Metal heads used the sewers for probe attacks into the city. The days could go either way, be dead quiet or dead busy. She'd lost a few good men down there, but the newly installed sentry guns were helping things out and keeping things quiet. Serena found the men huddled under a light over a make shift table using eco barrels and old pallet crates they each had a krimzon guard crate to sit on. Most of them didn't have their helmets on and their rifles were leaning up. Cigarettes in mouths and cards in hands the boys were gambling. Serena walked up behind one quietly and tapped him on the shoulder. He promptly threw his cards in the air and turned around. "Shit, Commander Acheron we were just.. "He stammered.
"Relax boys and deal me in, I'm in enough shit as is, let's have some fun."
"Nice shiner commander." one of the men said. She just flipped him the bird and sat at the table and one of the men dealt her a hand, she lit a cigarette and began.
They played for a couple of hours and enjoyed each others company but time ticked on and shifts were about to change.
Serena signaled for the troop to head back up top as she walked out the main security door Erol greeted her. "The Baron wants the latest eco shipment delivered at the fortress. " He told her. "Alright, I can get a few of the men to help me." She responded "Good, east wall sewer ducts of the Ammo dump, you know the drill. "
"Roger that, Commander Erol, boys you know the drill let's move out!"
The walk through the industrial sector to the fortress was quick, the barrels of eco had been delivered through the service entrance and we're awaiting in the loading bays. One man grabbed the hover dolley and began taking the barrels through the corridors to the eastern wall. "Remember boys, look alive and look sharp these suckers will take a chance to get at any weakness make sure your weapons are ready. " Serena commanded her boys.
She spied the hole that led into the sewer the wall had been damaged due to a malfunction of a plasmite bomb and had remained as a shipment route to the metal heads. They set the barrels down and Serena knocked on the pipe. A sound came from the pipe, she could hear claws on the metal and the slosh of water being dispersed by heavy foot falls. The growl that ensued was enough to make most men turn and hide. "Steady boys." She told them. She had her pistol ready and the men were all staring at the black hole weapons pointed firmly at it. The glow of yellow appeared down the hole and two large metal heads appeared. Their teeth razor sharp dripping slime, armoured bodies and glowing yellow skull gems. "This is the latest shipment of eco, The Baron says take it and get out! " She told the beast. It lunged forward at her and clamped it's teeth shut an inch from her face.
She could smell the rotten flesh in it's teeth but she stared it down not giving it an inch of doubt. She heard a gun cock " Back off! And get gone!" Her right hand man Watts threatened the beast. The metal head snarled turned and began rolling the barrel down the pipe followed by the other. They waited for all the barrels to be gone and filed out towards the exit of the building.
Serena stopped Watts and left the rest of the men to keep going back to the barracks.
"They are getting cockier those things.
Why the Baron keeps having us give them eco to stave them off is beyond me." She said as she talked with Watts.
"Well we need a way to keep them at bay whilst we find a way to stop them perminantely I guess. " He responded to her. "I'll make a report but I don't want to loose any men doing double standard dealings with those things. "
He nodded in agreement.
Red lights started flashing, the siren sounded the womans automated voice come over the system. "Missile cooling system at critical overload, cooling system malfunction, back up fail safe not responding, closing blast shields."
"Shit we have to get out of here!" She yelled over the noise, they ran for the blast door which was coming down quickly. It was halfway closed by the time they got to it and they both slipped underneath. They stood either side of the frame as the door was bent outwards by the impact of the explosion. "Ah shit, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time again. " Serena panted.
"Shit my security pass was in there. " Watts said to her.
"Don't worry I'll issue you another one when we get back to the barracks it's probably incinerated in there." She told him and smiled.
Her communicator went off and she answered. "Acheron what the hell is going on I send you to do one single task and you screw it up! " Erol yelled down the device, she held it at arm's length and Watts gave her a sympathetic look. "Hold on a one bloody minute! " She yelled back. "My men know what they are doing and so do I.
I have enough people to vouch we were not in the same vicinity as the missile launch bays." "Well guess what? Organise a clean up crew and I want a full investigation report by the end of the night.
