lee hit the trestle hard, and he immediately went flying off. He grabbed the edge with his one hand barely in time, and Rita swung down with his other and hit the trestle with her body, gasping in pain as her wounds got slammed. Lee felt himself losing grip of her and the trestle, her weight being sudden and heavy.
"Can you...?" he started.
"On it," she answered, grabbing the trestle and getting her feet settled into the holes. She let go of his hand, and he used it to grab the edge as well.
"Need a boost?" she asked.
"I got it," he answered, pulling himself up. He was shaking a little. In reality, he should be dead. He rested on the tracks briefly, trying to get his senses back. The amount of times pure, dumb luck had saved him was getting ridiculous almost. Rita climbed up and sat next to him.
"That should have ended a lot worse," she commented. She was hurting so much now. The body slam to her injuries was definitely uncalled for.
"You don't have to tell me," Lee replied. He slowly got to his feet, and Rita joined him. It was a bit of a hike back to the other side. He could see Barney and the others waiting.
"You've hurt something," she pointed out as they started walking. He did have a bit of a limp, but it wasn't anything he hadn't had before.
"It's nothing," he said, looking at her. The bruises on her face and arms...he couldn't stand it. "You on the other hand..."
"I need a doctor, I know," she nodded. "But I think they'll be back for me, and they'll look in a hospital first."
"Most likely." Lee pulled her arm around his shoulder and slid his around her waist to hold her up as they walked. She was breathing hard and limping even worse.
"You guys got a plan?" she asked.
"I bloody well hope so."
"How did you even know about me or where to find me?" she asked.
"Your uncle, Tool."
"Bless him," Rita said. They walked in silence for a while. Rita so badly wanted to tell him about everything, but she knew he wouldn't remember, that it would only confuse him further, so she kept quiet. It was bad enough that she had told him they would come back if they died. Thankfully, he hadn't mentioned it again. She felt bad because of all that she knew and he didn't, but Barney had made her swear not to tell when they had both come back after killing the Omega and remembered everything. But the thing was, if she could still reset the day, then Barney could too, just like he had over and over again in the invasion in France.
I'd love to hear what you think :)