I have enough of a mess to clean up from your last mistake." The communicator went dead "Well Watts you might as well head home, I'm not going to be leaving the palace anytime soon tonight." She sighed and began walking back. "Commander Acheron I'll organise the clean up crew that should save you an hour or two, the troop are a group of mischievous men and we give you our fair share of grief." He told her putting his arm on her shoulder in a gesture of kindness "Thanks Watts I owe you one." She smiled turned and walked to the security room to see what footage and information she could drag up.
Serena poured over the footage, she had found that not one but two security tanks had been activated during the day and also a high voltage security grid had been disabled.
Both tanks had not had enough time to upload their data to the systems and were too badly damaged to recover any data, even Vin couldn't retrieve the info required. She started compiling a report of what she could gather had happened. The clock was ticking by as she was writing at her desk in her office, she looked at the clock, ten thirty no wonder she couldn't stop herself from yawning constantly. She leant on her hand as she was writing and could feel her eyes begin to get heavy she closed them for a moment. "Acheron is that report done yet?" Erol had walked in, she jumped and flung her pen across the room with shock. He dodged it not looking amused. "Shit Erol, you could knock at least. " She grumbled.
"Well? " He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms as he stood infront of her desk. "Yes it's almost done, it's been a long bloody day." She pulled another pen out of the draw.
He walked to the door closed it and locked it then came around the desk behind her chair.
She slumped in it and he leaned over her shoulder putting both his hands on the desk blocking her from getting out. "Why don't you finish the last part and I'll make it worth your while." he purred in her ear his breath teasing her ear and sending a shiver down her spine. He walked to the other chair and sat watching her, his feet on the edge of the desk his arms resting behind his head, as she wrote up the last portion of her report.
He watched her with intent, he hadn't noticed how tired she was, the bruises on her face were a dark purple and could be seen through the makeup she had used to try and hide it. He didn't like what the Baron had done to her but he wasn't one to step into his affairs. He had not seen much of her recently and he couldn't help but notice the curve of her body, the rugged beauty she had and he wanted her here, he told himself he must wait though.
"The Baron wants us to begin looking for the location of Mar's tomb." He said to distract his wandering thoughts. "Is that so?" She closed the folder and put the pen away. " You know it's only a legend right? "
"Yes but Count Veger seems to think it also exists." He responded. "Interesting, well let's hope that nobody finds that boy then. "
"Damas' kid? I have patrols on the look out for him." He got up from his chair again and wandered behind the desk. Again he pinned Serena in and lent over her, he could see right down her top and he was enjoying the view and the couldn't help but think of the things he wanted to do to her. "Good, I guess it's the last thing anybody wants at current, what would a child do on the throne? It would only mean that Veger would take it by default." She leaned back in her chair.
He spun the chair around so she was facing him. "Enough politics." He demanded pulling her up towards him and pushing the chair out the way. Serena gave a slight squeal at the quick movement and laughed. "Erol, what are you doing? " She asked with a hitch in her throat. "Something I've been thinking of since I walked in here. " With a grin on his face he picked her up and sat her on the desk. "But this is my office, what if someone walks in? " She asked him a little nervous. "The door is locked." He grinned at her and held her face in his hands softly. "I have been dreaming of this a long time my dear. " He kissed her gently to start but his urgency grew, she couldn't help but melt into him, it had been so long since she had any sort of contact like this with him. She couldn't help but be reminded of what they shared before the war got worse and wedged between them. There was a knock on the office door. "Shit! You have got to be kidding me!" Erol whispered loudly.
"Yes?" Serena yelled to the person behind the door, a little annoyed at the interupton , a woman's voice responded. "Seri it's Ashelin, open up I need to talk." Serena sighed and got up to unlock the door, Erol took a seat in the office chair.
She opened the door to see Ashelin standing there her fingers fiddling with something in her hand. "Seri can we talk in private? "
Erol cleared his throat. "Oh, Commander Erol I wasn't expecting to see you here. "
She said shocked, she looked from Serena to Erol and then back to Serena.
Serena could see her doing the math in her head and watched the recognition of what was about to happen, click into place and Ashelin smiled at her. "Maybe another time Seri." She touched her arm and smiled knowingly. "Tomorrow Ashelin I promise. " She hugged the woman and she left. Erol walked up behind Serena and put his arms around her waist pulling him towards her and resting his head in the crook of her neck. They stood like this for some time. Erol bent to her ear, "no matter how grumpy or angry I get, know I always love you."
Serena turned in his arms and stroked the side of his face. "I love you too, Erol." She kissed him. "Let's go home." She told him. He grabbed her hand they walked down the corridor to the exit and Erol's home.
She lay nestled in the bed wrapped in his scent she reached out but Erol was not there. She sat up to find him sitting in the chair in the corner reading over reports on a tablet, whisky glass in one hand and a cigarette in his mouth. "The war can wait for one night Erol." She said in a sleepy voice. He chuckled put the whisky glass on the stand and took a drag off the cigarette.
"War stops for no one Acheron and you of all people should know that. "
"You have that one right." She hugged her knees, mind enclosed in thought. "Do you think we will ever see an end to it? " She asked him curious to know his opinion. "The Baron has a few plans to help end it but most of them revolve around finding the tomb of Mar, Veger seems to have ideas but he keeps prattling on about the precursors and how we should be using light eco to fix everything pathetic man that he is. "
He kept scrolling through his tablet.
"Do you believe in the precursors and think they are still around?"
"They were just people who decided to dabble in eco and disappeared one day. So I think they were here but obviously were not strong enough to deal with the metal head invasions, weak creatures in general, hippies if anything."
"Yes well let's hope these suicide missions to find artifacts and Mar's tomb ends soon, I have lost so many good men to an ill gotten cause."
"As soon as we find that brat that should solve alot of the cities problems, now that I think about it reports are he has been spotted recently around the slums with an old man."
"I'll make sure I keep an eye out for him don't you worry. "
Serena slipped out of the bed and left the blankets behind and walked to Erol.
He was engrossed in his reports until he looked up at her put his tablet down and admired the view her standing before him in nothingness and she straddled his lap. "But I have a better idea. " She told him. Erol couldn't help himself his mouth pressed to hers with urgency his tounge invading her mouth he picked her up and took her to the adjacent waiting bed.
The sewers stunk worse than ever today, a week had passed by as she settled in with her delta crew. Serena had the men scouting around the usual routes on foot patrol. There had been an increased amount of metal head movement detected by the sentry guns recently.
Walking with her right hand man the pipe opened up into a large chamber water dripped off the roof constantly it was warm and humid. Plants grew wild out of every nook and crack and a metal walkway was perched over a pool in the middle the railing twisted and bent, most of it missing.
The water was a murky grey and still with no movement, there was no way on telling how deep it was. Serena walked into the chamber with Watts right behind her it split into two pipes and she decided to take the left path and could see two metal heads up ahead.
She turned to motion to Watts to move up close behind her but he wasnt there. Confused Serena back tracked to the chamber. She walked to the path walkway and there sitting on the metal edge was Watts communicator.
She stepped closer the pool and peered in, it was no longer grey but a reddish brown and bubbles popped at the top rippling the water it didn't take Serena long to put two and two together as to what had happened.
Watts had been taken by god knows what. "Shit." She whispered on her breath. She turned to check on the metal heads in the pipe but it was too late, she was struck to the ground by a massive paw and her gun went sliding into the pool with a splash. She fell face forward and braced her self with her arms and slid across the wet concrete. She rolled over to get up but the metal head jumped on her and pinned her to the ground by the shoulders It's body heavy she struggled but it dug it's claws into her shoulder drawing blood piercing her skin.
It's head and teeth only inches from her face, drool from its mouth dropped on her face. She struggled but could not dislodge it no matter how hard she tried she couldn't reach her pistol in her leg holster either. The weight was intense and the pain from its claws digging into her flesh blood swelled up from the holes. It growled lifted it's head and opened its mouth ready to take off her face when she heard a gun shot followed by another. The metal head slumped ontop of her it's dead weight was immense and she couldn't breathe. The weight eased and she took a breath, a man in blue tunic with blonde green hair stood above her. "Serena?" He asked surprised. "Are you okay? " He said. "Jak?" She spat out. He held out his hand and helped her up she put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly he hesitated for a moment and then hugged her back. "I am so happy you got out safe. " She held him at arm's length.
"Well thanks to you I am at least free from that prison and free from the Baron's experiments." "Thanks I would have been a goner if you hadn't of shown up. What are you doing down here anyway?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"Thought I'd tour the city see what it has to offer." He replied with sarcasm.
"I'm not going to enquire any more."
"What are you doing down here alone? " He asked, slightly worried tone to his voice. "Actually I wasn't." She pointed to the reddish brown water bubbling away in the pool. "Oh someone went swimming with the fishes. " Daxter pipped up. "You could say that." Serena replied, "Shame he was a good man. Thanks again Jak, I better go fill out the reports and check on the rest of my troops." She touched his arm, "be safe out there" She walked out of the chamber back to the security door, her yellow top stained with her own blood from where the metal head had pinned her and dug it's claws in. She radioed her men to let them know what had happened and she was headed top side to fill in the reports.
She was so ready for this gloomy day to be over.
Sitting in her office filling in the death notice for Watts she heard a knock at her door. Ashelin walked in, she stood at the front of her desk. "Shit Acheron you look like you have had a day from hell, your blood or someone else's? " Serena looked down for getting about the state of her uniform. "Mine but it's no biggie I've patched it up just don't have time to change." "Do you not wear armour plating? "
"Eh I felt like walking life on the edge today, what can I do for you? "
"Well you know how I kind of interrupted you last week with you thing with Erol and. "
"Oh shit sorry Ashelin I totally forgot to catch up with you! "
"It's fine don't panic, but I found out who was responsible for the fortress."
"Who?" she put her pen down. "Torn mentioned it to Jak and well add two and two together."
"What the!" She slammed her hands on the desk. "You know Torn will use anything he can out of you to stop The Baron."
"Yea stop The Baron, shit we as people still need to be able to hold these metal heads back from killing everyone in the city."
"Anyways I wanted to make sure your okay. "
"Yea I'm as good as I'll be, I lost my right hand man down in the sewers that is why I'm here instead of being at home."
"What getting some action from Erol?" She laughed.
"Haha I wish I barely see him."
"Well I'll be honest it looked like I interrupted something last time. "
"You did!" Both woman laughed.
"Put a do not disturb sign up next time alright." Ashelin said wiping tears of laughter from her eye. "You know Jak came and helped me out the other day out at the pumping station. "
"Really? I just seen him today down in the sewers he saved me from a metal head ripping my face off. "
"That man seems to be getting round the place. "
"Well we all know he wants to take down The Baron." Serena looked at Ashelin a strange look crossed her face, knowing she was the Baron's daughter it was always hard to associate him as her farther.
"Yes well we need to find that kid and get him on the throne, I know it means taking my farther down and out of his rule, but it might be just what we need."
"Your right, how is Torn doing?" She asked her.
"The usual over protective, hiding out, barely sleeping, always grumpy. "
"Well he must still care for you greatly if he's willing to send someone out to help you. "
"True very true, you know Jak has been asking about you every chance he can get." She said with an interest in Serena's reply "Well he seen me today and didn't have much to say, we used to talk all the time when he was in those cells, was the only one I could completely confide in. "
"Mmm odd, anyway I better leave you to it or you'll be here all night. "
"Your right I better get these reports done, please don't be a stranger in these parts lovely lady. "
"Oh I won't be." Ashelin blew her a kiss and walked out. "Will never get over that woman. " Serena spoke to herself and laughed and got back to finishing her report.
She walked to the throne room she had been summoned by The Baron.
The night was getting on and a storm was brewing out side.
The room was as long as it was tall, massive glass walls lined the room.
The ceiling had a peaked glass window and Serena could see the storm clouds rolling in. The walkway into the room was lined with a big thick plush red rug that went all the way up the stairs to the throne platform and more glass lined the walkway. Serena waited by the window looking down upon the city. Erol walked up behind her, "ah there you are, hiding in the ivory tower again I see? " "Ha I wish I was hiding in here rather than the sewers, lost a good man today. " It began to rain outside and the windows become distorted with water, the weather matching her mood. "Sometimes it can't be helped." He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder in a sign of comfort and sympathy. The Baron walked in "am I interrupting a touching moment Commander Erol? " He laughed.
Serena walked off to the end of the throne room near the exit and leant against the wall. The Baron walked to the window to look down on his city, Erol followed him.
The large holographic communicator projected an image of a beast of incredible size, it took Serena a moment to realise it was a metal head. She knew the Baron was dealing with them but she didn't think he was dealing directly with the metal head leader himself. His grotesque form was something to behold and his teeth were immense. God I'd hate to see him in real life his face is frightening enough and it is only his head! Serena kept quiet and out of sight of the beast.
The beast began to speak, "ahh my dear Baron how good it is to see you again." It's voice was deep and menacing. "Yes, what can I do for you? " The Baron asked calmly. "I am still awaiting for the agreed upon eco shipment."
"I've told you we will have the agreed upon eco by weeks end, we will transport it direct to your nest as promised. " The Baron bowed his head at the metal head leader, Serena watched in disgust as he did this. "A deal is of no value if you can not follow through my dear Baron." The beast said calmly, The Baron grit his teeth refraining from saying something he would regret. The beast had been waiting patiently and it snapped. "I grow impatient with your puny geastures, give me the agreed upon eco soon, or the deal is off!" It roared.
"Or your puny city will pay the price. " it added quietly and the hologram image faded. Erol snapped turned on foot towards the Baron "he is toying with us!" He began walking towards The Baron.
"Let me lead an assault on the nest before its too late! " He yelled in frustration and stopped behind the Baron who was now looking out the window at the city. "I can take them! " Erol shouted at him again trying to get through to the Baron. "Patience commander. " The Baron said calmly and quietly. "No one has penetrated the metal head nest, you know that! I know what becomes of foolish plans. " He touched the right hand side of his face that was mostly metal plates and stood in silence for a moment and began again.
"No, strength is their weakness, we play helpless, we train them to eat out of our hands." He raised his hands up by his sides and formed them to fists.
He turned to Erol, "then we move forward with the plans! " He yelled. "Tell Ashelin to up her patrols. I want that tomb found!" He pointed at Erol.
Erol bowed down and lifted his head. "But your daughter is being less than agreeable." Erol waved his hand. "Argh, I will see to that problem, one way or another!" The Baron became brooding. "And find that child! If you'd spend half as much time looking for the little brat as you do spend flirting with that mechanic girl, we would have pinned his royal arse to a wall long ago!" He yelled in frustration.
Serena was not happy herself hearing what she just heard she would be having words with Erol later but now was not that time, especially with The Baron in a mood. "AS you wish, with enough persuasion I'm sure our spy... "
A loud noise came from above.
Both Erol and Serena drew their pistols. "What was that? " Shouted Erol.
"Steady on commander, I think we may have a rat in the walls!" The Baron slammed his fist into his hand. "I think I might take some of the new tech out for a spin and have a look if I can weed it out. Carry on." The Baron walked out of the room with a twisted smile on his face, leaving Serena and Erol alone.
"Mechanic girl ae? " Serena scoffed and Erol turned to her and strode up to her with a look of anger on his face. "It's not what you think, she's the top mechanic in the NYFE racing, she's exactly what I need for my team. " "So flirting is the way to go about this?" Serena scoffed again she couldn't believe the nerve of the man. "If I have to, to get my way then yes. " He pushed Serena against the glass window pinning her by her shoulders.
Pain shot down her shoulders and fresh blood pooled from the open wounds left from the metal head earlier today. Erol's face changed as quick as the colour of her top and he let her go. "Shit Acheron, your hurt, what the hell happened to you today?"
"Metal head pinned me and knocked my rifle out of my hand, I was lucky if it hadn't of been for..."She paused and almost let slip that Jak had helped save her, "my pistol I'd be dead. " She lied to him. He pushed a piece of hair from her face and behind her ear. "Come on let's go get you patched up again. " He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the infirmary.
"Don't think I've forgotten what The Baron said Erol. " She told him, he ignored her and kept on going.